Mandatory graduity tip for large parties - Page 2

Originally Posted by Missystuy

I heard on the news, that they complained about thier service. They waited over an hour for thier aps, had to go to the bar to get thier drinks refilled because their server did not do it for them, and the list went on. They did claim bad service and when they explained thier part on the news, I understood where they were coming from. The police were called, and it was handled as a THEFT, that they took services that were not paid for, which is why they were handcuffed and arrested.

Where do WE as consumers have the right to decided how much and WHEN we will tip?? We reward people for bad service?? It is resturant policy to charge a gratutity, and they knew that going in the pub, so I understand why they got arrested. They even said that next time they wouldn't fight it, they would pay up.

Originally Posted by Phoenyx

Many restaurants only pay wait staff half to a third of federal minimum wage. So even if a large party has a huge meal bill, if they don't tip, the server only gets paid about $3 an hour for the time spent waiting on that table. Large parties don't tend to eat and run. If a large party occupies a table for say two hours, runs up a large bill, and only pays the amount of the food, the server gets paid $6 for two hours work. Restaurants average more money on repeated table turnover of small parties than they do on prolonged occupation of a table by a large party.
Say the server normally has five four-person tables. A party of 20 comes in and those five tables are combined to accomodate them. That leaves no other tables for the server to potentially gain income from during the time they are there. If each person orders a $10 meal, that's $200. Eighteen percent of $200 is only $1.80 per person for the tip. That's not a lot of money.
If those same five tables had each had two four-person parties in that two hours with a $10 meal for each person, that would have been $400 for those same five tables in the same amount of time - twice the income for the restaurant, and twice the potential tip income for the server.
If the server does have additional tables to wait, they then have to balance getting the 20-person table served while their food is still hot while also managing their other tables, and not giving them short shrift on service.
Depending on the restaurant, the servers may also be the ones cashing out the bills, answering the phones, slicing more lemons for the drinks, etc. Some places require wait staff to also bus their own tables. This is especially true for smaller eateries. Waiters do a lot more than just write down your order and bring your food to your table. They're not sitting on their arses while your food is being cooked.
I was not aware of just how much wait staff does in addition to serving food until M'ija started working as a waitress. I have a whole new level of respect for just how hard they work, and don't take it personally if I have to wait a little longer for my food than I would if I were cooking it at home.

Originally Posted by Lasay

I understand that but you are saying IF couples came in to occupy the tables. The economy isn't so great, so you should take what you can get!! Nobody is forcing a person to work as a waitress making $3 an hour.

Originally Posted by Lasay

I understand that but you are saying IF couples came in to occupy the tables. The economy isn't so great, so you should take what you can get!! Nobody is forcing a person to work as a waitress making $3 an hour.

Originally Posted by Lasay

I understand that but you are saying IF couples came in to occupy the tables. The economy isn't so great, so you should take what you can get!! Nobody is forcing a person to work as a waitress making $3 an hour.

Originally Posted by aliadam

Of course the reverse side of that argument, is that no one made them go and eat at a restaurant that has a mandatory gratuity added.

Originally Posted by Phoenyx

If you happen to be a student, waitressing, fast food, and retail are about the only options that offer the flexibility in scheduling that will allow you to go to school and get enough hours to pay all your bills.
When M'ija was job hunting, she tried all those options, and waitressing was where she got an offer.