Hello, I am speaking for many who work in the service industry. Yes tips comprise most of our income, but we must track all of our sales, and Uncle Sam taxes us on all of the sales you receive a reciept for. If you only tip 10% we are still taxed the standard amount leaving myself and others owing money on your good time. If this continues and the decline in tips increase then there will not be a population who does not work 9-5, but 4-midnight to take care of your every whim. Most people have a relative or friend in the service industry, so the thought that working for less than the minimum expected rate as proposed by someone who can give away cars on a whim is absurd! Every year, most service industry workers end up paying more in taxes, both state and federal by tip logging. To top it all off, this money is earned in the pits of environmental, emotional, and occupational hazards. To say 10% is enough is rediculous.... when that is the minimum the server is taxed, meaning after tipping out other workers, I walk out of work beat up and owing the govenment money. Please do not think that it is ok to steal, and that is what you are doing when you do not properly tip, it will only be so long before your favorite restaurant will go under due to 10% and less tips.

Oprah, unless I have been misinformed, I fear you may have stuck your foot in it again! I thought you had learned your lesson after the beef fiasco, but I will give you the benefit of the doubt. If indeed you did make the statement, "that people dining out should feel o.k. leaving a 10% tip, "in our tough economic times", then you need to do a segment on people working in the food service industry. I would suggest my daughter as one of your guests. She is bright, articulate, educated, mature, and POOR, so I think she would make an ideal guest on your show. She has two degrees, a B.A. from the University of Michigan and a M. A. from the University of Texas in Austin. She is working as a server because she has the GREAT benefit of health insurance, which she cannot afford to be without! She barely scrapes by and depends on her tips to pay her rent, utilities and feed herself. Yes, in these "tough economic times", this young woman is having difficulty finding a job in her field...media studies (radio, film, and video) and she cannot afford to give up this service job, (w/insurance) until she can find a more secure position, (when the economy improves). She also has a second, part-time job AND has done at least four un-paid internships over the past few years.

I live in Michigan and this state is going through some rough economic times, but there is NOT a shortage of people eating out! It does not matter the day of the week or the time of day, our Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and other local eateries are PACKED. There are thousands of people working in the food service industry who live below the poverty level in the U.S. They DEPEND on TIPS to SURVIVE...not just for themselves, but for their families too.

When you make a, perhaps, off-hand, or thoughtless comment about tipping as little as 10%, you are doing a huge disservice to a large segment of the working POOR in our country. Of all people, I am shocked and dismayed to hear that you would make such a reckless statement. A cavalier attitude such as this is unconscionable for a woman of your stature, influence, reputation and generosity. OPRAH....PLEASE SAY IT AIN'T SO!!!!!

I completely agree, and have sent the following email. I urge others to do the same.

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Hello Oprah,

I watch your show when I can and usually I find the content
rather interesting. However, I was
outraged to hear that you mentioned on one of your shows that tipping a server
10% is acceptable in order to save money.
I take offense to that notion and am extremely disappointed, if that is
truly what you said.

My last 3 years have been spent waiting tables while I have
been putting myself through college. In
those years, I have not made over $17,000 per year! By most accounts, I should
be living on welfare! The money I make has to pay my rent, food, gas, college expenses, bills, et cetera since I am the only breadwinner. If it weren't for my parents supporting me in
this endeavor, there is no way I could have afforded to do this. My course load is 15 credits, while still
trying to work 5 days a week in order to survive and make my life better in the
process.

By suggesting that people tip only 10%, you are telling them
to give me a 50% pay cut (since most people tip 20% for good service). Are YOU willing to take a 50% pay cut? I,
personally, cannot afford a 50% pay cut of my current income. It infuriates me that you have empowered
yourself to even suggest such a thing! If I can't afford the other 10% of my
grocery bill, does that mean I do not have to pay it? Tipping (assuming the
service is good) is a part of the bill.
If you don't have the money to pay the entire bill you should not be
eating out.

I would really like to see you take a month off taping your
show. Work in the restaurant industry
during that one month and live merely on the tips you receive for that
month. See how far it gets you...THEN
talk with me about tipping only 10%.

Please take some time to think about the "tips"
you are giving your audience.

Hello!

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 in clearing up any rumors you may have heard. Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance.

HarpoBear, Oprah.com Community Producer

are you kidding? only 10% service. tipping was meant for over and above service not just doing your job. People aren't living above their means b/c they don't want to have to tip 15%. If one provides the x-tra service, then you should get it. I don't have to subsidize your living. No one does that for me.