The customer is not required to be understanding of your economic situation or on the pricing of product. If you need to add that to the bill by increasing the price of food, then do it. Then make sure your customer enjoyed themselves and they'll walk out without a complaint.
I am German, living in one of the largest and most expansive cities here. For a single person, you are around 15-25€ for your standard German restaurant / Burger / Pizzaplace. This is already for food and drink. For more fancy food, it's about 25-50€ per person (again with drinks included). For really fancy stuff like multiple curses and such that a "normal" person would go to, 50-150+€ per person (again with drinks included). Yes, we also tip, but it is not part of the wage. Usually people tip everything in between 2-10€ or just round up to the next "nice" number, like if you are at 94€ here are 100€, and we say "stimmt so" (meaning take the difference as tip). So I honestly can't see the argument that "everything in Europe is more expansive", when a Sandwich in your area is already around 15-20$. So for me as an outsider, it looks like the US is more expansive and still pays worse. And our taxes and income taxes are way higher than yours. That's why from an EU point of view, the "tipping is part of the wage" is just crazy and.
Right it makes no sense at all. "The same people complain if you add a service charge", like they don't get it. No one wants to pay for the privilege of setting foot in the establishment. Make the items cost what they cost, decent wages included. Explicitly state at the door that tipping is not expected and that all employees make good money, since their tipping culture is so messed up. Problem solved. The only thing I can think of that would make it make sense is if the employer/employees don't have to pay tax on the tips, as if it's a gift, I don't know if that's the case. Still messed up. And yeah, Sweden here, about the same costs to eat out. Place right by my house charges 15€ for a steak and a beer, granted, that's cheap. Their prices are outrageous, and the idea that I as a customer have to be guilt tripped into paying "extra" so that (part) of their staff can make a living is extremely disturbing. A service fee would just feel offensive as well, like I'm paying for the privilege to be there. That the idea of just pricing each item on the menu at a level where the business will make a profit is so hard for them to grasp, is flabbergasting to me.
Sure, but how much are they making about 24k a year? Or has your minimum wage gone up much past 12 an hour. That may be a livable wage, but its scraping by.
I totaly agree with your prices and that the most people round up. But there is a percentage that you should tip, but many germans don't know it. My kitchen sergeant in the german army, his family owned a Restaurant, told me in 2002 that the typical tip in germany should be 12-15%. Most of the time i tip 10% just because it is easy to calculate. If the Service is bad, for whatever reason, i don't tip. But that was learned over the years, most of the time i feel like people tip regardles of the quality, just based on social expectations.
@@Selgald I didn't say other wise and also applies this only to the time when minimum wage was introduced. I know many people in the 00er years, that worked for less than 6 Euro/hour. Not only in restaurants, but also in discounter etc. Edit: But of course you are right.
You shouldn't tip for service, but you should tip for exceptional service. Tipping as an action isn't the issue, but the expectation for tips as a normality leaves a bad taste in the mouth of consumers. In many other industries, giving someone money for preferential treatment is considered a bribe.
someone who is indirectly involved in the restaurant business, customers who don't have realistic expectations for service, because I tolerate with a lot (not everything) and actually I have been rewarded by it by the management and staff wanting to make up for it when they are professional and appreciate good service and constructive criticism
If your employees don’t make minimum wage without tips it’s the companies duty to cover the rest. So yes abolish this tipping precedent, it was originally meant as extra to show appreciation not to be expected for working an entry level job into your 30’s +
When the subject of USA tipping culture comes up it always reminds me of the opening of Reservoir Dogs. ‘What about the staff at McDonalds? They’re serving you food but you don’t feel the need to tip them’.
If I give you great service, then that is what a tip is for. It is not guaranteed, and no one should feel obligated to tip. But I don't want guests to pay for my work. I want the owner who is going on vacation every few months to pay for the work I do for them
When it comes to reviews, I always look for common threads for issues or complements. Whether it is an item or a business. Looking for the pattern is a lot more telling.
I think one of the things to consider is that yes, legally a hired tipped worker will be paid that rate, but a lot of restaurants I know hire undocumented workers that they pay under the table, and thus usually not minimum wage
Hello again from my second account (to give creators who deserve it the views and likes :D) I love your podcast, because I have been working as a waitress most of my life and I have always LOVED it... I'm from Europe, so it's very interesting for me to see how things are working in the US...I'd love to give you a comparison of what you said, to Austria to Spain... but that would be a long comment... thank you for giving the business information behind the tipping culture in America, as I never really understood how it works... :)
Omg Fenchy came out singing Besame Mucho and it took my back to my childhood. When I would be at my grandparents house and they would sing that song together. I miss them dearly. ❤❤❤❤ Thank you Frenchy!!
Fattheads Unite!!🎉🎉 Good mornin all, did ya miss me? We surely missed you guys.. Its another amazing day with the boys, thanks for all your hard work and dedication Jordan!!😊
You can't tell me that it's 18-20%. I worked in a low income area where waitstaff still made more money than sous chefs on average and the exceptional ones made more than half the kitchen staff combined due to tips. Hell for the most part they made more than bartenders more often than not. I know waitresses that refused salary kitchen jobs because they made more money as a waitress. So when someone tells me that it's just what it costs, I think it's only what it costs because we are fools enough to pay it.
This is what back of the house always says, with absolutely no evidence. Getting rid of tipping and paying the waitstaff a salary makes sense, but don't try to make the front of house seem greedy and overpaid. For every server making bank on any given night, there are 10 not even making minimum wage...
@@badelementofstyle5238 Having worked both front and back of house, the problems are different, but back of house is without a doubt more physically demanding. I've personally watched several front of house people try to get into a back of house position because "It's so hard dealing with whiny customers" and leave a prep or cooking shift completely broken. I also would express some serious doubt on your one in 10 servers making good money. If they aren't making good money it's because either they or the kitchen staff are bad at their jobs, and I guarantee most (if not all) of them are making minimum wage because that's the law. Anyone willing to risk breaking that by not paying their workers at least minimum is just begging to pay out a heck of a lot more than minimum wage in legally enforced compensation on top of a bunch of fines. I also want to stress that your numbers for how much servers make is grossly underestimated because most tips are in cash and go unreported. I think the last estimate I saw was something like $11 Billion in unreported and untaxed tips per year, and that was in 1996. There are an awful lot of transactions that can't be tracked and recorded on salary estimates.
I used to work for bostons sports bar, same family came in every week for buy 1 get 1 large pizzas. They would order this most horrific shit and complain EVERYTIME no matter how perfect you made the food just to get the whole meal free. I asked my boss why he never told them to fuck off and he told me "well I don't want a bad review" always pissed me off
I’m personally okay with the restaurant rolling in the service to the price of the food. Just don’t advertise that it’s a separate charge on the bill. Incorporate it into the price of the food. But I understand owning your business is not easy! So I respect both of you!
Here in Minneapolis minimum wage is $15/hr. a lot of places are adding 20% for health and wellness to the check mandatory, plus tips and taxes etc. At the end of the day it's almost too expensive to go out. Service has also tanked. When I was in the UK my servers refused tips and I didn't think the costs were outrageous. So they must be doing something right there. I don;t know what the solution is, but $30 for a burger and fries seems a bit steep.
I live in Norway, that is regarded as one of the most expensive countries in the world and we don't pay $30 for a burger and fries unless it is some sort of "posh" burger restaurant or a more expensive restaurant in general. Or if you order a really big double/triple burger with all sorts of extra stuff on, much fries and a bottle of coke at a more typical burger place, Then you might reach $30. But you never pay tip, unless you really want to in a restaurant if you think the service have been excellent, and everything is included in the price. No service charge, no tip and no taxes charged extra. At a typical burger place, you NEVER pay tip.
In Germany it is usually around 10% , but not everyone tips and there are some that don't appreciate to be tipped, many restaurants split the tips to every employee worked that day. And every employee has to pay income taxes above maybe 80€ that month.
well living in germany I can tell you the same tipping culture doesnt exists here. its something you do if you were happy with the service with the food and everything else, if im not happy with the food im not gonna tipp hell no
There is a restaurant near me that includes your tip in the final price and does not tell you so if you leave a tip without reading the receipt you paid extra.
Coming from a European perspective here. I'll tip to the next round number (may add a bit extra if the service is actually worth it). If you don't get a tip at all, it either means I'm tight (far less common this last decade) or that the service irked me in some way. If you can't afford to pay people properly, you shouldn't run a business with employees.
