Waitressing?

well - i cant answer for the VI - but as a uaual Rest Manager, now waiting tables, I know a tip is usually up to the guests. And gratuity like the 15% is more on the large parties.....but I cant talk for the VI - but thats how it is anywhere I have been.

I wonder this too - maybe whoever answers yours can answer this too -

On a cruise ship , they arent allowed to keep tips, so do they tourist's get used to NOT tipping, and NOT do it at port?

Hello,

The wages are whats reported, so more then likely do not include tips.

Gia, People tip here usually 15-18% and on tables of 6 and up many restaurants add it in automatically.

--Islander

Now if it's 15-18% on tables of 6 and up, what do those with 5 and below tip?

Most folks here tip 15% as they do stateside. Tipping more or less is up to you. It is not a requirement. Europeans don't tip. Service is included in their prices. Here, you have to 'stamp' them with a 'gratuities added' stamp to get your tip. As stated before, most restaurants add 15% or more to tables of 6 or more. As a person who usually tips more than that, I get offended and tell them that if that's what they are happy with, so be it. They should learn how to read customres.
Gia, I believe the cruise ship passengers know the need to tip. They don't have to tip at meals because they aren't payng a tab on the ship! Hopefully they come to their senses when they come ashore. Some restaurants put a little note in 6 languages, in the folder, regarding tipping.
Ronnie

Thanks for the information folks, it's appreciated. Part of our last trip we spent some time in South Beach, FL where, we discovered, it is standard practice to include 15% gratuity in the checks. The result of this was the worst service I've EVER received in the states. Apparently being assured of 15%, waitstaff did nothing to try to go above and beyond to get a better tip. I'm usually a good tipper, 20% at least, but not one waitstaff compelled me to tip beyond the included 15% the service was just that bad.
We did not have the opportunity to visit a restaurant in our short time on St. Thomas, but I was really hoping this included gratuity was not standard procedure there. In my waitressing experience, 15% meant I did not do a good job, it was rare I was tipped less than 18%, and if we move I hope to continue that track record!
Many thanks for the kind replies!
~Aly E

.
can someone tell all this to the ppl in this town i am in??

I used to make 300 or more a night bartending, and now that i am waiting tables again, in a timy po-dunk town, they thing 2 bucks on a 30-40 tab is good.....

or even 75 cents on a 20 tab -

no - its not me - its the ppl, all the servers just wanna throw it back at em, but them we get the ppl that give 10 bucks on a 30 tab - sometimes it evens out - but not mostley -

I nned to raise money to move there - shipping stuff, but 15-20 bucks a day wont do it -

any suggestions? other than getting another job - because there isnt any here---

I went to Molly Malone's for lunch today. Tables w/ 6 or more is 18% automatically. I tip according to service provided, so I don't think an automatic tip should be included.

Take for instance the service charge for hotel/motel here on STT:

"+ 8% Government Room Tax & 10% Service Charge"

which I think is BS unless the housekeeping staff gets the ENTIRE 10% 'service charge'

Does anyone know if THEY DO?

I don't know where those included fees to regarding the hotels, but I tip the housekeeper in cash on the nightstand wherever I go.

They probably don't get squat from those fees and more than likely get minimum wage for their work outside of what the guests leave.

Chris

That 10% service charge you speak of is not at all hotels. 8% is the only tax that is here in the VI.
I undersand that when a service charge is added to your bill, a percentage is given to the staff.
Ronnie

I think you are right Ronnie. I know of a hotel owner who collects the 10% service charge and divides it up between the staff as a year-end bonus. Which is some cases could be a substantial part of their income.

Unrelated, but about the 10% fee, I found a condo we're considering renting that charges this fee, but does not provide daily (or any except after you leave) maid service. What the heck is this 100+ dollars going for???
~Aly E

GIA, I do know from experience that foreigners are notoriously bad tippers, mostly b/c they're not aware the gratuity is not included. I've also experienced various trends with age groups and tipping, generally younger people tip better (as long as they're over about 21) I'm not sure where you are, sorry if I missed it before, but where are you where people are such lousy tippers? Best wishes!

