That said, one thing I really hate is when the wait staff is trying TOO hard to get tips. Sometimes they just hover and won't go away, or have a huge fake smile. Just do your job, be available when I need you, don't let my refillable drink get empty, and you'll get your 20%

If places have autograts for parties over a certain size, there will be a note on the menu. At some places, it's mandatory and the server has to add it in if eligible and at other's they get to decide if they want to autograt the party or roll the dice and try to get a better tip.

The thing is that when the check tops $100, the percentages given by the customer can start dropping. They might look at a $200 check and leave a $20. The server is still going to have to tip people out so they end up with a smaller share than they should have. Sometimes you're better safe than sorry.

no, no one is forcing me to take this job, but thats because I like doing this job.

Mainly the fact that this is the call center capital of the freakin northwest, I've done call center cust service for companies who outsource for ATT Broadband/Comcast/Sears/Qwest/T-mobile and then of course verizon has thier own call center here too.
I've got 2 years of on the phone experience and I despise it. I'm tired of feeding the customer service sandwich to people who yell at me like im thier bastard child that they never loved.

Look. I quit that job, I landed in delivery, it doesnt pay as much per hour (8.25, which was doable vs 5.15 which i wouldnt sunbathe on the beach for.) Seriously I guess my complaint comes out of being a bit too dependant on tips.

I know a lot of you work full time jobs, 40 hours or more a week just to make your ends meet.

But delivery, while not exactly a socially esteemed job title, is fun. I get to listen to whatever music i want, get to take whatever route I feel like cruising, and I only work every other day for 4 hours a day, thats a whole 16 hours.

I have to admit, I love the freedom, and I love the nights where I pull as much money in 4 hours as most people would pull in 10 on thier hourly wage. The nights that bother me is when i go home after 4 hours with 5$

When the highs are high, the lows seem that much lower.

wouldnt you like to only have to work for 4 hours a day? I dont get any benefits, but theres a real sense of freedom when you know you are always off "tommorow"

So thats why I wont quit. I've been in the corporate polished shoes/slacks/dress shirt environment, I've had benifets, I've done hard labor in warehouses and stockrooms. I've done service industry jobs. I've done the 60-75 hour workweek (I eventually had a breakdown and cried right in the middle of my shift, I just couldn't take it anymore.) I feel like an american mule in the typical work environment.

I can honestly say, this is the job I like.
Not so much the job, but the feeling of true freedom, not being tethered to a 9-5 6-11 2 job treadmill.

I can't live like I used to on this money But you know what? With all the money I WAS making... I still couldnt enjoy it because I was miserable, and never had time to see my family or my friends.

Now. I do. Now, I'm content.
I eventually realize i will have to find a "real job" to plan for my future, but im still living my life for all its worth these days :)

My problem with delivering was what it did to my cars. I went through 3 cars (had the tranny replaced on two of them).

Fo sho. I work as a pizza delivery driver myself. There's a guy I've delivered to who lives in a pretty rundown apartment complex who has on 3 occasions tipped me $6, something I didn't expect when I first drove up to the place. Same with the guy at the adult book store. You'd never guess it, but he consistently tips better than anyone I've delivered to in the whole city. At least a $5 tip on a $9 order, every time. Then there's the story about the guy who lives in what is definitely an upper class neighborhood, who had an order that came to $16.34. He hands me a $50 bill so I ask him how much change he'd like back, standard procedure. Whereas most people would just include a buck or two for me when they say how much change they want, this guy, in a mocking tone says to me "You can do the math." I gave him back his change to the nearest dollar, but I was so tempted to root through my bag for the exact change just so I could throw it in his face. If he'd given me a 20 I'd understand, but it's not like he didn't have the money to tip a single dollar out of the damn 50 he handed me.

Some people just have no idea what jobs in the food service industry can be like, and what has to happen for them to be satisfied with their order. I went through 2 cars and nearly $2,000 in repairs in the past year with my delivery job. Maybe it was just bad luck, but a lot of it can be contributed to the strain put on those vehicles due to trying to get pizzas to customers in a timely fashion just for a few extra bucks. Fortunately I'll be starting a different job next week that will require no wear and tear on my car, which will be a welcome change. But for those of you who don't think tipping a delivery guy is something that is necessary or legitimate, think about the traffic they drove through for you, the effort they put in to get it there for you quickly, and the stress that it put on them and their vehicle. Some places may advertise free delivery, but ask any driver- it's definitely not free.

I wanted to post again because I missed reading this kneeslapper the first time:

So to you I say: And the person with the gun to your head making you pick up the phone to order for delivery instead of getting your lazy ass out of your chair to go pick it up is... ?

You seem like you have your life figured out pretty well at the moment. Someone should start a separate thread about the merits of making a lot of money and working hard at something you hate versus making less and enjoying what you do.

When I worked at a pizza place in the wealthiest part of town, this lady who owned a business a couple of blocks away phoned in an order, and I walked it over there as soon as it came out of the oven because the drivers were very busy that night. She got her pizza about 15 to 20 minutes after she called and didn't tip me a red cent.

On a related note, I read somewhere that middle class people are usually better tippers than the rich. I guess some of them didn't forget where they came from, whereas a lot of rich people have never been there in the first place.

My principal of tipping goes based on distance covered. Basically, if you come to me, You get a good tip. You saved me time and money, and I should show appreciation. If I'm in a restaurant, and the staff is good, I tip there too. Maybe not as much as a delivery, but enough, since you had to go tot he bar/kitchen..

But, the one thing I'm really starting to get pissed off at are all these tip jars everywhere! I mean, I go to the pizza shop, I get the food at the counter...and they want a tip? And at the coffee shop? You poured a coffee, dammit, you walked all of 2 feet, got a cup and filled it, and gave it to me. What's next? Tip buckets at the toll booth? The doctor's office? Damn, I mean I'll give extra to someone who's been especially helpful, but don't push it.

Yep. I am not rich, but I always tip drivers a 5.

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I don't know why this is, or if anyone else has noticed this. Maybe the people who have lots of money have lots of money because they are stingy with it ;)

Yep, greed.

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I usually try to not let it bother me when I don't get a tip. I figure if I have a bad attitude towards them, then I have just lowered myself to their level!

Years ago, I had three jobs, two of them were catering, and one was at a diner waiting tables. Some Saturdays, I worked the over night, 11-7am. Lame, but the tips were usually good. Because we were the one of the only diners open 24 hours on Saturday, we would be packed, and us girls would be running all night long. One night we were slammed, and I was stiffed by a table I gave great service to. Fill water and coffee, smile, checking on them a lot. Nothing.

I chased them out the door yelling, "Thaaaaank You!!!!" -- And then felt a little better...

Fuck Mr. Pink. Waiting is not an easy job, and it's a shit job. 15% should always be figured in. It's earned through the hospitality service job title, not how fast I drive, or how hard I work to kiss someone's ass.

I have worked in an ice cream shop and a bagel shop, both in an upper mid class to rich neighborhood. I come from an upper mid class family and before I held those two jobs I was still a good tipper. However, after realizing how hard it can be to deal with bitchy ass people who then don't tip and still have to keep a smile on my face and wish them a nice day, I now tip probably close to 45%, just because I know that your paycheck doesn't always cover your ass. For all of you who have been stiffed, I am sorry and I feel your pain. Do a service for me and I'll make up for it!