I hate Assh*les

[Jessica Leigh]

i had a rough night. and i hate people.

so i'm a waitress at a bar next to the baseball park here and about 99% of our business is from people going to or from the game. we run a special every night after the game is over that if you go to the bar and give the bartender your ticket stub, your first drink is only $2 for whatever you want.

so i have an older couple sitting at one of my tables- they have a few drinks, a pizza etc... they hang out for a good two hours and their bill came to $45. the evening was perfect (i've been doing this for almost 9 years) and there is nothing i could have done to give them better service- they were totally happy. they asked for their bill and when i gave it to them the man asked me why their first round of drinks wasn't $2 each. i told him that the special is at the bar and if he had told me earlier that he wanted it i could have worked something out for him. but our managers have a policy that they won't change a bill due to customer error. i told him i was very sorry and that i don't make the rules i just have to follow them. his wife was very nice and said that it was ok. i even gave them 2 shots of patron silver ($8 each) for only $2 each.

so they paid their bill and left. i went to clean the table and picked up the credit card slip and found that he had left his used baseball tickets and no tip. yeah. a big X through the tip portion of the slip. so i was pissed- i was so pissed that i was shaking... in a fit of rage i ran out the front door and chased them down and shoved the baseball tickets in the man's hand and said "here sir i don't need these" and he glared at me, threw the tickets in the trash, and flipped me off. i screamed at him "what did i do to you?" and he goes "what?" we went back and forth until i just gave up and went back inside.

here's a little lesson for when you take out your frustration with rules on your waitress.... on a $45 tab i have to give the busboy $1.35 and the food runner $0.90 and the bartender $0.90 which equals $3.15

I did nothing wrong to these customers- i took good care of them for 2 hours and saved them $12 on premium tequila... yet they were pissed because it was out of my power to change their bill to give them $8 worth of Miller Light for $4... so i had to PAY OUT OF MY POCKET $3.15 to wait on them.

I hate that man... if it wasn't for his wife being so nice to me i would have taken his name off of his credit card slip and prank called him or sent him a bunch of junk mail or something...

[darklinensuit]

i had a rough night. and i hate people.

so i'm a waitress at a bar next to the baseball park here and about 99% of our business is from people going to or from the game. we run a special every night after the game is over that if you go to the bar and give the bartender your ticket stub, your first drink is only $2 for whatever you want.

so i have an older couple sitting at one of my tables- they have a few drinks, a pizza etc... they hang out for a good two hours and their bill came to $45. the evening was perfect (i've been doing this for almost 9 years) and there is nothing i could have done to give them better service- they were totally happy. they asked for their bill and when i gave it to them the man asked me why their first round of drinks wasn't $2 each. i told him that the special is at the bar and if he had told me earlier that he wanted it i could have worked something out for him. but our managers have a policy that they won't change a bill due to customer error. i told him i was very sorry and that i don't make the rules i just have to follow them. his wife was very nice and said that it was ok. i even gave them 2 shots of patron silver ($8 each) for only $2 each.

so they paid their bill and left. i went to clean the table and picked up the credit card slip and found that he had left his used baseball tickets and no tip. yeah. a big X through the tip portion of the slip. so i was pissed- i was so pissed that i was shaking... in a fit of rage i ran out the front door and chased them down and shoved the baseball tickets in the man's hand and said "here sir i don't need these" and he glared at me, threw the tickets in the trash, and flipped me off. i screamed at him "what did i do to you?" and he goes "what?" we went back and forth until i just gave up and went back inside.

here's a little lesson for when you take out your frustration with rules on your waitress.... on a $45 tab i have to give the busboy $1.35 and the food runner $0.90 and the bartender $0.90 which equals $3.15

I did nothing wrong to these customers- i took good care of them for 2 hours and saved them $12 on premium tequila... yet they were pissed because it was out of my power to change their bill to give them $8 worth of Miller Light for $4... so i had to PAY OUT OF MY POCKET $3.15 to wait on them.

I hate that man... if it wasn't for his wife being so nice to me i would have taken his name off of his credit card slip and prank called him or sent him a bunch of junk mail or something...

Sorry you had a rough time. Service jobs are very hard that way.
I remember similar difficulties in my retail days, and these days nothing at work stresses this teacher out faster than rude/difficult parents.
The worst is any feeling of frustration/powerlessness that let the anger build up inside. Not to patronize, but do whatever you can to let it go. Not worth pranking or carrying the anger around on your shoulders. Take care of you. :nod: Hope you're getting some sleep.

- Jake

[Lisa1769]

That's an asshole alright.

I was a waitress for years and cannot believe some peoples audacity. The majority of people were very nice, but you'd always get an asshole who thinks your beneath them. Or, they try to show their butt & arrogance to impress those around them. Yeah, real impressive, you just belittled someone.

Good for you, on standing up to him. :nod:

[WelshWitchPMD]

I am sorry about your bad experience, Jessica. People can be so rude sometimes. I really do hate people sometimes. Thankfully I don't have to deal with that anymore. I just get their stupid phone calls now.
Sometimes, it makes you wonder how nice people (like the wife) end up with a jerk for a husband. :shrug: Maybe she will talk some sense into him and he will apologize and give you the tip that is due.

[strandinthewind]

What a jerk. Unless the waiter is just a total ass, I never stiff them because I have had many friends like you who have explained that they are just the messenger. For instance, if the food is late because the kitchen is backed up and the waiter explain it to you, do not take it out on them because they are just as aggravated as you are and they probably wil lose a whole other table that evening due to time contraints. Plus, I ALWAYS tip 20% and even more if the server is great as they ALWAYS remember me the next time - well, the remembering could be because I am large, loud, and busy :laugh: Seriously, sorry you had to go through that.

