Dilemma: tipping the waitresses

[pseudoswede]

I rarely drink alcohol when I play poker. If I were to order a beer or a cocktail (or those tasty chocolate shakes from The Lodge), I'm more than happy to tip the waitress a dollar.

However, when I ask for a Diet Coke, I feel that a dollar tip is just too much for a soda. I could certainly be considered a cheap person, but I'd also feel guilty if I didn't tip the waitress each time she brought me another soda. I'd also feel guilty if I just tipped her 50-cents.

Any thoughts? Should I just suck it up?

I wished casinos in Blackhawk had self-serve soda stations like in St. Louis...

[jnewmanco1]

I'd give her the buck.

[znamenacek]

pseudoswede-

I see where you are coming from. I am with you, I rarely drink alcohol while I play. Generally I will order a diet coke. If you look at it from the server's perspective, they could care less whether you order a glass of wine or a glass of water, they still have to bring it to you. What I am saying is, whether you order a beer or diet coke, the tip is for the service (delivery), not for the item. I will tip $1 for a drink, but places that bring you little 8 ounce drinks full of ice (like Mountain High), I will ask for a large cup (like the ones they serve beer in). Now, if my waitress comes back with a small drink (after I asked for a large), then has the nerve to tap me on the shoulder during a hand with $200 in the pot to get her tip (this only happened once, but it was a little frustrating, because it wasn't even a gentle tap, it was a i'm here give me my money now so I can leave tap), I will tip her but will likely pass the next time she asks if I would like something, and opt to get my own refill from the grill soda machines when I am not in a hand.

[coloradomrg]

Buck per drink... unless she is really slow, or the drinks are tiny... then its a buck every other drink cause its not that often that I have change in front of me when they are around. I'd probably tip that for soda also, although I tip a buck for bottled water. Now if the drinks are large, made with top shelf stuff, I might tip more, depending again on the speed of the service.

[Rick]

I generally just drop a 5 no matter what I order so depending on how much they rip you off on costs, the waitstaff either does well or not.

[Wetdog]

Buck per drink... unless she is really slow, or the drinks are tiny... then its a buck every other drink cause its not that often that I have change in front of me when they are around. I'd probably tip that for soda also, although I tip a buck for bottled water. Now if the drinks are large, made with top shelf stuff, I might tip more, depending again on the speed of the service.

What coloradomrg said. If you went to the bar and ordered a Diet Whatever and they charged you $2 you pay it. If you said to someone, "Go get me a (whatever)," would you give them $2? $1? A "Whatever it's free anyway because I'm gambling. (You get squatto.)" Give them what it's worth to you to get it because you are otherwise busy. That's the nature of the service industry.

I give the server a buck for each beer s/he brings. Serve 100 drinks an hour, make $100. It's worth it to me.

On a side note, last time I was in Vegas, I hit a poker machine for $200, a $180 profit. While I was cashing out of that one a server asked me about a cocktail. I said I'll have a Corona and I slid over to the machine next to the one I hit while it chucked out a pile of quarters. I figured I'd have a beer while I languished over that last double sawbuck. I managed to crack that one for another $150 (on a $20 bill entry) when I realized an hour had passed and my sister's wedding was coming up fast (in a couple of hours) and I needed to shower and change clothes and meet the family in about an hour. That beer was never delivered and it cost the house $130.

I've been tipping servers well ever since. :lol:

[r]

Just tip a buck boyz 8) every time; they are on their feet for 7-10 hours a day...try it some time ..no fun....jmo 8)

P.S. If your bankroll can't handle it don't drink :razz: :P :razz: :P :razz:

[znamenacek]

I know this is drifting off topic a bit, but I wanted to comment on Wetdog's post. I like to drop a few bucks in a slot machine on occasion, but...

A slot machine costing the house money? I think not. Whether it paid you off or not, each hour a slot machine is in use, it is making the house money. A "good" slot machine (and believe me, for the house, they are all good), will always have a negative EV (expected value) for the player and a positive EV for the house. A slot machine that pays out is much like a good poker player who sits at a good table, plays well, and still has a losing session. He had the best of it, and he knew it, but he still lost money. Oh well, says the good player (and the house). In good time, I will get it all back and more. The house was more than happy to have you stay the extra hour, and didn't even mind one bit when you won. Everyone playing slot machines are fish to them, so to speak, and even if you go home a winner, there are plenty of fish left for them to feed on.

[coloradomrg]

Just tip a buck boyz 8) every time; they are on their feet for 7-10 hours a day...try it some time ..no fun....jmo 8)

P.S. If your bankroll can't handle it don't drink :razz: :P :razz: :P :razz:

Been on my feet for those hours... spending 3-4 of them installing car batteries in the Arizona sun. The money itself is not the issue, its the quality of service in my eyes, and if I'm winning my eyes get worse and I tend to care a little less if the service is sub par.

In general; I expect to be waited on, not treated like a slave master, just waited on. If a girl can't do that, then why should I be expected to pad her take for the night? Let the guy at the other end of the table with endless twenties coming from his pockets take care of her if thats the case. The house pays for all those drinks by my wifes play at the slots or her play at blackjack in the long run, so I know all I'm paying for is the service.

[r]

Gotta pay for service...that wasn't the question...I really didn't see the **service thing** just the drink size issue...of course anyone knows that if there is poor service who in their right mind would tip....service was not the issue here ...just tipping. ...jmo... :)

[DenverPokerClub]

Buck a drink is good.

If you play at MH - they use to have the self service soda machine behind the BJ tables - don't know if it is still there