servers complain black people do not tip

[bangai-o]

...After a few weeks of double shifts, no lunch breaks and sometimes bringing home embarrassingly small amounts of money left by, yes, my own people, I, too, began to wonder if there was something to my colleagues' comments. For the life of me, why didn't my own people tip 20 percent or at least a paltry 15 percent?

I'll never forget serving a family of five. Their tab came to $98. The older black gentleman praised my service and even asked where I'd be studying in the fall. He shook my hand, enclosing a folded $100 bill, and as he left he said, "Keep the change." It was apparent that he was serious, and had no idea that I wanted to chase him out into the parking lot with a baseball bat, Joe Clark-style.

...My experience was that many of my African-American guests simply did not know that 20 percent is the standard tip. Barring terrible service, it should always be that. And if tipping is an issue, there's always the takeout option or the ubiquitous Golden Arches.

At the risk of being ousted from the black community, I'm going to take a stab at another of the reasons that some of us tip poorly. To reduce the matter to economic means would be a gross oversimplification, since I've received a 50 percent tip from a table of teenagers.

I think it's more about racism.

Think about it: For black folks, there are still relatively few opportunities (outside of therapy) to articulate our frustration with the unbalanced scales of power in our society. Even for those in the upper echelons, the playing field isn't level, and in our current economic climate, everything is in flux, making waiters easy targets. I found that the tables that demanded the most tipped the worst. It became painfully clear that I gave my distressed guest an opportunity to feel superior.

http://www.theroot.com/views/check-please-black-folks-and-tipping?page=0,0

 

[Ace 8095]

My white ass never tips 20%. They're lucky to get 15%

 

[polyh3dron]

20% is the standard tip?

aw hell naw

That's for a server who goes the extra mile. 15% is a standard tip where I come from, especially when the food is more expensive.

 

[SUPREME1]

Here's a tip, don't expect a tip from a black person.




Seriously though, I've never heard a stereotype portraying black folk as being cheap.



Edit: "a paltry 15%"

wat?


20% best service ever, plus I'm likely drunk and feeling real generous.

15% for very good service.

8-10% for solid decent service.

5% for not killing me.

0% Damn, you must be the worst server ever if I didn't tip you. I always tip. See 5%.

 

[Tenck]

Most I've tipped was $20 a couple days ago, but that was because my friend was the waitress.

 

[Walshicus]

Blah blah tipping is a silly Americanism, blah blah need tips to live, blah blah circumcision.

Or something like that.

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

Tipping culture is dumb. So glad we don't do that shit around here.

 

[BetterThanNothing]

Since when was tipping 20%? I thought it was 13-15. Who decides these things?

 

[Funky Papa]

20%???


Bring back the fucking :lol smiley, Evilore.

 

[Khal_B]

20% is a lot...

 

[nib95]

20%? LOL. 10% I'd say is reasonable or a lot. Forget 20%, especially when most restaurants charge service charge anyway.

 

[Foxy Fox 39]

20% is the standard tip?

aw hell naw

That's for a server who goes the extra mile. 15% is a standard tip where I come from, especially when the food is more expensive.

Right! I thought it was 15%?

 

[magicstop]

The older black gentleman praised my service and even asked where I'd be studying in the fall. He shook my hand, enclosing a folded $100 bill, and as he left he said, "Keep the change." It was apparent that he was serious, and had no idea that I wanted to chase him out into the parking lot with a baseball bat, Joe Clark-style.

Perhaps this should be about older people as well? What about males? Has this person really done enough examining to determine this tendency is on a racial basis? And if so, have you looked into why?

And more importantly, get the hell over yourself... So you've been screwed on some tips. You and everyone else. Sure, I understand as a waiter, it's important, but take it with the territory, or GTFO.

 

[RustyNails]

 

[ronito]

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!!

 

[zero_suit]

20%? Since when?

 

[Clydefrog]

I hate the norm of tipping $1 for a beer. All you did was uncap it or pour it from a tap... that deserves an entire freakin' dollar???

 

[bangai-o]

20%? LOL. 10% I'd say is reasonable or a lot. Forget 20%, especially when most restaurants charge service charge anyway.

Pizza delivery is not most restaurants.

 

[Brobzoid]

I support this new spin on returning features.

Spoiler

AGAINST

 

[Deified Data]

IF THE SERVER'S BLACK IT MUST BE TRUE.