[GardenStateGirlie]

I still think it's ridiculous that when I go to a restaurant, the tip that I leave is paying you guys. In this day in age, It should be up to the restaurant owner to pay you a wage that isn't miniscule and not up to patrons of the restaurant to make up for the fact that they don't. I can't believe out of someones tip that they give you, you then have to tip out to all of those people. To me, that's ridiculous. This guy was a huge jerk to do that to you knowing (as everyone does) that you work for tips. If that guy were my husband, i'd be embarassed. Seriously. That's just rude.

[GODDESS6]

whata a major A-hole~ i am sorry this happened to you~ i always appreciate my waitress~ this guy was rude & insensitive & WRONG!!!~ I HOPE YOU HAVE A BETTER SUNDAY!!! :nod: ~

[gldstwmn]

i had a rough night. and i hate people.

so i'm a waitress at a bar next to the baseball park here and about 99% of our business is from people going to or from the game. we run a special every night after the game is over that if you go to the bar and give the bartender your ticket stub, your first drink is only $2 for whatever you want.

so i have an older couple sitting at one of my tables- they have a few drinks, a pizza etc... they hang out for a good two hours and their bill came to $45. the evening was perfect (i've been doing this for almost 9 years) and there is nothing i could have done to give them better service- they were totally happy. they asked for their bill and when i gave it to them the man asked me why their first round of drinks wasn't $2 each. i told him that the special is at the bar and if he had told me earlier that he wanted it i could have worked something out for him. but our managers have a policy that they won't change a bill due to customer error. i told him i was very sorry and that i don't make the rules i just have to follow them. his wife was very nice and said that it was ok. i even gave them 2 shots of patron silver ($8 each) for only $2 each.

so they paid their bill and left. i went to clean the table and picked up the credit card slip and found that he had left his used baseball tickets and no tip. yeah. a big X through the tip portion of the slip. so i was pissed- i was so pissed that i was shaking... in a fit of rage i ran out the front door and chased them down and shoved the baseball tickets in the man's hand and said "here sir i don't need these" and he glared at me, threw the tickets in the trash, and flipped me off. i screamed at him "what did i do to you?" and he goes "what?" we went back and forth until i just gave up and went back inside.

here's a little lesson for when you take out your frustration with rules on your waitress.... on a $45 tab i have to give the busboy $1.35 and the food runner $0.90 and the bartender $0.90 which equals $3.15

I did nothing wrong to these customers- i took good care of them for 2 hours and saved them $12 on premium tequila... yet they were pissed because it was out of my power to change their bill to give them $8 worth of Miller Light for $4... so i had to PAY OUT OF MY POCKET $3.15 to wait on them.

I hate that man... if it wasn't for his wife being so nice to me i would have taken his name off of his credit card slip and prank called him or sent him a bunch of junk mail or something...

I did your job for years so I can sympathize. But check this out-there are times when I'm sitting here at my desk and if something goes wrong with a deal-they change their mind, the contract isn't right, etc., I can sit here and watch $5000 in commission go right out the window. And I've done just that.
Some people are just assholes. :shrug: Also, your manager should have just changed the bill. He's being pennywise and pound foolish with that policy. So you're not getting the support you need there, IMO.
I hope the next time you work someone fabulous (like Stevie) comes in and sits in your section and leaves you and outrageous 200% tip. :angel:

[gldstwmn]

I still think it's ridiculous that when I go to a restaurant, the tip that I leave is paying you guys. In this day in age, It should be up to the restaurant owner to pay you a wage that isn't miniscule.

There actually are several unions for service workers. Is California a right to work state?

[GypsySorcerer]

I'm sorry, Jessica. People can be real assholes. I hope some good karma goes your way and someone leaves you a big bill. :angel:

[irishgrl]

There actually are several unions for service workers. Is California a right to work state?
Im not sure I understand "right to work" but as far as I know, there is no union for waitressess/waiters...
ya know what I hate? when you do your taxes (if you wait tables) you automatically have to plug in a percentage of your wages as tips even if you didnt actually make that much! it SUCKS!
I used to be a waitress, its hard thankless work and Im glad Im not doing it anymore. There are some good customers, but overall, I hated it,

[littlecricket2]

Another thing I don't like about people having to work for tips is that if you work at a swanky restaurant, 15% is a lot of money, whereas if you do the same work at a little dive, 15% is like, $1 or $2. My ex-boyfriend used to not believe in tipping 15% at really expensive restaurants, because he was like, "people who wait tables at a place where the average check is $50 do not work substantially harder or need any more education than people who work at a place where the average check is $10." I, on the other hand, always tip a minimum of 15% no matter where I am, but still, I think he kinda had a point. The whole tips thing for service workers is just all-around inequitable. People should be able to count on a steady paycheck for steady work, period.

[mylittledemon]

I only tip if the waitress/waiter is nice and friendly. If it's slow, I can deal with that...if the food isnt that great, I can deal with that. As long as your server has a good attitude, they deserve a tip. Some people dont believe in tipping at all...and if waiters didnt make such a low wage, I probably wouldnt tip.

[mylittledemon]

i had a rough night. and i hate people.
.


I think its blatantly obvious you need to find another line of work as well. You'll be happier.

[hayley]

People are dicks. I couldn't be a server. I'd clock someone.

