Couple Arrested for Not Paying Tip

Most places seem to have sections that the waitstaff work so it would be smarter to request that section when being seated.

True but if the section is full and you're stuck in the section with poor wait staff paying mandatory tip as a patron shouldn't you be able to select your server?

I guess & if they refuse, you could leave. I can't imagine the couple in the article will lose in court but that's REALLY bad biz for the bartender to call the cops. The place won't stay open at that rate. Of course, I'm always a little wary of news stories since so often there's a lot left out.

Did you watch the video that accompanied the article by local NBC Philly affiliate?

The Big Picture in this case, is the word Gratuity (Tip) which is defined as a "voluntary extra payment for services. Whatever the Judge decides will become "Case Law". The question is can you mandate a voluntary practice of etiquette and make it legal or illegal.

Yes, doesn't change my opinion.

My question is why would the bartender let it get this far? The bad press for his establishment is not worth it. Whether or not you agree with the couple, when deciding where to go would you go to that establishment now?

Sean

With all this publicity (even bad), I bet they'll be packed tonight!

I Bet everybody will pay the gratuity too.

:@)

Just ask flr separate tabs?????NO??? I am a separate party....just sitting here.....Maybe not...Just a thought...

This wouldn`t work here as west Indians don't tip!
This has been brought up before.
Who was that um person who always disagreed with me just for the sake of it...A DAVIS!<Where are You??

She said it was up to your discretion (agreed), but I spoke with many waitpersons here, & they said locals(dark) just DON`T tip!
She NEVER did answer if she, or anyone else in her group ever tipped.<And I asked her!!!

Bottom line,if the must tip law was enforced here, (most) locals couldn't` go out to eat!

That would be unfortunate for the restaurant owners, but a RELIEF, I`m sure to the wait staff!

Though, if I got terrible service(like the people who got arrested), I wouldn`t tip either(& I always do unless the service is awful)

Your "locals(dark)" reference is offensive, and whether Anita tips is none of your business, though I'm certain she does so generously.

With you dntw8up. I find the remark offensive. Categorizing people by the color of their skin, religion or nationality is stupid. Uh, yeah, stupid. Dun, I thought better of you.

Pamela

Tipping is not racial, it is cultural. When Ric and I were in Italy 2 years ago we tipped waaay too much -- I think we messed up the economy!! lol.

OK, to circumvent the rehash by myself alone, does anyone here know of any waitstaff, bar tenders & the like?
I know several, but you already know what they all told me regarding tips from different locals(is that better?) here.

Lets hear it from someone else...anyone here a bartender/waiter/waitress?

As I said before when this was brought up, Europeans add a VAT tax, the service staff is paid well(& many are even insulted) if you tip.

Tipping for these services is a American invention, as the staff is paid usually WAY below the minimum wage.

The reason so many topics (including this one) are rehashed,over & over, is because many here don`t seem to pay attention or have a normal memory span.
We can start with the 2 above old timer posters here for the memory lapse.
I can drag up the adavis thing, but I`ll let you do it if you wish to refute my above statements(it would only add credibility to my statements), as I still stand behind them(no matter how it sounds).

Good service here in the US(& it`s territories) is expected.
The only point I agreed w/ A davis is lousy service doesn`t deserve a tip!
Just telling it like it is.

Dun...I'm not a waitress...can't help you.

I'm giving a shout out to those that are waitstaff here in the islands....

My husband and I are far from being kids or guys..So please stop addressing your customers as "Hey Kids how's dinner or "Here's your food Guys". Damn when we pay $40.00 bucks a head for meals please have some respect for your customers you're waiting on. Is that to much to ask for that large tip you expect from us?

My wife and I were sitting at Angry Nates on the boardwalk in Christiansted and read this thread on our iPhones. We called our waiter over and showed him your post and asked his opinion. He said that with very, very few exceptions you are right. He said at most locals leave only whatever change is required for the bill. He used as an example 4 west indians who came in last night had a bill of $96, they left $100. He said that is the norm. He also said that if you aren't paying attention to them all of the time they call you racist.

This is not my opinion, this is from a waiter at Angry Nates, today.

I don`t work in the restaurant/bar business.

A gratuity is earned, no one should EXPECT it!

I just tipped 20%(my normal tip for OK service) @ Molly`s this morning.

Another thing I said before, here, in the US & territories, it is commonplace for a waiter/waitress to pre-grat any group that has a European accent, as they again are not familiar with out system of staff working for tips for 80-90% of their wages(or so I`m told, tme & time again from different people).

Again, I`m not fighting for waiter`s increased incomes here, I`m just trying to tell it like it is.

And, to those getting offended as to how I out it, when did we become so subservient of others feelings that we cannot properly express ourselves?

For instance, I believe, if your are a taxpayer, you should be outraged, yet all we hear is silence.

"I may not like what you have to say, but I`ll defend to the death your right to say it"-Voltaire

(tu) You go DUN!!!!!!!!!

tipping is always at the discretion of the customer.

i'd like to think that my generosity makes up for some who choose not to ever tip.

waitstaff are like entrepreneurs, whether they know it or not, and the good ones know how to work their patrons, just as good business people know how to work theirs.

i am black and i have always tipped.

i am offended that anyone would automatically add on a tip of their choice to my bill because it's up to me to decide whether to tip, and how much to tip... and i don't eat at those establishments except for if it's a group situation and/or i am not choosing the venue.

tipping is my choice, my choice, my choice.

not playing devil's advocate (although some would call me a heathen)... this is really how i feel.

oh, and did i mention that i am black?

i know lots of black people who tip. they are my homies.

i know lots of black people who do not tip. i realize that because of this, people assume that black folk don't tip.

i wonder if bad treatment by waitstaff can result in no tip from a black person who usually would tip.

i know lots of local blacks (west indians/caribbean people) who tip, and at 15% or above.

they tend to be educated, traveled, and socially sophisticated, just as in any community this would be correct.

i wonder if it's more cultural than based on skin color.

i wish people would stop assuming things about me because i am black, but it's not going to happen... so i just do me.

Nicely said Anita. Yes it (the issue of tipping) is cultural, but in the West Indies culture and skin color are intertwined. That makes this community very culturally robust and interesting, but it also means twice the exposure to critics, justified or not. Jews are noted as poor tippers too, and they take their share of flak about it. "What's the difference between a Jew and a canoe? Canoes tip!" etc.

And I wish people would stop assuming things about me because I am white. And because I have a grey beard. And because I have trouble with my eyes which makes me look like I'm scowling a lot. I'm just sayin'...we all have to carry ourselves off as best we can and hope that someone in a million will appreciate the example we set.

Yea!!!!!! Anita you're back.

Anita,

Nice post!

Don't think you're alone on just because you're black....Here's another perspective

Because I'm white ... means I'm a tourist?

Because I'm white...means I need a taxi?

Because I'm white....means I have lots of money?

Because I'm white... means I can wait for the two friendly local blacks (friendly west Indians/Caribbeans) to finish their idle chit chat before waiting on me as a paying customer.

Racism in our islands is two sided it's not reserved for the blacks (west Indians/Caribbean).

Tippi