I completely agree, if an employee responds in that manner to any of my customers they would mostly likely be out the door that same day.

18, I once worked at a restaurant where there were many foreign waitresses. they openly asked for tips and demanded tips from the customers when it wasn't given at the end. the assistant manager found out and started firing anyone who did this. I know that it sucks that most of your paycheck comes out of the tips, but you still are not supposed to just expect a customer to automatically tip. I always did expect it of course, but in my head so that I at least appeared humble :p

I agree, no jokes about the food please! I would get paranoid and cancel my order and go somewhere else. Now in Denmark we don't tip, it's actually not allowed to recieve tips here. But we do get paid more ofc. but jokes about messing with food are just..no.

You are analyzing this FML too thoroughly. From my perspective, OP pointed out the obvious, which is, that OP handles the meals, that will eventually be served to the customer. As far as I am concerned, the customer shouldn't be surprised at this piece of information, this should be common knowledge. For future business, the customer will be treated poorly due to his negligence in tipping - that is a fact. It is best to keep the employees who offer their services as waiters/waitresses happy, to some extent. However, I do not condone either actions by both parties, just my standpoint.

"Kill them with kindness" Is what I learned these situations.

16, I agree. I would have taken my sweet ass time and maybe even 'accidentally' spilled his order in his lap. a friend of mine back in high school joked about blowing up the school with another classmate, but someone reported them to the teacher and they got expelled. it was seriously just a joke. but anyway, I take my food seriously and I'd be mad as hell if even a friend joked about doing something to it.

He could just make that table his last priority so he can maybe get tips off the other tables. I've never heard of somebody who tells at the beginning that they don't tip. They're either stupid or just wanted to get a rise out of OP. As long as people make an effort, I tip 20-25+%. I know sometimes it gets busy and I understand that.

Personally, I think that waiters and waitresses should just always do the best they can at their job, don't allow someone else to bring you down or affect the position of your job. If your boss knows (or even thinks) you're slacking off at a table or that you spilled something on purpose or tampered with someone's food than you could easily get fired. Don't let someone else and their bad attitudes affect you personally or your job. It's not worth your time.

If she does not make enough to count as minimum wage then the owner is required to compensate the salary to minimum wage. Not every waiter deserves a tip. Especially one that implies threats.

#100 ya, and if they have to compensate enough times because of getting a bunch of asshole customers like that they won't have their job for very long.

OP said they tried to lighten up the situation. I don't believe it was their intent to seem upset about the tip.

#26, in general, waiters/ waitresses do actually expect a tip. What I'm saying is they work no harder then anyone else out there, but because they have bought me my food (that someone else cooked for me) to my table, I should tip them for this? Majority of the time, this tip is not even shared with kitchen staff who do most of the hard work!

22, tips are important to waiters/servers because it makes up most of their paycheck. without tips, depending on what kind of management you are under, you could be only payed 2 or 4 dollars an hour. and although to appear humble, tips should never be asked or expected of, but the truth is that tips are very relevant.

Perhaps in America, however I live in England where waiters/waitresses get the same rate of pay as a lot of other professions and they still expect a tip. I work in retail and work a lot harder then most of the waitresses I have personally been served by when out in a restaurant, but I do not expect the customer to tip me and am probably on the same pay rate as waiters/ waitresses

this happened in the US. therefore its important to tip since they make around 3 an hour because the govt thinks people are nice and will cover the rest. if this happened in england I understand but don't get mad and rant because a waiter in america wants a tip. they depend on it a lot more here.

Maybe you should switch jobs then.

not every one is lucky enough to get another job when ever they feel like it.

#35 I think the system should change so that they don't legacy to rely on tips.

That would be nice. I make about $2.80 an hour and have to split my tips with a super lazy co worker. I wish I didn't have to rely on tips.

damn I would hate to have to split my tips like that. you make more per our than I do though haha

As a waitress I made 2.13 an hour. Damn right I expected a tip for busting my ass.

