Gawker has a follow-up to the story of a pastor who refused to tip the automatic gratuity on a tab.
The pastor, a black woman, called and complained that a waitress posted a copy of her receipt. She reportedly wanted the entire staff fired but ended up getting only the waitress fired.
This is my wheelhouse. The Gawker comments are great because this type of story is the only one where you’ll get real talk about racial differences. It is acceptable because it doesn’t involve a politically powerful class complaining about the averaged behavior of black people.
This particular behavioral difference is a big part of the reason that I ever began looking at racial differences in the first place. If I’d never waited tables I probably wouldn’t have ventured down a path of even entertaining such illiberal notions.
Anyway, the Gawker comments are filled with ex-servers almost all of whom say that black people generally demand more service than other patrons and then, on top of that, tip worse. You also have a lot of commenters who take the opportunity to denigrate religion.
I’ve noted the research from Cornell professor Michael Lynn who is almost the only person who has conducted research on the topic of demographic patterns of tipping behavior. He has found that blacks tip the worst, as a group, even when controlling for guest perception of service quality. This is germane to the current story because the now-fired waitress claimed that the party in question said that nothing was wrong with the service. Lynn has also found that blacks tip worse even after controlling for other factors like income, education, sex, and household size.
Lynn has been conducting research on tipping awareness as an explanation for the tip gap. He has found that awareness does partially mediate the gap. Up to 30% of the tip gap can be explained by ignorance over tipping norms. But blacks still tip worse than whites even after all of these other variables have been accounted for. The woman in question was told and shown that there was a tip and should have assumed this was based on some sort of norm or some regular business practice. But she just didn’t want to pay it.
Lynn has also looked into the tipping patterns of religious people. It is true that there is a perception among servers that “the church crowd” or religious people are poor tippers. We get a lot of “Jesus will save you” pamphlets and the audacity of those crowds out the size of the tip that is left behind. Lynn’s abstract:
A web based survey was used to assess the relationships of religious faith and frequency of church attendance with tipping under conditions of good and bad service. Results indicated that Jews and those with no religion tipped more than Christians and members of other religions, but that the vast majority of Christians tipped at or above the normative 15 percent of bill size. Worship frequency also significantly interacted with service quality such that the tips of those who frequently worship vary with service quality less than the tips of those who worship less frequently. The practical implications of these results for service workers and restaurants or other service businesses with a large religious clientele are discussed.
Lynn found that 13 percent of church-goers left a “poor” tip (<15%) for good service.
In another study conducted by Lynn, 46% of black patrons left tips of 0-10%. Six percent left nothing whereas zero to one percent of people of other races reported that they routinely stiff their server. It is impossible to determine whether to pin this particular woman’s stinginess on either her race or her religion (though one Gawker commenter did single out Black Christians as particularly difficult), but if we can extrapolate her behavior it would seem that her race would more likely be the causal factor.
Via Michael Lynn
One aspect that I would love Dr. Lynn or any other researcher to tackle would be to find out how much work actually goes into accommodating these different groups. Compare that to the overall tip size. One big issue on the racial tip gap, as mentioned above, is that not only do black people tip poorly but their demands are greater than other patrons, in general. In my experience, white church-goers aren’t necessarily generous with their money, but they are also not overly demanding. It adds insult to injury when you’re being bossed around and also not getting rewarded for it. And that is the perception that very many servers have about black diners.
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So a pastor wanted an entire waitstaff fired. Black Christianity is by and large an old black ladies’ social club at best and a front for black nationalism at worst.
The thing that annoys me the most, is that blacks are more demanding and still tip less. That shows me it is entitlement more than anything.
As I said over at rawness’s next level up post, the burden of proof is not on HBDers because its what we see with our eyes. People encounter differences between races so often in their daily lives that its incumbent on the blank slatist to explain why our eyes are decieving us. And the closer you are to blacks (because you can’t afford to segregate from them) the more obvious the difference will be.
I think most people come to these blogs because they find that the differences between what authorities tell them about women and how women actually act in their daily life. Then they find that the statistics back up their eyes, not the authorities, and that there are sound evolutionary reasons why they see what they see with their eyes. Once this is established its not hard to make the same leap with racial differences because its exactely the same as it was with male/female differences.
I’d be interested to see a breakdown of the race of the waiters. I assume that blacks would tip more if the waiter was black, but I’d be curious to know how much more.
Haha, I find it interesting that Asians were the only group to not tip “zero.” I think this goes along with their archetypal non-confrontational persona. C’mon, everyone has had that one incident where the service was pure crap and as a way of snubbing your nose at the server, you leave nothing. Actually, I’ve left a penny, I feel the message is clearer than leaving nothing which could be construed as an oversight.
