I want to ride it where I like...
Why? WHY? WHY does it seem like this always happens to me?
Katie and I made these grand plans to go for a bike ride and take care of several errands at the same time, including grabbing dinner. Unlike most failed plans, we actually made these a mere few minutes before executing them. If we make plans too far in advance, something always comes up. So the more spontaneous our plans (yeah, that sounds funny, I know), the more likely they are to work.
We jump on our bikes and get a couple miles from our house and I look down to find the front tire on my bike is flat. I must've run over something because it was perfectly fine up to that point. PISSED. ME. OFF.
So Katie rides home to get my truck to come get me and I walk my bike to close some of the distance. We go home and drop off my bike and take the truck out to finish the errands.
And it was such a beautiful day, too.
I'm just happy I had her there to help me out. Unlike when I was in grad school and this same thing happened.
I was taking a long ride through DeKalb along a bike path and was several miles from my home when my front tire broke off the fork. Of course it was the summer and none of my friends were on campus and I had nobody to call at all. So I had to lock my broke-ass bike up to a light pole and walk back home and grab my truck to come get it. I was not happy. Not happy at all.
Totally Unrelated Aside (TUA): I guess it's not entirely unrelated. Katie and I went to Applebee's for dinner last night. It was supposed to be one of the destinations on our bike ride. Pick up the food and head home to eat. Instead, due to the bike situation, we drove and did their curbside pick-up.
I'm not sure what protocol is for tipping with curbside pick-up. Do you? Don't you? It's not like they're waiting on you in the same way that a waiter does. They're not constantly filling your drinks or chatting you up. They bring your food, take your money, bring change (if necessary), and leave.
Well, I typically tip them anyway. Especially in those wonderfully temperate (ha!) Chicago winters. And the first few times I did this, the kids who would bring me my food seemed genuinely surprised. And appreciative.
But for a while after that, it almost seemed as though they expected it. They threw out the dreaded, "Do you want change?"
I hate that question in any dining situation. NEVER ask this as it implies you expect the rest to be a tip. What if you were a little prick of a waiter? This question puts an undue level of expectation on the customers to tip. Sure, on occasion, it might help you because they feel guilted into giving you the change when maybe they weren't planning on it. But, sometimes, you can get screwed in the process. What if they were going to tip you more by leaving some extra cash on the table? Now they won't. Or, at least, I won't.
Last night, though, the girl who brought out the food actually said, "I'll be right back with your change." This left it open for me to say, "don't worry about it; keep the change." And, just like old times, she seemed genuinely appreciative. I like that.
As a former waiter, don't ever expect a tip. I realize it's a big part of your evening's earnings. But if you don't expect it, you'll appreciate it more. And your customers won't feel like animals stuck in a trap.
"As a former waiter, don't ever expect a tip. I realize it's a big part of your evening's earnings. But if you don't expect it, you'll appreciate it more."
That's why I don't ever leave a tip. Someone has to teach those servers to appreciate what they get. ;)
Posted by: BA | Tuesday, 01 July 2008 at 08:24 AM
I don't like when servers ask if I want change but it happens all the time. I tip well but when someone asks me that, I don't tip AS well.
Posted by: sizzle | Tuesday, 01 July 2008 at 09:07 AM
ITA on the tip thing. A couple years ago we went to a dinner at PF Chang's with a bunch of people from Brad's work. Since there were more than 12 of us they decided to charge a 20% service fee, but didn't actually tell anyone. After the meal everyone was looking over their (separate) receipts to figure out how much of a tip to leave. Most people had already left some cash tips on the table and left by the time we looked over ours and saw the charge. We were so mad, the wait staff actually got like 40% tips undeservedly. We complained to the management and they gave us some vouchers, but we wouldn't take them. We weren't the ones that got ripped off. Never went back. Just unethical.
Posted by: Memarie Lane | Tuesday, 01 July 2008 at 09:10 AM
I am an overtipper due to being a waitress in college but I HATE when they ask if I want change. It always makes me leave less. Although since I overtip most times, they probably don't even realize I am leaving less.
Posted by: tori | Tuesday, 01 July 2008 at 09:49 AM
People still pay in cash?
Posted by: Avitable | Tuesday, 01 July 2008 at 10:12 AM
Firstly, I'm with Adam...cash?? I never have cash on me!
Your tipping thing scares me to death when I'm over there. I'm always so worried that I'll screw it up. Over here a tip is absolutely at your discretion and never expected, but our minimum wage is a lot higher. Don't be cross with poor English folks who don't know what they're doing ;o)
Posted by: Penelope | Tuesday, 01 July 2008 at 10:37 AM
Ah Tipping.... I usually leave a big tip when going to a bar or out to eat. I do this more so if it is a place I frequent often. I understand adding 20% to the bill with big parties. Servers get screwed a lot from cheap people. If a customer walks out without paying at all then the server usually has to cover it her/himself. If you go out to eat then you should already plan the tip to be part of the budget. Just my opinion. This of course excludes bad service!
Short story... When living in Daytona Beach when I was about 22 years old. Long, long time ago. I tip ridiculous amounts 30, 40, 50%. I did this for the first 6 to 8 months at one bar. The last 8 months I was there I didn't have to pay the cover on the weekends. They rang the bell when I came in, anouncing my presence with authority!!! :) I promptly received a Guinness with a Cherry on top of the bottle from this amazing looking server(Kelly--Beautiful!!!). I never paid for a drink or tip again. They wouldn't let me. Ahhhhh Ocean Deck in Daytona Beach!!! Great memories!
