Tipping. Part Question, Part Rant, may warrant removal to off topic.

Poker News - Tipping in Poker Tournaments -- Part I

Fairly interesting article about tipping in tournaments from Cardplayer's website.

Was wondering what others think about the issue, both in tourney's and cash games.

Do people tip every time they win a pot, only in pots of a certain size, do they tip more with dealers who are more proficient.

Personally, it's an issue I'm interested in seeing discussed because it blows my mind anymore what people expect to be tipped for, and how much they expect to be tipped.

It seems I can't even go to a hardware store anymore without seeing a tip jar on the counter(the worst is the video store). I've always thought of myself as a generous tipper, but I absolutely do not see the need to tip every bloody person I encounter in the day.

It's like I can't beat the rake on my life.
«1

Comments

  • Obviously tipping is a standard part of almost any play at a casino. It feels a little weird to me in the context of a tournament to pull in a pot and not toss a chip to the dealer. Personally, I would prefer that a dealer gratuity be taken out of the prize pool and made known to the players ahead of time. Everyone in the tournament benefits from the dealers being present. I would hate for them to rely on the generosity of the winning players. I have a bad feeling that many players would leave the table without tipping at all.
  • Consider your basic $1/2 game at your local underground club. Lets say a good dealer gets in 20 - 25 hands an hour (willing to correct this total). If everyone tips $1 per pot, thats $20/25 per hour tax-free. Not a bad night's work. Having said that, I will generally tip half my tournament buy-in, if I take one down. I do not have any immediate need to revise that yet, considering the stakes I can afford.
  • Milo wrote: »
    Consider your basic $1/2 game at your local underground club. Lets say a good dealer gets in 20 - 25 hands an hour (willing to correct this total). If everyone tips $1 per pot, thats $20/25 per hour tax-free. Not a bad night's work. Having said that, I will generally tip half my tournament buy-in, if I take one down. I do not have any immediate need to revise that yet, considering the stakes I can afford.

    Dealer's are generally only dealing 1/2 the time they are there in decent underground clubs, so chop your total in 1/2.
  • Okay, that changes things a bit, then. From the article, and the real world, I dislike the attitude that a tip is "expected" rather than earned. One assumes Dealers know their terms of employment before hiring on. Budgeting for what "may" come, $$-wise, is a foolish thing to do. I tip, sometimes extravagantly, when the service provided warrants it. But I will not return to a restaurant (for example) that automatically adds the tip to my bill, as a "convenience". Convenient for whom?
  • I play $1/2 NL lots, ppl tip anywhere from .50 to $10, depending on pot size and generosity. Tournaments I tip anywhere 30% to 50% of my buy-in.
  • dinobot wrote: »

    It's like I can't beat the rake on my life.

    I love that! LOL awesome Dino, exactly how I feel.
  • Dealers, like waitresses, do not get paid a hell of alot, and many rely on tips to get by. I have no issue flipping a buck or two to the dealer after winning a pot. I've done abit of dealing as well, and its nice to know your time and efforts in keeping the game moving are appreciated by the players.
  • Basically.. tip decently.. make it worthwhile..

    I used to deal for a local game... sometimes the cash game, sometimes the tournament.... the WORST that ever happened was when i ddealt a REALLY irritating final table - one dude was so drunk the TD had to sit next to him and help him make his bets and such... anyways.. he didn't win, but the dude that DID win was a bit shell-shocked *understandably* and won just under 2k ($65 buyin).. he asked me - the dealer - and another TD what was cutomary to tip.. the TD told him $100 was the norm.. this guy turned back to me, and gave me.. $20..

    Yea...

    Mark
  • DrTyore wrote: »
    Basically.. tip decently.. make it worthwhile..

    won just under 2k ($65 buyin).. he asked me - the dealer - and another TD what was cutomary to tip.. the TD told him $100 was the norm.. this guy turned back to me, and gave me.. $20..

    Yea...

    Mark

    There's a term for that too...BITCH SLAP!!

    That was just wrong! Least he could have done was give you the cost of his buyin. $20 is just a slap in the face IMHO
  • Yea.. I was less than pleased..

    Basically, I think the best option is to consider the amount of time the dealer worked, and tip a decent hourly wage... if he dealt for say 5 hours.. $100 is pretty good, but no less than $75 IMO*

    Mark

    * - that of course depends on the win amount.. you win <$500.. around $30, <$1k, around $50, 1500+ at least a hundo
  • I was at that FT Mark and I saw the guy tip you that $20, then he offered to go downstairs and give everyone $100 each.
    :)

    Now, my question is...

