Protecting Your Employees?

This tipping automatically .... it's for the birds

AD,

As a fellow Texan, and just honest man, let me throw in my .02:

The way I see it, you are merely a pawn in the game...a number...a statistic.  NO OFFENSE.  Most of us are, no matter what position or field.  The bottom line is that it's a business.  The manager isn't going to stick his neck out, for a few hourly employees he can easily replace, when he himself is either salaried or otherwise secured in pay.  HIS number one concern is making money; filling tables, fast ticket times, good service, etc.  You know it and I know it.  It sucks to fill like as an employee, he may not have your best interest in mind...but he really does.  If the guests aren't there, there isn't money; so less product, less staff, less hours.  It's just the cycle of the service industry bro.

But just to add the "experience" touch, I've been a part of Dave & Buster's for over 10+ years.  Living in Tx, I'm sure you know of/been to one....nice place, a little classy, and pricey (like a steakhouse).  Let me tell you, you would think those factors alone would make for good money; but it's a coin flip any given day.  There are those who "save up" to go there, those who go just for the cheap drinks during happy hour, and now there are those who have flourished during the "eat & play" promotion.  IT NEVER WAS LIKE THAT BEFORE...having to resort to "free games" or cheaper meals.  But that's the reality of the economy and...the business!  Now, you have those who couldn't afford it as much, coming out more.  Does that mean that they automatically TIP the difference??  Of course not.  The chance though, is to give the best service you can...keep them happy, coming back, etc.  Word of mouth does more than you can fathom in the restaurant world.

And, if by any last resort, you can't get anything more than a "thank you" from your table...just get em outta there, and get a new one!  Don't resort to bad/immoral tactics (though funny).  Just flip your table, and turn the page...in your checkbook!!!  LOL

Take care man, where in TX btw??

I dont list my waitresses as waitresses or servers so the IRS doesnt snatch there tips, Also in CA the minimum wage is 8.00 per hour, My waitresses two of them got a raise from me last month, something unheard of in the industry.

 

Now to your bitching, here is the deal, HONESTLY, the customers dont have to tip you, they really dont, I have some douchebag customers like that, And no matter how much my waitresses take care of them, they never tip, so I take the liberty of padding there bill an extra 5 to 9 dollars and give it to my girls, Hey they are usually too drunk to know anyway.

Now before douchbag dude I told you comes in here and says this practice is wrong, Let me say

DOUCHE, I mean DUDE, I ALREADY KNOW it IS

But it makes me feel better and as a boss and owner, thats all that really matters is HOW I FEEL.

Now run along and get your shine box

If Mr. and Mrs. ZERO come to your table and leave the usual, say in a louder than needed voice

"Nothing for a tip AGAIN? What the fuck do I have to do to get a nickel out of you cheap fucks? I mean, NOTHING FOR A TIP? You are so tight they couldn't pull a pin outta your ass with a tractor! Are you kidding me?"

Throw a plate of ribs at them both, and crack a bottle of ketchup on the dudes head.

Now, you MAY get fired for this. I'm not saying this is no risk. But, wouldn't you feel better? I think we all would.

Good Luck

 

Now, Now...no need to hack someone else's thread with your own pompus, self-righteous, "i'm-the-greatest-boss-slash-business-owner-ever" rant.  We all understood how great of a man you were, when you shoved your charity cases down our throats.

Besides, with "ALL" you "DO"....it's no surprise you got raided.  Here's to another karma kick in your punk-ass!  admitting that you don't report to the IRS....ha....good one!  Why not complete the trifecta and tell us all the name of your business????

    

I was just about to post that this would be a good spot for Mafios take on this and bam there it was..with a kick in the rear end to boot

Ad, If I was the manager there I'd say the same thing to you,but put the newest server,cook in training etc on that table and tell them that's part of the deal..no tip? So F'n what that's the biz.This is getting your experience..

You're not gonna be in this for long so like GG said just turn the table if you get them again..and ask yourself maybe the manager is already putting his shittiest server on them? He should give a rat's ass about you he knows is temporary?

You're the same guy heading to Vegas with your bro trying to find the cheapest rates and asking questions from everybody about this and that,resort fees etc?

Man gets your tips ready out there ,You will see. GL

 

ad1260: 

I think part of the problem is that people are ignorant as to exactly how a Waiter / Waitress is paid.  Like you said before (by State Law and different throughout the entire USA), you probably make about 1/3 to 1/4 of the minimum wage and really depend on your good service bringing tips to make the bulk of your wages.  You may also get discounted or free meals provided by your boss.

So, the reality is, Waiters and Waitresses in the USA are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from ALL other service providers in this regard. 

As far as restaurant management goes, I agree that they are looking strictly at the bottom line numbers and that you are considered a very replaceable expense to their operating costs.  Your attitude is MUCH MORE IMPORTANT to your own accumulation of tips than to the overall success of a chain restaurant location.

