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“Christians Are the Worst Tippers Ever.”

November 24th, 2008 Posted in Church Follies, Preaching/Teaching

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I told a story last week at Immersion that made people gasp. It spoke to the notorious stinginess of those who follow Jesus. I couldn’t tell if the gasps were “agreement gasps” (“Oh no you dih’int!”) or “horrified gasps” (In Sunday School, I once saw a little boy pick his nose and munch on his nasal treasure like it was a crisp, autumnal apple or a fistful of Cheetos. That was a horrified gasp moment). But they were gasps nonetheless.

I told the story of how when I used to work in the service industry, waiting tables, no one ever wanted to work Sunday morning brunch. I could never figure it out. Even the hardiest partier could drag themselves out of bed by 10am and paste on a “server smile”. Right?

“What gives?” I thought.

“It’s the Christians,” was the reply from my co-workers. “The Christians always come in on Sunday mornings for brunch after their church service and they don’t tip. At all. Christians are the worst tippers ever.”

When I heard that, it was like a kick in the gut.

Why?

  1. Mostly because it was true. We don’t tip very well. As a matter of fact, we’re pretty cheap. What makes this worse is that we paint “cheap” with a religious sounding veneer and call it “being a good steward.” Nothing like hiding behind the Bible to camouflage your stinginess.
  2. Because God is so generous. We are most like God when we are being generous; generous in all things, but especially with our dough!

Las Thursday I laid down the “Fat Tip Challenge.” The FTC asks you to lay down more than your normal tip next time you go out to eat. Usually put 10% down? Try 30%. Are you a 20% tipper? Bump it up to 50%. If you’re feeling really crazy, try a 80, 90, or 100% tip next time you dine out! Make up for all those lousy tips from other Christians throughout the years.

God says, “I own the cattle on a thousand hills.” As children of this great and generous God - the God who owns everything - can’t we afford to part with a few more of those tightly-pinched pennies? God can afford your generosity. So go on, be generous!

Are you a server with a tip (or non-tip) horror story? Let us hear you. C’mon … Let it out .

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    So here's the thing. I usually do tip - on average abou 15%, more if the service was exceptional. But I struggle with this. Here's why.

    I think a tip should be for extraordinary service. There are lots of folks out there doing a great job, working hard for minimum wage (like my own sister) at a job where tips are not required, or even allowed.

    Then there are jobs - like in a Denny's or some such restaurant - where you're lucky if you get a smile, a nod, or a cup of coffee on time, and you're expected to tip. Or when people clean your rooms in hotels or wherever.

    I hate the whole "required tip" thing. It makes me nervous because I often don't know if a tip is expected or not, and I feel awkward. Usually the service is standard, but not over the top, and so I don't even want to tip.

    I say people should get paid for the job they do, and tipping should be reserved for exceptional service.

    I'll probably get shot for saying so, and I will still tip anyway, but it bugs me.

    There. I said it.

    Darlene

    (PS - I am ashamed, though, that we Christians are the worst tippers. That is sad. I will take your challenge next time 'round)
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    @Darlene: I hear you, girl. People gotsta earn their keep! But imagine this:

    The food runner just dropped the entire order of a 10-person table - your table. That'll be 30 extra minutes to get their food re-cooked.

    Your daughter is puking at home and you don't have enough money to get a babysitter. She's 11, so you put a bucket by the couch and tell her to call you if it gets really bad.

    Your manager just yelled at you. The bartender won't make the drinks for your table fast enough. And you know that unless you get $100 in tips tonight, your rent will have to wait another month.

    Now, there's no way you or I could possibly know that as her customers. But after serving in the industry, there is no way to completely know what causes a server to deliver bad service. When I go out to eat, it's my chance to bless them even when they don't deserve it!
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    It's an interesting argument Darlene. My brother makes the same point at family functions. (Servers should do a good job like everyone else, and be paid hourly. It shouldn't be added to my bill) There are restaurants that pay their staff hourly, and do not require tips; there's a whole industry called fast casual that does this: Pei Wei, Chipotle, Qdoba, Moe's, Panera, Atlanta Bread Co, McCallister's Deli, etc... However, these restaurants are not full service (you order at the counter and get your own refills). I know some states require servers to be paid minimum wage, but I don't know of any full service restaurants here in the states that are set up in the manner you describe. (though there are some like this in Europe)
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    I usually by default tip 20% just because of the stereotype. I do struggle with the stereotype though because I personally, when going out for lunch with fellow Christ followers, have never seen anyone give a lousy tip. I don't want to argue with their experience though.