Tipping is trash, even with knowledge of everything involved. Seeing it baked into the terminals at fast food places, when doing takeout (why the hell am I tipping on top of the order cost when I had to get my ass there for a five second interaction?), bubble tea stores, and ice cream shops is cancerous BS. The difference between a tip and a bribe (which was used for comparison here) is that for some reason, a tip is now an expectation for a modicum of service and no spit in the meal if you go back rather than to get exceptional service. Also, tips used to start under 10% on the terminals and now it's 15% minimum. We'll eventually get to a 50% tip minimum on the terminals with no "No Tip" option at this rate.
Frenchy has a higher pitch when he speaks french 😅 Oui, totalement d'accord pour un épisode entièrement en français !!! It'll be fun ! Tipping system is so complex ! Thanks for all the explanation and what it's all about
In regards to tips @Brian, I don't think it's so much a matter of expecting it as the sense of entitlement and that entitlement fostering an attitude problem for some.
One place I used to go to a few times a week, I'd generally tip about 10ish%. The owners and staff were friends of mine, and I'd also bring in a lot of people as well, so it'd add up over time. A few weeks after they opened, they started doing staff meals on Sunday after close. If they just didn't want to cook that day, they gave me the kitchen to use up the 'leftovers' from the week, so my 'other' tip to them was cooking for them about once a month AND using up ingredients that would have to be tossed out...
I'd rather leave a cash tip so the servers can stiff it to the government instead of that 20% really being 8% to the worker after the man takes his cut. Why I always carry cash.
I don’t think anyones asking for tipping to go away, they just want a business to be able to run without tipping. If it comes at an increase to the cost it only affects people who didn’t tip. It would just give more transparency to customers and if people don’t like that they weren’t going to tip for good service anyway.
I don't think every single business should be asking for tip. Like where i live, jobs which include tips get 80% of the minimum wage as a base wage and tips on top. So you would be expected to pay tip in restaurant with services and more or less tip depending on the quality of the service but... do you think fast food should require tip ? or that any business should ask for tip even outside of the food industry ? Problem right now is that way too many businesses are riding the blurred line about tipping and it's causing a backlash.
I'm asking for tipping to go away. People shouldn't value their self worth based on "rewards" for doing their job. It's just too much for people to be essentially "gifting" each other money for doing their work
Additionally, if we're going to consider "rewards" of any kind for exceptional and above and beyond service, then I think bonuses, salary raises, or additional paid leave are more worthwhile
I always feel uncomfortable at a drive thru when I’m asked to tip before I’ve even received my food. Again, I’m at a drive-thru. At a sit down restaurant, of course I’m going to tip. As a former server this is completely understood. But a drive thru? Before I even get my food? Out of control.
Where I live, minimum wage is minimum wage, there is no "tipped wage" for servers, bartenders, etc. I don't mind tipping for an exceptional product or service, but the problem I have with current tipping culture and what really gets my goat is when I'm asked to tip at a fast-food chain or for what is essential self-serve. Sorry, but I'm not tipping you to just do your job. With apologies to Brian (and acknowledging that I don't know exactly how Mission Sandwich operates), I also don't typically tip at fast casual joints *the first time* I go if I'm asked to tip before I recieve my food. If I have a great experience, I'll tip after or the next time I come back, but how am I supposed to tip if I don't know what to expect?
You always say this thing about foodcosts that you have to triple it. One part foodcost, one part staff and location and one part profit. If I'm already paying for staff and location, then I'm not tipping. As a customer I pay a significant premium when eating at a restaurant and if the service is not even included in that hefty chunk then that is all the motivation I need to never set foot in there and just cook myself.
No, it's not law, and it's not how you have to do it. A business can choose to not accept tips or to include them. I see signs on doors saying so all the time and I personally work for one of those businesses. I get wanting to push this problem on to consumers, but they are already what fuel your business, you should be catering to them (literally and figuratively). You seem to be under the impression that your costumers aren't smart enough to understand that prices go up without tips. Most people are more upset about the culture / pressure to tip, and the hassle of having to worry about it, than the money itself. Why should they have to worry about how much your employees make? Even if minimum wage is going to be reached, that's not enough for a lot of people so tips still feel necessary.
I used to wait tables and tips were good. Not always, but usually pretty good. Honestly I think tips is a good way to figure out where your weaknesses are as a waiter and as a manager. Your bad waiters will stand out like a sore thumb and if your own tips are bad you have a good incentive to do better to get better tips. Shit my paychecks were so low sometimes I'd just have the owner charge me for the food I would get for myself out of my check. One time my check was 14 cents and I just laughed. The actual check meant very little to me. But I made some good tips. And I kinda miss just having cash laying around. I used to just find money all the time when I was waiting tables.
Here in Canada, it's actually cheaper to eat out than it is to buy groceries, with the owners of the companies jacking up prices by double/triple, blaming the suppliers, but then bragging about massive profits every quarter.
"If the person doesn't make minimum wage, after you calculate everything, the business owner is liable to cover that" Is that true of all parts of the USA, or only in some parts like New York?
I used to ask, "Do you pool your tips?" That was a waste of a tip. I'm not talking tipping out the kitchen. I mean the person who hustles has to share with the person slacking off.
35:22 That shit is more expensive than here in Western Europe and we haven't even got that ridiculous tipping culture. And prices here are always including tax.
My views on sales tax/VAT and tipping: Over here, the price stated is what you pay, no matter if its groceries, restaurants, hotels, whatever. So its doable. If the food served exceeds my expectations, I'd be happy to tip the kitchen, but not the waiter. And if the service is good, I'm happy to tip the waiter. Here, good service means that you are left alone with your meal and your pal/date, but the server is always around, so you can wave them in to get eg a glass of water. I see it as rude if the waiter comes up to me and asks if everything is OK, if I want a refill, or whatever, I'll bloody let you know! Different culture, which is why some Americans visiting says that there's bad service in Europe. BTW, the average sallary for a waiter seems to be $2,780 per month here.
Here in California, they add "gratuity" (tip) to the bill if you dine with a curtain number of people. So you are forced to tip even if the service is SH!T. Happed to me. I went with a party of 4 and only happened to know other people dinning at another table, but was forced to pay gratuity for a "large party". We weren't even sitting at the same table and the service was sh!t. SMH...
The only time I see an automatic tip assessed is if you have large groups of people. It is common to see, tables of 6 or more people, a tip of 15%, or maybe 20% will be assessed. You can add more tip if you want.
Wanted to leave that I appreciate dropping some facts in. I am not affected by the US way of handling tips, so I don't really need an opinion. What I would leave from my experience in Canada is that I was already annoyed the taxes are not included in the supermarket prices. It does make it more difficult to budget right. I disapprove of anything that makes the costs of an item more obtuse. Educated, or knowledgeable people do fine, mostly, but more than enough do not handle their finances correctly as it is.
When I was a bartender, the cocktail waitresses would tip me out. They didn't pool, but they did tip me out and I would tip out the bar-backs, since they would bust their asses to ensure I had ice and glassware. They would tip out the dishwashers. This was a no-food bar. We expected nothing, and if we got something, we were happy.
Maybe it's because I'm Canadian, or that I also pumped gas, but unless I get terrible service, 15-20% tip has always been my go-to. Hell, I tipped my tattoo artist 100$ when he finished my sleeve.
@@blitzofchaosgaming6737 Wow. The average European knows mora bout America than the average American. Meanwhile, half of America can't point to Italy, Germany, UK etc. on a map...of Europe! America is the epitome of "we ARE the world!".
A tip should be, umm, a tip, not a wage. I do give 20% when I think the service sucks. The service sucks because it's a shitty job. I started working at 14 yo for only tips, bagging groceries. I have since run construction companies, cost is cost, I never paid people lower than they deserved based on material costs, or based on my insurance costs. I bid on my costs, and what it takes to profit. Sometimes ahead, sometimes I lose. I don't go out to eat anymore, unless the food is better than what I can make. I do think that if I found a restaurant that made great food, and paid their staff well, where the service was brilliant, I'd go. If I ran my business with employees that depended on the whims of my customers to pay my employees, I'd be embarrassed, just is. I do know that's our system for food service, but that doesn't make it right. The system sucks. Your overhead sucks, but the person at the bottom is the one that takes the hit. If they are shit at their job, you train them better, or fire them, but some prick that got cut off in traffic and is late because he messed up, and now responsible for your employee's livelihood?...C'Mon, you do know that
I'm glad you discussed tipping in the context of people with very successful restaurants have tried to pass costs on and failed. So why blame other restaurants for not trying to adopt a failed business model
But if you pay your waiters well above minimum wage, shouldn't that make it okay for your customers to not pay tips? I want to add that I do not live in america, we don't have a tipping culture over here.
