"I give God 10% why do you get 18?" Pastor

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lnf said:
I always tip a minimum of 20%, no matter how horrid the service.  Most likely, I'll tip substantially more.  Why?  Three reasons. 

1.  Because I'm a widow, I am usually alone.  Right there, the wait staff is expecting a smaller tip, based upon my smaller bill.  But, because I have two daughters in the hospitality field, I am cognizant of what a table top means to their income.  The majority of their income comes from the tip.  I hate to penalize my server by my small bill, even though they visit my table just as often as any other.

2.  God has been generous in His provision of my resources.  I can afford to be generous, and, frankly, I can't afford not to!  I think of it as "do not tempt the Lord thy God".  Just today, I was craving some minestrone soup.  It was the lunch hour.  The restaurant was crowded.  Table for one.  With my drink and side, the bill came to $8.50.  I left $15.  I can only imagine my server's pleasant surprise when she discovered her expected $2 (or less) tip was quite a bit more.

3.  It grieves me greatly that Christians have such a poor reputation in the hospitality field.  We should be the most generous tippers, the most forgiving customers when the order doesn't come out just right or the wait staff is having an off day.  If we are going to present ourselves to the world as set apart, let's give them something to admire, not something to sneer at.  Let's not hurt the cause of Christ!
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There are many things hurting the cause of Christ! Somehow, I can't see bad tipping being at the top of that list.

If a bad tipping is cause people to reconsider what they think about Christ.....I'd say they've got more problems than the bad tipper.
 
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There are many things hurting the cause of Christ! Somehow, I can't see bad tipping being at the top of that list.

If a bad tipping is cause people to reconsider what they think about Christ.....I'd say they've got more problems than the bad tipper.
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From my own personal experience, from before I was a Christian, I saw those who I knew were Christians and saw hypocrisy.  It kept me out of church for many years.  Now that I am in church, I am acutely aware of what the world sees when they see my walk.  Sure, tipping is a small thing, but the small things do matter.  And the small things are the easiest to change. 
 
lnf said:
From my own personal experience, from before I was a Christian, I saw those who I knew were Christians and saw hypocrisy.  It kept me out of church for many years.  Now that I am in church, I am acutely aware of what the world sees when they see my walk.  Sure, tipping is a small thing, but the small things do matter.  And the small things are the easiest to change.
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I guess I reject the idea that a tip is an entitlement, and if it is not in a certain range, shame on the person who "Should have" given a bigger tip.

A tip used to be a reward for good service--not an entitlement like most posters here are saying.

Why don't you fault the restaurants for setting up this scheme for you to pay their waitstaff directly instead of them paying their waitstaff?

Why should it be that there is one charge for the meal, and 18-30% to deliver the meal to a table 50 feet away from where it was prepared?

I had a glass of water knocked over in my lap by a waitress who was serving plates of our meal, while at Bob Evans while eating out with my parents and family, and sat in a puddle for the rest of the meal, and the "suggested tip" was still added to the bill.  And no, lnf, you didn't see hypocrisy in me--I just paid the bill...I dripped out the door, and never ate there again.

We all have restaurant stories to tell, but my points are 2:

I challenge the idea that tips are entitlements.
  (i.e. Give me 18% or you are not giving me what is rightfully MINE"

Why doesn't anybody blame the restaurant who set up that system because it is their best interest?    (whether deflecting blame from the restaurant or financial)


 
"Why tip someone for a job I'm capable of doing myself? I can deliver food. I can drive a taxi. I can, and do, cut my own hair. I did however, tip my urologist, because I am unable to pulverize my own kidney stones." -Dwight Schrute
 
A waiter/waitress generally gets paid a lousy hourly wage, and they depend upon tips to make more of a living wage.  That doesn't excuse bad waiters/waitresses from doing a lousy job.  But I don't see them working all day every day, so I don't know if how they behave one time at the restaurant is the exception or the rule.  I know that isn't how it was supposed to work, but that's what it has become -- tips are compensation for a lousy wage.

I get paid the same for a day's work whether or not I'm productive that day; whether I'm in a good mood or bad mood that day.  So I extend that to waiters/waitresses.  I tip them the same standard amount (at minimum) no matter what kind of service I get, because I'm helping them supplement their lousy salary to earn their living wage.  If they're exceptionally good, I tip well above the standard amount. 

That's just how I look at it.  I have no expectations that anyone will agree with me. 

 
[quote author=weaker-brother]I guess I reject the idea that a tip is an entitlement, and if it is not in a certain range, shame on the person who "Should have" given a bigger tip. [/quote]

If the restaurant clearly states that its policy is to add 18% to parties over 8 for gratuity, then yes, the tip is an entitlement.

[quote author=weaker-brother]A tip used to be a reward for good service--not an entitlement like most posters here are saying.[/quote]

Why can't it be both?

[quote author=weaker-brother]Why don't you fault the restaurants for setting up this scheme for you to pay their waitstaff directly instead of them paying their waitstaff?

Why should it be that there is one charge for the meal, and 18-30% to deliver the meal to a table 50 feet away from where it was prepared?[/quote]

Because if the restaurant adjusted their menu prices to reflect this, they would be less competitive and likely out of business before long. Is the final bill the same? Perhaps, but the menu prices are higher making the restaurant seem more expensive, and in such a highly competitive market, appearances are everything.

