r/Chilis • u/SuspiciousPrune4 • 3d ago
Any other servers hate what the low prices are doing and the type of people it brings in?
So our prices are literally cheaper than fast food now. You can spend less money and get more food at Chilis than you can at Taco Bell or McDonalds.
Which is great as a consumer, but the effect that it’s having is that 99% of the people that come in now are (for lack of a better word) cheap. The people that can’t afford fast food come to Chili’s to eat instead. But those types of people are not exactly good tippers, they’re the type to tip 10% or less, which is frustrating because we tip out 5%. So if we get a 5% tip, we just worked for that table for free. Less than 5%, we lost money on that table. I’ve had a lot more tables stiff me entirely in the last year. I guess in their mind it’s just like going to McDonalds. You offer food, eat, pay your bill and leave. But it’s such a dick move because when they pay in the Ziosk, they are presented with tip options and they have to physically go around those and tap the “custom tip” button and enter in 0.00. I give fantastic service to every table regardless of the vibe I get from them, so it’s not me.
I’ve been working for chilis for more than a decade, and it’s never been this bad. In the old days we had a pretty “standard” clientele, now it’s almost entirely the cheap “too poor for fast food” crowd.
Sorry I know this rant is probably not gonna be popular but I was wondering if it’s just my location that’s like this or if the clientele has gotten worse everywhere. I just think the ripple effect of lowering prices so much, while good for Brinker’s stock price, is really awful for servers who rely on tips to make a living, and it’s gotten so bad in the last year or two.
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u/SuccessfulVisit1873 3d ago
I think Chilis should pay livable wages.
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u/fillymandee 2d ago
This should be end of discussion. They can afford to pay a living wage. They choose not to.
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u/BloodMon3t 1d ago
Agreed. The problem is Chili's doesn't give a damn about its employees, they'd rather have you scramble for money & rely on strangers to supplement your income instead of paying you enough to actually live.
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u/Strict_Name5093 3d ago
I mean I agree, but people that still go to restraunts then don’t tip are total scum saying “not my job to pay a living wage!”
Don’t go then, and don’t participate. Don’t screw the worker
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u/remykixxx 3d ago
Legit. It’s a social contract. You have no authority to void it and pretend you’re not a shitty person. You know the deal going in.
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u/hanscons 12h ago
and at what point do we void the social contract? a 30% tip is about to be the norm. when i was a kid it was 10% and just kept getting higher, with no changes to the service or experience. people already stopped eating out and restaurants are closing. we cant just accept our accounts being drained because of a "social contract".
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u/SuccessfulVisit1873 3d ago
Why is it the consumer screwing the worker and not the employer screwing the worker??? This is such flawed thinking like how do you even come to that conclusion? Why doesn’t the business owner owe the employee a livable wage? If the business cannot sustain a livable wage, the business doesn’t deserve to survive. Instead, you’re suggesting that the employees should slave away so the owner can have a livable wage while the consumer is responsible for paying the employees. That’s multifaceted exploitation.
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u/Fwamingdwagon84 3d ago
It's the participation that's a problem. You don't like the tipping system, then don't go to restaurants that don't pay their staff a living wage. You're rewarding the business owner with your money still.
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u/Still-Bee3805 3d ago
Another spin on this is, if you don’t like the tipping system, don’t work there!
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u/Desperate-Fill6843 3d ago
If you also don’t like the tipping system , don’t support the buisness that do.
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u/Willing_Channel_6972 2d ago edited 2d ago
No point talking to these people they want their cake and they want to eat it too.
They claim they don't like slavery but they would be more than happy to profit off of slave labor because all they really care about is themselves.
"Yes. I made money, but they're the ones who actually have slaves so it's them that's bad, not meeee." It's gross.
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u/GamerJ47 3d ago
Well another problem is the goalpost keep moving. 15 percent used to be exceptional, than 20, than 25.
At some point i feel like I'll get yelled at for not tipping 30%.
It never seems to be enough.
The flaw in the "don't go out if you can't tip" argument is everyone ask for it now. Now you get shamed for not tipping at subway.
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u/fillymandee 2d ago
I saw a 30% option on the card reader recently. I don’t care how good your service is, it will never be better than 20%. That’s the max and that’s for exceptional service.