 

[Spokker]

I assure you that this will explain everything.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsK1McEA9ds

They cut off the end part that goes:

Black waitress: What are you talking about?
Louis CK: She says black people don't tip.
Black waitress: Are you nuts? Niggas don't tip, everyone knows that - Have you ever waited tables before?
Louis CK: No...
Black waitress: Then shut up asshole.

 

[J2 Cool]

It was like this at the Car Wash I worked at. Nobody wanted to dry black people's cars, with the reputation they didn't tip.

I thought 15-18% was still acceptable though (speaking on restaurants)? I tip 20% generally, but my (white) friend used to tip 10% regularly. I got pissed enough to talk him up to the 18% range over the years.

I hate the norm of tipping $1 for a beer. All you did was uncap it or pour it from a tap... that deserves an entire freakin' dollar???

I feel the same about this one.

 

[emomoonbase]

ITT cheap people who have never worked a restaurant job before.

 

[ClovingWestbrook]

People in my in laws church use the argument that if God gets 10% in tithes, someone better go the extra mile to expect 15% and 20% you better be coming down in the clouds with Jesus.

 

[dbztrk]

20%?!?!?! Tax times two bitches!

 

[terminallyChill]

20 percent is the standard tip. Barring terrible service, it should always be that.

A tip is something that is earned, not guaranteed.

 

[Phoenician_Viking]

15% tip is customary. 20% tip is just greedy.

 

[Cubsfan23]

15% is good enough. 20%+++ should only be reserved for great service

 

[confused]

make it mandatory and incorporate it into the price or STFU.

 

[SleepyJohn11]

20% is the "standard" tip? If they want more money, they should discuss this with their employers. My family and I just tip 10% just to be nice.

Edit: I meant 10, not 5. Oops lol. I can't think or type right on an empty stomach, I should go out and get something to eat.

 

[Fenderputty]

I tip 15% and 20% if they rock. I'll tip 10% or below if it's horrid service.

 

[alphaNoid]

I just double tax and give more if they were nice to my wife and son.

 

[sphagnum]

I have a lot of friends in the food service industry, I always tip 20%.

 

[HiroProtagonist]

My grandmother doesn't tip (well) either, and she's old and white. She tips in change and wont allow anyone to add to it, so my whole family has become quite good at secretly tipping the staff.

 

[Treefingers]

"Paltry 15 percent"? Get outta here.

 

[way more]

20%? LOL. 10% I'd say is reasonable or a lot. Forget 20%, especially when most restaurants charge service charge anyway.

Lawl, what a lame ass excuse. Just admit you are a pathetic shit-stain on America's values. Don't give me that crap.


Step it up black people! A President is fine but tipping is a bit more important.

 

[Count of Monte Sawed-Off]

I tip all the time, but you have to be fucking spectacular and maybe suck my dick to get 20%. 10-15% is what I normally do.

 

[Tamanon]

15% is the general standard tip. I only tip more for better service.

Also, tipping thread.

 

[Zoe]

A tip is something that is earned, not guaranteed.

Agreed.

 

[MIMIC]

20%??? GTFO

 

[J2 Cool]

20%?!?!?! Tax times two bitches!

So California is still just shy of 20%. I don't think I could rationalize tipping my state (IL) less than California waiters.

 

[lightless_shado]

Oh boy a tipping thread that's also racial

 

[Salsa]

 

[Lionel Mandrake]

There's a very relevant picture that was on reddit yesterday.

Offensive word within.

 

[ConradCervantes]

This guy is trying to get readers to start tipping more by using the 20% figure. That's bullshit, 15% to start, no more, no less.

And the reader obviously didn't watch the third episode of Louie last season. "Niggas don't tip!"

EDIT: Dammit Salsa!

 

[FunkyPajamas]

20%? that better come with a blowjob, goddamn.

In my country 10% is the norm and I always tip. At the places I frequent (where everybody knows your name) I usually tip 15%, but goddamn 20% is nuts.

 

[xbhaskarx]

20% is a lot...

20% is my standard tip...

 

[darkside31337]

20% is ridiculous. I tip 10% for pedestrian service, 15% for good service, 20% for great service. When the hell did 20% become the "standard"?

Pizza delivery guys get the full 20% as long as the Pizza isn't flipped over and is at least warm.

 

[B!TCH]

So what you are telling me is that something about having dark skin genetically predisposes people not to tip you as much as you are expecting to get?

Well now. That is interesting.

 

[Sutton Dagger]

20F'n%... I really hope the tipping culture doesn't make its way here, I only give a tip if the service/food was great.