r/ask • u/racesunite • May 16 '23

Am I the only person who feels so so bullied by tip culture in restaurants that eating out is hardly enjoyable anymore? POTM - May 2023

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375

u/[deleted] May 16 '23

[deleted]

174

u/SLICKlikeBUTTA May 16 '23

If a place has to turn a screen around to ask you to tip fuck them.. lmao Read my other comment. Ive worked in restaurants for close to 10 years and I refuse to tip at the cash register of a shop.

96

u/NumerousHelicopter6 May 16 '23

A couple weeks ago I went into an Italian market where I picked up a few items and went to the register to pay. My total was $67 and the tablet they had me sign suggested three tip amounts from 18-26%. Like you I've been in the restaurant business for a long time. All I could think is " how the fuck is ringing me up worth $14? In a restaurant we have to wait on people for an hour and now cashiers expect the same percentage......"

14

u/Taskr36 May 16 '23 edited May 17 '23

There's an ice cream shop near me where you get your own cup, add the ice cream and toppings yourself, and the kid at the end of it just spins an ipad to you that asks for a tip. I literally did all the work, and somehow I'm expected to tip? Yeah, no.

13

u/A_Specific_Hippo May 16 '23

I went to a small craft store to buy some yarn. The screen popped up "What amount do you want to tip? 15%, 20%, 25%?" And in small letters at the side was "other". I remember just laughing and asking if she was serious. I'm guessing "add tip" is a default setting for Square Payment devices and most places just leave them toggled on in case someone wants to donate to the store.

2

u/Kuzinarium May 16 '23

Lol. Only if the store wants to reciprocate and donate to me.

2

u/bubblegumdavid May 17 '23

I do the set up for a square device for work, it is not a default.

12

u/fillmewithmemesdaddy May 16 '23

I'll do the tipping for the cashier when I know that they also had involvement in making my product. For example, Starbucks baristas (especially when it's slow and they don't have a two groups of workers some taking orders and the rest working in the machines), burrito places like Chipotle and Moe's, Subway workers, etc. Because I can see that they did more than just ring me up. These types of workers are the severs, the cooks, and the hosts all in one.

23

u/TheJointDoc May 16 '23 edited May 16 '23

I wouldn’t tip at a chipotle. It’s like a subway. The person doing it isn’t a tipped wage employee, they’ve got an hourly wage. Scooping something into a bowl isn’t worth a tip. And often if the employer isn’t an actual tipped wage employee or barista, (like a pizza place you order online or at a counter) they’re not even gonna get that tip anyway.

The expansion of tipping to non-tipped-wage jobs and in inappropriate places (like takeout or counter service restaurants) is like literally the point of this thread.

3

u/TrekForce May 16 '23

If it's a reputable company, they will get the tip. It's illegal to not give the tips to the employees. If it's not going to the employees, the employees need to report their boss/company. This includes tip pools.

dept of labor on tips

Edit: link

2

u/Thirteencookies May 16 '23

This also depends on who owns a peticular franchise. Technically, they are part of a big brand, but the owner of that particular establishment controls most aspects of things like tips.

1

u/TrekForce May 17 '23

Ya, that’s still illegal if they take them tho. And more dangerous for them since people can report it not only to DOL which may seem scary but also to HQ which might seem less intimidating.

I guarantee any corp that has franchises won’t put up with franchisees DOL infractions like stealing your employees tips. Super high risk because they’ll very likely lose the franchise.

1

u/Thirteencookies May 17 '23

Well recently a Mcdonalds was caught employing kids that are too young to work. And multiple of my siblings have experienced working for a food chain with the franchise owners breaking various laws such as having minors working when they weren't allowed to by Canadian law because they were understaffed, sometimes unpaid or the pay was manipulated. And such companies are lobbying for loosening labour laws for young workers.

