The waitress "black code" rant

[Creepn]

I am trying to understand how you were able to feed your family on 15 dollars.

If it's three people, that's 4.50 each plus tax. If there's 4 of yall, that's not even a burger and a drink.

I was wondering if you ordered food for two and split it with others. Servers hate that because you take a 4 top and tip for one person basically.

It was breakfast. I had the Ranchero plate with a drink, wife had a taco with water and a kid's plate was no more than 4 dollars with a juice.

[Nathan89]

Honestly, I did think 15% was a decent tip. NOBODY ever told me otherwise. I even asked a waitress one time if it was ok and she said it was fine. I guess now she was trying to be modest about it.

Anyway from this point on, I'll spread the word. 20% average tip and 30% is good.

15% has been the standard for a long time but now many people think it should be higher. Those people like increasing their tip standards in increments of 5%. There was never any in between for them but that's probably because most people suck at math. Don't let these s bother you. If you want to increase your tip feel free to stop anywhere between 15-20%.

Good tip and 30% do not belong in the same sentence.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

Old Jewish people are pretty bad tippers too, and the fact they complain an ass ton more than anymore else/ask for a detailed analysis of every item on the menu makes them even worse.

[Nathan89]

luck the fakers thinking 15% was a good tip

I'm a broke ass college student and I tip 25% wherever I go

Only a ing idiot would tip 25% if they were broke.

[baseline bum]

They're called muslims now.

Naw, non-Persian muslims weren't bad.

[baseline bum]

Mexicans are much worse tippers than blacks. I had a server at a place I frequent tell me that the word "tip" is not is not in the Spanish language. Funny.

I find it hard to believe you don't know what the Spanish word for "tip" is living in the latin strip club capital of the world.

[Dex]

15% has been the standard for a long time but now many people think it should be higher. Those people like increasing their tip standards in increments of 5%. There was never any in between for them but that's probably because most people suck at math. Don't let these s bother you. If you want to increase your tip feel free to stop anywhere between 15-20%.

Good tip and 30% do not belong in the same sentence.

IMO, depends on the size of the bill.

If all I've had is a sandwich and beer and my bill is $10, I feel like a jerk leaving a tip of two bucks. Two bucks doesn't get you these days.

Granted, it's not like three dollars is gonna break the bank or anything, but at least you're going out of your way to show that you appreciate the service...which is what a tip SHOULD be. I, personally, think its stupid that restaurants make waiters count on what should be a gratuity just to survive.

[ChuckD]

I honestly did not know 15% was a ty tip. ! lmao We've been unknowingly enforcing the stereotype! Nobody ever said a thing. I've always heard that 15% is a decent tip and when we dine out with white friends, they tip 15% too.

Dammit I feel really ty now. How was I supposed to know this?

15% is fine. Don't buy the hype. That $1.50 you tipped on that $10 steak in years gone by is now $4.50 on the now $30 steak. Food prices are not static, and tips automatically go up when they do.

[4>0rings]

There is one group of people that tip worse than luck the fakers, it's the people that come from Mexico to shop, then go out to eat. Rich ers don't ever tip. I think it's more of culture thing in Mexico than being a cheap ass luck the faker.

These people were feared more than blacks when I was a server.

[Vici]

15% is fine. Don't buy the hype. That $1.50 you tipped on that $10 steak in years gone by is now $4.50 on the now $30 steak. Food prices are not static, and tips automatically go up when they do.

lol 20% is average. Justify being a cheap anyway you want but you're still cheap. Guess when the last time the hourly rate for a server went up? Here is a hint, not in the last two decades.

And if you tip $4.5 on a $30 steak? Wow. Servers remember that. Fair warning.

[Vici]

Good tip and Nathan89 do not belong in the same sentence.

fify

[Wild Cobra]

Hey Creepn, did you make any indication of how "cheap" the prices were that the waitstaff may have heard? If so, they may have thought you might be cheap on the tip as well.

[ChuckD]

lol 20% is average. Justify being a cheap anyway you want but you're still cheap. Guess when the last time the hourly rate for a server went up? Here is a hint, not in the last two decades.

Guess what? Their overall hourly pay, including tips, has gone up sharply as food prices increased. They're not the only ones who's wages are flat. Middle class wages are flat for the last 30 years. They're in good, and numerous company. I don't feel all that sorry for a profession who's tips per hour have probably tripled or better over that time period. Waiting tables has never been about the hourly wage. That's always been .

And if you tip $4.5 on a $30 steak? Wow. Servers remember that. Fair warning.

Servers also remember good repeat customers who don't order a bunch of special , or give them crap or at ude. Those jerks are much more likely to get their food spit on, even if they do tip 20%, I've worked food service, and the wait staff is much more likely to about an asshole than someone who left a tip they didn't swoon over.

[ChuckD]

A waitperson can normally handle at least four tables of four people. If each person orders something between $15 and $20 (conservative), and everyone stays for an hour, they would sell $280 worth of food, and at 15%, they would pocket $42 for that hour. That's on pace for $84,000 per year. Nobody's starving on 15%.

