Adding it all up!

In total I waited on 50 tables. The methods that I tested included smiles, last names, mints and personal touch. I also recorded my normal service tips to act as a constant. Much to my surprise, normal service ended up as my highest percentage at 19.99 %.

• I drew 17 smiley faces on tickets and that resulted with a 19.29% average.
• I thanked 11 guests using their last name when presenting their credit card for signature. This resulted in a 19.56% average.
• I dropped mints on 7 tables and this resulted in the lowest percent with 16.31%.
• I also touched the shoulders of the paying customer 7 times. This resulted in a 17.26%

Some conclusions that I have drawn include:

• I think that I would need to do this test a lot more time to get a better estimate.
• Maybe people think that when you give them mints, you are insulting them for their bad breath?
• Touching people on the shoulders in an invasion of personal space.
• Customers expect great service when dining at The Bistro.
• A majority of the customers expect to tip 18 – 20% always.

Keep on Serving

Again at The Bistro I tested out dropping mints at my tables. I also recorded a few tables with out mints.

Mint Dropping

• Table # 42 had a couple glasses of wine, an appetizer and filets. Ticket total $87.79; tip $13; percent 15%
• Table #32 had wine, entrees and dessert. Ticket total $61.53; tip $10; percent 16
• Table #31 has wine, an appetizer, entrees and dessert. Total $59.03; tip $10; percent 17%

Normal Service

• Table #15 was a table of 6. They had wine, appetizers, entrees and dessert. Ticket total $162.61; tip $30; percent 18
• Table #42 had wine and sandwiches. They were an older couple. Ticket total $46.55; tip $6.50; percent 14%

The More Tests the Better

Once again during my shift at work, I tested out a few different methods. The two different types that I tested this particular evening were smiley faces on my tickets and using the customers last name. Here are my results.

Thanks Caitlin

• My first table was a quick table of a middle aged couple on a date.  They shared an appetizer, and 14%they each had a sandwich. Their ticket total $29.19; tip $4; percent 14%
• My second table sat outside and had a nice little evening. They ordered alcoholic drinks, appetizers and entrees. The ticket total was $71.30; tip 15; percent 21%
• My third table consisted of two women who were out for a quick bite and drinks. Ticket total $35.21; tip $10; percent 28%

Last Names

• Table #19 was a family who came to celebrate their son’s birthday! They had appetizers, sandwiches and dessert! ticket total $117.25; tip $20; percent 17 %
• Table #31 was an older couple who had drinks and sandwiches. Ticket total $41.68; tip $6; percent 14%

This was a good night at work, I’m excited to see how these numbers and percents add up!

Maybe it Wasn’t the Personal Touch

Okay! So I had several tables last night. And like I said, I tried all of my methods out. So here they are!

Smiley Faces

• Table #25 was a table of 2 that was a couple out for a light dinner. ticket total $22.35; tip $4; percent 18%
• Table # 25 was sat again! This was a couple that ordered an appetizer and split an entree for dinner. Ticket total $27.67; tip $5; percent 18%

Mints!

• Table #29 was another couple on a date. They ordered wine, appetizers and entrees. I left mints with their bill, and I noticed that they did eat them! Ticket total 62.40; tip 14; percent 22%

Names

• At table #23 sat 4 men who had a great night. They ordered 3 bottles of wine, salads and filets. Ticket total $247.20; tip $50; percent 20%

As you can tell I had a busy night! And this isn’t even all of it… Normal service tips to follow!

A Few More Personal Touches

I waited tables again last night! It has become engrained in me to do this job! Anyways last night I had great tips, and I did several different methods and recorded my thoughts and tips. So this post is going to deal with the “personal touches” that I tried last night!

An older couple sat outside at Table #41. They ordered soup, burgers and salads. This couple was a middle aged and quite delightful to wait on. ticket total $27.67; tip total $6; percent 22%

Five people sat at table #26. They split the ticket into 3. I touched the shoulder of the first two gentleman; but not the third.

• ticket #1 $25.01; tip $4.5; percent 18%
• ticket #2 $30.49; tip $4.5; percent 15%
• ticket #3 $9.17; tip $1.5; percent 16%

A couple sat outside at table #41. They ordered alcoholic drinks, appetizers and entrees. I lightly touched the gentleman on the shoulder when I dropped off their ticket. total $54.29; tip $8; percent 15%

Average: 17.5%

Waiting with a personal touch

I read an article that basically stated that a personal touch, on the shoulder for example, would increase you tip percentage. So I thought I would give it a try.

The arrangement of the tables and booths at The Bistro presented a small dilemma for me.  Typically when customers sit at a booth, they are too far into the seat for me to touch them on the shoulder when I drop off their ticket. So for this test, I could only do it if my customers sat at a table.

Here is how it went:

• At table number 53 I waited on a table of two. They were obviously husband and wife, and they ordered a normal dinner at The Bistro. Ticket total $52.96; tip total $8.50; percent 16%
• At table number 55 I waited on another table of two. This table started off with an appetizer and then ordered entrees. Ticket total $54.64; tip total $10.36; percent 19% With this table, the lady paid the bill.
• Table number 17 consisted of 2 older people. One ordered a salad; the other ordered a burger. I touched the lady on shoulder while I handed her the ticket. The man paid. Ticket total $18.12; tip $ 3.5; percent 19%
• Table number 18 consisted of a mother and her younger son. The mother ordered a salad; her son ordered a burger. I touched the mother on the shoulder when I gave her the bill. Ticket total $21.05; tip $4; percent 19%

The average tip for these is 18.25%. This percent definitely falls in my average tip range. I am not sure how much of an effect it had.

