1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

whats with cocktail girls ???

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by thenuke1, Jul 22, 2012.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2009
    Messages:
    16,023
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    175
    Just to jump in...We play almost exclusively at MSS at the bar and my favorite machine is #1. That is next to the cocktail waitress station. We usually begin playing around 8 AM and I can't tell you the times the waitresses either have no drinks, or maybe 1 water, or 1 bloody and this can go on for hours.

    At a union shop there are 2 classes of workers-full time & extra board. Full time employees do get 40 hours a week. Extras are basically on call. They might work 25-35 hrs or they might not even get called in some weeks. You need to average a set amount of hours over the course of a year to get health care if you are on the extra board. Not enough hours-no health insurance.

    Yes, housing and property taxes are cheaper in Vegas, but almost everything else was more than living in the Midwest.
    As just a small example, our car insurance (same cars) was almost triple what we were paying. Groceries, dining etc-all more expensive. You can't eat buffets everyday.:poke:

    Union employees: MSS is union, the Cal is not and I'm not sure about Fremont.

    Yes, the waitresses do tip out the bartenders at the end of every shift. 10-20% is typical.

    I don't play much on the floor, but I do tip the bartender $1 every drink.
     
  2. jr7110

    jr7110 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2009
    Messages:
    1,556
    Location:
    NYC
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    35
    Maybe the word "virgin" just wasn't in her vocabulary. :wink2:
     
  3. Pinny Long

    Pinny Long VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2009
    Messages:
    1,828
    Location:
    Vegas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    50
    I was at a San Diego Padres game on Saturday night.
    We ordered two "premium beers" (this translates to Shocktop, FYI) and they are filled on this funny automatic fill machine that loads the beer from the BOTTOM of the cup (it's a pretty cool invention). So, basically, the clerk just took my $20 (yes, it's $10 a beer), and then says, "Just so you know, we're accepting tips if you wanna help out."

    "Thanks. Good to know," I answered. And left. I was pretty astounded, actually, that such a labor-less job for an overpriced beer would get such a strongarm tip-grubbing approach. Who else am I supposed to tip? The guy at 7-11 that hands me my coffee and Doritos? The guy at the gas station because he so gracefully put my $50 on #6? The McDonalds server did hand me that Big Mac with a smile --- does he get a tip?

    Waitresses . . . yes, I understand this (and I DO tip regularly for every drink). Dealers too (I tip frequently). But I see too many people nowadays trying to get tips for just regular stuff that NO ONE would ever in their right mind tip for and it kind of pisses me off.
     
  4. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2009
    Messages:
    16,023
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    175
    How about the tip jars I've seen at some cashier windows.

    BTW those bottom up beer fillers are cool. I first saw them at either Sam Boyd Stadium or Cashman Field. Very interesting. For those who don't know what we are talking about

    <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/B-sOgG3h6l0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
     
  5. Sonya

    Sonya Queen of VMB

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 1999
    Messages:
    44,195
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    25
    This thread is getting a little crazy and is pretty close to getting closed down.

    The OP asked what the deal was with a rude waitress who couldn't get an order right. Now we're talking about unions, healthcare and average salaries? It's a cocktail, not a corporate merger. :wink2:

    I tip $1 per drink. I'm on a budget and that is the amount that works for me. I'll tip more for something special, but I'm comfortable with that. I think the standard is $1-2 per drink. However, this does not take into account the service you are getting and your particular budget.

    If you think that's too low, you are certainly welcome to tip more. Heck, tip $100 per drink and see how happy your waitress is. If you can afford that, do it. Judging people because they don't "do Vegas" the way you do is not only rude, but it's short sighted.

    Let's keep the discussion civil here please.
     
  6. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2007
    Messages:
    8,403
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    18
    The different rules people have developed for tipping different people are actually quite humorous.

    I think with cocktail waitresses it comes down to small change being a pain to deal with (for both of you), and a certain largesse because you got something for free anyway, disassociating the tip from the value of what she brought.

    Personally I typically tip a buck. If I just order water, its a buck (despite being those annoying little bottles that aren't even worth it). If I order a drink, its a buck. If I order a drink and she's carrying the water bottles on her tray (as is usually the case), and I ask for it, its still just a buck.

    The reasons basically come down to both convenience and what I think the service is worth. I don't really think handing me a water she carries on her tray is worth a buck, but I'm not giving nothing, and I'm not carrying change just to tip less. I'm not tipping more than a buck because I don't want think its worth it.

    Some people tip more round 1 for faster service. But I don't need super fast service. And I expect at least reasonable service no matter what I tip. If I don't get it, I count it as a strike against the casino, not the server.
     
  7. ATXTX

    ATXTX VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2010
    Messages:
    1,077
    Location:
    Texas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    13
    I don't know if the company that run concessions for the Padres does the same thing but - this might explain the tip thing, -

    The company that does concessions for the Rockets, Astros, Texans & for concert events here has volunteer, charity or community groups sign up to run a concessions stand. Your group gets 10% of the sales from your stand and keeps all tips.

    When my daughter was in summer tournament ball the team parents signed up to do this. Although our family didn't need the $, the team needed 10 parents to sign up to run the stand... we had some families that could not afford the cost of tournament ball without this supplement.

    I never solicited tips but anytime someone tipped me I told them where it was going & frequently they flipped me more, people are in general very generous.

