larry_stewart
Master Chef
Not sure if I posted something like this in the past ( I know I wanted to, just don't know if I ever got around to it)
I was at a Panera Bread ( for those of you not familiar with it, its basically a fast food - like restaurant where you go to one counter and give them your order. They hand you a beeper-like device that lights up when your order is ready, which you pick up at another counter. You then get your own drinks, pick a table or booth, sit and enjoy your meal, clean up after yourselves by dumping your trash and placing the dishes, utensils and tray neatly by the trash can. The restaurant is primarily salads, soups, bread....).
Anyway, I go to the counter to order my food. Tell the guy what I wanted. he then turns the screen around for me to confirm the order and sign off my credit card. But before I sign, a screen comes up asking if i want to leave a tip and gives several suggestions by percent ( 5%, 10 % , 15%, 20 % ..) for me to click on before the final total is calculated and I sign for it.
Im not a cheap person. When I go to a restaurant I always round up ( unless I have a reason for not giving as good of a tip). The issue I have here, is not that I don't necessarily want to tip, but Im being asked to tip before I get my food or any dining experience. In addition, Im picking up my food, getting my own drink, taking to the table which I select, seat myself , clean myself, and then bring the dishes and trash to the designated spot. The only experience I have prior to leaving the ' tip' is the person who entered my order.
I just find it a little bizarre.
Is it me ? or am I just getting crankier in my old age ( just about to hit 50, maybe it comes with the territory, and my wife says Im cranky (among other things).
On a second note, I went to a restaurant in NYC, and the bill comes with the suggested tip already calculated in , with a spot to add additional money if wanted. What annoys me about this, is that Im sure many people don't realize this and they then leave an additional tip on top of the 18% that is already calculated in. I understand ( to some extent) why they do this, cause its near Times Square and there are a lot of foreign tourists who may not be accustom to tipping, so they work it into the fee. But in my situation, they loose out, cause I get a little offended when some tells me what to do in a situation that should be my choice at my discretion. So, I usually give them the tip asked for ( even though under most circumstances, I probably would have given more). IF the waiter is exceptional, I may add a bit, but in most cases, its a 'get'em in get'm out ' kind of a place (due to very busy / touristy location) so although the service is quick, its rarely a place id go above an beyond.
You may ask why I eat at the above place. Reason is convenience, location, has stuff for us to eat, and knowing Ill get out in time to see a broadway show (that won't seat you if your late).
I was at a Panera Bread ( for those of you not familiar with it, its basically a fast food - like restaurant where you go to one counter and give them your order. They hand you a beeper-like device that lights up when your order is ready, which you pick up at another counter. You then get your own drinks, pick a table or booth, sit and enjoy your meal, clean up after yourselves by dumping your trash and placing the dishes, utensils and tray neatly by the trash can. The restaurant is primarily salads, soups, bread....).
Anyway, I go to the counter to order my food. Tell the guy what I wanted. he then turns the screen around for me to confirm the order and sign off my credit card. But before I sign, a screen comes up asking if i want to leave a tip and gives several suggestions by percent ( 5%, 10 % , 15%, 20 % ..) for me to click on before the final total is calculated and I sign for it.
Im not a cheap person. When I go to a restaurant I always round up ( unless I have a reason for not giving as good of a tip). The issue I have here, is not that I don't necessarily want to tip, but Im being asked to tip before I get my food or any dining experience. In addition, Im picking up my food, getting my own drink, taking to the table which I select, seat myself , clean myself, and then bring the dishes and trash to the designated spot. The only experience I have prior to leaving the ' tip' is the person who entered my order.
I just find it a little bizarre.
Is it me ? or am I just getting crankier in my old age ( just about to hit 50, maybe it comes with the territory, and my wife says Im cranky (among other things).
On a second note, I went to a restaurant in NYC, and the bill comes with the suggested tip already calculated in , with a spot to add additional money if wanted. What annoys me about this, is that Im sure many people don't realize this and they then leave an additional tip on top of the 18% that is already calculated in. I understand ( to some extent) why they do this, cause its near Times Square and there are a lot of foreign tourists who may not be accustom to tipping, so they work it into the fee. But in my situation, they loose out, cause I get a little offended when some tells me what to do in a situation that should be my choice at my discretion. So, I usually give them the tip asked for ( even though under most circumstances, I probably would have given more). IF the waiter is exceptional, I may add a bit, but in most cases, its a 'get'em in get'm out ' kind of a place (due to very busy / touristy location) so although the service is quick, its rarely a place id go above an beyond.
You may ask why I eat at the above place. Reason is convenience, location, has stuff for us to eat, and knowing Ill get out in time to see a broadway show (that won't seat you if your late).
), But I agree, its like shaming you into a tip, putting you on the spot.
The closest one is a 2 hr drive, unfortunately, so I don't get there often.