I don't understand people who don't tip. When you go out to a restaurant, you're not just paying for the food, you're paying for a service. I tip too well- normally more than I can truly afford. Hell, I'm broke but last night still gave a delivery driver $5.00 on an $15.00 order, after the delivery charge. Everyone's got to pay their damn bills.

[gldstwmn]

Im not sure I understand "right to work" but as far as I know, there is no union for waitressess/waiters...


Yes, there is. It's called HERE-Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees. In fact, local 681 in CA seems to be one of the bigger ones.

[gldstwmn]

Here's a brief explanation of right to work:

The so-called "right to work" laws have nothing to do with at-will employment, but are a form of anti-union legislation. A little historical background will help explain.

A hundred years ago, workers who formed unions to collectively bargain with employers were prosecuted for unlawful restraints of trade and were thrown in jail for even a peaceful strike or picket line. But, in the National Labor Relations Act, passed in 1935, the nation recognized the right of employees to form and join their own unions free of employer interference, and made it obligatory for employers to recognize and bargain with unions selected by a majority of their employees. The Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 prohibited the closed shop, which conditioned an employee's hiring on union membership. The law permits the "union shop," which requires a newly-hired employee to join a union within 30 days. This law also permitted the states to prohibit "agreements requiring membership in a labor organization as a condition of employment." As a result, 21 states, mostly in the South and West, passed laws which give employees the "right to work" without joining a union. In those states, the union shop is replaced by the open shop, where union membership is completely voluntary. In most of those states, the "right to work" laws also prohibit the so-called agency shop, where employees must either join a union or to pay it a fee for collective bargaining services that is somewhat less than the amount of union dues.

[HomerMcvie]

I only tip if the waitress/waiter is nice and friendly. If it's slow, I can deal with that...if the food isnt that great, I can deal with that. As long as your server has a good attitude, they deserve a tip. Some people dont believe in tipping at all...and if waiters didnt make such a low wage, I probably wouldnt tip.
I know 4 or 5 guys who don't tip, period. They even take pride in the fact.
And it's not embarrassing going out with them, because I always feel like I have to pay their tip, too. Which, of course, sucks. Or, if the waitress is right there when we're paying, I'll make it CLEAR that the tip is from ME only, not the deadbeat friend.
I tip 15-20%, depending on how friendly they were. I'll go 10% if the server was truly rude.

[WelshWitchPMD]

You know what also stinks? When you go to a sort of swanky restaurant and the service is not that great and you get the bill and there is already a 20% gratuity added on to the bill. :mad: That happened to my friend and I in Little Italy in NYC last Saturday night. On top of all it was her birthday. We just left the exact amount that was due to the penny. If the service was good we might have added a few more cents to the tip but not with so-so service. We did not get 20% worth of service. When you have to ask for more water a few times that is not good service.

[GateandGarden]

I tip 15-20%, depending on how friendly they were. I'll go 10% if the server was truly rude.That's basically how I am. Although I can remember one time that the waiter was such an ass that I didn't leave a tip, and then another time that I didn't have the money for a tip, which was ultra-embarrassing. :o

[estranged4life]

at a restaurant we always, repeat ALWAYS leave a tip even if the service is half-assed...And we always leave more than a 20% as a tip.

I understand "Right to Work", Since Oklahoma is now a "Right to Work" state...I am indifferent to that status since I have seen both sides of the issue and both are complete jokes (I am somewhat Anti-Union).

[DrummerDeanna]

First - Brian? Your sig pic is scary :eek
---

Second - that SUCKS Jessica. You know I always think of these types of stories when I eat out - I am proud to say that I usually tip in excess of 20% - not much - but usually over that - unless the wait person themselves is horribly rude, which is pretty rare.

Sorry you had such a crappy night - hopefully you won't be due for another for a while.

[estranged4life]

First - Brian? Your sig pic is scary :eek


Doesnt look too scary to me...I was going to use the Pope George but found this one more accurate.

In the future I will plan to use the Holy Mother Mary/Hillary Clinton image.

[DrummerDeanna]

Doesnt look too scary to me...I was going to use the Pope George but found this one more accurate.

In the future I will plan to use the Holy Mother Mary/Hillary Clinton image.

:laugh: Oh my - I've not even seen the Holy Mother/Hillary picture lol....

Pope George, I think I have seen that one, but the way things are going - I agree, your sig is more accurate.

[seeker007nmss]

Here is one you may not know. Casino dealers make minimum wage - their pay is from tips also.

And....check with your bartender. If the group is being real A**holes, their are tricks of the trade to add "things" to drinks to even the odds a bit. In the old days Visine was dropped into drinks to give the patron the "runs" all night. I am sure there are many more these days. I have HORROR stories of what our waitresses have done to patrons and their drinks in the casino. And they deserved every bit of it!. So.... check in with the experts. They can help. :nod:

Also the customer comment cards actually do help/hurt the workers. So fill them out if you don't like something. They need a paper trail for HR in order to fire some folks. And in case of good ones, we use to go to Casa Bonita in Denver (yes the same as in South Park) and we filled in so many comment cards for one waitress (A group of 30 of us us top go alot) that she was promoted shortly there after. :D

The public is also much ruder than ever. Manners are all but gone. It's just sad anymore.

[darklinensuit]

I know 4 or 5 guys who don't tip, period. They even take pride in the fact.

I do too, and I will not eat out with them. Or anybody who is habitually rude to staff.

- Jake

[Merf]

at a restaurant we always, repeat ALWAYS leave a tip even if the service is half-assed...And we always leave more than a 20% as a tip.


