Steve Dublanica is the man behind the formerly anonymous service industry blog, Waiter Rant. And after going public to launch his books, he’s become a spokesman for service staff around the world.
With more than a decade of experience as a server, here’s everything he thinks you should know about tipping.
Verbal Tipping is Not an Acceptable Form of Tip
Waiters know the tip will be garbage when the customer tells them something like “you’re the best waiter I’ve ever had.” It’s as though the customer thinks the waiter will be okay with the crappy tip if you compliment them on their service. Really, it’s just easing the cheap customer’s guilt about that 7 per cent tip. The verbal tip is the first warning sign of a bad tipper.
Service Quality Does Not Effect the Amount a Customer Will Leave
Service has as much effect on tip as chance. How people tip is an internal process based on how they personally relate to money. A narcissist won’t tip well, someone who thinks money is something they don’t have enough of will tip poorly, those who feel money comes frequently and easily will tip higher.
Your relationship with money has more to do with how you tip than the quality of service ever will.
The Average Tip in America is 18%
We think 15 is average, but it’s actually a bit higher. Good job, healthy tippers.
Being a Good Customer Will Help You Reap the Rewards
A good customer tips well, treats servers with respect, and knows what they want. Once a waiter knows you to be a good customer, you can easily get a table on a booked evening. The waiter can push a bad customer’s reservation to let a good customer in last minute.
It’s Not Rocket Science to Build a Good Relationship With the Wait Staff
Find the restaurant you enjoy returning to and cultivate a relationship with a specific waiter. They will know your taste, know your order, and have your drink ready for you before you even sit down. It takes time (and many returns to the restaurant) to cultivate, just like building any other kind of relationship.
Waiters Learn Not to Get Mad About Poor Tips After Giving Great Service
To get the good tips you have to suffer through the bad tips. You can’t control how people tip, but you can control how much they spend – and a higher bill equals a higher tip.
Waiters Develop a List of Customers They Won’t Serve
If you’ve worked your way up at a restaurant long enough, you get to know the clientele, and some senior waiters will keep a list of customers they refuse to serve, and pass them on to new servers. Customers who are known as bad tippers, rude to wait staff, always complaining about the food or making unreasonable demands are the ones who make these lists.
The Customer is Not as in Control of the Experience as They Think They Are
At any time, the manager can ask you to leave. Demanding, rude customers will suffer this fate. People don’t like to be told where they can and can’t spend their money, but a restaurant has every right to ask you to leave if you’re behaving like an ass.
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