Tipping

[deird1]

Read an article on tipping (with, yes, quite a lot of discussion about Aussies) this morning, and got interested...

Poll #4972 tipping

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 27

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How much should you tip in restaurants?

View Answers

0%
0 (0.0%)

0% ...but then, I'm Australian
4 (14.8%)

5%
0 (0.0%)

10%
5 (18.5%)

20%
15 (55.6%)

25%
0 (0.0%)

30%
0 (0.0%)

50%
0 (0.0%)

ridiculously huge amounts
0 (0.0%)

it really depends on the service
3 (11.1%)

Tipping...

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sucks
5 (19.2%)

is great
5 (19.2%)

is annoying, but can't be helped
12 (46.2%)

I'm Australian, and laugh at people who tip
3 (11.5%)

I'm a waiter, and glare at people who don't tip
2 (7.7%)

why be stingy?
15 (57.7%)

why not just pay the waiters properly?
17 (65.4%)

ticky!
12 (46.2%)

tip!
7 (26.9%)

ticky again!
9 (34.6%)

My general position:
- America, for some insane reason, underpays people and expects them to earn most of their salary through tips. Were I in America, I would (reluctantly) tip everyone. After all, it's not their fault their work conditions stink.
- Luckily, I am in Australia, where tipping is not expected. So I don't tip - unless the place was really brilliant, in which case I might add my spare change to their tip jar...

Comments

[angearia]

However, I've been told by fellow aussies who have visited America that they understand it, because the standard of service in America is AMAZING!

That's nice to hear. :)

For servers in America, doing a good job means going above and beyond a customer's expectations. Not only is everything perfect (food as you ordered, timing of the courses, etc) but the server is constantly anticipating your needs before you even have to ask.

Because of the tip system, servers are motivated to treat every customer exceedingly well in hopes of instilling customer loyalty. If a customer likes you, when they come back they'll ask to be in your section. It helps solidify a client base, something that is very useful for those who wait tables over the course of several years. Basically, you want the guests to have the best time they've ever had so they'll come back and they'll ask for you.

They're more likely to favour one customer over other paying customers, more likely to be at the mercy of really jerky customers, maybe less motivation to work as a team (in case someone else gets the tip?)

Well, favoritism would happen with or without the tip system. That's just the way people work, I think. Some are more pleasant to work around than others. But absolutely yes to be at the mercy of jerky customers. Motivation to work as a team--it really depends on the individuals, I think. Some of the tip-hungry people I've worked for were also the best team players; others were completely selfish and lazy and tried to get out of helping others. I think some people just aren't team players.

Heh. I clearly have lots of ~thoughts~ on this that are no doubt boring to others.