and as far as the paycheck goes...My hourly wage is take away from me to pay taxes so my paychecks say VOID on them. I don't know maybe you don't pay taxes.

have you ever worked in the service industry in any capacity at all? If not, I suggest you give it a go then come back and tell us how it worked out for you. I recently graduated from college and 2 weeks later took an entry level job 40 hours a week in which, due to the economy, I do not make enough money to pay rent, utilities, insurance, and student loans. I have been responsible and instead of mooching off the government I have taken it upon myself to find another job in which i work another 30 hours a week totalling 70 hours a week. I work hard for the money I make in the restaurant and for me to run around and provide you with good service, it is a slap in my face for you to leave me a poor tip if you leave one at all

If you read my posts, that question is answered for you. You'll also find me stating I tip well. There have been a handful of times in which I tipped less than 15%, but on those occasions I had horrible service. Basically my order was taken, someone dropped it on the table, only later to return to drop off my check. Sometimes I've even had to ask for my check because the server didn't even come back. I don't think a server deserves a 15-20% tip when they don't do their job. Truth be told, I usually tip well even if it isn't deserved, but there are times when the service is so bad that I question why I'm leaving a tip at all.

Not all servers do a great job. Not all servers deserve a great tip.

I'm wondering where I can find the actual quote from Oprah? Can anyone produce it? It's hard for me to believe that she would say that a 10% tip is acceptable. I did a quick google search. I found message boards and blogs on this topic. There is no substantial evidence that she ever made such a statement. If she did say it, I would like to know the context. I've been in the industry for 15 years. If the statement is true, well, geez... wouldn't you think she'd talk about it once again to clear up any misunderstandings? Maybe do a show on the restaurant industry? I don't watch her show, so maybe she has. If you know of anything please let me know.

We’d like to respond to your concerns raised about Oprah’s thoughts on tipping. The truth is that Oprah has never said that people should tip less during the recession. She believes in generously compensating waiters and waitresses. I hope this is helpful. Have a great evening.

-HarpoBear, Oprah.com Community Producer

So what did Oprah say on this subject ? When did this episode air?

Obviously, you just don't "get it", do you? There is no episode. She didn't say anything on this subject. Just like she hasn't had a show focusing on a day in the life of the carpet in my office, she hasn't done a show on what waiters and waitresses should or shouldn't be tipped.

So, you and the others that keep asking what she what she did say, you will not find anything because there is nothing.

Now...do you get it?

Reply to servr2u,

We’d like to respond to your concerns raised about Oprah’s thoughts
on tipping. The truth is that Oprah has never said that people should
tip less during the recession. She believes in generously compensating
waiters and waitresses. I hope this is helpful. Have a great evening.

-HarpoBear, Oprah.com Community Producer

Actually aisley, you will be paying the the staff either by tipping or a higher priced meal, which is exactly what will happen when employers are forced to pay their tipped employees a fair wage. So you can either tip voluntarily or involuntarily.

she is human in the sense that she is a living person. but she is not like the rest of us. she has a huge audience which she influences heavily. and when she says things like, tip your waiter less, it affects people more so that if i were to go around saying it. she needs to be mindful of what she says. like if i were out there telling people not to buy her over priced products, and it affected her income, i'm sure she would have something to say about it and i would be held responsible. maybe she needs to own up to what she said and take responsibility.

Reply to m1crod0t,

We’d like to respond to your concerns raised about Oprah’s thoughts on tipping. The truth is that Oprah has never said that people should tip less during the recession. She believes in generously compensating waiters and waitresses. I hope this is helpful. Please know we hope good things for you.

-HarpoBear, Oprah.com Community Producer

Bottom line... if you are not a good server, waiter or waitress your tips will reflect it. Why should I give my money to someone who just thinks they are going to get a tip regardless. I work extremely hard to earn a cheque; when I decide to go out for dinner I just want to be treated well... with respect. If you can't do that you are not getting a tip. I tip on service alone, not the food or atmosphere. If you are a server and can not treat people properly...GET ANOTHER JOB! Do not wine that the rest of the world owes you a living. I refuse to eat anywhere that just makes a 20% tip automatic. You got to be kidding me! With that being said, I have tipped more then 20%. As I said; if you treat people well your tip will reflect it. Some people say if you don't have enough to tip don't go out; well that would be a little hard on the economy and for thousands of small business owners.

Wait staff gets an adjusted minimum wage, at least in Arkansas, that is $2.63 an hour. Every night you have to declare your tips, which are taxed, and that tax is taken out of your hourly wages. If you are lucky enough to work for a company that offers health insurance, that is taken out of your check, too. So by the time everyone gets a piece, there is no paycheck!!

I put myself through college waiting tables at Outback, and their policy if for the servers to pay 3% of their SALES (not of your tips, but of the dollar amount you sold, regardless of if you were tipped or not) to "tipshare", that is divided up between the hostess, bussers, and bartenders. What this ultimately means is that the only money you make is what you are tipped, and if you don't get tipped, you actually end up paying to wait on that table!

Oprah has a huge influence in America, and for her to tell people to tip less cuts into many peoples livelihood. So tip your servers!! Give them 15-20% for good service, more for great service, and even give 10% for bad service (everyone has a bad day). If you can't afford it, don't eat out...your just perpetuating the economic crisis.

Reply to drjen101,

We’d like to respond to your concerns raised about Oprah’s thoughts on
tipping. The truth is that Oprah has never said that people should tip
less during the recession. She believes in generously compensating
waiters and waitresses. I hope this is helpful. Please know we hope
good things for you.

-HarpoBear, Oprah.com Community Producer

Obviously, you've never worked in a position that relies mostly on tips for a wage. If you can't afford to eat out or don't feel the need to tip your hard working server- DON'T EAT AT RESTAURANTS. And while you are right abou the fact that we should be mad at the corporations we work for, you, as the non-tipping customer make it EVEN WORSE becaus WE END UP PAYING TO SERVE YOU after we tip our bussers, hospitality team, etc. So if you really do not feel the need to tip, DONT COME AND SIT DOWN AT MY SECTION AND EXPECT GREAT SERVICE.