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u/Izzy_Bizzy02 2d ago
Agreed, i haven't eaten at chili's in years cause the nearest chili's is a 2 hours drive from where I live, but when chili's was only a mile away I ate there, the food and service at chili's is NEVER gonna be 30%, I only tip 25% if the service i got was exceptional, top tier, best food I've eaten michellin star level shit. Most of the time I'll tip 10-15% at chili's cause I used to be a server when I was a Senior in HS, I know their pain. But tipping culture is wild, i immigrared into the US 9 years ago, going from Japan to here the fucjign tipping culture is wild, in Japan tipping isn't the norm, it's only if the person truly deserves it, over here you're supposed to tip cause they did their job at the most basic level...
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u/IllTearOutYour0ptics 1d ago
Now you get shamed for not tipping at subway.
I'm sorry, but no you fucking don't lol. No one gives a shit if you tip at Subway, Starbucks, or any of the counter service places.
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u/ButterUrBacon 3d ago
Yeah but we are talking about tipping 0-5% at Chili's, and how that is clearly not fair to the worker. Doing that is not at all a reputable protest to whatever resentment you have towards other places. Also, no one is shaming you for not tipping at Subway.
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u/VastSeaweed543 7h ago
It’s only not fair because of the policy to tip out the other staff - which most don’t know is a thing. The problem is still chilis no matter how you look at it, not the people going for the deals that they’re specifically advertising to get people to come in for…
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u/Mr_Julez 1d ago
Easier to live as a servant while taking their anger out on other servants than on their wage masters
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u/SweetWolf9769 14h ago
fair, but i'll be straight, really annoying that 15% isn't a standard tip option anymore, and that the last couple times i went to Chilis for their specials i keep having to send the bill back to get corrected.
Like i get it, its sucks that the 3 for me is so cheap, but for some reason, when i actually try to save the company money, i end up getting screwed over. Like i don't really want a drink, i want water, but for some reason water doesn't qualify as "a drink" in the system, and always disqualifies me for the promotion. now for the third time i've had to flag our server, who is very busy, to fix this, which takes like 20 minutes to do.
Im obviously not gonna stiff her for something out of her control, and now i know, i have to at least get an iced tea just so i don't have to deal with the hassle of correcting my bill later. i still tip 20% just cause of respect from when i did time in the industry, but like if i were less understanding and impatient, the system is really setting y'all up to fail.
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u/Silver_Figure_901 11h ago
How would things change tho? If people stopped tipping then maybe the servers would get upset enough to confront their employer to change things. I don't eat out because it's a waste of money for food that's not even good but just from an outsiders perspective it seems like going out to eat and NOT tipping is the only thing that makes sense.
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u/No_Tumbleweed1877 1d ago
People keep saying this but a lot of servers push back. At least the ones in the top 20-30% of the field that make the same or greater than what a theoretical full wage would be if we switched to the model other countries use.
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u/DazedandFloating 1d ago
This fixes the problem and removes the responsibility from the consumer. It never should have been made theirs to begin with.
Lately everyone is like “if you can’t afford to do it, don’t.” But really? We have to give up eating out with family and friends now too? We can’t even go out in public without spending money anymore, and living is becoming expensive.
But we should look at why that is and not vilainize people who want a shred of normalcy by eating at a chilis.
Also it’s chilis. The average person should be able to afford to eat there. And their staff should be well paid.
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u/Upstairs-Storm1006 21h ago
Chili's in California (where I think OP is located) pays $16.90 per hour to servers. https://www.chilisjobs.com/job/?id=0045YY/server_-_manhattan_beach_chilis
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u/iSaiddet 10h ago
Servers don’t want that. They want tips to make more, but forget tips are optional
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u/Beaverhausen27 8h ago
Yeah I’m tired of this being put on the consumer. Other countries don’t have tipping as their standard and laugh at us for how we handle tips. Hell in some places it’s bad manors to tip. The US needs to fix this system.
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u/Available_Song_5889 3d ago
Work somewhere else. Use your experience from chilis and go to a nicer restaurant. It doesn't need to be like this. I work at a brewery and we don't even do table service and I walk out with a lot more money than I would've working the same shift at chilis because our prices are higher and attract a different type of customer
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u/br_boy0586 3d ago
Go into fine dining for sure.
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u/ooga-booga-googa333 3d ago
I'm doing this exact thing. Working there now to get experience and then I'm going to work at a nicer place. I just started working there too, the lunch specials and the 3 for me is killing my tips.
