Embarrassing Tipping Incident

[Fern]

Sis and I took mom out for mother's day brunch. Well, we thought it would be brunch at 2 p.m., but they gave us dinner menus instead. My mom enjoyed her salmon, and my sister and I, not really being hungry enough for a full course entree, each chose the feta cheese/walnut salad and that was plenty.

Our waiter was nice. It's one of my favorite restaurants and the food is always good. My sister and I determined the tip on a $46 tab and the 3 of us left. As we were saying our goodbyes in the parking lot, the wife of the owner came running out into the parking lot and asked us if we were happy with the meal. We said yes, wondering why one earth she was out there asking when we had already told her husband (the chef) that we enjoyed the meal. She told us we had only left a 10% tip.

It was not intentional. We must have miscounted. Embarrassed, after my sister and mother left, i walked back inside and gave the woman some more money.

I felt bad because the service is always very good there, but my mom and i both agreed it was really tacky of her to accost us in the parking lot!

What do you think?

[sweeps]

Re: Embarrassing Tipping Incident

Yes, that was very tacky of her. How embarrassed you must have been.

[Lemony]

Re: Embarrassing Tipping Incident

That's not just tacky, it's outrageous!

[boefixepa]

Re: Embarrassing Tipping Incident

I'm with you. That was NOT appropriate NOR professional. This happened once when a group of us went out to lunch. We had to split the ticket three ways and someone messed up. Well one of the others paid with a check. The waitress called the number on the check and chewed my friend out for not leaving a good tip. (We ended up leaving like a $1 tip for a $30.00 meal, but it was a math mistake on the last girls part, not the one who wrote the check). She was REALLY mean in the message and the one girl saved the call and we place and played the message for the manager of the store. We were told the waitress was fired, and were given a gift certificate. I've never been back since, but just the idea that someone would do that bothers me. I know it can be hard to be a waitress, I've had and have more than a few friends and somedays you do well and others just suck, but that's the risk you take when you chose that job. You are always free to go find another one if you don't want to take the risk.

Long and short....I'd not go there again...or polietly point out to the owner that if they wish to retain your business they'd best not come out to the parking lot again!!

[shelbylovesmelby]

Re: Embarrassing Tipping Incident

OMG! I agree w/ Boefixepa "Sheep happens" & if you don't get the tip you wanted so be it. Get into another line of business.

I was in our local Perkins a few years back & a waiter chased after a customer asking if his service was so lousy that he didn't get a tip. Maybe it was or maybe the customer just wasn't a tipper.

My dh's grandma used to putz after everyone got up from the dinner table to the restuarants lobby & snag the tip! *LOL*

Eitherway, despite your tip being only 10%, 10% is better than a big fat NOTHING.

[Thrifty Ray]

Re: Embarrassing Tipping Incident

I agree it was extremely tacky. Shame on the owners wife for embarrasing you and your family.

While waitresses generally work hard and earn every cent of tips...the last I heard, tipping (and the amount you tip) was (strongly) encouraged....but NOT required.

[katwoman]

Re: Embarrassing Tipping Incident

In my early days, I waitressed. One of the most enjoyable jobs I ever had, too!

While tipping was once "encouraged", times have changed. The IRS came down hard on the restaurant business and tipping, so that today, each waitress has to pay taxes on a assumed 15% total based on her sales. This means whether she was tipped 15% or not.

In my experience, large parties were the worst tipping offenders. They would see a big bill and balk at having to cough up 15%, especially if most of the bill went towards alcohol consumption. Or, as in one case above, math mistakes were made. That's why the waitstaff would lobby the owners for a gratuity to be added to the final bill.

Tacky or not, I can't blame them for saying something when they have to pay the taxes on the money.

[Thrifty Ray]

Re: Embarrassing Tipping Incident

each waitress has to pay taxes on a assumed 15% total based on her sales. This means whether she was tipped 15% or not.

I had no idea that waitresses were taxed whether they receive the tip or not. If that is the case, IMHLO then restaraunts should raise prices, pay waitresses more and do away with tipping!

[eisor]

Re: Embarrassing Tipping Incident

Although they are taxed on a 15%, the company is also required to make sure that they receive at least minimum wage including their tips. So if a waiter/waitress doesn't make minimum wage on average after receiving tips, the company has to raise their pay.

[markio26]

Re: Embarrassing Tipping Incident

we tip 20% of the bill before discounts when we eat out at a nice restaurant.. of course, i live on an island and here the 20% gratuity is already built in the bill... we do not have to figure it out ourselves... and they greet you, make sure the meal is okay, and hug or kiss you when you leave or shake your hand, open the door, etc... they even deliver soup to me, at home in fine china... lol.... we are so spoiled here. they trust us to drop off the china when we have time at the restaurant...lol.

[Ima saver]

Re: Embarrassing Tipping Incident

I am spoiled too, they do take good care of us at our restaurant. I worked as a waitress and you do have to pay taxes on the assumption that you get the proper tip from everyone. There were many days, I would work for $8 and the restaurant did not make it up.
I always tip 20% or better.
I left my little waitress $6 last night for a bill that came to $10. She told me it was TOO MUCH and to take some back. I told her I try and make up for some of those that don't tip. Waitressing is a hard job!! The girls at our restaurant fight over who gets us at night!

[sweeps]

Re: Embarrassing Tipping Incident

I tip fairly well myself. But I don't like the fact that tipping a certain amount is expected. If when you don't pay the "expected" 20% tip the restaurant owner will chase you out to your car (or the waiter will spit in your food the next time you come in), then let's put it as a line item on the bill and call it what it really is: a mandatory service fee.

[Fern]

Re: Embarrassing Tipping Incident

At the time, my mother said don't worry about it, you'll make up for it another time. (She knew I go there a lot.)

As i mentioned, i went back in and gave the woman more $$, but it really spoiiled our Mother's Day. It made me feel like i was strong-armed into doing it.

[miclason]

Re: Embarrassing Tipping Incident

most restaurants here include the tip in your check

[tgavin71]

Re: Embarrassing Tipping Incident

Tipping isn't expected here in Australia. After reading this story I am pleased. If the service is exemplary I will leave a small tip but not for someone who is just doing their job.