blackfolk: Why don't black people know how to tip?

Tamar....ends with "r" (

tcnugent) wrote in

blackfolk,
@ 2005-01-22 23:53:00

Current mood:	curious
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Entry tags:	free post, where the blackfolk at?

Why don't black people know how to tip?

Ok, I'm a restaurant manager in New York City, Restaurant Row. My restaurant is owned by a black celebrity, so obviously, we get a lot of black customers, although we like to consider our menu and decor "global eclectic". Anyway, I notice time and time again my servers being screwed over by black people. It really bothers me to see my servers getting all pissed whenever they get a black table, but I have to say that I have seen that they have good reason to. My question is this: Why don't we know how to tip? DISCLAIMER: By asking this question, I'm wondering if it is a lack of knowledge of the tipping system (i.e. percentage) or is it just people being cheap? I mean, I've been in this industry for a while, but even before that I knew that 12-15 percent is the norm, no matter where you are. When you get to a white tablecloth establishment on Restaurant Row in the heart of the theatre district, 15-20 percent is the norm....and people lean more towards the 20. $5 is not an acceptable tip for a $100 check. It comes off as if the service was bad, and in that case, a bad tip is understandable.

I'm wondering if people realize that in an establishment where you have bussers pouring water, bartenders making drinks and runners bringing out the food, the server is not the only person the tip is going to. Did you know that the bussers and runners get a percentage of the actual sales of the server? That means that if you have a really big check and you only tip 5 dollars, none of that goes to the server because the server is at the bottom of the chain and gets only what's left after giving money to the house and tipping out bussers, runners and the bar. I hate the fact that my own people are the worse tippers and I actually have servers not wanting to take black tables.

I realize that tipping is not mandatory but it is firmly established in our society and in upscale places, you have to pay for someone to do your bidding.

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	buttaa 2005-01-23 05:21 am UTC (link)
	seems to me if I pay 100 dollars for a mean I shouldn't have to come off 16 dollars to someone who brought me some water a couple of times. It's pointless. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	toodani 2005-01-23 05:24 am UTC (link)
	#$%^&(&^%$#$%^&* (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	toodani 2005-01-23 05:23 am UTC (link)
	i wish i could personally hand this out to every black person who i know gives a substandard tip just because it's the way they always do it. i have a million other odd restaurant habits, probably one for every group out there, i just save em for the waitingtables community. btw, how'd you get to where you are? Degree or working the chain or both? (Reply to this) (Thread)

	tcnugent 2005-01-23 05:28 am UTC (link)
	Both. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	thewayoftheid 2005-01-23 05:30 am UTC (link)
	Why don't black people know how to tip? I don't know, but this question really insults those of us who do. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	tcnugent 2005-01-23 05:36 am UTC (link)
	I don't mean to insult, but I'm just telling it like it is based on what I see everyday. By asking that question I'm assuming that the lack of tipping is based on not knowing what the system is(in terms of percentage) as opposed to just being cheap. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	Re: snorts aurorajames 2005-01-23 05:37 am UTC (link)
	Well my personal tip fluctuates depending on the server. I only leave nothing if they offend me or if they were just terrible. I'll leave around 10% if they were average, and much more if they were above average. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	I feel bad now rdm85 2005-01-23 05:39 am UTC (link)
	I am a poor tipper. I figure that anyplace i go, i just do $5.00 b/c that seemed right to me. Now that i know 15-20%, i'll do a better job. I wish someone had told me 2.35 was the pay, i would've been putting in more than the 20%(which i will think of next time i eat out). I'm for pissy servers. Bad tips would drive me over the edge too. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: I feel bad now (Anonymous) 2005-01-23 10:45 pm UTC (link)
	I wouldn't feel too bad...I know quite a few people who work for tips that average more per hour than the managers do. The restaurant has to guarantee that they at least make minimum wage. Some places assume you make 8% of the sales in tips. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	intlpopstar 2005-01-23 05:49 am UTC (link)
	I don't know, I'm pretty good with tipping. It really does depend though if they were good. But, I usually even try to give them 10% even if they did SUCK. Most people don't realize that if you get a $15 dollar check, 15% of that is $2.25. I think people just lazy and don't want to do the math LOL. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	johanna_bananaz 2005-01-23 08:11 am UTC (link)
	u know if thats ever the case usually what can make it easy for them is just double the tax. alot of the time it always comes out equilivant to 15%. also people dont have to do the math in their head, everyone has a cell phone, there is a little device called a calculator in it. not that hard at all. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	pradagirl 2005-01-23 05:52 am UTC (link)
	Honey I can so relate!! If you're too damn cheap to tip then stay the fuck home!! (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	pradagirl 2005-01-23 06:00 am UTC (link)
	I'm that way too...I always tip well because I know what its like. Even if I receive crappy service I still tip well. I've had friends who weren't sure how to tip and told them the easiest way to remember is take 10% of the total bill and times it by two for 20%. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	thewayoftheid 2005-01-23 05:58 am UTC (link)
	Wow. The classism in this thread is fucking ridiculous, almost to the point where it makes me want to beat people with a sock full of canadian nickels. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	pradagirl 2005-01-23 06:01 am UTC (link)
	I hope I'm not one of the ones you want to beat :-( (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Re: SIGH tcnugent 2005-01-23 06:07 am UTC (link)
	I agree with you but by no mean did I say that all black people are bad tippers. I am asking the question as to whether it is about lack of knowledge or 'you ain't gettin my money' attitude. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Re: You're talking about me!! denim_queen 2005-01-23 06:08 am UTC (link)
	word (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	tcnugent 2005-01-23 06:55 am UTC (link)
	Yeah when I was serving I treated everyone the same and that's what would be so heartwrenching: You treat a table great and give them great service and they give you $5 for a $100 check...so you're left wondering if it a matter of people not knowing how to tip or just being cheap asshats (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	tcnugent 2005-01-23 07:02 am UTC (link)
	STANDING OVATION (Reply to this) (Parent)

	intlpopstar 2005-01-23 06:58 am UTC (link)
	You must be ballin'. LOL (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	rubyphoenix 2005-01-23 07:15 am UTC (link)
	sooooooo funny u just posted that. i just posted the exact same thing not even knowing. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	tcnugent 2005-01-23 07:27 am UTC (link)
	Yeah I commented but then I deleted cuz I didn't want it to continue. I say cheap ass mutherbleepers stay your ass home. The end. (Reply to this) (Parent)

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	lovexemity 2005-01-23 08:01 am UTC (link)
	Wow @ this post... (Reply to this)

	gfrancie 2005-01-23 09:14 am UTC (link)
	I just thought it was the Canadians who were bad tippers. Now the black folk. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	pradagirl 2005-01-23 04:15 pm UTC (link)
	Don't get me started on the canadians...lol! (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Here's an idea ... pradagirl 2005-01-23 04:17 pm UTC (link)
	If they do that you can expect the cost of your meals to go up 20%. Then the server has no incentive to go the extra mile for you. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Whinewhinebitchwhinewhinebitchandwhine. dotters 2005-01-23 10:11 am UTC (link)
	your journal is friends only...am i cool enough to friend you? (Reply to this) (Parent)

	Re: okay, this is sickening... chap 2005-01-23 01:34 pm UTC (link)
	"TWO, the tips are shared throughout, by all of the people in the establishment...." That is not true at all establishments (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

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