NationStates Jolt Archive

I work as a busser/host at a restaraunt downtown. I see a range of behaviours, and I was wondering if these things are common in other countries:

Requesting to move because you were sat next to mentally challenged people. (Who were sitting quietly and behaving very nicely)

Requesting a new server because the server was homosexual.

Leaving no tip at all for a server who is known for great service.

Leaving less than one dollar for a tip.

Timing service from the moment they are sat.



I know there are going to be assholes everywhere, but I just want to get the perspectives of some people from other countries.
What are your servers/waiters/waitresses paid by the hour?
Do you have an idea of what the average tip is like?
Do all of the servers in your store smoke? (Most do at mine.)
Do the servers tend to go get drunk after work? (Most do at my work.)

Our average tip seems to be around 5 bucks, I'd say. This is not an upscale restaraunt, but it's mid-class. TGI Friday's.

Thanks! It seems to me most people are indifferent towards service industry, leaning towards rude. Usually I do not receive a "Thank you," or "Good-bye" when I say either of these things to people. Usually I get ignored or a glare.

Anyway, your thoughts and experiences? I can share some of my horror stories if everyone is interested. ^_^

My experience as a server was that the best customers were either servers or former servers, or people who would normally be dismissed by the rest of "polite society"--bikers, punkers, etc. If you gave them solid service, they tipped like crazy.

I waited tables for about two years and couldn't move behind the bar fast enough. There was better money back there and a completely different power dynamic. As a bartender, I had the power to toss someone who pissed me off. Couldn't do that to a table in the restaurant. Couldn't even really refuse to serve them. But I could toss an abusive drunk, and they knew it, so it was nice knowing that they needed a beer more than I needed to give it to them.

I work as a busser/host at a restaraunt downtown. I see a range of behaviours, and I was wondering if these things are common in other countries:

Requesting to move because you were sat next to mentally challenged people. (Who were sitting quietly and behaving very nicely)


I've never seen that happen. That's rather rude.


Requesting a new server because the server was homosexual.

How would they know? And why would that they care? That's also very rude.


Leaving no tip at all for a server who is known for great service.

Also rude.


Leaving less than one dollar for a tip.

Also rude, unless they only spent a few dollars on food. 10-15% of the bill seems an appropriate amount to tip (usually closer to 15%), lower if the service was poor and maybe a little bit higher if it was outstanding.


Timing service from the moment they are sat.

Now that sounds ridiculous.



I know there are going to be assholes everywhere, but I just want to get the perspectives of some people from other countries.
What are your servers/waiters/waitresses paid by the hour?
Do you have an idea of what the average tip is like?
Do all of the servers in your store smoke? (Most do at mine.)
Do the servers tend to go get drunk after work? (Most do at my work.)

Our average tip seems to be around 5 bucks, I'd say. This is not an upscale restaraunt, but it's mid-class. TGI Friday's.

Thanks! It seems to me most people are indifferent towards service industry, leaning towards rude. Usually I do not receive a "Thank you," or "Good-bye" when I say either of these things to people. Usually I get ignored or a glare.

Anyway, your thoughts and experiences? I can share some of my horror stories if everyone is interested. ^_^

I don't know about those top questions, but my only real experience with being a server was when I participated in a fundraiser for Latin club in which we worked as servers in a restaurant. The restaurant was very generous and not only gave us the tips we earned, but matched the amount of tips we earned.

I try to say "Thank you" to servers, but I don't always because I tend to be nervous around people.

http://www.stainedapron.com/

I generally tip double the amount that's customary. I do this primarily because (while I've never worked in a restaurant) I work in service myself, and I know how much shit you have to put up with in that kind of job.

I collect glasses in a local pub. Most people are fairly polite, helpful and say thanks, a few are pretty fucking rude sometimes. Tips are occasional and generally the cost of a cheap drink. Most people smoke and everyone drinks sometimes throughout their shift. Sometimes we'll get drunk afterwards but usually we're too tired.

I generally tip double the amount that's customary. I do this primarily because (while I've never worked in a restaurant) I work in service myself, and I know how much shit you have to put up with in that kind of job.

20% is my personal minimum, and you really have to piss me off to go below that range. I might feel differently if servers were making minimum wage at least and then were getting tips on top of that, but when they're making $3.00/hour or less, and getting taxed on a percentage of their sales whether or not they get tipped, then to leave nothing costs them money, and that's just wrong to do.

20% is my personal minimum, and you really have to piss me off to go below that range. I might feel differently if servers were making minimum wage at least and then were getting tips on top of that, but when they're making $3.00/hour or less, and getting taxed on a percentage of their sales whether or not they get tipped, then to leave nothing costs them money, and that's just wrong to do.

