Tip or go to jail

[MrRant 0]

When stopping in for a meal at Soprano's Italian and American Grill in Lake George, N.Y., leave a good tip.

 

Or else.

 

A man from the New York City area was arrested Sunday after his party of nine failed to leave an 18 percent tip, the restaurant's mandatory gratuity for parties of six or more people, which had been added to his bill.

 

The diner, Humberto A. Taveras, 41, was arrested, fingerprinted and photographed for a mug shot in this resort village an hour's drive north of Albany, N.Y., but he did not produce the $13.73 tip to the $77.43 cost of his meal. He faces a misdemeanor charge of theft of services and, if convicted, could serve up to a year in jail, said Larry J. Cleveland, the Warren County sheriff.

 

Joe Soprano, who owns the restaurant, said that he and his wife, Tina, had not intended to have Taveras arrested when they filed the complaint. But Soprano was unapologetic on Friday.

 

''They shorted the check and didn't leave any money at all for the waitress,'' he said. ''This is not a vendetta. This is just about standing up for my waitresses.''

 

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2004/09/1...01091104_06.txt

[Krankor 0]

That's absolutely ridiculous that someone could go to jail for not paying a tip of $13. Complete bullshit. I think mandatory gratuity is crap. I've been to several restaurants that require a certain percent tip, and the services rendered are usually never worth what you are required to tip.

 

Aren't tips supposed to be about when you feel a server did a good job you reward them for it? Maybe I'm mistaken.

 

''This is not a vendetta. This is just about standing up for my waitresses.''

Maybe if she didn't have a prick for an owner she would get tips.

[Hoff 0]

Mandatory tips are weak, and that's coming from a six-year veteran on the front lines of foodservice. You get tipped based on your performance as a server, yes. Forcing a patron to tip negates that. Even if you make a base salary of $2 an hour...if you earn it, you'll get it. The amount of people who stiff the tip for a good server is amazingly low, which just lends more weight to the argument that mandatory tipping is bull.

 

That being said, pay your fucking bill. I have no sympathy for the guy arrested. It's common practice for restaurants to do this, and I'm sure it was posted somewhere besdies. If I was the waiter, or the owner, I'd be inclined to give the guy a taste of the back of my hand.

 

If you can afford a $70 meal, you can swing a $15 tip.

[Guest Brian]

I'm used to seeing big parties stiffing their waiters when it came to tipping, even when it came to lunch service where there is an amazing amount of attention given to customers (much smaller crowds, less need to turn over tables). When you tend to get around 8 or ten, people feel they can short you because you're getting a portion of a larger bill. That said, very few people stiff the wait staff.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

This is just stupid. Where's the motivation for good service. I as a customer like to have the ability to give my opinion on the service. There's only been 2 times I've left nothing but in those cases there was nothing good about the service.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I can understand the mandatory tip for large groups -- if it was included on his bill and he didn't pay it that meant he skipped out on his bill, which is a big no-no.

 

On a side note, I was at this place Friday (Eat 'n Park, for those in the SW PA area) and our fucking waitress didn't come over to our table for 15 fucking minutes (I know -- I kept track; the only reason I didn't get up and leave is because the better half wanted their fruit salad) because she was in the back making some hippie birthday cake for these people across the booth from us. I was pissed, and I normally don't care about customer service when I'm at a place.

 

She could tell I was pissed because she was kissing my ass the rest of night, but when it was time for the bill, and as I paid w/ my credit card, I put under the tip line $0.02 and wrote "Perhaps the birthday table could tip you double since you spent most of your time there..."

[Guest Kaspar Kucera]

This is just stupid. Where's the motivation for good service.

 

I think there's plenty of motivation. I know if I went to a restaurant that had mandatory tipping then the service better AT LEAST be adequate, or else I'll be taking my business elsewhere the next time I feel like heading to a restaurant.

 

Also, I noticed that it was 18% that you had to give them. What's up with that? I always thought the customary was 15%.

[Hoff 0]

Some "finer" dining establishments rock the 18 or 20 percent. It's pretty weak. There ought to be a standard.

 

Also, more people should do what KKK did. It lets the server know what they did wrong. A lot of times, in a similar situation to what he described, the waiter or waitress would be so engrossed in table 1 that they wouldn't realize they'd angered table 2.

[Hoff 0]

Also, more people should do what KKK did.

That's pretty bad out of context.

[the max 0]

I always thought that with groups, most restaurants put a 15% tip in your bill to cover the tip for the waitress.

 

I understand that the waitress probably was pissed off, but arresting someone for not tipping is just stupid.

 

I've left a dollar for a waitress once, because it took her over 25(!) minutes to come and take our drink order. I didn't leave because I was with my friends, and it was the only good restaurant around. She made it up with getting our drinks there fast, as well as the rest of the order, but really. We shouldn't have been there for almost an hour and we ended up late getting back to my buddy's house for a Bruins game.