I'm curious what your thoughts would be on what the living wage would be if it were adjusted for inflation and productivity from the late 60's. Some say it would be around 22-24 dollars an hour. Realistically, a wage under 20 dollars probably isn't enough for a single individual to make enough to pay rent and support themselves.
I hate knowing that tipping culture is so ingrained in America that I feel if I don't tip overseas like in America I feel like I'm insulting them even though they're not expecting it.
@@byakurenhoujuuJapan's a notable one, the culture there is that the top service etc. is just a part of their job, and you trying to tip them is almost seen as if you are trying to "motivate" them to get better as if they weren't good enough already (that is the way its seen anyways)
From what I talked about with Japanese people, it's actually insulting because it makes it seem to them like you think they are poor.@@MysteriousFigure
Restaurant owners are the problem. Constant strawman arguments to defend it. Pay your employees a competitive salary that keeps them around and stop putting expected tip amounts on point of sale systems and receipts. And the people leaving the tip are complaining because those accepting the tips DO complain. There are countless stories out there where an employee will seek out and harass the person for too low of a tip. Its non stop stories with servers making videos on "If you cant afford to tip, do to McDonalds, don't come here." People do complain about the extra service fees on everything, however, they arent optional. Tips are optional, however, are expected. Just make them service fees. Staff that go way above will still get tips... but fast casual places for sure should NOT be getting tips. The entire point of fast casual, like Mission Sandwhich Social, is to get me food quick and limit my interactions. Saying you wont do it unless every restaurant does it makes it a convenient argument so you dont ever have to. I think you guys are the ones missing the piece of the puzzle. And its not relative. Look up the cost of food per country at restaurants to do some of your own research. The US is more expensive then Europe across the board even when Europe includes the tip as a service fee.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a system that rewards people for performance. It’s a tried and true mechanism that works in many industries. And it’s a great thing to learn in life. Take it from a 20+ year veteran of the industry. There are no perfect systems in a human world. But there’s absolutely no reason to get rid of tipping.
if it's mandatory, it's not a gratuity. signed, an old guy who tips 30% for great service, 15% for acceptable service, $0.02 for infuriating service, and stops going to places that sneak it onto the check themselves.
In regards to tipping. If im dining in a restaurant, i'm already have a $20 mim for the server. Plus some extra if they did extra above and beyond/was a pleasure to work with ect. A lot of times I'll be tipping more than that. Granted, when I dine in, it's once a quarter of a year or so, and it's with at least a friend, gf, or a group of friends. I also do check the final balance as well. If the service is as expected, and the 20 or whatever else I have in my head at the time is below 20%, I add that 20% or add another $20. Again, when I dine out, it's a treat, and entertainment, so i'm willing to open the wallet up. What irks me with tipping, is that I went to a local fast food restaurant the other week with my co worker. We were starving and needed a quick bite. Put our order in, and the kid (maybe 18-19) was a straight asshole to his coworkers. After he rung us up, he spun the screen to us and tapped at the "Add tip". I wanted to flip out on him. Tips go towards people in all aspects of jobs. I've had numerous occasions where I needed something done (full service gas station, mechanics at the garage, delivery drivers, store associates ect.) where I gave them a tip because they were helpful, you could tell they cared for the customer, and would do what they could. :Edit: I've only have had a few times, less than I can count on one hand, where I tipped less than I expected. And it was because the server was such a displeasure to work with. I digress from my soap box. Welcome to my TED talk.
South Indian here. I see tips as rewards you earned by you providing a decent service to us. We just tip like $0.20 as we don't really spend much on food outside like for really high end fancy food, you just need $20 - $30 dollars. Tipping should be seen as rewards and gifts, not ur main source of income
We don't have tipping culture here and comparing prices we seem to be cheaper. Everyone gets paid a living wage. So the 30-40% raising of the prices just to get this done seems a bit of a stretch. The U.S is literally the richest nation of the planet. But for some reason there's no money for affordable universal healthcare or pay everyone a decent living wage? Here we don't have people running around with hundreds of billions while the rest is struggling.. I remember hearing Brian talking about the struggles of being a bussinessowner etc on one of his raw vids and then I also heard him mention he offered healthcare for his employees aswell as a decent wage. I remember because that's when I subscribed. Figured a guy who looks after his employees in a corrupt empire like the U.S is deffo worth following.
I want to say one thing about this tip BS, because there is so much freaking things to cover In the US you have a really weird system to pay servers with the tip, but in other countries i bet that doesnt happen, for example in mine... Thats why people preffer to work as a server instead of beeing a cooker, because the get an extra % and tips because they are from service, while in the kitchen people get nothing extra, so for me thats kinda unfair
Not to be that weirdo, but Zazu is a secretary bird... because he's Mufasa's private secretary... and the song that he sings is called "The Morning Report."
I have no problem tipping for great services. The problem is the entitlement of these places with shitty or even no services at all still expecting 20% or more tip. Ridiculous. Entitlement is a the problem. No one wants to do nice things for people who are entitled.
Tipping is hard for me to stop because there is nothing I can do to force a business to give their employees a decent wage. Food service is soul-sucking for a lot of folks and I just want these people to take home something extra at the end of a long shift.
Unfortunately tipping is so ingrained into American cultute and business that it is impossible for it to go away. What needs to happen is the service worker minimum wage needs to go away and all employees make the same standard minimum wage. Then, restaurants wouldnt have to bump up pay for servers if their tips come in low. Tipping can still happen if you want to reward the service you got, but it wouldnt have to be 20% becaise the server already made $15 instead of $2. Sure menu costs will raise, but if I'm understanding them right, the restaurant already has to set aside money in case an employee doesnt get enough tips, so theoretically that amount is already baked into the menu prices to an extent.
@@Philbert-s2c It isn't about that. Its about the fact that they are the best ones. You don't want to Make your business management rules get to the point where no one good will work for you. If that is your business model you might as well call yourself White Castle.
Ah yes beautiful way to get my day started right! Loved you saying Paul is your buttery croissant.....those wonderful British croissants😂😂. Sorry frenchie, I know you are French but the DNA test. I'll leave it at that lol. Have a good day boys!
Call it "Jacque's Big Tip" 🤣 Sadly, it doesn't seem to be the fan art that is messing with focus, because, as you probably know, Paul is still outta focus. Funny that you just watched the Beat Bobby Flay episodes, because I went back and watched em the other night as well. They are on Max if that helps anyone else find them. Episode names are all season 1: Paul: "Beauty and the Beast" Brian: "Old dog, new tricks"
You guys mentioned a youtube live stream, or a video idea What bout you and frenchie pull a sorted food pass it on every 15 mins for a total of one hour and the viewers get to choose the base ingredients
Love the work you've been putting on lately! Looks like the neon light is sorta distorting the Autofocus now (more noticeable on lower resolutions), but frenchie's still looking great! Great Job on the podcast and good to learn more and more ins and outs of the restaurateur experience!
I don’t think it’s the neon lights, someone might have touched the screen and set it to focus on the wall. On Sonys it will prioritise area you tapped. It can be disabled in the menu HOWEVER what I would actually recommend is using the touch to focus to kinda lock on and track the specific face you want.
If you insist / shame people to tip 18% plus for mediocre service on top of the price increases, then I and others simply won't go to restaurants as much, as I already have. And hate to say it, but Frenchy is still out of focus. The sign looks right on the money, though.
What would a livable wage be for a server. When I was one I had plenty of 3 hour shifts. The lunch rush is over, go home we only need 3 servers until the dinner rush. For my 20 hours a week of work which is hard to get a 2nd job around as you have no idea when you will leave your serving job, how much an hour would a server be need to be paid.
Even if I picked up fast food when I get home if the food was well done and everyone was satisfied, I will call the restaurant and thank them. I think I've left more good reviews than bad because it's very easy to focus on the negative.