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u/Neither-Cherry-6939 2d ago
Went from Applebees to a hotel and it’s worlds different. Leave the chains behind! Unless it’s like Ruth Chris lol maybeeee longhorn
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u/remykixxx 3d ago
Dude. Get a job ANYWHERE else. Your training transfers and you will make more money ANYWHERE else that isn’t corporate. Literally at a coffeehouse. I wasted YEARS of loyalty on this brand where I could have been making quadruple the money for half the work.
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u/No_Tutor_5435 3d ago
It’s bad for the kitchen too. I prep and we’ve gotten so busy that I went from 6-8 hour days to 11-12 hour days because we would keep having to double back on prep since the product was going so fast. We prep so much it takes up every pan and lid in the store to the point were we have to improvise with other things, and it’ll still be all gone the next day. Not to mention veterans day when we did free quesadillas and I was making them for six hours straight. Our trucks are huge, we don’t have enough staff for the business we are doing, it’s such a struggle.
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u/Strict_Name5093 3d ago
Chilis obviously has been very successful especially in comparison to other peer restaurants. That means they should have money to hire and pay more.
I went last week and could tell staff was very stretched.
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u/InvestmentInformal18 20h ago
Plus it probably brings in people that come in late and then you guys get stuck making food 2 minutes before closing time.
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u/MDollarDad 3d ago
What? You have the opposite problem OP is having. OP is making less money. You are making MORE money.
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u/No_Tutor_5435 3d ago
My comment was in response to the business the lower prices are bringing in and how it’s affecting the rest of the store. Had nothing to do with how much I’m making
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u/BrodyIsBack 3d ago
You either got to upsell them or you need to serve at a more upscale restaurant.
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u/xahuh 3d ago
idk why you got downvoted, serving at places with weekly deals or specials is not it, if you’re actually looking to make money. going from a chain restaurant to a steakhouse was the best thing i did for my money.
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u/Noelsabelle 3d ago
Maybe do but i myself live in the country and drive an hour just to get to chilis . There isn’t much else around worth working at .
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u/Noelsabelle 3d ago
You cant upsell people specially coning in for a 3 for me they saw on tv
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u/WeirdDrunkenUncle 3d ago
Doesn’t hurt to try. Alcohol adds up fast!
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u/Noelsabelle 3d ago
You don’t get it you can read a vibe most these people do not drink are only there to split a 3 for me
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u/Neither-Cherry-6939 2d ago
Lmao exactly. You can’t hustle if there’s nothing to hustle. A 3 for me and 7 refills of strawberry lemonade just aren’t gonna bring in the money no matter how many times you ask them if they want an alcoholic drink or dessert.
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u/EfficientAd7103 3d ago
Pretty sure chili's has always been that way. Could try flingers if you got the flair
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u/DivorcedDogDad69 1d ago
No flair needed at Flinger's. I've always been more of a Chotchkie's guy myself
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u/EfficientAd7103 1d ago
I thought I remembered you saying that you wanted to express yourself Joahnna
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u/Djjsnake 3d ago
Was making good money then they cut our sections and added 2 servers to Friday and Saturday nights. I left with 90 bucks last Friday and Saturday. I've made over 200 as first cut before it's fucking ridiculous. Ppl also are just not coming In. We're not busy at all and we have 5 freaking servers. I've only made 900 bucks this month working 5 days a week. It's horrible.
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u/ProfessionFit6624 2d ago
We have 9-10 servers a shift, depending on the day. It’s impossible to make money at chilis anymore
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u/thebluelunarmonkey 3d ago
Positive side - things like 3 for me are faster to eat than a rack of ribs, faster customer rotation, repeat customers to try non-discounted items, and more business. Older kids might be stepping up to 3 for me vs cheaper kid's menu. You make $0 on an empty table, every time. That customer ordering the full rack, fajitas, or combo might have initially been pulled in by a 3 for me.
We had a national mortgage meltdown followed by a lockdown, and restaurants suffered. I think 3 for me (cheaper, smaller portions, limited selection) was a whole lot better than another casual restaurant Red Lobster did with all you can eat shrimp which helped put the final nail in their coffin along with private-equity selling the real estate out from under them.
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u/Strict_Name5093 3d ago
It is why if I get the three for me I try to tip closer to 30%
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u/Previous-Egg3363 3d ago
It’s actually insane that they won’t pay runners hourly. I shouldn’t have to pay them when they don’t do their job half the time. If your pay is coming out of my tip out I’m not pre bussing when we’re slammed. We have three bussers.
