If Only Compliments Paid the Bills...

Okay, so we’ve all been there right? We are doing an excellent job, on top of everything the table needs, they seem so appreciative…For once, the kitchen didn’t mess up their food or take too long, and to top it off, they’re not even using a coupon! Score! Then, as the cute little family is getting up to leave, whoever just paid you the bill leans in and says “Wow, you did such a great job! Thank you! You were the best waitress we’ve ever had!” And then, your stomach sinks.  Great. As you reluctantly walk over to the table you can already see the ten percent seething out of the check presenter. You open it up and sure enough is a nice crisp $5 bill, which would have been nice if their check wasn’t $50. 

It never fails, does it? For some reason, people have this cockamamie idea that if they TELL you how great you were, they don’t have to prove it in cash winnings. Why is that? Is that supposed to make me FEEL BETTER? That I just gave you awesome service and you loved it so much that you decided to leave me a crappy tip? Oh but wait, you TOLD me I was great, so that should be enough. Well, the last time I checked, that cute little tid bit you just shared with me, about how great I was, yeah that didn’t pay my electric bill.

Lesson learned: Verbal tip = No tip. 

P.S. To those particular customers who decide to pinch pennies by shorting your server the tip but telling them how great they were: Next time, specifically ask for a manager. I could hear I’m great all day long by my tables (which I usually do : ) but that doesn’t mean anything when I go tell my manager. They look at me and say “well, good for you!” However, when a guest takes the time to really go out of their way to let a member of management know how great a server is doing, management really takes that into consideration. Heck, at my restaurant, those people actually get a crowd that cheers for them in the kitchen with a bright shiny new pin :) And this applies whether you are going to leave a nice tip or a crappy one, really.  If your server did a great job, make sure the right people know!  THAT'S a verbal tip I can live with!