Not only that, but for people (not necessarily you) who scream about the benefits of capitalism (and the evils of socialism), paying individuals for services provided (e.g. tips) vs a common pool where everyone gets a piece is very capitalistic.

[quote author=weaker-brother]I had a glass of water knocked over in my lap by a waitress who was serving plates of our meal, while at Bob Evans while eating out with my parents and family, and sat in a puddle for the rest of the meal, and the "suggested tip" was still added to the bill.  And no, lnf, you didn't see hypocrisy in me--I just paid the bill...I dripped out the door, and never ate there again.[/quote]

There is a difference in "suggested tip" and "gratuity automatically added".

And, like others, I recognize that a server may be having an off day. Unless I see blatant displays of laziness, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. I'm also not going to stew about something that is obviously an accident. Accidents happen.

(And, yes...how you tip service staff has Gospel implications.)

[quote author=weaker-brother]We all have restaurant stories to tell, but my points are 2:

I challenge the idea that tips are entitlements.
  (i.e. Give me 18% or you are not giving me what is rightfully MINE"

Why doesn't anybody blame the restaurant who set up that system because it is their best interest?    (whether deflecting blame from the restaurant or financial)[/quote]

Addressed. ;)
 
Many of you do not agree with a restaurant's policy to add gratuity to large parties. I side with the restaurants on this issue for several reasons:

1. My wife worked as a waitress for several years. Anybody with common sense can tell you that it is much more difficult to wait on a table of 10 than a table of 2.

2. Sometimes people think they might be lost in the crowd in their large party tables, so they try to get away with being cheap on the tip.

3. There is nothing worse than working hard to serve a party that spends $100+ dollars, expecting to make at least $18, and finding out you were only left $5.

4. Most people in the service industry are treated like dirt...lower than dirt by a couple of people per day. This is nowhere near the majority of their customers,   
    but it just takes one to ruin a whole day, and it just takes seven to ruin a whole week.

5. If you really care about being obedient to the Lord, then "Love thy neighbor as thyself" travels with you from the church house to the restaurant!
 
I usually tip 20 percent or more. Why?

My ex was a waitress, she and the staff was robbed one night. When they were going to take her tip, she told them she was working as her husband was going to bible college. They did not take her money. Also she stated the worst tipsters were church people. Some left tracts for the waitresses instead of a tip.

The other reason, it is a job I would not want to have to do or could probably do as well as they do. I have been blessed by God with a good education. Some people not due to their fault, came from broken homes, may not have had the opportunity to even finish high school.

I also found out that after I leave a tip that the waiter or waitresses remember me when I return.
 
Castor Muscular said:
A waiter/waitress generally gets paid a lousy hourly wage, and they depend upon tips to make more of a living wage.  That doesn't excuse bad waiters/waitresses from doing a lousy job.  But I don't see them working all day every day, so I don't know if how they behave one time at the restaurant is the exception or the rule.  I know that isn't how it was supposed to work, but that's what it has become -- tips are compensation for a lousy wage.

I get paid the same for a day's work whether or not I'm productive that day; whether I'm in a good mood or bad mood that day.  So I extend that to waiters/waitresses.  I tip them the same standard amount (at minimum) no matter what kind of service I get, because I'm helping them supplement their lousy salary to earn their living wage.  If they're exceptionally good, I tip well above the standard amount. 

That's just how I look at it.  I have no expectations that anyone will agree with me.
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Castor we have found a point of total agreement. AMAZING!!!! LOL!

 
graceandtruth said:
Castor we have found a point of total agreement. AMAZING!!!! LOL!
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It's a belated Christmas miracle!!

If I were the waitress, the next time a person like that came in I'd serve them half a meal.  When the customer says, "Why is half my steak missing?" the waitress can say, "I gave 50% to God.  I'm a heavy tipper."

 
We had this discussion a few times on the old FFF. A couple here had a hard time believing this was true about Christians. Some of us know all to well it is. Just do quick google search for "bad Christian tippers" and you will get 735,000+ responses.

The issues of some Christians at restaurants especially in groups:

  • Lost revenue due to no alcohol sales.

  • Fewer table turns during the day as they fellowship together long after the meal is over.

  • Stays long after the meal is over fellowshipping  in the evening until the place closes down at night sometimes causing a waiter to work an extra 30 mins to an hour for no extra money.

  • Large groups are notorious for multiple checks which is more work.

  • If "all on one check" but people are "pitching in" invariably there is not enough put in for a decent tip so unless one in the group decides to make it up the tip is low.

Some don't like the system but it's the one in place at most restaurants and we all have a choice to eat at restaurants where tipping is not the norm.  If you go to a restaurant that tipping is normal and you don't agree don't make your point at the expense of the wait staff. They don't make the rules but will be the ones who suffer.
 
Curious this female "pastor" takes a literal and strong stand on the matter of the tithe, while at the same time ignoring the Scripture on that pastors are to be men.  Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmm.
 
T-Bone said:
Curious this female "pastor" takes a literal and strong stand on the matter of the tithe, while at the same time ignoring the Scripture on that pastors are to be men.  Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmm.
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Hilarious T-Bone!!!  :D
 
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