 

 

 

I've also left nothing at a seafood restaurant here in Cape. I was out with my mom, we got our food (I had ordered an 'All-you-can-eat' on fish and chips. I got my first plate, and it took the waitress over 30(!) minutes to come back, and when she did, she had this massive fucking attitude. She came back with my second plate and basically threw it on the table and stormed off. She walked by our table 15(!) times (I know because I counted), as I hoped for another plate and a refill on my drink. Nothing. Finally, I got her attention and got her to the table, where we told her to get the check now. She apologised up and down (her excuse was something to do with someone calling off for their shift) but we tipped her $0.00. I made it a point of outlining that with the pen, making sure it was nice and bold. I was going to leave a "Want a tip? Don't smoke face down in bed" but I didn't for some reason.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

I usually leave a dollar and a cigarette, but I don't eat anywhere fancy.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

^If you're ever in Franklin, MA, and you order delivery from Franklin Pizza & Deli, be sure to request Andy to deliver, because I'd love a free cigarette.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

I think what annoys me most is when they never ask or check to see if you need a refill. For me that kills their tip quicker than anything else. I can understand being busy but if you walk by the table and look right at an empty glass and the person is still eating you should ask if they want a refill.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

All I want to be is left alone. Get my water, write down my order and check once during the meal to see if me or the better half needs a refill, then give the check shortly thereafter.

 

No gay-ass small-talk, no waiting around for the bill, no suggesting ice cream or the pie-of-the-month.

 

It's not hard...

[ulfistgut 0]

I like England - we tip for good service. Makes things less confusing.

 

Although we are slowly going the way of the US, enforced gratuity and expected tippage is beginning to rear it's ugly head.

[the max 0]

All I want to be is left alone. Get my water, write down my order and check once during the meal to see if me or the better half needs a refill, then give the check shortly thereafter.

 

No gay-ass small-talk, no waiting around for the bill, no suggesting ice cream or the pie-of-the-month.

 

It's not hard...

It's not hard, but people have a problem with getting it done.

[TSA09 0]

Most nicer places here already add in the tip to the bill. Of course we've been out a few times and the guy paying had too much to drink and tipped 15% more so that waiter made out. But then again he was good and it was a large party. The place had him only on a few tables so we probably made up for his lost tips that might. The bill was like $400 with most of that being the bar tab.

[Slayer 0]

Also, more people should do what KKK did.

That's pretty bad out of context.

 

I ordered a Diet Coke...

[sfaJack 0]

The thing I have never understood is what does the price of a meal have to do with how much you tip?

 

Why are the two tied together? How much a meal costs has nothing to do with whether your server sucks.

[Hoff 0]

...You know, I was going to argue with you, but you make a good point. I guess I never really thought about it.

 

I guess lighter fare is easier work, but...that's not always the case, and not the point of tipping, either. Hmm....

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

All I want to be is left alone. Get my water, write down my order and check once during the meal to see if me or the better half needs a refill, then give the check shortly thereafter.

 

Good call. I hate fuckers hovering over me with a water pitcher and a stack of napkins and mints.

 

^If you're ever in Franklin, MA, and you order delivery from Franklin Pizza & Deli, be sure to request Andy to deliver, because I'd love a free cigarette.

 

See, people give me a weird look when I do this after a meal, but seriously, out of an entire restaurant staff, counting the waitresses, busboys, cooks, whatever..there's at least ONE smoker that works there, and I'm sure they'd like a cigarette.

 

Here's how I know. My one day in my life as a plate slave, I had no cigarettes, and quit six hours into my shift because I not so secretly hoped everyone choked. Worst job there is. I hate fuckin' customers. To rely on their satisfaction as a way to pay my way makes me sick. I'd rather be a bum, seriously. I've done that too.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

The only reason he got arrested was because the tip was included in the actual check and he didn't pay it, so in escense he wasn't paying the full amount of the check. If the tip isn't included in the bill, they couldn't have done anything about it, other than make their next visit rather miserable.

 

Im not a big fan of the mandatory tip, but if you have a large party, then chances are the server/waitress will have to do a lot of work for your one group that they wont be able to cover as many tables. if they get stiffed on your large party they end up being out quite a bit. So its probably a good thing that most places have mandatory tips for large parties.

[MrRant 0]

But what if all they order is nachos?

[Guest Nanks]

In my short experience working with servers who rely on tips to counter low wages they also have to tip out the kitchen a percentage of their sales at the end of the night regardless of how much they themselves make in tips. So basically, if people with large bills don't tip at all the waitress is actually losing money rather than just not earning any. That's where the connection between the value of the meal and the tip come in.

 

Tipping isn't an issue in Australia though, the base wage for barstaff/servers etc is around the $15/hour mark typically.

[MrRant 0]

That's not bad... that about $10-11 U.S.

[Guest Nanks]

I don't understand how people in the US work for like $2/hour, that shit should be illegal. In Canada I was working for $9/hour and I felt violated.

[MrRant 0]

Well... $9 Canadian is like $2 US....

 

 

 

 

Ok.. so it's like $5 US

[Guest Nanks]

It's more like $US6-7. Well it was this winter anyway.

 

It's disturbing how many American kids would believe the first thing you said. The number of little fuckwits that would try to grease me $US2 or something and not understand why I threw it back at them and told them to fuck off. What the fuck would I do with 2 fucking dollars?? Drive to Seattle for gum??

 

Then there was my personal favourite.

 

"Dude, that's $20 AMERICAN, that'll, like, pay your rent"

 

I laughed, he didn't. Very worrying.

[MrRant 0]

You can still go exchange $2 US for colored Canadian money. $2 is a normal tip I find. I mean if you go out to eat the most you are spending on yourself is $12-20 for a relatively nice dinner. That $2 is 10-15% of the bill which I think is more than fair.

[sfaJack 0]

Rant is correct with his logic. A $2 tip on a $12 meal is really very fair.

 

I generally start the server at a $2 tip; they can earn more or less, depending on how good they are. I've left as much as $5, and as little as $0.07.