Servers and diners at restaurants should be paired up on an auction basis.
Posted by Medium-Ad2330@reddit | CrazyIdeas | View on Reddit | 34 comments
Diners would declare their tip amount to be given to the server the selects them. The servers would judge the diners based upon the size of the group, previous behavior and experience at the restaurant, the age demographic, general vibes ect. Once a server accepts the tip offer, the diners then have to accept as they may not want to get that server.
When a server is ready for another table they will go to the host stand to see what diners here are and what they are offering.
This would generate proper service, proper social behavior, a regular clientele, reliable wait staff, and a reliable place to dine out at.
QuickMolasses@reddit
Finally, an actually unhinged crazy idea
PaganMastery@reddit
So the poorer people just starve at the window watching the rich eat?? That is the most American thing I have heard all day.
Toivottomoose@reddit
If the restaurant is mostly full, then that will already be the case anyway, because they'll just raise prices.
If the restaurant is not too full then it will not be the case anyway, some servers will have to "settle" for the poor diners, not having enough rich ones to serve.
Either way, this system shouldn't have any effect on whether poor people can dine there (that said, I still think it's an incredibly bad idea).
Medium-Ad2330@reddit (OP)
Going out to eat is a luxury. I don’t even care if it’s Denny’s. Yes it is cheaper then most places, but it is still vastly more expensive that staple food shopping and cooking for the majority of people.
It may sound like an American thing to say because Americans have been the top 1% of the world for a long time now and the rich people always say shit like that.
My bad.
glitterfaust@reddit
The metric is pretty badly skewed because of our K shaped economy. Many MANY Americans live paycheck to paycheck.
Going out to eat is definitely not an essential, but it shouldn’t be reserved for the ultra wealthy. I believe if you can’t afford to tip, then you shouldn’t go out to eat, but if you can afford a $15 meal plus a 20% tip, why should you go hungry just because someone can continually outbid you?
Adorable_Ad4990@reddit
It would start a crazy bidding war. Imagine Sunday brunch. Even poorish people CAN afford to pay double, but nobody wants to.
Adorable_Ad4990@reddit
Wait, hear me out, this favors both paying more AND being more attractive.
SeanFromQueens@reddit
How quickly does this go awry of violating Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and not allow equal access to public accommodations.
Medium-Ad2330@reddit (OP)
Eating out at a restaurant is not a public accommodation is it? Like it’s a privately owned and operated building. Or am I confused on that
SeanFromQueens@reddit
These young people would disagree with you. The effort to integrate lunch counters is what Title II was supposed make unnecessary, yet there were plenty of public accommodations that did abide by the law and refused to serve members of public who were not white.
Medium-Ad2330@reddit (OP)
Ehhh oh well, it would be an unfortunate side effect
froction@reddit
This would disproportionately negatively impact black diners, thus making it illegal discrimination.
Medium-Ad2330@reddit (OP)
Why would it impact black diners?
twinklepocket@reddit
Teenagers on first dates would be eating in absolute silence trying to maintain their customer rating.
Medium-Ad2330@reddit (OP)
Teenagers aren’t capable of having respectful and socially acceptable conversations?
WetDogWalker@reddit
So as a diner, do I have any say in who I get as a server? Like "that guy gave awesome service last time, I'll pay extra to get him" or do I just bid 'I'll tip $40, who's willing to work for that?" And first server to accept gets the gig?
I think everyone knowing the cost and pay rate upfront is good, but I don't quite understand how this plan works.
Medium-Ad2330@reddit (OP)
Uhhh yeah at the end of the first paragraph I said that the diners would have to accept the selection. Everything would be consensual
Wurm42@reddit
There used to be a few restaurants in New York City used to test concepts and menus for national chains. I'm not sure if there are any left after 2020, but this would be a great concept to test at one of them.
Weary_Swordfish_7105@reddit
Hoe does this work in normal countries where tipping is not the standard?
Medium-Ad2330@reddit (OP)
It doesn’t?
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
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SirGeremiah@reddit
This is exactly the approach people dislike about how tipping has been changing. 30 years ago, a tip was something you gave good service in hopes of. Now it’s often something received in advance, so isn’t tied to the level of service.
I’ve seen this go very badly for good people who try to play fair, and very well for those who take every advantage for themselves.
allenrfe@reddit
It would be a race to the bottom for service. If you agree on the tip before the service what would the point of providing good service? To me a better idea is for restaurants to pay servers a living wags and have tips optional for good service.
doyu@reddit
Is this what restaurant workers fantasize about at the end of the day?
Bring on the robot servers.
rasmustrew@reddit
Or even crazier, do away with tipping altogether
uses_for_mooses@reddit
Nah. I’ll still tip.
help-its-inside-me@reddit
Bro shut up lmao
xaraca@reddit
My crazy idea was BYOS: bring your own server
SamLooksAt@reddit
I would just pair prices that include a proper wage for the server with items on the menu.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
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randomentity12@reddit
This assumes that the demand for servers and restaurant service outstrips supply, which except for the best ones it doesn't, also many people won't participate in such an idiotic facade.
YesterShill@reddit
I have always found that just being a good person who respects their servers and tips well tends to make everything work out, except in very rare situations.