Restaurant's stop the madness!!!!(I work hard too!)

I'm sorry? But it's true. All you waitresses bussers waiters and callers. All you washers and greeters you hosts and yer dollars. I also work in the public.

I happen to work at a record store. My customers I guess would be the average of those same people coming in for a dinner, or a lunch. Most of them are sleepy and crazy enough to be breakfast customers. Most of them don’t know what they want. After smiling with hello I usually give them a minute, if they don't ask for help right away I let them browse. Most of them end up at my desk, usually with a crumpled piece of paper with some idea of a song name or, description of a band they heard. Questions as obscure as "he's a man with a cowboy hat"...."ummm...Garth brooks?" (After 21 other guesses) "Yes that’s the one".... nope that genius only sells his cd's at wall mart.

But, then there’s the non crap music where I answer obscure questions that people have looked all over for the answers to...I pull from my penniless love of media. I’ve been played answering machines and tape players. Held the phone up to VCR's and cell phones. Had a Japanese woman try to explain ABBA to me- Very frightening...I’ve been spit at and walked out on...been offered sexual favors in exchange for not calling the police. I’ve served celebrities and tried to translate drunkaneese into Fleetwood Mac rumors. I've chased thieves, I’ve searched for c.d's in the pockets of needle junkies. I have never once been tipped. it's just not expected.

Anyone in the service industry knows - especially retail - that there are going to be some customers you need to kick out, and some you need to make sure will come back again. Really good times. I guess at the risk of going on and on, I’ve always just felt like, why the difference? Thank you for asking me what I want to eat and then bringing it to me...I’m not sure how else that could work really? I guess everyone could just go to buffet/cafe type places and get their food...but then you would be out of a job..I know I’m not the only one who feels that way. I personally am getting really tired of walking out of a restaurant feeling guilty when i've paid more then the bill. where else would that happen? It sucks.

Do you deserve extra for outstanding work? heck yes!!! big time! but so does everyone.

[edit on 18-1-2008 by tasteslikethunder]

reply to post by tasteslikethunder


Do you make minimum wage? Most waiters and waitresses do, and they rely on tips to make up the difference. That is why they get tips.

It sounds as if you think you deserve something extra because you put your hands into pockets of people who might be carrying needlesl. Why aren't you letting the police do their job? YOU, don't have the right to put your hands on anybody (unless you want a lawsuit) because you think they have stolen something, and you shouldn't be chasing anyone either. What if they had a gun? Is a cd worth your life?

If you don't like helping people select an album based on an answering machine message, vcr or cell phone, it's time to quit your job, you snob!

actually yes i do make minimum wage, as do most people working in retail.minimum or close to it. I'm not sure how you missed it but that was a big part of my point. as for the rest of your angry misguided message which i wont lower myself to matching in tone- anyone who's ever waited for the police to do anything will tell you why "the extra mile" is sometimes required. i'm not bragging or complaining, its just the way it is. If we took a "hands off and wait" aproach we would have no product left in the store.
and in fact yes i do like dealing with obscure questions through strange methods, it keeps things interesting and i have the knowledge to pull from so i enjoy helping those people. hey- like i said before waitressing can be a really hard job, really hard and they deserve to be compensated for there work by the company that hired them. what i'm defending is those other jobs that are also very hard where we are also making minimum wage but society does not deam us tip worthy. then we have to walk in with our paycheck to eat some dinner and all of a sudden fork out 20% or more extra now that we have become the customer? Please, if someone can calmly explain why thats justfied i would honestly be greatful.

reply to post by tasteslikethunder


In my state the minumum wage for servers is $2.13. (That may have went up a bit since the minimum wage increase but it's still way below minimum wage). So, yes, they expect to be tipped. Could you get by on $2.13 an hour? Didn't think so.

quote from reservoir dogs makes my point pretty much:

"I'm very sorry the government taxes their tips, that's f'ed up. That ain't my fault. It would seem to me that waitresses are one of the many groups the government f's in the a$$ on a regular basis. Look, if you ask me to sign something that says the government shouldn't do that, I'll sign it, put it to a vote, I'll vote for it, but what I won't do is play ball. And as for this non-college bullsh** I got two words for that: learn to f'in' type, 'cause if you're expecting me to help out with the rent you're in for a big f'in' surprise." (severely sensored)

Its a hard job that requires skill, therefore it deserves to be payed a worthy wage. but done expect me to compensate you if you dont get it, stand up for yourself and demand change! dont demand mine. If i had to rely on tips to survive i'd be homeless in a week...living off change.