Why am I being expected to tip over 20% for shitty or no service? I'm tipping no more than 15% and only where i am properly served as has been normal for ages and if I enjoyed your service you get more. This is something we disagree on. And I get it. I'm not in the restaurant business. I am a truck driver. It is literally illegal for me to take tips. I would love a tip here and there because I deliver a service just as important as food. Actually I literally deliver food 95% of the time. Also fuck door dash and that other shit. I'm not lazy enough, even as a trucker who can't go everywhere or park in places that I can't fit, to pay for door dash or some stupid ripoff like that.
This is the kind of hyperbole I dislike. You immediately swap to the most extreme example and make judgements based off that. No one ever said to drop 20% for crappy service. The point is that the restaurant workers like it unless they suck at their job, in which case they get what they deserve. If you decide to eat somewhere that you pay in advance, (including doordash) then that is a risk you take. It's accountability, and lets you as the consumer decide if someone is worth minimum wage or if they are worth $30/hr. Speaking of doordash, at the end of the day it's just someone doing the same thing you do on a smaller scale. If you consider it a ripoff, then fine, but consider that pizza delivery, chinese takeout, and so on have been around for longer than any human is currently alive. I mean there is potentially evidence of food delivery services in Ancient Rome. Also recognize that it's one of those things marketed for lazy people but that helps those in need. Food delivery has been a lifesaver for me during times of sickness for instance. edit: Actually, right after I finished writing this both Brian and Frenchie BOTH say in the video that if you get shitty service that you shouldn't tip. You're literally yelling at clouds in your imagination. You disagree with nothing.
Tipping is supposed to be "extra praise" for exemplary service. If it becomes mandatory, it should also make exemplary service mandatory. Also, tipping is being misused by businesses to cheap out on actual wage value for employees. It would be better to stop tipping to remove the mandatory implementation altogether, and instead give the employees their appropriate wages. The customer is then free to give a tip or not, depending on their feelings, directly to the employee serving them without any need for tax involvement whatsoever.
It's become mandatory because businesses are allowed to pay people less than minimum wage because they're assuming tips. I'm fine with getting rid of tipping, but they have to pay a livable wage.
@37:17 When you say most people pay "well above" minimum wage, what do you mean, $20, 25, 30/hr? I'm going to guess a big fat no. and I'll even say definitely now for retail, and food service industry that those exemplified numbers are not even the average. @43:13 And both of you as business owners are playing the victim game when you complain "this is just the system" and would only change it if everyone has. You have as much if not more(with your platform) to change the system. Again, why put the blame back at the people who are living to make ends meet? It's always upsetting when the middle class blame the poor working class instead of pointing at the real problem and that is the top 10% who is putting this pressure on us all by making this system the way it is that only benefit them. @43:38 What youre describing is not tipping in the sense they went above and beyond regular service thus you gave them something for it. It's more like you have the finances to give money to someone to give you additional services that is outside that job. That isn't tipping in the way you are talking about in the food industry. I'm not giving 20$ to my waiter/waitress when i'm seated, and I would not want a society that runs like that. It comes off as bribing for better service because you can afford to do that. @54:50 "how come they arent bitching about that?" WE ARE! @58:28 Brian, Why are you using High-end dining as the Bar?! If i used Jeff Bezos as the bar for financial success, and I mean it should be the norm, you'd slap your forehead. Why are you using the far end of the bell curve as a good example for the average restaurants wait staff wages? @1:11:00 First, how much was your dishwasher making? Because the current average wage a dishwasher makes is $14.36/hr. if you are paying him more than you are paying him on the high end, and that was your choice. And that isn't to invalidate that it is also a fact our public education system and teacher pay for the most part is SHIT. But that doesnt mean both problems cannot be fixed simultaneously. Please stop Whatabouting, because that only keeps this problem going rather than trying to solve it. @1:12:32 "paying a livable wage is too subjective"?! Are you kidding me. Please stopping making strawman arguments, the average person isn't thinking "I deserve to be paid enough to drive a lamborgini". I mean do you? Livable wage is basically not living paycheck to paycheck. Right now, a 2 bedroom goes from $2500-4000. imagine what a couple with 2 kids would need to make alone just to pay for that. MINIMUM WAGE CANNOT EVEN COVER HALF THAT, even if minimum was at $20/hr.
Well I think this seems like something the government needs to intervene if the truth is due to restaurant owners are not able to pay for the workers. Because I find it hard to believe why tipping is so hard to get rid of in America compared to most part of the first world countries especially Asia. In Asia, we actually see tipping as an insult but then again this is a difference in culture. Unfortunately, despite tipping not being voluntary the perception of America is that tipping has become mandatory because it is expected of them.
It's not actually the truth and we saw exactly what was going on during covid. restaraunt managers book employee hours like ordering produce and the tipping means they don't have to take steps to address turnover
Well, if you want to run an honest, fair, business scrap tips. Included a service charge and pay you staff correctly. That would NOT be against US law. EDIT: Also US livable wage is a joke. EDIT2: So what I am saying is just charge the fucking price it costs! That is what happens in the UK/EU, we can still tip, but we do if for exceptional service.
There actually Are calculations of what exactly a living wage is. MIT developed a living wage calculator. That takes into account the average cost of food utilities and Is childcare, And other such non luxury expenses to calculate what the wage of various family structures would have to be In order to meet the cost of living in different states and counties based on the average cost of living in each one. According to MIT, a living wage, not counting luxery costs, for New York County for a single adult with no children would be $33.31 per hour. And for two adults with three children with both parents working, each parent would need to make $46.57 per hour. They calcuted this for all states and each county in those states. New York is definate the highest.
I'm kinda lazy and dont want to calculate my tipping on smaller checks. So if my meal costs $10-$20 i just throw $5 down. So depending on my meal i have paid anywhere from 20%-50% tips.
I don't mind getting a bill with the gratuity already included. I always tip 20%, and the gratuity percentage is always lower. They're just screwing themselves by thinking they're sticking it to me.
Had a customer once, it was super busy , line out the door busy, so wait times were longer than normal. This customer was mad about the extra wait but he’s in the restaurant so he can see how busy we were. Then he got the item he ordered and claimed it wasn’t what he wanted. I talked to him as the owner/operator and got to the bottom of his issue, he was calling what he wanted by the name of a specific item on our menu. No problem, I’ll get that fixed for you, it’ll be 15-20 minutes. He threw a fit in my dining room. I’m like… well, tell you what… here’s your money back(it’s order at the counter and wait for your food place) and you can leave my store. Fuck asshole customers. Don’t need em, don’t want em.
I think people have been scared not to tip because those who get their food delivered sometimes the drivers hold your food hostage or it arrive late because you don't leave a tip.
![[MV] A leap of faith...ความเชื่อใจครั้งสุดท้าย (From "Petrichor the series")](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1piZH2CNXA/mqdefault.jpg)
The customer is not required to be understanding of your economic situation or on the pricing of product. If you need to add that to the bill by increasing the price of food, then do it. Then make sure your customer enjoyed themselves and they'll walk out without a complaint.
Lmfao
I am German, living in one of the largest and most expansive cities here.
For a single person, you are around 15-25€ for your standard German restaurant / Burger / Pizzaplace. This is already for food and drink.
For more fancy food, it's about 25-50€ per person (again with drinks included).
For really fancy stuff like multiple curses and such that a "normal" person would go to, 50-150+€ per person (again with drinks included).
Yes, we also tip, but it is not part of the wage. Usually people tip everything in between 2-10€ or just round up to the next "nice" number, like if you are at 94€ here are 100€, and we say "stimmt so" (meaning take the difference as tip).
So I honestly can't see the argument that "everything in Europe is more expansive", when a Sandwich in your area is already around 15-20$.
So for me as an outsider, it looks like the US is more expansive and still pays worse. And our taxes and income taxes are way higher than yours.
That's why from an EU point of view, the "tipping is part of the wage" is just crazy and.
Right it makes no sense at all. "The same people complain if you add a service charge", like they don't get it. No one wants to pay for the privilege of setting foot in the establishment. Make the items cost what they cost, decent wages included. Explicitly state at the door that tipping is not expected and that all employees make good money, since their tipping culture is so messed up. Problem solved.
The only thing I can think of that would make it make sense is if the employer/employees don't have to pay tax on the tips, as if it's a gift, I don't know if that's the case. Still messed up.
And yeah, Sweden here, about the same costs to eat out. Place right by my house charges 15€ for a steak and a beer, granted, that's cheap. Their prices are outrageous, and the idea that I as a customer have to be guilt tripped into paying "extra" so that (part) of their staff can make a living is extremely disturbing. A service fee would just feel offensive as well, like I'm paying for the privilege to be there. That the idea of just pricing each item on the menu at a level where the business will make a profit is so hard for them to grasp, is flabbergasting to me.
