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Archive through June 11, 2008

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Apr. 2008 ~ June 2008: Paying in a restaurant: ARCHIVES: Archive through June 11, 2008 users admin

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Biscottiii
Member

05-29-2004

Monday, June 09, 2008 - 5:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Biscottiii a private message Print Post    
I'm a horseradish freak, I like the REAL stuff (but wouldn't do all the salt in that lovely looking sandwich but I'm seriously hungry just looking at it!). Years ago I took my Sis to our yearly Union PAC event. We paid so much and it was all the shrimp (w/salad) you could eat. I had done it before a few times but the seafood sauce was bland. So, this time I'm taking newby Sis (who has never done this) and told her that 'I've got us covered, I'm bringing my little tub of horseradish to give that sauce a little kick start'.

Well, we get our shrimp, spiced up our cocktail sauce. How NICE that Sis made friends with the lady next to her (after I had been worrying that she wouldn't know anybody while I quacked with my Shop Steward buds). Next thing I realize is that lady she's chatting with is the head of the Pike Place Market Association. NEXT thing I realize is that my little tupperware of horseradish is now moving ALL AROUND THE TABLE and they're all looking happy. Then, I'm realizing Holy-HorseRadish! They're all the HEADS of City of Seattle Government this tupperware is making it's way up & down, around the very long table!

And I'm thinking, Dang! How WELL did I wash that tupperware? Yes, I washed it, but how well did I wash it?

Sis had a great time, I was doing the freaking that we've been hobnobbing with all the head honchos. Thank heavens, E-Coli or such stuff wasn't yet invented.

& No, we didn't have to tip. But all the talk about horseradish just brought up some memories.

Sharinia
Member

09-07-2002

Monday, June 09, 2008 - 7:08 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sharinia a private message Print Post    
uh oh....are you supposed to tip your cleaning lady?? We have had one for 7-8 yrs, she comes weekly (got her bcuz of my health issues, and then kept her). She has it good with us because she doesn't have to buy any supplies--unlike with her other clients--I provide my special 'green' cleaners :-)

I googled this & read somewhere that ppl 'tip' on xmas. We give her $100 each xmas. (this is roughly double of what we pay weekly...tho rates just went up again, and will be $57 starting in July)


Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Monday, June 09, 2008 - 7:13 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
I know what you mean. I have no problem deciding how much to tip when eating out but I get confused over these other services like cleaning or movers or something like that. Do you tip the guys who move your furniture? How much?

Sharinia
Member

09-07-2002

Monday, June 09, 2008 - 7:26 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sharinia a private message Print Post    
Good question Jimmer. Not sure what dh does...he has always handled that :-)

Also, what about seasonal lawn care and snow removal contracts? We don't even 'see' them often when they are doing the work, and don't know when they will be here. If we wanted to tip, we would have to run out there sometime when we catch them and give them a wad of cash, or give it to the company and hope that it gets to them. I think that different guys may be doing the job, too, depending on the wk.


Biloxibelle
Member

12-21-2001

Monday, June 09, 2008 - 7:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Biloxibelle a private message Print Post    
Horseradish is great if you know it is coming. We stopped one night at a casino sandwich shop and SIL ordered a sandwich. The man behind the counter asked if she wanted 'hot mustard' she said yes, thinking it would Dijon or something. Well, his idea of 'hot mustard' was horseradish, lots of horseradish. She took one bite and turned bright red, nose started pouring. I thought she was going to keel over right there.

Back to tipping. I think it would be wonderful if it was somehow incorporated into the cost of the meal. Then if the customer wanted to tip above and beyond for service that would be great. Win, win for everyone. Servers would no longer be dealing with the tipping crap shoot and customers would know up front what they are paying for.

Now, has anyone insulted a server by leaving them a tip? I have. It was a friend of mine. She worked across from where I worked at the time. I went over for lunch and she waited on me, pointed out her station to me so I would sit there. I ate, I chatted with her, I paid and I left a tip. After her shift she came over to my work almost in tears, saying I insulted her by leaving her money. She said friends don't do that. Is that some unwritten rule I didn't know about? It made it very uncomfortable from there on out. I only went over there a few more times for lunch after that and was always very uncomfortable not leaving a tip.

