Posted on 11/26/2005 9:50:03 AM PST by smoothsailing
Bad tippers and bitter waitresses
By Jack Kemp (not the politician) Nov. 26, 2005
Once, years ago, I heard a heard a lecture by a rabbi on dating. He advised that if your date treats a waiter/waitress or a busboy in a condescending and mean manner, that is the way they will treat you after a while – if you were to marry them. Today's New York Post had an article about cheap celebrity tippers listed on the website www.bitterwaitress.com.
I went there to see how many well known political "champions of the little guy and gal" rated. I cross referenced the website with liberals from Bernard Goldberg's One Hundred People Screwing Up America.
........
Let's see. First up, Michael Moore, 3% tip.
Tipper's Name: Michael Moore (yes THAT Michael Moore)
Where it happened: Los Angeles
Total bill / Tip amount / Percentage: $452.25 / $17.74 / 3%
What happened:
OK I ran my ass off for this guy and his friends. Funny I didnt know this guy had friends, maybe they were kissups. 2.5 hours they spent shoveling food down their fat faces. Numerous refills. By the way MM is a pompous ass judging from his treatment of the staff.
............
Let's see again. Barbra Streisand, 2% tip.
Tipper's Name: Barbra Streisand
Where it happened: New York
Total bill / Tip amount / Percentage: $457.00 / $10.00 / 2%
What happened:
She demanded the best table, acting rude to everyone and then barely tipped.
..........
Next "champion of the people," Jessie Jackson 9% tip.
Tipper's Name: Jesse Jackson
Restaurant: Sam's
Where it happened: Kansas City
Total bill / Tip amount / Percentage: $228.00 / $22.00 / 9%
What happened: rude,arrogant,demanding and cheap
.........
Next up, Sen. John Kerry, 2% tip.
Tipper's Name: John F. Kerry
Where it happened: St. Louis
Total bill / Tip amount / Percentage: $773.24 / $20.00 / 2%
What happened:
Added $20.00 on the signature line and then scribbled a little note to vote for him. What a load of crap.
......
Kerry's former running mate, Sen. John Edwards, 2% tip.
Tipper's Name: John Edwards
Where it happened: Washington, D.C.
Total bill / Tip amount / Percentage: $746.25 / $13.75 / 1%
What happened:
This is the guy running for Vice President… Sat in our private section for 3 1/2 hours and left less than 2%. Jackass.
.........
Former VP Al Gore. 8% tip.
Tipper's Name: Former VP Al Gore
Where it happened: Alexandria, VA
Total bill / Tip amount / Percentage: $40.00 / $3.50 / 8%
What happened:
Al and Tipper Gore were regulars at the restaurant I used to work at. You'd think this would be cool, waiting on a former Vice President. And it would be, if not for the fact that Al Gore is cheap.
Last time they came in, Tipper actually spilled her beer on me (it's not smart to gesture wildly with a bottle of Corona on your table). She didn't apologize—he apologized for her. Still. Less than 10%. You'd think they'd know that the 'underclass' the Democrats claim to represent are people like waitresses in VA making $2.13 an hour. Guess not.
.........
Lastly, Sean Penn, 0% tip. Nada. Zip. Zero.
Tipper's Name: Sean Penn
Where it happened: New Orleans
Total bill / Tip amount / Percentage: $450.00 / $0.00 / 0%
What happened:
Sean Penn is in New Orleans filming & came into my restaurant with 3 other people. Waited on them hand and foot. The bill $450.00 – the tip: none. Cheapskate.
........
There you have it. The champions of "fairness" and "the little guy." Yes, President Bush and VP Cheney made the website as well. But who is claiming them as champions of the poor and oppressed victims, advocating extra government payments to make up for past suffering, etc.?
.............................
Thomas Lifson adds:
I have followed Bitter Waitress for years. It is well-known in the food and beverage industry, and at least at the upscale restaurants, it has a big following among the wait staff. When one of these bozos comes in, they usually will not treat them overtly rudely. But vengeance of another sort may sometimes occur. Let the diner beware.
Most people realize that watitrons (that's the non-sex-specific term favored theses days, believe it or not) are usually paid less than minimum wage, and that tips provide the margin of survival (to use leftist terminology) for them. To stiff a tip is to relegate someone to below minimum wage. This makes the behavior of these compassionate liberals all the more phony. Judge them by their deeds not their words.
I absolutely agree with Jack's rabbi that the best way to judge someone's character is to observe behavior with those who have no power or standing, and to do so in private in the case of celebrities and politicians. I have used this as a guide to friendships for almost my entire life, and it has proven highly reliable.
Interesting perspective from the referenced site:
WILL SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TIPPING TO CUSTOMERS!!!!
I have seen several customer compliants on this site about why they should tip according to the PRICE of the food.
OK, Let me break it down for you.
SERVERS DO NOT TAKE HOME THE WHOLE TIP YOU LEFT THEM!
Based on the SALES of the food, the server/bartender has to leave MANY other people tips too- and yes that comes out of the lousy tip you left. At my particular restaurant, i have to leave 5% of my sales to other people working with me- the bussers, the bartenders, the expo, the food runners.
SO that 15% tip you left me becomes a 10% tip in actuality.
THAT is why you tip based on the price of the food.
If you leave me 10% of a tip, I only get to take home 5% of that tip.
If you can't tip 20%, and you KNOW this- don't go out to eat! When you stiff your server, you are actually STEALING from them. Because no matter what kind of tip you leave, the server still has to tip out many other based on the price of the food you ate. And if you didn't tip- then it has to come out of the servers own pocket.
