Quote:
Originally posted by Kassidy
Always!
Most waitresses/bartenders are single moms or struggling college students making a shitty hourly wage. It's a physically demanding job too. It's what paid my way through college and fed my baby.
You don't even want to know what some servers do to cheapos' drinks or food 
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Please don't tip out of sympathy or to avoid loogies in your food or drink. That's an insult to professional servers.
In the US, tipping is a way of subsidizing the bar and restaurant industry. If servers were treated (paid) like typical employees, your food and drink costs would go up much more than the 15%-20% that is considered a reasonable tip.
Yes, many servers are struggling. Many others are perfectly happy in their chosen profession. I waited tables in my early 20's and made a nice living working 20-30 hours a week. In my time off I was either writing, or doing research for my own business. I can't tell you how sick I got of people asking, oh-so-sympathetically, what I wanted to do when I got out of school. What I wanted to say was, "I'm not IN school, Mr. Condescending, I've graduated and decided your precious corporate world would crush my spirit and destroy my life. And I'm sure I'm making twice as much as your personal assistant. So fuck you. Would you like to hear about tonight's desserts?"
A good number of my co-workers were career waiters and bartenders. In THEIR time off, they played the stock market, turned real estate, and basically laughed their way to the bank.
Tip a minimum of 15%, because if you don't, you're a cheap ass and need to stay home. If you get very good service, tip at least 20%, because good service should be rewarded, and if you do, you'll get even better service next time. (Yes, it's perfectly fair.) If your service is so bad you feel you shouldn't tip, then talk to management, because if the establishment is worth anything, they will comp your meal or offer you a discount or coupon. If they don't, it probably wasn't your server's fault your experience was unpleasant. It's probably just a shitty joint.
(end rant)