Barstaff Rant

[Delts]

I agree with OP's comments and would like to add my own as a waitress AND bar maid (lucky me):

I know you're a student and want your wee cheapy lunch but when I see you pay for a glass of tap water and a burger with a £20 note AND you don't leave a tip even though it's quite obvious I'm also an impoverished student (hence the part time job) it's just plain rude.

I know tips are optional but it's really just common courtesy, especially if I have to run around like an arse because you can;t ask for ketchup, mayo and vinegar in one go, prompting me to make 3 trips to your table. If you can't follow restaurant etiquette, eat at home - it's even cheaper, you tight-arse.

Nope. I disagree there. Just because all you have is a £20 you shouldn't feel obliged to tip. And I personally only tip when I feel that the service deserved it. You're right, it is optional, thus it isn't common courtesy to actually tip. It's nice but that's it. You're paid to do a job, people are paying for the service you provide, and yet you are being greedy and expecting even more of them. If I ever get tipped (for whatever job) I look on it as a bonus, not as something that I deserved to get.

[munchingfoo]

I agree with Delts. Expecting a tip in the UK is the only rude thing about what you have said. Asking a waitress to wait on you is hardly rude now, is it? You are being paid at least minimum wage by your employer. Just think of all the other minimum wage jobs that are a lot tougher than waitressing that no one would even think of tipping for! To expect a tip is just plain greed in the UK and to make it known that you expect one will always ensure that I don't leave one.

If tipping in the UK becomes semi-compulsory like it is in the US then all that will happen will be that waitresses will get paid peanuts, like in the US, with the expectation that tips will bring up their monies. The only person who benefits from a system like this is the restaurant owner. As Delts says, you would get the nice feeling of having a little "bonus" when you're finished.

Restaurant Rant: Places that add a 10% voluntary tip onto your bill should be closed down (Zizzis and Ziggis - you know who you are). One of the reasons I tip is so that I can leave a whole number of pounds on the table. Sometimes this might be slightly more, and other times slightly less, than 10%. I don't need a cretinous bar manager telling me how much I should pay in tips, with the expectation that I'll probably just round it up to the nearest pound anyway!

[Anon.]

'But what do I know? I'm a bear; I suck the heads off fish.'

How did Harry get his finger back at the end?

[beeny]

I didn't say I expected 10%, just even some recognition would be nice. Personally I always tip a waitress : 10%+ for excellent service, maybe slightly less for poor service and 10% for adequate. And that was befor I started working...

Not to mention I tip taxi drivers and hairdressers - other minimum wage jobs. It's just courteous.

And no I'm not being greedy, just biblical - 'treat others as you would be treated'. And i'm not even religious, I think it's just a nice thing to do.

[Delts]

I didn't say I expected 10%, just even some recognition would be nice. Personally I always tip a waitress : 10%+ for excellent service, maybe slightly less for poor service and 10% for adequate. And that was befor I started working...

Not to mention I tip taxi drivers and hairdressers - other minimum wage jobs. It's just courteous.

And no I'm not being greedy, just biblical - 'treat others as you would be treated'. And i'm not even religious, I think it's just a nice thing to do.

Well good for you for tipping, but you are using that bible quote in reverse. You are just being greedy. And I hardly think you tip minimum wage jobs. I never get tipped for collecting glasses in the union. Should I start expecting a tip from you for that? And hairdressing isn't minimum wage. Have you seen the cars most drive!?

You earn tips, you don't just deserve them for doing the job you are paid to do anyway.

[beeny]

Should have known I'd be flamed and people would not take my little religious mockery as the joke it was....
I'm only annoyed because these people clearly have money (you don't eat out if you can't afford to), often look down their noses at me (yes, I can tell, it's not paranoia) and I was always brought up to leave some *small* tip as appreciation for the service they provided.
Apologies for upsetting people who don't like tipping, or think I'm greedy, I guess my parents just raised me as kinder than yours did.... (oh, and that's a joke too. I'll spell them out in future to make it easier for you.)

[beeny]

Oh and delts, I'd gladly tip glass collectors if some receptacle were provided in the Union. It's not a job I envy, or that I imagine most would pick to do, particularly on a Friday night in the Union main bar.

[munchingfoo]

Barstaff and glass collectors in the union really could do with being paid more, their isn't one I envy and I have worked in many bars. Perhaps the union could trial a "fairtrade pint" scheme where pints, on request, could cost 10p extra with all the money going to a bonus for barstaff and managers?

I actually really like that idea... If it happens - I will only buy fairtrade.

[househunter]

I don't subscribe to what I've heard about tips in America, something like 10% for poor service, 15% for adequate and 20% for good service. How about fuck all for shit service? And if you run out of the restaurant asking why (which I've heard happens in the US) you'll get a kick in the dick or cunt depending on your equipment.

[zipporah]

But the American system is completely different ... I've seen my friend's paycheques, she works at a nice restaurant in the US during the holidays and will come out with $14 after taxes at the end of the week. With waitstaff earning something like $3/hour, you *need* to tip in the US; you should factor a tip into the cost of your meal before you go or you're screwing them over.

My friend makes a good wage because she's a good waitress and earns her tips - but if tables don't tip for no reason, she's spent her shift working for a pittance.

I don't drink beer/lager/etc., so excuse my stupidity - why shouldn't you order Guinness at the end?

