In Shock! Do you give gifts to all these people?

[akaivyleaf]

Re: In Shock! Do you give gifts to all these people?

Why not reward people for their exemplary service? It doesn't necessarily have to be monetary, but aside from saying thanks, you can show your appreciation in some way. And I like tips... Sometimes if the service is particularly bad, I have a verbal tip. I plain out and out tell them why it suxed.

I agree though, that I don't like manditory gratuities added to my bill when more than 6 people go out together. It seems as if the wait staff know they are going to get a tip and get very sloppy. Or maybe I eat at the wrong resturants?

[PrincessPerky]

Re: In Shock! Do you give gifts to all these people?

Since most wait staff get a lousy wage and are assumed to get tips, I think it is essential that the tip is figured into the cost of a meal. I always figure that a meal costs 15 or 20 percent more than advertised, that way if there is great service I already budgeted for the tip, and if it was lousy I get the extra 5 to 10% I had budgeted back as a consolation prize. (even lousy service usually deserves a tip, it has to be really really bad for me to skip it, usually if it is that bad the manager needs to be in on the complaint, stiffing the waiter will only leave the impression they were right not to waste their time on you)

[akaivyleaf]

Re: In Shock! Do you give gifts to all these people?

I've stiffed the waiter on many occasions. The most recent, an expensive lunvh at a classy resturant. By the time I was finished the whole 300.00 bill was complimentary thanks to the manager, so of course no tip was given. Well actually one was- "You sux". But I think that was mild compared to the waiter spilling hot coffee on a member of our party, bringing my food incorrectly, not once, not twice but three times. How many times do you expect me to send my food back to the kitchen where he and his cronnies have ample opportunity to spit in it, drop it and dust it off and plate it again. I don't think so... Another member of our party received improperly cooked Chicken. Last I checked Chicken has to be COMPLETELY cooked, if your chicken is still clucking something just isn't right. The waiter couldn't understand English very well, but no problem, so happens another person in our party spoke fluent Italian. This shocked him so bad, he tried even harder to speak English.

What annoyed the other 3 people in our party was the fact that we knew the resturant was going to be expensive we had all budgeted our expenses and since EVERYTHING was ala carte we knew the baked potato was 7.00 and loaded it was 9.00, we didn't need the waiter to remind us of the price nor suggest that french fries were cheaper, that ruins the ambiance. We're still trying to figure out if it was a racial thing, as if to say we couldn't afford what we ordered and he might be stiffed of the entire check. That isn't our style AT ALL.

So happens this particular dining establishment has long since been the poster child for EXCELLENT Customer Service and when the manager was reminded of this, as posted in their mission/vision statement, the entire meal was complimentary. Didn't really matter though because I didn't eat, the hot coffee on the lap caused a quite uncomfortable burn and the impression left on all of us, won't have any of us going back, even with the free invitation to return for another complimentary meal. Anybody in Atlanta and want to try out the resturant on me? E-mail me privately.

Matters not how underpaid the wait staff is, that isn't my problem, they are willing to work fo less than savory wages, to me...its all about treating the customer properly. I can't see giving my hard earned money to someone for lousy service For Christmas eve I gave the waitress in my favorite place to do a unspoken kind deed a 50.00 tip. Have you ever heard of Waffle House? Well I go there every Christmas Eve and my bill came up to 8.32 and I carefully laid down a 50.00 bill and a 5 and 3 ones and .32 cents. Stacked one on top of the other. I politely got up and left. Merry Christmas. If she had treated me less than professionally , I would have tipped her the customary 15 percent and gone to another waffle house. If she had totally botched my order- well I wouldn't have tipped anything. But it seems to me, although a dive and many people complain bitterly about the "House", the wait staff always treat you like family, and you're right they are very dependent upon tips.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: In Shock! Do you give gifts to all these people?

Oh man that waiter sounded like he needed stiffed and worse, sounds like he got it too. Also sounds like I need a job at a waffle house! I could use a 50 right now .

[leewill72]

Re: In Shock! Do you give gifts to all these people?

I was reading an article in the morning paper about gifts you are supposed to give to the people who give you service during the year. It is from a book on tipping.

Does everyone really give gifts to all these people?

nope, not me, but as mentioned above, i either dont have them or dh and i act as our own.

I would think however, that people that could afford drivers, personal assistants, elevetor operators, garage attendants, coffee baristas(i dont even KNOW what that is), nannies and doorman wold feel more obligated to tip them than I would. If i could afford these things I wouldnt be here.

Our trash collectors make more than we do, and so does the mailman.

I havent gotten a haircut in almost 5 years, but if you have 1 person that does it all the time and she is like family and you can afford it, more power to you.

babysitters, dog walkers(if their kids), and paperboys if they have been serving you dependably and are nice good kids, I could see that.

Manicurists, Gardeners, Massage therapists, Personal trainers and Handyman are all paid well to begin with.

I worked in a Nursing home and a basket of fruit, box of candy or cookies for each shift was nice and appreciated. We were not allowed to take cash.


For teachers and day care providers I consider a gift the whole class can benefit from, or a personal note thanking the teacher for their thoughtfulness and dedication to your child. I have 4 kids, 1 of whom is a special challenge for his teacher, and not in special ed, and his teacher's patience is something i truly treasure.

just my opinion.

[Momtwo]

Re: In Shock! Do you give gifts to all these people?

I only give to my hairdresser and my newspaper carrier.