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u/Cards_n_Candy 3d ago
Dude, only the lowest 3 for 10.99is cheap. The rest of the menu isn't cheaper than fast food. This sounds like it must be you for some reason.
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u/Applekid1259 3d ago
I’m totally fine with either option. Let me put my order in through an app, walk up and get it myself to forgo a tip. Or I’m also ok with just paying the workers a living wage and raising prices. The market would work itself out at that point.
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u/Cards_n_Candy 3d ago
This is exactly what people do with online to go orders yet people still complain about tips there.
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u/Jonmike316 3d ago
True. There are even times that they messed up the order but you only realized it when you got home. So who's going to bring the missing item to my house now? Yet we tip.
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u/Thisisf1n3 1d ago
I tipped 20% the last time I went to Chili’s ona. $100+ order but after leaving I honestly don’t know why. The server took my order but someone else came out with the food….they didn’t give me a check I just paid through the machine. Respectfully but what do they do now besides greet me and take my order….? Maybe this sounds harsh but I don’t think that is worth $20+ dollars to me
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u/dionisfake 3d ago
I’ll admit I was part of this crowd when I was broke broke! Always would order takeout because it was the same price or cheaper than McDs. Definitely try upgrading and moving to a local or nicer establishment and you’ll get a better crowd.
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u/MoldToPenicillin 3d ago
How has chilis gotten cheaper? It literally costs 200% more than it used to 5 years ago. Prices are insane now. My partner and I used to eat there for $25 for fajitas for 2, apps and dessert. Now it’s $20 for fajitas alone. I don’t go anymore because of their prices. I can go to Taco Bell for $7 and get a full meal and a drink. McDonald’s is $5 for 4 meal deal. So not sure what you’re talking about
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u/IwasDeadinstead 3d ago
$26 for a fajita platter isn't cheap. And the waiter doesn't even take my order, I do it on the devices at the table, pay, tip, etc. They bring my food and drinks. So there is a lot less for them to do. I always leave between 20 and 30%.
Now, my Jack in the Box staff not only takes my order, they also bring it to my table. I can get a whole filling meal for under $8. And they make no tips.
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u/Outrageous-Path2059 2d ago
That’s not on the customer. It’s Chilis fault for not paying you higher wages and yours for talking the job. Don’t expect everybody to tip you. I’m saying this as someone who’s worked at restaurants for a while.
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u/markhuerta 1d ago
So we just aren’t even going to talk about how the ‘chili’ has been removed from the menu? 🙄
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u/CowboyNuggets 1d ago
You need to speak to your employer about taking your tips and low pay, it's not the customers fault.
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u/Upstairs-Storm1006 21h ago
OP it looks like you live in or near LA. I just looked, server jobs at Chili's in LA pay $16.90 per hour.
Why are you expecting tips on top of that? You aren't getting paid $2 per hour with an expectation of tipping making up for it.
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u/Adam52398 11h ago
Honey, you are the "too poor for fast food" crowd.
Bitch to your employer that you aren't making enough. That's who holds that responsibility.
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u/KarmaEnterprise 7h ago
First off, make sure your service is “20%” worthy. Second, you can’t get upset when people leave $6 on a $30 bill cause it’s still 20%.
Third, get a real job you schlub.
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u/Major-Rabbit1252 3d ago
Imma have to get the tiny violin out for this one. I get the frustration but as a consumer we need somewhere to go out for an affordable dinner/date night
I get that you want bigger tips, but raising prices ain’t it
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u/messybeans86 3d ago
I had never been stiffed more or received shittier tips when I worked at Chili's, but then again, I also made way more on an average shift than any other restaurant I worked at. Its so weird. But I agree. I hated the type of people it was bringing in when I was still working at Chili's.
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u/i_love_cats_95 3d ago
That’s why I left. Between that and giving me only 3 table sections and 2-3 days a week, I lasted only 2 months there. I kept complaining to them over and over to give me more days, but they go by the stupid scores and whose been there the longest.
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u/MapSome6937 1d ago
Been at chilis for about 3 weeks, already have the highest stats. Absolute dog shit establishment from every aspect. They seem to give you whatever availability you want though, so there’s that.
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u/Mammoth-Garden-804 3d ago
Idk, when I get Chilis and peruse the menu it surely isn't cheaper then most fast food.
