T.I.P.S: What Does That Really Mean?
Did you know that workers in restaurants dread Sunday lunch hour? Did you know that they identify 'Church people' as the worst customers they have?
And they know us when we arrive. 'Church people' are easy to identify because they all come in dressed up from attending Church, they demand a lot of high attention, leave huge messes on the table and floor for the servers to clean up, and leave little or no TIP. And sadly, I cannot defend the Church because I've worked many years in restaurants, and I've had to work many Sunday's. I know this accusation is true.
Once, a customer left a card instead of money on the table for server. She showed it to me. It said, "Since I've already given my tithe to church, this is what I want to give you," and the rest was instruction and Scripture on 'how to get saved.'
Tell me, if you were the server in question, and you had just delivered top service to this table without complaint, was gracious and helpful, and go to clean up the table, only to find that card there instead of money, would you feel inclined to be one of them?
Based on my own experience and witness I can testify on behalf of the servers. I've paid close attention. Church families usually do demand a lot of attention due to their kids (and truthfully, often their pickiness). They do leave a huge mess behind, often including most of their food untouched, and their kids have left food spread all over the table, chair and floor. And unless there is a large enough group that a gratuity can be charged, they leave less than 10% tip.
This is a great offense to the servers, and they care very little for 'Church people' for their inconsideration of them. This is why I am constantly advising people about dining out, and begging pastor's to preach about tipping in restaurants and explain how powerful a witness depends upon it.
Why? First, let me let you in on some 'inside' information about how restaurants operate:
1) In restaurants like Outback Steakhouse, Olive Garden, and even four and five star places like
Houston's Restaurant in Dallas, TX, servers make less than minimum wage.
2) After taxes and insurance is taken out, they have no paycheck whatsoever. And depending on
what kind of health insurance plan they have, some have to pay in extra.
3) ALL servers are required to pay in a certain percentage of their total sales for the day to the
restaurant. This is so that the restaurant can distribute TIPS to the bus boys and hostesses. They
consider that the bus boys and hostesses were a part of the teamwork that delivered service to
each table, and they are entitled to part of the TIPS. -Please know that few servers disagree with
this. Most appreciate the concept because it motivates everyone to deliver the best possible
service to ensure that they receive a little extra at the end of the day.
THIS is why tipping at least 15% is not only good consideration to the server, but is also a great witnessing opportunity. I believe that, if you don't have enough to leave at least 15% on the table, you don't have enough to dine out! Unless you have received exceptionally poor service, and you know it is because the server is not even attempting to do their job, there is no reason not leave the minimum 15%. If they have delivered exceptional service, it is great generosity to tip at least 20 or 25%.
In restaurant language, when you leave a fair or generous tip, you are saying to the server, "I value you and appreciate your efforts to make my meal experience." When you leave less than 10% [or nothing] you are saying to the server, "I do not having value for you. I deserve the service because I paid my bill. I am reserving the rest of money for myself because I am worth more than you."
How do I know? Because I've been a server. I know what I feel like when I see what people leave behind. AND I have listened to countless other servers express their own feelings about it. Trust me. They know when they're appreciated or not by the amount of money you leave behind.
What if you say, "I'm always nice to the servers?" "I never complain." "I'm patient for my food." "I always stack my plates." I'm not demanding." I clean up my kids mess." -Honestly, the server will appreciate this, and they might even like you, but they'll still feel let down if you don't leave them a good tip.
So, are they being greedy? No. I don't believe so. They expect no more than what is traditionally expected based upon a highly recognized system. They work hard to earn those tips just like the typical working man does for his wages. AND don't forget that in most restaurants they don't even make a paycheck. If they don't get good tips, they can't pay their bills ...or go out to eat themselves.
So what exactly are you saying the Church should do?
Well, if you asked my aunt, she would say that we shouldn't be eating out on Sunday's at all.
But if you must eat [at any time], remember the witness you are generating. I have specifically talked about Sunday's because of the reputation we have on Sunday's. But if we maintain the habit of praying before we eat, and perhaps even trying to talk to the server about God, then we are identifying ourselves. -And that's good! Just remember that we have to take this into account:
1) We should be the best customers that any server has ever waited on!
*As soon as we walk in the door we should have a smile on our face, be understanding if there
is a wait. (Even if we decide to go somewhere else, we do not need to get an attitude with the
hostess about the wait.)
*If we do wait, we need to be patient, even if it takes longer. (Remember that the waiting
system is guesstimates based on the average time it takes for a table to order, eat, and leave.
Some people take longer than usual. The restaurant cannot help this.)
*Be understanding when your server takes longer than you appreciate. (Is it busy? Does it look
like they may be understaffed? Perhaps they're new and still trying to learn the ropes.)
*Don't complain about your food, even if you must send it back. Don't make a scene.
2) Leave a good tip. Show the server that you appreciate their efforts. More than that, show them
that you have value for who they are.
*Remember that, if you want to draw others for Christ, they need to know that you value them.
In the restaurant language, you confirm that by how much tip you leave on the table.
Remember, it's really a combination of both your behavior and the tips you leave. Originally, TIPS was created 'To Insure Proper Service.' I would like to recreate our mind frame on that that TIPS are 'To Invest in the Person Serving You.'