Amen to that. I think it's horrible how they don't even get minimum wage. If I thought my Congressman would give a damn, I'd write him about it.

I generally tend to tip at least 15% of the bill, more if it's a place I frequent regularly. I'm always amazed at people who tip miserably at places they frequent regularly. (You're just asking for trouble.) My brother doesn't tip at all. Makes me want to smack him.

Although I was never a server when I was in the restaurant biz, I've been in the moving business for years, and I'm always amazed how people don't think twice about throwing a few dollars towards the person who puts their food on their table, but don't think to tip the guys who carry thier baby grand piano up three flights of stairs. There are some days, where guys will work all day in the worst summer heat, and they won't get offered something as simple as a glass of water. Again, a lot of that depends on the customer, and what they do for a living. Perspective helps.

I work as a busser/host at a restaraunt downtown. I see a range of behaviours, and I was wondering if these things are common in other countries:

Requesting to move because you were sat next to mentally challenged people. (Who were sitting quietly and behaving very nicely)

Requesting a new server because the server was homosexual.

Leaving no tip at all for a server who is known for great service.

Leaving less than one dollar for a tip.

Timing service from the moment they are sat.



I know there are going to be assholes everywhere, but I just want to get the perspectives of some people from other countries.
What are your servers/waiters/waitresses paid by the hour?
Do you have an idea of what the average tip is like?
Do all of the servers in your store smoke? (Most do at mine.)
Do the servers tend to go get drunk after work? (Most do at my work.)

Our average tip seems to be around 5 bucks, I'd say. This is not an upscale restaraunt, but it's mid-class. TGI Friday's.

Thanks! It seems to me most people are indifferent towards service industry, leaning towards rude. Usually I do not receive a "Thank you," or "Good-bye" when I say either of these things to people. Usually I get ignored or a glare.

Anyway, your thoughts and experiences? I can share some of my horror stories if everyone is interested. ^_^

Those "reasons" for moving are ridiculous. I went to TGI Friday last night and tipped my usual amount 20%. I eat out a lot and I have favorite restaurants and favorite servers. I notice that things go smoother if you get the same person each time. Well at least if you treat them nicely. :)

Although I was never a server when I was in the restaurant biz, I've been in the moving business for years, and I'm always amazed how people don't think twice about throwing a few dollars towards the person who puts their food on their table, but don't think to tip the guys who carry thier baby grand piano up three flights of stairs. There are some days, where guys will work all day in the worst summer heat, and they won't get offered something as simple as a glass of water. Again, a lot of that depends on the customer, and what they do for a living. Perspective helps.

True. My family has moved quite a bit, especially when I was younger, and while we did sometimes have movers, there were other times when we did everything ourselves, and I got to learn what kind of work it really is.

I've seen some people who seem to think the movers are an inconvenience and want them to just get it done and get the hell out. Personally, most of the movers I've met are pretty cool guys, and I'll help them with the items that are easier to move, provide a cool drink or two, and some snacks if I have some handy.

I tip about 20-25%, because I hate people, and I especially hate making nice to strangers. It is only natural to assume, then, that my server shares my desire to grab a knife from the kitchen and cut the face off of the next jackass to demand their attentions.
My money is dumped, like so many slave girls, into the waiting maw of the volcanoe god that brings me my food in the desperate hope that they may be placated for another hour.

I tip about 20-25%, because I hate people, and I especially hate making nice to strangers. It is only natural to assume, then, that my server shares my desire to grab a knife from the kitchen and cut the face off of the next jackass to demand their attentions.
My money is dumped, like so many slave girls, into the waiting maw of the volcanoe god that brings me my food in the desperate hope that they may be placated for another hour.

What you have just described is the primary reason no one should ever abuse a server, or for that matter, anyone who controls what you are going to put into your body. Tipping is after the fact, so you may get away with shorting a server, but if you abuse them, you'll almost certainly wind up with a little extra on your plate.

I worked at a book store, different type of service, but service none the less.

so I've had...

1) Request for discount when a book's page was folded.
2) Request to remove the 50% off sticker from a damaged book and put it on a new book.
3) Request to find a book in which the buyer does not remember a) the title b) the author c) what the book was about d) Publisher and they get pissed when you cannot help them.
4) having a customer pay for their purchase all in pennies... (this actually happened)
5) the usual kids trying to sneak the playboy/playgirl mags to the children's area.


and now, I work in Tech Support... so you can imagine the... interesting requests I get now! :rolleyes:

achtung, waiters.

Make sure you don't book passage on the bad service express. Destination: no tip.