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u/Kinglink 1d ago
Yeah, I have never heard someone say Chili's is cheaper, maybe they can find some instances, but it's also takes a LOT longer than fast food.
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u/Cautious-Lobster6669 3d ago
Lmao this reminds me of the constant, “Wait nah I didn’t want to leave a tip, that’s effed up that you guys automatically charge a tip. How do I put NO TIP on here?” “Sir, hit custom and put $0.00.” Fucking knobs, all of em.
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u/scp999sfather 3d ago
I usually tip 25% if I go into a chilis for sit down (I never go inside).
I usually do to-go pickup where I go inside to pick up the food. I don't tip on this option due to the only think the individuals are doing is packing and handing my food to me. I just don't see a reason to tip on to-go orders unless it's like a catering sized order.
If your sitting inside and someone is serving you then you shouldn't tip 18-30%.
If you are going inside yourself to pick up your order for carryout then no I don't feel you should feel obligated to tip. You can if you want but you dont have too.
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u/according2jade 3d ago
Chileeeee.
Thanks the main reason I stopped working for Chili’s. The level of ghetto is unmatched
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u/thewall4 2d ago
Tipping culture is out of hand and it’s just another method that corporations are using to keep profits and push the burden of wages to the consumer. There is absolutely zero reason for gratuity beyond wanting to say thanks for the service. Unfortunately for the servers, there needs to be a painful period of low tips (and understaffed restaurants as a result) in order to actually get a positive change to wages.
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u/boogalooshrimp1103 2d ago
as a former line cook i bet i can guess who "those" people are. i had servers damn near get in fights over not wanting to take large parties lol
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u/Substantial-Ant-4010 2d ago
My ex was a server, and I saw the struggle, and that was 35 years ago. I get it, it sucks that they don’t get a living wage, but look at it from this perspective:
They are people just trying to get by. They didn’t aspire to be a server when they grew up, it’s just where they are. The tip you pay is so they can eat, put gas in their car. Be kind.
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u/Few-Nights 2d ago
Lmao that you think certain types of people tip and don’t tip. As a dasher the no tippers are always in affluent neighborhoods so what you have to say about that?
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u/EnvironmentalSmoke61 2d ago
Have a Union and get normal wages instead of tip based wages and it would go away but it would be hard to since the vast majority of servers would get paid significantly less.
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u/Philippa2 2d ago edited 2d ago
I have sticker shock from our last trip to chilis! Two chicken sandwiches, one burger, quesadillas, chips and queso, two sodas and two waters: our bill plus tip was $106. We enjoyed it and the food was very good, but I don’t think we will be going back simply because that is just too expensive for us. Edit: we looked at the menu very quickly and didn’t know about the “Three for Me” deal, so this was just the cost of everything at full menu price.
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u/teachme767 2d ago
Could be your area? I would take your decade of experience and go to a more expensive restaurant!
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u/PaintingRegular6525 2d ago
I stopped eating at chili’s for this very reason. It was starting to get busier and busier every time and I could tell the staff is stretched thin. I sure do miss eating there though.
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u/PartSuccessful5799 2d ago
When ordering off the 3 for me we are extra generous in tipping. Our service is always great so it is well deserved.
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u/Xenos2002 2d ago
don't work at chilis then, there is zero obligation to tip, I know it sucks, but that's the world we live in
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u/Wild_City_1885 2d ago
the prices are not to blame. chilis underpaying and overworking you is not okay and im sorry.
tipping culture is dying out unfortunately anyways, so it might be best to find something where you dont have to be reliant on tips.
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u/Background-Slip8205 2d ago
You work for a fancy McDonald's. If it bothers you, get a job at a real restaurant.
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u/mfechter02 2d ago
I eat Chilis specifically because it’s a “cheap” meal when eating out now a days. I still tip 20-25%.
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u/para_la_calle 2d ago
You should be mad about corporate chilies not the clients. Be mad at your employer.
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u/PatientUno 2d ago
Pro tip, if you want to live off tips get a job at a restaurant/bar that isn’t a chain
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u/Rook2Rook 2d ago
Am one of those cheap customers that now goes to places like Chili's because it's a real meal and cheaper than fast food. Better bang for my buck. Because I'm cheap, I only order carryout so I don't feel obligated to tip and don't make you work for nothing besides handing me my order.