You can't blame everything on your server. Sometimes the kitchen is backed up and the food takes a while. There is NOTHING a server can do about this. Sometimes the Bar is over loaded and your drink takes forever. Believe me, the server is just as frustrated as you are! But we can't jump behind the bar or food rail and start making things ourselves! We have to wait just like you do- and we know that every minute that goes by our tip gets smaller and smaller. We are more concerned about your food and drinks than you are, believe me.
Our livelyhood depends on it.
Don't worry....there are some on this very thread.
But first, let me tell you about the Andy Griffith Table!
In the early '70s, I was working my way through college on the GI Bill and waiting tables at a Jolly Ox Restuarant in Virginia Beach, Va.It was a national chain and in most other states they were called Steak & Ale.
Well, anyway, in walks Andy Griffith at the end of our lunch rush. He's by himself and I spotted him immediately.
I asked if he wanted a meal and he said he had just come from the airport and wanted something light before driving down to his home near Manteo,N.C.
So I took him to a small "two-top" in a room that was kinda out of the way. He was as layed back as could be and thoroughly enjoyed his meal. He tipped me 4 bucks on a 15 buck check.
The fun part for me was when he told me just before he left that he appreciated the relative solitude I had provided and he wanted to know if he could ask for me if he came through town again.
I of course said yes, and over the the next two years I was his waiter on five occasions.He is just a regular guy, down to earth fellow. His celebrity and wealth are real, but so is he.
Truly he who would be greatest must become least.
You have a great attitude and encouraged me by sharing it.
Amen.
"But I wouldn't put it pasta man like Michael Moore"
That's using your noodle, Sherlock.
Use the total. I had a good friend in college who helped support herself by being a 'serving wench' at Steak and Ale. She worked dang hard, and I think about that when we're eating out. Of course, if the service is crappy, the tip reflects that. We leave just enough to make the point. ;o)
We are always nice to our waiter/servers, so it is a rare event when we don't get good service.
I always tip with cash. Never with a card. And if I have to, I throw on an extra buck, and note on the charge slip that the extra buck is so the waitron doesn't get shorted when he/she redeems his/her tips for the night.
In my perfect world.... Waiters make 40K/yr with benefits. Split tips. Sommier makes 50K. Head of the house, 80k. Dishwashers, 20K.
Very low turnover. Everyone learns everyone's style. Bottom line, it's a great place.....
Why has Trotter been the only one that's managed to do that and survive?
/john
It seems Martin's opened up right after the end of Prohibition - the story is that every successful Presidential candidate has eaten there since then.
This was the day we'd planned on using a trolley to get around to some outlying places including the National Cathedral and Arlington and Georgetown - did I mention I was still suffering from a major hangover? After the police cleared out a lib from the bar the drinks were on the house - but that's another story ...
Anyway we'd been to Ford's Theater and the National Cathedral - do not miss that - we got off in Georgetown to walk around. For some reason my tongue kept sticking to the roof of my mouth and seemed to have a texture similiar to #25 sandpaper so I suggested we get something to eat ... well this is boring - worse than a vacation slideshow at your neighbors ...
You want the short story? details later> Allright - jeez - tough crowd ...
Well strangely enough right there was a bar and the gals had just stepped into some froo froo shop - whatever that is - but I thanked the Lord and stepped into the dark welcoming doorway. "Quick - a Heineken and a menu!". "Yes sir." "Ahh! Thank you." Well you can imagine how long it took until my cell rang! "Where'd you go? We're hungry!" 3/5ths of my family are veggie types so I eyed their menu while I downed my beer knowing this wasn't it ... and then I remembered the trolley guy mentioned Martins's as a presidential hangout.
Naturally I said nothing. "Let's just see what we see ..."
"Hey Italian?" "Too expensive ..." "Fish? Yuck!" Dad: Alright dammit - here's where we're eating - at least where I'm eating!" Martin's. Hee Hee. Planning is key.
If you got this far I'll do you a favor - short and sweet. Great bar - 10 seats max. Each president had his favorite table. JFK up by the door. LBJ by the window. The Bushes, kinda in the middle with a big table. The rest - you'll have to ask.
It turns out we've been seated in the "Kerry" booth. His advance team had TOLD Martin's that this was the booth that they'd want when Kerry showed up. If there was someone there at the time they were to be "comp'd" and moved to another table - no exceptions!
The food was marvelous, service excellent. We had to draw the story out of our waitress but it turns out Kerry's people regularly called making sure "their" table was ready but never showed up. President Bush and his family did. Guess who won the election? Next time we'll ask to sit at President Bush's table! And believe me our waitress was well tipped!:-)
Do not miss this place when in Georgetown!
*Waitrons know about Fort Marcy Park
You gotta stop going to those bars in Mexico where the senoritas squeeze the orange juice with their feet on your naked body.
Oh, we want to hear about it!
My mom's friend's daughter waited on Bill Clinton in San Fran. She was a young, good looking italian girl and very well built. She eventually had a reduction, she was that big. Anyway, Billy ogled her the whole night she waited on him to the point that she got mad by the end. She was glad he never tried to shake her hand, but since she was a good republican girl, she was prepared to refuse to!!
You been there too? :-)
Otherwise, we would have all gotten stiffed! :)
The Ruby Red Grapefruit required me to consider a second mortgage.
Around 10% isn't that bad. O% is.
LOL!!!!
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