Eating out and Tipping:Should I or shouldn't I?

Hello...hello....hello, and how are you today? Should we get started with this week's topic? A consumer's blog isn't just about your experiences with big business. Here, you can share anything you want to discuss; If it is about you and money and the means you spend it, here is the place to discuss it.

I just read an article of disgruntled waitresses saying how they deserve a tip for service, even when service is the worst? They voiced the opinion that tips should be mandatory. That got me to thinking since I don’t feel tipping should be mandatory, not when servers and service vary from one place to another.

How do you feel about that? Do you believe a waiter/waitress deserves a tip even when they offer horrible service or no service at all? Do you leave a tip when the service is horrible? Why or why not?

Here’s my take on the subject…

When I go out to eat, I go out to escape the humdrum of cooking and eating at home. When I go out to eat, I expect to receive good service; excellent service if I eat at a fine dining establishment. I have no trouble tipping the wait staff accordingly when I can sit and enjoy my meal without fuss and muss. Over the years of having resided in thirteen different states and three countries, I’ve eaten in a great deal of restaurants, small and large, café to fine dining, dine in and dine out, take out and take away, etc. You get the idea.

When I go out to eat and the service is minimal or adequate, but nothing above what is expected, I’ll leave a small tip to reflect the small amount of service given. When I dine out and get lousy service or no service, the server gets no tip and rightfully so, as far as I am concerned. When the service is excellent, better than I could have hoped for, I have no problem leaving 15% to 20% of the bill.

I define lousy service such as when the wait staff takes too long to serve us, and when they finally do they’re rude and inattentive, or display an attitude that they’re doing me a favor. On top of that, the order is incorrect or unsatisfactory, such as cold food or missing sides. Further, when the wait staff doesn’t check on us during the meal to see if we need something, such as condiments that aren’t on the table or they forgot to bring; that is another minus. My biggest pet peeve is when our meal is finished and the server doesn’t take away our plates, passing by our table several times without clearing the table and neglecting to ask if we want anything more like dessert or coffee. As far as I am concerned, no tip is warranted. They didn’t earn it. If they wanted a tip, they should have done better by me and my table.  Tips are not mandatory and should never be. In Europe, they’re definitely not, and I have no idea why in this country why wait staff believes it is or should be. I hear how wait staff earn about $3.50 per hour, which is supplemented by customer tips and that is why we should tip. Sorry, I don’t agree with that. Wait staff know what they are going to earn when they take the job. No one forced them to do it. And if they want customers to tip and supplement their paycheck, then the wait staff must earn their tip. No one tips me for doing my job. Why should I be obligated to tip you, especially when you provide lousy service? Being a waiter or waiter is not an easy job, but one does not need a degree in rocket science to be a waiter or waitress. They couldn’t have a much simpler job. I tell you what I want to eat and you ensure I get what I ordered, hot and prepared the way I ordered it.

Adequate service for me is when the wait staff provides the minimal service to get by: they take my order and serve the meal. They’re not rude, yet they’re not friendly either. Everything is provided for me to eat my meal and I have no complaints, until the plates are not taken away and the server neglects to ask me if I would like to order dessert or coffee. In this instance, I subtract an amount that I would have given and instead I provide a small monetary tip and tell them why, in person or on the bill.

Excellent service is above and beyond what I expected. The food is delicious; the service is friendly, yet professional, and we didn’t have to complain about anything and everything was perfect: it was a fine dining experience. In that case, I tip anywhere from 15% to 20% the amount of the bill and voice our appreciation to the server.

We know a person that whenever he dines out, he places a sum of cash at the end of the table and tells the server that the cash is their tip. They’re also told that if they get excellent service, they get the entire tip. If they don’t, some cash is subtracted from the amount on the table. This person always gets excellent service.

While in college, I had a friend that provided tips in compensatory to the level of service provided. I’ll never forget it. I admired her gusto. She was the type of person that when she saw someone throw litter into the street, she didn’t hesitate to give them a lecture to pick it up and they did.  One afternoon, we went out to a diner for lunch. Service was horrible and the server was rude. When we left, we paid our bill and my friend gave the server a penny from the change. The server gave my friend back the penny saying it was her change. My friend handed it back to her and simply said, “No. It’s your tip. That is all you deserve for the lousy service you provided.” The server, of course had nothing to say. She had merely earned that penny and not a penny more. I’m sure that after we departed she had a few choice words to say how cheap we were, but seriously, the service was horrible.