Biloxibelle
Member

12-21-2001

Monday, June 09, 2008 - 7:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Biloxibelle a private message Print Post    
Jimmer, I have never had furniture delivered. I married that guy with a "pick-up truck", lol. But, my cousin worked for a furniture store in Cincinnati and her husband worked deliveries. I know he made very good money on his tips.

Sharinia
Member

09-07-2002

Monday, June 09, 2008 - 8:11 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sharinia a private message Print Post    
Biloxibelle I tipped my hubby, lol, when we were first dating. My sis & I came in to pay him a visit. He wasn't insulted (that I know of or he got over it and married me). If its bad form, that's news to me.

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Monday, June 09, 2008 - 8:50 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Biloxibelle, I've never heard of that "rule" if it is. If I were in that position, I wouldn't know what to do the first time either -- leave a tip or not. You didn't know what to do or didn't think anything of leaving a tip. Your friend should have understood the quandary you were in. Neither of you should have felt uncomfortable about it. Matter was settled before your second lunch there. I would have continued to eat there occasionally and kept the meal small and quick and thought nothing of it.

Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Monday, June 09, 2008 - 10:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serate a private message Print Post    
Only time we had movers was last year and hubby's company paid for it. In the relocation paperwork it stated in bold DO NOT TIP THE MOVERS as we [hubby's company] are paying the company and have included the tip. When the guy from the moving company came out in the paperwork that was handed to us it stated that on relocation programs the company includes the gratuity for the movers so do not tip them. Movers never said anything about tips when they packed us up, but when they unloaded there were a few hints thrown at us. We provided drinks [asked what each one liked and went and got 2 of each] and when we were signing the paperwork there was another hint for a tip. Hubby just told them that we were told by his company and the moving company not to tip.

After we were done unpacking, and the adjuster was here to look at all the complaints, I'm so glad we didn't tip. And we did find out later that the company only gave them about 10% of the expected tip due to the survey we filled out. Let's just say I pity the movers when hubby gets transferred again. I'll be watching them like a hawk.

Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Monday, June 09, 2008 - 10:37 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serate a private message Print Post    
Biloxibelle heck when I was served by friends I give a HUGE tip. Tho most places where my friends worked they were not allowed to serve friends.

Holly
Member

07-22-2001

Monday, June 09, 2008 - 11:23 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Holly a private message Print Post    
Me too, Serate. I double or triple the tip if I know (and like) the person serving me.

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Monday, June 09, 2008 - 11:43 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eeyoreslament a private message Print Post    
OMG, what happened while I was gone for one day!?!

Will be back with an epic response to the 4 pages of posts I missed!

Konamouse
Member

07-16-2001

Monday, June 09, 2008 - 7:23 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Konamouse a private message Print Post    
For weekly or monthly services, regular hair stylist/manicurist/massage therapist, etc. 2 x regular pay is considered appropriate for the xmas "present/tip/bonus".

More tipping guidelines:http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php
http://www.emilypost.com/everyday/tips_on_tipping.htm
http://people.howstuffworks.com/tipping.htm

Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 2:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
On the aol home page I saw a link today about celebrities and tipping and they reported that the Beckhams had been comped an expensive mean and tipped zero.. but that Ryan Seacrest is a GREAT tipper!

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 2:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
I was at Applebees this weekend and the waitstaff there was horrid. We saw our waitress once. All the while there is some sort of drama going on and one waitress said (near us) that she was stealing a table of young guys from the other waiter because the other waiter was and I quote "A douchebag" and she wanted the big tip. She told this to the manager who was standing there with her! OMG what a toxic person to work with. Also at this same time another girl was grabbing her cell phone between waiting on tables and going into the bathroom to text her friends. She wasn't even on break, just in and out of the restroom every few minutes. We left a 10% tip, because we never got refills and could not get the manager to even notice us with all his little "girly" drama that was going on.

Holly
Member

07-22-2001

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 3:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Holly a private message Print Post    
Probably coz the Beckhams are English--they don't tip over there and they probably thought nothing about it.

Karen
Member

09-07-2004

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 3:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karen a private message Print Post    
I don't really want to get involved in this conversation... but my guy delivers furniture for a very swanky high-end furniture company here in town. He's inside multi-million dollar homes every day, moving and assembling huge sleigh beds, sectional sofas, marble mirror frames, etc. He's paid $15/hr and almost NOBODY tips him for the work he does, because they look at it on the big picture - that they're paying the moving company $100/hr.

