First of all, servers only get paid $2.13/hour (which doesn't even cover taxes) Every week we get a $0 paycheck so our entire income comes solely from tips. At most large restaurants we are required to pay a tip out (usually around 2.5% of our gross sales) to the restaurant. This tip out is distributed among the bartenders and hosts. Basically, whatever you tip the server deduct about 2.5% and that is what the server actually gets to keep (If you don't tip at all, then the server actually paid for you to eat there! We ARE required to report our tips when we clock out at the end of every shift. If we try to claim too little tips we must have approval from the management. Joe...you are obviously ignorant and cheap!).Restaurants should pay servers a higher hourly rate since their menu prices are so high. However, until that day comes, should hardworking servers have to suffer because of it? Tips should reflect service. If the service is wonderful, then one should tip 20% or more of the total amount(before the deduction of gift cards or any other discounts). For those who feel that service has gone down hill...this is partly because service also reflects tips. If all of you are too cheap to tip when great service is given, then don't expect great service in the future. Especially in small towns, servers remember the faces of those who tip well and those who don't. Some older servers made bad choices and are stuck in the job. Maybe you should have some compassion and tip them, if they do a good job. Andrea's, you should tip 5-10% for carryout orders and this is why. The server took the time to be on the phone and take your order, then put it in the computer, then box everything up and make sure that you have all of your specific condiments and whatever else you requested. While doing all of this for no tip they could have been spending time with their table that actually might tip them. If you don't want to tip for carryout then don't waste their time. Another comment made by Andrea mentioned her working extra time for no pay and that servers should be expected to do the same. Usually after a server is done taking tables they have many other tasks to do before they can leave. This usually includes cleaning their tables (10-20min.), rolling silverware (30-45min.), and doing sidework in the kitchen (30-45min.). So the average server spends an extra 1hr - 2hrs after they are done taking tables doing other duties. For an average 5 day work week this amounts to about 6-10 hours of work without pay. We also have to attend regualr meetings, again, for no pay. I have always thought that you must walk in someone else's shoes to truly understand their world. After reading these posts I am convinced that ignorance is prevalent and this old adage is true!

Waiters and Waitresses-- buck up and change the system. Begging for tips from customers is not the American way. It is offensive to most of us. Instead of begging from me, demand that your restaurant management have a tip free policy. Heck, most have gone smoke free... why not tip free?

Let me ask the you guys a question? Did anyone tell you that you need to go to a restaurant to eat because you neither had the time nor the inclination to fix a meal at home? Probably not! Waitering staffing are providing a service to the customers who neither had the time nor the inclination to fix a meal at home! As a person who has held a waiting job, it is a job that is long, hard, and demanding to hopefully provide relxation while also keeping the economy going!!! Please be kind! You should feel good about tipping. Just imagine what it would be like if some of you had to be a waiter to provide a means for sustainment. Again, feel good about tipping.

do i have to tip the owner for coloring and cutting my hair. she is
real high for a color and cut $95.00.

i NEVER tip...all income earned by restaurants must be reported!!!!!

I receive tips for small constuction jobs on occasion. One weekend to Sacramento My wife fell and gave herself a BIG BLACK eye. We left the Hotel, stopped at a Restuarant and ordered breakfast. The waitress looked at my wife. She came back with our coffee cups. She placed mine in front of me. There was some stuff in the empty cup that looked like poop. I mentioned it to her and she got me a new cup. Did she do that on purpose and does she deserve a tip? Even a retard would know that the cup placed in front of me was gross. There were four paramedics sitting right behind us and they said nothing. Tip if your treated right and the rest can work.

Support you library! I used to rent videos then went to the mailing video service back when it started. Videos were about $4 each to rent and the service was almost $20 with tax and charged me for one that never made it to me. I now go to a good library and get virtually new releases for FREE. I don't waste any fuel either since I plan my days which I go by the library anyhow. Clark would be proud, very proud. PS the library is so popular that people line up outside it every day before it opens and it is packed on Friday and Saturday nights (who would have thought?). I take my entire family for a very cheap night out.

Andrea hit the nail on the head with her comments earlier today. More and more when I go to restaurants, it seems I see less and less of the wait staff during my visits. So why should they be miffed if the tip is reduced accordingly?

Clark, I am sure that I am in the minority regarding my beliefs about being responsible for the salary of wait staff. Restaurant owners make HUGE profits on the markup of food/beverage prices. When I pay these very high prices, the wait staff salary should be built into the meal price like most corporations when they sell their products. These aren't the days of cheap diners where food is at a minimal cost. You calculate the actual number of minutes that a server spends at your table compared to what $$ he/she expects to be paid for that little amout of time. Wow--great rate of pay. It especially irritates me when I'm expected to tip or pay a carryout charge when no one has even waited on me. I might as well tip the big oil producers for the gasoline that I buy. I never got tipped working corporate jobs where I was expected to typically work an extra 15-20 hours extra each week for free. If I wanted to keep my job, I had to work overtime without pay. I usually didn't even get a "thank you." Anyway, that's my two cents worth from the peanut gallery.

P.S. Are your running for City of Atlanta mayor? Please, please consider it. There are alot of smart people who would vote for you. We need someone who can add and substract.

We are in a consumer recession and EACH
of us MUST spend carefully, eat halthy,exercise and protect the person you see in the mirror - continually.

Let's kick out the politicians who caused all this and get some new ones in this November!

I realize waiters and waitresses depend alot on tips, but if people stop dinning out, there will be no tips at all

Although I'm glad that people DO go eat out (a lot of jobs depend on it), I just got done with a shift where I busted my rear and got many 10% tips for no service reason; i think people were just being cheap. It often takes just an extra dollar to make the tips average out, and we (contrary to popular belief) have to actually very carefully report our tips in percentages and tip-out based on percentages so if I make average below 15% then I lose money on tip-outs and taxes (most servers I know pay a LOT of money when it comes to tax time because our small 2.13 an hour doesn't usually cover all taxes.)