| Posted by | Message |
Martini 
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2005
24085 posts
| Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 3:49 pm)
I've dined out all my life and understand and appreciate the difficulties of working in, managing or owning a restaurant. I've always taken pride in the fact that I am a generous tipper, not being magnanamous but I eat out for enjoyment and compensate more than fairly. I understand difficulty of children, people who can't make up their minds, changing orders etc... so I believe it's in my best interest to be better than fair. Waiters and restaurants that know me bend over backwards because they know that not only are they rewarded but they are also treated politely.
Having said that I saw something yesterday that I've never seen. Actually I wasn't dining it was my wife but she showed me. Her and a friend, both of whom have several meals out a week and are about the same as me, had lunch at Mansur's. They split the check each tossed a credit card up and said cut it down the middle which is typically how we do it when we are with other couples.
Two women. Two identical checks. Both had handwritten, 20% added to the check and handwritten totals when the reciept returned for them to sign.
Restaurant policy when splitting checks or party of 7 or more. Manager said it's on the menu they should have checked. Sorry. Policy.
I have never seen this except on larger parties which I accept. They didn't give the old "well I only had the side salad and she had the fish so go do the math then we'll sign it." Split in two. Divide by two. One simple math problem.
They didn't complain but they certainly found it odd. And the bad thing is they would have tipped probably closer to 30% had they been allowed to.
Well...that restaurant just lost two lunch ladies that enjoy a nice bottle of wine with it and tip on total.
They lost me years ago when at lunch they seated a man with a black AC/DC tee shirt on with cut off sleeves and sweaty pits next to me. I had to smell him while eating my trout.
Sorry Mansur's. We're done.
|
| Back to top | Share on  |
TheHiddenFlask 
Clemson Fan
The Welsh red light district
Member since Jul 2008
16382 posts
| re: Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 3:58 pm to Martini)
Glad to see someone else has backbone about being treated poorly. 
|
| Back to top | |
Count Chocula
Yale Fan
Member since Feb 2009
39156 posts
| re: Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 4:02 pm to Martini)
Whats worse, they piss you off like this and then are quick to tell you that if you'd like, you can add an additional tip to increase the total above 20%.
Thats when I tell them: "I'm sorry, I would have given you 30% until you pulled this bonehead stunt - too late now". I then close with my favorite Indiana Jones one liner: "You chose POORLY".
|
| Back to top | |
DanglingFury 
VCU Fan
Living the dream
Member since Dec 2007
15999 posts
| re: Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 4:02 pm to Martini)
quote:
Two women. Two identical checks. Both had handwritten, 20% added to the check and handwritten totals when the reciept returned for them to sign.
Restaurant policy when splitting checks or party of 7 or more. Manager said it's on the menu they should have checked. Sorry. Policy.
That is bull shite.
|
| Back to top | |
cuyahoga tiger
LSU Fan
NE Ohio via Tangipahoa
Member since Nov 2011
606 posts
| re: Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 4:06 pm to DanglingFury)
a bit off subject, but I always round up the tip so the check total ends up a whole dollar number. Easier for me to keep track of expense reports.
|
| Back to top | |
CAD703X 
Toledo Fan
Liberty Island
Member since Jul 2008
19355 posts
| re: Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 4:19 pm to Count Chocula)
quote:
Whats worse, they piss you off like this and then are quick to tell you that if you'd like, you can add an additional tip to increase the total above 20%.
yep. first time i was in cancun i noticed they put the tip into the total..and handed it with the tip area circled (it was blank) and i *almost* added a second tip in. the FIRST place i went after landing in cancun.
i was super pissed and from that point on i made it a point to put a big ZERO in that second area.
i dont get out much.. 
|
| Back to top | |
Count Chocula
Yale Fan
Member since Feb 2009
39156 posts
| re: Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 4:21 pm to CAD703X)
quote:
first time i was in cancun
|
| Back to top | |
Count Chocula
Yale Fan
Member since Feb 2009
39156 posts
| re: Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 4:21 pm to CAD703X)
quote:
i dont get out much
|
| Back to top | |
CAD703X
Toledo Fan
Liberty Island
Member since Jul 2008
19355 posts
| re: Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 4:29 pm to Count Chocula)
quote:
first time i was in cancun
there were flights from houston (where i used to live) for like $75. its not that glamorous.
|
| Back to top | |
HideChaKidz 
New Orleans Saints Fan
Member since Oct 2010
4928 posts
| re: Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 6:00 pm to Martini)
Gratting the split check at mansur's originates from the old mansur's on college. Back in those days, the computer system in use was ancient and splitting a check could become a nightmare for a waiter when he/she would have multiple tables. Back then it was only 18%.
Now their system should be up to par with state of the art technology, that rule should have been scrapped. Not to mention it takes no effort in splitting it down the middle. Just a really shitty situation all around... Not even sure the waiter should've been allowed to add the tip in the first place.
|
| Back to top | |
andouille
LSU Fan
A table near a waiter.
