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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi Pat and listmates,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Gratuity in the United States is certainly
different than in other parts of the world. I wholeheartedly disagree that
a tip to a restaurant server is for "service above and beyond the call of
duty." As someone who has worked in the restaurant industry from
moderate to upscale and fine dining, a restaurant server, though technically
employed by an establishment, is really more of an independent contractor
working on commission. Servers across the board are generally paid $2.52
an hour by the house (by law). Servers in most houses are required to tip
out 3% of their sales (not what they actually make, but a % of what has been
sold) back to the house for "tip-outs" which are then divided by another % to
bussers and bartenders. (i.e. there really are no "wages" per
se).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This means that a server is generally paying out of
pocket to work at the house as their tip-outs are almost always more than what
they are getting paid by the house. In addition, by law, all restaurant
servers (and bartenders too for that matter) are required to claim a
minimum of 8% of their sales to the government for income tax (again, this is
based on sales and not on what is actually made by the server), though most
servers generally make and claim more. So a server is tipping back 3% and
claiming for taxes at least 8% plus of their sales. A server is "given"
floor space to earn this gratuity in much the same way a commissioned
salesperson is given floorspace in other retail outlets. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Therefore if someone orders a $100 meal and only
leaves $5, $3 goes back to the house and at least $8 has to be claimed for
taxes. What's the point in serving? Generally in the U.S. a 15%
gratuity is considered reasonable for adequate to good service and 16 to 20% for
exceptional or outstanding service. This is why even in less expensive
restaurants a gratuity of 15 to 18% is automatically added on to larger parties,
if sales are high and the gratuity is neglected, the server is losing money and
the house loses quality people. Good quality servers (customer service
reps in general) are not easy to come by as it is, especially because restaurant
serving is a difficult and often thankless job.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This is not to say that if the service quality is
poor, than a high gratuity is in order. Poor service is poor
service and should always be reflected (as well as speaking to the
manager) - I. personally, have very low tolerance for bad customer service
anywhere.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Jazz content? I don't know, forgive me this
one time! Oh yes, if I make a request, I'll always throw a couple of bucks into
the tip jar if there is one! </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>All the best,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Rob McCallum</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> Original Message ----- </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A href="mailto:PLadd36932@aol.com"
title=PLadd36932@aol.com>PLadd36932@aol.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A href="mailto:JimDBB@aol.com"
title=JimDBB@aol.com>JimDBB@aol.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A
href="mailto:dixielandjazz@ml.islandnet.com"
title=dixielandjazz@ml.islandnet.com>dixielandjazz@ml.islandnet.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, March 06, 2003 3:56
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Dixielandjazz] Tips, "Death
of Jazz", Yellow Dog Blues</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT face=Arial lang=0 size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF">In a message dated 06/03/03 18:49:41 GMT Standard Time, <A
href="mailto:JimDBB@aol.com">JimDBB@aol.com</A> writes:<BR><BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"
TYPE="CITE">Actually, to request a tune from a band and not attempt <BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"
TYPE="CITE">to tip is gauche as I see it. </FONT><FONT color=#000000
face=Arial lang=0 size=3 style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff"
FAMILY="SANSSERIF"></BLOCKQUOTE><BR></FONT><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial
lang=0 size=2 style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff"
FAMILY="SANSSERIF"></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Hi ,<BR>I think that tipping in the UK is
not a regular thing. I know I am constantly surprised when in America at the
size and frequency of tipping.<BR><BR>A| tip here would be generally 10%
although for some unknown reason this is beginning to creep up to
12.5%.<BR>Taxis, restaurants and for some totally obscure reason, hairdressers
expect a tip, and that is about it.<BR>In the States I have been pursued into
the street by a waitress who considered that I had undertipped her.<BR>Tipping
is for service above and beyond the call of duty. Not a device to allow
employers to pay low wages. If staff dont get a proper wage, see the Union,
not me<BR><BR>Cheers<BR><BR>PatL</FONT>
<P>
<HR>
<P></P>_______________________________________________<BR>Dixielandjazz
mailing
list<BR>Dixielandjazz@ml.islandnet.com<BR>http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BODY></HTML>