I was a restaurant manager for 15 years. I also cooked, waited tables, bussed tables, did dishes, etc. This has made me OCD about tipping. I never blame the waiter/waitress/delivery person for problems in the kitchen. If they handle the problem correctly, they get the same tip as if everything was perfect. If the kitchen messed up the order bad enough, I'll take it up with the manager. It's not the server's fault. I tend to tip in the 30-60% range. My problem is that my wife and I have some cheapskate friends who take out a calculator and compute a 15% tip no matter how good the service was. I then feel obligated to increase my tip to make up for their cheapskatedness.

MCS
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For, "average" service I'll just double the tax and round it to the nearest dollar. Better service = better gratuity. There's been times I tip more than the meal.:-)
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I hate that. My S.O.'s family is like that. So I tend to tip for the whole table.
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Moe, question...

I'm guessing that kitchen staff typically never gets a percentage? It's always just those in the server/floor positions?
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In my experience, correct Adam. Back of house and Front of house are typically two different pay scales.
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I would also guess that with the exception of pot-wash, kitchen staff are earning 1.5x, 2x or even 3x the base wage waiting, bar and floor-staff are getting :-)

In the UK, waiting tables, working bar and floor staff are all minimum, or just above minimum, wage (£6/hr), whereas chef/Microwave Technicians will start at £8.50-£9/hr with basic training in place (i.e. vocational qualifications at a minimum).
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They need a calculator to compute a 15% tip.:-) That may be the problem, Scott.:-)
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:-) :-) :-)
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They have to figure it to the penny. It's very embarrassing sometimes.


MCS
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Thanks.

That's kind of what I thought, but having no restaurant experience, I wasn't sure.
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I've got a good size lump of coal here. If I ship it to you, think I could get a diamond out of the deal?:-)
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Since were sharing stories...
My wife and I were in Vegas about 3 years ago. My best friend was the kitchen manager at a restaurant, so we went in to visit him.
While waiting for our food and while talking to my friend, I saw a waitress walk by with a tray carrying 4 mixed drinks (daquiri types in tall glasses.) She manages to dump the entire tray on me. And then proceeds to aploogize to the table whose drinks she spilled. Didn't say a word to me. Then walked off.
My friend was already going to comp our meal (because he always does) but I was a little upset that I'm standing here soaking wet and didn't even receive an apology. The floor and kitchen are kept separate, so my friend has the floor manager come out to talk to us. We barely get an apology, so my wife insists that the least he could do was give me a replacement shirt since they had a gift shop and my current one was soaking wet. He seemed a little surprised by the request, but agreed. It's surprising what some people consider as good customer service.

On the other hand, I've had at least two of the opposite.
While at a steakhouse, I found a small piece of plastic in our dessert. Spoke to the manager, and he gave us his card and wrote on the back: 1 free appetizer and 3 free desserts. One dessert for each of us.

Another time in Vegas (different restaurant), we were having trouble getting the attention of our waitress, so my wife finally yelled out "excuse me," a little loud. This was after 3 times of her passing by us without ever looking our way. Apparently the owner was sitting nearby having lunch and saw, so he comped our entire meal. We offered to pay, but the waiter apologized for the incident and said that the owner wouldn't allow it.

On each account, we still left at least a 25% tip. I've never worked in a restaurant, but because of my friend above, I've always left a decent tip.
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Going to order a some Pizza hut right now. Going to pick it up though. Stupid delivery charge.
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Sounds like some of y'all must need a new pizza joint. The two we use are awesome. Only ever had one problem and they made good on it within minutes. :-)

Edit: and you gotta have onions on your pie, man.
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[quote=Blueface;1210422] Funny how that works, huh Carlos? There is a lesson in those few words that can apply to many, many situations one encounters in life.
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one word... Sammys.
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Double the sales tax..:-)
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My wife and I are both doing the full time school full time work thing, and hardly ever cook anymore, so we go through a lot of pizzas. I also order pizza a lot at work for lunch, since we only get 1/2 hr lunch break. We order from Pizza Hut, Papa John's and a couple of local Mom and Pop shops. I gotta say, I have never had a complaint about any of the service. I have ordered dozens of pizzas in the last year, and each one has been hot and on time.

With one exception: We ordered on Halloween night. The driver was attacked/pranked by a group of high school kids. Not injured but very shaken up. Our pizza finally got to us like 2 hours later and it was cold, but free. I even tried to tip the kid, as he had to deliver to a 3rd floor walk up, but he wouldn't take anything. They did call us to let us know that there were problems and that it would be free. No biggie, 10 minutes in the oven and it was good as new, and that was a very rare circumstance that was entirely out of control of the pizza place. We have ordered from them many times since without incident.
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You had to rub that one in. The gf doesn't like it, so I don't get to order it. I on the other hand adore the Sammy's Special (sausage, green pepper, onion).
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Of course.... if you don't like Savoy down in the old Harbor joint... HAHAHAHAAAAAAA

Their pizza doesn't suck at all either.
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