Restaurant bans tipping. Guess what happened?

[AustinChief]

Thank God for this oh so scientific study!!! That restaurant's grand "experiment" proves two things... jack and shit.

That being said, I think some of their guesses might have some credence.

The best system I have seen is what you see in most of Europe. Servers are paid REAL wages and that gets factored into pricing. It really doesn't increase prices drastically and you can still tip if you want to but it isn't at all expected. Most of what I saw was that people would leave a portion of their change as "tip." And when I say change I mean low value coins. The first time that I left what I considered a regular tip, the waiter chased me down to give me back the money I must have forgotten on the table. Of course after I explained that it was a tip I was treated to exceptional service at that spot from then on out.

[J Diddy]

I'm just curious why the restaurant shut down if this grand experiment was such a success? He says that they're getting ready to open a new one sure, but why shut down a successful restaurant?

[Valiant]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

I'm just curious why the restaurant shut down if this grand experiment was such a success? He says that they're getting ready to open a new one sure, but why shut down a successful restaurant?

This. There would be no reason they shuttered. They would have opec a 2nd location.

Coorelation and causation example.

[BWillie]

So how did they eliminate tipping? They now force you to pay a 18% service charge. That is more than MOST ppl probably tipIin the 1st place.

Around my neighborhood and places I go to frequently I tip arounf 20% and I think its reeruned. When im out of town I tip as little as possible, usually like 8 to 10%. I shouldnt even tip at all, my life would have been much better. I estimate if Irefused to tip EVER throughout my entire life I would save $131, 000. ONE HUNDREDANDTHIRTYONE THOUSAND

[kysirsoze]

Originally Posted by BWillie

So how did they eliminate tipping? They now force you to pay a 18% service charge. That is more than MOST ppl probably tipIin the 1st place.

Around my neighborhood and places I go to frequently I tip arounf 20% and I think its reeruned. When im out of town I tip as little as possible, usually like 8 to 10%

Thanks for providing more evidence that this is a great idea.

[Fish]

There's a good podcast on the subject in the link below. From actual "Experts" on the subject...

5 reasons we should ban tipping
The practice is confusing, inefficient and ultimately discriminatory, researchers say.

If you listen to the latest Freakonomics Radio podcast, you may never want to tip again. Host Stephen Dubner interviews one of the country's experts on tipping, Cornell University professor Michael Lynn, who has written 51 academic papers on the subject.

In the podcast, Lynn was asked what he would do differently if he could go back in time and rewrite the social norms related to tipping. What would he change?

He said he would outlaw tipping completely. That's a surprising response from someone who has basically devoted his career to studying the practice. Some restaurants already do this. Dubner mentions The Linkery in San Diego, which bans tipping in favor of an 18% service charge for diners.

From the experts in the podcast, here are five reasons the U.S. should ban tipping:

It's discriminatory. This is Lynn's No. 1 reason for outlawing tipping. In his research, he's found that the people who get the most tips are slender white women in their 30s with large breasts. What a surprise.

He's also found that minorities get fewer tips in general. When you have an aspect of employment that hurts a broad class of people, whether it's intentional or not, that's absolutely discriminatory. This is a class-action lawsuit just waiting to be filed.

It may lead to corruption. Another expert interviewed in the podcast, Magnus Torfason from Harvard Business School, said he has found that countries with more tipping have more corruption.

It's really uncomfortable. For the tipper, that is, and possibly for the tippee as well. That's because people don't know what they're supposed to tip and for what service. How much is enough? And do I have the right bill on me? I can't really ask this person to break a $20 bill, can I? Help!

It's essentially subsidizing businesses. Lynn has estimated that about $40 billion a year is given in tips in the United States. Dubner pointed out that NASA's annual budget is less than $20 billion. So we could build two NASAs with all the money being tipped. That's money that businesses don't have to pay to their waitresses and other service employees.

It shifts work away from the employee. Tipping can actually create so much unease that some customers end up doing the work instead of the employee. For example, people carry their own luggage to their hotel rooms even though there are workers hired to perform that specific service. People park their own cars farther away, even though there's a valet right there at the door. As a result, some service workers end up with nothing to do, which is inefficient and wastes a company's resources.

