Comments on: “Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.” (Thoreau)

By: Erin

Erin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:26:39 +0000

I wish the tip were included as well. I think it’s crazy the way it’s set up. It creates a forced and weird relationship between server and customer, and I don’t know that it really ensures better service. If a server is no good, he or she should be placed in a different job. The best servers will get the best jobs, and so on. Oh well.

I’ve got to learn more about this mystery shopping thing! Sounds like fun.

By: Amy Warkentien

Amy Warkentien — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:20:33 +0000

As a former waitress I wish tip was included in the amount you get paid per hour. I used to work at a really nice restaurant where you got paid less than $2/hr. I would just pray that someone would order a lot so that I could get a decent tip- guess what costs a lot? Alcohol. It’s ironic because I don’t advocate people getting drunk and I often order water when we go out. When drinkers came in I would make more money because it takes just as much effort for me to get water as it does for me to got get a glass of wine.

Nick & I always tip about 20% only because I know that most waiters don’t make that much. However, I do sometimes give a little more or less based on service. I especially give more when we order water, share one dish and still get great service. Now there is a server who cares about me as a customer, but a paycheck.

Also, I am a mystery shopper and you might enjoy it as well. You can eat well, judge the service and get reimbursed. Once I mystery shopped Bonefish Grill- the questionnaire was 100+ questions long! but we were required to order an appetizer, 2 entrees, dessert and drinks.

By: Erin

Erin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:22:55 +0000

I know–I’d pay for the water (sometimes) if it cost money. Maybe I wouldn’t pay as much as a glass of wine can cost, but still. What’s wrong with wanting to drink one of the best things you can drink?

By: Zea

Zea — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:19:37 +0000

Ever since Seth and I started eating out together, he made me aware of the stigma servers assign to those who order water. Well, water is teh only thing I drink. I can’t help it that it’s free. And stereotypes aren’t always right. Seth and I have always been good tippers. In a way, I like tipping more than the server thinks I will just to turn his or her expectations and prejudices upside down. This is not to say I will tip well for rude service, but I don’t like fulfilling their prophesy.

By: Erin

Erin — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:06:35 +0000

Haha! I can still remember which houses in our neighborhood were homes to “cranky old ladies.” We were quite cautious about which yards we ran through!

By: Yana

Yana — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:20:40 +0000

I agree with Sabrina. I think as we get older, we feel it’s our right to “demand” better service. I can’t wait to be a cranky old lady and yell at kids to “get off my lawn!”

By: Erin

Erin — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:43:44 +0000

Hmm, that’s very interesting. Maybe we are engaging in a self-fulfilling prophecy. What if because we knew we had a much lower income than most people in the restaurant, we somehow communicated that in some subtle way? I don’t know–maybe that’s reading too much into the situation. Or maybe it’s a combination of the waiter’s assumptions and our assumptions. Maybe our waiter just wasn’t very good.

By: Sabrina

Sabrina — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:15:45 +0000

You know, what I found really interesting was what Yana said about how she used to be shy but now speaks up when she wants a table in a different location! I don't at all mean to suggest that she would ever complain about the timing of her meal's courses or whatever, but it does seem like we have an ability to appear "higher maintenance" consumers as we get older. Even if that is just a matter of us "demanding" our due... While I'm not especially brave about critiquing a service as it's being performed, I am more willing to make a customer complaint about the quality of a good. What I find interesting about that is the idea that a product has a set price, therefore, the money I pay for it necessitates that it meets its usual standard of quality. However, since tipping for service is at our discretion, I think we are the converse side of the self-fulfilling prophecy. Sure, we don't want to be fussy diners, but if we knew we could pay extravagantly for service, we might expect more, whether or not we would be so rude about demanding it.

By: Erin

Erin — Mon, 18 May 2009 13:27:37 +0000

It’s funny, as you point out, how it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Expect a bad tip, provide poor service, receive a bad tip. I believe I read somewhere that the people who have the most money (and order the most wine, etc.) are not actually the best tippers.

By: Yana

Yana — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:55:43 +0000

I am very annoyed by this kind of treatment at restaurants. It happens to me and Pete all the time. They look at us, assume we are young and won’t tip, and thus begins a self-fulfilling prophecy. First, we get seated at a crappy table, near the door, near the bathroom, etc., when there are plenty of other tables available. I used to be shy about saying something, but now I openly object and request another table. Then, we order water. We very rarely have alcohol with dinner, and we don’t drink much soda, so water is the obvious choice. But apparently unless you order wine, you are a nobody. Often, we are not told of any specials personally and have to listen when servers recite them to other customers. We also rarely order appetizers or dessert because we just don’t eat that much. Another strike against us. And then, after receiving poor service, I am expected to tip well?