Testing the "No Tip" Dining

[Barefootsies]

Some GFY'ers will rejoice.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Red Lobster is testing a lunch service where diners pay at the counter rather than having a waiter or waitress take their order.

The concept, known in the industry as "fast-casual," comes as people increasingly move away from full-service restaurants in favor of places such as Chipotle or Panera, where they feel they can get restaurant-quality food in a more convenient setting and without having to tip.

FULL STORY

[PR_Glen]

i don't like it.. chipotle is't bad but has a diner feel to it which was lame..

not that red lobster is awesome anyway.. hehe

[scubadiver626]

Forget lobster, buy king crab and mix up a batch of southern Louisiana Cajun sauce. Profit!

[96ukssob]

I'd like to see restaurants go "tipless" here, or something like they have in EU.

I get so irate with these morons who think they deserve to get $20 for opening a bottle of wine. 20% should NOT be the norm, but rather pay staff more so they are not as relent on tips.

I can't tell you how many times I've had shitty service, but yet you still "have to" tip. Money gets split up to much between to many people, so when the waiter/waitress does a shitty job, everyone pays.

I always get a laugh when I go to a fast food place or even Starbucks and they have a "tip" cup sitting out.

[TurboAngel]

That would suck for the waitresses as they make most of their money in tips. My sister works at a fancy French restaurant and does very well in tips.

[AsianDivaGirlsWebDude]

Damn, the Brits apparently come down pretty hard on Tipping:







ADG

[mineistaken]

That would suck for the waitresses as they make most of their money in tips. My sister works at a fancy French restaurant and does very well in tips.

Why would it suck? I mean they don't have waitresses who earn tip salary in those self served joints.
And your sister is proof that waitresses are overpaid (overtipped) in US.

[xNetworx]

I think its a smart move. The lines at Chipotle are very telling.

With full service, a $10 lunch becomes a $15 dollar lunch for me because I feel like a dick leaving only $2-3. I know that is silly but it is just how I am.

[TurboAngel]

Why would it suck? I mean they don't have waitresses who earn tip salary in those self served joints.
And your sister is proof that waitresses are overpaid (overtipped) in US.

They make $2.01 a hour.

[blackmonsters]

I left a $6 tip on a $16 tab(happy hour prices) at a bar a couple days ago and this morning I looked at the
receipt(2 of them) and the server had added a tip(on a different receipt) to the charge to make it $16.

I guess she thought I wasn't going to tip. I'm seriously contemplating drinking at her
bar for the rest of my life and paying cash and never tipping again.

The bitch is a fucking thief.

[mineistaken]

They make $2.01 a hour.

Full wage at self serve restaurant!

[NaughtyVisions]

So, if I'm understanding correctly, Red Lobster is only making payment part at the counter instead of the table, like Friendly's, Bob Evans, etc. already do. But a server still takes your order, refills your drinks, brings your food, etc. So I'm not sure how this is "No Tip Dining." I still tip the servers at Friendly's when I pay at the counter, so I will still the servers if I pay at the counter at Red Lobster or Olive Garden.

[SleazyDream]

just cause you pay at the counter doesn't mean you don't leave a tip??????

[mineistaken]

just cause you pay at the counter doesn't mean you don't leave a tip??????

Nobody says YOU DON'T, you just don't "have" to. You can leave a tip at burger king if you like as well..

[NaughtyVisions]

Nobody says YOU DON'T, you just don't "have" to. You can leave a tip at burger king if you like as well..

But the Burger King employees make at least minimum wage, and don't bring my food to me at my table, nor do they refill my drinks or anything else a server at Red Lobster would do.

Comparing BK to RL isn't really a good comparison.

[_Richard_]

I think its a smart move. The lines at Chipotle are very telling.

With full service, a $10 lunch becomes a $15 dollar lunch for me because I feel like a dick leaving only $2-3. I know that is silly but it is just how I am.

[Zeiss]

Damn, the Brits apparently come down pretty hard on Tipping:

And those are the guys, who don't have coin pockets in their wallets...