I used to cocktail/waitress at a large resort here in Asheville,NC-The Grove Park Inn...And 11% was automaticaly added to a guests room(for every charge made to there room). What the customer didnt know is that 7% goes to the hotel and 3% goes to the waitress and the waitress didnt get that 3%, which sucked, until they got there bi-weekly check.
I've worked in many other establishments..restaurants/bars/music venues,etc. and its always been up to the establishment. Except for the grating rule......6-8 persons or more automatic gratuity....15-17%. I agree with Parrothead... for the most part....tip on the service. There are exceptions to just about everything though. And until one has worked for/with the general public (esp in a restaurant or bar), one understands the grating game a little better, and is sometimes thankful for it.

Im going to be relocating to the islands in the summertime and have spent alot of time reading all of these stories. I appreciate everyones input. I waitress here in PA and I am mentally preparing myself to less tips/money when i move to the islands. It was nice to here that the 13K is just on the books for waitresses and does "not" include their cash tips, that is nice to hear. Thanks everyone for all the information

I agree Linda! I currently work for a nonprofit, and took quite a pay cut from waitressing for the stability of a traditional 9-5. I'll probably eventually try to find that stability again, but it's good to know for the immediate time after our arrival, I should be able to make a decent income.

For those of you already on the island, any places stand out as a good place to apply? Maybe it's a waitstaff thing, but when I go out to dinner, I always notice if the staff seems happy and I also mentally note how much a server is probably earning, resulting from entree costs and beverage costs. I have a Fodors travel book that lists some restaurants as being quite good, but I'd love to hear an islander's perspective.

Thanks!
AlyE

"any places stand out as a good place to apply?"

Being the middle of the High-Season almost any restaurant should be interested but you need to be On Island to get a job. Gia can tell you that.

PH

linda wrote:

>It was nice to here that the 13K is just on the books
> for waitresses and does "not" include their cash tips, that is
> nice to hear.

$13,000/yr means about $6.25/hr base wage:

The way this is calculated is,

take the yearly income ($13,000) & divide by 2,080 which is the number of hours one would work in an average year at 40 hrs/week X 52 weeks, 2080 hrs.

$13,000.00 divided by 2080 is 6.25 so that is the base rate/hr for a $13,000 income.

PH

Yes, I got the gist from reading the posts that you had to be there. I was considering faxing or emailing resumes and reference information ahead to set up potential interviews upon arrival. In theory, we would plan on having enough spending money to support ourselves for 3-4 months without any income, but ideally it wouldn't take that long to at least get some employment.

About good leads for restaurants, any places strike you as a fun & lucrative place to work? For example, My husband and I met working in a late next BYOB Mexican restaurant. Reggae music was constantly playing and it was a casual, fun place, staff wore restaurant t-shirts and jeans with aprons. Despite the laid back feeling of the place, it turned a brisk business, particularly on Friday and Saturday night, and it was not unheard of to make 200.00 per 11 hour shift. It was hard work, but a fun environment, and we both enjoyed everything about it except the lack of benefits.

I'd love to find a similar position. I visited the website for "Duffy's Love Shack" which looked like a similar fun sort of place. Opinions and suggestions are appreciated!
Many thanks!
~Aly E

Aly E -I think you need a card from the Health Dept to work. Duffy's is a cool place &n there are many more here on STT which have the right atmospehere. It depends on whether you are interested in waitressing in a bar or restaurant before deciding on the establishment. I don't believe you will have any problem securing a job.

PH

I read about the health card, but I guess I forgot to apply the "everything takes longer in the USVI" concept to that. Maybe it takes a while to get one. Thanks for the reassurance, I really have no preference other than a good relaxed atomosphere and the opportunity to make decent tips. : )

Many thanks!
AlyE