Stupid Restaurant Tricks!

[Yeti Chaser]

Not that I'm making excuses for people treating you badly, but the reason for the 18% automagic tip is that CMs tend to treat waitstaff very poorly. There was a large portion using their discount and leaving downwards of a 10% tip. Also (and I'm not saying that you wonderful CMs would do this),
Probably 25% tip me on top of the gratuity. It's never the 25% that should.

Just curious, how old would you say that these CM's are that behave worse than SG's? When I take my wife and friends for Disney dining and get my discount, it is very important to me to leave extra on top of the 18% added to the bill. This is because who ever has waited on me and my group has ALWAYS given that service that Disney is noted for to my guests. Even when something goes wrong with my meal, the Service Recovery is top notch and it is not unusual for me to add even more to the extra tip I leave. You all work hard for your tips and deserve every penny you receive. Thank you for making it a magical experience every time.

[Rob562]

While this story is a bit off topic the thread seems to have moved to tipping so here I go.

Tiping can be some of the best money you can spend.

When I was in college on the weekends I would order pizza (before I knew I could not have gluten for those keeping score). I would get the best service in the dorm because I usually tipped 40-50%. I could have a pizza at my door in about 15 mins.

Before I move to Orlando I had to get rid of lots of stuff. Well move day came and the pile of stuff I had was about the size of two mini vans with serval things that the trash service would not pick up with out an appointment. The trash truck arrive steped up to the door handed each $40 neatly folded up and said merry christmas. In a 90 second it was all gone and compacting in the truck.

Extrodinary tipping leads to extrodinary service.

Best advice I ever got from a friend of mine, relating to attending a party with an open bar, and it works at a regular night out at a busy bar, too. Upon first arriving and getting a drink, immediately tip the bartender $10-$20. There were times she saw me heading towards the bar and already had a beer out and ready for me. It also helps you out, because you don't have to worry about leaving a tip after every drink.

-Rob

[WLStephanie]

Just curious, how old would you say that these CM's are that behave worse than SG's? When I take my wife and friends for Disney dining and get my discount, it is very important to me to leave extra on top of the 18% added to the bill. This is because who ever has waited on me and my group has ALWAYS given that service that Disney is noted for to my guests. Even when something goes wrong with my meal, the Service Recovery is top notch and it is not unusual for me to add even more to the extra tip I leave. You all work hard for your tips and deserve every penny you receive. Thank you for making it a magical experience every time.

It doesn't seem to be affected by age. It's pretty across the board. I will say that it happens more at my current location than it did at the signature location that I used to work at. Actually, poorly tipping, high maintainance folks are more common than at my old location. Not sure why. Especially since we actually work harder (it's a very labor intensive meal presentation). That's probably why more of my collegues at my current location are pixie rusted. I am glad that you have always gotten stellar service. I try to give everyone great service. I get weeded sometimes, but that's why we have server assistants... to pick up the slack and be an extra set of hands. Disney has a very good set up for helping us keep our service top notch. And my supervisors are fantastic as well. It's not abnormal for our head chef to pitch in bussing tables if we are busy and he's got a few extra minutes.

I wish that I could read people's minds sometimes and figure out why bad tippers do so. Did I offend them? Is it their norm? Was there something wrong with the meal that they didn't want to mention? Are they just cheap? (though when they are using the discount card... not cast ID, but DDE and tip less than 15% on the discounted amount, that's a pretty easy deduction... AND a HUGE number of DDE guests do this too. Seriously, we inwardly cringe when seeing this card half of the time) I even got completely stiffed on Christmas day by a family of 4 who raved about how I managed to read their mind when bringing out extra dessert. What's up with that??

[SWTexasBelle]

I'm sorry to hear about the DDE - I have the card, and always tip on the full price. Now I'm worried that when I'm at WDW (NEXT WEEK!!!WOO HOO!!) I should tell my server, "Don't worry - I tip on the full price!" as I hand them the card. I long ago decided that life was too short to quibble over a dollar here or there - so I always try to round UP with things like tips.
As to the analysis of the other SG - all I can say is that, alas, there are far too many mean, petty people in the world who do all they can to steal other's joy and spread their unhappiness. Don't let them win! Know that these SGs create their own hell. Think about it - those spouses have to LIVE with the awfulness 24/7. Heck, they have to live with themselves, which can't be pleasant.
There are many who appreciate you, I am sure. I'm just sorry more of them don't tell you or your manager. For some reason people are more like to complain than compliment. Actually, that's why I carry around a small hard cover notebook in my daypack - so I can write down the names of exceptional CMs and "write them up" at Guest Relations!

[inkstainedpsyche]

I find it weird that people would only tip on the discounted amount of anything. My husband and I always tip on the full amount before the discount whenever we're somewhere that has a coupon, especially the coupons you get in entertainment books that are buy one meal, get one meal of lesser value free. The server has still has to deal with two meals, drinks, etc, so they should get tipped on it.

But I guess I'm accustomed to it because my husband worked in restaurants before we were married and delivered pizza after we were married (those days are long gone, though, so he no longer works for tips).

Usually, we're pretty generous, with 15-20% being the norm. However, there was one instance many years ago when we went to a Plush Pippin Restaurant (do they even have those anymore? I know they still make pies) and ordered only pie. The restaurant was NOT busy, the pie did not have to be baked since it was right there in the pie case, but it took 45 minutes of waiting after our order was placed before we actually got served the pie. No explanation, no nothing. The server got exactly one penny and a note explaining why.

[Sioban]

That does suck about the lack of tipping with (and without) the DDE.
I have the DDE and use it all the time. But pretty much the server gets a 20% tip no matter what. Also, if we end up with a bigger party (or one that gets a bit more rambunctious, the server gets more than that)

I have never worked at a restaurant but customer service is customer service and good service should be rewarded.

That's not to say that I haven't had bad service before- like it taking 45 minutes just to get soda (although I don't think I've ever had it at WDW) and then I tip accordingly too (or find out the waiters name and never get their section ever again).

[june1st1997]

I have a question... To limit my stupidity...

We are having breakfast with Minnie & Friends @ Plaza Inn DLR. It's buffet... There will be 10 of us... Do I leave a tip? How much?

I am embarrassed to say, we have not in the past and I pride myself on tipping like Frank Sinatra. We pay to get in... and since I only think about the tip when I am paying the bill... I'm guessing we have been supreme passholes.

If I have stiffed you at Plaza Inn... I'm sorry. :(

[Cheshire Figment]

As long as the server is removing empty plates and keeping beverages refilled on a timely basis, the tip should be around 15% of the pre-discounted price.

[june1st1997]

There is no server at all. Only a busser.

what would be appropriate?

[inkstainedpsyche]

There is no server at all. Only a busser.

what would be appropriate?

You might want to take a look at this: http://www.tipping.org/tips/restaurant.html

It says that tipping the busser is not necessary. Now, I don't know if it holds true, but back in my husband's restaurant days, he was a busser once or twice and he said the waitresses always gave the bussers a percentage of their tips. However, whether that just happened to be the case where he worked or it was standard then (these were the late 1970's, in case you're wondering), I can't say for sure.