Tipping, part quatorze
The comment that made me laugh out loud last week was this from Bucky:
"the cook is bagging up your order and you are fixing your own salad, then the server isn't doing anything but taking your money, it seems to me. That makes him/her a cashier, doesn't it? Do we tip cashiers now?
(In these instances, I always find it helpful to ask myself, 'What would Springs1 do?')"
I didn't want to make it the Comment of the Week because a) it would involve too much explaining if you aren't a regular, and b) I don't want Bucky to get a swelled head.
But then when I got the following guest post from him, I realized we'll have to explain Springs1 to those who have just joined us. Here's the link. It will take awhile to read through all the comments, but it's well worth it.
And here's Bucky's guest post. EL...
So, I don’t think we’ve ever discussed tipping in this blog. Have we?
I crack myself up.
Of course we have. But today is different. Today we are going to have a calm, reasoned, rational and fact-based discussion on tipping because, while looking on the internet this week for something entirely different, I ran across “Beyond Gratitude and Gratuity: A Meta-Analytic Review of the Predictors of Restaurant Tipping” by Michael Lynn and Michael McCall.
Yessiree, I found an honest-to-goodness, 42-page research paper on tipping that was funded with a grant from the Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell University, a well-known institution of higher learning and the alma mater of Andy Bernard on the hit television show “The Office." And I read a lot of it, except for the parts like this:
“For each of the effects included in this meta-analysis we calculated two statistics – a correlation coefficient r that reflects the size of the effect and a z-score that reflects the statistical significance of the effect.”
Let me save you, too, from having to read those parts and tell you that Lynn’s and McCall’s research found servers get bigger tips when they:
* Sell more food and drink (especially alcohol)
* Give their names to customers
* Squat down next to the customers’ tables
* Touch the customers
* Give after-dinner mints to their customers
* Encourage customers to pay with credit cards
* Use tip trays embossed with credit card logos
What you don’t find in that list is a relationship between a bigger tip and the quality of service. Don’t be cussin’ me out. I didn’t do the study.
But, apparently, while we say we tip more or less based on the service we receive, in fact when the server comes, squats down next to the table, puts her hand on your knee and says, “Hi, I’m Bunny and I’ll be a-waitin’ on y’all today. You look thirsty, can I bring each of you a six-pack with your dinner?” she is well on her way to a week on Ka’anapali Beach.
If she can get you to put it on your Visa and brings your check on an American Express tip tray with a couple dozen of those little green-foil-wrapped chocolate mints, she might even buy a time-share while she’s there.
Lynn and McCall summarized their findings thusly: “The larger picture to emerge from this body of work is likely to integrate a collage of theoretical viewpoints and to enhance our general understanding of consumer behavior.”
Which pretty much settles it: We can eliminate both Lynn and McCall. Neither of them is Springs1.
(Photo by Uncle Larry/Kai's Kountry Kitchen Kafe)
Comments
What I would like to see is how the data were collected, expecially the survey questions used. By wording the questions "properly" and limiting choices to what I want to prove, I could probably make the survey show that people want their taxes doubled.
And Bucky, that gobbledegook you quoted is how statisticians show they might have proceeded properly from the flawed data (see above) they collected. And if any server named Bunny put (presumably) her hand on my knee my DW would have us out of there so fast that Bunny would still be spinning like a top when our car left the lot.
Posted by: Retired in Elkridge | January 23, 2009 11:39 AM
Good Lord! I had forgotten how hideous Springs1 was. I had allowed the whole issue to fade in my mind to a "Jack's Bistro" (who, BTW, does not have a menu up for Restaurant Week) level.
Posted by: Eve | January 23, 2009 11:56 AM
The survey just proves what the working girls on the Block have known for years: it the personal touch and a bottle of Champagne that get the big tips.
Posted by: Robert (the Single One) | January 23, 2009 1:01 PM
So...this Bunny...she is good looking?
Posted by: Lissa | January 23, 2009 1:15 PM
Going back and re-reading that made me realize why I was so hesitant in joining in initially. It wasn't for the rest of the sandbox, it was because of her! She scares me...Can you imagine being at the table next to her at ChiliBenniganFridays when she goes off on her rants? Jeez
Posted by: Trixie | January 23, 2009 2:00 PM
R-I-E - while I sort of mock the study, I'm betting that it is correct in its conclusion. I do believe that a whole lot of factors other than service come into play when the tip percentage is calculated.
RtSO - good example.
Lissa - I'm thinking, yeah, she's a looker. That's why R-I-E's DW hustled him out of there.
All - The other thing I think we all won't admit is that, deep down, we miss Springs1.
Posted by: Bucky | January 23, 2009 3:08 PM
I meant Springs1, not Bunny...
Posted by: Trixie | January 23, 2009 4:38 PM
Trixie, this is why you'll never see me at ChiliBenniganFridays! I'm a coward.