[edit on 19-1-2008 by tasteslikethunder]

that $2 wage is pretty screwed up.

here in Australia, the minimum wage for waiters is so much better than that, we NEVER tip anyone.

bell hops, waiters, nope none get tipped in Australia because they earn a decent minimum wage (its over $12 hr for basic staff, thats about 8 or 9 USD)

sounds like you get the # end of the stick over there though!

reply to post by tasteslikethunder


And when you find yourself eating loogies, pubes and God knows what else, please do not cry about it you chose that result when you chose not to tip your server accordingly. Like it or not that is how things are done here and realy your just being cheap.

reply to post by Jovi1


Wow.


Note to self - Never eat in a US restaurant in case of mistaken identity with someone who didn't tip. Thanks for the advice.

Originally posted by Jovi1
reply to post by tasteslikethunder

 

And when you find yourself eating loogies, pubes and God knows what else, please do not cry about it you chose that result when you chose not to tip your server accordingly. Like it or not that is how things are done here and realy your just being cheap.

nice. thats what i was waiting for. you see the best explanation of having to tip servers, but no one else in the service industry boils down to just that. "they can spit in your food" well isnt that nice. thats certainly the kind of world i want to live in. why stop there? you better slip your accountant a little extra or they could recommend an audit. you better pay your landlord a little extra or they could choose to raise your rent or kick you out. you better fall in line little girls and boys or bad things will happen to you. screw that. In retail, which is where i work for minimum wage, you can do everything or nothing for a customer. you can make his or her life very difficult or very easy. the reciept says no refunds exchange only, no refunds or exchanges on open product, we have the right to refuse service.
well. no tips for me. whats my motivation to bend those rules? maybe if you dont tip me the case gets broken when i put it in the bag. maybe if its defective when you bring it back i dont believe you. Why do you think you have the right to call me cheap? do you not understand even in the smallest little bit what i'm getting at? Someone please explain this all to me without being a ^&*() .. i'm not stupid, bullying just bounces off me. maybe i should send you some money or you might come to my house and bully me in person...

i'd like you to use the "like it or not thats just how things are done here" in the political forum and see how that flies.

[edit on 21-1-2008 by tasteslikethunder]

yep. just another breakfast out with waiting for water, waiting for refill. cold hashbrowns, colder waitress. oh here you go heres much more then i owe for that. aaaaaaaaghhhhh.

I've never, nor would I ever spit or do anything disgusting to anyones food. In fact, I've actually refused to take food to my customers because of things I've seen go wrong in a kitchen. (I know that puts you all at ease) If nothing else though, if anyone is worried..tip how they used to. You come in, you're seated, tip the waitress to "insure" good service. I had a few that would do that and they were the best. After the first time they did this I was ready. If I saw them coming through the door their drinks were on the table waiting and everything.

I worked at Jc Pennys for awhile and I really loved it although it could be rough. Keeping an eye out for shoplifters, cleaning up after customers CONSTANTLY! It was great though. Unfortunately I lost my temper on management and quit. I went on to work at a waffle house after that. I worked graveyard for almost a year and a half for $2.13 an hour...but I loved my customers and the people I worked with. I work at a pub now while I'm in school and it's way better. I mean, it's rough being on your feet for so long and running around but as far as that goes it's not too different from retail. I'm still dealing with customers that can be a pain, I'm still on my feet the whole shift..the only difference really is crappier minimum wage and weak wrist. There are some nights that I can come out with more than I made in a week at pennys..then there are nights where I won't have a table my entire shift. That's the reason I never go without two jobs anymore. People go into this line of work knowing that it's a hit or miss situation so really we have no room to complain. >^.^< It's too bad more servers don't actually enjoy their job because that's the key to making the money right there. If it's obvious you're unhappy and that you want to tell the customer to go you know where then nobody is going to want to tip them! Can't be cold. I tend to tip more myself because of the fact that I know what it's like first hand however I myself still tip by quality. If you come to my table with an attitude, my glass doesn't stay full, etc, etc..then the tip gets lower and lower until poof! I just wish they would pay us a regular minimum wage rather than what's considered minimum wage for a server. That would put an end to so much woah for me whining business. *shrugs* I'm sorry you had a cold waitress..go somewhere where they have pleasant waitresses that love their jobs..and make your visit enjoyable..like me.
haha Wow, I'm a total dork!