[mineistaken]

But the Burger King employees make at least minimum wage, and don't bring my food to me at my table, nor do they refill my drinks or anything else a server at Red Lobster would do.

Comparing BK to RL isn't really a good comparison.

Since OP says "testing no tip dining" it means that restaurant will pay FULL wage for those people. It would be impossible to pay $2.01/hour for no tip job.

[kane]

I left a $6 tip on a $16 tab(happy hour prices) at a bar a couple days ago and this morning I looked at the
receipt(2 of them) and the server had added a tip(on a different receipt) to the charge to make it $16.

I guess she thought I wasn't going to tip. I'm seriously contemplating drinking at her
bar for the rest of my life and paying cash and never tipping again.

The bitch is a fucking thief.

A few years ago my brother won a gift card to this resort at his kid's school fundraising auction. The card is for two nights stay and $60 they can use in the resort restaurant, spa, gift shop etc.

He and his wife go and they decide to use part of it on lunch. The bill comes and it is $33. My brother gives the waiter the gift card and is expecting either change, or a gift card with the balance in return and he planned to tip with cash. The waiter comes back and leaves the receipt with them, but not money and no other card. My brother looks at the receipt and sees that the guy took the balance of the gift card ($27) as a tip. He gets up, finds the manager, and asks why this was (thinking maybe the card can only be used once or some strange limitation like that). The manager looks at the receipt, is confused and calls the waiter over. The waiter then explains that since it was a gift card he didn't think the person expected change and intended for him to have the balance as his tip. The manager was not very happy to hear him say that.

The manager made it good by giving them lunch for free and giving them the full gift card back. I wonder how many times that waiter had done that in the past and gotten away with it.

[Dirty F]

That would suck for the waitresses as they make most of their money in tips. My sister works at a fancy French restaurant and does very well in tips.

Waiters in the US make crazy amounts of money in tips and still cry all day long how they have to survive on tips.

[mineistaken]

Waiters in the US make crazy amounts of money in tips and still cry all day long how they have to survive on tips.

Yes, like I said waiters are overpaid (overtipped) there. I bet some make more money than teachers and other more valuable professions. Big tippers from GFY should consider than and stop spoiling those waiters. Tip smaller.

[Dirty F]

They make $2.01 a hour.

And here we go. 2 seconds after i posted the reply above i read this.
First you mention how well she does and then what a horrible job it is.

Nobody forced her to become a waitress right?
And obviously people keep taking these jobs because they earn shitloads in tips.

Stop crying.

[Supz]

Its not really no tipping, more like no service.

[Yanks_Todd]

I'd like to see restaurants go "tipless" here, or something like they have in EU.

I get so irate with these morons who think they deserve to get $20 for opening a bottle of wine. 20% should NOT be the norm, but rather pay staff more so they are not as relent on tips.

I can't tell you how many times I've had shitty service, but yet you still "have to" tip. Money gets split up to much between to many people, so when the waiter/waitress does a shitty job, everyone pays.

I always get a laugh when I go to a fast food place or even Starbucks and they have a "tip" cup sitting out.

If you adjusted the entire industry to that model you would just end up paying 15%-20% more anyway. The margins in the restaurant biz are razor thin. Paying good staff, and restaurant people generally work hard and put up with a lot of BS, wouldn't be that cheap.

Maybe that is what you looking for though, just put the actual price on the menu and pay people well.

[mineistaken]

Its not really no tipping, more like no service.

More like self service. Sounds better

[NaughtyVisions]

Since OP says "testing no tip dining" it means that restaurant will pay FULL wage for those people. It would be impossible to pay $2.01/hour for no tip job.

I've actually never been in Chipotle, and I didn't read the article. I was going simply off of the quoted text, which mentioned changing how you pay, but nothing about wage changes.

I see the benefits if the wages were raised, but I also worry about the quality of service from servers. What pushes them to go that extra mile if they make the same money if the customer is happy or unhappy?

[blackmonsters]

A few years ago my brother won a gift card to this resort at his kid's school fundraising auction. The card is for two nights stay and $60 they can use in the resort restaurant, spa, gift shop etc.