Sure, some people are cheap when they go out to eat. They expect excellent service and don’t leave a tip. So what? This is America. This is a free country. That is their right. Tipping is not mandatory. I’m sure not every one of your customers is just being cheap to be cheap. Perhaps, money is tight, yet they deserve to eat out. They can’t afford the tip, so they don’t tip. Should they feel guilty about it? Absolutely not.  Perhaps, those other customers that didn’t tip, is because  they  tipped before for servers that didn’t deserve it and swore never to tip again because of it. I know. I’ve taken that oath a few times myself and kept it. I only broke it when I was presented with an excellent dining experience. If a customer doesn’t want to tip, they don’t have to and they shouldn’t feel badly about it. To wait staff out there, don’t like the tips or lack of tips customers don’t give you, get another job or provide better service, but don’t act as if it is owed to you when it is not. Most people now days are just getting by. They shouldn’t have to stay home when they can afford to eat out just one night a month or less simply because they can’t afford to tip. To tip or not to tip, is a question and the answer is entirely up to you the customer. Don’t tip if service is lousy; it just enables the server to continue to provide lousy service. Don’t tip because you feel guilty about not leaving a tip. You don’t have to leave a tip.  

Anyway, that is my take on it….So, tell me what you think about the entire concept of tipping. Do you think it is mandatory, even when you receive poor service? Do you tip even when you really don’t want to? Why or why not? This is your place and time to vent; positive or negative…let’s hear what you have to say.

Regards,

SSilva

Ah…it has been an interesting week for this consumer. Twice I’ve been wronged by two different companies: one a large business we all heard of and the other; a small non-profit that really should value their customers, but in my experience really doesn’t. I’m going to share my experiences here, so, hopefully, you can learn from them, or share your experiences and teach me a thing or two.

First up is a bad shopping online experience with the wonderful world of greedy and infamous Walmart.com. Ah…Wal-Mart….the name for me envisions crowded stores, impersonal store policies and cheaply made products.  I hate going to Wal-Mart. Hence, I shop with them online. Overall, I hate the store, but they have things I’d like to purchase, though, I hate buying from them. If I can avoid it, I do. Anyway, this time, I placed a rather large order of household items I needed. Well, I received my email confirmation of the order of when it was shipped out. A week later, I hadn’t received the order. The one good thing Walmart.com does is ship out quickly. However, that is also a fault. Stay with me. I was going to check online for statues of my order when I received an email that said that my order had been successfully returned. Another email followed that said my credit card had been credited for the items returned. Strange thing is that I never received the items to return them. Perplexed, I picked up the phone and called walmart.com. The Customer Service representative was shocked and apologetic, which I greatly appreciated, but did nothing to fix the problem.   The Customer Service representative was just as confused at first, but then, she noticed the reason: the shipment had been so badly damaged that FedEx had shipped it back to Wal-Mart.  Wal-Mart received it and processed it as a customer return instead of the shipper returning a damaged shipment. As a result, I wasn’t notified that it had been sent back and given an option to have it reshipped. Instead, I had to spend forty minutes on the phone with the Customer Service representative and reorder everything again. And for all the inconvenience this caused me, do you know how this multi-million dollar store chain rewarded me? They gave me a $10.00 credit. Wow! Needless to say, I asked for more. It seems and I quote the supervisor that I asked to speak with for more than $10.00, I was told that corporate policy was $10.00 and no more. If the representative or she gave me more they would have been fired. Of course, I also filed a written complaint about the poor packaging for whatever good that will do, as it appears to be an ongoing problem.  Lovely company, huh? It just makes me all warm and fuzzy realizing how very much Wal-Mart values their customers. I’m going to write to corporate office for $25.00 credit, as this was not the first badly damaged box I received from them. I’ll let you know what happens, if I get a reply from them.

