Comments on: Tipping: Psychological Warfare? http://www.studentscrooge.com/2008/10/14/tipping-psychological-warfare/ Fri, 29 May 2009 08:29:40 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Are You a Good Tipper? How Much Should You Tip? | Military Money Might http://www.studentscrooge.com/2008/10/14/tipping-psychological-warfare/comment-page-1/#comment-2654 Are You a Good Tipper? How Much Should You Tip? | Military Money Might Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:01:21 +0000 http://www.studentscrooge.com/?p=425#comment-2654 [...] blog, Student Scrooge, recently approached this subject from the waitress’ point of [...] [...] blog, Student Scrooge, recently approached this subject from the waitress’ point of [...]

]]> By: Katie http://www.studentscrooge.com/2008/10/14/tipping-psychological-warfare/comment-page-1/#comment-2379 Katie Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:39:21 +0000 http://www.studentscrooge.com/?p=425#comment-2379 This is a very interesting post. I worked in a restuarant in high school and college and I did several of the things mentioned. My objective was to be a great server, first and foremost. Was I trying to get great tips? Of course! After all, I only made $2.13 in hourly wages. But I didn't do those things thinking that if I did people would give me more money. My focus was doing my job to the best of my ability. If you do that, I think that (in most cases) the tips will be representative of that. This is a very interesting post. I worked in a restuarant in high school and college and I did several of the things mentioned. My objective was to be a great server, first and foremost. Was I trying to get great tips? Of course! After all, I only made $2.13 in hourly wages. But I didn’t do those things thinking that if I did people would give me more money. My focus was doing my job to the best of my ability. If you do that, I think that (in most cases) the tips will be representative of that.

]]> By: Tidying Up: October 2008 at Student Scrooge | Student Scrooge http://www.studentscrooge.com/2008/10/14/tipping-psychological-warfare/comment-page-1/#comment-2135 Tidying Up: October 2008 at Student Scrooge | Student Scrooge Sun, 02 Nov 2008 04:59:35 +0000 http://www.studentscrooge.com/?p=425#comment-2135 [...] Tipping: Psychological Warfare? [...] [...] Tipping: Psychological Warfare? [...]

]]> By: doctor S http://www.studentscrooge.com/2008/10/14/tipping-psychological-warfare/comment-page-1/#comment-1853 doctor S Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:01:29 +0000 http://www.studentscrooge.com/?p=425#comment-1853 The best service is the service that is normal. I hate it when someone is obviously trying to hard and I make sure to avoid those resteraunts that require theyir hostess' and servers to be "extra cheery" . I just want a normal d@mn person taking my order and serving my food, if I wanted to see a show I would go to Broadway! The best service is the service that is normal. I hate it when someone is obviously trying to hard and I make sure to avoid those resteraunts that require theyir hostess’ and servers to be “extra cheery” . I just want a normal d@mn person taking my order and serving my food, if I wanted to see a show I would go to Broadway!

]]> By: Are You a Good Tipper? How Much Should You Tip? « Military Money Might http://www.studentscrooge.com/2008/10/14/tipping-psychological-warfare/comment-page-1/#comment-1769 Are You a Good Tipper? How Much Should You Tip? « Military Money Might Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:07:21 +0000 http://www.studentscrooge.com/?p=425#comment-1769 [...] blog, Student Scrooge, recently approached this subject from the waitress’ point of [...] [...] blog, Student Scrooge, recently approached this subject from the waitress’ point of [...]

]]> By: Link Roundup: Wallet returned edition | Mighty Bargain Hunter http://www.studentscrooge.com/2008/10/14/tipping-psychological-warfare/comment-page-1/#comment-1664 Link Roundup: Wallet returned edition | Mighty Bargain Hunter Sat, 25 Oct 2008 07:11:49 +0000 http://www.studentscrooge.com/?p=425#comment-1664 [...] Spending and Student Scrooge talks about the methods that waiters and waitresses use to increase their [...] [...] Spending and Student Scrooge talks about the methods that waiters and waitresses use to increase their [...]