[007]

Originally Posted by Fish

There's a good podcast on the subject in the link below. From actual "Experts" on the subject...

5 reasons we should ban tipping
The practice is confusing, inefficient and ultimately discriminatory, researchers say.

If you listen to the latest Freakonomics Radio podcast, you may never want to tip again. Host Stephen Dubner interviews one of the country's experts on tipping, Cornell University professor Michael Lynn, who has written 51 academic papers on the subject.

In the podcast, Lynn was asked what he would do differently if he could go back in time and rewrite the social norms related to tipping. What would he change?

He said he would outlaw tipping completely. That's a surprising response from someone who has basically devoted his career to studying the practice. Some restaurants already do this. Dubner mentions The Linkery in San Diego, which bans tipping in favor of an 18% service charge for diners.

From the experts in the podcast, here are five reasons the U.S. should ban tipping:

It's discriminatory. This is Lynn's No. 1 reason for outlawing tipping. In his research, he's found that the people who get the most tips are slender white women in their 30s with large breasts. What a surprise.

He's also found that minorities get fewer tips in general. When you have an aspect of employment that hurts a broad class of people, whether it's intentional or not, that's absolutely discriminatory. This is a class-action lawsuit just waiting to be filed.

It may lead to corruption. Another expert interviewed in the podcast, Magnus Torfason from Harvard Business School, said he has found that countries with more tipping have more corruption.

It's really uncomfortable. For the tipper, that is, and possibly for the tippee as well. That's because people don't know what they're supposed to tip and for what service. How much is enough? And do I have the right bill on me? I can't really ask this person to break a $20 bill, can I? Help!

It's essentially subsidizing businesses. Lynn has estimated that about $40 billion a year is given in tips in the United States. Dubner pointed out that NASA's annual budget is less than $20 billion. So we could build two NASAs with all the money being tipped. That's money that businesses don't have to pay to their waitresses and other service employees.

It shifts work away from the employee. Tipping can actually create so much unease that some customers end up doing the work instead of the employee. For example, people carry their own luggage to their hotel rooms even though there are workers hired to perform that specific service. People park their own cars farther away, even though there's a valet right there at the door. As a result, some service workers end up with nothing to do, which is inefficient and wastes a company's resources.

I can get behind this article. I don't carry cash so it is annoying when I run into situations where they are expecting cash tips. I go out of my way to avoid those situations but sometimes they still crop up.

I would have less problem with tipping if people would stop using it as a bribery system to get more attention and just tip standard like most other people.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Guru

I can get behind this article. I don't carry cash so it is annoying when I run into situations where they are expecting cash tips. I go out of my way to avoid those situations but sometimes they still crop up.

I would have less problem with tipping if people would stop using it as a bribery system to get more attention and just tip standard like most other people.

I just view it as a tax unless something amazing happens, like I fall down a well and they rescue me.

I've lately started rounding up to prove to myself that I'm a nice guy, but my tip distribution looks something like this:

15% tip - 0.1% of my tips if the person is a total dud.
18% tip - 2% of my tips.
20% tip - 65% of my tips.
21% tip - 30% of my tips.
25% tip - 2.7% of my tips.
50% tip - 0.2% of my tips on smaller bills, just because I feel like a nice guy that day and the cute waitress touched my arm affectionately.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Fish

There's a good podcast on the subject in the link below. From actual "Experts" on the subject...

5 reasons we should ban tipping
The practice is confusing, inefficient and ultimately discriminatory, researchers say.

If you listen to the latest Freakonomics Radio podcast, you may never want to tip again. Host Stephen Dubner interviews one of the country's experts on tipping, Cornell University professor Michael Lynn, who has written 51 academic papers on the subject.

In the podcast, Lynn was asked what he would do differently if he could go back in time and rewrite the social norms related to tipping. What would he change?

He said he would outlaw tipping completely. That's a surprising response from someone who has basically devoted his career to studying the practice. Some restaurants already do this. Dubner mentions The Linkery in San Diego, which bans tipping in favor of an 18% service charge for diners.

