Pre-Tipping

[Chesterton]

One thing about waiter tipping that always seems odd to me is that the tip is supposed to be based on the price. At the basic level, whether they're at a little coffee shop or a fancy steak place, someone's carrying a plate from the kitchen. But the tip will be vastly different where someone orders like an English muffin costing less than 2 bucks or orders a steak costing like 50 bucks. But they're basically doing the same thing.

 

[Mudinyeri]

One thing about waiter tipping that always seems odd to me is that the tip is supposed to be based on the price. At the basic level, whether they're at a little coffee shop or a fancy steak place, someone's carrying a plate from the kitchen. But the tip will be vastly different where someone orders like an English muffin costing less than 2 bucks or orders a steak costing like 50 bucks. But they're basically doing the same thing.

Some of that goes to skill set. Only the best wait staff are hired (and retained) by the best restaurants. For the most part, the best (fanciest) restaurants have the highest prices. So, the more qualified wait staff are tipped based on a higher average ticket.

 

[Cearbhall]

Yeah, I forgot about that, I see that on menus often. That's really the same thing I guess.

Yeah, that's what I was going to ask. If the party is 6+, an automatic tip should be expected, and they might as well charge it ASAP if they're using an electronic device to log the order.

She should have explained that when you asked, though. And if that wasn't the reason why, then I don't agree with it.

 

[brinny]

Pre-Tipping

I went to this new little place in the neighborhood for a bite to eat. The waitress is taking my order, pressing the screen on her little device, then after I say what I want she turns the screen towards me and says "And the tip...". So I have to select one of several choices like 15%, 20% and such. I asked "Before the service?" She said "Yes." I started to tell her this was completely stupid, that they're doing it all wrong, she needs to repent and come to Jesus, then show her an irrelevant YouTube clip, but then I remembered this was real life and not an internet forum, so I just sheepishly pushed her screen.

Tipping's sort of controversial, I've heard good arguments for and against the practice, but this turns the whole idea on its head. You're supposed to be paying based on the level of service and now I'm asked to pay for an unknown quantity in advance. I felt a little threatened, like if I don't tip enough will the waitress dump food in my lap? Then I thought well this is how every waiter must feel with every customer, they never know what they're going to get.So now the shoes on the other foot.

Is this a new thing? Anyone else encountered this? I don't remember if "no tip" was an option, but if it is I think next time I'll push that, then leave cash.

It's insulting.

BAD idea, and the restaurant that is pushing this needs to not be so rude and discount and disrespect their customers with this sarcastic li'l app. I'd seriously ask for the manager right then and there.

On a side note, i'm a very generous tipper, however only if i believe the waitress, etc. did a great job and had a great attitude.

 

[High Fidelity]

Never heard of it but it's something I disagree with even more than normal tipping.

 

[Cearbhall]

Actually, thinking about it again, it's concerning because she probably doesn't receive the electronic tip in cash at the end of the night. But who knows, maybe they've had a problem with people swiping cash tips off of tables.

 

[AvilaSurfer]

We tip backwards. The waitress bringing us $10 breakfasts and coffee, for a $25 total gets a $20 tip. The snooty staff at a snooty restaurant that brings $100-$150 worth of food gets 15%, unless they're exceptional. It's my money, I'm allowed to distribute it however I want.

 

[LaSorcia]

A 'tip' before service is given is bribery. I would refuse to pay a tip until after I had my meal. I mean after all, who gets their paycheck before they do their job?

 

[BadHabit]

Pre-tipping? No thanks. No patronage from me.

I only tip when service is above average. Frequently, service is not up to par.

 

[Kenny'sID]

Pre tip? Next restaurant.

Yep, not sure I'd be quick thinking enough to actually do it, but if I didn't, on hindsight, I'd a wished I'd followed through with the OP's "stupid" comment and immediately left the building.

You know servers only make about 2$ an hour?

I got a delivery to the back of a topless bar when working for Pizza Hut, where the girls I assume work on the same principle of low pay and tips. Although the delivery wasn't completely without visual reward, they didn't tip me a dime.

Of course that kinda makes sense for reasons I won't go into and is no reason not to tip in general, and I don't think the OP is saying that either.

 

[Hank77]

Often the waiter does not get all of the tip. It is split between them, bus people, bartenders, etc. So we really are supplementing the employer's wages.

 

[Nithavela]

Some of that goes to skill set. Only the best wait staff are hired (and retained) by the best restaurants. For the most part, the best (fanciest) restaurants have the highest prices. So, the more qualified wait staff are tipped based on a higher average ticket.

And if that coffee lady does a really good job anyway? Or should people be based on their skills instead of their performance?

 

[Mudinyeri]

And if that coffee lady does a really good job anyway? Or should people be based on their skills instead of their performance?

Both but it's difficult to perform at a high level without a well-developed skill set.

 

[Blondepudding]

Personally, I'd have left the establishment the moment she did that. The implication being if you don't tip before your meal what's to happen to your food that the offended wait staffer handles first?

Totally out of line.
There are restaurants that are adding tips to the bottom line total of a bill now. I can see that being some people eat and then stiff their server. Or, as I saw in one pancake place, the bus person was dropping their clean cleaning towel over the cash tip patrons would leave, and then pushed the money into a clean bin under the top rack of his cleanup cart. They then made it appear as if the patron stiffed the waitress while they took all the tip money without having to divvy it up between themselves and the waitress.