I'm basically the same way. As a server at a very busy restaurant for a year, I saw all kinds of people... but whenever I go to eat-- unless the service is DREADFUL-- I always leave at least 20%. If the service is bad I usually leave 15%. I know what those people have to deal with-- so a lot of times if the food is slow, it's not their fault. I sympathize with servers and I swore on a stack of bibles I would never wait tables ever again. I won't do it.

One time I waited on a Carolina Panther and his wife, they sat upstairs and did "family style" which required a lot more service at the table... so after running up and down the stairs all night, their bill came to $63.00 ... they left me ONE FREAKING DOLLAR for a tip-- bringing the total to $64. I would have rather them not tipped me at all. I would have been less insulted. People like that are just ignorant, and don't realize that we only get paid $2.13/hour to wait tables... TWO DOLLARS AND THIRTEEN CENTS AN HOUR. I never saw any of that money-- it all went to taxes. PLUS I had to write a check to the state of NC in April for $600. For what???? Seriously folks, think about it next time you go out to eat and decide not to leave a tip. As long as you got your food and the server wasn't an ass to you? Leave them something. That's the money I lived off of-- I never SAW a paycheck.

Sorry, but people who don't tip make me absolutely livid.

[Merf]

The public is also much ruder than ever. Manners are all but gone. It's just sad anymore.

Amen to that. I see that even when I make people freaking coffee drinks all day. People really suck.

[HomerMcvie]

I do too, and I will not eat out with them. Or anybody who is habitually rude to staff.

- Jake
Yes. I have a cousin, who is a nurse. If one little thing isn't right, she turns absolute BITCH on them, completely berating the server at the table. I just sit there, horrified! If the server looks at me, I roll my eyes, indicating, "I too, know she's a bitch!" :lol: I've apologized for her before, while she went to the restroom.

[gldstwmn]

And in case of good ones, we use to go to Casa Bonita in Denver (yes the same as in South Park)

You used to go to Casa Bonita?

[GardenStateGirlie]

One time I waited on a Carolina Panther and his wife, they sat upstairs and did "family style" which required a lot more service at the table... so after running up and down the stairs all night, their bill came to $63.00 ... they left me ONE FREAKING DOLLAR for a tip-- bringing the total to $64.

Oh, I remember that angry post work phone call from you. To be left a dollar is a huge slap in the face. Seriously.

[DrummerDeanna]

The public is also much ruder than ever. Manners are all but gone. It's just sad anymore.

The same can be said for the service inudstry too though :distress:

Not necessarily waiters/waitresses - but I can't even remember the last time I went to a store and was treated nice by the people working there. It INFURIATES me...there is no call to be rude to everyone even if your job sucks...I know I used to work retail :laugh:

The worst was this girl at Kohls - she didn't say ANYTHING to me the entire transaction - I said hello - nothing. Then she rung up my towels - instead of reaching for the bathmat she sighed and motioned it...I was like, "what" she sighed again and made a motion like I should move the bathmat closer to her...so I did....then I gave her my card - she swiped it and THREW it back at me...THREW IT!!! All this and she never said ONE WORD!!! GOod thing those people don't work for tips....when all was done I said, "GOsh -thanks for your fast and friendly service" really sarcastically ugh...dumb bitch.

Um anyway - I've been lucky to not see that trend go into the restaurant business....if so then God help servers..because the one instance where a tip suffers is if I'm treated rudely....But even then - I've never NOT tipped.

[GypsySorcerer]

The worst was this girl at Kohls - she didn't say ANYTHING to me the entire transaction - I said hello - nothing. Then she rung up my towels - instead of reaching for the bathmat she sighed and motioned it...I was like, "what" she sighed again and made a motion like I should move the bathmat closer to her...so I did....then I gave her my card - she swiped it and THREW it back at me...THREW IT!!! All this and she never said ONE WORD!!! GOod thing those people don't work for tips....when all was done I said, "GOsh -thanks for your fast and friendly service" really sarcastically ugh...dumb bitch.

Um anyway - I've been lucky to not see that trend go into the restaurant business....if so then God help servers..because the one instance where a tip suffers is if I'm treated rudely....But even then - I've never NOT tipped.

:laugh: "dumb bitch." That really made me giggle for some reason. Seriously, though, I know what you mean. I can't stand rudeness.

[estranged4life]

You used to go to Casa Bonita?

Casa Bonita on Tulsa on Memorial & 21st...And just like the one in Denver it is just as South Park potrays it to be.

[Jessica Leigh]

There actually are several unions for service workers. Is California a right to work state?

no- california is an awesome state to work in. state minimum wage is over $6/ hr and san fran has it's own minimum wage of $8 i think. here in AZ we don't have a state minimum wage so we go by federal which is $5.15 BUT federal allows employers to take a $3.02 tip credit for employees who receive tips... therefore, i make $2.13/ hr... in a 40 hr workweek my paycheck is less than $90 but then they take out my taxes so if i made $600 in tips that week, i owe $120 in taxes, so my paycheck is gone, and at the end of the year i owe the government $30 for that week. it's totally retarded. the cost of living has gone up so much since 1998 but servers still make the same wage in my state.

[Jessica Leigh]

Im not sure I understand "right to work" but as far as I know, there is no union for waitressess/waiters...
ya know what I hate? when you do your taxes (if you wait tables) you automatically have to plug in a percentage of your wages as tips even if you didnt actually make that much! it SUCKS!
I used to be a waitress, its hard thankless work and Im glad Im not doing it anymore. There are some good customers, but overall, I hated it,

oh yeah... or it really sucks when you have $100 in tips on credit card slips but you tip out $30 to the bar, busser and runner... BUT the government sees that you made $100 on those credit cards so you get taxed on the whole amount- not the $70 that you actually got to keep... that's why cash tips are best :)

[Jessica Leigh]

The public is also much ruder than ever. Manners are all but gone. It's just sad anymore.

that is so true. i can't tell you how many times i approach a table and say "hi guys how are you doing today?" and without even looking up at me they grunt "iced tea" "coke" "bud light" etc. a few times i have even replied "oh, ok and HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?" i try to start out friendly and chit chat a bit but people sometimes simply ignore me and just start making demands. i know i shouldn't let it bug me but it does- i hate rudeness.