He and his wife go and they decide to use part of it on lunch. The bill comes and it is $33. My brother gives the waiter the gift card and is expecting either change, or a gift card with the balance in return and he planned to tip with cash. The waiter comes back and leaves the receipt with them, but not money and no other card. My brother looks at the receipt and sees that the guy took the balance of the gift card ($27) as a tip. He gets up, finds the manager, and asks why this was (thinking maybe the card can only be used once or some strange limitation like that). The manager looks at the receipt, is confused and calls the waiter over. The waiter then explains that since it was a gift card he didn't think the person expected change and intended for him to have the balance as his tip. The manager was not very happy to hear him say that.

The manager made it good by giving them lunch for free and giving them the full gift card back. I wonder how many times that waiter had done that in the past and gotten away with it.

That waiter should have been fired. What he did is straight up theft.

[mineistaken]

I've actually never been in Chipotle, and I didn't read the article. I was going simply off of the quoted text, which mentioned changing how you pay, but nothing about wage changes.

Why would you even assume they would leave "yes tip" (eg. $2.01) salaries for "no tip" jobs? Not only it would not make sense, it also would not be legal

[blackmonsters]

Its not really no tipping, more like no service.

Based on the service I currently get in some places, that is just fine.

I would so love to go to a bar where we push a button and the drink is made and
we pay a machine because I'm sick of the smart-ass bartender type that talks shit to
you if you order a drink he doesn't want to make and is just a prick in general.

I have never seen a professional other then bartending where being a jackass prick was
a basic trait of the worker.

[pornguy]

I'd like to see restaurants go "tipless" here, or something like they have in EU.

I get so irate with these morons who think they deserve to get $20 for opening a bottle of wine. 20% should NOT be the norm, but rather pay staff more so they are not as relent on tips.

I can't tell you how many times I've had shitty service, but yet you still "have to" tip. Money gets split up to much between to many people, so when the waiter/waitress does a shitty job, everyone pays.

I always get a laugh when I go to a fast food place or even Starbucks and they have a "tip" cup sitting out.

funny thing is, I was just in Spain and the service at the places was sooooo fucking bad. No tip means shitty service.

We started telling the waiters. We tip give us good service and we will pay you more.

[NaughtyVisions]

Why would you even assume they would leave "yes tip" salaries for "no tip" jobs? Not that it does not make sense, it is not even legal : )

My original point was "how is it 'no tip dining" if they simply changed how/where you paid." Nothing about "yes tip salaries" for "no tip jobs."

[kane]

Waiters in the US make crazy amounts of money in tips and still cry all day long how they have to survive on tips.

It all depends on where you work. I was reading the other day about how many waitresses at Medieval Times can make $300-$400 a night in tips if they are good and play along with the crowd. So they are making pretty good money, but I have a friend that used to wait tables at Sheri's (a chain diner in the US for the those that don't know it). At the time minimum wage was around $4.25 per hour and he averaged about $6 per hour most nights and on busy/good nights a little more. So he made more than minimum, but he wasn't swimming in money.

Remember, most places make the waitresses give some of their tips to the bussers and cooks so if you give a waitress a $3 tips the odds are she is not going to keep all of that.

[brassmonkey]

Some GFY'ers will rejoice.



FULL STORY

if the servers want a tip give them a fortune cookie

[xNetworx]

Waiters in the US make crazy amounts of money in tips and still cry all day long how they have to survive on tips.

[NaughtyVisions]

It all depends on where you work. I was reading the other day about how many waitresses at Medieval Times can make $300-$400 a night in tips if they are good and play along with the crowd. So they are making pretty good money,

If you're going to be a server anywhere, that's the place to do it. All of your customers are lined up like an assembly line, you bring shit out to them essentially on a schedule, you have an extremely limited menu, and you probably have 25 "tables" at a time. It can't get much easier than that for a server. Plus you get a huge fucking section of people all to yourself. And you repeat this several times a night.