From the experts in the podcast, here are five reasons the U.S. should ban tipping:

It's discriminatory. This is Lynn's No. 1 reason for outlawing tipping. In his research, he's found that the people who get the most tips are slender white women in their 30s with large breasts. What a surprise.

He's also found that minorities get fewer tips in general. When you have an aspect of employment that hurts a broad class of people, whether it's intentional or not, that's absolutely discriminatory. This is a class-action lawsuit just waiting to be filed.

It may lead to corruption. Another expert interviewed in the podcast, Magnus Torfason from Harvard Business School, said he has found that countries with more tipping have more corruption.

It's really uncomfortable. For the tipper, that is, and possibly for the tippee as well. That's because people don't know what they're supposed to tip and for what service. How much is enough? And do I have the right bill on me? I can't really ask this person to break a $20 bill, can I? Help!

It's essentially subsidizing businesses. Lynn has estimated that about $40 billion a year is given in tips in the United States. Dubner pointed out that NASA's annual budget is less than $20 billion. So we could build two NASAs with all the money being tipped. That's money that businesses don't have to pay to their waitresses and other service employees.

It shifts work away from the employee. Tipping can actually create so much unease that some customers end up doing the work instead of the employee. For example, people carry their own luggage to their hotel rooms even though there are workers hired to perform that specific service. People park their own cars farther away, even though there's a valet right there at the door. As a result, some service workers end up with nothing to do, which is inefficient and wastes a company's resources.

The bolded part is ridiculous.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Fish

There's a good podcast on the subject in the link below. From actual "Experts" on the subject...

5 reasons we should ban tipping
The practice is confusing, inefficient and ultimately discriminatory, researchers say.

If you listen to the latest Freakonomics Radio podcast, you may never want to tip again. Host Stephen Dubner interviews one of the country's experts on tipping, Cornell University professor Michael Lynn, who has written 51 academic papers on the subject.

In the podcast, Lynn was asked what he would do differently if he could go back in time and rewrite the social norms related to tipping. What would he change?

He said he would outlaw tipping completely. That's a surprising response from someone who has basically devoted his career to studying the practice. Some restaurants already do this. Dubner mentions The Linkery in San Diego, which bans tipping in favor of an 18% service charge for diners.

From the experts in the podcast, here are five reasons the U.S. should ban tipping:

It's discriminatory. This is Lynn's No. 1 reason for outlawing tipping. In his research, he's found that the people who get the most tips are slender white women in their 30s with large breasts. What a surprise.

He's also found that minorities get fewer tips in general. When you have an aspect of employment that hurts a broad class of people, whether it's intentional or not, that's absolutely discriminatory. This is a class-action lawsuit just waiting to be filed.

It may lead to corruption. Another expert interviewed in the podcast, Magnus Torfason from Harvard Business School, said he has found that countries with more tipping have more corruption.

It's really uncomfortable. For the tipper, that is, and possibly for the tippee as well. That's because people don't know what they're supposed to tip and for what service. How much is enough? And do I have the right bill on me? I can't really ask this person to break a $20 bill, can I? Help!

It's essentially subsidizing businesses. Lynn has estimated that about $40 billion a year is given in tips in the United States. Dubner pointed out that NASA's annual budget is less than $20 billion. So we could build two NASAs with all the money being tipped. That's money that businesses don't have to pay to their waitresses and other service employees.

It shifts work away from the employee. Tipping can actually create so much unease that some customers end up doing the work instead of the employee. For example, people carry their own luggage to their hotel rooms even though there are workers hired to perform that specific service. People park their own cars farther away, even though there's a valet right there at the door. As a result, some service workers end up with nothing to do, which is inefficient and wastes a company's resources.

I listened to that podcast on the way to work this morning - pretty interesting. I did think that the discrimination angle was kind of fascinating to think about. In theory, if a bunch of black waiters/waitresses wanted to get together and file a class-action suit, it's an actual possibility (though by no means guaranteed) that a judge might rule that tipping is illegal. Now THAT would make things interesting.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by Gravedigger

Let me fill you in on some delivery driver knowledge.