[Jessica Leigh]

Seriously folks, think about it next time you go out to eat and decide not to leave a tip. As long as you got your food and the server wasn't an ass to you? Leave them something. That's the money I lived off of-- I never SAW a paycheck.

Sorry, but people who don't tip make me absolutely livid.

totally

in the whole chain of people that it takes to have your evening at a restaurant, you have a hostess, a server, a cook, an expo, a food runner, and a busser (and sometimes a bartender) every single one of those people is guaranteed payment for what they do except for the server... so if they f*ck up, they don't care... but the server gets blamed and punished monetarily if the expo puts the wrong sauce on your meal, or the cook doesn't cook your meat how your ordered it, or if the hostess put you near a smoking section and it bothered you, or if the food runner drops your kid's burger at the table and you have to wait for another one to be made.

it doesn't matter that your server found you a better table far from the smoke and moved you, or that the server took your food back and had it fixed quickly and apologized profusely and tried to buy you a dessert... the server still gets the shaft. no server will TRY to give you bad service. no server will purposely dick you around and ignore your needs. there are a hundred other factors in what is going wrong with your evening. people need to evaluate the situation and not blame the one person who really CARES and NEEDS you to have a good time. people who stiff servers are in for a karma check...

[littlecricket2]

Hmmm...perhaps servers should organize and pick a day to go on strike, :laugh: .

[DrummerDeanna]

oh yeah... or it really sucks when you have $100 in tips on credit card slips but you tip out $30 to the bar, busser and runner... BUT the government sees that you made $100 on those credit cards so you get taxed on the whole amount- not the $70 that you actually got to keep... that's why cash tips are best :)


Wow! I totally didn't know that!! I will start cash tipping from now on :nod:

[HomerMcvie]

I'll bite. What's an "expo"?

[gldstwmn]

no- california is an awesome state to work in. state minimum wage is over $6/ hr and san fran has it's own minimum wage of $8 i think. here in AZ we don't have a state minimum wage so we go by federal which is $5.15 BUT federal allows employers to take a $3.02 tip credit for employees who receive tips... therefore, i make $2.13/ hr... in a 40 hr workweek my paycheck is less than $90 but then they take out my taxes so if i made $600 in tips that week, i owe $120 in taxes, so my paycheck is gone, and at the end of the year i owe the government $30 for that week. it's totally retarded. the cost of living has gone up so much since 1998 but servers still make the same wage in my state.

I'm sorry Jessica. I thought you lived in CA. So you work down by Bank One Ballpark? I like the park. Is it still the only major league baseball park with a swimming pool in it? :lol:

[gldstwmn]

no- california is an awesome state to work in. state minimum wage is over $6/ hr and san fran has it's own minimum wage of $8 i think. here in AZ we don't have a state minimum wage so we go by federal which is $5.15 BUT federal allows employers to take a $3.02 tip credit for employees who receive tips... therefore, i make $2.13/ hr... in a 40 hr workweek my paycheck is less than $90 but then they take out my taxes so if i made $600 in tips that week, i owe $120 in taxes, so my paycheck is gone, and at the end of the year i owe the government $30 for that week. it's totally retarded. the cost of living has gone up so much since 1998 but servers still make the same wage in my state.
Arizona is a right to work state if I remember correctly. Anyway, I was a waitress in the 80's when dear President Reagan decided to come after us, or have the IRS come after us because he thought people in our industry didn't report enough of our earnings to the IRS. I was a 24 year old single mother at the time. And I made...$2.13 an hour. I worked at that place for about 5 years and the company ended up getting audited for the IRS. So one day I get this 30 page bill in the mail in the IRS saying I owe them thousands of dollars. Then they turned around and told the state, who I got a similar letter from. I think we settled but it took me a good 5-6 years to pay them. Back then, we also had health benefits. Those slowly went away too.

[gldstwmn]

I'll bite. What's an "expo"?

I'm guessing she means an "expediter." Being someone that "dresses" the food and makes sure it's ready to go before it leaves the kitchen.

[Jessica Leigh]

I'll bite. What's an "expo"?

expeditor

they stand at the food window where the cooks put out the plates of food and make sure that burgers get lettuce and tomato, soup gets a sprinkle of cheese and cracker packets on the side, club sandwich gets a pickle spear on the side, ribs get a side of beans, salad gets salad dressing... all that kind of stuff... they also take the tickets the server wrote special instructions on (no lettuce, side of mayo, extra ranch etc.) and follow the instructions. they they give the plates to a food runner who then takes it to the table... then a server should check with the table to see that everything is ok, and if not, the server has to fix it... but the expo and the runner still got paid.

for the most part, expos are awesome, and on their toes always... but every once in a while you get some that don't care and send out beef nachos to someone who ordered chicken ... reading tickets is a huge deal and a lot of expos just assume the cook made it correctly and send it out.

[gldstwmn]

people who stiff servers are in for a karma check...

Heh. I used to get "stiffed" by the owner of the New England Patriots every time they played here. So when I read that he visited Russia and Vladimir Putin stole his Super Bowl ring and didn't give it back, I laughed my ass off.