Just a few months ago, I received a large box from Wal-Mart that had a wet squished bottom. When I opened it, I immediately saw why. Amongst the vitamins, and food items, a bottle of liquid dish detergent had opened and spilled all over the items: covering everything in the box. The liquid detergent has not been wrapped separately and sealed in a plastic bag, as they had been done before. I immediately called Wal-Mart to discuss my dilemma. The Customer Service representative was shocked and apologetic, which I greatly appreciated, but did nothing to fix the problem. As a result, we had to spend time on the phone reordering every item. Of course, I also filed a written complaint about the poor packaging for whatever good that will do.

The other incident involved a non-profit seller of Endangered Species chocolate bars, which I often buy. You probably heard of them or at least saw the candy bars in the natural food section of your local supermarket. They’re natural, gluten-free and delicious, usually, that is. Over the weekend, I purchased my usual, a milk chocolate bar. When I bit into it, I wasn’t pleased at all. Instead of sweet tasting milk chocolate, it tasted of bitter dark chocolate, which I didn’t favor at all. Had I wanted a dark chocolate bar I would have purchased one. I called the company today and met a rather nasty unprofessional customer service representative named Natalia. I told her the situation and my displeasure with the taste of this chocolate. She was affronted. I gave the company the benefit of the doubt that perhaps the bar had been mislabeled or the bar had not been blended properly. She proceeded to tell me that the different chocolate bars were mixed on different days. But were they wrapped on different days too? After I informed her to lose the attitude, I asked for a refund. I didn’t want to ask for a refund from a non-profit, small company but times are tough and I had paid $3.00 for this one that was horrible tasting: I was not satisfied. From the “Enjoy by” date, I gave her; they can supposedly pull out samples and taste them. I am awaiting a phone call from them tomorrow to see what they learned. This ought to be good.

Tell me, my fellow consumers, what is going on with businesses and non-profits now days? In these hard times in which consumers are watching their expenses, you’d think they would value those that spend money for their product and/or services. As my experiences show, they don’t.

So, what has been your shopping mishap? How did you settle it? Were you pleased with your solution? Let’s hear it here when you can vent all you want. Just a reminder: no profanities please.

Have a great day. May all your shopping experiences be good ones.

Best Wishes,

SSilva

 

Today in the news...our tax dollars at work, or not....

Today in the news we have quite a few headlines that affect all of us: "Payroll Tax Takes A New Bite". "Obama demands quick action to raise debt Limit." Both these headlines dig deeply into the consumers pocket and I wonder how you feel about it. Here is the space to vent and share tips with other frugal minded souls affected by our rising deficit.

"Payroll Tax Takes a New Bite": We all knew it was coming. We all knew that the temporary reduction in payroll taxes to social security was not permament. Nevertheless, the chunk of money taken out of our paychecks, those lucky enough to have paychecks, was a unpleasant surprise. According to the Yahoo news article, the cut reduced from 6.2% to 4.2% gave Americans hundreds of extra dollars in their pockets to spend the last two years. I don't know about you, but I wasn't spending all that more since my paycheck hasn't gone up in three years and I was already cutting back and trying to save more, just in case.

In the first Yahoo article about the Payroll taxes increase, "Roberton Williams, a tax economist and the Sol Price Fellow at the Tax Policy Center in Washington, said the expiration of the payroll-tax cut will leave the average American household with $18 to $20 less to spend each week, or $900 to $1,000 a year.
For the country's consumers as a whole, Mr. Williams said, that is a decline of $120 billion from last year. The total comes to about 0.8% of U.S. gross domestic product and is nearly equivalent to the most recent full-year sales at P&G, J.C. Penney Co. (JCP) and McDonald's Corp. (MCD) combined.
The impact on the economy now is hard to quantify, because it isn't clear how much of the money in consumers' paychecks was spent and how much of it was saved. Still, "it's a significant amount of money that's being pulled out of people's pockets and not being replaced," Mr. Williams said.
The tax hit could affect companies such as consumer-goods makers, clothing retailers, department stores, food producers, grocery stores and restaurants. Some companies said it is too soon to estimate the potential impact of the tax break expiration on their sales and profits, but it nevertheless has been a nagging concern."