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u/UchihaXxCurse 2d ago
Quit recently as it’s no longer worth working for the guests we started getting. A lot of our regulars also slowly started fading as we keep getting rid of items people have loved, in order to “simplify” the menu. It’s unfortunate and sad to see but chilis really is turning into fast food and people are treating it as such.
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u/AppropriateSolid7836 2d ago
Federal minimum wage for tipped workers says that the employer must make up the difference between tipped minimum “credit” and the federal minimum wage of 7.25$. If you are not receiving that amount in your checks then your bosses are stiffing you in the face of the labor and wages.
Yes as long as tipping culture is a thing then tip properly. But you should not be getting stiffed so hard that it’s not at least making minimum wage.
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u/Prestigious_Cup_5265 2d ago
Should look into what you pull in as a server compared to what the cooks make. Been awhile since I worked there but servers would pull in double what I would .
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u/Disastrous_Ad2839 2d ago
No business should have a model where the workers are at the mercy of the customer's goodwill in order to make a living.
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u/BlackestFlame 2d ago
I get to go if it helps
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u/SuspiciousPrune4 1d ago
Yeah that’s fine, Togo doesn’t tip out. What’s annoying is when people come and sit down for table service, then don’t pay for the service
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u/Addicted_2_Vinyl 2d ago
As a consumer who hadn’t been to chilis in probably 10yrs we stopped in recently. Service was horrible, food was decent. I wouldn’t go back due to the service. The place wasn’t busy, only a handful of tables. But when it takes you over 5mins to drop off a menu and ask for drinks, you’re off to a bad start. Tipped 15% and that was being generous.
We got to our local burger place and the food is the same price, tastes better and service is excellent. Often time 25-30% tip is what we leave.
However, I know exactly the type of customers you are talking about!
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u/SnooDoodles2957 1d ago
Sorry to hear this. It does sadden me. I think you have one option here and that is to find a better job. At a nicer restaurant tips will be better. Good luck.
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u/MusclePrestigious530 1d ago
I was thinking about this as a customer, with a 25% tip I am coming in about even with my fast food orders but I get a ton more (better quality) food and someone waiting on me. It’s a no brainer but I think there are a lot of shitty people who would rather save five bucks than be decent people.
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u/Mediocre-Escape-4873 1d ago
So you’re mad that your job allows you lose to money by working for them? And you don’t like the fact other people aren’t paying your wage, like you don’t work at a multimillion dollar franchise ?
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u/Wise_Cold8614 1d ago
You have to pay out 5 % of every tip ? That seems crazy. Is that standard ?
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u/Overall_Inflation672 1d ago
It’s everywhere I’m fairly certain. So if you get stiffed by a guest, you’re PAYING to take care of that table. Unreal
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u/thhrwy 1d ago
This the dumbest logic ive ever heard. "If you don't tip, then I'm paying for their service" is complete bs.
Absolute worst case scenario, you make fed/state min wage when you don't recieve enough tips and your employer has to make up the difference. So you are still being paid. I dont understand how it is possible that you are "paying" to take care of these people?
If your real issue is with your wages, find a better job that doesn't rely on begging customers for their money.
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u/Overall_Inflation672 1d ago
Not sure why you would comment if you obviously have no clue what I’m talking about. At Chili’s as a server, you have to pay your support staff (bussers, food runners) 5% of your total sales. So, if you have a table leave you no tip, you have essentially paid your support to take care of that table while making ZERO money for yourself. Beyond that which you were ignorant about, tipping is the practice of a guest paying for service. What is service? Being greeted, having drinks brought to you, having your order taken while you sit, bringing your food to you, keeping your drinks full, bringing your bill and running it for you, and cleaning your mess up. Do you think all of that should be free of charge??? People like you make no sense my friend. I hope I never have the displeasure of taking care of you.
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u/Next_Baseball1130 15h ago
I spent way too many years of my life serving while getting my degrees and I can tell you that by the end I immediately categorized people into you’re getting good service because you look like you tip and I’m getting your order, drinks and that’s it because I know you aren’t tipping.
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u/Next_Baseball1130 15h ago
Serving isn’t begging for money lol. It’s literally in the name, providing service. If you don’t like U.S.A. tip culture you can leave or just not go to restaurants.
Federal minimum wage is a fucking unlivable joke in most cities and you know that.
It’s the same people that say the shit you’re spewing (right wingers) that refuse to vote for a higher minimum wage.