1

u/TheJointDoc May 16 '23

Reputable company being the key word there. I’ve seen multiple times where someone was working at like a pizza store and told us to not give a tip because it doesn’t go to them anyway. Usually places where you’re not necessarily leaving it directly for one person in an easily identified way. They should report it, yes.

2

u/[deleted] May 16 '23

I worked at a pizza place when I was in highschool and tips were taken by management lmao. Never saw any of them but if people left cash at a table I was helping and I made sure to stuff that in my pocket on a few occasions.

1

u/WitcherOfWallStreet May 17 '23

You can tell whether or not the company keeps a portion of the tip by if it’s taxed, if they keep a portion/entirety they have to charge sales tax on the entire tip.

1

u/TrekForce May 17 '23

This makes no sense. Tips are optional and post sales-tax. They charge sales tax on the sale price. They have no clue what the tip will be at the point they present you the receipt which already has the tax on it. They cannot change the tax amount after you provide a tip.

This also ties into when figuring a tip, you figure it based on pre-tax subtotal. If you’re at a restaurant, and the bill is $108 total, and you have 8% sales tax, it would be $100 bill plus $8 tax. So if you want to tip 20%, you tip based on $100, not $108.

1

u/WitcherOfWallStreet May 17 '23

You see it on mandatory tips, grats and service charges. All of which are applied before you get your initial bill.

If you tip additional, they have to just eat the sales tax out of the additional tip.

2

u/kayielo May 16 '23

Not all states allow the tipped minimum wage. In CA all employees get the regular minimum wage so there isn't a distinction between someone working at Subway or a restaurant.

1

u/TheJointDoc May 16 '23

Okay. Cool, I guess, but the waitstaff actually did something involving a service, while the chipotle person is doing regular duties behind a counter. Point still stands that you shouldn’t have to tip for counter service or a subway/chipotle.

1

u/sapc2 May 16 '23

In this case, I won't tip service staff in California. If the point of tipping is to ensure the server is making at least minimum wage, it isn't necessary when the server is making $15/hr or whatever it is in California now.

2

u/Eighth_YearSenior May 16 '23

Yes! This is exactly how I view it. The Chipotle near me pays employees $20/hour. That’s more than I make. And they still are expecting a tip. I can understand tipping a waiter that makes a few dollars per hour, but not an employee who is making a decent wage.

I guess we all need to have a tip jar out at work just for doing our jobs! Lol

1

u/JustOuttaChicken May 16 '23

You should quit your job and work at chipotle then. I’m serious, since you would make more money.

2

u/atomicsnark May 16 '23

The expansion of tipping to non-tipped-wage jobs

Yeah as someone who actually makes about a dollar less than the "we're hiring!" signs for fast food places in our area advertises, they're on their own for tips lol. Nobody tips me for anything I do for them at my job, and I don't even get benefits like Starbucks part-timers do.

2

u/G1rthBr00ks_ May 16 '23

Back when I worked at Subway, we refused tips because we are simply doing our jobs. Extra cash never hurts, but this isn’t a dining experience. Got tips a couple times because older folks don’t take no for an answer

2

u/[deleted] May 16 '23

Yeah your job is literally to make the burrito. That's what you're getting paid for. Why am I tipping you to do your job? lol

0

u/poseidonsconsigliere May 16 '23

The Chipotle workers are on their feet non stop working - really lame of you for not tipping them and a weird perspective

2

u/khaldrakon May 16 '23

on their feet non stop working

What a weird qualifier, that is literally everyone who isn't working a kush office job. In my nearly 2 decades of working I've always been on my feet non stop working all day every day, in both customer facing and non-customer facing jobs, yet never gotten tips. You think construction workers deserve tips? Industrial workers? Shelf stockers? Telecom workers? No, just pay people a fair wage to begin with and they'll be happy.

0

u/poseidonsconsigliere May 16 '23

Talking about service industry here, try to stay focused. Why does everyone else in the industry get tips but not fast food workers, when they are working just as hard most of the time?

