Finally, An Honest Answer.
At my restaurant, our manager April encourages us to ask the customer if we or the chef did something wrong if we receive an incredibly low tip or are stiffed. And I’m not talking 5%-low…I’m talking 2 dollars on a $100 tab.
Most of the time, the family feigns ignorance and thinks that the tip is included. Other times, they think they left an extra 20 and promptly drop a Jackson to rectify the problem. Very rarely is the family upset with something the restaurant did.
Last week a family of five orders up over $100 worth of food and then leaves $103 in tip book and says, “Keep the change.”
They stay a few extra minutes so I take this opportunity to ask if anything was wrong. In truth, I’ve only asked a customer about the tip two or three times.
So I walk up to the table with a smile on my face and not a trace of frustration in my voice.
Me: “Hey, guys. Was there anything wrong with the chef or my service tonight?”
Father: “No, why?”
Me: “Oh…well…just because you left me a little less than 3 dollars on over a $100 tab.”
Father: “Oh. That.”
Me: “Yea.”
Father: “We’re just cheap.”
At least they were honest. I can’t imagine coming to a mid- to high-priced restaurant with your family of five if you’re “cheap” though. You can order 100 dollars worth of food (complete with appetizers and drinks from the bar) yet stiff the server. Doesn’t make much sense to me.
May 29th, 2007 at 11:32
Wow. That made my night. I made 200$ even on a 12-9 shift tonight which was pretty good. Sucks for you though…I did however have a table leave because I didn’t greet them quick enough and had my manager bitch me out about it.
May 30th, 2007 at 6:45
Did you take out your pen and make careful notes of what they look like so the next time they come in they get what they deserve? LOL! I would have.
May 30th, 2007 at 8:35
Although April sounds like a “cool” manager, my thoughts are that she should be the one asking your tables about the tip. Not all servers are adult enough to handle criticism, earned or unearned. The chains I managed for had a strict policy, saying no guest should be questioned about the tip, although I did it quite often for the servers I knew were good. The slackers and attitudinal ones, not so much.
May 30th, 2007 at 8:49
Reminds me of “Cheap Uncle Bob” who used to come stay with *us* and keep the $300 motel allowance for himself.
Bob arrived once tea-totally pissed off beyond words. The problem? He had been charged $0.80 for gravy in a restaurant. He talked about, no, RANTED about this for the entire time he was with us. I hate to think of how badly he tipped in his travels.
Bastards should know better. I HATE cheap tippers. If you can’t afford to leave the waitstaff a decent tip then stay home with your Hamburger Helper.
May 30th, 2007 at 11:49
I would have promptly wrestled the man to the floor, stolen his wallet, and informed him by gunpoint he would be paying my light bill. How did you not kill the man due to his blatant… asshole-ishness??
May 30th, 2007 at 4:26
Well, they say honesty is the best policy. Maybe tipping well is the second-best policy.
May 30th, 2007 at 4:42
Wow…that guy’s honesty is refreshing.
May 30th, 2007 at 5:44
With the greatest of respect Charlotte, FUCK REFRESHING, I want my cash! We aren’t allowed to ask why thet have stiffed us. If they fill in a comment card you might get an answer, if not, tough.
May 31st, 2007 at 2:30
Well, the honest is “refreshing”, I suppose…..
Of course, it doesn’t make him any less of an asshat, but hey, at least he’s an HONEST asshat.
Why the hell do people go out to eat, especially in pricier restaurants, and refuse to tip, especially for really good service? I mean, I can understand refusing to tip if you get nothing but attitude and shitty service, but when you get good service, or excellent service, or “oh my God, that was awesome!” service, YOU SHOULD FUCKING TIP!
One more reason why I hate people. I think that brings the list to four million, eight hundred and ninety-three thousand, six hundred and fifty-five reasons why I hate people.
May 31st, 2007 at 3:35
Reminds me of the time a party of eight adults came in and one jerk — who obviously was trying to look like a big-shot — placed a $100 bill next to his plate before I ever even greeted them.
It was as though he was saying, “This is for you, if you measure up.”
It was so insulting.
I never intentionally gave anyone, no matter how obnoxious, bad service… but I was tempted to at that moment.
I didn’t. I gave them the same good service I always gave everyone.
Needless to say, I was not surprised when they totally stiffed me.
I love your blog, btw. It really takes me back to my days waiting tables. I’m adding you to my blogroll. I hope you don’t mind the heading I’m putting you under.
- Dean
June 2nd, 2007 at 1:39
I would have responded, “O.k. And I think your an asshat…honestly.”
June 15th, 2008 at 4:32
No fucking way. If you’re cheap you stay your happy cheapskate ass at home and eat youur own food! That guy is a dickhead douchebag extraordinare!