[brassmonkey]

Waiters in the US make crazy amounts of money in tips and still cry all day long how they have to survive on tips.

never thought we would agree. I know people that paid their car note in one nite off tips popular spot

[xNetworx]

never thought we would agree. I know people that paid their car note in one nite of tips popular spot

There are rockstars in almost any major profession. The vast majority of servers across the US don't make more than $25,000 / year. Only an idiot would think being a server is a high paying job across the board.

Tip the people who wait on you ya cheap dicks

[brassmonkey]

There are rockstars in almost any major profession. The vast majority of servers across the US don't make more than $25,000 / year. Only an idiot would think being a server is a high paying job across the board.

Tip the people who wait on you ya cheap dicks

or the owner pay a fair wage its total bullshit just like a monarchy tips are on the way out

[RebelR]

Since OP says "testing no tip dining" it means that restaurant will pay FULL wage for those people. It would be impossible to pay $2.01/hour for no tip job.

The crazy thing about this would be that the restaurant would build the cost of the employee's wages into the menu and the " tip" just becomes mandatory. Either way you pay. Now that waitress that fills your drink is in less of a hurry because she could care less what your dining experience was, so long as you don't complain

[xNetworx]

or the owner pay a fair wage its total bullshit just like a monarchy tips are on the way out

All that will happen then is the prices on the menu will go up. Either way, they win, you lose. If you don't want to tip your server, stay home and cook for yourself and deal with the mess you leave. People who don't tip are shit birds.

[tony286]

At Panera, they should put up a sign that says your mother doesnt work here pick up after yourself. It amazes me that people leave a fucking mess, when there are trash cans all over the place.

[bigluv]

Based on the service I currently get in some places, that is just fine.

I would so love to go to a bar where we push a button and the drink is made and
we pay a machine because I'm sick of the smart-ass bartender type that talks shit to
you if you order a drink he doesn't want to make and is just a prick in general.

I have never seen a professional other then bartending where being a jackass prick was
a basic trait of the worker.

Stop ordering shirley temple's, you'll be fine.

[bigluv]

The crazy thing about this would be that the restaurant would build the cost of the employee's wages into the menu and the " tip" just becomes mandatory. Either way you pay. Now that waitress that fills your drink is in less of a hurry because she could care less what your dining experience was, so long as you don't complain

This is idiotic. There's many industries that manage perfectly good service without the whole tipping angle involved at all.

Waiting is a shit job and the sooner it's always paid like one the better.

[brassmonkey]

All that will happen then is the prices on the menu will go up. Either way, they win, you lose. If you don't want to tip your server, stay home and cook for yourself and deal with the mess you leave. People who don't tip are shit birds.

i do most of my cooking thank god. fuck those ass holes. if my friends cood my food id break them off sum paper tho

[ErectMedia]

I'd rather have them go topless than tipless as I prefer full serve and have no problem tipping 25-50% on a regular basis.

One time I was at the grocery store and decided to try the self checkout lane at like 11-12 p.m. when the store was dead. 3 cashiers sitting on a bench talking watching me self checkout. Felt like saying get up bitch and do this shit. You can keep the manual labor if I wanted that I wouldn't be going out to eat.

[blackmonsters]

Stop ordering shirley temple's, you'll be fine.

I order whiskey and soda, that's it.
But it pricks me to see the bartender "prick out" on the other customers.

[brassmonkey]

I order whiskey and soda, that's it.
But it pricks me to see the bartender "prick out" on the other customers.

holla at me dogg link shit

[kane]

If you're going to be a server anywhere, that's the place to do it. All of your customers are lined up like an assembly line, you bring shit out to them essentially on a schedule, you have an extremely limited menu, and you probably have 25 "tables" at a time. It can't get much easier than that for a server. Plus you get a huge fucking section of people all to yourself. And you repeat this several times a night.

Not to mention that half your section will likely be drunk or feeling good and many of them are on vacation so they are more likely to tip higher.

The piece I read was actually an interview with one of the knights from there and he was talking about how most of the waitresses make more money than the knights. He said the ones that do the best are the ones that yell at the customers and really get into the role of being a bar wench from the medieval era.

[Lykos]

I love Red Lobster but no tip sucks...

[Barefootsies]

At Panera, they should put up a sign that says your mother doesnt work here pick up after yourself.