Miley Cyrus Didn't Leave A Tip, Media Confused

I swear.  Some media outlets just make it too easy to make fun of them.  Apparently, Miley Cyrus picked up dinner at Outback Steakhouse the other night.  And that should have been the end of it.  Except it wasn't.  Because Miley {gasp} "angered the staff" when she "failed to leave a tip on the $70 bill".

"She pulled an envelope of money out and handed a $100 bill over, but she kept all the change."

Reports immediately circulated that "Miley Cyrus Makes $25 Million and Thinks She's Better Than You!", "Miley Cyrus Gets The Best of Both Worlds!" "Miley Cyrus Makes Mickey Mouse Cry!".

Miley's spokesperson issued a response claiming that Miley "made a genuine mistake in failing to add a service charge. Miley didn't know she was supposed to tip unless she was eating inside."

First of all,  Outback?  Second, I once left a bitchy waitress a note that said "Here's a tip: fix your hair".  Third, let me explain takeout.  According to initial reports Miley and her sister, Brandi, picked up dinner themselves and then ate it outside the restaurant.  You know, without a server.  Like, to go.  As in, to leave.

If I were Miley's spokesperson my response would have been a little less...diplomatic.  Fortunately for you I get paid to be a smartass.  Proof after the jump...

Comments

[steff]

that picture is too funny!

ive got to side with miley on this one and i swore that phrase would never pass my lips. i can remember when applebee's started with their "To Go" service where they gave you designated parking and would walk your food to the door. i still have guilt about the one time i used it and didn't tip the guy who brought me my food (i must admit it didn't cross my mind until the guy gave me a nasty look as he walked away from my car) BUT if i had, i would have given him a few bucks only, the same i would give a pizza delivery person. the point of take-out is you are not being waited on, which is why you tip someone in the first place. did they really expect 20% on her $70 bill? totally ridick.

[Audrey]

On on Miley's side with this one. I don't tip on take out.

[lori]

Wow, I'm thirty(mumble) years old and I wouldn't have thought to add a tip to a pick up order. I can't imagine why anyone would fault a teenager for that oversight.

[MamaKaren]

Who would have gotten the tip? The cashier? When I tip at a sit-down dinner, the tip goes to the server (whether my servers share tips with the kitchen staff, etc. is beyond my knowledge, but no one I've ever known who works in casual dining establishments split tips with the rest of the restaurant crew). I never tip for take out, only for table service or for delivery. So, I guess I'm as guache as Miley Cyrus.

[Amie]

Ooooh.

Does this mean I should start tipping at the McDonald's drive-thru?

[makyo]

i only feel compelled to tip for take-out when i order at the counter and have to wait for the food... like in really small lunch places where they make your food while you're standing there. because, i can actually SEE the work that's going into my lunch, and if i don't tip i feel guilty.

[Jessi]

Yep. I tip a little, but not like I would tip an actual server. And that's only cause they walk all the way to my car. If I went in for it, I wouldn't tip at all. In fact, it pisses me off that the receipts in the drive-thru at Frish's have a line for tip.

[beerab]

I'll tip a dollar in those cases- but to me that's being generous- I wasn't waited on, my food was given to me in a package- I figure my dollar goes towards the containers :)

[ms martyr]

Wait, what, how did two girls consume $70.00 worth of food in one sitting at Applebees of all places? This sounds like total BS to me.

[Elizabeth]

I guess I don't understand tipping rules now. I do tip pizza drivers (and I give 20% because they get paid min. wage), but I figure that's to compensate them for risking their life driving to my house.

You know at McDonald's sometimes they have you pull your car up so someone can bring your food out to you? Am I supposed to tip that person? Outback is trying to take advantage of Miley cuz she's famous.

[Fairly Odd Mother]

Cracking up over that book cover. Um, I NEVER tip for take out unless someone drives over to deliver it for me. It is absurd to be expected to tip the cashier! For carrying a bag of food from the kitchen?