I (Hispanic) have no problem leaving tips and I am the least demanding customer…in fact, if the service is particularly outstanding, I have no problem leaving above the 15% threshold. But I am absolutely unforgiving if I feel I’m being ignored. I was eating lunch with a Japanese female friend once and the service was very bad, exacerbated by the fact the restaurant was not busy. I left a couple of quarters in a glass of water. My friend was mortified and she left some cash out of her own pocket. She realized the service was horrible but her cultural instincts won out and she couldn’t not leave anything.
I know server pay in Mexico is lousy but the expectation is always like $1 per every two customers at most…if you bring up “15%” you’re looked at like some kind of sentimental, bleeding-heart clown.
I’m curious what it means to say blacks “demand more” as patrons. I tip generously yet I am the least demanding customer. I don’t even know what one would “demand” of the waitstaff. More bread? A refill on the water? Is there something beyond this? I’m generally very unassuming so maybe it’s me, but I’m interested in the kinds of things people “demand” that are out of the ordinary.
I’m curious what it means to say blacks “demand more” as patrons.
When I was in college many years ago I worked as a server in NC.
In my experience, even middle-class blacks will constantly send food back to the manager with the most minor of complaints, in hopes of getting something for free. Complaints about food from black folks is as certain and predictable as the sun rising tomorrow. Basically, if there’s a table of more than 3 blacks you are virtually guaranteed to have one of them request to see the manager at least once.
Blacks can never ask for anything that’s actually on the menu – they’ve got to order “raspberry lemon tea” even though you don’t serve that – and they will have the wait staff scurrying around the kitchen trying to throw ingredients together to try to make it work. In addition, black folks have no conception of value – they will go to McDonald’s and act like it’s a 5-star restaurant with all of the many exceptions they request. I learned this at age 14 when working at the McDonald’s drive thru and seeing all of the black women order their soft drinks with “light ice” and then complaining bitterly if you added 1-2 more ice cubes than they envisioned.
My parents and their peers (elderly white churchgoing Christians) are creatures of habit; they typically eat at the same places every week, are on a first-name basis with the servers, and tip very well. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been out with my parents and when entering a restaurant have “their” server seek them out, greet them by name and escorts them to his / her seating area, where they get top-notch service. They also rarely complain; once my mom’s meal was completely messed up (a rare lapse by that restaurant) and she flat out refused to say anything that might upset the server and still left her usual generous tip. Good servers cultivate their good customers; good customers will seek out those servers on returning.
re: black patrons demanding more:
in every way. extra sauce, new entrees because the other one didn’t taste good (some patrons seem to think that they can automatically return an item they took a risk on, and in my observation black patrons are most likely to do this), portion size (“that’s not very big”), demand for freebies.
in server parlance, it’s called being “run” as in “this table is running me.” as a server you want to do big and efficient moves. use your steps efficiently. when you go to the kitchen you want to come out with as many items as you can as quickly as possible. getting add ons or extras like a side of ranch or extra lemons is very inefficient.
“In my experience, even middle-class blacks will constantly send food back to the manager with the most minor of complaints, in hopes of getting something for free.”
Uh, isn’t that “something for free” likely to include something gross added to the food when it comes back from the kitchen?
That’s the fundamental problem. Blacks always start shit when you’re going about your day. You’re not doing anything to them, but they just have to bother you in one way or the other.
If blacks complain in restaurants about petty things, they need to be told, “Nigga, you cook this shit.”
Sgt. Joe,
that’s a big myth. the actual incidence of that is far lower than is popularly imagined. i’ve never seen anyone do anything like spit in food.
i worked with one crazy ass coke head once who claimed he rubbed some lemon wedges on his ball sack and then served them to some old woman who had pissed him off. this was the same guy who told me he beat the rapper DMX in a game of pool.
Blacks are just vicious. They ‘run’ white servers for the hell of it. They have nothing in their little lives; and that’s how they get even.
@ CR
“in every way. extra sauce, new entrees because the other one didn’t taste good (some patrons seem to think that they can automatically return an item they took a risk on, and in my observation black patrons are most likely to do this), portion size (“that’s not very big”), demand for freebies.”
Yeah I noticed that when I worked at an ice cream parlor back in the mid-90s. Blacks were much more likely to complain about too many nuts on their sundaes (or not enough) or too much fudge (or not enough) or too much caramel (or not enough) and the fudge wasn’t hot enough or the malts were too thick (or not think enough) or… well you get the idea.
I’d say that blacks made up about 20% of the customers there and were responsible for around 70-80% of these types of complaints.