You think? Did we really need a financial expert to tell us all of this that we already know. I can answer that question, Mr. williams: I don't know about you but I am spending less already, and I am going to spend even less now. My paycheck at the end of the year was significantly smaller with me having $70.00 to spend than before and that is quite a chunk of money. Thank you, Mr. President. If you want the economy to grow, Americans need money to spend. Americans will only spend if they have more money to spend and feel safe about their jobs and stability. Less money in pocket = less money to spend. Seems logical enough to me. Along this vein, I made a New Year's Resolution that I would boycott spending. As I mentioned on the first post, I am tired of being unappreciated and treated like dirt by businesses when they should value my custom. Unless something is absolutely necessary to purchase, such as groceries or gasoline, I am not going to buy it. Plain and simple. This is my goal. I know it is a lofty goal, but I am determined to follow through. It is fourteen days into the year and I haven't spend any of my money of "luxuries" or "frugalities". Last night, I had to purchase a tax program to do taxes this year and it almost killed me to do so. Yes, I know there are free tax programs at there, but I don't feel secure to do them solely online, plus I also need a state program.
No more using the credit card for "luxuries" of dinner out or impulse purchases for me. Instead, I'm going to stash, stash, stash away my money in the bank where my money can collect the paltry interest I've come to accept.

I'm not a psychic, but in 2002 I knew all of this was going to happen. The housing bubble would burst and the economy would tank, as it has. I saw it. I felt it. Sadly, I was correct. Last year, I told my spouse that it would get worse before it gets better. Personally, I don't see any recovery for another nine years and this year, 2013 is going to be the worst. I hope I am  wrong, but whenever I have a bad feeling about something it always comes true.

Anyway, over those last several years, I've done my best in cutting back. We don't have cable or satellite tv. In fact, where we live we don't even have tv reception and a digital receiver we had to buy was a waste of time, effort and money. We have an extensive video collection and rely on that, or go to the library to borrow some from there. It has come to the point where we don't even miss tv anymore. We also receive Netflix since 2004 to add to the mix. I never ever pay full price for a brand new dvd. I mostly buy used, which saves us quite a bit.

I set up several savings accounts over the years: ie. emergency funds, vacation funds, etc, which work out well. I ensure we contribute to our IRAs, even if it isn't the maximum allowed. Some years we just couldn't afford it and $500.00 in the IRA is better than nothing at all.
We read a lot, but I neve buy a book brand new-NEVER. Books are just way too expensive for me to justify, and you usually only read it once anyway. Amazon and eBay are two of our best friends for purchasing videos and books.

This leads us into the other Yahoo news article," Obama demands quick action to raise debt Limit."
"Obama virtually dared Republicans to let the government shut down rather than renew funding beyond March 27. "It will hurt the economy," he said emphatically."
Whoa, Mr. President, what are you talking about? I thought we should cut back instead of spending more. Don't you think it is time that this country started tightening its belt instead of continually loosening it up? Why aren't you setting an example for Americans to follow instead of the other way around that you continually ignore. Americans can only cut back so far before we are left trying to squeeze blood from a stone, and we all know how unsuccessful that will be. We have to cut back. It is time you did the same thing. Besides, don't you think the economy is already hurt? There isn't a bandage large enough to heal it. Wake up and smell the coffee. The spending has to stop and I'm not talking about cutting programs. Why arent' our servicemen in Afghanistan brought home yet? There is a chunk of money that can be saved. Wars aren't cheap, yet we keep spending. Why are we sending more soldiers out to Africa, etc. When is enough enough?

How does all of this government spending make you feel? Have you cut back on spending? Have you found a successful way or ways to save money? Are you spending more? Are you spending less? Share your experiences here; we'd love to hear. Maybe we can learn from you.

That's all for now. May all your shopping experiences be good ones and may your pockets attract lots of cash instead of losing it.
My best,
SS

Laugh when you can....

