tomson75;4895555 said:
That isn't always true.
How much waitstaff is paid outside of tipping depends upon the establishment, location, and type of patronage they serve (and in some cases what you look like). I've worked at places where I bartended for $2.50/hr, and my take home was very much dependent upon tips. I've known others that have worked at places that pay their staff almost $10/hr, and they would be able to take home a little something even if the tips were poor. I have friends that are in their 30s, still waiting and bartending, and pulling in six figure incomes. I have other friends that are below the poverty line in the same line of work.
How much servers makes depends mostly on where they work. Highly experienced waitstaff at better restaurants, B&Bs, or the like can make excellent money on minimal numbers of patrons, while other have to slew a ton of fried food and brew to equal that take home income....but both can make a living.
Other places can be near impossible for servers to make a living...
^^^^^
Yep, this.
I worked in the business for over a decade in may capacities, e.g., waiter, bartender, and manager.
If my dining experience is poor, most of the time, I'm able to figure out where the problem comes from. It could be an issue with the cooks, waiter, expediter, hostess, manager, or just the fact that it was a very busy day and they were under staffed. In other words, I simply don't blame my waiter for everything.
I am a very generous tipper. Having said that, I have very litter tolerance for poor service due to lazy, impolite, inattentive, and careless waiters.