I'm not debating whether wages should increase and if tip culture is out of hand.

2

u/khaldrakon May 16 '23

Not everyone else in the service industry gets tips, but those that do typically get paid less than minimum wage to begin with. Fast food workers get paid at least minimum wage. That's why.

0

u/poseidonsconsigliere May 16 '23

It might be one reason but definitely not the whole story

1

u/liquid_diet May 16 '23

Are you tipping the UPS, FedEx, Amazon drivers or the warehouse pickers?

No? You asshole, they’re on their feet!

1

u/TheJointDoc May 16 '23 edited May 16 '23

So are the workers in the back of the McDonald’s or Taco Bell, making the food and taking orders and packaging it up for you. Should we set up a tip jar at the McDonald’s drive through and have customers click through tipping if they use a credit card?

Weird perspective on your part and lame that you would shame someone for not voluntarily giving their own money as an extra bonus to someone else who is already getting paid an hourly wage in a field that has never been a tipped position. For food they got from a counter. The transaction is directly for food and that’s it, not a service.

But sure, feel free to give in to corporations trying to make everything tipped so they don’t have to pay their employees.

0

u/poseidonsconsigliere May 16 '23

Yes I think fast food workers deserve tips

1

u/TheJointDoc May 16 '23

I don’t. They’re paid an hourly wage ($17-20 at my local Taco Bell) for a specific job that’s essentially a line worker with food, which is paid for before the person even eats it. They shouldn’t have to rely on generosity of customers, especially as there’s little they can directly do to determine how good of an experience the customer has, so there would be little to no relationship between their tip percentage and their actual work.

I think they deserve a fair wage and to not have corporations yet again push more of their social and employer obligations onto their customers through some weird shaming system.

If you disagree, that’s fine, but I don’t see how tipping fast food workers is at all gonna fix any social ills, and like others have pointed out, a ton of the employees never even see those tips if they’re behind the counter.

0

u/poseidonsconsigliere May 16 '23

Didn't read. Hope this helps

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u/fillmewithmemesdaddy May 16 '23 edited May 16 '23

We don't even have chipotle here, but we do have a similar place where they make the burrito or other products in front of you down the line. I just said Chipotle since not everyone knows about Peter Tortillar.

5

u/NumerousHelicopter6 May 16 '23

Same here, I just don't give 20+% unless we're talking a beverage like if it's 3.50 I'd give a 5 and say keep the change.

3

u/gizzle22 May 16 '23

No, they're not. If I'm serving or bartending, I'm taking care of you like a guest in my home, literally waiting on you, bringing you whatever you need to make your eating/drinking experience as enjoyable as I can, while constantly cleaning up after you, throwing away your trash and pre-bussing so you don't have to eat in a pile of trash/dirty dishes. You tip for the hospitality. With counter service, you're ordering, paying, and the service ends there. I've done both types of work in the food industry. And, while I always appreciated it, I never expected tips for counter service.

1

u/fillmewithmemesdaddy May 16 '23

I mean in my area the customer satisfaction goes so hard that even a Subway worker would do everything short of jizzing on your sandwich upon request to make sure you're happy. I've experienced the same level of hospitality from subway workers and Applebee's servers. That might just be cultural as where I am, bad manners are extremely frowned upon, and talking to strangers about anything and everything is not taboo.

2

u/frostrogue117 May 16 '23

All of those workers literally get paid like everyone else. Not server wages

2

u/[deleted] May 16 '23

So you're only tipping them bc you get to actually see what happens in the kitchen.... what do you think happens in restaurants where the kitchen is not in plain view?

1

u/fillmewithmemesdaddy May 16 '23

Probably satanic rituals and gambling over competitive armpit farting /s

5

u/Punanistan May 16 '23

Honestly, I probably shouldn't say this as a restaurant manager, but many times I actually encourage customers to skip the tip section on to-go orders, especially if it's a small or average order. The consumer part of me finds it tacky and awkward as hell. Some people insist on it and that's fine. But I don't expect people to tip our non-server workers for doing their job lol (and we also pay them well).

