Diners' Bill of Rights

[telescopes]

Just get rid of tipping altogether. Include it in the price of the meal and if the service sucks then people will just stop going there. The fact that servers have to budget based on the charity of patrons is an archaic system. The fact that some people tip and others don't is insane.

Americans seem to fully embrace tipping. It is an insane system. In California, waiters now make a minimum wage of at least $15 an hour. Yet, we are expected to tip as if they are on the old system of $2.50. Tips also support the caste like system of classism in that service is dependent not on one’s ability to purchase the product but rather the expectation of generosity of the purchaser.

 

[telescopes]

Agree 100% tipping is so last century. Just charge more, and put up signs that forbid tipping. It’s a stupid antiquated thing.

And the same for sales tax and other fees. Build it into the marked price. Please, no surprises at the time of sale.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Americans seem to fully embrace tipping. It is an insane system. In California, waiters now make a minimum wage of at least $15 an hour. Yet, we are expected to tip as if they are on the old system of $2.50. Tips also support the caste like system of classism in that service is dependent not on one’s ability to purchase the product but rather the expectation of generosity of the purchaser.

And it lays the burden of slow business on the servers… like it’s their fault that people aren’t coming in to eat.

 

[MarcosEZLN]

This list was written by a central Florida food critic roleplaying a restaurant owner. I'd just as soon listen to the average moviegoer opine about how Paramount Studios ought to be run. Copies of this list should come with those fake $20 bills that are actually just covered in Bible verses, as I suspect the Venn diagram of people who feel entitled to these "rights" and people who like to leave offensively useless tips is just a big circle.

 

[ashdigger]

I’m all for tipping and have used it effectively for years.

If I can’t afford to tip, I don’t go out.

I’m against mandatory tipping or increased prices to avoid tipping.

If you don’t want to tip, cool, you do you.

I travel a fuck ton for work, so I’m generally not up to speed on which restaurants want my patronage or not and we humans we just love making simple concepts complicated by inane rules.

Have I walked out of restaurants, yes, have I stiffed waitstaff, also yes.

Have I generously tipped for good service, yes, have I gone to dinner with ignorant shitheads who were entitled, also yes.

Here’s a friendly reminder that if you enjoy excessive rules and think you’re the president of some fictitious HOA, you’re a shithead.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

I’m all for tipping and have used it effectively for years.

If I can’t afford to tip, I don’t go out.

I’m against mandatory tipping or increased prices to avoid tipping.

If you don’t want to tip, cool, you do you.

I travel a fuck ton for work, so I’m generally not up to speed on which restaurants want my patronage or not and we humans we just love making simple concepts complicated by inane rules.

Have I walked out of restaurants, yes, have I stiffed waitstaff, also yes.

Have I generously tipped for good service, yes, have I gone to dinner with ignorant shitheads who were entitled, also yes.

Here’s a friendly reminder that if you enjoy excessive rules and think you’re the president of some fictitious HOA, you’re a shithead.

Actually, a few years ago a bunch of restaurants in NYC did away with tipping and increased their prices etc., which somehow worked out to me paying more at a few of the places that I was a regular at. I think, the thinking had more to do with the places trying to figure out how to pay the kitchen staff more who some at many restaurants make a bit less than servers. Part of the tipping game to me worked out to getting free drinks, small plates and such, if you are known to be a loyal customer and good tipper. That didn't really work the same way when gratuity was included in the prices.

I agree that if you can't afford to tip just stay home. The system isn't perfect but it is what it is and I have no problems with nice waitstaff making more than me.

 

[cshubhra]

The percentage based tip is kind of weird.

When I took my son to attend a competition in Orlando, the first day we had breakfast in IHOP

20% tip was $5

The same evening we enjoyed some dry aged steak and I also enjoyed an Old Fashioned..

20% tip was $40 for same amount of effort. This has a follow up - Both the waiter and the greeter remembered me and was extremely happy to see us when we went to dine a couple of days later.

On a different note - We recently hosted a client happy hour in Saint Louis. Normally I don’t host these kind of events but I was the senior most there, so I paid the bill and tipped $400. The waitress almost hugged me and ask multiple times if I have made a mistake.

On the other hand wait stuff in NJ hardly care about the tips they get from me and provide generally average service.

 

[telescopes]

I agree that if you can't afford to tip just stay home. The system isn't perfect but it is what it is and I have no problems with nice waitstaff making more than me.

Thank you for making the argument that the system supports classism. It has nothing to do with being able to afford a tip. It has to do with a system that fails to correctly quantify the price of the item correctly, fairly, without requiring a dance of generosity more reflective of third world style bribes and kickbacks. The no tipping practice works extremely well in first world countries in many European countries.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Thank you for making the argument that the system supports classism. It has nothing to do with being able to afford a tip. It has to do with a system that fails to correctly quantify the price of the item correctly, fairly, without requiring a dance of generosity more reflective of third world style bribes and kickbacks. The no tipping practice works extremely well in first world countries in many European countries.

