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Robynmarie
Regular Poster
Username: Robynmarie
Post Number: 28
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 07:36 pm: | 
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Black Enterprise magazine(http://www.blackenterprise.com/ExclusivesekOpen.asp?id=1650) features a story this month about how black people don't now "how" to tip. The writer went on to say that's the reason servers quit working at restaurants in black neighborhoods because we don't tip the customery 15% and they can't live on minimum wage.
I go out of my way to tip; but tipping is my way of saying thank you for good service. Why should I tip if the server acted like he/she didn't want to be bothered? |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 513
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 10:08 pm: |
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Actually, tips is an acronym for
To
Insure
Proper
Service
And you don't necessarily need to tip after the service has been received, if you really expect proper service or special treatment then you can tip in advance.
I understand what you're saying about "why should I tip if the server acted like whatever" but those ppl are human. Perhaps they're not feeling well, they're tired, their feet hurt, their dog died or whatever. Wait staff don't have the benefit of sick leave and vacation time. If they don't come to work, then they don't get paid. And since some of us are so critical, we tend to find fault in order to justify not leaving a tip. She didn't move fast enough, she didn't check to see if my food was warm, there was some dust atop the salt shaker, my napkin wasn't folded correctly, etc.
I can't tell you how many times I've gone on a date (with a Black man) who left $2.00 on a $50 - $100 tab. Maybe they're mathematically challenged, but $2.00 doesn't cut it. I went to a Korean restaurant with a brother who begged me for a date. He was sitting up there barking at the waitress about how he needed more ice in his drink, more kim-chee, more this and that and the other thing, and at the end of the meal - he gipped her on the tip. I was so embarrassed, I gave the girl some money myself. And I let the brother know that if he didn't know how to treat a waitress, he probably wouldn't treat me right either. And that was the end of that.
I normally tip 20%. If I'm at a drive thru or getting take out I'll give them $1.00 just to be nice, since ppl working at fast food spots don't usually receive tips at all.
We need to get it together with the tipping. Because as soon as they see us coming, they don't want to serve us because they already assume we're going to give them a hard time and not leave a proper tip. |
Renata
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 1052
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 10:22 pm: |
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If I get good service, I tip well. If I get crappy service, I don't tip well...
it's that simple. |
Renata
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 1053
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 10:23 pm: |
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African men are very big tippers, if I judge by what I've seen with exes. |
Robynmarie
Regular Poster
Username: Robynmarie
Post Number: 29
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 11:05 pm: |
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Mzuri-I like your style! I never thought about tipping for take-out. I feel what you are saying...black folks need to change our tip-atitude.
My daughter was dishwasher for a time at a fancy-smancy restaurant here in L.A. She said the servers hated to wait on black women particularly because they are such bad tippers, supposedly.
Now everytime I go out to eat with my child, she insists we tip over and above the call of duty.
If I am on a date with a cheapskate brother who acts like he has no home training, I usually put down a few bucks so we can walk out of the restaurant/bar/nightclub with our heads held high.
I remember having dinner with a group of brothers and sisters in NYC, and the waiter literally chased us out of the building, cursing, that we left such a poor tip! It was scary!! |
Renata
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 1054
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 11:25 pm: |
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I had someone once to have me seated BEFORE two big families. She waited on and SERVED both of those families FIRST before waiting on me (drinks, food, and all) and then had the nerve to give me the wrong drink....I would have left but my mother begged me not to...I didn't leave her SHIT. |
Va_sis
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Va_sis
Post Number: 77
Registered: 02-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 08:58 am: |
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Tipping is subjective in my opinion.
I usually leave 15 - 20%, but if I feel that your service sucked, I won't leave you a thing! And yes, I leave a tip for take-out, but only if you treated me well. The restaurant theory is that take-out customers aren't "as important" as dine-in because the tab is set at the order....no chance to be persuaded into more alcoholic beverages or dessert.