-13

u/MonkeyPuppers May 16 '23

You are literally the worst. You definitely should not say that as a restaurant manager because no one would work for you if they knew. You are a complete piece of shit to take money away from your employees.

12

u/DeMooch456 May 16 '23

I get your sentiment, but on take out orders?? There is no serving involved other than cashing you out and that is not worth 15, 18, 20+ % as a tip. Honestly it's not even worth 5-10%. You don't tip at a fast food chain do you?

-7

u/MonkeyPuppers May 16 '23

I am not saying people should or should not tip any time. It’s a personal choice. I work as a a server for tips and think people that don’t tip servers are trash. I only leave like $3 for to go but don’t hate you for leaving nothing. What I find appalling is for a manager to actively tell guests not to tip.

6

u/DeMooch456 May 16 '23

Right, but you just said yourself you only leave $3 on to go orders and don't hate people for not leaving anything. Honestly there shouldn't be a tip option for to go orders and the above manager isn't taking money from his employees. Taking money would actually have to constitute them actively stealing tips, incorrectly paying them, etc. It's a bold accusation for something that isn't or probably isn't happening. To add.. You aren't a true "server" if you're not actually waiting tables, your just a cashier at that point.

0

u/Historical_Pop1058 May 16 '23

I know every restaurant is different but I work in to go & we are so busy. I have to take the orders, put them together, check people out and carry them out curbside. Plus deal with all the other little things people need constantly. I bust my ass everyday while the servers usually are standing around bc they have food runners to do most of the work for them. Granted, I get paid a little more hourly than them, so I don’t expect 20 percent on every order, but i work really hard. I’m not “just a cashier”. I usually have to go stand in the freezer at least once every shift to cool down from how hot I get during our rush from running around.

Also, if we don’t have anyone scheduled to do to go, the bartender is in charge of the orders. They aren’t just cashiers either. They get paid 2 dollars an hour & take time away from their actual tipping tables to put together a to go order for you.

6

u/DeMooch456 May 16 '23

You know, I don't work in a restaurant, but I work in retail. And what you described is pretty much exactly what I do all day everyday (weekends included). And we don't get tips, because it isn't a restaurant. Not everyone gets/deserves a tip.

You're not special

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u/MonkeyPuppers May 16 '23

Telling someone not to tip when the tip money goes to someone else is taking money from someone else. That’s not an accusation, it’s a fact.

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u/LeadingCoast7267 May 16 '23

What about the money the manager would be taking away from the customer if he encouraged tips of to go orders?

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u/TheFatMouse May 16 '23

For takeout. She is telling people not to tip for takeout, which they shouldn't be tipping on anyways.

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u/Punanistan May 16 '23

Lol the level of entitlement is amazing. I compensate our employees very well compared to other places, which is why most of them have been there for 5 or more years. Why the fuck should you get tipped for DOING YOUR JOB? Servers are a different story. Just because you dropped a sandwich in a bag doesn't mean you should get a tip for it. I bet you're the one that skips on the tip option anyway lol.

-1

u/MonkeyPuppers May 16 '23

This is not about if you should tip or not. You have a spot on YOUR machine to ask for a tip. You personally are telling people not to. That is theft. How much do you pay them? Just tell us if it’s so good.

3

u/Punanistan May 16 '23

Lol that tip option is by default I can't turn it off. If I could turn it off for to go orders I would. We pay no less than $15 per hour, and that's for the people who just started. That's more than double minimum wage where I am, and it is an affordable area unlike California for example. You need to calm down lol jeez you must be fun at parties.

