Warren Sapp stiffs waitress on tip

[EDGECRUSHER]

I used to be a waiter and bartender, and no restaurant I have worked at or even heard of has ever made up the minimum wage difference if your shift was poor or there just wasn't enough customers.

[CF DolFan]

I'm guess I'm a great tipper. I pretty much never leave less than 20% and only 15% on bad service. Of course ... I can't really think of a time when service was miserable. Slow maybe ... but not miserable.

Corey D'Agata, 26, told radio host Andy Slater at 940 WINZ in Miami that she did nothing to offend the legendary football player, Larry Brown Sports reported.
‘We were busy. I walked over to his table. It was him and one other guy and I just said, “Hey, boys, what can I get you to drink?” and he stopped me right there,’ D’Agata recounted. ‘He said, “We’re not boys, I’m a man.” So then I called him “sugar” and “honey.”’



Sapp pretty much said as much

On his Twitter page Wednesday, Mr Sapp defended his actions, writing that he decided to withhold gratuity on his bill totaling just under $70 because his server repeatedly called him and his companion 'boys.'
'No waitress will ever call me a boy twice after the 1st time & I say to her "when u look at me do u see a boy?" #HenceBoysDontTip' he tweeted to his 1.09million followers.


Even though I'm a southerner I hate being called “sugar” and “honey" a waitress. Not sure why but it is a pet peeve of mine.  I've never thought of not leaving a tip because of it.

[MikeO]

I will say this....Sapp is entitled not to leave a tip. He is well within his right. But he is a public figure with a reputation that isn't great. You would think he would just leave a small tip to avoid this type of story getting out there about him. Some battles aren't worth fighting.

[Brian Fein]

Here is the debate I have with friends all the time; do you tip on a takeout order? Where you place a phone call order and go pick it up yourself? Because last year Drew Brees got ripped in the media for only leaving a $3 tip on a takeout order. Most people don't tip at all on take-out orders!

I struggle with this one.  I usually leave a $1-2 tip for a place where they take your order and you go sit and eat.  I will leave a 5-10% tip for take out.  For drinks, I usually do $1 per drink, including 2-for-1 deals.  If there is a coupon, discount, or happy hour, I always tip on the non-discounted price.  I typically don't tip at a buffet, unless the plate-clearer is exceptionally good and pleasant.

I read once that a girl working the takeout counter is also still making like $3 per hour so I try to help er out and toss a few bucks for her friendly telephone demeanor and not screwing up my order.  They work hard too...

[Phishfan]

Sapp sounds a little oversensitive on this to me. I know there is history with black people and the term boy but I think anyone with common sense would expect that she was not using the term that way. First, it has kind of been lost as a put down in that method (at least I never hear it). Second, why offend someone purposely if you are counting on their kindness of a tip. I, like CF, don't care for sugar, honey, etc. in places where I am just a one off customer. If I frequent a place and have established a relationship with the staff I don't mind it much at all though.

[Dave Gray]

I tip 15%-25% regardless of quality of service.

I just don't go back to places if I have a bad time.

[MikeO]

I struggle with this one.  I usually leave a $1-2 tip for a place where they take your order and you go sit and eat.  I will leave a 5-10% tip for take out.  For drinks, I usually do $1 per drink, including 2-for-1 deals.  If there is a coupon, discount, or happy hour, I always tip on the non-discounted price.  I typically don't tip at a buffet, unless the plate-clearer is exceptionally good and pleasant.

I read once that a girl working the takeout counter is also still making like $3 per hour so I try to help er out and toss a few bucks for her friendly telephone demeanor and not screwing up my order.  They work hard too...

On a Buffet I always leave the server a little something, won't be as much as if it was a regular sit down meal if I was served, but I leave a little somethnig. Take-Out orders I usually don't tip if I call it in, drive to the place, and go inside to pick it up. If its a "curbside order" and I call it in and I drive to the place and they bring it to me right to my car, save me from having to go inside...then I tip like normal.  For drinks I do the same as you said Brian and I always tip on the non-discounted price as well when it comes to tipping.

I tip 15%-25% regardless of quality of service.

I just don't go back to places if I have a bad time.

That's what I usually do. I will always leave a little something and if its a bad experience I just won't go back

[Spider-Dan]

I have left a tip of $.01 when I thought the service was bad.

[Cathal]

Can someone explain why bartending/waitressing is pretty much the only profession that doesn't meet the minimum wage? I think it's stupid that we have to tip. I normally always give 20% but feel it's just stupid.

[MikeO]

I also want to add I am seeing more and more places adding a minimum tip automatically to the bill and if you want to increase it you can. These are mainly higher end places that are a bit pricey but I am starting to see it sneak down to a few restaurants (not talking about Applebee's or Chili's type places) but some family style non-chain restaurants.  Also, I have been to a couple places recently that won't let people "split the bill" (meaning if 2 or more people go out to eat sit at the same table they only get 1 bill and aren't allowed to get 2 or 3 separate bills.) I am guessing this has something to do with the size of the tip between one larger bill compared to multiple separate bills for one table, only thing I can think of. Just 2 new trends I am starting to see crawl into our culture at various places.

[EKnight]

I also want to add I am seeing more and more places adding a minimum tip automatically to the bill and if you want to increase it you can. These are mainly higher end places that are a bit pricey but I am starting to see it sneak down to a few restaurants (not talking about Applebee's or Chili's type places) but some family style non-chain restaurants.  Also, I have been to a couple places recently that won't let people "split the bill" (meaning if 2 or more people go out to eat sit at the same table they only get 1 bill and aren't allowed to get 2 or 3 separate bills.) I am guessing this has something to do with the size of the tip between one larger bill compared to multiple separate bills for one table, only thing I can think of. Just 2 new trends I am starting to see crawl into our culture at various places.

Most every "sit-down" restaurant like the ones you mentioned have added gratuity to groups of 6 (sometimes or more for decades. It's only a new trend if places are starting to add it to smaller parties.

Most server jobs I've worked at (Outback, Carraba's, The Olive Garden, etc.) require that you tip out 2-3% of your sales to the bar (whether you had drinks or not) and another 2-3% to the busboys or hostesses (or sometimes both). So Sapp basically cost that server around $5 for every $100 he ordered by sitting at the table. -EK

[CF DolFan]

I eat out quite a bit and I've probably seen about 3 or 4 places that add a tip to the bill automatically regardless of party size. This will probably be the norm in a few years.

[MikeO]

I eat out quite a bit and I've probably seen about 3 or 4 places that add a tip to the bill automatically regardless of party size. This will probably be the norm in a few years.

i have a feeling it will be the norm as well in the coming years

[Brian Fein]

I eat out quite a bit and I've probably seen about 3 or 4 places that add a tip to the bill automatically regardless of party size. This will probably be the norm in a few years.

if that happens then call it what it is. A gratuity is optional. If it's not optional, it's called a "service fee"

If that happens, it will be sad. I will likely stop going to places that adopt that practice.

[Sunstroke]

if that happens then call it what it is. A gratuity is optional. If it's not optional, it's called a "service fee"

If that happens, it will be sad. I will likely stop going to places that adopt that practice.

I will only stop going to places that adopt a standard "service fee" if it is a place that I didn't need to tip before, like a take-out joint. If it's a place where I normally tip, then I'll continue with my standard 15-20% total, depending on the quality of the service.