Why I Won’t Tip You If You’re A Waiter – Presented with Author permission– Bhgagwad Jal Park

Scott Young Says– This is an article I came across that I thought would go very well here to stimulate a conversation and better understanding.

Yes, he’s talking about waiter table servers but I think there are many points he makes that are applicable to all types of servers.
I personally don’t agree with his points, but It’s useful to understand people and their motivations so hold on for a bumpy ride as you read and walk a mile in another person’s shoes. Have you ever seen a waiter demand tips from customers?

Bhgagwad Jal Park Says…

Explains my reasons for not tipping my waiter and debunks the usual excuses that are used to demand tips from customers.
It never fails to shock me how a tip is demanded in the US. People simply refuse to listen to reason when we (yes, there are others!) tell them that leaving a tip isn’t necessary.

Well, I’m hoping for too much here, but if you’re a waiter, here are 5 reasons why I will try my best not to give any money to you and why the reasons for tipping are crappy.

First:
You act as if you’re my best friend
Just leave me alone ok? I don’t want to bloody chit chat with you. I want food. FOOD! Get it? It’s a restaurant.

I go there to eat. I go because I want either Italian food, Chinese Food or something else which I can’t get in a McDonald’s.
So I come to a restaurant to fulfill my cravings for it. I will pay for what I value – food. Not you.

Christ, you offend me – kneeling down next to my table, pretending to like me and chatting as if you’re my best friend when it’s obvious that all you’re after is the tip! I’m not a bloody money bag you know.

I will pay the bill which includes the cost of the food, the environment and the salaries of the people involved – nothing more.
The only way to get money out of me that I don’t have to legally pay is by prying it out of my cold dead hands…

Bottom line:

I don’t want to know your name, or interact with you for any longer than I have to in order to place my order.
As far as I’m concerned, you’re the equivalent of a conveyor belt that brings me my food and a computer into which I input my order.

Of course, I won’t be rude. But don’t expect me to interact with you any more than I would with some stranger.
Did you earn this tip?

Second:
You don’t get paid enough.
And this is my problem how exactly?

It’s astonishing that customers are expected to make up for your employer’s cheapness in not paying you a decent wage.
Please include the full cost in everyone’s bill thank you very much.

I’ll pay it because I have to and the charge is there for me to see.

(More Continued below)

What’s really funny here is that no one seems to criticize the employers!

All criticism is reserved for non tipping customers instead of the owners of the restaurant for not paying a decent wage.

Wtf! Could it possibly be because you guys know you can make much more by tips and under report your income to the IRS?

Third:
You’ll spit in my food if I don’t tip you?
And I’ll shoot your kid if you don’t give me a million dollars. Seriously, am I even hearing this right? You’re actually using the threat of blackmail to make me pay you?

Well as long as you’re openly claiming to be a criminal it’s all right I guess.
Fortunately that’s why I prefer buffets. Listen apart from it being illegal, this shows your poor integrity.
But if you spit in someone’s food because they didn’t give you money you didn’t earn, then you’re a loser and deserve to be a waiter for the rest of your life.

Fourth:
Bringing me my food isn’t worthy of being paid extra

Did you cook it? Did you invent it? No. You picked it up and brought it to me. While it might not be easy, there are plenty of jobs which are much worse – shop floor workers for example.
And I’ve been a shop floor manager, so I know.

Face it – compared to other jobs, being a waiter is unskilled. You get paid what the market will think your services are worth.
You don’t deserve more for your work over and above what your employer should pay you.

Fifth:
Money doesn’t grow on trees
I expect you to be grateful and pray for me at night if I tip you 10%. Be happy I gave you anything at all.

I worked for the money in my wallet and by giving you some I didn’t have to, I’m doing you a favor.
Learn to remember that when people give you something they don’t need to, it’s a favor. You don’t complain that they didn’t give you more!

By the way, the same thing above applies to all professions that demand tips including those on cruise liners.
So now that you understand why I won’t give you money you don’t deserve, stop with the “oh how could you?” attitude. I can. And I will.

Please Comment Below RE: 5 Reasons Why I Won’t Tip You If You’re a Waiter

Because many people who make a living in the service industry do so by making tips, , the author makes some pretty good points.
Please be respectful. We can have disagreements and still use basic common courtesy.

1) How Would You Respond to His Five Main Points and Explanations?

First ) You act as if you’re my best friend

Second )  You don’t get paid enough

Third ) You’ll spit in my food if I don’t tip you?

Fourth ) Bringing me my food isn’t worthy of being paid extra

Fifth ) Money doesn’t grow on trees

Other Questions:

2) Most importantly, how would you try, here, not while you’re working, to change someone’s mind from being a non-tipper into a tipper?

8) Have you ever seen a waiter demand a tip?

9) Is it ever acceptable for a waiter to demand tips?
10) Last, Have you had a Bad or Lousy tipping experience?

Thank you for adding your wisdom to the discussion.