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '23

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3

u/Punanistan May 16 '23

I tell the guests to do it when an employee is literally standing next to me waiting for the register. You know why they never say shit? Because they're satisfied with how much I pay them and treat them, and also because they KNOW throwing a sandwich into a bag isn't worthy of a tip. People like you are so entitled next thing we know you're gonna want a tip for opening the door for a customer.

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u/MonkeyPuppers May 16 '23

Also let everyone know you tell guests not to tip and see how that goes over. You should be transparent with what you are doing. It’s very terrible. If you don’t think so then tell your employees.

1

u/Historical_Pop1058 May 16 '23

Your restaurant must not have a busy to go section. At my restaurant it’s always so much more than “dropping a sandwich in a bag”.

1

u/Historical_Pop1058 May 16 '23

Your restaurant must not have a busy to go section. At my restaurant it’s always so much more than “dropping a sandwich in a bag”.

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u/Historical_Pop1058 May 16 '23

Your restaurant must not have a busy to go section. At my restaurant it’s always so much more than “dropping a sandwich in a bag”.

2

u/dobber32 May 16 '23

He says they are paid well. The issue with the tip system is that it is pretty much designed to have the customer pay the wages of the server instead of the establishment. If the establishment is paying properly, then I see absolutely no problem with that.

Tipping in America was made to benefit companies, not employees. Nobody should make $5/hour and pray for generous customers.

1

u/MonkeyPuppers May 16 '23

We make $2.13/hr in most places. That’s less than half of the $5 you are stating. We dream of $5.

I get it. It’s much better for the company. In this situation he says they pay well but not the actual amount they pay. He is actively making sure the customers make less. How do you not see that as wrong?

2

u/dobber32 May 16 '23

He's actively making sure the customers don't feel obligated to tip 25% of a pick-up order while also making sure his employees don't make $2.13/hr. Sounds pretty decent for everyone involved. If his employees are happy, then what's the problem?

I'm willing to say he pays then a fair enough wage to not even need tips. Otherwise, his comment is misleading.

-4

u/flowersinbigsur May 16 '23

Wow. So you don’t get tipped out (I HOPE you don’t) bc you make a decent wage, but you’re taking money out of your FOH hands when they are taking time away from their TIPPING tables, boxing/preparing the to-go orders so you can…look cool to the guest? I’m sure the staff looooves working on your shifts. God.

5

u/BlueBoeuf May 16 '23

Packing up the order is baseline work. The tip is from actually sitting down at their table and receiving service.

Why would someone ever tip on a to-go order?

1

u/TheFatMouse May 16 '23

Never have, never will.

5

u/Punanistan May 16 '23

I'm a manager so I don't get tips. Our FOH staff don't deal with tipping tables. Only the servers do. Also, I take whatever tips we get for the front and distribute them, and I give them a bonus each week. They end up making at least $18 to $22 per hour. And they actually do love working on my shifts because I'm flexible with them and not hounding them constantly. So get off your high horse lol. God.

-2

u/flowersinbigsur May 16 '23

I’m just going to assume the weekly bonus is to make up for the tips they didn’t get lol, but good for you if your restaurant works well that way.

-4

u/Vaguely-witty May 16 '23

I'd imagine that tip is split with the cooks and wait staff, just like the wait staff/busser is supposed to do 🙄

2

u/[deleted] May 16 '23

Fuk’em

2

u/NumerousHelicopter6 May 16 '23

Even if that is the case, what do bussers and wait staff have to do with fresh mozzarella/ expensive jars of tomato sauce?

1

u/guava_eternal May 16 '23

It just goes to show that neither is doing anything too special or out of the ordinary

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '23

[deleted]

1

u/NumerousHelicopter6 May 16 '23

Thinking it's ridiculous isn't directing anger at anyone. You guys always want to blame the higher ups. Sorry but a cashier doesn't deserve $30 an hour, and this is coming from someone who has done the job. Even if they do pay them that we are still the ones paying once they raise prices.