Now THIS is what your e-book should be about.
I am not so impressed with Lind’s mean , median, between races, but the SD.
SD of 4.6 (Asians) = comformity of tips, and
SD of 7.0 (Hispanics) = scattershot tips.
Maybe this indicates that Asians are quick with % calculations, and Hispanics just make wild guesses.
“the perception among servers” of the church crowd.: If I eat a lunch on Wednesday, how would a server have any notion if I’m a regular church attendee? Severs can only make generalizations regarding the subgroup who actually leave the salvation pamphlets.
jz, it’s easier to make the assumption on Sunday afternoon. that’s what i was talking about. other than that, the people who turn their win glasses top down are usually church-goers too.
the higher standard deviations would indicate that blacks and hispanics tipping habits are less systematic than whites and asians. Lynn has found that blacks and hispanics are more likely to tip (and pay) in cash versus credit cards. that is probably a factor.
” Results indicated that **JEWS** and those with no religion tipped more than Christians and members of other religions,”
Aren’t we missing the real scoop here?
If you think they’re (black’s) behavior is abhorrent in restaurants, try observing them in a bar or nightclub setting. They literally complain about every drink, “I can’t taste the alcohol in this”…..Me: it’s a daiquiri you’re not supposed to taste the alcohol. They ALWAYS ask for light ice, because somehow in their tiny pea brains that equates to more alcohol in their drinks. They can’t fathom the concept that a mixed drink is a measured ounce to ounce and a half of alcohol regardless of the glass size, or amount of ice and mixer. But I guess you would have to actually take and make it through a basic high school science class to understand the concept of material displacement. They also take up more of your time proportionately than any other customers because they never actually know the name or type of any liquor besides “Henny and ‘Goose. So they stand there and ask, “What chu got good that’s dark?” Or “I need something good that’s light, what chu got ligh?” Them they ask the price of every single item in the bar. After this entire song and dance they usually end up sipping on straight well gin, because they’re ignorant classless pieces of shit…….and because the shot of well gin was only $2
They also take up more of your time proportionately than any other customers because they never actually know the name or type of any liquor besides “Henny and ‘Goose. So they stand there and ask, “What chu got good that’s dark?” Or “I need something good that’s light, what chu got ligh?”
I dated a bartender a few years back and she complained bitterly (and comically) that they all ordered “Gin and Juice” like crazy after Snoop Dogg’s favorite song came out. Of course, most couldn’t name a choice of Gin when prompted for a brand, so it would take a world of effort for the bartenders to explain.
“they all ordered “Gin and Juice” like crazy…. Of course, most couldn’t name a choice of Gin when prompted for a brand”
I always like in those old movies when a guy walks into a bar and says “Gimme a beer” or “Whiskey!” No brand, nothing. And the bartender just grabs a beer and slaps it on the bar for them. What would happen today if I walked into a bar and just said “Gimme a beer!” What would I get?
Actually, I’ve left a penny, I feel the message is clearer than leaving nothing which could be construed as an oversight.
[ … ]
I left a couple of quarters in a glass of water.
Excellent.
Blacks are just vicious. They ‘run’ white servers for the hell of it. They have nothing in their little lives; and that’s how they get even.
Idn’t it fun ?
but I’m interested in the kinds of things people “demand” that are out of the ordinary
Attention.
Lapidarian
aka Dylan Taber
those old movies when a guy walks into a bar and says “Gimme a beer” or “Whiskey!” No brand, nothing. And the bartender just grabs a beer and slaps it on the bar for them. What would happen today if I walked into a bar and just said “Gimme a beer!” What would I get?
You get some rail shit. Where do you live.
They can’t fathom the concept that a mixed drink is a measured ounce to ounce and a half of alcohol regardless of the glass size, or amount of ice and mixer. But I guess you would have to actually take and make it through a basic high school science class to understand the concept of material displacement.
Ever been shorted on a drink ?
No bartender worth a shit short pours. Usually people get poured a little long on their first drink as well. HOWEVER, if someone is an asshole, or asks for free booze, or tips poorly I their first drink, they will be served accordingly the rest of their visit
So to sum that up most black people get shorted on their drinks because of who they are and how they act as a group.
“So to sum that up most black people get shorted on their drinks because of who they are and how they act as a group.”
And how they act themselves, i.e. acting black.
” Results indicated that **JEWS** and those with no religion tipped more than Christians and members of other religions,”
Aren’t we missing the real scoop here?
