THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 12, 1997 TAG: 9702120005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 26 lines
People enjoy good service at restaurants and expect it when dining out. As a waitress in a local restaurant, I believe people just don't understand what we, as waitstaff, go through on a daily basis.
Most waiters and waitresses want to give you good service, as it reflects on their tip. Many people don't know we only make $2.13 an hour, and we have to claim 8 percent to the IRS, which is done by total sales of food and drinks, automatically. So when a customer doesn't leave a tip of at least 10 percent, it comes out of the waiter's pocket. At $2.13 an hour, it can really hit hard.
When you go out with a coupon for ``Buy one, get one free,'' it's great, but the waiter still has to claim 8 percent of the total bill before the coupon deduction. So if your bill is $12, we claim 8 percent of $24 at the end of the night.
As a waitress, I give my best because I depend on my tips. So please remember us when we hand you your bill.
JANINE ALMARAZ
Virginia Beach, Jan. 24, 1997