    I am just wondering if the Padres thing is the same since she said "help out" she may be there working for a charity or something.
     
    When we Were Young
  8. DonD

    DonD VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2004
    Messages:
    9,135
    Location:
    So Cal 91748
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    300
    Thank you for that. It puts a new light on some of the tip jars. I usually hate them but now I'll pay more attention.
     
  9. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2009
    Messages:
    16,023
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    175
    Packers, Bucks & Brewers all do the same thing here in WI.
     
  10. POPO2012

    POPO2012 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2009
    Messages:
    419
    Location:
    Ohio
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    You're missing the point. There is at least 5 in the group and being served Red Bull and vodka as well as Newcastle between the group. The CW keeps us as a regular stop during her tour. Buy a Red Bull and vodka or a Newcastle and your already paying..............................
     
  11. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2010
    Messages:
    10,096
    Location:
    At the tables
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    it's not always about the bargain. if you want cheap beers, tip as little as possible, but you may have to wait a while. if it's busy and you want front of line service, you tip a $20 and get your beers before everyone else.
     
  12. Username

    Username VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 5, 2010
    Messages:
    1,382
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    11
    I once tipped $5 per drink while playing video poker........thought that might help as we were planning on staying at that bar for a while.......she came and WENT.......it was the end of her shift........NEVER AGAIN.
     
  13. thenuke1

    thenuke1 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2010
    Messages:
    964
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    6
    LOL ! even after i summarized my original question people bypass my post clarifying the issue and still suggest i tip a buck or 2 per round even AFTER the CW got my drink wrong ... christ..

    THANK YOU !!!! FINALLY !!! i would have never imagined that Sonya would have to actually post here and see what the issue actually was.

    again i have no issue tipping per round but i WILL not tip bad service. Many people fail to acknowledge that the CW got my order wrong twice and was tipped on both rounds ...

    WOW some people on here lol seriously
     
  14. unomas

    unomas High-Roller

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2009
    Messages:
    800
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12
    First sip I would have sent it back as it wasn't what I ordered? Why didn't you or your girlfriend?
     
  15. jhpa

    jhpa VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 25, 2010
    Messages:
    1,211
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12
    Question for you, Sonya - with all due respect: Why is it that the amount that works for you is the fair amount to a waitress? Do you go into a steak house and pay $6 for a 10 ounce Filet Mignon because that is what works for you? I think that is the wrong approach. You should pay for value...that to me takes into account the work and effort involved in providing you the service. Servers work hard and we should all be more appreciative of their efforts
     
  16. Liondownnow

    Liondownnow Low-Roller

    Joined:
    May 12, 2009
    Messages:
    381
    Location:
    Las Vegas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    999
    Isn't $1 the industry standard ?? Sonya didn't establish it from thin air.....it is the standard outside of the HL rooms.
     
  17. Aero

    Aero Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2010
    Messages:
    374
    Location:
    Eastern PA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    13
    Uhhhhh.... I've never had anything like this happen anywhere. Of course, I understand that if I order something(anything) from a cocktail waitress, it is the accepted protocol that I have my $1bill ready in hand to facilitate the drink-dollar exchange. If the request is not run-of-the-mill or the CG is really taking care of me, the tip will go to $2. If there is some unusual service performed(i.e. wife had a drink that the CG worked with the bartender at Caesars to recreate for her - took two trips to get it right...that's a $5tip. I would never dream of not tipping even if I'm just getting Coke, coffee, or water. As with most things, if you take care of people and practice common sense, everything will be just fine.
     
  18. kingpasty

    kingpasty High-Roller

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2009
    Messages:
    834
    Location:
    Wichita Falls, TX
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    14
    We were in the Bellagio book (which I believe is one of the last to serve unlimited comp drinks w/ a ticket) a few years ago watching the NCAA tourney. Myself and a buddy. First round, $5 tip for two drinks. Second, $5. Third, $5. Fourth, we're out of $5 bills and only have two dollar bills. Give them to her, and she doesn't return to our table for QUITE some time. My buddy I was with got super pissed, "That's BS", etc...I didn't.

    Here's the thing. It's simple economics. Supply and demand. If the going rate for drinks at The Bellagio sports book is $5 for two, so be it. Don't get all pissy if she doesn't come around after tipping $2. Go watch the game somewhere else. Go to the bar and buy drinks. Either way, I bet your Bellagio Cocktail, Newcastle, Sappiro, or whatever high end hooch we were drinking will cost you more than $2.50. If it's $1 playing Sigma Derby, or $5 in the high limit room, so be it. Still the cheapest drinks on earth people.
     
  19. kingpasty

    kingpasty High-Roller

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2009
    Messages:
    834
    Location:
    Wichita Falls, TX
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    14
    Exactly. And that 75K is tax free for the most part. More like 130K...
     
  20. merlin

    merlin MIA

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2009
    Messages:
    3,755
    Location:
    mn
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    Lets summarize what we have so far:

    Some people say they tip $1 a drink

    Others say "oh yea, well I tip $2 a drink"

    Still others say "oh yea, well I tip $5 on the first drink and then $2 each thereafter"

    Still others say "Oh yea, well I tip $20 on the first and say keep em coming"

    Sounds like we have the cocktail thing figured out, I'd like to know whats up with those dealers, expecting a tip every time I get a blackjack or win 3 hands in a row? :drunk:
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.