Make sure you leave a tip!!!

Rascus · 09-12-2004, 02:45 PM

I don't see this as being enforced to the point of being arrested like this guy. All you have to do is claim bad service.

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The Waitress Isn't Kidding When She Tells You to Leave a Tip
By MARY SPICUZZA

Published: September 11, 2004

When stopping in for a meal at Soprano's Italian and American Grill in Lake George, N.Y., leave a good tip.

Or else.

A man from the New York City area was arrested Sunday night after his party of nine failed to leave an 18 percent tip, the restaurant's mandatory gratuity for parties of six or more people, which had been added to his bill.

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The diner, Humberto A. Taveras, 41, was arrested, fingerprinted and photographed for a mug shot in Lake George, a resort village about 60 miles north of Albany, but he did not produce the $13.73 tip, which is a little less than 18 percent of the $77.43 cost of his meal. He faces a misdemeanor charge of theft of services and, if convicted, could serve up to a year in jail, said Larry J. Cleveland, the Warren County sheriff.

Joe Soprano, who owns the restaurant, said that he and his wife, Tina, had not intended to have Mr. Taveras arrested when they filed the complaint. But Mr. Soprano was unapologetic yesterday.

"They shorted the check and didn't leave any money at all for the waitress," he said. "This is not a vendetta. This is just about standing up for my waitresses."

Members of Mr. Taveras's party were "very rude" throughout their pizza dinner, Mr. Soprano said, but they never complained about the food or service. All of the menus have a notice about the mandatory gratuity, he said, and the party was specifically reminded about the tipping policies.

But Mr. Taveras told The Glens Falls Post-Star that he had not been aware of the mandatory tip and was surprised when Patrol Officer K.C. Glenn approached them at a store near the restaurant.

"For us, it was a matter of principle," Mr. Taveras said in the article. "They chased us down like a bunch of criminals. It killed our weekend."

Mr. Taveras said that his party was unsatisfied with the meal but thought they had left a 10 percent tip, according to the newspaper.

Mr. Taveras is scheduled to appear at Lake George Town Court on Sept. 16.

Mr. Soprano said that many of his waitresses were college students and that others were single mothers.

"This is for the hard-working people who work for me; it's not for me," he said. "These people work strictly for tips, and they work their tails off."

Exhiliration · 09-12-2004, 02:55 PM

The owner should be prosecuted, I say death-penalty to this scum bag. The cheap fuck doesn't even pay his "hard working" waiters because he devised a strategy to put have their entire salaries paid by the customer and than when one fails to leave the 18% mandatory tip he calls the police. Only in the great USA can a case like this ever occur. While the man won’t get a year in jail or anything to the sort, it did ruin his weekend and life is pursuit of happiness and this douche bag took way 48+ hours of happiness for that he should get the guillotine.

King Cobra · 09-12-2004, 03:23 PM

If the mandatory gratuity had not been advertised I would have been inclined to agree with you. But if it's known up front and they chose not to pay it, they were at fault.

Ershank · 09-12-2004, 03:26 PM

I agree. Off with his nutsack.

ASCI_Blue · 09-12-2004, 04:25 PM

hm..depends how well the gratutity was advertised. I went out for my b-day last weekend and on the menu was a 12 - 14 point font saying 10% gratuity for parties of 6 or more. Kinda small imo as I get paid to notice the little things but I believe it's an honest mistake since generall it's not well advertised where/when gratuties apply. Also TIPS are not a requirement they're a tip. It's saying 'thanks for your good service'.

Krazy Hawaiian · 09-12-2004, 04:37 PM

I'd just avoid places that "require" tips. Its a bonus for good service. If a waitress (a girl especially a cute one will get a healthy tip) (waiters wont get as good a tip from me.... its the guy thing LOL) gives good head oops I mean service she gets a great tip, *** never mind the obvious pun ... if its ok service she gets a ok tip. I still tip them if they are neglectful because they work for tips. Most of them work very hard too. A cheerful nice looking gal will always doo well. A sourpuss won't.
Mandatory tipping sux.

Mr. Lesbian · 09-12-2004, 04:56 PM

If it's mandatory, it's not a tip. That owner is a complete ass.

Rascus · 09-12-2004, 05:09 PM

I will always leave at least a 15% tip. Unless service was really bad. Even then only if the waiter/waitress wasn't helpful. One restraunt I went to recently the food was horrible, it was late coming out. The waiter was very polite and apologizing for the problem. I shouldn't punish him for the fact the cooks were slow or something out of his problem. I gave him more just for being helpful in that aspect

Krazy Hawaiian · 09-12-2004, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rascus

I will always leave at least a 15% tip. Unless service was really bad. Even then only if the waiter/waitress wasn't helpful. One restraunt I went to recently the food was horrible, it was late coming out. The waiter was very polite and apologizing for the problem. I shouldn't punish him for the fact the cooks were slow or something out of his problem. I gave him more just for being helpful in that aspect

Right on Rasc, it isnt his fault the cook pissed in teh soup (pun... hope like hell he didnt) I feel the same way. I know a few waitresses and there some of the nicest girls I've ever met. Shame there already married

King Cobra · 09-12-2004, 06:32 PM

I personally never leave tips, just to keep things simple.

busarider54 · 09-12-2004, 07:01 PM

Taveras is a cheap ass and got what he deserved.

japbike · 09-12-2004, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Cobra

I personally never leave tips, just to keep things simple.

is any one suprised by this??

but anyway, if 10-15% is required of parties over 6 ppl, it should be added TO the bill and/or told upfront that it will be added on.. I just love how some places place advertise it at the bottom of the menu and print it in the smallest font possible

Desp · 09-12-2004, 11:09 PM

If it's a cute girl I'll usually leave at least 20%, what goes around comes around.

NetXteN · 09-12-2004, 11:15 PM

Fuck that. Amount of tip is directly perportional to service given.

If my waitress doesn't pay any attention to me when I need something, acts like a total stuck up bitch.. and is "too good" to help me.. well then fuck her cause her tip = ZERO.

Most of the time I tip 15%-20% if the service is average.

I go 25%+ if they are just awesome. (Which does happen)

Tips are at the choice of the customer. There is no such thing as a mandatory tip in my book. If it's mandatory, then it's not a tip.

I do think there has to be something blatantly wrong not to leave one, but then again... that's up to the customer. Not the fuckin management.

Also, maybe the customer didn't have enough for a tip? Maybe their poor ass could just barely pay the bill... ever think of that one?! That's actually happened to me before. I made it a point to overtip the next time I saw that person.

hybrid · 09-12-2004, 11:21 PM

some of you are losers. That is the traditional way that waitresses get paid and its been like that since before you were a twinkle in your daddy's eye. Just pat the f@cking 15% and be happy you can afford to have someone serve you