What's your real gripe with the tips? aren't you a rich guy? Just make it rain on them hos.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

The percentage based tip is kind of weird.

When I took my son to attend a competition in Orlando, the first day we had breakfast in IHOP

20% tip was $5

The same evening we enjoyed some dry aged steak and I also enjoyed an Old Fashioned..

20% tip was $40 for same amount of effort. This has a follow up - Both the waiter and the greeter remembered me and was extremely happy to see us when we went to dine a couple of days later.

On a different note - We recently hosted a client happy hour in Saint Louis. Normally I don’t host these kind of events but I was the senior most there, so I paid the bill and tipped $400. The waitress almost hugged me and ask multiple times if I have made a mistake.

On the other hand wait stuff in NJ hardly care about the tips they get from me and provide generally average service.

You know what, that must of been a great feeling re: giving that $400 tip and wouldn't be surprised if the experience did as much for your well being as hers.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

Thank you for making the argument that the system supports classism. It has nothing to do with being able to afford a tip. It has to do with a system that fails to correctly quantify the price of the item correctly, fairly, without requiring a dance of generosity more reflective of third world style bribes and kickbacks. The no tipping practice works extremely well in first world countries in many European countries.

I heard that Europe is a different county with different customs and stuff.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

It just doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t have a problem tipping at all. And, our bill is usually three figures. It just doesn’t make sense.
I automatically average out 20% when looking at the menu, but why not just make the menu 20% more and pay their staff more?

To me it seems like tipping just benefits assholes who don’t tip.

And why hate on the list? Ha ha, nothing on that list offends me. Show us on a doll where that list hurt you? Or at least explain further why you think it sucks.

 

[telescopes]

I’m all for tipping and have used it effectively for years.

If I can’t afford to tip, I don’t go out.

I’m against mandatory tipping or increased prices to avoid tipping.

If you don’t want to tip, cool, you do you.

I travel a fuck ton for work, so I’m generally not up to speed on which restaurants want my patronage or not and we humans we just love making simple concepts complicated by inane rules.

Have I walked out of restaurants, yes, have I stiffed waitstaff, also yes.

Have I generously tipped for good service, yes, have I gone to dinner with ignorant shitheads who were entitled, also yes.

Here’s a friendly reminder that if you enjoy excessive rules and think you’re the president of some fictitious HOA, you’re a shithead.

Here’s the solution. Eliminate tipping with a fair wage. Eliminate the expectation. Then, if you still wish to tip, do so. Eliminate rules would be my motto. Not overly complicate life by making the dining experience more complicated.

 

[telescopes]

What's your real gripe with the tips? aren't you a rich guy? Just make it rain on them hos.

Define rich, LOL.

In all seriousness, I detest plutocracy and have an outlook that takes a hard stance against those economic forces that support classism. But this is certainly not the forum for that discussion. I simply find a system that puts a workers wages at the whims of the purchaser and not the obligations of the employer to be wrong. Tips are not commissions. They are a carryover from a time long past. But if someone tips or wants to tip, do so. Just don’t make it so that the primary income of the worker is dependent or expected to be generated by something that truly is out of their control.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

Everybody talking bout tipping but tipping but tipping is just the tip of the iceberg. What about the bribing of staff that goes on in order to get your free unlimited breadsticks faster at The Olive Garden?

 

[MarcosEZLN]

If restaurant owners can't afford to pay a living wage they should just skip their avocado toast and iphone payments, just like all the servers making $3 an hour are supposed to do in order to pay rent.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Define rich, LOL.

See what I did there?

I was helping you make your point.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

It just doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t have a problem tipping at all. And, our bill is usually three figures. It just doesn’t make sense.
I automatically average out 20% when looking at the menu, but why not just make the menu 20% more and pay their staff more?

To me it seems like tipping just benefits assholes who don’t tip.

And why hate on the list? Ha ha, nothing on that list offends me. Show us on a doll where that list hurt you? Or at least explain further why you think it sucks.

I never read the list. Haha

I do believe that some waitresses would rather use the current system.. I've "dated" a few waitresses that made bank.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Everybody talking bout tipping but tipping but tipping is just the tip of the iceberg. What about the bribing of staff that goes on in order to get your free unlimited breadsticks faster at The Olive Garden?

Absolutley.

and what about strippers that work at breakfast buffets?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

My oldest used to work at a really nice restaurant that forbade the servers to keep tips. They had to give tips to the owner who shared the tips amongst the cooks and other staff. To me, that just seems unfair. And, this is usual amongst the more expensive joints.
who is to say that mgmnt isn’t skimming? And, I tip more if the wait staff is extra attentive… so the cooks get extra if the wait staff is good and not if wait staff is not. Just seems stupid to me. We tip because the staff we interact with pleases us, and to then redistribute that money should be illegal.

Luckily she has a better gig now.