Member since Dec 2004
6759 posts
| re: Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 6:24 pm to HideChaKidz)
Funny you should mention Mansur's and being seated next to a smell bomb. I posted this earlier in the day in another thread, I didn't mention the restaurant, it was Mansur's:
quote:
I had a couple both in t-shirts, jorts and Crocs seated 3' from me in a high end restaurant. I think they were treating themselves for getting the barn cleaned out. They weren't suitable to eat at Sonic, in their truck
Apparently if it can crawl or slither in, they seat it.
|
| Back to top | |
Degas
Member since Jul 2010
4778 posts
| re: Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 7:07 pm to Martini)
I'm awaiting lilwineman to chime in once off of work.
|
| Back to top | |
TheIndulger
LSU Fan
Lafayette
Member since Sep 2011
4649 posts
| re: Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 7:30 pm to andouille)
quote:
I think they were treating themselves for getting the barn cleaned out.
|
| Back to top | |
Preys on Gumps
LSU Fan
Wrigleyville
Member since May 2012
1853 posts
| re: Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 8:11 pm to TheIndulger)
Room service is notorious for this.= 18% grat plus delivery AND a tip line
|
| Back to top | |
LouisianaLady 
USA Fan
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Mar 2009
46871 posts
| re: Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 8:27 pm to Martini)
quote:
Split in two. Divide by two. One simple math problem.
What's even worse is that it's not a math problem. You literally go to the computer and open the ticket. When you press "pay" you can click "1/2" and it will pay half with one credit card swipe. Then you pay the remainder with the other card. That's freaking ridiculous.
You need to put the restaurant name in your title. Their manager was posting on here the other day and seemed eager to help.
|
| Back to top | |
LouisianaLady
USA Fan
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Mar 2009
46871 posts
| re: Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 8:33 pm to HideChaKidz)
quote:
Not even sure the waiter should've been allowed to add the tip in the first place.
Well, not that it's not a shitty policy (because it is), but this really has nothing to do with the server. Even if there was a way for the server to just hide and not charge the gratuity, it's not worth getting fussed at by your boss. I have co-workers think they're cutting tables a break by not charging for something (like soft drinks) and my manager has been catching them and they get in severe trouble.
That being said, I am usually a supporter or auto-grat in the scenario of large parties. As a server, I'd rather get screwed out of the would-have-been 30% from a good tipper and get my auto-20% than take the chance and end up barely geting 10% from some trashball.
But this is ridiculous. This is not a big party, and honestly, this is not a policy I would think is needed at a place like Mansur's. Cheapass bad tippers are everywhere, but I'm almost positive that the clientele at Mansur's are much better tippers than at a place with cheap fried seafood and big portions. At a place like that, it seems the server would benefit more from NOT having this policy than they do from having it. At my work, I'd benefit from the policy for sure
This post was edited on 5/11 at 8:35 pm
|
| Back to top | |
madamsquirrel
LSU Fan
The Snarlington Estate
Member since Jul 2009
17572 posts
| re: Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 8:46 pm to Martini)
I will add additional tip when it is a large party and I know of the policy in advance. If they just add the gratuity at 18% I pay it and laugh to my self because they just screwed themselves out of an additional 12% minimum.
|
| Back to top | |
MapGuy 
LA-Lafayette Fan
I was born,I grew older,I'm here
Member since May 2010
23363 posts
| re: Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 8:49 pm to madamsquirrel)
I'm the same. Unless the server busted arse and earned it. Then I add more.
|
| Back to top | |
Tigerpaw123
USA Fan
P'ville
Member since Mar 2007
7557 posts
| re: Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 8:52 pm to LouisianaLady)
quote:
I have co-workers think they're cutting tables a break by not charging for something (like soft drinks) and my manager has been catching them and they get in severe trouble.
That is stealing and should be addressed appropriately.
Not charging an auto grat only affects the server
|
| Back to top | |
LouisianaLady
USA Fan
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Mar 2009
46871 posts
| re: Here is yet another discussion on tips (Posted on 5/11/12 at 8:56 pm to Tigerpaw123)
quote:
Not charging an auto grat only affects the server
Right, but auto grat for large parties is often "restaurant policy".. not the server saying "Oohhh, I'm really gonna frick with these people and make sure I get (whatever %) tip"..
So to punish a server that does a damn good job simply to make a statement about how offended you are about auto gratuity makes no sense. Now.. if the server sucks because he/she knows he/she is getting the tip anyway, obviously don't leave more. But every time this topic comes up, tons of people come in saying they refuse to add onto auto-gratuity no matter what because they're so offended by it. What they should realize is that auto gratuity is in place for people who WON'T tip well (which is a much larger amount of people than the people who do) and not punish even hardworking servers for something they have no control over.
ETA: And to answer what you were responding to, just because a tip doesn't affect anyone except the server, that doesn't mean they won't get fussed at for not implementing a restaurant policy. I don't think we should be in favor of employees choosing which work policies to follow just because a patron is nice or they feel bad. That's why I brought up the soft drink thing. I know it's different because it affects profit, but the point was that most management wouldn't want their servers making executive decisions like that.
This post was edited on 5/11 at 9:00 pm
|
| Back to top | |
