Ask Dave
(Or, What does Jeeves Know?)
September 2000

Please send your questions to dave@dinersoft.com

Q. How much is appropriate to tip? I've heard anywhere from 10-25%, some people say tip on alcohol some say don't. Some say tip the Maitre d' some say tip the valet, coat check, etc. Please let me know standard procedures for tipping, etc. 

Thanks,
Joshua

A. Dear Joshua,

Standard for waiter is 15%, usually of the entire bill.  You should tip 20% of the bill for better service and standard for larger parties (8 or more) is often 18 - 20% these days. Typically, the gratuity is calculated on the pre-tax amount, but generous tippers (like me!) always use the after-tax figure.

Coat check - $1 for every two coats

Valet - $1 is acceptable if they charge for the service. Usually, $2 is more acceptable for "free" valet.

Maitre d' - depends what they do for you. If you feel they did not help you in any way, don't tip. If you received some service, $5 is good. (Might be more, depending on how "special" the service)

Wine Steward - 15% of wine bill. (Deduct amount from bill before calculating server tip).

For a great web page on tipping for all tipped jobs, go to http://www.tipping.org

Be generous!
Dave

Dave,

I was hoping you could give me your two-cents worth in response to this month's review of SQUiRREL's new Windows' POS system?

Thanks,
Todd

Dave's SQUiRREL Rant 

As you know, I have been using SQUiRREL at Black Diamond Brewery for a while now and am shopping around for a new system. 

 Did you know that to get a printer from Squirrel it costs $500.00 but the same printer on the internet costs $220.00?  What squirrel has done is added a diode that only allows you to use their printer.  Did you also know that they charge you $135.00 for a new print head plus $95.00 labor but a new print head costs $30.00 on the internet and only takes two screws to put in?  They also assemble their own terminals with off-the-counter parts but configure them in a way that they have to service them.

My advice to any restaurant is to not buy any system whose hardware is not interchangeable thru other sources because the parts prices are linked to the competitive market not a monopoly. Only the software should be proprietary.  This way if the company goes out of business you aren't screwed.  If a system is going to cost you big money continuously for years to come (as in the case with Squirrel) it is not worth it, no matter how good it is.  I feel now that Squirrel's whole plan is to geared toward creating revenue from unknowing restaurant people who don't know any better.

I guess I am done ranting. You just can't believe how uncompetitive that market is because restaurant people are ignorant of this.

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