Comments on: Tips for Unnecessary Services: What Happened to Tipping?

By: Memarie Lane

Memarie Lane — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:21:24 +0000

Around here they just walk up to you and demand money. If they tell you a sob story first it’s called panhandling. If they skip the formality it’s mugging.

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By: Jason L'Monaco

Jason L'Monaco — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:34:43 +0000

Dan- I whole heatedly Agree

Sire- There is a minimum wage, but of course the government makes an exception for professions that typically earn money via tips. Consequently waiters have to declare (for taxation purposes) enough of their tips at a minimum enough to put them up to the minimum wage….so there are no legal issues.

Brand- I forgot all about that phenomena…what a pain in the ass. I love how they follow you into the restaurant to try and publicly embarrass you for not tipping them. Thanks for the comment, hopefully it will be your first of many!

By: BrandC

BrandC — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 06:35:39 +0000

You brought up something that happens alot where I live. You mentioned the homeless guy hailing a cab, well, there are “street” people that sit outside the door of Panda Express (fast food chinese restaurant) and open the door for you to walk in the restaurant, expecting you to tip them for their service. “better luck next time” is my tip to them =P

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By: Sire

Sire — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:12:48 +0000

Seems to me this is when the Government should have stepped in. In Australia we have a system where there is a base wage and no employer can pay anyone below the minimum level. Sire’s last blog post..Sire’s ‘Ice Breaker’ Pick Up Line

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:32:43 +0000

We don’t have that tipping system over here in the UK, but I normally feel the need to tip, so long as the service has been reasonable. If I’m left waiting for ages then no tip, I think thats fair.

Your completly right about it being something people have to earn by going ‘over and above’ - tipping someone for ‘their job’ just seems…pointless!

By: Jason L'Monaco

Jason L'Monaco — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:25:55 +0000

Correct, their wages are low because they’re expected to live off of tips. I suspect many years ago they had average wages and restaurant owners thought the wait staff was earning too much, so they dropped the wage and the rest is frustrating history…

By: Sire

Sire — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:25:11 +0000

We don't tip in Australia but our wait staff get paid a lot more than that. Now, I have a question for you, why are their wages so low? Is it because they are expected to live on tips. It seems to me that the employer should pay them what they are worth and that would be a lot more than 4 bucks an hour. Sire’s last blog post..Sire’s ‘Ice Breaker’ Pick Up Line

By: Jason L'Monaco

Jason L'Monaco — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:48:51 +0000

Kaylie,

Thanks for the comment. I understand why it is necessary to tip waiters here in the USA, my point was simply that I believe it should not be that way. The waitstaff works for the restaurant, thus the restaurant should pay them a fair and honest wage (substantially more than $3 an hour) and the tips should simply be a bonus, rather than them needing to rely on tips alone to survive.

By: Kaylie Bristol

Kaylie Bristol — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:28:38 +0000

I agree and I disagree. Tipping has become an overly used verb, however when you think about waiters and waitresses they are only getting 3.50-4.00 bucks an hour, there is no way you can make a living on that. In which case they earn their tips (hopefully) by giving you the best service. And if they don’t, well then don’t tip them. I once tipped a waiter 50 cents off a 20 something check, because he was so horrendous! but I also tipped someone 10 bucks off a 15 check because they were great.

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