As a side note, I took a friend out for a casino lunch Friday and paid a $30 cash tip on a $95 bill.  He was astounded and said I over-tipped substantially.  Not so.  I know this girl and she consistently gives me A-1 service time and time again.  I plan on being there tomorrow afternoon and she will get me a custom prepared coconut shrimp appetizer, not on the regular menu, and my steak will be out well before others seated prior to my arrival. 

Generous tipping most certainly has it's rewards.

That sucks. I always tip 20%+ unless service is brutal and I usually tip 15% then...many of my friends in their younger years were waiters/waitresses and Ive heard some stories about how tough it can be.

With that said, there is nothing you can do. Its annoying and you feel crappy, but some people just dont get it.

Id love to know why people dont tip? I mean if you keep going back, you must like the place? How is that possible???

ad1260, i guarentee if you werent living at home & had real bills to pay including rent.you wouls shut your mouth & bite the bullet.your manager is not going to jinx his job because he has fam8ly & rent. you cry how daddy wont mind if you quit. how old are you 18-24. tru story worked at mac grill in hb. we had quiet well mannered guy in his 40s,middle eastern,always say great service.never tip . we keep our mouths shut with manager,try to avoid him we all got stiffed few months later in paper showed his mug arrested in irvine. he was on probation he tried to burn down church.he told cops he did not like the priests surmon on masturbation was sin.due to his probation he serving 7 months he plead out in county jail.so im saying what gioes around comes around. i been in business for years ive seen servers get fired all time,because they complained to customer about tip. its not worth heres saying i lived by take the good with the bad,& if co worker gets bad tip or stiff. i say better you than me because it happens to all of us.good luck

No your the douchebag.

"it's not your right" sure but it's called common fucking courtesy you scumbucket.

 

This is true.................

Throw the cheap fucks out.  Fuck the job.

My dad used to own a restaurant.  These cheap Hasidic person cocksuckers came in with a coupon, complained about total BS to get a free meal on top of the coupons they brought.  Made a stink about everything.  Harrassed the poor girl that took the table, and then stiffed her on the bill.  Left her in tears.

My uncle(who had nothing to do with the place, but just happened to be there), was watching this whole thing, followed them out, told them Hitler should have burned everyone of you pieces of shit and kicked their station wagon.  Suffice to say we never saw another Hasidic in there again.  Good riddance, imo.  My dad was pissed and it was a huge deal, but I think it worked out fine in the long run.  Sometimes you gotta lay down the law no matter how extreme or if you even mean what you say.

why are you bitching about a tip on 40-60 bucks maybe if it was a huge bill

ad1260: your original post said that it happens to the regular closer "at least 5 times" but post #25 says it is "always at lunch".  Not saying I don't believe you but the story is not consistent.

The manager is hiring you for2.13/hr to schlepe food/drinks to this pair,any tipping or extra compensation involves you and your actions and is all between you and the customer. The manager didn't guarentee that anybody would tip and is really providing you an oppertunity to be a free agent as to your compensation. You should have considered this when you took this job that every person that sat in one of YOUR tables was a potentical windfall/bust.Give them 2.13 worth of service and don't shit on their meal because they don't succome to your charms. I'm not saying you made a bad career choice but you did make a risky career choice that you should have made eyes wide open. The contract seems to be that the manager pays you 25% minimum and provides you with oppertunity to make limitless money through your personal hustle and the generosity of strangers. NO free lunches and no guarantees.

Just give them bad, really bad service.  Take forever to get to their order.  Don't give them water or refills on anything.  If they want to substitute anything, say no.  As soon as they get their meal, put their check on the table right after.  All that kinda stuff.  And have an attitude.

And make sure they see all the attention and service that the tables around them are getting.

But bottom line, they're costing you guys what, like 6 or 7 bucks a week.  Not worth going too ballistic over.  Now if it was a family of 6 coming in daily spending 150, then we're talking like 150 bucks a week.

Sad part is your attitude probably spills over when waiting on other customers. Which in turn costs you money from us "pricks" who could give a shit less how your day has been going and expect you to wait on us like you are going to be given a 20% tip...

Take your time taking my order...
Let my drink glass set empty...
Take your time bringing me the check...

No tip...

If your last customer shit on you and it gets passed along... So be it...

wow dude, your a clown

 

I recommend you watch the movie Waiting if you havent already (I would hope so given the field you are currently in). That should answer all your questions and give you some ideas.

 

Thanks for all the input fellas...as far as I'm concerned the only time you should stiff your server is you had absolutely ATROCIOUS/DISGUSTING experience at the restaurant (which, I know is pretty rare). So basically, if you totally stiff your server and your experience wasn't atrocious/disgusting then you are simply an inconsiderate douche bag and I think most "normal" people would agree.  That is all and thanks for everyone's input.