I was banned from Murphy's Taproom

[Roycerson]

You know your server makes $3 dollars an hour and you know they deserve more (require it even, assuming you want your server to have daily showers).  Obviously any income over $3 dollars is not included in the price of your food, if you want anything more than the absolute minimum of service then pay for it.  This is between you and your server.  Since Kieth no doubt doesn't want his servers refusing service to those who don't pay for it, he took it upon himself to see that no server finds it necessary.  Good for him.  No soup for you.

It's not unusual to automatically charge 15% gratuity from large parties.  Most reputable places do so.  I don't know if that's what the "stealing" bit was about but I expect it was.  It backfires when they do it to me because I would have otherwise tipped more.  So I don't complain, it saves me money.

Tipping is a great way to create incentive for the staff to provide good service.  It is also a great way to skirt the IRS.  It is the sort of thing I would expect to be praised by free market anti-tax proponents.  

[Mike Barskey]

You know your server makes $3 dollars an hour and you know they deserve more (require it even, assuming you want your server to have daily showers).  Obviously any income over $3 dollars is not included in the price of your food, if you want anything more than the absolute minimum of service then pay for it.  This is between you and your server.  Since Kieth no doubt doesn't want his servers refusing service to those who don't pay for it, he took it upon himself to see that no server finds it necessary.  Good for him.  No soup for you.

I do not know they deserve or require more, but whether they do and whether they earn only $3 per hour is not my problem or issue or choice. I can feel compassion for their choice to work at a job that pays so little and I can give some of my money to them so they can afford their water bill - I have no problem with anyone doing so, if that's what they want to do. But I can also use the money I earned to pay my own water bill, and to pay the agreed-upon charge for the food and service at the restaurant - it's clearly marked in the menu. I have chosen to work at a job that pays more than $3 per hour, so I can afford my own life's requirements and do not depend on others' generosity to survive.

Also, I agree with you: "Good for him.  No soup for you." Keith made his decision because he thinks it's what's best for him. And it means no Murphy's soup for me. Again, I do not hold that decision against him.

It's not unusual to automatically charge 15% gratuity from large parties.  Most reputable places do so.  

Argumentum ad populum.

Tipping is a great way to create incentive for the staff to provide good service.  It is also a great way to skirt the IRS.  It is the sort of thing I would expect to be praised by free market anti-tax proponents.  

Tipping can be a great way to create incentive for staff to provide good service. But so can verbal thanks, or bonuses from Keith for numerous customer compliments, or a larger wage, or extra benefits if Keith witnesses excellent service, or a floor manager that doesn't serve people but only watches and helps the servers provide excellent service, or providing a less chaotic and difficult to serve environment than Murphy's has, etc.

I do agree with you that avoiding the IRS is always good.

[doobie]

It's not unusual to automatically charge 15% gratuity from large parties.

I'm pretty sure there have been court cases that have said that you can't force someone to pay gratuity even if they had a large group.

[John]

IRS rules, legislation, and court cases? Now, there are a few places I try not to go for answers.

BTW, is my memory wrong that many, many years ago 10% was considered the right/traditional tip for good service and that 15% was for excellence?

[Mike Barskey]

IRS rules, legislation, and court cases? Now, there are a few places I try not to go for answers.

Excellent point!

BTW, is my memory wrong that many, many years ago 10% was considered the right/traditional tip for good service and that 15% was for excellence?

I remember that as well.

[FTL_Ian]

Mike, I think you're an awesome activist and I hope the discussion in this thread helps you and others grow in their understanding of this strange custom. As someone who is very frugal, tipping used to bother me, however it no longer does.  If one cannot afford to tip, then one cannot afford to eat out.  Your issue with tipping however, doesn't seem to be related to finances, but is simply an objection to the custom.  I am not sure if the tipping custom actually does anything to improve service, as you received good service in Japan, however it is a commonly accepted custom around here and standard for any restaurants and bars I've ever been to.  The world of tipping is certainly a confusing and arbitrary one, and I cannot defend tipping as a custom.  Nor do I intend to defend the business practices of Murphy's.  It is my intention to help you understand tipping in this culture.

I think all you need is a little compassion for the people that work as your restaurant servers.  I understand where restaurant servers are coming from, especially since I have known several.  Julia was one in Florida, in fact.  Knowing servers is why I now understand why tipping is so important.

Waiting tables is a stressful job. I don't imagine there are very many servers who took the job for its wonderful base pay of $2 or $3/hr. Restaurant server jobs are always available and many of the people who take them want to get paid based on performance and take some cash home at the end of the night.  Servers are working to please you in order to earn a tip.  This is the reality we live in, and I'd like to be crystal clear:

If you do not tip, you'll be ostracized by those in the service industry.  Ever noticed a particularly attractive waitress? You don't have a chance with her.  She might've thought you were attractive when she first saw you, but when you leave her nothing for her efforts - she'll think you're a jerk. Sure, you could say that she could write it off as you forgetting the tip, but the second time you come in, she'll know for sure...

If you do not tip, the quality of service delivered to you will decline. This presumes that you actually come back to the places that you don't tip.  You can probably get away with not tipping if you hop around from place to place, only coming back upon occasion after the high turnover restaurant staff has mostly changed.  If however, you continue to return to the same location, it won't take long before they remember who you are, and word spreads around to different servers that you don't tip. Eventually, this probably won't take very long, no one will want to serve you at all, the servers will point you out to management and you may very well be banned.