Sure, but how much are they making about 24k a year? Or has your minimum wage gone up much past 12 an hour. That may be a livable wage, but its scraping by.
I totaly agree with your prices and that the most people round up. But there is a percentage that you should tip, but many germans don't know it. My kitchen sergeant in the german army, his family owned a Restaurant, told me in 2002 that the typical tip in germany should be 12-15%.
Most of the time i tip 10% just because it is easy to calculate. If the Service is bad, for whatever reason, i don't tip. But that was learned over the years, most of the time i feel like people tip regardles of the quality, just based on social expectations.
@@j_si.8187The difference is in Germany, tips are not part of your wage, in the US (or most parts of it) they are part of the wage.
@@Selgald I didn't say other wise and also applies this only to the time when minimum wage was introduced. I know many people in the 00er years, that worked for less than 6 Euro/hour. Not only in restaurants, but also in discounter etc.
Edit: But of course you are right.
Tipping should be reward for exceptional service, not a salary by itself
Shout out the aneurysm Chef Brian probably got for the first 40 minutes of the podcast with Frenchie being out of focus 😂
Editor Jordan screaming into the void xD
It's not a bug, it's a feature.
After their last video, I think this is just how Frenchy looks now :D
You shouldn't tip for service, but you should tip for exceptional service. Tipping as an action isn't the issue, but the expectation for tips as a normality leaves a bad taste in the mouth of consumers. In many other industries, giving someone money for preferential treatment is considered a bribe.
someone who is indirectly involved in the restaurant business, customers who don't have realistic expectations for service, because I tolerate with a lot (not everything) and actually I have been rewarded by it by the management and staff wanting to make up for it when they are professional and appreciate good service and constructive criticism
If your employees don’t make minimum wage without tips it’s the companies duty to cover the rest. So yes abolish this tipping precedent, it was originally meant as extra to show appreciation not to be expected for working an entry level job into your 30’s +
If tipping is necessary to make a restaurant work, how can a restaurant function in a place where tipping is seen as an insult?
When the subject of USA tipping culture comes up it always reminds me of the opening of Reservoir Dogs.
‘What about the staff at McDonalds?
They’re serving you food but you don’t feel the need to tip them’.
"I don't believe in tipping"
If I give you great service, then that is what a tip is for. It is not guaranteed, and no one should feel obligated to tip.
But I don't want guests to pay for my work. I want the owner who is going on vacation every few months to pay for the work I do for them
When it comes to reviews, I always look for common threads for issues or complements. Whether it is an item or a business. Looking for the pattern is a lot more telling.
Exactly!
I think one of the things to consider is that yes, legally a hired tipped worker will be paid that rate, but a lot of restaurants I know hire undocumented workers that they pay under the table, and thus usually not minimum wage
Hello again from my second account (to give creators who deserve it the views and likes :D)
I love your podcast, because I have been working as a waitress most of my life and I have always LOVED it... I'm from Europe, so it's very interesting for me to see how things are working in the US...I'd love to give you a comparison of what you said, to Austria to Spain... but that would be a long comment... thank you for giving the business information behind the tipping culture in America, as I never really understood how it works... :)
Omg Fenchy came out singing Besame Mucho and it took my back to my childhood. When I would be at my grandparents house and they would sing that song together. I miss them dearly. ❤❤❤❤ Thank you Frenchy!!
Fattheads Unite!!🎉🎉 Good mornin all, did ya miss me? We surely missed you guys.. Its another amazing day with the boys, thanks for all your hard work and dedication Jordan!!😊
former teacher - thanks for your rant, Frenchy!
You can't tell me that it's 18-20%. I worked in a low income area where waitstaff still made more money than sous chefs on average and the exceptional ones made more than half the kitchen staff combined due to tips. Hell for the most part they made more than bartenders more often than not. I know waitresses that refused salary kitchen jobs because they made more money as a waitress. So when someone tells me that it's just what it costs, I think it's only what it costs because we are fools enough to pay it.
This is what back of the house always says, with absolutely no evidence. Getting rid of tipping and paying the waitstaff a salary makes sense, but don't try to make the front of house seem greedy and overpaid. For every server making bank on any given night, there are 10 not even making minimum wage...
Note: in my state, the average sous chef makes ~$50k, while the average server makes ~$25k.
@@badelementofstyle5238 Having worked both front and back of house, the problems are different, but back of house is without a doubt more physically demanding. I've personally watched several front of house people try to get into a back of house position because "It's so hard dealing with whiny customers" and leave a prep or cooking shift completely broken.
I also would express some serious doubt on your one in 10 servers making good money. If they aren't making good money it's because either they or the kitchen staff are bad at their jobs, and I guarantee most (if not all) of them are making minimum wage because that's the law. Anyone willing to risk breaking that by not paying their workers at least minimum is just begging to pay out a heck of a lot more than minimum wage in legally enforced compensation on top of a bunch of fines.
I also want to stress that your numbers for how much servers make is grossly underestimated because most tips are in cash and go unreported. I think the last estimate I saw was something like $11 Billion in unreported and untaxed tips per year, and that was in 1996. There are an awful lot of transactions that can't be tracked and recorded on salary estimates.
Lets be real. There is no such thing as a sous chef in a low income area. I call bs.
@badelementofstyle5238 The average waitress claims as little as they can get away with. This is a known fact.
Not tipping is literally the only way to prevent tipping. Every other method you try will still result in gifts for great service.
I used to work for bostons sports bar, same family came in every week for buy 1 get 1 large pizzas. They would order this most horrific shit and complain EVERYTIME no matter how perfect you made the food just to get the whole meal free. I asked my boss why he never told them to fuck off and he told me "well I don't want a bad review" always pissed me off
bro your response to that woman....youre a class act my man you stay strong i know how tough it is to stay professional im in IT lol
I’m personally okay with the restaurant rolling in the service to the price of the food. Just don’t advertise that it’s a separate charge on the bill. Incorporate it into the price of the food. But I understand owning your business is not easy! So I respect both of you!
The Lion King - Morning Report you had it, it was the toucan then Simba pounces on it .. Good call back
Here in Minneapolis minimum wage is $15/hr. a lot of places are adding 20% for health and wellness to the check mandatory, plus tips and taxes etc. At the end of the day it's almost too expensive to go out. Service has also tanked. When I was in the UK my servers refused tips and I didn't think the costs were outrageous. So they must be doing something right there. I don;t know what the solution is, but $30 for a burger and fries seems a bit steep.
I live in Norway, that is regarded as one of the most expensive countries in the world and we don't pay $30 for a burger and fries unless it is some sort of "posh" burger restaurant or a more expensive restaurant in general.
Or if you order a really big double/triple burger with all sorts of extra stuff on, much fries and a bottle of coke at a more typical burger place,
Then you might reach $30.
But you never pay tip, unless you really want to in a restaurant if you think the service have been excellent, and everything is included in the price.
No service charge, no tip and no taxes charged extra.
At a typical burger place, you NEVER pay tip.
In Germany it is usually around 10% , but not everyone tips and there are some that don't appreciate to be tipped, many restaurants split the tips to every employee worked that day. And every employee has to pay income taxes above maybe 80€ that month.
well living in germany I can tell you the same tipping culture doesnt exists here. its something you do if you were happy with the service with the food and everything else, if im not happy with the food im not gonna tipp hell no
There is a restaurant near me that includes your tip in the final price and does not tell you so if you leave a tip without reading the receipt you paid extra.
I think Frenchie is referring to the gopher thing that tells zazu that the hyenas are in the Pridelands. They refer to that as some kinda report
Frenchie, I gained an immense amount of respect for you the second you said you’d cover your servers tips if a customer forgot or didn’t leave one.
Coming from a European perspective here. I'll tip to the next round number (may add a bit extra if the service is actually worth it). If you don't get a tip at all, it either means I'm tight (far less common this last decade) or that the service irked me in some way.
If you can't afford to pay people properly, you shouldn't run a business with employees.
Tipping is trash, even with knowledge of everything involved. Seeing it baked into the terminals at fast food places, when doing takeout (why the hell am I tipping on top of the order cost when I had to get my ass there for a five second interaction?), bubble tea stores, and ice cream shops is cancerous BS. The difference between a tip and a bribe (which was used for comparison here) is that for some reason, a tip is now an expectation for a modicum of service and no spit in the meal if you go back rather than to get exceptional service.