Posted by: MadIrishMan | Tuesday, 01 July 2008 at 10:37 AM
Having been in the food/beverage service industry for 15 years, I feel like I'm a pretty good tipper. The places I worked were all in very small rural communities, and many of the people that came in wouldn't dream of tipping there, but let them get to a larger town, or a 'fine dining' establishment, and you'd think they were made of money.
Never assume, as the saying goes. I always tried to give good service to everyone, and never presumed that change was a tip. In many instances, I even went so far as to return substantial amounts to patrons that had imbibed too much and left money laying around.
If an establishment adds a tip onto the bill, the server is probably getting less than if they had just let me tip in the first place.
Posted by: Odie | Tuesday, 01 July 2008 at 10:41 AM
I have never tipped on a pick-up. But out here the pick-ups are YOU walking in to pay and get the bag of food, so I don't think I have ever done what you're talking about.
As for tipping, well. I was a waitress, I got screwed on a massive 18+ person party who all thought someone else was going to leave a tip. I agree with adding the gratuity, but TELLING people up front. I do tip, but I'm strict. If you suck at your job, I don't tip well. If you are great, I tip very well - AND I tell your manager how wonderful you were. It's that simple.
Posted by: Kyra | Tuesday, 01 July 2008 at 10:48 AM
Oooo that sucks about the bike. But hopefully there will be more nice summer days to come (without freak weather storms) and you can still go bike riding.
Tipping...I always tip even if the service was crap. But I do get irritated when the waiter/waitress asks if I want change. Always irks me.
Posted by: Marie | Tuesday, 01 July 2008 at 10:51 AM
The more they expect a tip, the less I give them. IMHO, a tip is for going above and beyond, not just "doing" what is required.
Posted by: Lisa | Tuesday, 01 July 2008 at 12:49 PM
I can't do bicycles. For me, bicycle seats and colonoscopys are on the same comfort level. Sorry about the bad luck dude.
Posted by: John | Tuesday, 01 July 2008 at 02:12 PM
I had a comment written out with a little story about bad tippers but it was way too long of a comment so I deleted it. ANYway, I always tip well. Working in the city, you learn quickly that during a busy lunch, if you are known to be a good tipper at a place you eat frequently, guess what?! You will get seated before a crappy tipper.
I always tip at least 20% but if it is a small bill, under $50, we'll tip as much as 50%. There have been times where the server was so great that we left a tip almost as much as the bill. And when we get service like that, I ALWAYS tell the hostess or manager that the server was great. Having kids, a great server will make or break your dining experience.
Posted by: Sheila (Charm School Reject) | Tuesday, 01 July 2008 at 02:53 PM
BA, you cheap bastard! ;-)
sizzle, I hear ya!
Memarie, I'd be pissed too. There should've told you!
tori, same thing for me.
Avitable, only if I actually have some, which is very rare. ;-)
Penelope, yeah, food service is one of the only industries in the U.S. where managers and owners don't have to stick by the standard minimum wage requirements. If you want a good trick, I usually tip 2x the tax on the bill. Unless there's alcohol which doesn't always get taxed depending on where in the States you are.
MIM, remember that place by Fox Valley Mall that became Fuddrucker's that we used to tip like 100% of the bill? They loved us there.
Odie, I'm right there with you. If there is an added gratuity, don't expect much more.
Kyra, most pick ups here are walk in and get it. But Applebee's actually brings it out to you.
Marie, I've never not tipped a waiter. But they have certainly received very little if they've sucked.
Lisa, I'm not a fan, as you can see, of tip expectation.
John, that's a hell of a comparison.
Sheila, we usually tip about 20% and sometimes more if they were really good and we have the money. And, on rare occasions, we have sought out a manager to compliment the heck out of our server. Back in high school, when I'd go out with football teammates, we'd tip nearly 100% of the bill because all our income was disposable. They loved us. They fought when we would walk in. ;-)
Posted by: kapgar | Tuesday, 01 July 2008 at 05:10 PM
What that girl said was just the right thing. That's the polite way to allow for the customer to say keep the change without sounding greedy.
Posted by: nicole | Tuesday, 01 July 2008 at 06:18 PM
My thoughts exactly!
Posted by: kapgar | Tuesday, 01 July 2008 at 06:50 PM
We once tipped only 10% for poor service and the crap-ass waiter actually followed us to the door complaining. He totally sucked and deserved nothing, but he had the balls to chase us down and say, "Thanks for the crappy tip". I *should've* said thanks for the crappy service, but I was too busy trying to get my Kevin out of there before he went postal on the little prick. It could've been really ugly!
Posted by: Beth | Tuesday, 01 July 2008 at 08:02 PM
When waiting tables, I never expect a tip.
When dancing on tables, however...
Posted by: Dave2 | Tuesday, 01 July 2008 at 08:12 PM
Beth, that's when you take the tip back.
Dave, and I wouldn't expect you to dance tipless either. Topless, however... ;-)
Posted by: kapgar | Tuesday, 01 July 2008 at 08:19 PM
What Penelope said! But I am a terminal overtipper here and get quite cross with myself if I forget.
Posted by: Bec | Wednesday, 02 July 2008 at 06:45 AM
Bec, hopefully I never forget. I don't think I have so far. I hope not anyway! Oh no, now you have me getting all paranoid. :-S
Posted by: kapgar | Wednesday, 02 July 2008 at 06:57 AM