[Fawksie]

I don't drink beer/lager/etc., so excuse my stupidity - why shouldn't you order Guinness at the end?

Guinness requires a long two-part pour, if done properly.

[househunter]

I don't care if your tips top up your wage in the US, if you give shit service expect no tip.

Also I don't see why it should be a percentage of the final price, it has nothing to do with the waiter whether I get the sirloin steak instead of a bowl of soup.

[SpidersfromMars]

This reluctance to give a decent tip is something I find incredibly frustrating. I've never worked as a waiter or any other job where I would be in the position to receive tips, and I would never say that tipping should be a requirement or that there's a fixed amount / percent that people should give but it is a common courtesy and should be treated as such. Is it really so bad to hand over a few extra pounds at the end of the meal even if the waiter didn't kiss your ass every time they re-filled your water? Really if your going out to eat you're accepting the fact that your going to be spending extra money for the privilege of having your food cooked for you and served to you and I don't think that an extra 10% on the top is going to launch you into the poor house. Anyway my point is that complaining about being expected to show a little human decency is really fucking annoying.

[Thackary]

If you're going to eat out, you do expect to have your food cooked for you, and served to you. This is what you pay for when you accept the prices offered by the restaurant.

10% is a guideline figure. You can choose to tip as much or as little as you want, or feel you can afford.

[Unreg Bob]

Personally I disagree with most of your comments in reference to a 'busy' bar. Having worked in a constantly busy nightclub myself you have to try to chillax and take advantage of the stupid nature of the customers.

1. If you have been served at a bar, move the fuck away from the bar, especially if there are people behind you wanting a drink. I don't mind people leaning on the bar when the place is dead, but show some courtesy to your fellow drinkers.

Stand at the bar all you want. It blocks off a large section of the bar so that there are fewer customers for me to serve. Customers will move to another bar (or another section of same bar) to be served quicker because it looks like there's a long queue. Win for me

2. If you havent reached the bar yet, shouting "3 pints of tennents" over the shoulders of three guys at the bar waiting to be served is just plain rude.

This means the music in your bar is too quiet - Turn it up and customers cant do this Pretend you cant hear them if you must, or why pretend, just don't serve them or tell them you wont serve them again if they do this.

3. Standing at the bar and ordering ten drinks, one after the other as each one is prepared, makes you look like an unforgivable twat. If you have a large order just say it in nice 3 drink divisions to give the barstaff time to calculate and make you look less selfish.

Take as long as you want customers - If the next customer is annoyed I can just tell blame the wait on the previous customer and therefore take none of the blame myself. (this is achieved my rolling eyes at the next customer whilst serving) It allows me to work slower without getting accused of being lazy. Such large orders allow me to practice my arithmetic - I guess i'm sad.

4. Have your money ready if the place is busy. Counting out coppers on a bar which is heaving is so fucking arrogant it makes me want to slap you.

I've never thought counting coppers is arrogant, stupid maybe. As bar staff this is amazing stand around and do nothing time.

6. Never, fucking ever, say "Surprise Me", as if I will then go and make you the best drink ever just because you're so awesome. Equally if you do say "Surprise Me", don't expect I'm going to make you something cheap, in all probability I'll make you something with a nice round number, as it eases the mental arithmetic I have to do with all the drink you've ordered, most of which you'll probably see again at some point during the night

Now you're just being mean and boring. This is an excuse to chat to people and have a laugh.

[munchingfoo]

Topic Split to viewtopic.php?f=2&t=28289

[Delts]

I agree totally with you there. All very good points. And if anyone ever says surprise me then they get chartreuse

And with regards to beeny, why is the barstaff and/or glass collector themselves not an appropriate receptacle? None of us bite and my night would be made if someone stopped me to give me a tip! It'd make a nice change to the random drunk girls taken photos of me whilst I'm not expecting it and blinding me for the next few minutes!

Also, if people ever have an overly long wait at a bar then it's a good thing, the bar must be good! Of course the union gets stupidly busy on Tuesdays and Fridays but if your smart then it's easy to get served on a Tuesday when the lull kicks in thanks to multicolour rules with the free wristband. Also, drinking on other nights helps!

[1BKAFCYY]

1. If you have been served at a bar, move the fuck away from the bar, especially if there are people behind you wanting a drink. I don't mind people leaning on the bar when the place is dead, but show some courtesy to your fellow drinkers.

Stand at the bar all you want. It blocks off a large section of the bar so that there are fewer customers for me to serve. Customers will move to another bar (or another section of same bar) to be served quicker because it looks like there's a long queue. Win for me

Under the unions license you are not allowed to drink at the bar, hence why we have the notice that once you have been served to move away from the bar.

[Abserdman]

Oh and delts, I'd gladly tip glass collectors if some receptacle were provided in the Union. It's not a job I envy, or that I imagine most would pick to do, particularly on a Friday night in the Union main bar.

Leave it on the tables! I often pick up any money left on the tables and put it in my pocket. I also collect the pennies I find in the bottom of pint galasses and in front of the bar at the end of the night, you'd be amazed at how much it adds up!

[Fawksie]

Under the unions license you are not allowed to drink at the bar, hence why we have the notice that once you have been served to move away from the bar.

What kind of absurd nonsense is that? Did you just make that up, or have you actually read the licence?