As people who know you discover that you do not tip, you may find it hard to find people who will go out to eat with you.

I want the people that I do business with to like me. In our culture, tipping is a real tangible way to show appreciation for a job well done. In return, you'll find that the people providing you with the service will appreciate you back and give you even better service in the future.

I hope you'll reconsider your viewpoint!

[FTL_Ian]

IRS rules, legislation, and court cases? Now, there are a few places I try not to go for answers.

BTW, is my memory wrong that many, many years ago 10% was considered the right/traditional tip for good service and that 15% was for excellence?

It would be nice if some people with experience in restaurant service would chime in here with what they consider appropriate.  It was my understanding that 20% was for outstanding service, 15% for good service, 10% for poor service, and even less for total dreck.

This of course is only for restaurants.  Outside restaurants, the custom gets even more confusing.  15% seems to be a good guideline, but it certainly doesn't apply to things like baggage check at hotels.  What about cabs?  Bars?  Valet?  All very confusing.

[Fluff and Stuff]

Lots of places add 15% gratuity to groups of 8 or more. Considering the crowds and confusion on Tuesdays, I wouldn't be offended by a 15% gratuity added to the bill (subtotal ignoring discounts) as we are essentially one large party. People can always supplement that amount.

I usually see 18% or 20% but whenever this has happened to me (except 1 time), it has always been listed on the menu.

[SamIam]

BTW, is my memory wrong that many, many years ago 10% was considered the right/traditional tip for good service and that 15% was for excellence?

Yes, then it moved to 12% in the early 90's, then on up to 15%, 20%, and peaked at 30% at some high end restaurants during the height of the dot com boom.

My resistance to the idea of tipping ties in with socialism. If I have no kids but live in a million dollar home, should I pay 4 times as much in property taxes for the same services the average family pays 1/4 the amount to receive?

Granted the more food, the more trips, the more work for the server. However, should I be expected to pay more if I order mixed drinks with lobster over water and an appetizer on special? Tips are not based on the value of the service provided, but rather the budget of the patron. When they are expected in this manner, I don't think that's right.

I've been to the UK many times and had tips returned as well. Service has generally been good. Of course they typically don't have wait staff in the pubs. You order at the bar. I've also been intentionally short changed in France. I got my money back, but the manager didn't seem to concerned with what her employee had done to the "stupid american"  

[Mike Barskey]

It was my understanding that 20% was for outstanding service, 15% for good service, 10% for poor service, and even less for total dreck.

Talk about confusing! I'm confused how a custom could have started or evolved that rewards poor service by paying an extra 10%!

(I'll respond to your other post in a bit)

[aod318]

Wow.  I fully accept the rights of property owners and I fully accept people's decisions on where and how to spend their money. 
What I just realized, when receiving change at Murphy's coins often are neglected.  My tab last night was $5.60 something; I gave a $10 and got four $1 bills back.  Not that $.40 is a big deal.  However, the principle concerns me.  Sounds like unofficial tipping is part of the model.

[K. Darien Freeheart]

This topic appearing on this forum is why I hate the "competition" of multiple forums. My copy and paste:

I see both sides of this, as someone who's worked for tips.

When you're in the business, the waitstaff are obligated to check on you. You're sitting in there as part of a large group and taking up their time and not tipping. I can see why that would piss me off as a server.

I have to be very honest though... I've heard several things about Keith (I'm assuming he's the Murphy's owner?) that make me not want to be there anyway. How in the HELL does an FSP member not allow guns to be carried in his business? I mean... Seriously.

You should visit Social Sunday in Keene just once. Vendetta rocks. I love that place.

[dalebert]

Yes, then it moved to 12% in the early 90's, then on up to 15%, 20%, and peaked at 30% at some high end restaurants during the height of the dot com boom.

I once heard this explained as adjustment for inflation, but it's a percent! It automatically adjusts for inflation.  

[Fluff and Stuff]

How in the HELL does an FSP member not allow guns to be carried in his business? I mean... Seriously.

I don't know.  Do you know of any FSP member who doesn't allows guns to be carried in his business?  Guns are allowed in Keith Murphy's Taproom

[Rearden]

There is an incorrect assumption that has been picked up in this thread, and it needs to be cleared up.

No one stole from Mike Barsky.  The server simply misread his zero to be a four.  His zero did indeed look much like a four.  It can be shown to anyone who asks to see it for themselves.  There was no theft, there was only an error in the reading of the number.  When Mike was shown the slip he admitted it looked like a four, and he admitted it in his blog.

Now it's just sour grapes.  

Servers have been fired in the past for altering credit card receipts.  To do so is absolutely not acceptable - but that did not happen in this case.  

The only question here is that Mike Barsky chooses not to tip.  The alternative for him and people who do not understand the importance of tipping is to give these special people menus with 20% higher prices, to compensate the servers appropriately.  Take your pick.  

ADDED: Servers and bartenders do not usually bother with pennies, but they are expected to provide change to the nearest nickel.  If this does not happen, please ask to speak to the manager immediately and the problem will be rectified with disciplinary action.