Also, tips used to start under 10% on the terminals and now it's 15% minimum. We'll eventually get to a 50% tip minimum on the terminals with no "No Tip" option at this rate.
Thanks for the great show guys!!!
I feel like im getting more fat. What a very enjoyable Podcast :3
The beginning about reviews is very insightful and how to deal with em
Frenchy has a higher pitch when he speaks french 😅
Oui, totalement d'accord pour un épisode entièrement en français !!! It'll be fun !
Tipping system is so complex ! Thanks for all the explanation and what it's all about
In regards to tips @Brian, I don't think it's so much a matter of expecting it as the sense of entitlement and that entitlement fostering an attitude problem for some.
Most TH-camrs think theyre experts too when theyre not. Which is why i enjoy this channel soo much.
One place I used to go to a few times a week, I'd generally tip about 10ish%. The owners and staff were friends of mine, and I'd also bring in a lot of people as well, so it'd add up over time. A few weeks after they opened, they started doing staff meals on Sunday after close. If they just didn't want to cook that day, they gave me the kitchen to use up the 'leftovers' from the week, so my 'other' tip to them was cooking for them about once a month AND using up ingredients that would have to be tossed out...
Dealing with bad review segment = I felt this in my bones. You have no idea.
I'd rather leave a cash tip so the servers can stiff it to the government instead of that 20% really being 8% to the worker after the man takes his cut. Why I always carry cash.
I 100% agree with you.
If you want to tip, give it in cash and pay the bill with your card.
I don’t think anyones asking for tipping to go away, they just want a business to be able to run without tipping. If it comes at an increase to the cost it only affects people who didn’t tip. It would just give more transparency to customers and if people don’t like that they weren’t going to tip for good service anyway.
I don't think every single business should be asking for tip.
Like where i live, jobs which include tips get 80% of the minimum wage as a base wage and tips on top. So you would be expected to pay tip in restaurant with services and more or less tip depending on the quality of the service but... do you think fast food should require tip ? or that any business should ask for tip even outside of the food industry ?
Problem right now is that way too many businesses are riding the blurred line about tipping and it's causing a backlash.
Exactly it's like let's push the burden onto the customer so we can make more money. It's crazy
I'm asking for tipping to go away. People shouldn't value their self worth based on "rewards" for doing their job. It's just too much for people to be essentially "gifting" each other money for doing their work
Additionally, if we're going to consider "rewards" of any kind for exceptional and above and beyond service, then I think bonuses, salary raises, or additional paid leave are more worthwhile
I always feel uncomfortable at a drive thru when I’m asked to tip before I’ve even received my food. Again, I’m at a drive-thru. At a sit down restaurant, of course I’m going to tip. As a former server this is completely understood. But a drive thru? Before I even get my food? Out of control.
You did well Frenchie.👌 Antonio Banderas was my papi back in the 90s. LOL Love you guys!!🥰
Where I live, minimum wage is minimum wage, there is no "tipped wage" for servers, bartenders, etc. I don't mind tipping for an exceptional product or service, but the problem I have with current tipping culture and what really gets my goat is when I'm asked to tip at a fast-food chain or for what is essential self-serve. Sorry, but I'm not tipping you to just do your job.
With apologies to Brian (and acknowledging that I don't know exactly how Mission Sandwich operates), I also don't typically tip at fast casual joints *the first time* I go if I'm asked to tip before I recieve my food. If I have a great experience, I'll tip after or the next time I come back, but how am I supposed to tip if I don't know what to expect?
You always say this thing about foodcosts that you have to triple it. One part foodcost, one part staff and location and one part profit. If I'm already paying for staff and location, then I'm not tipping. As a customer I pay a significant premium when eating at a restaurant and if the service is not even included in that hefty chunk then that is all the motivation I need to never set foot in there and just cook myself.
No, it's not law, and it's not how you have to do it. A business can choose to not accept tips or to include them. I see signs on doors saying so all the time and I personally work for one of those businesses. I get wanting to push this problem on to consumers, but they are already what fuel your business, you should be catering to them (literally and figuratively). You seem to be under the impression that your costumers aren't smart enough to understand that prices go up without tips. Most people are more upset about the culture / pressure to tip, and the hassle of having to worry about it, than the money itself. Why should they have to worry about how much your employees make? Even if minimum wage is going to be reached, that's not enough for a lot of people so tips still feel necessary.
I used to wait tables and tips were good. Not always, but usually pretty good. Honestly I think tips is a good way to figure out where your weaknesses are as a waiter and as a manager. Your bad waiters will stand out like a sore thumb and if your own tips are bad you have a good incentive to do better to get better tips.
Shit my paychecks were so low sometimes I'd just have the owner charge me for the food I would get for myself out of my check. One time my check was 14 cents and I just laughed. The actual check meant very little to me. But I made some good tips. And I kinda miss just having cash laying around. I used to just find money all the time when I was waiting tables.
Here in Canada, it's actually cheaper to eat out than it is to buy groceries, with the owners of the companies jacking up prices by double/triple, blaming the suppliers, but then bragging about massive profits every quarter.
"If the person doesn't make minimum wage, after you calculate everything, the business owner is liable to cover that"
Is that true of all parts of the USA, or only in some parts like New York?
New episode to make my say better ❤
I used to ask, "Do you pool your tips?" That was a waste of a tip. I'm not talking tipping out the kitchen. I mean the person who hustles has to share with the person slacking off.
The camera lens on Frenchy is picking up on his buttery goodness this episode.
35:22 That shit is more expensive than here in Western Europe and we haven't even got that ridiculous tipping culture. And prices here are always including tax.
The poverty level in SF is considered 90K a year, that is how screwed large cities can be.
My views on sales tax/VAT and tipping:
Over here, the price stated is what you pay, no matter if its groceries, restaurants, hotels, whatever. So its doable.
If the food served exceeds my expectations, I'd be happy to tip the kitchen, but not the waiter.
And if the service is good, I'm happy to tip the waiter. Here, good service means that you are left alone with your meal and your pal/date, but the server is always around, so you can wave them in to get eg a glass of water. I see it as rude if the waiter comes up to me and asks if everything is OK, if I want a refill, or whatever, I'll bloody let you know!
Different culture, which is why some Americans visiting says that there's bad service in Europe.
BTW, the average sallary for a waiter seems to be $2,780 per month here.
Americans seem to like the fake friendliness that is paid for vs Europe and Aus/NZ where we are adults and will ask if needed.
Here in California, they add "gratuity" (tip) to the bill if you dine with a curtain number of people. So you are forced to tip even if the service is SH!T. Happed to me. I went with a party of 4 and only happened to know other people dinning at another table, but was forced to pay gratuity for a "large party". We weren't even sitting at the same table and the service was sh!t. SMH...
Look at Texas minimum wage for tipped and non tipped!! It's pathetic
$7.25 for non tipped
$2.13 for tipped
The only time I see an automatic tip assessed is if you have large groups of people. It is common to see, tables of 6 or more people, a tip of 15%, or maybe 20% will be assessed. You can add more tip if you want.
Wanted to leave that I appreciate dropping some facts in. I am not affected by the US way of handling tips, so I don't really need an opinion. What I would leave from my experience in Canada is that I was already annoyed the taxes are not included in the supermarket prices. It does make it more difficult to budget right. I disapprove of anything that makes the costs of an item more obtuse. Educated, or knowledgeable people do fine, mostly, but more than enough do not handle their finances correctly as it is.
Whenever I read SYWTGF, I hear the theme music to SYTYCD. 😂
When I was a bartender, the cocktail waitresses would tip me out. They didn't pool, but they did tip me out and I would tip out the bar-backs, since they would bust their asses to ensure I had ice and glassware. They would tip out the dishwashers. This was a no-food bar. We expected nothing, and if we got something, we were happy.
Maybe it's because I'm Canadian, or that I also pumped gas, but unless I get terrible service, 15-20% tip has always been my go-to. Hell, I tipped my tattoo artist 100$ when he finished my sleeve.
People do forget that Canada exists at times. Especially Europeans. You can't blame them, they believe the world revolves around Europe.
@@blitzofchaosgaming6737Compared to how Americans view the world? Surely you're joking?
@@blitzofchaosgaming6737 Wow. The average European knows mora bout America than the average American. Meanwhile, half of America can't point to Italy, Germany, UK etc. on a map...of Europe!