[Jessica Leigh]

Arizona is a right to work state if I remember correctly. Anyway, I was a waitress in the 80's when dear President Reagan decided to come after us, or have the IRS come after us because he thought people in our industry didn't report enough of our earnings to the IRS. I was a 24 year old single mother at the time. And I made...$2.13 an hour. I worked at that place for about 5 years and the company ended up getting audited for the IRS. So one day I get this 30 page bill in the mail in the IRS saying I owe them thousands of dollars. Then they turned around and told the state, who I got a similar letter from. I think we settled but it took me a good 5-6 years to pay them. Back then, we also had health benefits. Those slowly went away too.

yep... wow... az has had the same minimum wage for 20 years?

a guy i used to work with at a french restaurant was hit in the 80s for almost $50,000 in back taxes. the restaurant got a huge fine too... now, they monitor our sales and make sure we declare our income as somewhere between 8% and 11% of our sales. considering how much we tip out, we normally walk with about 11 or 12 percent. at pf changs they would counsel you if you were out of the 8-11 percent range... they were psycho!

[gldstwmn]

yep... wow... az has had the same minimum wage for 20 years?


I'm in Colorado, which is no longer a right to work state.

The PF Changs bit is funny. I watched the restaurant business go from something totally fun during that time period to totally fascist. It was all about the people at the top getting their numbers so they could make the bonuses. Which in turn meant they tried to squeeze every penny out of us they could. Of course this was after the guy who founded the company sold it to a corporation. On my five year anniversary, I got (as did all employees that had been there that long) a pendant in the shape of Texas with five diamonds in it. :nod: We used to wear them to work. I still have it, although I had the diamonds taken out and put into something else.

[seeker007nmss]

You used to go to Casa Bonita?


Yeah, I went to School in Denver. :nod:

[seeker007nmss]

The same can be said for the service inudstry too though :distress:

Not necessarily waiters/waitresses - but I can't even remember the last time I went to a store and was treated nice by the people working there. It INFURIATES me...there is no call to be rude to everyone even if your job sucks...I know I used to work retail :laugh:

The worst was this girl at Kohls - she didn't say ANYTHING to me the entire transaction - I said hello - nothing. Then she rung up my towels - instead of reaching for the bathmat she sighed and motioned it...I was like, "what" she sighed again and made a motion like I should move the bathmat closer to her...so I did....then I gave her my card - she swiped it and THREW it back at me...THREW IT!!! All this and she never said ONE WORD!!! GOod thing those people don't work for tips....when all was done I said, "GOsh -thanks for your fast and friendly service" really sarcastically ugh...dumb bitch.

Um anyway - I've been lucky to not see that trend go into the restaurant business....if so then God help servers..because the one instance where a tip suffers is if I'm treated rudely....But even then - I've never NOT tipped.


I meant people generally are ruder on both sides. We get people all the time with mouths like sewers and as they finish their third Mother F*#ker this or that, you inform them that they can't curse, and they look at you like you're nuts. "We are all adults here" which we respond "Then learn how to act like an adult in public". What is sad, as they have no clue why they can't act that way in public. And as Security escorts them out for acting like animals (if a minority -they think it is racists) - if not they come up with another excuse "Oh they are throughing me out for winning too much money" - Yeah your $10 is going to break us.

They also think money can buy respect or let them do things in public which is inexcusable. I bounced out some Rap Artist for acting like a total ass. We call them peacocks.. look at me..look at me... I bounced him just as fast as anyone else. All he could say is "Don't you know who I am? I am worth Millions" I just say "yeah, you are someone who thinks money can buy respect and has no manners or class. Have a nice day and come back when you learn how to act in public." He then (as they always do) played the race card. Until the 2 black sercurity officers told him to pull up his pants (he was wearing the typical pants to the floor "style") and escorted him out.


I use to kinda like Wanda Sikes the comedian until her one story where she said she was cursing in Vegas and Security through her out. Tried to make it funny, - it was just sad and shows what a pathetic person she is.

And no...You can't chew tabacco and spit on the floor, - No - you have to use the restroom and not pee into a slot cup - No - You can't do whatever you want to in Vegas. (I hate that commercial "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" - just wait until the Metro Police report comes out).

Okay - enough ranting. I am sounding like an old fart. "Kids these days have no manners". Except the ones far older than me are just as bad.

[Livia]

Eek! Don't get Jessica started on PF Chang's. :lol:

Unfortunately, there are assholes everywhere. I sometimes wish everything would switch like Pleasantville, back to a simpler time, where men were gentleman and women were ladies and common courtesy was the norm...

Look on the bright side - think of all the $50 tips on $100 tabs you've told me about...and the huge tips on the private parties. I know that doesn't make up for the ticket-stub leavin' assholes, but sometimes things do "come out in the wash." :p

[littlecricket2]

Yeah, I went to School in Denver. :nod:

You guys have me curious now about Casa Bonita. What about South Park's portrayal was accurate? Is it that easily imitated?

[seeker007nmss]

You guys have me curious now about Casa Bonita. What about South Park's portrayal was accurate? Is it that easily imitated?

