In many countries, it’s expected that youtipfor good service. The actual amount or percentage varies depending on where you are in the world and the level of service. But generally, it’s frowned upon to give anything less than 10%. Waiters and waitresses have been sharing the most infuriating ‘tips’ they’ve ever received, and wow, are they going through the most.Bored Pandahas put together a jaw-dropping list of the wildest ways customers have “thanked” staff for serving them. And some might make you want to pay a little extra at your next restaurant visit to make up for other people’s bad behavior. We also spoke to customer service expert and best-selling authorShep Hykenabout tipping culture. You’ll find that interview in between the images.This post may includeaffiliate links.
In many countries, it’s expected that youtipfor good service. The actual amount or percentage varies depending on where you are in the world and the level of service. But generally, it’s frowned upon to give anything less than 10%. Waiters and waitresses have been sharing the most infuriating ‘tips’ they’ve ever received, and wow, are they going through the most.
Bored Pandahas put together a jaw-dropping list of the wildest ways customers have “thanked” staff for serving them. And some might make you want to pay a little extra at your next restaurant visit to make up for other people’s bad behavior. We also spoke to customer service expert and best-selling authorShep Hykenabout tipping culture. You’ll find that interview in between the images.
This post may includeaffiliate links.
I don’t mind hearing about the word of God, but this is just evil.
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More than 2.2 million Americans work as servers in restaurants andotherestablishments across the country. For around 67% of them, it’s a part-time job and they often do it alongside other jobs or their studies. Many of these servers rely on the tips they make to putfoodon the table. Some receive a basic salary too, while others only take home their hard-earned tips.So when customers leave them with some of the examples featured on this list, it’s safe to say that it’s more than mildly infuriating. I mean really, who can pay their bills with a fake $50 note?Customer service expert and best-selling authorShep Hykenis taken aback when we tell him about some of the ways servers have been tipped. “This is a new one for me. I’m not familiar with it,” he says. “However, not leaving the traditional tip – even the minimum - might be a customer’s way of telling the server and restaurant, ‘You don’t deserve the tip’.”
More than 2.2 million Americans work as servers in restaurants andotherestablishments across the country. For around 67% of them, it’s a part-time job and they often do it alongside other jobs or their studies. Many of these servers rely on the tips they make to putfoodon the table. Some receive a basic salary too, while others only take home their hard-earned tips.
So when customers leave them with some of the examples featured on this list, it’s safe to say that it’s more than mildly infuriating. I mean really, who can pay their bills with a fake $50 note?
Customer service expert and best-selling authorShep Hykenis taken aback when we tell him about some of the ways servers have been tipped. “This is a new one for me. I’m not familiar with it,” he says. “However, not leaving the traditional tip – even the minimum - might be a customer’s way of telling the server and restaurant, ‘You don’t deserve the tip’.”
“Tipping is not legally mandatory,” says Hyken during our interview. “However, there are expectations as servers rely on part of their income through tips. That said, the expectation shouldn’t become mandatory. The server and experience should be deserving of a tip. When a restaurant adds an automatic 20% gratuity, the incentive to deliver an experience worth tipping 20% could be diminished, although one would hope most work to create the experience that not only is worthy of the tip, but also worthy of a return visit.“The topic oftippingcomes up often nowadays. But it’s not only those on the receiving (or lack thereof) side complaining. Some customers and experts have raised concerns about the changingculture of tipping, with words like “tipflation” and “tip-creeping” doing the rounds.
“Tipping is not legally mandatory,” says Hyken during our interview. “However, there are expectations as servers rely on part of their income through tips. That said, the expectation shouldn’t become mandatory. The server and experience should be deserving of a tip. When a restaurant adds an automatic 20% gratuity, the incentive to deliver an experience worth tipping 20% could be diminished, although one would hope most work to create the experience that not only is worthy of the tip, but also worthy of a return visit.”
The topic oftippingcomes up often nowadays. But it’s not only those on the receiving (or lack thereof) side complaining. Some customers and experts have raised concerns about the changingculture of tipping, with words like “tipflation” and “tip-creeping” doing the rounds.
“Tipflation refers to the rising expectations around tipping – when businesses prompt for larger tips, such as on the screen when you check out at a fast-food (quick casual) restaurant,” explains Hyken. He says it used to be customary to tip 15% for good service and 20% for amazing service. But nowadays we are seeing options at checkout for tips as high as 30%.“Tip-creeping is when a tip is requested or expected in places that you wouldn’t normally expect to tip,” says Hyken. “For example, tipping for self-service experiences, tipping at an auto repair center, and other places or experiences where you have never tipped before.In a post on his website, Hyken relays the story of how he bought a candy bar and paid through the store’s self-service checkout system. “I was surprised there was an option to leave a tip for the candy bar that I picked out and paid for on a self-service machine,” he wrote.
“Tipflation refers to the rising expectations around tipping – when businesses prompt for larger tips, such as on the screen when you check out at a fast-food (quick casual) restaurant,” explains Hyken. He says it used to be customary to tip 15% for good service and 20% for amazing service. But nowadays we are seeing options at checkout for tips as high as 30%.