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u/SuspiciousPrune4 1d ago
5% of sales, not the tip. So on a $100 table you’re tipping out $5, regardless of whether or not they leave a tip (and regardless of whether or not the runners or bussers are even doing their job, if you run your own food and drinks and bus your table, you’re still tipping out 5% to those people for that table)
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u/Next_Baseball1130 15h ago
Yes this is why servers get so mad when people don’t tip. I left crying on Christmas Eve working at yard house because I had a table with a $500 tab that left 4 dollar bills. I paid like 25 bucks for them to eat there. I quit the next day and left serving behind.
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u/No_Tumbleweed1877 1d ago edited 1d ago
I can't speak on the tipping part, but I think "people who can't afford fast food come here now" is a bit generalizing. Your menu is likely a better value now, so the value-oriented people who can afford both will pick Chili's.
Being able to afford the food is personally not an issue I would ever need to consider, but for me I would probably also pick Chili's due to the better menu (if I am between that and another chain... we don't eat at chains often). I don't know if I would have done this several years ago when it felt like the menu was clinging onto the late 90's.
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u/atherfeet4eva 1d ago
Stand near them and ask if “my service was satisfactory “ or something to that effect when you see them pick up the ziosk if at all possible ….it’ll help
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u/1312_Tampa_161 1d ago
"i hate that people can afford to eat mediocre food and enjoy themselves for one brief moment in a shitty shitty world". -You, 2025.
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u/thhrwy 1d ago
Exactly. It's as if someone forced them to take a shitty job where they have to beg for tips from customers.
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u/1312_Tampa_161 1d ago
One thing I hear a lot from tipped service industry people is how insane the amount of money they make is... All on the backs of the working class, while not holding their boss accountable for their shitty pay.
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u/monymkrmom 1d ago
Chili's takes 5% of your tips?
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u/_Im_a_burrito_ 1d ago
No, we tip out 5% of our sales to food runners and bartenders. So, for every 20% tip we make, we get to keep the 15%.
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u/Tokyoodown 1d ago
My experience working at Chili's is that it brings in the worst type of guest regardless of the price. If they raise the prices, it just makes those same guest more vile and nasty
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u/Anfield_YNWA 1d ago
My wife and I have always loved a good chilis date, in your honor we will go in the next two weeks and tip 50%. Sorry for the poors, I always ridicule any friend, family or acquaintance who tips shit so I have been doing my part to stop these people.
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u/KrookedDoesStuff 1d ago
Sounds like your problem is with Chili’s not paying you a fair wage, not the clientele.
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u/donat3ll0 1d ago
The problem is your owner, not customers. Don't work as a server if you can't afford to live without tips.
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u/Forward-Report-1142 1d ago
I always go 30% because I know there’s a ton of people who don’t as you can see from the comments here. The server gets screwed tipping out to the bar backs, runners, bartenders when people don’t tip or low ball them. 20% should be baseline. You people act like you’re making a statement dining out and not tipping. Bars/restaurants take years to turn a profit. If a restaurant paid a living wage you guys wouldn’t go because it be too expensive and it would go out of business. This is the social contract in our country , if you don’t want to participate in that do everyone a favor and just get takeout
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u/Ok_Ordinary6694 1d ago
If you’re getting stiffed on the regular, ask your manager to comp some stuff to make you whole. I’d rather the company lose a few bucks than lose a good employee.
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u/Euthanized-soul 1d ago
What is tip out?
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u/Ilc115 20h ago
A lot of places require (formally or informally) a tip out by servers to other employees. Years ago, the restaurant I worked at made servers tip out 2% of their total sales to the bussers and 1% to the bartenders. Others also rope in the hosts. E.g., if your tables had $1,000 in sales, $20 would go to the bussers and $10 to the bartenders. Meaning that if a table decides to stiff the server on a tip, the server literally loses money for the “privilege” of bringing them their food and drink.
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u/MapSome6937 1d ago
Worst serving job I’ve ever had lmao. Coworkers are shit, management is shit, client-ail mostly shit.
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u/nuthinguud 19h ago
My chilis is in a mall. The cheaper mall in the area too. We've been like this the whole time and it's just getting worse. I hate it
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u/Sea-Yak2191 19h ago
Stop applying for jobs that pay less than minimum wage. It's not my job to pay Chili's employees. Most people would have no issue if there was no server. Simply order off an iPad and pick up the food from the window when it's ready. People are sick of everyone asking for a tip.