Casa Bonita is a family mexican themed restaurant that had cliff divers, puppetshows, a cave thing for the kids, ......pretty much as was on south park. You had little flags on the table you raised when you needed the waiter for more drinks etc. Had bands wandering around. Had lots to see and walk around when you were done eating. Been 20 years since I was there last, but that is how it was in the mid 80's. :nod:

[littlecricket2]

Casa Bonita is a family mexican themed restaurant that had cliff divers, puppetshows, a cave thing for the kids, ......pretty much as was on south park. You had little flags on the table you raised when you needed the waiter for more drinks etc. Had bands wandering around. Had lots to see and walk around when you were done eating. Been 20 years since I was there last, but that is how it was in the mid 80's. :nod:

Thanks for the reply! Sounds like a fun place. I don't think we have them in the Chicago area. I didn't see the South Park that portrayed this (at least I don't remember seeing it), so I was just curious. :)

[seeker007nmss]

Thanks for the reply! Sounds like a fun place. I don't think we have them in the Chicago area. I didn't see the South Park that portrayed this (at least I don't remember seeing it), so I was just curious. :)

I didn't know they had opened anymore than just the one. Not really a franchise kinda place. (Atleast I didn't think so).

[littlecricket2]

I didn't know they had opened anymore than just the one. Not really a franchise kinda place. (Atleast I didn't think so).

Oh, I probably misunderstood or didn't read your conversation carefully enough. I guess you guys went to the same one--there probably is only one then. I would know less about that than you. Although it seems like just about anything could be made into a franchise these days. Casa Bonita sounds like a Mexican-themed version of Chuck E. Cheese or Showbiz Pizza or something, :laugh: .

[gldstwmn]

Yeah, I went to School in Denver. :nod:

Really? Where did you go?

[gldstwmn]

Casa Bonita is a family mexican themed restaurant that had cliff divers, puppetshows, a cave thing for the kids, ......pretty much as was on south park. You had little flags on the table you raised when you needed the waiter for more drinks etc. Had bands wandering around. Had lots to see and walk around when you were done eating. Been 20 years since I was there last, but that is how it was in the mid 80's. :nod:

It's still there. :nod:

[seeker007nmss]

Really? Where did you go?


University of Denver. :nod:

[SuzeQuze]

Heh. I used to get "stiffed" by the owner of the New England Patriots every time they played here. So when I read that he visited Russia and Vladimir Putin stole his Super Bowl ring and didn't give it back, I laughed my ass off.

No! Kraft stiffed you? :distress: WTF? :mad:

Jessica, I can't believe that bastard did that to you. How dare he be so insulting with the stubs and the X. Who the hell does he think he is? And you did give them $2 drinks! Your manager who made that policy should give you that money.

I only did not tip once. I was on my lunch break and waited 45 minutes to be served and still no one served us. We went to the manager and then had a server. The server made silly errors on our orders and did not seem to care that we had waited for so long. The manager was a d*ck. So we didn't leave anything.

Usually if I get bad service I will leave 15%. I cannot bear to stiff a server, that's very bad karma. Normally I leave at least 20% even if the service is fair. Only for poor service do they get 15%. Or, if I order a bottle of wine or something and it seems silly to give an extra $10 just for that.

I will also try to tip cash only from now on. I also didn't know that that info went to the government. Jeez, talk about big brother and screwing the little guys.

[mylittledemon]

Even I get tipped in the work I do. I install home theater equipment for Best Buy. I hung two outdoor speakers on a guys back porch this past Saturday. It took me about 2 hrs to do it (had to go in his 110+ degree attic)...he gave me $50! I always turn them down the first time, and then if they insist (they always do), then I accept them. Typically I dont get tips that large...$10 here, $20 here and there. I'd say I pull in $50-$100 a week in tips.

[gldstwmn]

You guys have me curious now about Casa Bonita. What about South Park's portrayal was accurate? Is it that easily imitated?

I've never seen South Park and I've never been in Casa Bonita, though I've driven past it many times. It's kind of a hard place to miss.

[gldstwmn]

University of Denver. :nod:

DU? Were you a law student? Madeline Albright went to DU, too. :lol:

[gldstwmn]

No! Kraft stiffed you? :distress: WTF? :mad:

Every time. :nod: I didn't care for him and his little entourage. They were wasteful, snooty people. Of course, most of the time they were there, their team was getting beat. So I guess you could just call them poor sports.
Some of the worst were the owners of the Seattle Seahawks (cough* Paul Allen* cough) who not only stiffed me but if memory serves they locked the door to their suite so no one could come in or out. I don't know what the hell they were doing in there.:confused: Of course, Elway was working his magic on them and they were getting slaughtered that game too so...

[SuzeQuze]

Every time. :nod: I didn't care for him and his little entourage. They were wasteful, snooty people. Of course, most of the time they were there, their team was getting beat. So I guess you could just call them poor sports.
Some of the worst were the owners of the Seattle Seahawks (cough* Paul Allen* cough) who not only stiffed me but if memory serves they locked the door to their suite so no one could come in or out. I don't know what the hell they were doing in there.:confused: Of course, Elway was working his magic on them and they were getting slaughtered that game too so...

So he just left nothing? Or did he leave a teeny tiny tip? That is so rude! You're right about that ring, bad karma got him. :laugh:

[BTFLCHLD]

i highend tip for all services recd...
it makes me happy and helps out a lilbit :nod:

[seeker007nmss]

DU? Were you a law student? Madeline Albright went to DU, too. :lol:


Nah, Law is not my thing. I went into the Mass Comm / Art / 5 minors three majors.....And use none of it. :p

[gldstwmn]

So he just left nothing? Or did he leave a teeny tiny tip? That is so rude! You're right about that ring, bad karma got him. :laugh:

No. Nothing. They have their food and fully stocked bar set up before they get there. That was one of the things that I was responsible for. So when they got there they complained about the food. Then for half time they requested sausage pizza. It got there and they sniffed at me and said they didn't eat sausage could I please bring them something else. I managed to procure that for them and they didn't eat it. Not one bite. Of course, they just happened to be losing the football game. The wife was reading a brand new, hard cover book. When they stood up to leave she took it and just threw it in the trash. I thought what the hell is going on with these people? Every time they were there, it was like that. He's really kind of a short, rude, arrogant ass.

