2f. Re: Tipping the waitress ............
Date: Thu Feb 15, 2007 4:56 pm ((PST))Does anyone have the link to the study on increasing tips? It was done at a
large university, forgot which one, Princeton, Yale? I searched several times
and ways and can't find the link. I remember a few years ago finding it and
printing out a copy for a server at Ellis Island because she was curious. This
lady doesn't need any tip help. She's like going home to eat at mom's. If
you order soup you get a bowl rather than a cup. If you order breakfast she
offers you a bowl of soup too. You get the feeling she'd bring you anything you
want extra and not charge you. I remember a few of the points talked about:1 Getting down to eye level.
That means on the haunches but... one cocktail waitress followed me into
the coffee shop once and sat in an empty chair at my table to chat briefly.
She also sat in empty seats next to me when I was playing VP. She's a fun lady
and laughs at all my jokes but... I get the feeling she's trying to get a $2
tip instead of $1 thus setting a precedent.2 Touching the customer.
This study must be really old because I remember eating at the nice
restaurant at Disneyland in California years ago, like the late 70's. My bro in
law
was treating the family, I happened to be out in the isle in a seat facing
the table. The sever kept touching my back every time she was at our table. My
family noticed it as being very odd.3. Signing their name on your check in big letters.
Recently at the same Ellis Island there was a server doing that and all
the other techniques but.. she was also altering credit card charge forms to
reflect a larger tip. She got nailed and fired by a customer who reviewed his
charge card bill and remembered he tipped low because of the bad service. It
got upped from $1 to $104. Telling you their name.
I counter that by ruining their happy mood by saying, "Thank you Cindy,
I'm JT and I will be your customer.
I think I'll order the dead chicken."5. Repeating back to order to the customer in a mimicking way
None have done that because of my #4 technique6. Offering a piece of candy along with the bill.
This one is a one two tip punch because they offer one piece then decide
to offer an extra piece because they like you so much. There's always a big
smile involved. I respond by saying, "Cindy, don't go outside if it's raining
because it will wash the sugary smile off your face."That's all I can think of. Any one have the link to the full study?
Wow - nothing personal, that's your style I guess, but it sounds like if anyone
tries to be nice to you in a way that you're not accustomed to, you figure
they're out for money. You might be right in some cases, but more often than
not, I'd guess it's one of two things - they are simple people who don't
understand which of these behaviors might be considered inappropriate, OR, they
are simple people who are trying to be nice but don't know the right way to do
it.
Again, remember, with the possible exception of actors, most servers are there because they didn't get thru college and don't have a lot of
employment options. While some can still become excellent at what they do, and
most do, many do not have the background (ie, dining experience in nice
restaurants) or the knowledge to know any better.
Obviously, the dishonest waitress deserved to be fired, or even prosecuted - she
was stealing from people. No argument there. But I only wish I could remember
the server's name when they tell me, so when I need something and the water boy
asks who my server is so they can tell them to come over to my table, I know who
to tell them.
Of course, in high end restaurants (actually all restaurants, but especially
high end), you expect the wait staff to be well-trained, and any problems ARE
the restaurant's problem. My wife used to be a server and a hostess while in
college, and taught me that when you're unhappy with the service, you should not
only tip "low" or not at all, but should be absolutely sure to talk to
management on the way out and explain that you didn't forget and you aren't cheap, but that there
were problems with the service -- it's up to them whether they decide to fire
the person or train them better, but management needs to know these things.
Incidentally, unless management is encouraging it, your excellent waitress who
brings you free food is risking getting fired, so I hope you not only tip her
well, but are prepared to give her a job when that happens. I understand your
appreciation of this "service" because when I was 21 and starting to drink, I
really liked and tipped the waitresses that only charged me for every other
round -- but I now know better.
--BG
ยทยทยท
============