Posted by: Dahlink | January 23, 2009 5:29 PM
this is why you'll never see me at ChiliBenniganFridays! I'm a coward
You won't find me at them (unless I'm dragged against my will for a work event) because they have lousy food.
Posted by: Hal Laurent, VoR | January 23, 2009 7:46 PM
Yes, Hal - except TGIF's onion soup. For some unknown reason, it's actually better than some fine dining establishments. I guess every place has got to have at least 1 redeeming quality!
Posted by: Joyce W. | January 23, 2009 9:13 PM
Dahlink - I don't think we need to worry. She lives in Atlanta right? I forget because my eyes went numb reading her long rambling posts.
And yes Bucky, I do believe she added a certain "driving by an accident" element when she contributed!
Posted by: Trixie | January 24, 2009 2:29 PM
My recollection is that Springs1 lives in Louisiana. Either New Orleans or Baton Rouge. But that's from memory.
Maybe hmpstd could use his considerable skill and...oh, never mind. That would be asking for way too much.
Posted by: Bucky | January 24, 2009 9:32 PM
Holy cow, I'd forgotten the tirades.
The woman in the foollowing story kinda reminds me of Springs 1. I went to Wal-Mart on Thursday, looking for "long johns" for my husband, who works out-of-doors. (I had already been to several other stores.) A woman suddenly blew by me and started tearing open packages and throwing them back on the shelves in a heap, and muttering loudly that she can't find [bleep] in the [bleeping] store and why the [bleep] can't they stock what people need, and [bleep] this and [bleep] that.... She's a lot smaller than I am, but she totally intimidated me by her semi-deranged behavior. Then she blew out just as suddenly, all the while talking and cussing. Weird!
Posted by: Dottie | January 24, 2009 11:30 PM
Bucky -- you are correct about Springs1 claiming to hail from New Orleans. However, you will understand my reluctance to provide any hyperlinks to prove same. To borrow from the Tsar's blessing in Fiddler on the Roof, "May God bless and keep springs1 ... far away from us!"
I'm sorry, I just can't resist. EL
Posted by: hmpstd | January 25, 2009 7:44 AM
Dottie, think she was related to Springs1?
I think Bucky is right about Louisiana, but I can't bring myself to go back and check to be sure. It's too early in the calendar year ... why mess up a promising New Year?
Posted by: Dahlink | January 25, 2009 7:47 AM
I had never seen the MySpace page...I had seen a couple of her blogs. Cracks me up.
Posted by: Bucky | January 25, 2009 11:25 AM
"Spring1 has 1 Friend"...Really? What a surprise. My question is who the hell is this Tom guy??
Well, look at how many Friends he has. EL
Posted by: Trixie | January 25, 2009 1:16 PM
Trixie asks: My question is who the hell is this Tom guy??
Trixie, apparently you don't have a MySpace page. Tom is the "Welcome to MySpace Guy" who is everyone's very first friend when they set up their MySpace page. Most people delete him. Springs1 didn't.
Posted by: Bucky | January 25, 2009 2:02 PM
Elizabeth, I just tried the link you provided and got the ACCESS DENIED page from my employer's internet nazi. Now I'm curious what could be so objectionable on that site! Scarier, however, is the fact that I'm on my home computer! How is my work computer able to control this?? I hear Twilight Zone music....
Posted by: Carol in Hampden | January 25, 2009 2:34 PM
EL, I guess his "About Me" explains all..."I'm Tom and I am here to help you. Send me a message if you are confused about anything..." He nailed it on the head!
Posted by: Trixie | January 25, 2009 2:52 PM
I just visited the Springs1 myspace site and after reading the first few lines, I'm done.
She is just sad.
Remember, everyone gets what is coming to them, in the end.
Hope she stays in Louisiana.
Posted by: PCB Rob | January 25, 2009 3:59 PM
Carol in Hampden: my office computer blocks myspace, facebook, youtube and ebay (among many others) as a matter of course. The corporate folks are pretty sure that nothing work-related is happening there.
Posted by: Eve | January 25, 2009 4:17 PM
Carol in Hampden, most of the commercial filtering software blocks MySpace by default. Some seem to think it is a non-work related den of paedophiles and dick jokes.
I hate filtering software. It can always be circumvented, it always blocks things it shouldn't (anyone remember the AOL breast ban?) and it provides a false sense of security.
Posted by: Lissa | January 25, 2009 4:47 PM
Scarier, however, is the fact that I'm on my home computer! How is my work computer able to control this??
Are you VPNed into your work computer network? That will produce that result.
Posted by: Hal Laurent, VoR | January 25, 2009 5:31 PM
Thanks, Eve & Lissa. I didn't know that!
Hal: yes, I have VPN set up but although it was connected when I tried to get to the link, I was not signed in via "remote access". So I don't understand how my work computer was able to "read" what I was doing on my home computer. It's an unsettling feeling. Sorry, EL, for straying so far off the topic of tipping.
Posted by: Carol in Hampden | January 25, 2009 6:32 PM
Are we not providing tips, Carol?
