Wednesday, August 23

Question of the Day

If a server comps you a round, do you add an extra tip?

It is really your discretion and it depends on why the drinks were comped. Most fellow servers I know pay what the drinks would have cost in the tip (I do too)....I'll be the first to admit that that is a little crazy, but it is what we do to sort of build camaraderie. If you don't want to do that, a little extra is appreciated for the extra generosity.

If they were comping due to a mistake...that is a different story. It is not looked at as bad if you don't tip on those drinks. The server is trying to get in good graces with you because of a mistake they made.

Extra tips are due only with outstanding service. Again, outstanding service is up for debate. I can tell you that a waitress, ex waitress or anyone in the service industry will have a different view point than one that has never worked in the industry.

9 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

Having never been in the situation, it's hard to say.

I'd have to venture that I would indeed tip a little more, but probably not enough to make up for the drink. So I guess in the end it's not really worth it with me.

8/23/2006 1:32 AM  
Blogger Ajitpal said...

hey interesting stuff u got here. m still new at this still lots to learn.. cherios.. Ajit

8/23/2006 6:02 AM  
Blogger Sarah said...

I've never had a waitress give me complimentary drinks, but I have had a bar tender give me 4 margaritas for a penny-- and it wasn't because he made a mistake! I then tipped him the price of 4 margaritas.

8/23/2006 10:50 AM  
Blogger The Narrator said...

hello,

here in finland nobody tips, its not part of a culture, which is sort of sad. tbh customer sevice as a whole is somewhat lacking on finland. not completely of course, but there are plenty examples.

i can see the difference as ive lived 5 years in london, and to be honest i much prefered the english (or international) custom of tipping. customer service was also much more friendly in england, but that can be expected in a culture which puts a high value on politeness.

8/23/2006 11:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I also tip more if the waitress charges my 11, 12 year old the price of a child's meal since they saved me money by doing this. I never ask for it, and I always tell the correct age and leave it to the waitress how much they charge me. If they charge an adult price, the tip is the standard 15%, if they charge the child's price, I give them the difference it would have cost for an adult's price plus the 15%.

8/23/2006 10:31 PM  
Blogger Ian Hewitt said...

I'm not American and so I'm not a part of the culture, but I do not feel obliged to tip at all. I will leave a tip if I think it was earned but I think the entire system is unfair to wait staff. By continuing to tip, we are continuing to feed the system and nothing will change.

Is it not about time we learned that in America everyone is supposed to be equal - even wait staff - and paid them minimum wage or above?

Cheers
Ian

8/24/2006 9:10 AM  
Blogger Booster MPS said...

My rules are to always tip on comped drinks. I have a fav. place here in Houston and me and the crew are known to have maybe 3 ritas each and sometimes only get charged for the food at the bar. As a rule I sometimes tip the value of the drink if it is only one or will leave an extra $10 on a $15 tab if I have several drinks simply because I would rather tip my bartender the cash than give it to the restaurant.

8/24/2006 12:17 PM  
Blogger Sarah said...

Ian--

I understand that your culture is different and waiters and waitresses are probably paid more.

I found in the end, however, I actually made more money by being paid $3.15 an hour by my employer and then receiving tips, than I would have had I been paid $7-8 an hour without tips.

With the tips, I averaged about $20 an hour. And now that I am stuck behind a desk for the summer making much less than that . . . how I long to be waitress again! (I think!)

8/24/2006 1:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Heres a tip for everyone...be considerate...if ur a regualar at a restarant/bar and you dont tip...consider you will be getting something extra you didnt order next time. as for "cor" at a self service buffett remember they get you ur drinks, clean your table, bring you a new fork once you dropped yours, refill your drink, clear your plates, bring you another napkin, extra butter...and i cant suppose that you and most of the genneral public is to plesent to wait on...tip... because next time they see you they will be cussin ur name and you have no idea what happens on the inside of those walls....

8/30/2006 8:49 PM  

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