Is that how you excuse your stinginess? Food service is the one area where the customer is allowed to pay according to their perceived value, rather than a market set point. In other words, if you feel they did better than fair, you're allowed to pay more, whereas if they shirked their job, you're allowed to pay less. But cheapskates like you use it as an excuse to pay nothing. So maybe a restaurant should just increase food costs 18%, give their staff all raises, and leave you with no choice. Oh, and yes. I did downvote you.

#52 it's not stingy, I tip when people deserve to be tipped, not when they expect it. If you do a crap job and make stupid comments to the customer, it's your own fault you don't get tips! Also I tend to leave a smaller tip for those who expect it, like those who linger at the table to watch if you tip or not. Customers shouldn't feel pressurised anywhere to leave a tip and I guarantee those who do there jobs well and don't expect any reward are the ones who get the most tips.

Have you ever actually BEEN a server? because those of us that have been a server and have worked retail jobs and warehouse jobs like myself know that serving is one of the hardest jobs you will ever be underpaid for. You run around like a crazy person, even more so when understaffed, and are still expected to be perfect. Until you have been the server of 8 or more tables at the exact same time, three of which have drinks running low, one is done with their food, two are ready to order, one needs ketchup, and the cook forgot to hold one's ketchup or put dressing on the side or whatever, and oh there's four more people that just walked through the door, you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. And guess what. In that situation, most of those tables are going to leave crap tips if they even leave one because those tables aren't watching you run around like a chicken with their head cut off. They are focused on themselves only, and their service was a little slow. Once you've been there, then judge.

You have no idea what you are talking about. If a waiter only makes under minimum wage the owner is required to compensate them up to minimum wage.

I think that 22 is trying to make the point that the government should change how they pay their waiters/waitresses so that tips aren't required and needed for them to live on. And I think he's also making the point that there are places (like England) where servers do not rely on tips to survive or get their pay, and that in those places servers shouldn't serve at a lesser quality just because someone is not tipped (which in this case is actually not required as the servers get full pay). And I think he finds it weird that they get their normal salary (above minimum wage + tips) and other places that make the same money and also serve people don't get tips. Either way, I too think that servers should get a standard salary (which they can live off of) and then any tip that comes in is a bonus as it should be and therefore not required by customers. I also think that this would solve the times where servers tips haven't made up their full minimum salary and the boss who is supposed to make that up doesn't even though he is required to, which I'm sure happens.

@104. You're right they are required to do that if you make under minimum wage. Want to know what happens if you force them to do that? They cut your hours, sometimes in half, sometimes even more than that. The pay you 2.13 an hour because they don't WANT to pay you more. If they gave a **** about you making minimum wage they wouldn't be paying you next to nothing. So sure, I could complain about my bad week and then all of a sudden not make enough money to pay my bills, sounds like a great idea.

#86 yes I have been a server actually and I have also worked in an arcade that requires me to serve, cook, top up people's drink and everything you have mentioned and more, all at the same time, whilst on minimum wage and at no time did I expect a tip because this is what I was paid to do. I understand that in some countries people make below minimum wage but that doesn't mean they work harder then any person that earns minimum wage or more. Nor does it mean they should expect a tip (although I do agree if the service is up to par they should be given a tip, the point that so many of you seem to be missing is when people expect a tip and bitch and moan when they don't get one then it is there own fault for making the customer feel pressured into giving a tip)

My big point is, you don't always know if that waiter deserves a tip. Tell me honestly: when you're at a restaurant, are you paying attention to how busy that server is, or are you paying attention to how fast they get you whatever it is you want? Because most people are only paying attention to themselves. So while that server is busting his ass, all they see is their empty glass or their plate that they've finished eating.

#165 I pay attention to how busy the restaurant is and if it is really busy I allow time for slow service. If it is quiet and it takes 20 minutes for them even to take a drinks order I am less likely to leave a tip.

Except it's not free service. They are not working for free they are paid. Maybe not enough, but they still are paid. I don't agree with not tipping if the service is good but with that said, it's not free service, tipping is optional (whether it should be or not) and if a waiter doesn't make enough in tips to get minimum wage then they are required to go to their boss and get the money from them. I'm not saying not to tip but it's not free service either.

And your establishment gets in trouble for food poisoning! Or just poisoning.. You know... Bad idea.