He's actually come home with 2 Crispy Crunch chocolate bars that a customer gave as a "tip". That's almost insulting... akin to leaving pennies on the table for your server. Why bother?

Bottom line of my rant, I suppose - furniture guys deserve tips, too.

Denecee
Member

09-05-2002

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 3:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Denecee a private message Print Post    
Escapee, I would have tipped a doller for that visit.

Biscottiii
Member

05-29-2004

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 12:32 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Biscottiii a private message Print Post    
Good Grief Karen! When I moved 10 yrs ago, I took bids from around 3 moving companies. Unbelievable what they were charging - $1800 to $2100+tax approx to move TWO BLOCKS, furniture only. Two bedroom apt on the 2nd floor with steep stairs, over to a 2 story house where much of it would be placed on the ground floor. Admitted, I did have a lot of furniture between my own stuff & the stuff inherited when my friend passed away.

When my friend at work heard that, she told me to call "All My Sons" moving company. They just told me over the phone it might be around $400 CASH - that the guys would tell me the cost when they got there. Okay, since friend had recommended, I went with it.

I called back and asked the dispatcher, what about a tip? What's customary. He told me it was okay to tip, go by how I felt it was worth. He then suggested that something also helpful would be to pick up some sandwiches & cold pop, because they're burning a lot of carbs & it's hard work. Made sense, I went out the night before and picked up a bunch of decadent sandwiches (jeepers, I so miss Larry's Markets these days) for around $20.

Okay, so they got there. Older, tall but kind of skinny black guy and his partner who was a young but BIG football player size guy, and one huge truck. The older gentleman walked thru the place and said $425 needed, it should take them 4 hrs. I had 5 crisp $100 bills. But he said no, he didn't have change and he was required to turn cash straight over to the company (neither did I, all I had was more $100 bills!)

So, I told them "well, I expected to tip you anyways, so here's your $75 tip up front. BUT, I'm warning you that if it takes longer than the 4 hours you're just going to have to wait for me to run to the bank. Cause that's all the change I've got."

WOW! What a whirlwind, that older guy was hauling stuff as hard as the young guy. Older guy was strapping & tying & covering w/blankets everything down like it was some long haul trip, rather than a mere 2 BLOCKS! They wouldn't stop to eat the sandwiches, just had a couple of sodas. They finished that job - RIGHT ON THE DOT & to the minute. And were laughing as they hauled out the bag of sandwiches while they drove away. I heard the young guy say "I never got a $37.50 tip before!"

Now, maybe it seemed like a bigger tip than I might have gotten away with. BUT, other than one small scratch in the wall trying to haul a heavy couch up a wanky L-shaped staircase, absolutely nothing was damaged - nothing! Plus, the whole move was just a fraction of the prices quoted elsewhere, so I came out quite well I figure (make a point of recommending their company to friends ever since). Seemed money well spent, after hearing other peoples' horror stories!

But to give them a couple of crummy candy bars - that would have been downright insulting. That's HARD work!

Biscottiii
Member

05-29-2004

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 1:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Biscottiii a private message Print Post    
BTW, I also sent about 2 cases of soda with them. I'm not much of a pop drinker myself. Kept the rest of the bottled water, though.

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 11:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
If a waitress called another staff member a 'douchebag' where your children could hear, would you complain to the corporate office?

Scooterrific
Member

07-08-2005

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 11:58 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Scooterrific a private message Print Post    
Depends....was she? Ok ok ok...yes, probably.

Kookliebird
Member

08-04-2005

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 12:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kookliebird a private message Print Post    
See Scoot, I was thinking... do the kids know what a 'douchebag' is? They may think it's a fancy purse or something.

I would probably complain to the Manager at the store first to see his reaction. If they did not appear to be appalled about it or tell you they would take steps to correct immediately, then I might let the Corporate office know.

Applebee's has gone through some reorg. I believe they have a new CEO who is trying to turn the company around. So, they may want to hear about the negative issues with the restaurant so they can address them throughout the chain.

Hukdonreality
Member

09-29-2003

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 12:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hukdonreality a private message Print Post    
<<...do the kids know what a 'douchebag' is? They may think it's a fancy purse or something>>

That is one of the funniest things I've ever read in the clubhouse!!! Thanks so much for that, Kookie

Scooterrific
Member

07-08-2005

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 12:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Scooterrific a private message Print Post    
Purses and Bags designed by reknowned French Designer Pepe Le' Douche