They ought to tip more, they control all the money. Literally.
http://www.tomatobubble.com/id199.html
A prolish White secretary at my job is very active in her Methodist church, and proud of it. She seems very fond of others, including blacks, that go to church – Protestants only; Catholics and Jews don’t count and are almost loathed. This White secretary is fond of one middle-age black lady at work because she is active in her black Protestant church. If she only really knew what the black lady thought of her. She’s surely much more loved by and safer among the Catholics and Jews that she so much loathes.
By the way, the black Protestant lady wouldn’t pass my simple “OJ Verdict” test: Did the OJ verdict make her smile? The answer to that question gives me a good indication of the kind of person I’m dealing with.
“Blacks are just vicious. They ‘run’ white servers for the hell of it.”
Actually, it’s well known in the service industry they run black servers just as badly, sometimes even worse. It’s one of the few areas in life where nobody will blame you for being “racist”, since even black servers hate waiting on black people. I was a cocktail waitress and bartender in my early 20s and could tell so many horror stories. The funniest were the thug-wannabe guys who would come in and order top-shelf cognac (like Remy or Hennessey XO) because they saw it in a rap video, and then FLIP OUT when they got the bill: “20 dolla? What the hell, I ain’t payin’ no 20 dolla for one shot!” I would roll my eyes like, “Jay Z is rich. You’re poor. Next time stop pretending to be a big baller and just order a Heineken.”
The worst was two black women who came in, gave me the usual crappy diva attitude the whole time, and then one of them dropped a small piece of chicken from her caesar salad onto the DIRTY RESTAURANT FLOOR, and asked me to pick it up and RINSE IT OFF so she could eat it. At that point I knew the cheap bitches weren’t tipping, I was just worried they’d try to sue the restaurant after they inevitably got E. coli. LOLOL.
The opening lines of Oscar Best Picture-winning “Crash:”
Anthony: That waitress sized us up in two seconds. We’re black and black people don’t tip. So she wasn’t gonna waste her time. Now somebody like that? Nothing you can do to change their mind.
Peter: So, uh… how much did you leave?
Anthony: You expect me to pay for that kind of service? …
Anthony: You see any white people in there waiting an hour and thirty two minutes for a plate of spaghetti? Huh? And how many cups of coffee did we get?
Peter: You don’t drink coffee and I didn’t want any.
Anthony: That woman poured cup after cup to every single white person around us. Did she even ask you if you wanted any?
Peter: We didn’t get any coffee that you didn’t want and I didn’t order, and this is evidence of racial discrimination? Did you happen to notice our waitress was black?
Anthony: And black women don’t think in stereotypes? You tell me something man. When was the last time you met one who didn’t think she knew everything about your lazy ass? Before you even open your mouth, huh? …
Anthony: Look around! You couldn’t find a whiter, safer or better lit part of this city. But this white woman sees two black guys, who look like UCLA students, strolling down the sidewalk and her reaction is blind fear. I mean, look at us! Are we dressed like gang-bangers? Huh? No. Do we look threatening? No. Fact, if anybody should be scared around here, it’s us: We’re the only two black faces surrounded by a sea of over-caffeinated white people, patrolled by the triggerhappy LAPD. So you tell me, why aren’t we scared?
Peter: Because we have guns?
Anthony: You could be right.
I love the stories about blacks “running their server.” I have always thought of the phenomenon as the customers keeping the server on a yo-yo. Anecdotally, I walked out of a restaurant in the middle of a meal because my server was being run by an adjacent table and the server, who was black, would not/ could not break the cycle. After customers who had arrived after me were getting their food and I was still waiting, I decide that the only solution was to get up and leave. Why suffer through a bad meal because the other customers were jerks.
I ate lunch with two black female coworkers Friday. One complained to the waiter because the cucumbers in her salad weren’t cut up in small enough pieces and the chicken was thrown on top in one place instead of spread evenly across the top of the salad. The other one complained that there wasn’t enough roast beef on her sandwich. I immediately thought of that when I saw your post here just now.
Tips are not optional, they are how waiters get paid in America
Chelsea Welch writes an article and some limeys in England give their opinions about tipping.
I’m skeptical of the study because the Latino, Asian and black groups are so small in number. From my experience Asians are cheap.
JustSayIt:
in your experience waiting tables? this is how it works, imo: the cheap asians just don’t eat out at all. they’re like great depression era white people. the really cheap ones barely leave the house. the ones who do leave the house and eat out tip pretty well. i can’t recall ever being stiffed by an asian person. even the young ones also tip pretty well. also, the only thing they’ll ever complain about is the pace of the meal. they just want everything out quick, just like most asian restaurants do it here. asian restaurants just bring the food when it is ready; they aren’t concerned with the american custom of bringing all the entrees together. that’s inefficient anyway.
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