Remember this;

LAUGH WHEN YOU CAN, APOLOGIZE WHEN YOU SHOULD, AND LET GO OF WHAT YOU CAN’T CHANGE.
KISS SLOWLY, FORGIVE QUICKLY, PLAY HARD, TAKE CHANCES, GIVE EVERYTHING, AND HAVE NO REGRETS.
LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO BE ANYTHING BUT HAPPY.

A Consumer's blog: In the beginning....there was a buyer....

Are you tired of spending your hard earned money only to be treated like dirt by companies that take your money? I am and that is why I created A Consumer’s Blog. Here is a place to vent, share your experiences, and maybe even get a little help  with that company or store that treated you badly.
Life is short, but that doesn't mean you have to take things lying down, or be a door mat to a company or store that treats you as if you should. I know. I have spent a great deal of money over my life time. I have shopped with some companies since as far back as 1986. Do they value my business? No. Do they thank me for my business? No. In these hard economic times, you'd think that companies would value the customers that spent a lot of money with them, but no they don't. You'd think that in these hard times, companies would value the fact that you still shop with them, but they don't.
Here is the place to tell your story about the company that did you wrong. Here is the place to tell it like it is. Go ahead. Say it all. Tell the world how ABC company took your money and then didn't deliver, or when they did, it was late, damaged or the wrong item and when you called to complain the company didn't care. Here is the place to find out what you can do to get an apology or your money back. Share your experiences and tell it like it is. No holds barred. All I ask is that no profanity be used here. Other than that, let us hear what happened to you. Tell us how you fixed the problem or what you'd like to fix. Maybe someone here can help. Tell us where you told that company to go.
We the consumers have had enough. The big banks and companies were bailed out by the U.S. government by our tax dollars without even asking us how we felt about it. How did you feel about it? Do you think it was the right thing to do? Are you one of the homeowners that was foreclosed upon by one of the banks that we the taxpayers bailed out? Let us hear your tale.
A Consumer's Blog is written by a consumer, not a company, for you my fellow consumers. Come. Write. Tell your tale. Tell it from the heart. Just tell it like it was...
To begin with and get the ball started rolling, I'll tell you about some of the experiences I've had as late, which yielded me to conceive this blog.
Umn....which bad experience should I start with? there have been so many this year alone. What would you like to hear about? Let's start with an annoying trend in 2012 with magazine subscriptions....
There was a magazine I purchased three years ago that I really enjoyed reading. It was interesting, informative and educational about computers. I know next to nothing about computers, so this magazine helped out a lot. The magazine was called Smart Computing. I had initially subscribed for three years and enjoyed the the subscription immensely. In 2010, when it was time to renew, I did so without hesitation. Come mid 2011, the magazine issues seemed to be thinner. With so many other things going on in life on a daily basis, I really didn't catch it at first. I merely thought it was a one-time occurrence. Then, next month was the same and the same afterward, etc.. I also noticed the disappearance of columns I enjoyed reading. Finally,  I noticed this alarming trend and contacted the editor in Jan 2012. Initially, he seemed concerned and helpful. Then, when I told him what was wrong and what was missing and that I wasn't satisfied: I mean, hey, I paid for a subscription to a magazine with nearly 100 pages, which was now about 75. What gives here? He responsed, curtly, with would you like a refund and that other subscribers liked the new format. Wow! I was astonished by the reply. Of course, I wanted a refund, but gee, I told him, I thought that in these hard times, you'd want to keep the subscribers you have instead of alienating them. Well...needless to say, that wasn't the case. The editor was a real snot and I told him so. I also told him about Karma. I never did hear back from him, but I did get a refund for ONLY the remaining issues. I hope the magazine goes out of business.KAPUT!  A shame since it had been a worthwhile magazine to me, then it wasn't.
Now, that is just a start...feel free to share your experience, long or short, it doesn't matter. As long as it matters to you, we want to hear it. I'll share more of my experience, new or old as we move onward.
Until next time.....best wishes...may all your shopping experiences be good ones, but if they're not, we want to hear them here and what you did or didn't do to try and make it right. And if you had a memorable shopping experience, a good one, that is okay to. Please share and let us  try and make it a better world one shopper and one dollar at a time. Thanks for stopping by!
My best,
SS