“Tip-creeping is when a tip is requested or expected in places that you wouldn’t normally expect to tip,” says Hyken. “For example, tipping for self-service experiences, tipping at an auto repair center, and other places or experiences where you have never tipped before.
In a post on his website, Hyken relays the story of how he bought a candy bar and paid through the store’s self-service checkout system. “I was surprised there was an option to leave a tip for the candy bar that I picked out and paid for on a self-service machine,” he wrote.
We ask Hyken what someone should do if they feel the service wasn’t worthy of a tip. “If a customer feels they didn’t get the experience deserving of a tip, they shouldn’t tip,” he replied.“However, realize the server makes part of their living with tips. If it was so bad as to not leave a tip, share the experience with a manager and explain why the service is not worthy of a tip. That said, leaving a 10% tip when 15-20% is the standard, just to give the employee a little something, sends a message that is clear: ‘You didn’t give me a great experience. You could have done better.”
We ask Hyken what someone should do if they feel the service wasn’t worthy of a tip. “If a customer feels they didn’t get the experience deserving of a tip, they shouldn’t tip,” he replied.
“However, realize the server makes part of their living with tips. If it was so bad as to not leave a tip, share the experience with a manager and explain why the service is not worthy of a tip. That said, leaving a 10% tip when 15-20% is the standard, just to give the employee a little something, sends a message that is clear: ‘You didn’t give me a great experience. You could have done better.”
There are two sides of service: the technical side and the soft-skill side, Hyken tells us. “For example, technical is if I work at a restaurant, I may be trained on the proper side to serve and pick up plates. The soft skill is the personality, which includes the right attitude, the effort, and even the personality of the server.“The expert says hiring for the soft skills should be a priority when you recognize the person is sharp enough to be trained on the technical side. “If, after training and coaching, the server is still not getting good tips – while others are – then you have more than just a server issue. You have to worry about your reputation,” he warns.“Your establishment is only as good as the perception the customer/guest has of the experience, and if the person in charge of that experience (the server) is missing the mark, that’s how that customer – along with the friends that they tell about the experience – are going to perceive the restaurant.”
There are two sides of service: the technical side and the soft-skill side, Hyken tells us. “For example, technical is if I work at a restaurant, I may be trained on the proper side to serve and pick up plates. The soft skill is the personality, which includes the right attitude, the effort, and even the personality of the server.”
The expert says hiring for the soft skills should be a priority when you recognize the person is sharp enough to be trained on the technical side. “If, after training and coaching, the server is still not getting good tips – while others are – then you have more than just a server issue. You have to worry about your reputation,” he warns.
“Your establishment is only as good as the perception the customer/guest has of the experience, and if the person in charge of that experience (the server) is missing the mark, that’s how that customer – along with the friends that they tell about the experience – are going to perceive the restaurant.”
Tipping is a hot topic in the U.S. right now, with PresidentDonald Trumprecently announcing a plan to do away with taxes on tips. Under the proposal, workers’ tips would be fully theirs, regardless of their occupation.
The Economic Policy Institute reports that in December, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released a proposed rule that would allow restaurants to take the tips that servers earn and share them with untipped employees such as cooks and dishwashers.
“But, crucially, the rule doesn’t actually require that employers distribute ‘pooled’ tips to workers,“readsthe EPI site. “Under the administration’s proposed rule, as long as tipped workers earn minimum wage, employers could legally pocket those tips.”
It’s worth like 76p and it would cost more to get it exchanged. I’m also never going to the US.
“Further, recent research shows that workers in restaurants and bars are much more likely to suffer minimum wage violations—meaning that they receive less than the applicable minimum wage—than workers inotherindustries,” notes the EPI report. “For tipped workers, some of these minimum wage violations occur when an employer confiscates tips.”
It’s food for thought, and something to bear in mind the next time you sit down at a restaurant to enjoy a meal…
Stiffing servers has always made someone a bad person, but during a pandemic when benefits have run out and restaurant employees are struggling more than they already did? Despicable.
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They tipped in Cash.
A gentleman decided to pour his own wine into our wine glass after finished the wine he ordered. Asked him about he confessed he poured it. The partners reasoning was “I thought since we could drink on the sidewalk we could bring our own drink in here” I took the glass and let them finish their food I just dropped off.
the “thank you!!” above the tip line is from me, i write it on all receipts, the “thanks :)” at the signature line is my tip i guess. almost cried and walked out after this
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(Very VERY MILDLY lol I’m glad I got anything at all!) I work as a caricature artist so maybe I annoyed someone real bad.
Chatted up this really cute guy at my bar all night. He left this as a note, great tip, but I just don’t see the point. Like just because you wrote that doesn’t mean we don’t have to tax the tip still uhhh sir what.
1 free entry into heaven.
I’m done with this industry.
customer told mi I had pretty eyes
Like OK, yeah, I guess it could be annoying? But there was nothing wrong with the food, the speed, or the service. Just admit you were never going to tip.
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