]]> By: Weekly Roundup and Carnivals http://www.studentscrooge.com/2008/10/14/tipping-psychological-warfare/comment-page-1/#comment-1649 Weekly Roundup and Carnivals Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:47:09 +0000 http://www.studentscrooge.com/?p=425#comment-1649 [...] StudentScrooge talks about “Tipping: Pscyhological Warfare” [...] [...] StudentScrooge talks about “Tipping: Pscyhological Warfare” [...]

]]> By: Joel http://www.studentscrooge.com/2008/10/14/tipping-psychological-warfare/comment-page-1/#comment-1626 Joel Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:32:16 +0000 http://www.studentscrooge.com/?p=425#comment-1626 I worked in restaurants for over thirty years before changing careers two years ago. I never pandered to customers. Ever. My job, as a server, was to make sure my customers knew every food and beverage option thay had open to them and letting them decide what they wanted at that particular time. It wasn't about upselling but pointing out options. Because if the customer decided against one item, at this visit, chances are very good they would remember it at thier next visit. I truly dislike this whole "let me be your friend" business regarding waiting on tables. I am not your friend. If I was your friend we'd be at my home making dinner and enjoying a glass of wine together. I never knelt down at table nor did I ever touch customers unless they were folks I had known for a long time. I am a very friendly person who is here to provide you with a service to the best of my ability. And I was good at what I did because I enjoyed my job which is why I always had a steady clientele. And, whether you like it or not, waitstaff throughout most of this country depend on their tips to live as their hourly wage is usally less than half the national minimum wage. That's right. Half. There are definite exceptions, California is one, but half regular minimum wage is the norm. Tipping should be done strictly on service. if it's good, then tip accordingly and tell the manager. If it's done poorly, tip accordingly and tell the manager. Saying nothing about poor service rewards the slackabout. Peace I worked in restaurants for over thirty years before changing careers two years ago. I never pandered to customers. Ever. My job, as a server, was to make sure my customers knew every food and beverage option thay had open to them and letting them decide what they wanted at that particular time. It wasn’t about upselling but pointing out options. Because if the customer decided against one item, at this visit, chances are very good they would remember it at thier next visit.

I truly dislike this whole “let me be your friend” business regarding waiting on tables. I am not your friend. If I was your friend we’d be at my home making dinner and enjoying a glass of wine together. I never knelt down at table nor did I ever touch customers unless they were folks I had known for a long time. I am a very friendly person who is here to provide you with a service to the best of my ability. And I was good at what I did because I enjoyed my job which is why I always had a steady clientele.

And, whether you like it or not, waitstaff throughout most of this country depend on their tips to live as their hourly wage is usally less than half the national minimum wage. That’s right. Half. There are definite exceptions, California is one, but half regular minimum wage is the norm. Tipping should be done strictly on service. if it’s good, then tip accordingly and tell the manager. If it’s done poorly, tip accordingly and tell the manager. Saying nothing about poor service rewards the slackabout.