    You only dealt the FT, the rest of the tourny was self dealt, why is it expected to tip you (or any dealer) anywhere near $75? I finished 3rd and tipped you $40.
  • I'm bummed I missed this one...so I'm reviving it, and forcing you all to scroll past my belated ramblings to get to the current topics. Muahahahaha



    People who don't tip should get fisted and then stabbed in the eye.

    and I mean that 'don't tip' I don't care if you're winning or losing, happy or unhappy with the service- stop being douches (world at large) and ship to your support staff.

    The size of the tip can reflect the level of service. But the presence of one (in a lot of direct service jobs) is an absolute given.

    Although the one thing I loathe is the jar, it is completely trashy.
  • Ok I'll bite.

    I like to tip. I like to be generous when I tip. I took 2 $50 bills with me when I went to Vegas last summer for the expressed interest of giving them to someone. I looked for someone doing a pretty menial job with a great big smile on their face. The first went the guy working the car park at Bally's. The second went to a girl serving drinks by the pool at the Wynn, she treated my wife life a queen while she sweat like a dog in 115 degree heat.


    The above is to make the point that I am all for tipping and I am not a cheap bastard.


    Not everyone deserves a tip. It is far too often that I go out to eat somewhere and the server can't even muster up a smile for me. Their body language sucks, their attitude sucks, they take no pride in what they are doing and they aren't getting a god damn tip from me. Treat me like I am a pain in your ass? Why the **** would I tip someone for that?
  • cadillac wrote: »
    Ok I'll bite.

    I like to tip. I like to be generous when I tip. I took 2 $50 bills with me when I went to Vegas last summer for the expressed interest of giving them to someone. I looked for someone doing a pretty menial job with a great big smile on their face. The first went the guy working the car park at Bally's. The second went to a girl serving drinks by the pool at the Wynn, she treated my wife life a queen while she sweat like a dog in 115 degree heat.


    The above is to make the point that I am all for tipping and I am not a cheap bastard.


    Not everyone deserves a tip. It is far too often that I go out to eat somewhere and the server can't even muster up a smile for me. Their body language sucks, their attitude sucks, they take no pride in what they are doing and they aren't getting a god damn tip from me. Treat me like I am a pain in your ass? Why the **** would I tip someone for that?

    This is more of what I was talking about. I also think I am a generous tipper, and frequently tip upward of 25 to 30% for great service. However, like Caddilac pointed out, the expectation is just so annoying. The guy at the Video Store deserves a tip?
  • cadillac wrote: »
    Not everyone deserves a tip. It is far too often that I go out to eat somewhere and the server can't even muster up a smile for me. Their body language sucks, their attitude sucks, they take no pride in what they are doing and they aren't getting a god damn tip from me. Treat me like I am a pain in your ass? Why the **** would I tip someone for that?

    A:

    Because it is an expected part of their income, and they are making less than min. wage because of it. I'm pretty sure that if you're a server at East Side Mario's you've got a lot to be unhappy about. When you come acrossed that unfortunate soul you only tip 10% instead of 25% or 30%.
  • Note to self: Log Itsame out THEN post.

    The above is entirely mine...sorry Mario
  • I was sitting here scratching my head at the fact that Mario is suddenly so interested in these types of conversations....

    and so well spoken / grammatically correct....

    And aware of publicly posted notices and information

    Mark
  • The wage someone chooses to work for is not of my concern. What is of my concern is the quality of the service.


    Whenever my travels take me across the border to the U.S. it never ceases to amaze me. I get quality service every time I go out in the US. The servers work hard to please me (and I am easy to please), they smile, are energetic and I am happy to tip and tip them well.


    Surely these people do not have the same quality of health care as our Canadian Service Industry professionals do and I am also sure that the pay scale is comparable. Yet they can be bothered to make the effort. FWIW I am not alone, Canada is recognized on a global scale for poor, surly service.


    I will tip a quality server when I get a terrible meal. I will tip a server who smiles her way through tons of mistakes. But tipping poor service and a server with poor attitude is BS, even if you believe it to be part of their wage. It perpetuates the cycle of poor service when these people continue to get paid for a job that they are not doing.


    I feel this way for a reason. For most of my adult life my money has been made in sales. I need to put my game face on for every customer, every time or I don't put my deals together. Working in a car dealership, my situation it is often more uphill. Lots of people want to be ignorant to the car guy, they want to call me a liar and a cheat before we have spent 5 minutes together.


    If I can weather that type of abuse and still be respectful and keep smiling and work toward making deal with this person, certainly a server can be pleasant and interested with a smile on their face while they take my drink order.


    And if they can't it is my prerogative to keep my hard earned money in my pocket.
  • I worked at a fast food place for years, so I'm easy to place, and VERY forgiving.

    Minor issues are place on a Comment Card, if available.

    If I receive REALLY poor service/food/experience I will tip the norm, alert the manager/owner of my concerns and never return to that establishment.