7.25 an hour while inside the store, 4.25 an hour while on the road. 1.30 out of your $2 + delivery charge goes to the driver per delivery. The driver pays for wear and tear, gas and is held responsible for anything that happens on the road if its their fault or not.

$1 tip or lower = cheap ass get out and get your own pizza.
$2 = Nut tap.
$3 = Average.
$4 = Thank you! You just helped me forget the last shitty customer who didn't tip.
$5 + = You're a great person. Ill be sure to bring you your pizza first next time.

I worked for 10+ years as a driver, AM, AGM and GM. I've seen it all, I've heard it all, and if you tip online $1.00 and the driver has a second delivery that gave him $3 or more, guess who gets their pizza first?

I think a lot of places are different. I've worked delivery in two different pizza places and received a flat rate that was right around minimum wage at the time. In Florida, I think it's around $7.25 now.

Anyway, in the first place the driver received $1.50 of the $2.50 delivery charge and $1.00 of the $2.00 fee in the second.

With a delivery area that covers roughly 5 miles, driving an average car that gets around 25 MPG, that $1.00 often just pays for fuel. Wear and tear also can't be overstated, in my opinion. Driving delivery absolutely wrecks your car. New tires, brakes, oil changes far more frequently, and it destroys your transmission with the city miles.

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I dated a waitress for 5 years when I was in my 20s, her and the other waitresses always maintained that it was working-class men who tipped the best. But that was 20 years ago...I know Zach has been in the business more recently so maybe things have changed.

Yeah. Obviously it really depends, but given the choice, I'll take a middle-class white person from the age of 28-45 over anyone else.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by kysirsoze

Thanks for providing more evidence that this is a great idea.

I dont want a waiter at all. Im there for the food and for someone to clean the dishes so I dont have to. I like the system that Oklahoma Joes uses. You order, they have a counter, you get your food and sit down an eat it. Is having someone bring you your food and water so you dont have to ever lift your fat ass worth $15? It isnt to me.

[kysirsoze]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I dont want a waiter at all. Im there for the food and for someone to clean the dishes so I dont have to. I like the system that Oklahoma Joes uses. You order, they have a counter, you get your food and sit down an eat it. Is having someone bring you your food and water so you dont have to ever lift your fat ass worth $15? It isnt to me.

So don't go to full service restaurants. Support quality business models like OK Joes. Easy as that.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by kysirsoze

So don't go to full service restaurants. Support quality business models like OK Joes. Easy as that.

No, it's not as easy as that unless you want to eat at McDonalds and Chipotle every day. How many quality restaurants DON'T have waiters and waitress service? Honestly, Oklahoma Joes is probably the best there is and that is just because it's fkking BBQ. There is virtually no where you can get a good steak and NOT have waitress service.

It's a win win for the business and the consumer. The consumer doesn't have to incur those costs, neither does the business. I would think if anybody, the business/restaurant would prefer it because they have much less risk and overhead. No benefits, less liability, less labor costs, less payroll, admin etc. Somewhere along the way some rich fat ass was like, you know what, I don't want to get my happy ass up and get my drink. I want some kid to kiss my ass while I shove this big steak down my lard ass throat, so they can feel special. I don't need to feel special, I have accepted that I am not a beautiful and unique snowflake.

[kysirsoze]

As a former server, I would be all for this. I completely agree that, for the most part, quality of service doesn't greatly affect the tip. If someone is just terrible, sure, but just excellent service where nothing goes wrong? Not much.

The bigger difference in tip size, I've noticed, is whether they like you or not. Seriously, the servers who were big personalities that practically entertained the table always got the biggest tips (over the course of a night). I know some of you will say you don't like a super outgoing server, but trust me, most people love it. I was never that way. I did pretty well, tip-wise, but I couldn't bring myself to be a game show host at the dinner table.

That aside, This makes so much sense. It's essentially requiring tips and then pooling them for all the servers. Whenever I worked on a large party with a partner, they ALWAYS got better service than if we split them into two parties. Sure, servers help each other, but there's always a though to the fact that "I need to make my money." This eliminates that and would, I think, create a great teamwork atmosphere that would end up being much better for the customer, more consistent for the server, and much less stressful for the entire restaurant.