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Tipping: How Gratuity Replaced Fair Wages in U.S. Restaurants

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Re: Tipping: How Gratuity Replaced Fair Wages in U.S. Restaurants

#61

Post by jeltz »

L-four wrote: post #50
dguest wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a European have you noticed a recent increase in tipping in Europe as well? In Switzerland a lot of the restaurants that have moved to tablets for payment, and the payment screen pops up a "suggested tip" window with a few options. They might be a bit lower than the standard American tips but it's still there and it never was before.

I think it's software is made with the American market in mind. And local businesses use it as is and profit.

In Sweden a lot of the software with tipping option is made by Swedish companies who only operate on the Nordic markets.

Re: Tipping: How Gratuity Replaced Fair Wages in U.S. Restaurants

#62

Post by vldmrs »

dguest wrote: post #43
vldmrs wrote: post #14

As a European, I can safely say that tipping in American restaurants is one of the most unusual things I remember about America. The amount of tips is huge and they are demanded of you everywhere

As a European have you noticed a recent increase in tipping in Europe as well? In Switzerland a lot of the restaurants that have moved to tablets for payment, and the payment screen pops up a "suggested tip" window with a few options. They might be a bit lower than the standard American tips but it's still there and it never was before.

I haven’t noticed such thing, but maybe you are right. I think that Switzerland is completely different than other parts of Europe and it is hard to compare with.

Re: Tipping: How Gratuity Replaced Fair Wages in U.S. Restaurants

#64

Post by scotty79 »

vldmrs wrote: post #14

As a European, I can safely say that tipping in American restaurants is one of the most unusual things I remember about America. The amount of tips is huge and they are demanded of you everywhere

It's weirdly named. But it's all because the person servicing you is pretty much not paid by their employer. Instead they are "hired" and paid by you directly to service you. You don't have much control in this business relationship between you and your server, however you are expected to pay for it. Look at servers not as employers but as freelancers and it'll be easier.

Re: Tipping: How Gratuity Replaced Fair Wages in U.S. Restaurants

#65

Post by netfortius »

tptacek wrote: post #20
janalsncm wrote: post #18

I hate tipping. The last think I want to do after eating is math. And don’t get me started on the inefficient payment ritual we have to endure: flag down the waiter for the check, wait for the check, wait for them to take your cc, wait for them to ring it up and bring it back, then do some math. Unnecessary. That said, minimum wage is minimum wage. If an employee doesn’t make that up in tips, the law is that the rest…

Servers at a lot of restaurants don't expect to make minimum wage, so don't let "the owners will have have to true comp up to minimum wage" function as an excuse not to tip. If you don't want to tip, don't dine at full-service restaurants in America.

So here you are w/the American society: blame one category of people (in this case consumers) for when another category doesn't benefit of a minimum for subsistence.

Re: Tipping: How Gratuity Replaced Fair Wages in U.S. Restaurants

#66

Post by abdullahkhalids »

n4r9 wrote: post #15
tptacek wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tipping doesn't subsidize the restaurant owners.

I'm guessing they mean that without tipping, more of the restaurant's revenue would go towards wages.

Which is likely incorrect. Suppose currently a meal costs 20, and the average tip is 15%, so that the customer pays 23. This means that the restaurant knows that customer is willing to pay 23 for a meal.

Now, get rid of tipping. The restaurant will raise prices to 23 per meal. And instead of that 3 ending up in the waiter's pockets it will instead be split between the owner and the waiter. Most likely, the worker's wages will be likely suppressed down to minimum wage and the owner will get whatever remains of the 3.

You will need to do more interventions beyond removing tipping to ensure waiters get more than minimum wage.

Re: Tipping: How Gratuity Replaced Fair Wages in U.S. Restaurants

#67

Post by rustcleaner »

dguest wrote: post #43
vldmrs wrote: post #14

As a European, I can safely say that tipping in American restaurants is one of the most unusual things I remember about America. The amount of tips is huge and they are demanded of you everywhere

As a European have you noticed a recent increase in tipping in Europe as well? In Switzerland a lot of the restaurants that have moved to tablets for payment, and the payment screen pops up a "suggested tip" window with a few options. They might be a bit lower than the standard American tips but it's still there and it never was before.

As an American, may I suggest you Europeans start a social media movement to boycott all businesses in Europe which have that tip screen on their card terminals, before the cancer solidifies its foothold in your home? We won't get rid of tipping here until we get a superdepression for a number of years and no restaraunt operates anymore because literally nobody can afford it.

Re: Tipping: How Gratuity Replaced Fair Wages in U.S. Restaurants

#68

Post by dm270 »

KingOfCoders wrote: post #34
eru wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Still better than being ignored like eg can often happen in German restaurants.

I'd guess it depends where you live in Germany. Berlin Mitte: Agree, yes, atrocious service, many arrogant people, no credit cards because of tax fraud (Lived the startup life in Berlin for 20 years, "Monsieur Vuong" was IMHO the worst for service and arrogance - but then there is "Il Pane e le Rose", lovely people, went there for 20 years, or "Restorani Tbilisi", my favorite restaurant in Berlin, most excellent food…

I agree with you. Haven’t had very bad experience with service. I for example am perfectly ok with flagging down a waiter to order extra drinks. The US make me feel uncomfortable with their almost obnoxious wait staff asking you 100 times if everything is ok…but hell breaks loose if you’re done with your meal and you just wanna sit with your buddies and have one more drink or finish your beer. Then wait staff manages to make you feel very uncomfortable in my opinion. Much worse than default German service.

Re: Tipping: How Gratuity Replaced Fair Wages in U.S. Restaurants

#69

Post by scotty79 »

mjevans wrote: post #8

1) I want all restaurant workers to just get a fair proper wage... 2) So that tipping is no longer subsidizing the restaurant owners. 3) Also, FFS, when demand is inelastic, the only way to lower prices is MORE SUPPLY (where it's needed). Build the housing, do not stop, just keep going until after we all die.

> Build the housing, do not stop, just keep going until after we all die.

China did exactly that. And ended up with 3 apartments per each citizen. Most of them perpetually empty because real estate is still expensive there.

Re: Tipping: How Gratuity Replaced Fair Wages in U.S. Restaurants

#70

Post by neilv »

edent wrote: post #4

The service in most American restaurants isn't good; it is obsequious. It is disturbing how many Americans don't notice this.

> obsequious

You might've hit what bugs me about dining out (in the US).

My favorite place for first dates was this particular cafe-restaurant, where a server would come to your table for your order, eventually, but otherwise didn't bother you.

For example, they did none of the apparently standard barge-in of your conversation, 10 minutes after you're served, asking how everything is.

Also, in restaurants in general, some servers have mastered the art of refilling water glasses like a ghost, and somehow asking if you want to refresh your drinks without interrupting your conversation.

But others either aren't able to do that, or come from a school of thought that the top priority is that guests be conscious of the server's willingness to serve.

I tip 20%+ in any case, but I wish more servers would be more subtle.

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