    Johnnie.

    ps...Don't mess with Lady Karma. Always tip the dealer if you win a pot.
  • JohnnieH wrote: »
    ps...Don't mess with Lady Krama. Always tip the dealer if you win a pot.

    Is she related to Karma?
  • cadillac wrote: »
    Is she related to Karma?

    Me fail English? That's unpossible!

    Post fixed. ty.
  • If your overall experience was negative (food, service, etc,) why would you tip at all? Your salary is defined before you start a given job. If tips are a possibility in your chosen line, then they are given as a result of certain minimal standards being met (IMO). When those minimums are not met, I will not proffer said gratuity. When they are met, I tip. When they are exceeded, I tip well. And tell their manager, whether on a card, the check stub, whatever. Good servers are GOLD for a restaurant. A decent Maitré de knows this, and will keep notes.
  • Milo wrote: »
    If your overall experience was negative (food, service, etc,) why would you tip at all?

    Again I'm fairly patient for small things like slow service or sub-par food. Everybody can have a bad day, even hosts, servers and cooks.

    Not giving a tip makes the server think the problem is the customer, not them. ie...."Wow no tip.....that guy was a jerk" not "Hmm...did I do something to warrant such a small/no tip?"

    Brutal service/food should always be dealt with someone in charge. You would be amazed at how much you can get accomplished by talking to the boss with a calm voice, rather than being rude to the server.

    Only once I have not been satisfied by an owner, and I vowed never to return. The business went belly-up less than a year later.
  • Milo wrote: »
    If your overall experience was negative (food, service, etc,) why would you tip at all? Your salary is defined before you start a given job. If tips are a possibility in your chosen line, then they are given as a result of certain minimal standards being met (IMO). When those minimums are not met, I will not proffer said gratuity. When they are met, I tip. When they are exceeded, I tip well. And tell their manager, whether on a card, the check stub, whatever. Good servers are GOLD for a restaurant. A decent Maitré de knows this, and will keep notes.


    I'm with you on this one. If tips are part of your salary then they should be earned for doing your job, not just because they are expected. If you don't like it...get another job.

    However, if there is a problem outside of their control I would never have it reflect on them in the form of a bad tip. And like you, when the service is good the tip is good. When the service is great, the tip is great.
  • JohnnieH wrote: »
    Only once I have not been satisfied by an owner, and I vowed never to return. The business went belly-up less than a year later.

    Wow, that's some power. Stay away from my favorite restaurants....just in case :)
  • I am prepared to tip anyone who provides services for me.
    I will always tip in some fashion.
    The size of the tip is definitely related to the experience I have received.
    I don't need someone kissing my butt. This person will often times find them on the tiny tip side, but a smile, pleasant manners, they can generally score big with me.
    Bad service may not be because of your server, a kitchen problem, may result in your food arriving late, It isn't hot, It isn't what you ordered. These problems to me need to be addressed to the manager. They do make more than minimum. Don't shot the mailman!

    Milton Slim
  • I play mostly low-limit Hold'Em (5-10) , I always tip the dealer on a win and in accordance with pot size. If I've had a particularly bad session and am getting cleaned out I usually leave before I'm broke and toss the dealer that last couple of chips. Not his/her fault I didn't play well enough!.

    I also tip the dealer at the table games (usually while I'm waiting "impatiently" for a poker seat)
  • boomer wrote: »
    I play mostly low-limit Hold'Em (5-10) , I always tip the dealer on a win and in accordance with pot size. If I've had a particularly bad session and am getting cleaned out I usually leave before I'm broke and toss the dealer that last couple of chips. Not his/her fault I didn't play well enough!.

    I also tip the dealer at the table games (usually while I'm waiting "impatiently" for a poker seat)


    I'll say as a dealer and someone who has worked a lot of jobs that rely on tips that i try to keep the smile on my face for all players. it can be difficult but i know my wages depend on it

    I also don't rely on the tips completely and understand when someone is down that the tips don't always happen a thank you now and then is nice at that point. but after watching someone walk away and know they are just purposely not tipping drives me insane. i put in my table time and keep things going at a decent speed so players are getting in as many hands as possible even on the rake games a buck or two after winning a pot is nice and as a casino dealer i can tell you it really does help the pay check.

    I personally make it a habit of tipping after a win whether i'm up or down if the dealer is doing a decent job and keeping a smile on their face for me. If you don't work for the tip you don't get it is my opinion.


    again JMO

    chrysty77
  • I'll put a smile on your face
  • cadillac wrote: »
    I'll put a smile on your face

    wow it must have been a long day i didn't see that one coming. wow i opend the door for you to walk right into.

    come and play at my tables and we'll see

    chrysty77
Sign In or Register to comment.