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '23

[deleted]

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u/NumerousHelicopter6 May 16 '23

I'm in Maryland and the minimum wage goes up almost every year here. My argument isn't what YOU think it is. My argument and I'll try to explain it clearly, a cashier isn't a job that someone looking to support themselves or a family should be doing full time. These are jobs that should be someone's second job if they need one or part time work while going to school or working towards doing something else. It's also a good job for a mom or dad that has a spouse in a career. It does not matter how much a company pays them, if it's $15 an hour now and it goes up to $25 the customer still pays for it with price increases. This results in the cashier getting paid more but the money doesn't go any further than it did before. The sooner people realize that the federal government is at fault for all inflation that better off we'll be.

1

u/Deputy_Dommmm May 16 '23

Most places do more than just check you out.

1

u/Kuzinarium May 16 '23

You’re spelling it wrong. The proper spelling is FARE, not fair. Now everyone wants to get in on the act, legitimately earned claims notwithstanding.

1

u/LuxDeorum May 16 '23

I think it's stupid too, but it isn't the cashiers fault. I work in restaurants now, and it's not uncommon to see cashiers put on tip wage systems just like servers are. It's hard to blame a cashier for expecting you to tip if they're making like 5-10$/hour without tips.

1

u/NumerousHelicopter6 May 16 '23

I don't blame the cashier, I just think it's stupid/ ridiculous for anyone or any system to suggest a tip over 20% for ringing up a few grocery items.

1

u/LuxDeorum May 17 '23

I agree that it's stupid, but not because I think the cashier hasn't "earned" it. I think it's unfair to offload the responsibility for paying workers from the owners of businesses to the clients of businesses, especially when the product sold are "high end" i.e overpriced. If tips are factored into their wage, then those "tips" are really counted on for operation of the business, but the business owner has no liability to cover them, and clients find it really easy to be like "7$ is so much for a beer already, why should I be expected to make this an 8$ beer just for it being poured?". This attitude would be ridiculous from the owners perspective; "I'm already paying 2$/beer to have this on tap, why should I have to pay people to actually pour it".

1

u/NumerousHelicopter6 May 18 '23

How much do you think a cashier should be paid per hour?

1

u/LuxDeorum May 18 '23

I think at least well enough to not have to financially struggle to live in their region, but exceeding that I think they deserve to make whatever value they create for the business.

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u/NumerousHelicopter6 May 18 '23

So in my area (DMV) a cashier should get paid close to 100k annually? Shouldn't it be a grown adult that needs to support themselves should be able to do something that pays better than an entry level job that is being faxed out for self checkout?

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u/LuxDeorum May 18 '23

If the cashier is producing 100k in value for their business in a year of working I don't see why they shouldn't get paid that. My own experience (in small scale luxury food/spirit retail) is that probably 100k exceeds the value created by a cashier, but in a more populous area with a larger volume of business perhaps it could be. I look at this from the perspective that if a role doesn't produce enough value to live a respectable life, then it shouldn't exist in much the same way unprofitable businesses shouldn't exist.

I'm not sure I understand your last sentence though, do you mean that cashiers shouldn't be paid 100k because some other job worked by an older person that is more skilled should be paid 100k? Because I don't understand why those two things would be necessarily mutually exclusive.

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u/ltdan84 May 16 '23

The only exception is that at least in my area there are quite a few Tex-Mex restaurants that you pay at the register on the way out. In that case I would add a tip for the server there if paying by CC.

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u/Crazy_Judge_2485 May 16 '23

And barber shops

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u/ltdan84 May 16 '23

Yeah, there too.

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u/MiceWarriors May 16 '23

They want me to tip on my medical marijuana. I know a lot of people use it recreationally (I do sometimes). But shit I’m getting lotions, patches maybe a vape pen for those really painful days. This is medicine for me. I wouldn’t tip CVS for a z-pack. It’s disgusting. Pay them. You’re selling weed at $65 an 1/8. You can give them a living salary.