(Strange fact though..the minimum wage for a waitress is $2.13 in Oklahoma and in New Jersey whereas the norm. minimum wage is I believe is 2 or 3 dollars more in NJ than in OK because of the cost of living. That did kinda blow my mind when I moved.)

reply to post by shiftekittie


Thanks, with your post, I think I figured out an explanation for the OP here.

CD's have a pretty long shelf life, and food doesn't. If business is slow at a restaurant, the food has to be just thrown away after a certain amount of time.

If waitresses and waiters were paid an hourly wage without tips, the cost of a meal would be outrageously expensive, considering the expiration date of food. So actually the way it is set up now, is beneficial for all concerned. The owner benefits because they can keep the cost of their food lower, the waitress has to rely on customer service skills for higher tips, and the customer can still afford the meal.

Would you rather tip a waitress, or pay more for your meal?

reply to post by Enthralled Fan


in australia those people earn a decent hourly wage with no tips. we dont tip here in Aus.

and no, meals are not outrageously expensive.

i'd consider $11 au / $13us for a chicken schnitzel, or $15au (about 17us) for a t-bone or kangaroo steal at a pub diner to be reasonable.

i love my roo steak meals from there

Didn't we already have this tip or no tip debate in another thread?
Yes, yes we did. Why are we discussing it again?

Regarding other types of retail and tips, I know that Starbucks and Caribou Coffee usually have tip jars on their counters. So some other stores are doing it.

reply to post by Obliv_au


That's nice! What is chicken schnitzel? Is it a sandwhich? If it is, that seems a little high. T-bone for the price you mentioned is not bad, but I am sure a roo steak would be expensive in the States if you can even get it! Personally, I don't eat meat at all, which is a struggle where I live in Louisiana, since there are few restaurants that serve vegan meals. I'm usually relegated to the salad bar, which is about $5 at most places if that is all you are getting.

reply to post by snowflake_obsidian


I must have missed the other thread you are talking about.

Anyway, Starbucks? Are you kidding me? I have had about 2 of those ever, as I refuse to pay what they want for a cup of coffee! The last time I had one was about 5 years ago in Arizona, and I don't recall seeing a tip jar, so that must be something new?

I wonder about that franchise name. Either you see stars when you reach into your wallet to pay, or it's an indication that the prices are sky high!

reply to post by Enthralled Fan


Starbucks is a treat for me about once a week. Yes they are very expensive but they are so good!

Anyways, the tip jars are quite new I think, and probably not at ALL Starbucks stores. The two by my house do though. I will admit I have never left a tip, and they always smile at me and treat me nice whenever I go in there. It's nice to know that not everyone equates customer service to tips.

The tip jars at Starbucks were put there because of people leaving their change on the counter when they left. So there a gratuity is not required or even expected just greatly appreciated.

Originally posted by Enthralled Fan
reply to post by Obliv_au

 

That's nice! What is chicken schnitzel? Is it a sandwhich? If it is, that seems a little high. T-bone for the price you mentioned is not bad, but I am sure a roo steak would be expensive in the States if you can even get it! Personally, I don't eat meat at all, which is a struggle where I live in Louisiana, since there are few restaurants that serve vegan meals. I'm usually relegated to the salad bar, which is about $5 at most places if that is all you are getting.

chicken schnitzel / beef schnitzel - a thin chook or beef fillet with a bread crumb coating.

the prices i mention come with all you can eat salad bar (basic potato salad, coleslaw, stuff like that)

so yeah, really this should be about- why arent servers being paid what they are worth like in other parts of the world? why are owners getting away with giving them a different wage? why should i have to compensate so i dont get spit in my eggs?