    I can see Darlene's point, but the only time I give less than that is when I get horrible service. Keep in mind that the money they make are largely from tips, not their hourly pay rate which is pretty abysmal. If you want to do something extra with exceptional service either tip more or ask to see their manager. Managers are not used to having people want to talk to them because an employee gave exceptional service. It puts a smile on their face and looks good for that employee.
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    @Shane: Brother, you must dine with some people who "get it." I've left restaurants with my jaw firmly planted on the ground when seeing how poorly Christians - Christians you and I both know - tip their servers.

    I've also been on the receiving end of these poor tips. By people wearing matching Bible camp shirts. Who also leave me a tract. And write, "bless you" on the receipt.
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    Yeah I pretty much do. That is why I said I didn't want to argue with the servers' experience.
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    Just for argument's sake, I have to ask: Could it be that there's a reverse cause/effect relationship going on in this example as well?

    If a server gets up on Sunday morning with that stereotype in place, it tells me that he/she would be in a bad mood before ever getting to work. This isn't to excuse the church crowd from tipping, but the quote from the server at the restaurant seems indicative of a poor attitude that simply promotes the behavior it loathes, not vice versa.

    I'm like anyone else - if I'm treated like a chore, I'm going to respond like I've been treated as such.
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    @Lucious: I can see your point. It's like, "don't come to work with a crappy attitude and blame it on people of faith." That's bunk.

    But let's say the servers are, for the most part, justified in their position? What do we do with that? How do we respond? How do we "think differently" as followers of Jesus?
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    I struggle with this stereotype of Christians being such bad tippers. Not because I don't believe it but because it is so very true. I work at a restaurant downtown DM and several times during the year different Christian conventions come through for a few days at a time. Almost every time this opinion of Christians is reinforced. Consistently they will leave me with a 10% tip...not to mention a nice little tract to cover the rest....The worst part for me as a Christian is the fact that my fellow believers are doing a huge disservice to their message. I have really seen the damage this does to a non-believer's view of the faith in general! Not that their opinion of God should be based on a tip...but I know sometimes it is....I always tip 20% (standard rate) and extra if they have been attentive, It's a lot of work for less than $4 and hour....Everyone has bad days at work right?!....the difference is when a server has a bad night you can tell. But why make their night worse by tipping less than you would have otherwise tipped? Us Christians should be gracious...Give some feedback on the receipt in a loving manner, but don't cut their pay....
    Johanna
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    I knew all too well about this stereotype as I've known several people who were in the restaurant biz and told me all about this. One of them also liked to contrast this with the fact that the men who stopped by after the gay bar down the street had closed for the evening, were among their best tippers and left a very generous tip for something as simple as coffee and pancakes.

    By default, I give a 20% tip, even more if the service is better than I had expected it to be. I will, on occasion give a larger than expected tip just for fun, simply to surprise the heck out of the server and indulge my playful/mischievous streak by throwing a huge surprise someone's way. It's fun, and I will most definitely make an effort to try it the next time I'm eating anywhere after church on Sunday.

    Also, who's the sadist who designed those tracts that you fold up so they look like $20 bills? Found one of those on the floor at a restaurant a few years ago and felt a wave of embarassment, humiliation, and anger. I'm sure the designer had the best of intentions, but there are so many better ways to do that than to disguise a tract as an actual $20 bill.
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    I agree completely with the "Christians are crappy tippers" deal. I work in a gourmet restaurant, so one would think that the tips would be pretty good. Oh no, especially not from Christians, rich people and the Red Hat Ladies. I don't know if the latter are a Christian group or not, but one lady left me a $0.37 tip and patted my hand while doing so and said "You can just keep that." So, on one hand it is a good opportunity to practice humility and service as a waiter, but at the same time, I only make $4.25 per hour, the rest is made up in tips. It is my opinion that a $5 tip is mandatory, no matter how cheap or expensive your meal and you only go UP from there.

    "If you only greet those who greet you, what credit to you is that? Do not even the hypocrites and sinners do that..." - Jesus
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    Uh, I'm not in your town.. but I saw this on my reader. I wait tables in Nashville TN, and have in Ohio, KY and Missouri as well. Servers' wage in these states is as low as 2.13/hr. (half of minimum) S/S and taxes on what tips I claim (and as a believer, I claim all tips) come out of that hourly amount. In working full time, my checks are $0.00, and have been since May 2008. I work for Tips only. Out of those tips, I tip out the food runners and bartenders a set percentage of sales.

    God calls ups to be kind, patient, forgiving and generous. Frugality is not a fruit of the Spirit.

    If your service is abysmal, tell the manager. I've called the "how are we doing" # from my table to complain about service at other places. Email corporate. (you can do this from your phone now) But still tip. It's a chance for you to actually offer real grace to someone. You say you're kind and generous; prove it.

