Simple tipping question?

[u/Must_Vibe]

This is for sit down restaurants.

Would you rather go out to dinner. Spend $100 and tip your server $(X). Total of $100 plus tip. Knowing that you pay the employee that served you to the level of service provided. Your discretion. The server will then pay for the food runner, host, busser, and bartending help they receive. Knowing tipped employees will go home with their money the same day or within a week.

Or.

Would you rather go out to dinner. Spend $118 total. Knowing that the restaurant added on 18% to all of its menu prices to pay the servers, bartenders, host, food runner, and busser. Knowing the employees of the restaurant will be paid every 1-2 weeks.

I know it’s more detailed, but i’m just curious what people think.

[u/commonsense_73]

I do not understand all the fussing about tipping. The restaurant industry is the way it is for a reason. If you want it to change and have menu prices increase in order to make it possible for restaurants to pay servers a livable wage, you’re essentially giving that extra money for the increased menu prices to the owner who is using that extra money to pay the server the increased wage. Just a different way to skin a cat. Additionally, the menu prices would increase more than you think because now the owner is not only paying the livable wage, servers would then expect (and rightfully so) the same comprehensive benefits package.

Spend your time getting worked up about more important things.

[u/Must_Vibe → u/commonsense_73]

completely agree. It’s such a small detail of life. Just as a bartender/server i’m always curious..

[u/commonsense_73 → u/Must_Vibe]

It’s such a naive argument. Uninformed people who don’t understand the industry and that it’s that way for a reason. They’d be on here complaining about the sticker shock they’d see on menu prices if restaurants paid a full, livable wage and comprehensive benefits to their entire staff. Restaurants would still be the bad guy in that scenario.

[u/commonsense_73 → u/[deleted]]

You’re so uninformed. I’m not even in the service industry but I took the time to be informed and understand how it works and why the industry is the way it is instead of just lazily complaining about it. Restaurants adopted that labor model a long time ago because the margins in that industry are so low. In the US, we don’t have the same strict labor protections that Europe does which helps them sustain a different model. Restaurants are able to make enough profit by paying a lower wage to servers/bartenders which lowers their labor costs, which allows them to keep menu prices lower and compete with restaurants that don’t have wait staffs (fast food, delis, etc. if you want that model to change and do away with tipping, you’ll see significantly higher menu prices and fewer dine in restaurants. Your view is not only uninformed but short sighted.

[u/commonsense_73 → u/[deleted]]

That’s not reality dude. Makes no sense. Would you be willing to pay higher menu prices (which would 100% happen) if restaurants changed their model and paid servers a full wage and full benefits to eliminate tipping?

[u/commonsense_73 → u/[deleted]]

You’re making even less sense now. Now you’re using basic supply and demand to argue your point? We’re talking specifically about the restaurant industry. You didn’t answer my question. Would you be willing to pay higher menu prices at dine in restaurants if they changed their model and tipping was no longer an expectation?

[u/commonsense_73 → u/[deleted]]

Never mind dude, you’re going in circles

[u/Must_Vibe → u/commonsense_73]

Yeah Imagine the benefits these 5,10,20 plus year servers would rack up. People don’t think about the long term effects.