Think of this the next time you go out to eat. Let's change the world's opinion of the Church by beginning in one of the most universally popular organizations in the world: The Restaurants!
Once, a customer left a card instead of money on the table for server. She showed it to me. It said, "Since I've already given my tithe to church, this is what I want to give you," and the rest was instruction and Scripture on 'how to get saved.'
Tell me, if you were the server in question, and you had just delivered top service to this table without complaint, was gracious and helpful, and go to clean up the table, only to find that card there instead of money, would you feel inclined to be one of them?
Based on my own experience and witness I can testify on behalf of the servers. I've paid close attention. Church families usually do demand a lot of attention due to their kids (and truthfully, often their pickiness). They do leave a huge mess behind, often including most of their food untouched, and their kids have left food spread all over the table, chair and floor. And unless there is a large enough group that a gratuity can be charged, they leave less than 10% tip.
This is a great offense to the servers, and they care very little for 'Church people' for their inconsideration of them. This is why I am constantly advising people about dining out, and begging pastor's to preach about tipping in restaurants and explain how powerful a witness depends upon it.
Why? First, let me let you in on some 'inside' information about how restaurants operate:
1) In restaurants like Outback Steakhouse, Olive Garden, and even four and five star places like
Houston's Restaurant in Dallas, TX, servers make less than minimum wage.
2) After taxes and insurance is taken out, they have no paycheck whatsoever. And depending on
what kind of health insurance plan they have, some have to pay in extra.
3) ALL servers are required to pay in a certain percentage of their total sales for the day to the
restaurant. This is so that the restaurant can distribute TIPS to the bus boys and hostesses. They
consider that the bus boys and hostesses were a part of the teamwork that delivered service to
each table, and they are entitled to part of the TIPS. -Please know that few servers disagree with
this. Most appreciate the concept because it motivates everyone to deliver the best possible
service to ensure that they receive a little extra at the end of the day.
THIS is why tipping at least 15% is not only good consideration to the server, but is also a great witnessing opportunity. I believe that, if you don't have enough to leave at least 15% on the table, you don't have enough to dine out! Unless you have received exceptionally poor service, and you know it is because the server is not even attempting to do their job, there is no reason not leave the minimum 15%. If they have delivered exceptional service, it is great generosity to tip at least 20 or 25%.
In restaurant language, when you leave a fair or generous tip, you are saying to the server, "I value you and appreciate your efforts to make my meal experience." When you leave less than 10% [or nothing] you are saying to the server, "I do not having value for you. I deserve the service because I paid my bill. I am reserving the rest of money for myself because I am worth more than you."
I'M NOT MAKING THIS UP!
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE SERVER WILL INTERPRET FROM YOU!
How do I know? Because I've been a server. I know what I feel like when I see what people leave behind. AND I have listened to countless other servers express their own feelings about it. Trust me. They know when they're appreciated or not by the amount of money you leave behind.
What if you say, "I'm always nice to the servers?" "I never complain." "I'm patient for my food." "I always stack my plates." I'm not demanding." I clean up my kids mess." -Honestly, the server will appreciate this, and they might even like you, but they'll still feel let down if you don't leave them a good tip.
So, are they being greedy? No. I don't believe so. They expect no more than what is traditionally expected based upon a highly recognized system. They work hard to earn those tips just like the typical working man does for his wages. AND don't forget that in most restaurants they don't even make a paycheck. If they don't get good tips, they can't pay their bills ...or go out to eat themselves.
So what exactly are you saying the Church should do?
Well, if you asked my aunt, she would say that we shouldn't be eating out on Sunday's at all.
But if you must eat [at any time], remember the witness you are generating. I have specifically talked about Sunday's because of the reputation we have on Sunday's. But if we maintain the habit of praying before we eat, and perhaps even trying to talk to the server about God, then we are identifying ourselves. -And that's good! Just remember that we have to take this into account:
1) We should be the best customers that any server has ever waited on!
*As soon as we walk in the door we should have a smile on our face, be understanding if there
is a wait. (Even if we decide to go somewhere else, we do not need to get an attitude with the
hostess about the wait.)
*If we do wait, we need to be patient, even if it takes longer. (Remember that the waiting
system is guesstimates based on the average time it takes for a table to order, eat, and leave.
Some people take longer than usual. The restaurant cannot help this.)
*Be understanding when your server takes longer than you appreciate. (Is it busy? Does it look
like they may be understaffed? Perhaps they're new and still trying to learn the ropes.)
*Don't complain about your food, even if you must send it back. Don't make a scene.
2) Leave a good tip. Show the server that you appreciate their efforts. More than that, show them
that you have value for who they are.
*Remember that, if you want to draw others for Christ, they need to know that you value them.
In the restaurant language, you confirm that by how much tip you leave on the table.
Remember, it's really a combination of both your behavior and the tips you leave. Originally, TIPS was created 'To Insure Proper Service.' I would like to recreate our mind frame on that that TIPS are 'To Invest in the Person Serving You.'
Think of this the next time you go out to eat. Let's change the world's opinion of the Church by beginning in one of the most universally popular organizations in the world: The Restaurants!
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