“I can tell you that the people that are doing it aren’t the people who are coming here because they’re looking for a sandwich because they’re hungry,” said Ravi Ramberran, “It’s the people who are not afraid of consequences period.”
In the wake of the increase in dine and dashers, Ramberran said his restaurant has ramped up how they deal with it.
“We blast them on Facebook, we hold them, we make them wait for the cops…We do what’s in our power to do.”
I don’t think anyone’s suggesting tips should be banned. It’s just that tips shouldn’t be expected from each customer. Someone working at any given fast food restaurant (not to mention other low level service jobs) is working just as hard as a server at a sit down restaurant for the same pay. Why should I be expected to tip one and not the other? Also, why is 15-20% considered a proper tip? 10% shouldn’t be treated like it’s an insult.
If you want get into the long history, alcohol service is unique in that it places liability on the server rather than the business. This means that they are legally their own independent agent and as such are free to charge their own rates. The tip separates what was sold by the restaurant and what was sold by the server. You will notice that any old laws on the books about tipping refer specifically to alcohol.
This is why it has been traditionally customary to tip in establishments that sell alcohol, but not places that just sell hamburgers. But these days I’m pretty sure everyone will ask you for a tip and a lot of those old laws have been stricken from the books. It is of little applicability these days. Now, it’s mostly just because people enjoy tipping.
Because that is what the market will bear.
So what if it is an insult? I think most everyone feels a little insulted when someone says “no” to their offer. But are you going to accept every telemarking scam and vacuum salesman just because you are afraid you are going to hurt their feelings?
Lots of people get pleasure from tipping. And if a server can provide that service to them, great. If that is not you, just don’t pay for the service. You can’t win every customer, as they say.