I've heard on SEVERAL occasions how blacks don't know how to tip, and after my oldest brother did a stint with Dominoes pizza & told me horror stories, I've been more concientious about gratuity. |
Femrenoir
Newbie Poster
Username: Femrenoir
Post Number: 11
Registered: 05-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 09:49 am: |
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I usually tip 15%, but will vary between 20 and 10 depending on the service. Yes, there have been times, (tho none I can recall - so it's been awhile), when I've been insulted and not left a tip. I only tip 5-10% for take out. I've never tipped at a drive through, but it is something to think about. If everyone started doing that (fat chance), their employers would probably cut their salaries. When I was younger, I didn't realize how much the wait staff depends on tips. My daughter always insists we tip 20%, so I guess I am doing that more often. I don't recall ever going out with a man who didn't leave at least a 10% tip. Now my mother is a different story altogether. Her tips regularly range from 0 to 30%. It's all about the diva and whether they make her happy! Maybe black women get a bad rep, because we're more likely to vary the tip based on service?!? |
Yvettep
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 1011
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 11:23 am: |
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If the service was poor, sure--do not tip. But in addition (instead of???) COMPLAIN TO MANAGEMENT! If not before you leave the restaurant, then in an email or snail mail very soon after receiving poor service.
If you do not tip (or leave an "insult tip" of 1 penny or something) then the establishment has no way of knowing whether you are a dissatisfied customer, or simply cheap.
Most places are more than happy to make it up to you--with a free voucher, for example.
At any rate, if you do not leave a tip, I'd suggest never returning to that place again. Servers have excellent memories and it'd be a shame to have something unfortunate "happen" to your meal on a return visit. (Or, so I have been told by friends who have worked as wait staff...) |
Moonsigns
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Moonsigns
Post Number: 1155
Registered: 07-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 11:30 am: |
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We always tip. In the rare event the service is poor, we only tip 15%. However, our general standard is 20%. My husband will tip 25% if the wait staff is exceptional. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 4621
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 06:05 pm: |
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I usually tip between 15 - 25%, with my usually paying the higher percentage if the tab is fairly small and/or the service has been particularly good.
I will almost ALWAYS tip. Even if the service is bad. I mean, somebody almost have to be handing out Klan literature or start telling bad jokes about my mom's for me to abstain from tipping.
Because I guess, for me, tipping is one of those gentlemanly, etiquette things you're suppose to do. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 4443
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 07:14 pm: |
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I tip and the better the service the higher the tip. After all, how often does one get the opportunity make a stranger happy. |
Robynmarie
Regular Poster
Username: Robynmarie
Post Number: 30
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 09:22 pm: |
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what about hairdressers, barbers, baggage handlers, manicurists? Are they supposed to get 15% too? At LAX, they automatically add $3 for each bag you check. |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 515
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 09:41 pm: |
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RobynMarie - I have the answer but there are far too many situations for me to address here as I would get typist's cramps. Next time you visit your local library or are in the book-buying mode - there's a book entitled "Emily Posts Etiquette" where she explains who to tip and when it is appropriate, when it's not appropriate to tip, for what services, how much, etc. Most other etiquette books cover this topic as well.
I just searched online and here's something that might be helpful:
http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php |
Renata
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 1055
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 11:06 pm: |
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I always tip my hairdresser. I give her about 10-12%....but southerners usually don't tip hairdressers at all, so she's surprised that I tip at all. |
Anunaki3600
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Anunaki3600
Post Number: 169
Registered: 04-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 04:40 am: |
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When I lived in L.A., waiters at my favorite restaurants or pubs would all jump at the chance of offering me the best table or make the the best margaritas (with an extra small one on the side) for me because I always tipped them well. They always remember their customers. In Nairobi now, it's the same thing. Waiters will all want me to sit where they serve and will pay constant attention because of the tips they get. Other customers often wonder why I get this extra attention. Makes life more enjoyable. |
Doberman23
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Doberman23
Post Number: 340
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 03:29 am: |
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every waitor or waitress starts off with 30% but most screw it up and get knocked down to 15-20%. i hate it when they ask me if everything is ok when they know that i am chewing ( i know this is a resturant trick) so i can't really answer. i hate when i have to hear their life story, if i see them only 3 times (taking the order, bringing the food, bringing the check), or if they have a shitty attitude ... some times i give waitresses an extra 5% if there attractive ..ha! i'm prepairing for when i'm an old prevy man. |
Fortified
Veteran Poster
Username: Fortified
Post Number: 72
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 08:36 am: |
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15% minimum. If the service was excellent, I have no problem tipping 25-30%. Hang out with white people, and you will learn how to tip properly--you also won't be fighting over the bill as much!  |
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