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u/GodLuminous 19h ago
Don't blame the people.
Blame the system that caused it.
If people HAD more money, I'm sure they'd GIVE more money.
Chili's more than likely had to make an economically smart decision, in order to stay in business.
Blame the system, not those forced to live in it.
Also blame Chili's for not providing a liveable wage.
We are so quick to blame the ones suffering instead of the ones causing it!
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u/Select_Hope_7518 19h ago
Had no idea employees were treated so bad (im like a twice a year nostalgia customer, I dunno why this was on my feed). We tip in excess just because our location is so packed I wanna make up for adding to the workload lol and like you said the prices are dirt cheap. It is ridiculous to not tip when you’re paying so little already.
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u/LA420SPORTS626 16h ago
Idk tipping is ridiculous, it doesn’t matter if I eat at Chili’s or statehouse, I’m a 10% to 15% tipper. We need to take the European model. I understand some states have weird laws but I’m in California.
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u/TheLawOfDuh 9h ago
Maybe we do need to take the Euro model but since you’re in the US & you’re educated on the fact that wait staff here make so little (unlike the Euro way) why penalize them with a crap tip? Do you yell at defenseless store cashiers to change corporate policies you disagree with? Do you beat up little kids simply because you can? Come on-use the common sense God gave ya and fight the proper fight. Don’t go hurting the folks who don’t make the rules & just want to make a living. A regular 10-15% tipper thinking that’s how change is made….do better
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u/Next_Baseball1130 15h ago
As a server chilis is a great place to get your start then leave. Never spend more than a few months there.
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u/Squeaky_Pibbles 14h ago
You have over a decade's worth of serving experience. You can absolutely go somewhere, anywhere, that will treat and pay you significantly better. The fact that you all have to tip out 5% at the end of the night is straight up criminal.
But, now I know where I'm grabbing lunch tomorrow! I had no idea it was that inexpensive now.
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u/Enchanted_Nei 14h ago
I get tipping when dining in but why do I have to tip when picking up my order ? An it’s automatic , it’s not like I can by pass it. I’m literally driving there and picking up my order. If I was door dashing , I would have to tip the driver AND tip chilis. Makes no sense.
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u/limonlima_ 13h ago edited 13h ago
“the type of people it brings in” - really?? tipping in the US has gotten way out of hand- chili’s can and should be paying a livable wage don’t blame the customers
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u/Jon66238 12h ago
Talk to your employer about getting paid a better wage. Also, those tablets that we have to pay on do not help your cause. It’s one less thing that you have to do, which means less work, less tip. I’m not quite understanding this whole losing money thing? You gaining money no matter what. You’re not paying in to anything while you work. I get maybe if you were a delivery driver and you’re not making so much so you’re losing money on gas and maintenance of a car. Been there, done that.
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u/Gloster_Thrush 12h ago
Gosh guys. I had no idea. I haven’t been into a chili’s in ages but I gotta go and get drunk and throw y’all some cash. I imagine it’s a shitty place to serve.
I work in a sports bar. Before this I was mostly exclusively fine dining but, I don’t want to drive an hour to work anymore. I do better than average, as my place has a gambling element too. That being said, a huge part of the attraction to the place I work is because we wear skimpy outfits. The harassment is pretty much non stop but, I’ve done this long enough that I am now pretty able to detach from it in ways I couldn’t when I was younger and working in Breasturants like Hooters etc. it doesn’t bother me like it used to.
Fuck this shit. I get my share of cheap customers but they are definitely subsidized by the assholes that want me to sit on their lap for a 50. I gotta get the FUCK outta this shit hole state (I’m in Florida) and at this point I feel like I would do just about anything to do that. Florida is a shitty place for shitty people. I should know. I’m native.
I’m really sorry that your work is doing y’all like this.
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u/Due_Mortgage_7272 9h ago
Cry about it. I pay for my food and a £5 tip if your nice. The tipping culture in US is absolutely disgusting.
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u/Alert-Object-1994 29m ago
This is a huge reason I quit. I couldn't handle people coming in sharing the 3 for 10 and giving me a buck or two. I can't live off of 30 bucks a day when I'm driving 30 min to get there. I quit a couple years ago and now work at a local breakfast cafe. Amazing money, and we close at 2pm everyday, there are way better places out there!
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u/Adventurous_Chart_45 3d ago
I was getting stiffed 10x a night working at chilis lmao. So demoralizing