The concept of tipping became real to me the day I went into a beer store, picked out my beer, set it up on the counter and was handed the debit machine to pay. I couldn't even remember the last time I was in a beer store, so you can imagine my surprise when the debit machine asked the question, what % did I want to pay in tip. I interacted with the girl behind the check-out for about 5 seconds. She didn't help me in any way except to hand me the debit machine. I don't even think she spoke to me, but the tip option was there.
A couple of radio announcers were talking about tipping. The one guy felt a tip was to acknowledge a job well done. He felt that it had gotten so carried away that soon the self-checkouts will be asking for a tip. I am like the announcer, I do believe tipping was designed to acknowledge a job well done. I always tip at a restaurant, depending on the service. I just don't go back if the service or food is poor.
It used to be when you took the debit machine to pay there wasn't an option for a tip. Now, it is there you can pick 10%, 15% or 20%. Many machines start at 18%. Once you make your choice it is calculated into the amount, and it lets you know the exact amount you will be paying. It seems leaving money on the table is not the same option as it used to be.
Over 15 years ago, I was in Quebec and ate at an outside restaurant. We got the bill, left the tip on the table, and went inside to pay. When questioned about a tip we said we left it on the table. As we walked away the waiter ran after us, and said we hadn't paid any tip. We told him it was on the table. He argued with us and we ended up just walking off. Sadly, someone had stolen his tip off the table and we realized that was not a good thing to do. The shocking thing here is how insistent the waiter was about getting a tip. Clearly, it wasn't the practice in Manitoba to run after customers demanding a tip as it was in Quebec.
Clear Lake is a place of generous tipping. I believe that University students that work hard in the service industry, and give a little extra, will certainly be a big financial winner. Their service promotes tipping. I recently ate at one of the restaurants there, and by the time we left we knew everything about our waitress and her family. She took the time to chat, mainly about herself, but she was engaged. It was really busy but she didn't let that reflect in her time with us.
I had lunch with a friend at a very popular restaurant in Alberta. We got our meals which looked amazing. We both ate a few bites when we realized our meals were cold. I called the waitress over and asked her if she could warm up our meals in the microwave. She was mortified that the meals were cold. Judging by her reaction, this doesn't happen in their restaurant. My friend and I both told her that we didn't want a new meal, we wanted it warmed in the microwave. Even cold the food was amazing. She did as we asked and so began the relentless apologizing. Like I said, I don't think complaining happens very often. I have eaten my share of cold meals without a complaint. Breakfast is a hard meal to get out while hot. In the case of the lunch food, being hot made it way more enjoyable than starting cold. It didn't affect her tip, that wasn't the case. The case was how they responded to our complaint.
I have a favorite place to go for breakfast. I like everything about this place except for one waitress. Not sure how this happens but she is always there when I am. I know this is not what she means to happen, but she makes me feel like I am an annoyance to her, and I am a wee bit fearful of her. The last time I was there I watched her. She can manage the entire restaurant, single-handed. You never have to ask for extra coffee, she is always pouring more. She is certainly efficient; I am not sure if she is in pain or why her expression is so harsh. She knows the regular crowd and serves them well. She has cups already on a table before the guys even arrive. I know she can smile; I have caught her occasionally. One thing for sure, she doesn't waste her time with idle chit chat.
We, the customers, have an obligation as well. We have an obligation to let the waiter know when we get our food that it is cold, not when you pay, like I often do. It is our obligation to be nice. I have witnessed people being so rude to the wait staff, I want to ask them to leave because they are ruining my eating out experience. I have been with people whose sole mission is to get a deal. If you complain about your meal at the Keg, it is free. I find it uncomfortable to be sitting with someone who complains about everything and then asks for a break on the bill. I make it my obligation to ask the wait staff one thing about themselves. When you say, "so how is your day going?" they will answer.
I have never ever worked in the service industry. I understand that when you work as a server, the pay isn't that good, but the tips make up for it. When I am in a busy restaurant, I calculate in my head the amount that a server would receive in an hour. The thing about a restaurant, busy times will come and go through out the day, and so will the tips. For some reason, I like to see the wait staff dressed alike. Black seems to be the favorite color for most places, and I really like that.
I feel blessed that I am in a position where I can go to a restaurant. I feel eating out is one of those experiences, if you can't afford it, don't go. It is hard to watch when people try to wrangle a deal on their bill. As a senior we already get a % off in most restaurants, I feel that is good enough. It amazes me to see a family eating out, and I can't imagine what their bill is. Then I think, they aren't concerned, why am I making it my concern. I feel that instead of having a senior deal, let's have a family deal. Not just a, "kids eat free" on a specific day, all the time. Even if they were to get a free pop, that makes a huge difference on the bill.
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