America is the epitome of "we ARE the world!".
A tip should be, umm, a tip, not a wage. I do give 20% when I think the service sucks. The service sucks because it's a shitty job. I started working at 14 yo for only tips, bagging groceries. I have since run construction companies, cost is cost, I never paid people lower than they deserved based on material costs, or based on my insurance costs. I bid on my costs, and what it takes to profit. Sometimes ahead, sometimes I lose. I don't go out to eat anymore, unless the food is better than what I can make. I do think that if I found a restaurant that made great food, and paid their staff well, where the service was brilliant, I'd go.
If I ran my business with employees that depended on the whims of my customers to pay my employees, I'd be embarrassed, just is. I do know that's our system for food service, but that doesn't make it right. The system sucks. Your overhead sucks, but the person at the bottom is the one that takes the hit. If they are shit at their job, you train them better, or fire them, but some prick that got cut off in traffic and is late because he messed up, and now responsible for your employee's livelihood?...C'Mon, you do know that
I'm glad you discussed tipping in the context of people with very successful restaurants have tried to pass costs on and failed. So why blame other restaurants for not trying to adopt a failed business model
But if you pay your waiters well above minimum wage, shouldn't that make it okay for your customers to not pay tips? I want to add that I do not live in america, we don't have a tipping culture over here.
I'm curious what your thoughts would be on what the living wage would be if it were adjusted for inflation and productivity from the late 60's. Some say it would be around 22-24 dollars an hour. Realistically, a wage under 20 dollars probably isn't enough for a single individual to make enough to pay rent and support themselves.
I hate knowing that tipping culture is so ingrained in America that I feel if I don't tip overseas like in America I feel like I'm insulting them even though they're not expecting it.
In some countries people will actually feel insulted, if you try to tip them.
@@byakurenhoujuuJapan's a notable one, the culture there is that the top service etc. is just a part of their job, and you trying to tip them is almost seen as if you are trying to "motivate" them to get better as if they weren't good enough already (that is the way its seen anyways)
From what I talked about with Japanese people, it's actually insulting because it makes it seem to them like you think they are poor.@@MysteriousFigure
just stop tipping altogether. That's the only way it will change.
Restaurant owners are the problem. Constant strawman arguments to defend it. Pay your employees a competitive salary that keeps them around and stop putting expected tip amounts on point of sale systems and receipts. And the people leaving the tip are complaining because those accepting the tips DO complain. There are countless stories out there where an employee will seek out and harass the person for too low of a tip. Its non stop stories with servers making videos on "If you cant afford to tip, do to McDonalds, don't come here."
People do complain about the extra service fees on everything, however, they arent optional. Tips are optional, however, are expected. Just make them service fees. Staff that go way above will still get tips... but fast casual places for sure should NOT be getting tips. The entire point of fast casual, like Mission Sandwhich Social, is to get me food quick and limit my interactions. Saying you wont do it unless every restaurant does it makes it a convenient argument so you dont ever have to. I think you guys are the ones missing the piece of the puzzle.
And its not relative. Look up the cost of food per country at restaurants to do some of your own research. The US is more expensive then Europe across the board even when Europe includes the tip as a service fee.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a system that rewards people for performance. It’s a tried and true mechanism that works in many industries. And it’s a great thing to learn in life. Take it from a 20+ year veteran of the industry. There are no perfect systems in a human world. But there’s absolutely no reason to get rid of tipping.
if it's mandatory, it's not a gratuity.
signed,
an old guy who tips 30% for great service, 15% for acceptable service, $0.02 for infuriating service, and stops going to places that sneak it onto the check themselves.
In regards to tipping. If im dining in a restaurant, i'm already have a $20 mim for the server. Plus some extra if they did extra above and beyond/was a pleasure to work with ect. A lot of times I'll be tipping more than that. Granted, when I dine in, it's once a quarter of a year or so, and it's with at least a friend, gf, or a group of friends. I also do check the final balance as well. If the service is as expected, and the 20 or whatever else I have in my head at the time is below 20%, I add that 20% or add another $20. Again, when I dine out, it's a treat, and entertainment, so i'm willing to open the wallet up.
What irks me with tipping, is that I went to a local fast food restaurant the other week with my co worker. We were starving and needed a quick bite. Put our order in, and the kid (maybe 18-19) was a straight asshole to his coworkers. After he rung us up, he spun the screen to us and tapped at the "Add tip". I wanted to flip out on him.
Tips go towards people in all aspects of jobs. I've had numerous occasions where I needed something done (full service gas station, mechanics at the garage, delivery drivers, store associates ect.) where I gave them a tip because they were helpful, you could tell they cared for the customer, and would do what they could.
:Edit: I've only have had a few times, less than I can count on one hand, where I tipped less than I expected. And it was because the server was such a displeasure to work with.
I digress from my soap box. Welcome to my TED talk.
South Indian here. I see tips as rewards you earned by you providing a decent service to us. We just tip like $0.20 as we don't really spend much on food outside like for really high end fancy food, you just need $20 - $30 dollars. Tipping should be seen as rewards and gifts, not ur main source of income
We don't have tipping culture here and comparing prices we seem to be cheaper. Everyone gets paid a living wage. So the 30-40% raising of the prices just to get this done seems a bit of a stretch.
The U.S is literally the richest nation of the planet. But for some reason there's no money for affordable universal healthcare or pay everyone a decent living wage?
Here we don't have people running around with hundreds of billions while the rest is struggling..
I remember hearing Brian talking about the struggles of being a bussinessowner etc on one of his raw vids and then I also heard him mention he offered healthcare for his employees aswell as a decent wage. I remember because that's when I subscribed. Figured a guy who looks after his employees in a corrupt empire like the U.S is deffo worth following.
I want to say one thing about this tip BS, because there is so much freaking things to cover
In the US you have a really weird system to pay servers with the tip, but in other countries i bet that doesnt happen, for example in mine... Thats why people preffer to work as a server instead of beeing a cooker, because the get an extra % and tips because they are from service, while in the kitchen people get nothing extra, so for me thats kinda unfair
If people weren’t getting financially screwed their whole lives they probably wouldn’t be opposed to tipping at all. Restaurants are not the problem.
Just looked it up Frenchie was right there’s a song in the lion king were the Zazu (the bird) give the morning report in the form of a 2 minute song
Not to be that weirdo, but Zazu is a secretary bird... because he's Mufasa's private secretary... and the song that he sings is called "The Morning Report."
I have no problem tipping for great services. The problem is the entitlement of these places with shitty or even no services at all still expecting 20% or more tip. Ridiculous. Entitlement is a the problem. No one wants to do nice things for people who are entitled.
Tipping is hard for me to stop because there is nothing I can do to force a business to give their employees a decent wage. Food service is soul-sucking for a lot of folks and I just want these people to take home something extra at the end of a long shift.
Asmon is right. Tipping is always optional and every customers have right to tip or not to tip. simple as that.
Unfortunately tipping is so ingrained into American cultute and business that it is impossible for it to go away. What needs to happen is the service worker minimum wage needs to go away and all employees make the same standard minimum wage. Then, restaurants wouldnt have to bump up pay for servers if their tips come in low. Tipping can still happen if you want to reward the service you got, but it wouldnt have to be 20% becaise the server already made $15 instead of $2. Sure menu costs will raise, but if I'm understanding them right, the restaurant already has to set aside money in case an employee doesnt get enough tips, so theoretically that amount is already baked into the menu prices to an extent.
Many top tier wait staff will not go for this, because they can make FAR more in tips. Like, more than the owners.
@@Dreckmal01 and what percentage of the total waitstaff are they?
@@Philbert-s2c It isn't about that. Its about the fact that they are the best ones. You don't want to Make your business management rules get to the point where no one good will work for you. If that is your business model you might as well call yourself White Castle.
Ah yes beautiful way to get my day started right! Loved you saying Paul is your buttery croissant.....those wonderful British croissants😂😂. Sorry frenchie, I know you are French but the DNA test. I'll leave it at that lol. Have a good day boys!
it seems i've had too much wine, because im seeing Frenchy a liltle bit out of focus... eheheheh keep it going boys
Man, Frenchy got me with that Party Pooper song at the end. 😂😂😂
Call it "Jacque's Big Tip" 🤣 Sadly, it doesn't seem to be the fan art that is messing with focus, because, as you probably know, Paul is still outta focus. Funny that you just watched the Beat Bobby Flay episodes, because I went back and watched em the other night as well. They are on Max if that helps anyone else find them. Episode names are all season 1:
Paul: "Beauty and the Beast"
Brian: "Old dog, new tricks"
You guys mentioned a youtube live stream, or a video idea
What bout you and frenchie pull a sorted food pass it on every 15 mins for a total of one hour and the viewers get to choose the base ingredients
Love the work you've been putting on lately! Looks like the neon light is sorta distorting the Autofocus now (more noticeable on lower resolutions), but frenchie's still looking great! Great Job on the podcast and good to learn more and more ins and outs of the restaurateur experience!