Tipping? Most people don't tip here in Australia at all. Or maybe they do, and my family are just stingy jerks. No, I'm pretty sure tipping isn't customary.

20% is my personal minimum, and you really have to piss me off to go below that range. I might feel differently if servers were making minimum wage at least and then were getting tips on top of that, but when they're making $3.00/hour or less, and getting taxed on a percentage of their sales whether or not they get tipped, then to leave nothing costs them money, and that's just wrong to do.
I tip double the tax, but round here you have to pay min wage.

Working at a grocery store I get asked all kinds of questions:

"Does this taste good?"


"Where is item X?"
"Isle n"
"No its not!"

"Why does item X light cost more than regular item X?
*wishes I could say: Do I look like management*

"Why is X on sale, but not X's competator?"

"Item X came up $29.95, but I saw it on a display for $9.94. It was the last one on the display, but there were still lots of similar to X."

"Is 13 items ok?" (asking if they can go through express)

This last one will take some splaining. We have this thing called UScan. As you may have guessed customers can scan items themselves. It is faster (one line waits for 6 machines, instead of 1) and if one of the machines hasn't crashed (which is rare as it is Windows based) it is more productive (one cashier can serve six people) and for the anti-social, you almost never talkto the cashier. It is operated by a touch screen which provides instructions at every screen.
"What do I do now?"
*cashier repeats word for word what the machine said*
"O, thank you." *gets it to work*

20% is my personal minimum, and you really have to piss me off to go below that range. I might feel differently if servers were making minimum wage at least and then were getting tips on top of that, but when they're making $3.00/hour or less, and getting taxed on a percentage of their sales whether or not they get tipped, then to leave nothing costs them money, and that's just wrong to do.

I agree. I'd rather pay a little more knowing that the waitstaff were paid a living wage.

And some states do require that waitstaff get the same minimum was as everyone else. I know Minnesota does.

Leaving no tip at all for a server who is known for great service.

Leaving less than one dollar for a tip.

Both of these are very common in small towns.


Requesting a new server because the server was homosexual.

Oddly enough, at a TGI Fridays, some people at the table next to me had a fit because they had to sit next to gay people. This was in the late 80s, and it was a friends 25th birthday so we were being a bit loud. But still, it was at a Fridays (a restaurant known for loud patrons) and in a primarily gay neighborhood in Dallas. But to the managements credit, they comped our meal because we had to deal with them. :D

I pay around 15% when I'm home, though when I first return home it takes me a few trips to a resturant before I automatically remember I'm supposed to tip (There's no tipping in Japan, and if you try to leave money for a tip, the Japanese have been known to run people down to return the money they acidently left on the table).

That being said, when I am confronted with extraodinarly bad service, I feel no qualms about leaving 2 pennies on the table to show what I thought about it.

The only other thing that bugs me is that sometimes the service staff feels that they HAVE to be tipped. I'm from Nevada (service economy city), and I know those tips are all that means rent and food or not for many people. I also know the crap that they have to put up with, but when you ignore me for an hour and a half, serve me the wrong food, take another hour to fix that, and not even offer an apology or a reason, I don't see why you should feel you get a bit extra to say thanks.

I pay around 15% when I'm home, though when I first return home it takes me a few trips to a resturant before I automatically remember I'm supposed to tip (There's no tipping in Japan, and if you try to leave money for a tip, the Japanese have been known to run people down to return the money they acidently left on the table).

That being said, when I am confronted with extraodinarly bad service, I feel no qualms about leaving 2 pennies on the table to show what I thought about it.

The only other thing that bugs me is that sometimes the service staff feels that they HAVE to be tipped. I'm from Nevada (service economy city), and I know those tips are all that means rent and food or not for many people. I also know the crap that they have to put up with, but when you ignore me for an hour and a half, serve me the wrong food, take another hour to fix that, and not even offer an apology or a reason, I don't see why you should feel you get a bit extra to say thanks.

Every try leaving a note that says "A thank you for your service" underneith your tip?

Every try leaving a note that says "A thank you for your service" underneith your tip?
If I had a pen and paper at the time... ;)

Actually, excepting when they manage to piss me off (which takes a bit), I always make the effort to say thank you to the server, send compliments for the food to the cooks, and say good-bye and see you again to the host/hostess.

It's only polite after all.

Usually I don't have a problem and I have no qualms about tipping (and feel very sorry for the servers, Lord I was embarresed when I came back home during the summer at the actions of some people). But every once in a while I just run into someone down right rude who doesn't even apologize for it. You can be late, wrong, or spill coffee on my lap and I'll be ok if I get an apology and/or an explanation.