We don't have topic drift around here, we have topic blizzards.
Posted by: Lissa | January 25, 2009 7:25 PM
Hold on a minute. We have topics? Has the committee been informed?
Posted by: Robert (the Single One) | January 25, 2009 7:59 PM
Carol, if your VPN is like ours (which is likely), when the VPN is connected all of the web traffic from your computer goes through the company firewall, regardless of whether or not you've done the remote access thing (Remote Desktop, VNC, or whatever you use).
I have a spare computer in my home office to use for connecting through the work VPN, leaving the main computer available for proper unrestricted web access. This isn't an option for everyone, of course.
Posted by: Hal Laurent, VoR | January 25, 2009 8:00 PM
Good point, Lissa! This blog has provided many more tips than I've commented on.
Posted by: Carol in Hampden | January 25, 2009 8:21 PM
Hal:
I thought I was doing a good thing to set up this VPN so I could work from home. Kinda scary, as it turns out.
Posted by: Carol in Hampden | January 25, 2009 10:23 PM
Back to topic...can I rant for just a minute about the server I had last night? Now we all know I used to serve and am incredibly considerate and forgiving when it comes to servers. This guy was off the charts bad.
Brought bread and no plates. Had to ask for plates. Brought our appetizer and we had no silverware. I asked for silverware. He came back to check on appetizer. Asked again for silverware (appetizer was untouched because we couldn't eat it!). Had to ask for silverware a THIRD time. Yes, three times. I was done after that. No tip.
Posted by: Carey | January 26, 2009 6:56 AM
Carol, just disconnect the VPN when you're finished doing work stuff.
Posted by: Hal Laurent, VoR | January 26, 2009 7:31 AM
Bucky, you are right, I am not familiar with facebook, now I feel foolish...Truth be known, I am pretty computer illiterate (or any electronics for that matter)! Heck, I still have a cell phone that doesn't have a camera.
Posted by: Trixie | January 26, 2009 8:23 AM
For anyone who's interested, there is also the english-to-springs1 translator. I laughed for a good minute when I saw this one...
http://springs1.0catch.com/index.html
Posted by: kiki | January 26, 2009 8:16 PM
Trixie, if it makes you feel better, I am somewhat computer literate, and I have never been on Facebook. The only time I was on MySpace was finding Three...'s old webpage.
I felt dirty for a week.
Posted by: Lissa | January 26, 2009 9:21 PM
Trixie, you're ahead of me. I'm the last person on the planet who doesn't even own a cell phone.
Posted by: Dahlink | January 27, 2009 6:50 AM
re: Springs1 and the translator:
Seriously?
I admit, when the whole Springs1 event took place, I was skimming through at best.
Here's what I got: some crazy person named Springs1 was on here starting trouble and making stupid comments. She (I think it's a she) also has a Myspace page and no friends. Springs1 also has a blog somewhere I think. And I'm pretty sure she spends her time going around the internet stirring up trouble.
So that I do not have to go back and re-read (or re-skim) through the old stuff.....am I close to accurate? How in the world does she have an online translator lol? Did Bucky do it?
Posted by: Carey | January 27, 2009 8:14 AM
I have no connection with Springs1, the Springs1 translator, the Springs1 MySpace page or anything else named Springs1. I will 'fess up that I once adopted the nickname Springs2 for a comment, but just one.
Posted by: Bucky | January 27, 2009 9:20 AM
I still suspect OMG had something to do with the Springs1 phenomenon, but if so, it was an incredible amount of work!
Posted by: Dahlink | January 27, 2009 2:17 PM
I'm with you, Dahlink. All of it seems a bit... I don't know, fishy? Can a person like Springs1 really exist? Shouldn't someone that out there be in a padded room by now? Wouldn't somebody close to her have noticed the erratic behavior? For Sh**s and giggles google Springs1. It's kinda creepy how much comes up.
Posted by: mmmcorn | January 27, 2009 3:04 PM
Oh, yes, people like Springs1 are all over the Internet. They are called "trolls."
Posted by: Lissa | January 27, 2009 6:15 PM
I was introduced to Springs1 on this blog and imagine my surprise when I was looking at another blog and read a post that was a little histrionic, a little rambling and a lot crazy and thought, "wow, this sounds like that Springs1 lady!" I checked and, lo and behold...
http://www.ragingserver.com/best_waiter_server_blog/2007/09/14/rules-for-eating-out-part-2-the-rules-for-tipping/
I understand if most of you want to put this chapter behind you.
Posted by: Cristin | March 11, 2009 12:33 AM
Just a warning about my link to the 'Spring1' post- it gets really heated and uncivil. I'm sorry- I didn't realize that when I posted it.
Posted by: Cristin | March 11, 2009 12:46 AM
Cristin, I just read a little bit for old time's sake. We can be glad to learn that Springs1 does not have children. The madness stops here.
Posted by: Dahlink | March 11, 2009 6:33 AM