[gldstwmn]

So he just left nothing? Or did he leave a teeny tiny tip? That is so rude! You're right about that ring, bad karma got him. :laugh:

BTW, Best tippers:
San Diego Chargers
San Francisco '49ers
Green Bay Packers
LA Raiders :shocked:
Philadlephia Eagles
Also, the Miami Dolphins are nice although I didn't get to meet Mr. Huizenga. He was sitting elsewhere. :shrug:

[estranged4life]

Casa Bonita is a family mexican themed restaurant that had cliff divers, puppetshows, a cave thing for the kids, ......pretty much as was on south park. You had little flags on the table you raised when you needed the waiter for more drinks etc. Had bands wandering around. Had lots to see and walk around when you were done eating. Been 20 years since I was there last, but that is how it was in the mid 80's. :nod:

the one in Tulsa (Sister to the one in Denver) is as South Park portrays it to be, Hasnt changed at all...

[lbelle1214]

I believe that all waitstaff should be paid an hourly salary (above minimum) plus their tips. My son worked his butt off and had regulars that would tip great, but then you have those that were jerks like this guy! Although I have never worked food service, I am a nurse and believe me...the families of some patients can be totally unreasonable. They threaten to turn you in to administration if they can't have more visitors (I work labor and delivery, o.k., labor is NOT a spectator sport!), if you dont give them free coffee in 2 minutes...yada, yada, yada. I just want to say, "Look, I wipe her ass, measure her pee, clean her vomit, AND catch the baby 'cause the doc can't make it! What more do you want from me????" :eek: But, I put a smile on my face, make my 10th pot of coffee before 9am and serve it up to the 20 people standing in the hall waiting for a baby that isn't going to be born until the end of my 12 hr shift. Then in contrast, there's an indescribable (sp?) feeling of satisfaction when a patient takes your hand after the delivery, looks in your eyes and says "Thanks, I could not have done this without YOU".
It's the only thing that keeps me going back. :)

[SuzeQuze]

I believe that all waitstaff should be paid an hourly salary (above minimum) plus their tips. My son worked his butt off and had regulars that would tip great, but then you have those that were jerks like this guy! Although I have never worked food service, I am a nurse and believe me...the families of some patients can be totally unreasonable. They threaten to turn you in to administration if they can't have more visitors (I work labor and delivery, o.k., labor is NOT a spectator sport!), if you dont give them free coffee in 2 minutes...yada, yada, yada. I just want to say, "Look, I wipe her ass, measure her pee, clean her vomit, AND catch the baby 'cause the doc can't make it! What more do you want from me????" :eek: But, I put a smile on my face, make my 10th pot of coffee before 9am and serve it up to the 20 people standing in the hall waiting for a baby that isn't going to be born until the end of my 12 hr shift. Then in contrast, there's an indescribable (sp?) feeling of satisfaction when a patient takes your hand after the delivery, looks in your eyes and says "Thanks, I could not have done this without YOU".
It's the only thing that keeps me going back. :)

You are a nurse and you are making coffee? Ugh. Bless you.

[SuzeQuze]

No. Nothing. They have their food and fully stocked bar set up before they get there. That was one of the things that I was responsible for. So when they got there they complained about the food. Then for half time they requested sausage pizza. It got there and they sniffed at me and said they didn't eat sausage could I please bring them something else. I managed to procure that for them and they didn't eat it. Not one bite. Of course, they just happened to be losing the football game. The wife was reading a brand new, hard cover book. When they stood up to leave she took it and just threw it in the trash. I thought what the hell is going on with these people? Every time they were there, it was like that. He's really kind of a short, rude, arrogant ass.

I'm disgusted. I saw him reading to little kids in the park here and thought how sweet that was. The Pats gave money to a charity that provides children's books to underprivelged children. Sounds like it was probably just a calculated PR move. Although some kids did benefit.

Throwing away a new book like that just makes my stomach turn. That's sort of ironic given the above. He's revered around here because he had Gillette stadium built and when he bought the Pats they started winning.

[mylittledemon]

No. Nothing. They have their food and fully stocked bar set up before they get there. That was one of the things that I was responsible for. So when they got there they complained about the food. Then for half time they requested sausage pizza. It got there and they sniffed at me and said they didn't eat sausage could I please bring them something else. I managed to procure that for them and they didn't eat it. Not one bite. Of course, they just happened to be losing the football game. The wife was reading a brand new, hard cover book. When they stood up to leave she took it and just threw it in the trash. I thought what the hell is going on with these people? Every time they were there, it was like that. He's really kind of a short, rude, arrogant ass.


Why in the flying F*CK would someone do something like that? That kind of arrogance has no business rearing its ugly head. Goddamn sonsobitches...that story really angered me.

[gldstwmn]

I'm disgusted. I saw him reading to little kids in the park here and thought how sweet that was. The Pats gave money to a charity that provides children's books to underprivelged children. Sounds like it was probably just a calculated PR move. Although some kids did benefit.

Throwing away a new book like that just makes my stomach turn. That's sort of ironic given the above. He's revered around here because he had Gillette stadium built and when he bought the Pats they started winning.

The stadium deal is going to net him bazillions, from what I understand. So that's all about dollars and cents, IMO but it also makes someone look like a good civic minded person that wants to do something for the community.