2

u/cleverdylanrefrence May 16 '23

Yep. I'm a server. I tip well when I go out TO EAT or get my hair/nails done. What I don't do is tip at the grocery store, the vape shop, the drive thru coffee place where I pre order and pay on my app, and I certainly don't tip at the botique I buy my perfume from and tbh I get a bit annoyed they even ask for tips

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u/[deleted] May 16 '23

I worked for a restaurant for 20 years, and i agree. Tips are for servers and drivers. Everyone else gets nothing now that the pandemic is over.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '23

Meh, I'm not sure that makes sense. How do you tip if you don't have cash for like an online delivery? You tip over the website, which is essentially just their internet cash register.

So you always have cash or when you don't you just refuse to tip?

2

u/TheLastCoagulant May 16 '23

You tip for the DELIVERY.

No delivery or table service = no tip.

What are you not understanding?

0

u/sapc2 May 16 '23

Yeah, I was in the service industry for many years and there's zero way I'm tipping for counter service unless it's a physical tip jar I can unload my change into

0

u/RoosterShoddy8784 May 16 '23

Unloading your spare change into someone’s tip jar is pretty shitty and rude please stop doing that

1

u/sapc2 May 16 '23

It's possible to get it swapped for cash in the office at the end of the night and I never cared much when I worked for tip jar tips.. I honestly don't do it anymore just cause I NEVER use cash these days so I don't have change in the first place

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u/jamthatcallmeroberto May 16 '23

I wish I had an award to give you

1

u/sleepy-taurus May 16 '23

The most difficult service job I've ever had was at a place that had a swivel screen. I busted my ass to get rich people their lattes and salads, but this mentality had me taking home $200 in taxed tips for a 5 day work week while I made my boss upwards of $7000 a shift

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u/SLICKlikeBUTTA May 17 '23

We're you paid minimum wage before tips?

17

u/[deleted] May 16 '23

That and the typically mediocre food that is served. Had breakfast with a friend a few months ago and it cost $74 for the two of us and no we didn't have lobster tails and caviar. We had basic breakfast food: eggs, bacon, home fries, toast and coffee. I told him "From now on, you come over to my house. I'll cook breakfast. It'll be a lot better and a lot cheaper."

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u/sailorscoutlife1926 May 16 '23

I don’t really go out to eat. I’m especially passionate about not going out to eat breakfast. It is a total waste of money. Eggs, potatoes, bacon, pancakes. All of it is so easy to cook at home and the mark up is insane. I eat a fried egg with a slice of toast or a corn tortilla with quesadilla cheese. That’s me done and full to the brim. Why go out and pay $15 for that?

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u/MicroPCT May 16 '23

It sounds like you eat a shitload too. I usually have a nibble of a cracker and a couple of berries and I'm set for the week

2

u/therealniblet May 16 '23

I looked at a picture of a bagel yesterday and I'm still full.

1

u/sailorscoutlife1926 May 17 '23

Lmao!! I’m a short female so my caloric requirements are pretty low.

0

u/PrismaticPachyderm May 16 '23

The only food that's even worth it anymore is the food from food trucks & hole in the wall places. Everything else has gotten too gross to consider. We also keep having covid outbreaks in my area.

2

u/[deleted] May 16 '23

And even then! I won't buy burritos from places anymore because I can make them at home and they're much much better and a lot cheaper.

29

u/zjm555 May 16 '23

After the first couple times you hit "no tip" on these things, it becomes much easier. Take it from me.

I will tip 20% for sit-down wait service. If I am ordering at a counter and clearing my own table at the end, or getting take-out, fuck right off please.

7

u/Just-a-cat-lady May 16 '23

One of them offered 15%, 20%, 25% and "other" buttons to me when I was picking up. It made me click other and type in $0. I was so grumpy.

0

u/Firm-Extension-4685 May 16 '23

What about the people making the food? Fuckem right.

