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Two stories from the other night.
Tip Runners
There is a type of person I have dubbed "Tip Runners," and a group I had the other night epitomized them. What this group did was, after I had dropped off the check (just under $48), they came up to me, handed me the check and some cash as they were semi-rushing out of the establishment, and magnanimously said "Keep the change." After they left, I look down into my hand and see.....$52. $4 and change...for a $48 tab...hmmm. And of course they said the "Keep the change" line as if it were some big deal. I honestly believe that these people are too embarrassed to stick around after they have paid and tipped, and they know they are tipping poorly, but their cheapness wins over their embarrassment, so they just bolt. Tip Runners. I don't know why, but that title seems to fit. Oh, incidentally, 9 times out of 10, people who DO tip really well do not say "Keep the change" with that air of doing me a favor. They may use the phrase, but they do it more in a humble way, such as "the rest is yours," said quietly. The basic difference being, I guess, that the second type is not acting like they are doing me a favor, but merely repaying me for the services I have rendered them.
Karma
Separate checks on large parties are a pain to do. They are even more of a pain to do when they large parties don't tell us to make the checks separate until all or much of the stuff has been ordered. However, one of my jobs has a very simple house policy: no separate checks. The servers LOVE this. The customers, not always so much. Anyways, I get a group of about 10. They order drinks, I bring the drinks, then they tell me "we need separate checks." I apologize to them and explain that we do not, in fact, do separate checks. House policy. They don't seem too thrilled about it, but whatever. They order food, they order more drinks, etc. Finally they get the bill. "Are you sure you can't do separate checks?" Yes, I am sure, especially now. Anyway, they give me two credit cards and have me split it down the middle. (That we can do. Actually, we can do any amount on multiple credit cards that they want me to do, as I explained to them. It is just the CHECK that won't be separated.) I run the credit cards, and although this party is more than 6 people, and I could very well slap an 18% gratuity on them (another great house policy), I figure what the hell, I'll roll the dice, maybe they'll realize that I was nice about that and tip me well anyway, especially since they have had top notch service, thank you very much.
WHY I thought they would tip me appropriately is beyond me. Not only did they tip me okay (not horrible, but not appropriately), but the one guy again complained about me not doing separate checks. "If you really wanted to, you could have." No, not after I had already started your tab, and frankly, not with that attitude you have. After they left, I saw the mediocre tip, figured whatever....and then noticed the paper bag they had left. With the jewelery they had bought somewhere else in town in it. Bummer....I had no way to contact them, and they never came back.
This is what happens when you are a cheap annoying anal bastard, folks. Ain't Karma a bitch?
On a positive note, the rest of the night was pretty cool, I had a lot of nice people, and I made a good chunk of change. Not all customers are SC's, after all.
Tip Runners
There is a type of person I have dubbed "Tip Runners," and a group I had the other night epitomized them. What this group did was, after I had dropped off the check (just under $48), they came up to me, handed me the check and some cash as they were semi-rushing out of the establishment, and magnanimously said "Keep the change." After they left, I look down into my hand and see.....$52. $4 and change...for a $48 tab...hmmm. And of course they said the "Keep the change" line as if it were some big deal. I honestly believe that these people are too embarrassed to stick around after they have paid and tipped, and they know they are tipping poorly, but their cheapness wins over their embarrassment, so they just bolt. Tip Runners. I don't know why, but that title seems to fit. Oh, incidentally, 9 times out of 10, people who DO tip really well do not say "Keep the change" with that air of doing me a favor. They may use the phrase, but they do it more in a humble way, such as "the rest is yours," said quietly. The basic difference being, I guess, that the second type is not acting like they are doing me a favor, but merely repaying me for the services I have rendered them.
Karma
Separate checks on large parties are a pain to do. They are even more of a pain to do when they large parties don't tell us to make the checks separate until all or much of the stuff has been ordered. However, one of my jobs has a very simple house policy: no separate checks. The servers LOVE this. The customers, not always so much. Anyways, I get a group of about 10. They order drinks, I bring the drinks, then they tell me "we need separate checks." I apologize to them and explain that we do not, in fact, do separate checks. House policy. They don't seem too thrilled about it, but whatever. They order food, they order more drinks, etc. Finally they get the bill. "Are you sure you can't do separate checks?" Yes, I am sure, especially now. Anyway, they give me two credit cards and have me split it down the middle. (That we can do. Actually, we can do any amount on multiple credit cards that they want me to do, as I explained to them. It is just the CHECK that won't be separated.) I run the credit cards, and although this party is more than 6 people, and I could very well slap an 18% gratuity on them (another great house policy), I figure what the hell, I'll roll the dice, maybe they'll realize that I was nice about that and tip me well anyway, especially since they have had top notch service, thank you very much.
WHY I thought they would tip me appropriately is beyond me. Not only did they tip me okay (not horrible, but not appropriately), but the one guy again complained about me not doing separate checks. "If you really wanted to, you could have." No, not after I had already started your tab, and frankly, not with that attitude you have. After they left, I saw the mediocre tip, figured whatever....and then noticed the paper bag they had left. With the jewelery they had bought somewhere else in town in it. Bummer....I had no way to contact them, and they never came back.
This is what happens when you are a cheap annoying anal bastard, folks. Ain't Karma a bitch?
On a positive note, the rest of the night was pretty cool, I had a lot of nice people, and I made a good chunk of change. Not all customers are SC's, after all.
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