Peace

]]> By: Rusty_Shackelford http://www.studentscrooge.com/2008/10/14/tipping-psychological-warfare/comment-page-1/#comment-1617 Rusty_Shackelford Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:49:53 +0000 http://www.studentscrooge.com/?p=425#comment-1617 As a former (and possible future server, with the ever deflating economy) I wanted to let people in on some things they may not know. As a server in a wide range of restaurants, from casual to high end fine dining. I was often surprised by who tipped well,alot of professionals, i.e. doctors, lawyers, bankers, etc., are poor tippers.Whereas middle class people tend to tip better on average.I was not the "overly friendly" server, I preferred professionalism. I learned that being genuinely pleasant, as opposed to over the top *ss kissing, helped me earn better gratuity.There is a difference between," T.I.P.S."(To insure prompt service), and gratuity. TIPS are often given automatically,(and often begrudgingly), gratuity is given to show the servce person that you are grateful for the entire performance of the meal. You might wonder about it being referred to as a performance, but it really is one. As a server, I often went far out of the way to obtain a special item a guest had requested, maybe by actually going to a nearby store, (and I really have), or nearly engaging in "Mortal Combat" with an over-stressed Chef to please the guest,Or I might turn the patron onto a wine they might never have tried, not just for the up-sell, but for the indulgent experience.On busy nights serving can be akin to choreography,what with all of the timing, and movement involved. I would try and make the guests feel as if they were my own personal guests, and I tried to think of my station as my own little restaurant.To ensure not the TIP, but the guests satisfaction, and hopefully their genuine "gratitude". I did this for virtually any guest. Most were never aware that I had, but no matter how little I may have gotten as a gratuity, I knew I had strived to give them the best service they ever received, this meant that if I received a large gratuity, that I had earned it, and if I did'nt, that it wasnt because I had'nt. I always knew it was up to me to win a person over on their terms, not my own. To exceed their expectations. The one real downside of course is my own expectations from servers are rarely met when I dine.Enjoy the good service when you receive it, for it is a dying craft. Maybe some evening it will be me serving you, and I will win your gratitude. As a former (and possible future server, with the ever deflating economy) I wanted to let people in on some things they may not know. As a server in a wide range of restaurants, from casual to high end fine dining. I was often surprised by who tipped well,alot of professionals, i.e. doctors, lawyers, bankers, etc., are poor tippers.Whereas middle class people tend to tip better on average.I was not the “overly friendly” server, I preferred professionalism. I learned that being genuinely pleasant, as opposed to over the top *ss kissing, helped me earn better gratuity.There is a difference between,” T.I.P.S.”(To insure prompt service), and gratuity. TIPS are often given automatically,(and often begrudgingly), gratuity is given to show the servce person that you are grateful for the entire performance of the meal. You might wonder about it being referred to as a performance, but it really is one. As a server, I often went far out of the way to obtain a special item a guest had requested, maybe by actually going to a nearby store, (and I really have), or nearly engaging in “Mortal Combat” with an over-stressed Chef to please the guest,Or I might turn the patron onto a wine they might never have tried, not just for the up-sell, but for the indulgent experience.On busy nights serving can be akin to choreography,what with all of the timing, and movement involved. I would try and make the guests feel as if they were my own personal guests, and I tried to think of my station as my own little restaurant.To ensure not the TIP, but the guests satisfaction, and hopefully their genuine “gratitude”. I did this for virtually any guest. Most were never aware that I had, but no matter how little I may have gotten as a gratuity, I knew I had strived to give them the best service they ever received, this meant that if I received a large gratuity, that I had earned it, and if I did’nt, that it wasnt because I had’nt. I always knew it was up to me to win a person over on their terms, not my own. To exceed their expectations. The one real downside of course is my own expectations from servers are rarely met when I dine.Enjoy the good service when you receive it, for it is a dying craft. Maybe some evening it will be me serving you, and I will win your gratitude.

]]> By: Trucker http://www.studentscrooge.com/2008/10/14/tipping-psychological-warfare/comment-page-1/#comment-1616 Trucker Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:07:11 +0000 http://www.studentscrooge.com/?p=425#comment-1616 I am on the road 2 - 4 weeks at a time, and I have plenty of sit down meals. I tip $1 for alright, I tip nothing for poor, and I tip more "if" the service is exceptional. I do NOT do for the % of the bill. I would be looking @ an average of $50 a week. I only get $150 a week for food. So I do what is fair for me. I can't stand when someone asks me to repeat myself, because they aren't payin attention. I do not like upsellin, or suggestive sellin, if I wanted it I would have asked for it. 16 years on the road, and payin 3 times now, for what I paid then has made me very cynical. I am on the road 2 – 4 weeks at a time, and I have plenty of sit down meals. I tip $1 for alright, I tip nothing for poor, and I tip more “if” the service is exceptional. I do NOT do for the % of the bill. I would be looking @ an average of $50 a week. I only get $150 a week for food. So I do what is fair for me. I can’t stand when someone asks me to repeat myself, because they aren’t payin attention. I do not like upsellin, or suggestive sellin, if I wanted it I would have asked for it. 16 years on the road, and payin 3 times now, for what I paid then has made me very cynical.

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