Outback---get a grip! Idiots.

[iambellaluna]

I KNOW I'm better than Outback and I don't make $25 million a year.

The only reason they wanted her to tip is because ohmawgawd it's Miley Cyrus, she makes moar money than us!! Large tip to me!

NOT. Because to go doesn't get a tip (like you said). You didn't DO ANYTHING servers. Stupid greedy peeps.

[Monica]

Genuine server chiming in here!

This is a tricky subject among those of us in the industry, because every restaurant - corporate or small-time local place - has a different system for division of labor, and most importantly, for tipping.

Where I work now, bar staff takes to go orders and is also in charge of packaging all of that food, getting the to go beverages together, etc etc. It's not hard labor by any means, but they are actually putting effort into getting people's food out.

Also -- and this is very often the case in other smaller restaurants -- you're probably ordering from a bartender, or maybe even a server out on the floor. When that order is placed, the total of the bill is added to that person's daily sales.

This isn't the case in every single restaurant, but it's more the rule than the exception.

The important thing there is that the bartenders and servers are all required to "tip out" other people in the restaurant.

That means bussers, barbacks, kitchen support staff. If you're a server, you add on the bartender to that list. Generally, something around 5% of daily sales is taken out to give to them.

The tip out is very rarely done on the honor system, but is instead calculated automatically out of your daily sales.

The point here? When you don't tip, or if you under tip, we still have to pay all of those people based on what we sold, rather than what we made in tips ourselves. If we're having a terrible day with tips, that can take a huuuge bite out of what we get to take home. And keep in mind, we're only paid about $2.13 an hour, so every dollar makes a huge difference.

It's a shitty system, trust me, I know. But that is how it works, so it's worth it to keep that in mind.

Hopefully that didn't come off as a sob story, or a soapbox rant... that's not my intention at all!

It's just one of those things that a lot of people don't know about (which obviously makes sense...how would you know if you never worked in a restaurant?) but many appreciate understanding better.

Blah blah blah, theeee end.

[Daffodil Campbell]

Another real-life server chiming in to add another facet to the tipping situation (which, hooo boy - sucks the big one).

I agree that the take-out window with a cashier is not a place to tip, BUT if you are ordering from a server or bartender (even to-go orders) then not only do they have to give a percentage of their sales to the kitchen (a "tip out") like Monica mentioned, but they are also paying taxes on their sales, under the assumption that they have been tipped for those sales.

Which means that if you don't tip, the server actually has to pay for the honor of ringing you up and packaging your food....Twice.
Once to cover the taxes on a percentage of the total, and again for the "tip out" to support staff.

And assisting take out customers who do not tip takes time away from your seated customers - who will tip. And sometimes that affects the tips THEY give you.

So basically, while I agree that tipping for to-go can seem lame, the system is set up so that if you don't tip, you really are taking money out of the server's pocket. Doesn't that suck ?

Wait, I can answer that....Yes, yes it does.

You know what else sucks ? Outback. You stay classy, Outback !

[Monica]

Daffodil -

Thanks for tacking that on! Taxes...bleh. Yeah.

[Erin]

YES YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO TIP ON TO GO ORDERS.
1. A server usually puts together the order; boxing it, packaging it, adding all necessary condiments, etc.

2. At corporate restaurants a server tips out ON THEIR SALES. So if you don't tip on a TO GO order you essentially are causing the server to PAY for serving you.

3. Is this fair to the consumer? NO. But it is the custom in this country. In Europe gratuity is included in the price, but not here.

4. Kids/adults who are servers are usually in school or trying to do something else in their lives and working very, very hard. Don't give me a line about "having to tip just for showing up to work" or anything else. THESE ARE OUR CUSTOMS IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, COMPLAIN TO THE COMPANY.

5. Servers in Chicago make 4.75 an hour plus tips. When you don't tip them they have to pay for serving you.

6. DON"T BE A CHEAP ASS, plain and simple.