Normal Service Tips for a Night

I thought it would be necessary to evaluate tips that I would normally receive. To have something to compare to. So on September 16 during my dinner shift, I kept tabs on the tips that I received with my normal waiting style.

• Table 26 was sat with an older couple. They ordered a bottle of wine and entrees. ticket total $60.17; tip total $14; percent = 23%
• Table 22 was a girls night out. I waited on 4 ladies, whom each ordered an alcoholic drink and they shared 2 sandwiches. They paid separately; however, the ticket total was $65.27. Tip total $15.73; percent = 24%
• Table 28 was sat with two gentleman and one lady. They ordered an appetizer and sandwiches for dinner. I served them with my normal serving style. Ticket total $69.78; tip $20; percent = 28%
• Seated at table 27 was a couple whom were regulars. She ordered normal dish, and so did the man. Ticket total $27.24; tip $5; percent =18%
• Table #40 consisted of a grandpa and his granddaughter. I gave my normal service to this table. The male ordered 2 alcoholic drinks along with an appetizer for the two. They also split an entree. Total bill $43.65, and I received a $7 tip. Percent = 16%
• Two ladies sat at table #26. The lady who paid ordered an appetizer as her entree. Her guest ordered an ice tea and our highly priced ($29) ribeye special. The total ended up at $46.72; I received a $8 tip. Percent = 17%

This night on average I received a 21% tip. So what was the factor why I receiving these tips? This makes me question my study. Maybe you can’t pin an increase in tip percentage to one factor? Maybe you just have some people who tip good and others who don’t! Who knows!

loyal’s come to play

The more times that I am able to test my different methods the more accurate my results will be.  This time I noted gender, age and other features. 

During my lunch shift on September 12th I did random “name dropping” while returning the bill. 

• Table #26 was an older lady and her two sons who decided to eat at The Bistro for lunch. The lady ordered wine to begin. They also had soup for appetizers. Each of them ordered an entree. They split a dessert at the end of dinner. One of her sons paid the tab. I thanked him using his name! Bill total $52.96; tip $10; percent = 19%
• Table #17 was another older lady with her son. She ordered a soda to drink, and soup and a salad. He ordered tea to drink and a side salad and a chicken entree. He also finished the dinner with coffee. I can say that compared to other customers, this man was rude and not very nice. Bill total $39.83; tip $8; percent = 20%
• Table #26 was seated a second time. This table consisted of one of The Bistro’s loyal customers. They come to eat with us almost every Saturday. When I greeted the table, I already new what the man was going to order to drink, and asked if he would like his normal Sam Adams? Of course he did, and he acted surprised that I remembered! He ordered a sandwich for his meal.  His wife had an ice tea and our lunch sandwich special! Bill total $26.04; tip $6; percent = 23%. 

The last table that I noted I received the biggest tip percentage of the three. Was it because they were loyals and I remembered their previous drink preferences? Was it because I thanked them with their name? Or was it a combination of both? The latter question is what I think it was. But both have to do with knowing the customer personally or at least remembering them; therefore making them feel appreciated. 

Tip average = 20.7%… I think I’m going to start remembering people, their orders, and their names!

would you like mints with your bill?

 

With an effort to raise tips, I dropped off mints with the customer's bill. If anything the "mint dropping" lowered my tip.

 

Tonight, I completed another dinner shift at The Bistro.  Business was rather slow, and I had a small about of tables. But in dedication to my project I decided to drop off mints with the customer’s bill.

I only had the opportunity to do this twice, however. The results were rather disappointing, and not what I expected. Maybe it was just an off night?

Of the two tables that I dropped mints with, both one tipped me under 15%.  Two ladies made up the party at my first “mint dropping” table.  They ordered two waters, and shared an appetizer and one entree.  This brought their total to a whopping $34!  Their $4 tip contributed to the cheapness of their little dinner.  Did my mints have a negative effect on the tip or were they just a bad table that gave a bad tip?

My second table that I “dropped mints” with wasn’t much better!  It was obviously a married couple who were out for dinner. They ordered waters to drink, the lowest priced appetizer, the lowest priced entree for the lady, and lowest priced sandwich for the man. Their bill came to the grand total of $33.31, and I received a tip that total the bill to $38.  Was this table just cheap as well, or did my mints lower the tip again?

I know I only observed two tables and the effect of “dropping mints” with their bill, but I really expected different results. I always enjoy getting mints or candy at the end of dinner; however, so far customers don’t take this into consideration when tipping.

It’s in Names

After doing some “name dropping” at The Bistro, I was more aware of when this happens to me.

I was at a coffee shop the other day.  I ordered a Caffe Mocha, paid with my debit card, and then waited for the barista to make my drink.  As I was waiting, the person who took my order was talking to another patron about an event at the store later on that night.  I was casually listening, and somewhat in on the conversation.  A little time when by and he looked at me and said, “Caitlin, are you coming to the show tonight?”

Did I know this guy? No.. But he obviously took the time to look at my card and read my name. I felt very much appreciated. He definitely scored brownie points in my book!

Now unfortunately for him, I had already signed my receipt.  If I had not, I would have definitely left a larger tip. I mean, who doesn’t appreciate being referred to by name

I love coffee to go! Especially when the barista uses my name.