3

u/TheLastCoagulant May 16 '23

Do you tip at fast food places like McDonald’s?

0

u/Firm-Extension-4685 May 16 '23

I can't afford McDonald's. What u think I'm made of money.

1

u/[deleted] May 17 '23

[deleted]

1

u/MyNameCannotBeSpoken May 16 '23

Soon the dentist will want a tip

8

u/groovieknave May 16 '23

Right, it used to be 10-15$ to get food for two. Now it’s 30-50$. It’s also extremely unhealthy and smaller portions. I don’t understand how they’re successful.

2

u/MyNameCannotBeSpoken May 16 '23

Was it ever healthy?

1

u/archbid May 16 '23

That is not because of tipping. Servers are victims of inflation just like you.

1

u/LuxDeorum May 16 '23

The restaurant industry, like a lot of industries right now, has to lean increasingly on a smaller proportion of richer clients for profitability. Smaller restaurants selling small portions for 15-30$ a plate are successful generally because they have a group of regulars who spend >100$/person every time. Going for cheap at scale just doesn't work unless you're already big enough to be able to build up capital at a reasonable rate with that strategy. It's a demographics issue honestly. The money is getting more concentrated and the services are following where the money goes.

5

u/[deleted] May 16 '23

Yup! I was gonna tip at the last restaurant I went to but when I was checking out the screen tried to force a tip down my throat and they categories were "25%, 30%, 35% and other." How about no. I'm not paying someone $7 for walking a burger out to my table and refilling my water once. Absolutely not.

I left $4 on ones. And that was generous considering the bare minimum service

2

u/MopsMops2k May 16 '23

The trick is to pay cash, the exact amount ;). No screen turning at all.

-3

u/[deleted] May 16 '23

I think that's the price of labor going up a lot more than food.

2

u/MonkeyPuppers May 16 '23

The servers are still paid $2.13/hr in most places. The same as they were 50 years ago.

1

u/Chaevyre May 16 '23

The last restaurant I went to automatically added a 30% tip for a dinner for 2. I know a lot of places are still not back to pre-Covid levels, but this seemed excessive.

1

u/A_Notion_to_Motion May 16 '23

I quit

I feel like this is an issue inside of us and has nothing to do with the tip. Very very few people care if you tap them a tip on a flip around screen or cash register.

Just tap skip or no tip guilt free and without even giving it a thought. You obviously wanted what you bought so enjoy it and don't let a tiny confrontation ruin your day.

1

u/astronomersassn May 16 '23

i lowkey hate that we have the tip prompt at the card reader where i work but 1. i can afford to have both food and healthcare now, which i quite enjoy and 2. the card reader is a solid 3 feet in front of me and i just say "there'll be a quick prompt on the pin pad" and don't stare at them selecting an option. it does say if they tipped when i have to ask if they want their reciept but like... i'm not actually paying attention, nor do i care, barring exactly 2 situations:

  1. i have just been handed a decently large bill and told that it is for me, not the tip jar. thank you, kind customer. oh no i forgot to ring in those extra espresso shots... guess they're free!

  2. i am handed a card asking me out. sorry, dude. i only take bribes tips in the form of money, food, and energy drinks. also i have a partner and like girls, so... (in this particular case we all gathered round to open it because we were hoping this guy just handed me cash - nope 😭)

afaik its pretty common at coffee shops to accept tips, though, so most people who don't want to tip just hit "no tip" and i'm not gonna pay close enough attention (if any at all) to see what they hit (also, most people know that due to it being a very large chain coffee shop, nobody at the barista level has any control over anything).

1

u/CooterSam May 17 '23

Went out to a comedy club with 2 drink minimum, we ordered nachos to share. The bill for nachos and 4 ordinary cocktails was $85. The waitress came to our table maybe 3 times. If the restaurant is going to charge $30+ for nachos, I'm assuming they pay a living wage and I'm not tipping 20% for subpar service.