Customer service, or not...happens everywhere...

[ladytexan]

where prices on tags do not include taxes. Just a different approach.

Ah, yes, VAT included. 8) :wink:

 

[bluesypicky]

where prices on tags do not include taxes. Just a different approach.

Ah, yes, VAT included. 8) :wink:

Yep! I hate to have to pull a calculator in order to find out how much the darn thing will eventually cost me! :evil:
Store owners immediately tell you: "But that money isn't for us! It's for Uncle Sam!"
I know that, but to be brutally honest, don't give a rat's --- who gets what share of the money I pay... what I want to know when I shop, is how much money I will have to pull out of my pocket to get that aforementioned "darn thing"!!! And without a calculator!!! :lol:

 

[davismanLV]

Also, since you're obviously in the industry, and to satisfy my curiosity, are waiters/waitresses covered with health insurance with their jobs, or are they considered "independant contractors" and have to get private insurance?

Depends, Pascal. There are so many variables in play. Most of the large chain restaurants offer benefits (medical and dental and vision insurance) at a somewhat reasonable cost if you maintain a certain number of hours. Many smaller or independent restaurants offer you nothing. Then there are the UNION jobs. Most of the big hotels have restaurants which are union. Those people make almost DOUBLE the hourly rate of what non-union servers make, and they still get the same tips. These types of jobs are VERY COVETED, but so difficult to come by. Unless I start in a brand new hotel, I'm going to be so low on the totem pole that I'd have to suffer being on-call and part time and ..... probably have a second job just to survive. Even then, nothing is guaranteed. Once you pass a certain point and get in.... you're covered fully with really good union benefits.

So the answer is some do and some don't. I work in a restaurant in one of the big hotels but it's independently owned and they just pay rent. So I'm not union, however, they offer benefits as long as I maintain a certain number of hours per week.

Does that answer the question?

 

[bluesypicky]

Sure does, thanks Tom!

 

[killdeer43]

Cindy cuts my hair in the kitchen, or out on the deck if weather permits.
I always "tip" her! 8)

Joe

 

[davismanLV]

Also, I just want to clear up any misconceptions about claiming tips as income. Some people think that if you tip cash, that it's free money. Not so. The government is pretty savvy to what's going on. While there are exceptions, most restaurants are required for you as a server to claim at least 10% of your total sales as tips. Anything less is a red flag and your business will be audited. Cash, credit card, poker chips (please... don't, unless it's a huge amount of money) all must be claimed. At the end of the day, if my sales for the day are $1500, I MUST CLAIM $150. Even if I didn't make that much. Some days it's more, some days it's less (another reason for having Pascal revamp the system and eliminating tipping), but 10% must be claimed.

So cash isn't really king, unless you work for one of those restaurants that gjmalcyon mentioned that charge their servers to convert tips (which is a total scam). I have had people actually tell me since they're leaving cash, they can tip me less because it's "untraceable" or some such nonsense. :shock: Seriously?

 

[bluesypicky]

(another reason for having Pascal revamp the system and eliminating tipping)

I got your back bro... let me handle it. :lol:

Cindy cuts my hair in the kitchen, or out on the deck if weather permits. I always "tip" her! 8) Joe

If only my wife could cut my hair I would tip her good too!!! I tried to get her invloved with that, but even though I'm not too self conscious about my appearance, the results were way too scary.... :shock:

 

[Ian]

Hi Tom,

Well all in all it sounds like a completely vile and immoral system. How do we as customers help to disestablish the system ? Only eat in Union restaurants that pay their staff a decent wage ? (how are these restaurants and estasblishments recognized ?).

Of course I'm thinking now of all my friends and rellies that have visited the states and told me how cheap it is to eat out there ( Well of course it is if you arent paying the staff any wages....)

Cheers, Ian

 

[bluesypicky]

Well all in all it sounds like a completely vile and immoral system. Cheers, Ian

Shhhh..... yer gonna vex the "job creators"!! :lol:

 

[Ian]

Well all in all it sounds like a completely vile and immoral system. Cheers, Ian

Shhhh..... yer gonna vex the "job creators"!! :lol:

I think the job system is supposed to be that the Bourgoisie pay the Proletariat wages to perform a task for them. I dont remember it being a system whereby the proletariat are required to rely on the generosity of other members of the proletariat whilst performing that task in order for them to make a living.

 

[bluesypicky]

 

[Scratch]

You guys are going over the edge... I'll take capitalism over socialism anyday...

 

[adorshki]

You guys are going over the edge... I'll take capitalism over socialism anyday...

Yeah....you got it, I want it....let US decide on a mutually agreeable price. OK, so that's "free market capitalism", actually.
Now that I think about it, how'd you like to see menus that say "Make us an offer"? :lol:

 

[Ian]

You guys are going over the edge... I'll take capitalism over socialism anyday...

Glad to see that it's working out so well for you all :roll:

 

[Ravon]

I'll leap over the edge first.... Maggy Thatcher said it best "The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples money" :mrgreen:

 

[fronobulax]

Folks....

 

[adorshki]

Folks....

I always get confused when you moderate in green. Shouldn't it at least be yellow, for "caution"?
Otherwise, yeah, this one's gettin' into places that have caused grown LTGer's to gnash their teeth and make rude comments to their brethren, in public.... :wink:
And back to the subject at hand...a poll:
Do you tip any differently in say, a Hooters, compared to say, a Denny's?

 

[poser]

I tip a little extra in places I know I'll visit again. There's a small but very nice restaurant near us. At that place II tip between 20% and 25% ; sometimes a bit more. The manager always comes over to chat at some point during the meal. At a Denny's-type place I tip between 15% and 20%.

I've never been to a Hooters. What am I missing?

 

[adorshki]

I've never been to a Hooters. What am I missing?

Not sure, never been to one yet myself. From all the hype, I'm guessing people don't go there for the food. They go there for the sports television. :?

 

[fronobulax]

Folks....

I always get confused when you moderate in green.

I use green text when I am speaking as a Moderator to distinguish it from when I am just expressing an opinion. I'd like to think a brief comment or two in green is sufficient to bring things back on track. But being subtle doesn't always work around here.