"The Waiter Rule"

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Another oldie with new footage/info thrown in!

The article mentioned in this vlog:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2006-04-14-ceos-waiter-rul...

Upon further research (when uploading this vlog), I see that one Dave Barry also referenced the idea of judging a person's character by how he or she treats the waiter in his 1998 book, "Dave Barry Turns 50." This is the same year the book, "Happiness Is A Serious Problem," by Dennis Prager (referenced in this vlog) was released. Interesting!

Upon even further research, I see that Prager has a talk radio show where he has spoken publicly of his Waiter Rule theory since the early 1990's.

And, there it is.

http://www.twitter.com/yourdailytip

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• del
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• rude
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• server
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[myusername1962]

I always tip twenty percent on the total of the bill BEFORE taxes.

[cortneywagner]

When I have an asshole in my section like your Iced Tea/Club Sandwich guy, who is impatient and doesn't care if the rest of his party is ready, sometimes I put his order in and tell the kitchen to fly it, and bring it out as soon as possible. Someone at the table usually makes him feel like an ass, or he is embarrassed once he gets his meal and everyone else is waiting for their food like normal, polite human beings. They get it. If anything is said, I just play like I assumed he was in a rush.

[joeyd504]

@swiftset Not only are servers taxed on their hourly wage, which is usually a whopping 3 dollars and change, they have to tip out other employees out of their tip money as well as taxed on it by the government, they get factored in as wages. In essence, the people who serve you at any sit down restaurant, diner, breakfast shop or even sandwich shops with tip jars get taxed two fold on any money they make while working.

Also, this vid was the one that made me start watching, glad its here :)

[abruchis]

first, thank you for making such informative and entertaining content!

As someone who spent a lot of my life in service industries, including food, these are just wonderful!

have you considered writing these rants out and possibly having them picked up by a food blog, (I'm thinking Huffington Post)

I love this, please keep them coming!

[swiftset]

@parkesc21 It's not an issue really, since I'm a graduate student. I never eat $50 meals, and only once in a blue moon pay more than $20 for a meal. But it's interesting to discuss tipping at higher-end places, since I imagine one day I'll be a more frequent fine diner.

[swiftset]

@parkesc21 Thanks for explaining. What do you mean the waiter's being taxed on their sales? They don't just pay an income tax on their salary like others? As for tipping out, that just makes this mess more complicated: on the one hand, if the wait time is low, then I want to make sure everyone involved is thanked, but if my server is rude, I don't want to tip them.

[parkesc21]

@swiftset So, if you are tipping, i.e. $3-5 on a $50 plate, I guarantee the server would rather you not come into the restaurant - its possible they are making nothing or less than nothing on your ticket.

Just something to keep in mind.

[parkesc21]

@swiftset Going back to your earlier post, what you are not keeping in mind is that while the server takes the same amount of effort to carry a plate with a $20 entree or a $50 entree, there are reasons behind the 18-20% tip assumption. One of those is that the waiter is being taxed on 15% of their sales or so. Another is that they are tipping out to runners, bartenders, kitchen, etc - and most likely this will be slightly higher in a restaurant with really expensive food (to be continued)

[swiftset]

@b52martin I don't agree with your equating of taxes and tips. If I get served well, then I tip my server out of gratitude, and I should get to decide how grateful I am. We all must pay the government so that it will have money to operate and provide public services like unemployment, national security, funding for the arts and sciences, etc. Taxes attempt to achieve this in a fair manner, so individuals don't get to choose how much to contribute.

[b52martin]

@swiftset So if you go to the store and buy a $50 Shirt will you pay TAX on the $50 ??? Apply the same rule here-the Government TAXES Service Industry personnel based on their sales not on the TIP that "YOU" decide to leave....... Case Closed