WickedSkin said:
Well in my country they add 12,5% of your total as a tip on your bill. Say you spend 80-160 dollars on your visit to a restaurant... it generates quite the tip. So tipping around here is just silly. I think 12.5% is fair. Waiters around here still make, at least, minimum wage.
I don't get paid massively, I work really really (and I mean REALLY) hard and I'm very polite to asshole-customers, but I rarely get even a "thank you". Damn it I hate the system... AND people.
Man I wish we had that 12.5% auto gratuity. We can only auto grat tables of 8 or more people. This makes sense as it is a lot more work to take care of 14 than it is to take care of 4, and since we have to automatically alocate 3% of the total sale to busboys/hostesses, etc. if we get stiff on a 300 dollar ticket then we are out nearly 10 bucks.
I believe I am a good waiter, I have several regulars who ask for me by name every time they come in. My customers get their food on time, they don't have to worry about running out of drinks, or getting their entree too early. I have one regular who comes in with his wife on a weekly basis (at least) he always orders the same thing, and he always tells me that he expects his salad to come out before his meal, his meal to come out after he's done with his salad, and he expects two VERY hot pieces of bread to start off his meal. I always listen to this with a straight face, but I've generally already got his order in the system and bread heating up if not already in my hands to set on the table. (They always leave thanking me for taking care of them and saying they'll see me again next week if not sooner, they also generally leave an above average tip)
That isn't to say I don't treat other customers as well as I can, even if they aren't regulars who tip me well. I treat all my customers well, even if I don't believe they are going to tip me, because sometimes you will be surprised. But the fact is at resteraunts here in America a tip is expected. No, don't say it shouldn't be, that's just how it is here. And if you don't want to tip a waiter for good service, go get fast food. You aren't just paying for the food when you go out to eat, you are paying for the experience to be waited on. To not have to pour your own drinks, cook your own food, set your own table, and clean up afterwards.