It used to be that leaving a gratuity was just that... something extra left to show a waiter/waitress/server that they did a good job and to thank them for their courtesy. Nowadays, however, tips seem to be more expected than earned. 15% used to be given for average service, while 20% or more for excellent service. Servers seem to expect at least 15% or more, no matter the quality.
Last evening, M, D&S and I went out to a little tapas place on Spring St. near Greenwich. The food was really good. The champagne sangria tasty. And the company, ever so excellent. The service, however, wasn't great. It was pretty much what one would expect in a somewhat trendy (or trying to be trendy) NYC restaurant. The waitresses were a little snobby, and gave you the look that they really couldn't be bothered.
During dinner, our second pitcher of sangria was knocked over by people sitting at the next table. This wasn't such a big deal (except for my wet pant leg) since we hadn't even started the pitcher yet. We just told the wait staff that we didn't want another one. Well, they seemed to insist. Finally, one of the waitresses said that a pitcher was being sent over. Fine, another pitcher of sangria. More conversation, more drink, and an order of dessert - where the order for cappuccino mysteriously appeared as a double espresso. When M pointed out to our waitress that the order was wrong, our oh so cool waitress gave M a look as if she was insane. The correct cup of caffeine was eventually delivered.
When the check came, we gave our waitress what we thought was fair for what we got, considering the rudeness, the insistence on the second pitcher of sangria and the incorrect drink delivery, which was answered by more rudeness. After a few moments, waiting for M to return from the loo, our waitress came back and asked if there was anything wrong with the service, since the tip appeared to be low. We explained that the service was only okay, but we didn't really appreciate the second sangria insisted upon us, but that's the tip we felt was deserved. Our waitress went on to say that it was standard that the tip is double the tax, and we didn't give her this amount, continued to ask why, and if we knew what a standard tip should be. Thank God for D. He looked her straight in the eye and told her that she had no right to demand more tip, that the service was only fair, and that since they "sent" the pitcher of sangria over, which we didn't want, that we shouldn't have to pay for it. I think the waitress' exact quote was:
"I just wanted to let you know that I don't work for free!"
And here I thought that quality of service should reflect what she deserved. Silly me.
gra·tu·i·ty n. pl. gra·tu·i·ties
A favor or gift, usually in the form of money, given in return for service.
I guess some people just need to be reminded what it actually means.
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3 comments:
Well you have to consider that waitstaff make practically no money from their hourly pay (just about enough to cover taxes, i.e. all income comes from tips). I always feel obliged to tip at least 15% 'cos I feel bad for them. Although, you'd figure that since they earn their wage from tips they'd try to give you good service...
Damned circles and their viciousness.
I would've asked the waitress to get her manager and ask her to repeat everything that she said.
I was telling the story to Tricia and Joe this weekend. Joe wanted me to go back the next night and refuse to be served by the same waitress, and then tip big. I am usually a decent tipper - I have always worked retail and it is rare for me to tip under 20+%. However, I stand firm with what I told our waitress: That $30 second pitcher of sangria that we refused 3 times after the full pitcher was dumped on Tina and was then sent over anyway, should not have been on our bill. And there's her tip, 30% when combined with the rest of what we left her. If she had any sense, she would have come out ahead.
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