    Kyle
    Server
    P.F. Chang's,
    Nashville, TN
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    oh. worst tip? 2.xx on 57.xx (apparently they couldn't go past $60)

    lowest was $1.24 on $28.76 (they paid once, tipped 6 on 23, ordered $8 of dessert, and signed the new credit slip with the same number as before.)
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    I've never worked in the restaurant industry, but several of my friends have, and they find that Christians are quite often the most complaining and rudest bunch, and yes, tip very little. Good call...These people are often living on tips and need this money to get by.
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    The bitterness of the following comments might take this whole discussion over the edge:

    Generally speaking, Christians are not just horrible tippers, but horrible customers.

    My wife works in the cosmetology industry. She is an amazing hair stylist and is very reasonably priced (considering where she works and the quality of her work). Many of you reading this here know me and my wife, so you know that just over a year ago we left the where we attended. At the time roughly 50% of Sarah's customers attended this church.

    Once we left to start a new church, she lost nearly all of her customers who attended the church we left. Gone. After months of loyal service, gone. Never to be heard from again.

    Was it because they were bitter we left? Was it a convenience issue (i.e. it's too much work to set up an appointment on the phone vs. seeing you on Sunday mornings)? I don't know.

    I do know that her business took a huge hit and so did we. So thank you, Christians, for being so unloyal and stingy and nearly putting our family in financial ruin.

    Awesome.
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    Just have to ditto a lot of these previous comments. I waited tables through college in the Des Moines area. It was almost 100% true that the worst tips were on a check with a Bible verse or fish symbol. If you saw the family pray before eating it was nearly a guarantee the tip would be lousy no matter the service. And I was a darn good server for my $3/hr + tips - %tip share for hosts/bartenders. We all need to be better witnesses.
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    can I just chime in for a minute? I am a Christian who worked as a server for many years before becoming a Christian. (I left work in part because of my new relationship with God)...anyway many high end restaurants require to claim a 17%tip before clocking out. (it is an IRS issue and they are trying to avoid the likelyhood of an audit) so there were several times I had to claim tips that I didn't actualy make just to get my (meager) paycheck. Just a little inside info to consider.
    Peace to you all.
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    As a college student, I usually tip 15%, which I find to more than the standard within my age group. If the service is great, It'll be up to 30%. Also though, i like to write a little note on the receipt. I just say thank you, and I appreciate your service here and I end with a little smiley face. I don't mention God or leave a tract, I just try to brighten their day a little bit. It makes me sad that Christians are the worst tippers, but I absolutely believe it.. I've been a part of that culture before and it's also people's attitudes that say after church on Sunday they just emptied their pockets into the offering so they're maybe even subconsciously stingier than usual. I don't know though, I certainly dont want to justify it by any means.
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    Here's my deal. I actually worked for a restaurant for a good part of last year, learned the trade, cooks, bussing, bartending, everything, just to do something new and meet some people. In my mind the majority of lifetime servers are under-educated, underpaid, and pretty green when it comes to the world. They want what's good for them NOW and they want to get their fix so they can buy drugs, alcohol, pay child support, etc. The majority of my people just needed a whole lotta love and hope, and not necessarily bad tips.

    Therefore, I learned how far a tip will go by working with the people who really needed it.

    I also learned that the best tips come when you're not working for it. I schmoozed my tables, small-talked, and cracked jokes and often received 30-40% tips by generally enhancing the life and bringing joy to the table.

    Gay men tip the best. By far. Then it's the single women. A little flirting goes a long ways during girls nights + martinis.

    People who visit from out of town who lived in towns under $500 didn't know how to tip. Those tables were bad. Cranky people were sometimes good, sometimes not.

    And finally -- about Christian tippers. If you cannot afford to go out to eat and pay for the standard tip, then you shouldn't be there. Standard tip is 20% regardless of the quality of service or food, BUT you have EVERY right to complain to the manager.

    A simple way to tip enough. Say the bill is 15.50, tip 20% then round up to the next dollar. 20% ~= $3.00 plus $.50. Good enough tip and it makes someone's day.
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    I have been a server for 25 years and you worked briefly in one restaurant. How dare you call me under educated, green, and basically a dreg of society. Yes there are chain restaurants that make the mistake of hiring undesirables but do not lump all servers in your self-righteous, sanctimonious diatribe. The majority of servers are people who have education and yes, even degrees. We are single mothers or people who have chosen this field because a) we enjoy it, and b) it actually, sometimes, pays more than degreed professions. Your attitude is one of the reasons servers hate "the Sunday Christians." They hold the same self-righteous, holier than thou attitude your post exhibited. How Christian of you!