I've recently noticed a lot of articles
arguing that the U.S. should eliminate tipping in restaurants and
replace it with service charges or higher prices. While I mostly
agree with the premise, I think most of the arguments against tipping
are wrong. For instance, one common argument is that tipping does
not result in better service because you tip after the meal/service.
Well if you really want good service:
Many years ago, an uncle told me about
his trips to Las Vegas and how to live like a big shot. He would go
sit at the hotel pool and order a drink. When the server brought the
drink, he would hand her/him an extra $20 and say, "Make sure
that glass is never empty." You know who got great service? My
uncle.
In my youth, I spent one summer working
at a convention center setting up rooms/stages/banquet halls/dance
floors for various meetings, receptions and conventions. Despite the
manual labor, most of the time we sat around in the big easy
executive chairs while smoking and running away to hide when the
bosses came around. One week, a large appliance convention rolled
into town. We met the head guy for the convention, and he pointed
out how he wanted the room set-up.
Just as I started to pretend we had
another room to go set up, he pulled a wad of cash from his pocket
and handed $20 each to my co-worker and myself. "I trust you'll
be around," he said.
You know who got great service? That
appliance convention.
We pretty much stayed by that guy's
side all week and even helped unload two trucks full of dishwashers,
washers and dryers, and stoves. By the end of the convention, we had
pulled in an extra $100 each in tips which was $100 more in tips than
I made all summer. (At this time I'd like to apologize to the family
reunion that didn't have enough chairs that week. Seems like we were
too busy with the appliance convention to help you out.)
As many long-time readers may recall,
St. Pauli Girl and I owned a restaurant for six years. One day I
studied our liquor invoices and wondered why we had ordered a bottle
of Glenlivet 18 year old Scotch as we already had plenty including
the 12 year old Glenlivet. I asked our bartender who said, "Oh
yeah, someone called and requested it. Said he would come here more
often if we had it. Don't worry, you're going to love this guy."
Later that night, this man (we'll call
him Felix), came in with a rather loud, rowdy party of six. When
they got to the table, he handed the hostess $20 then went to the
bar, ordered a Glenlivet (18 year old) and tipped the bartender $20.
You know who got great service? Felix and everyone he ever came in
with.
Felix came in almost weekly always with
four to eight people. When he walked in the door, the entire front
of house staff would practically mob him to say hello, hug him and
hopefully get a little cash. Felix knew everyone's name and anyone
new on the staff made it a point to stop by his table and introduce
himself/herself.
Felix happened to be a very picky
eater. In fact, Felix didn't really order from the menu. He ordered
one of our pasta dishes with sauce we used on another dish and
"absolutely no cheese! If cheese is anywhere on the table, I'll
go crazy and never come in here again."
You know who gets to special order
their own entrees that aren't on the menu? Felix and anyone else who
throws out cash like rice at a wedding.
I never really came to love Felix as
our bartender had suggested I would. Probably because he didn't tip
me although one of his friends did buy my Guinness necktie from me for
$50. But he always made the place more lively, and the staff loved
him.
So even if the U.S. does totally get
rid of tipping someday, we'll never truly really get rid of tipping
because some people just like living large. And it's no different
than politics. You know who gets great service from an elected
official? The people that gave the politician a lot of money before
the politician won the election.