Working the tip into the final bill stops that abuse. And insures everyone is paid. But asking for a tip at the time of order is out of line in my opinion.

 

[keith99]

Some of that goes to skill set. Only the best wait staff are hired (and retained) by the best restaurants. For the most part, the best (fanciest) restaurants have the highest prices. So, the more qualified wait staff are tipped based on a higher average ticket.

And more is expected at a fancy place. Waiters generally do a lot more than simply say 'which items are good'. They know from the start to volunteer that items are spicy for example. They can provide the first level of advice about wines and if they find themselves out of their depth on that they will get the sommelier to your table promptly. At a really nice place it seems a waiter can always be found, but never is at your elbow when not desired.

 

[Chesterton]

Often the waiter does not get all of the tip. It is split between them, bus people, bartenders, etc. So we really are supplementing the employer's wages.

Back in the day I used to go to Vegas a lot. There was a huge complaint among all the customers, that the dealers had to all pool their tips. It's the policy at every casino. So the dealers who were good and friendly and helpful, had to share their tips with the dealers who were bad and rude. It was interesting ethically because even though it made no difference to the customers, we all hated it on principle. "That's communism!" was what you'd often hear.

Some of that goes to skill set. Only the best wait staff are hired (and retained) by the best restaurants. For the most part, the best (fanciest) restaurants have the highest prices. So, the more qualified wait staff are tipped based on a higher average ticket.

And more is expected at a fancy place. Waiters generally do a lot more than simply say 'which items are good'. They know from the start to volunteer that items are spicy for example. They can provide the first level of advice about wines and if they find themselves out of their depth on that they will get the sommelier to your table promptly. At a really nice place it seems a waiter can always be found, but never is at your elbow when not desired.

So AvilaSurfer said he tips more percentage-wise at a lower end place. To me that makes some sense, because it seems to me that even though they're doing the same thing they work harder. On the rare occasions when I've been at a nice place, the waitstaff seems to be working at a casual pace, you know? Part of that may be intentional as part of the "presentation", but they're not scurrying around and shouting orders like you see at a diner at busy times. Maybe behind the scenes in the kitchen it's just as busy, but the waiters seem to have it easier at a nice place.

 

[seashale76]

He said he started to show tell her she needed to come to Jesus, and had a Youtube video loaded up before he gave up on it. That's still going waaaaayyyy too far. It wasn't her fault, she needed a job to survive, so she took whatever she felt was the best opportunity and now works there. She's not responsible for anything in this situation except for trying to earn an honest living. Which all American Christians seems to bellow, "PULL YOURSELF UP BY THE BOOTSTRAPS!!!" Which this woman is clearly trying to do, and this "good Christian" OP sees it fit to tell her she needs to "come to Jesus" because of the tipping policy her manager or owner of the restaurant decided on, not her. It's hypocritical at best, stupidly absurd at worst.

Sarcasm. I take it you're not familiar with it.

 

[The Hammer of Witches]

I went to this new little place in the neighborhood for a bite to eat. The waitress is taking my order, pressing the screen on her little device, then after I say what I want she turns the screen towards me and says "And the tip...". So I have to select one of several choices like 15%, 20% and such. I asked "Before the service?" She said "Yes." I started to tell her this was completely stupid, that they're doing it all wrong, she needs to repent and come to Jesus, then show her an irrelevant YouTube clip, but then I remembered this was real life and not an internet forum, so I just sheepishly pushed her screen.

Tipping's sort of controversial, I've heard good arguments for and against the practice, but this turns the whole idea on its head. You're supposed to be paying based on the level of service and now I'm asked to pay for an unknown quantity in advance. I felt a little threatened, like if I don't tip enough will the waitress dump food in my lap? Then I thought well this is how every waiter must feel with every customer, they never know what they're going to get.So now the shoes on the other foot.

Is this a new thing? Anyone else encountered this? I don't remember if "no tip" was an option, but if it is I think next time I'll push that, then leave cash.

Waitresses/waiters at the moment are paid less than minimum wage (in most cases). The idea is that the tips will supplement the missing amount of money. I don't necessarily agree with that, but that is the way it is right now. I have never heard of tipping before the service, but that defeats the idea of tipping based on quality of service. I think it would be best if they were paid minimum wage, but I doubt that will happen soon.

 

[seashale76]

How we do it (meaning me and my husband). If service is poor they never get less than 10%, and the tip will never be less than a dollar if their 10% comes out to less than that. Mediocre service is 15%. Normal to great service is always 20%. We take the idea very seriously that people should not eat at restaurants where tipping is expected unless they plan on tipping. Withholding a tip on the pretense that service was bad is about being miserly and petty. Tipping before services rendered is defeating the purpose.

 

[keith99]

Waitresses/waiters at the moment are paid less than minimum wage (in most cases). The idea is that the tips will supplement the missing amount of money. I don't necessarily agree with that, but that is the way it is right now. I have never heard of tipping before the service, but that defeats the idea of tipping based on quality of service. I think it would be best if they were paid minimum wage, but I doubt that will happen soon.

Not on the West Coast. Waiters are required to get the same minimum as any other job AND they get tips also. I'd guess the majority of waiters nation wide make more than minimum wage even before tips. Certainly more than the federal minimum as it looks like New York requires more than the federal minimum, but less than the state minimum, before tips.