[DMC]

A waitperson can normally handle at least four tables of four people. If each person orders something between $15 and $20 (conservative), and everyone stays for an hour, they would sell $280 worth of food, and at 15%, they would pocket $42 for that hour. That's on pace for $84,000 per year. Nobody's starving on 15%.

Yeah..

Servers make 84K a year on average.

Ever heard of lunch/dinner? That's when people go to restaurants. Never seen one that was busy 8 hours a day with the same wait staff.

Servers don't usually work full weeks. Most of them have to pick up shifts if they have a money crunch, and M-W is slow.

You must be the one who did the figuring for Enron.

[DMC]

Mexicans are much worse tippers than blacks. I had a server at a place I frequent tell me that the word "tip" is not is not in the Spanish language. Funny.

It is funny considering how much "tip" you've gotten from them.

They only have chile, but they have plenty.

[ElNono]

I need another 2 or 3 paragraph answer so I can keep trolling Kool in the NBA forums... kthx

[DMC]

It was breakfast. I had the Ranchero plate with a drink, wife had a taco with water and a kid's plate was no more than 4 dollars with a juice.

I wouldn't worry about it. I doubt it was racist. Servers have to serve all different races all day long. If they just considered tips all the time, they wouldn't do a very good job.

I've gotten ty service in plenty of places when I thought others were getting good service. Just don't go back.

[Trainwreck2100]

I need another 2 or 3 paragraph answer so I can keep trolling Kool in the NBA forums... kthx

use chuck 85000 response

[ChuckD]

Yeah..

Servers make 84K a year on average.

Ever heard of lunch/dinner? That's when people go to restaurants. Never seen one that was busy 8 hours a day with the same wait staff.

Servers don't usually work full weeks. Most of them have to pick up shifts if they have a money crunch, and M-W is slow.

You must be the one who did the figuring for Enron.

Have you ever worked food service? I have, and a lot of the waitstaff works both lunch and dinner. 11-2, and say, 5-10...hmmm. that's EIGHT hours in ONE day. Wow.

Let's knock of a generous 25% from my estimate for shifts they can't pick up, putting them at a pedestrian 30 hours a week waiting tables for only 16 people per hour who only order food that costs between $15 and $20 and receiving tips of only 15%. That's still $63,000 a year for a job that you can do with a HS diploma.

[DMC]

Have you ever worked food service? I have, and a lot of the waitstaff works both lunch and dinner. 11-2, and say, 5-10...hmmm. that's EIGHT hours in ONE day. Wow.

Sure, some work doubles. It's not the norm, so why would you give the extreme end as a figure when it's nowhere close to the median?

Did you ever make 84K in a year waiting tables?

Let's knock of a generous 25% from my estimate for shifts they can't pick up, putting them at a pedestrian 30 hours a week waiting tables for only 16 people per hour who only order food that costs between $15 and $20 and receiving tips of only 15%. That's still $63,000 a year for a job that you can do with a HS diploma.

Now you are assuming a server is working 30 hours a week, every week, and that they have steady business every hour they work.

The average for restaurant servers is <27K a year.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

A waitperson can normally handle at least four tables of four people. If each person orders something between $15 and $20 (conservative), and everyone stays for an hour, they would sell $280 worth of food, and at 15%, they would pocket $42 for that hour. That's on pace for $84,000 per year. Nobody's starving on 15%.

[Wild Cobra]

A waitperson can normally handle at least four tables of four people. If each person orders something between $15 and $20 (conservative), and everyone stays for an hour, they would sell $280 worth of food, and at 15%, they would pocket $42 for that hour. That's on pace for $84,000 per year. Nobody's starving on 15%.

That's all fine if your place is busy for your 8 hr. shift. Problem is, there are times with nobody to wait on, or so few each water/waitress gets only a few tables a day. Sometimes most the is slow day. hard for staffing too, because of the unexpected times you get busy.

[ChuckD]

Sure, some work doubles. It's not the norm, so why would you give the extreme end as a figure when it's nowhere close to the median?

Did you ever make 84K in a year waiting tables?

Now you are assuming a server is working 30 hours a week, every week, and that they have steady business every hour they work.

The average for restaurant servers is 27K a year.

They must not be waiting many tables. The estimates of 16 people per hour and average tabs of $15 to $20 per person are pretty conservative. You can do that at any Red Lobster, Olive Garden, or Salt Grass. That $27K may also be what they declare, which can be much different from what they make. I can tell you if it's cash, it isn't declared.

[DMC]

They must not be waiting many tables. The estimates of 16 people per hour and average tabs of $15 to $20 per person are pretty conservative. You can do that at any Red Lobster, Olive Garden, or Salt Grass. That $27K may also be what they declare, which can be much different from what they make. I can tell you if it's cash, it isn't declared.

Do you think the establishments you mentioned are the average?

The average is what it is.

Did you ever make 84K a year as a server? You didn't answer that.

Did you ever make your more conservative estimate of 63K?