'Sundays Are The Worst' Website Urges Christians To Tip Better

Between the anecdotes and that study are clashing definitions. Between this thread and my anecdotes and the anecdotes of those I’ve worked with in the past are clashing definitions. For example, what constitutes a good tip? To me, 15% is a bad tip. As I stated above, I averaged 20%. And in the types of restaurants I worked in, that 5% gap is not just a couple of bucks. I don’t understand how servers at places like T.G.I. Fridays or Texas Roadhouse can survive on what they earn. I never worked in a restaurant where the average price for an entrée wasn’t at least in the low $20’s. So, if a party of four sits down, after drinks and the appetizer that I will upsell them, the bill will come close to $100. I want at least a $20 tip, and will be very unhappy if I get $15. For those on this thread who believe that 15% is a good tip (and I’m not going to change any minds about that in this thread, if you’re ever in the DC area let me know and I’ll take you out to eat and try and change your mind over a meal), that’s fine, but know that I’m upset because I know that if you hadn’t sat in my section, an extra $5 would have. On a Friday or Saturday evening, it’s not really a big deal. Other tables who tip way over 20% will make up for it. But, on Sunday it’s a different story. The study concludes that the average Christian tips 17% for good service. If that were to hold true, it would still be problematic for my wallet. If the majority of my tables on Sunday are tipping around 17%, I’m still not hitting my expected 20%. On a total cover of $1,000 for the meal service (which would be low – that’s only around 40 people that sat in m section), that’s a loss of $30. Service industry is a math game. As a server, you put in the time on the Monday – Wednesday shifts in order to get the weekend shifts. The early week shifts are generally much slower, and even if the tip % is higher, you’re still making way under what you will on the weekends. Sundays are a terror for servers because you work harder – tables fill up pretty much at once which causes the kitchen to backup, and there are generally more kids which are far more work and for less money. Plus, church people who don’t drink alcohol are more work for less money. My ifb pastor dad goes through sweet tea at restaurants as if the government were about to ban it the next day. Running back and forth to fill up drinks that are free after the first one is more work for less money, usually.

Anyway, back to the study – one thing that I don’t believe the study accounted for is sticker shock on the high end restaurants that I worked in. I’ll admit that it’s anecdotal, but it was my experience and no study can refute what happened to me, but the Sunday crowd who’ve just come from church do not tip 17%. I’ve seen this happen as a customer with my dad, who tends to be a fairly good tipper by most standards in the type of restaurants that he generally eats in – where a party of four is going to spend around $50. But, the few times he’s taken us to a high end restaurant, he’s scowled at the bill, and left under 15%. I know, because I watch so that I can discreetly throw some cash on the table when he’s not looking, and I want to know how much I need to leave. I’ve never asked him why, but I imagine that there is a dollar amount in his head that he thinks is an adequate tip regardless of the percentage. Families which are used to leaving $8 on a $50 meal are hesitant to leave $16 for a $100 meal.

As believers, shouldn’t we be above reproach? The study also concluded that Jews and non-religious people tip better than Christians. Once again, the study defined for servers what a good tip is. I reject the study’s definition of a good tip, and all of the servers that I’ve ever worked with would too. You may not like that, you may not agree with that, and, seriously, take me up on my offer to take you out to eat (except Ron Bean, it’s his turn to take me out to eat) and give me the opportunity to change your mind. But please don’t simply dismiss the concerns of servers as myths. For one thing, the study has assumed definitions. For another thing, on this side of it as a Believer, there are greater concerns at play than some extra money. I have watched servers take the time to read a tract simply out of a feeling of polite obligation because the tip included was “good.” God tell us that His word will not return void. I’ve seen servers toss many tracts into the trash because the tip included was not “good.”

[John E.]

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As believers, shouldn’t we be above reproach? …

Does “above reproach” now mean above the acceptable average for tipping? Talk about having issues with definitions……

In restaurants I frequent I ask management what is the gratuity that is automatically added to large groups. Whatever that is is minimum, and in my area it remains consistently 15% on the low end and 18% on the high end. Particularly if I know the tip is going into a pot and equally divided, that percentage is all I’m coughing up. I don’t volunteer to pay extra at Walmart to be “above reproach” and I’m not doing it at Ruby Tuesday’s either. As an aside, I think it is disingenuous to classify a tip as a gratuity and not just part of the fee for the meal while restaurants can pay employees less and, basically, tell a 15-20% lie to the customer as to the actual cost of the meal.

Nobody here is arguing for not tipping. We could put this discussion to bed with just “do what is right for whatever area you live in.” Tip at least what is the norm for your area and the type of restaurant you choose to patronize.

You’re no fun, Lee. This thread isn’t that serious. No one here is arguing that people are arguing for not tipping. Well, I’m not, I didn’t memorize every post. I think (I hope) that most if not all of the participants on this thread recognize in the grand scheme of things that whatever we are arguing about here is not nearly as important as many of the other discussions on this site.

I’m willing to concede that, within the framework of this discussion, “the above reproach” comes down to definitions too. You and others obviously see tipping differently than I do. That’s fine, I guess. I’m not operating under the delusion that I’m actually going to change anyone’s mind here. If anything, I’m simply defending the server fraternity’s “shield.” For me, in my experience, servers tend to conflate, rightfully or wrongfully, tipping poorly with the ethical nature of Christianity. To be clear, at this point I come squarely down on the “wrongfully” side. That being said, I would hate to think that my poor tipping brought reproach on the name of my King.

The point of my way too long previous post was this – that study that Greg mentioned proves both of our points. He believes that 17% is a good tip; hence Christians tend to tip well. I believe that 17% is a bad tip, hence Christians tend to tip poorly, especially considering that the study explicitly stated that Jews and non-Christians tip better than Christians.

[John E.]

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The point of my way too long previous post was this – that study that Greg mentioned proves both of our points. He believes that 17% is a good tip; hence Christians tend to tip well. I believe that 17% is a bad tip, hence Christians tend to tip poorly, especially considering that the study explicitly stated that Jews and non-Christians tip better than Christians.

My son works in a high-end restaurant. His take is that people who’ve been “in the jar” are better tippers. Maybe the explicitly stated statement in the study was correct after all. :)