I don’t think it’s the neon lights, someone might have touched the screen and set it to focus on the wall. On Sonys it will prioritise area you tapped. It can be disabled in the menu HOWEVER what I would actually recommend is using the touch to focus to kinda lock on and track the specific face you want.
That’s exactly what happened, we’re working to fix it
If you insist / shame people to tip 18% plus for mediocre service on top of the price increases, then I and others simply won't go to restaurants as much, as I already have. And hate to say it, but Frenchy is still out of focus. The sign looks right on the money, though.
you mentioned you fixed the focus issues. Frenchy was out of focus until about the 40min mark.
What would a livable wage be for a server. When I was one I had plenty of 3 hour shifts. The lunch rush is over, go home we only need 3 servers until the dinner rush. For my 20 hours a week of work which is hard to get a 2nd job around as you have no idea when you will leave your serving job, how much an hour would a server be need to be paid.
I think Frenchie is out of focus is because he's not concentrating
Even if I picked up fast food when I get home if the food was well done and everyone was satisfied, I will call the restaurant and thank them. I think I've left more good reviews than bad because it's very easy to focus on the negative.
Why am I being expected to tip over 20% for shitty or no service? I'm tipping no more than 15% and only where i am properly served as has been normal for ages and if I enjoyed your service you get more.
This is something we disagree on. And I get it. I'm not in the restaurant business. I am a truck driver. It is literally illegal for me to take tips. I would love a tip here and there because I deliver a service just as important as food. Actually I literally deliver food 95% of the time. Also fuck door dash and that other shit. I'm not lazy enough, even as a trucker who can't go everywhere or park in places that I can't fit, to pay for door dash or some stupid ripoff like that.
This is the kind of hyperbole I dislike. You immediately swap to the most extreme example and make judgements based off that. No one ever said to drop 20% for crappy service. The point is that the restaurant workers like it unless they suck at their job, in which case they get what they deserve. If you decide to eat somewhere that you pay in advance, (including doordash) then that is a risk you take. It's accountability, and lets you as the consumer decide if someone is worth minimum wage or if they are worth $30/hr.
Speaking of doordash, at the end of the day it's just someone doing the same thing you do on a smaller scale. If you consider it a ripoff, then fine, but consider that pizza delivery, chinese takeout, and so on have been around for longer than any human is currently alive. I mean there is potentially evidence of food delivery services in Ancient Rome. Also recognize that it's one of those things marketed for lazy people but that helps those in need. Food delivery has been a lifesaver for me during times of sickness for instance.
edit: Actually, right after I finished writing this both Brian and Frenchie BOTH say in the video that if you get shitty service that you shouldn't tip. You're literally yelling at clouds in your imagination. You disagree with nothing.
Tipping is supposed to be "extra praise" for exemplary service. If it becomes mandatory, it should also make exemplary service mandatory. Also, tipping is being misused by businesses to cheap out on actual wage value for employees. It would be better to stop tipping to remove the mandatory implementation altogether, and instead give the employees their appropriate wages. The customer is then free to give a tip or not, depending on their feelings, directly to the employee serving them without any need for tax involvement whatsoever.
It's become mandatory because businesses are allowed to pay people less than minimum wage because they're assuming tips. I'm fine with getting rid of tipping, but they have to pay a livable wage.
@37:17 When you say most people pay "well above" minimum wage, what do you mean, $20, 25, 30/hr? I'm going to guess a big fat no. and I'll even say definitely now for retail, and food service industry that those exemplified numbers are not even the average.
@43:13 And both of you as business owners are playing the victim game when you complain "this is just the system" and would only change it if everyone has. You have as much if not more(with your platform) to change the system. Again, why put the blame back at the people who are living to make ends meet? It's always upsetting when the middle class blame the poor working class instead of pointing at the real problem and that is the top 10% who is putting this pressure on us all by making this system the way it is that only benefit them.
@43:38 What youre describing is not tipping in the sense they went above and beyond regular service thus you gave them something for it. It's more like you have the finances to give money to someone to give you additional services that is outside that job. That isn't tipping in the way you are talking about in the food industry. I'm not giving 20$ to my waiter/waitress when i'm seated, and I would not want a society that runs like that. It comes off as bribing for better service because you can afford to do that.
@54:50 "how come they arent bitching about that?" WE ARE!
@58:28 Brian, Why are you using High-end dining as the Bar?! If i used Jeff Bezos as the bar for financial success, and I mean it should be the norm, you'd slap your forehead. Why are you using the far end of the bell curve as a good example for the average restaurants wait staff wages?
@1:11:00 First, how much was your dishwasher making? Because the current average wage a dishwasher makes is $14.36/hr. if you are paying him more than you are paying him on the high end, and that was your choice. And that isn't to invalidate that it is also a fact our public education system and teacher pay for the most part is SHIT. But that doesnt mean both problems cannot be fixed simultaneously. Please stop Whatabouting, because that only keeps this problem going rather than trying to solve it.
@1:12:32 "paying a livable wage is too subjective"?! Are you kidding me. Please stopping making strawman arguments, the average person isn't thinking "I deserve to be paid enough to drive a lamborgini". I mean do you? Livable wage is basically not living paycheck to paycheck. Right now, a 2 bedroom goes from $2500-4000. imagine what a couple with 2 kids would need to make alone just to pay for that. MINIMUM WAGE CANNOT EVEN COVER HALF THAT, even if minimum was at $20/hr.
Well I think this seems like something the government needs to intervene if the truth is due to restaurant owners are not able to pay for the workers. Because I find it hard to believe why tipping is so hard to get rid of in America compared to most part of the first world countries especially Asia. In Asia, we actually see tipping as an insult but then again this is a difference in culture. Unfortunately, despite tipping not being voluntary the perception of America is that tipping has become mandatory because it is expected of them.
It's not actually the truth and we saw exactly what was going on during covid. restaraunt managers book employee hours like ordering produce and the tipping means they don't have to take steps to address turnover
Well, if you want to run an honest, fair, business scrap tips. Included a service charge and pay you staff correctly. That would NOT be against US law. EDIT: Also US livable wage is a joke. EDIT2: So what I am saying is just charge the fucking price it costs! That is what happens in the UK/EU, we can still tip, but we do if for exceptional service.
There actually Are calculations of what exactly a living wage is. MIT developed a living wage calculator.
That takes into account the average cost of food utilities and Is childcare, And other such non luxury expenses to calculate what the wage of various family structures would have to be In order to meet the cost of living in different states and counties based on the average cost of living in each one.
According to MIT, a living wage, not counting luxery costs, for New York County for a single adult with no children would be $33.31 per hour. And for two adults with three children with both parents working, each parent would need to make $46.57 per hour.
They calcuted this for all states and each county in those states. New York is definate the highest.
I'm kinda lazy and dont want to calculate my tipping on smaller checks. So if my meal costs $10-$20 i just throw $5 down. So depending on my meal i have paid anywhere from 20%-50% tips.
I love the thumbnails lmao
I don't mind getting a bill with the gratuity already included. I always tip 20%, and the gratuity percentage is always lower. They're just screwing themselves by thinking they're sticking it to me.
Had a customer once, it was super busy , line out the door busy, so wait times were longer than normal. This customer was mad about the extra wait but he’s in the restaurant so he can see how busy we were. Then he got the item he ordered and claimed it wasn’t what he wanted. I talked to him as the owner/operator and got to the bottom of his issue, he was calling what he wanted by the name of a specific item on our menu. No problem, I’ll get that fixed for you, it’ll be 15-20 minutes. He threw a fit in my dining room. I’m like… well, tell you what… here’s your money back(it’s order at the counter and wait for your food place) and you can leave my store. Fuck asshole customers. Don’t need em, don’t want em.
I think people have been scared not to tip because those who get their food delivered sometimes the drivers hold your food hostage or it arrive late because you don't leave a tip.