Expensive jeans as uniform - would it affect my tips - YouLookFab Forum

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Expensive jeans as uniform - would it affect my tips

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I am on shift #6 this afternoon and running out of clean uniform options. I'm thinking of wearing my TR Disco Billy jeans. This got me to wondering if this would affect my tips in any way. As in, look at her, she's wearing $300 jeans - she obviously doesn't need our money that bad! That kind of thing. Although I got them from the Rack for half that, and with gift money to boot, my customer has no way of knowing that.
Would what your server is wearing (expensive jeans or jewelry) affect how much you might tip them? I always tip on service and attitude, not how much one might 'need' the money. But I've known gals to mention their young kids, etc, on purpose to hopefully garner more money. I hope folks would tip on merit, but if my jeans are going to be a detriment, I'll happily leave them for my off time to enjoy!

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Dressing

40 replies

Latest reply was from Mo

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Wow...interesting question Mo! I guess first of all, will your customers even know looking at the jeans that they are a particular brand or price point? I'm not sure I would notice on my server.

MsMary

Veteran

I suppose it's barely possible that one customer in a hundred would recognize your jeans as retailing for $300. And I suppose it's barely possible that some number of those customers (I have to think it would be way less than half) might let it affect your tip.

On the other hand, the other 99% of your customers would just notice that you look awesome and would tip you MORE!!

kellygirl

Veteran

I wouldn't hesitate to wear them and it wouldn't affect how I tip. I'm not sure how many people my age would notice whether they were high end or not--the only think I notice is if they are ill-fitting. I'm working on that though--this is my year of living kindly (as Alicat so eloquently put it.)

Anonymous

What they said. The average person does not know much about prices, designers and such.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Guess I would think that you cared enough about your job to care about your appearance. I like it when my servers look good. A nice rear view is always appreciated. Just my two cents.

Diana

Veteran

I do notice my server's clothes (but I'm willing to bet many others wouldn't, based on the responses in Elisabeth's "do clothes matter" thread) but I never make it a consideration when deciding what to tip.

I'd bet you actually get more tips since you look FANTASTIC in your jeans and that probably affects tips more. (it would also be an interesting experiment to see whether it affects your tips from men vs. women.)

Isis

Veteran

I think they'll only influence your tips in a positive way because you look so great!

Most people dont' know the price of jeans.

I'd be afraid of wrecking them/wearing them out with food spills/smells. Is that a consideration? Time to get more jeans!

pil

Veteran

Speaking for myself, I would have no idea they are pricey jeans. I would be more concerned with Isis' point about stains though.

Anonymous

I don't think most people would have a clue what they cost. They will just think you look great!

Day Vies

Veteran

I hope no one tips their server based on whether they believe their server is "Livin' La Vida Loca" or not.

Wear your jeans proudly -- if someone wants to short you because you look "expensive" they would have found some other reason to short you because they're cheap and should eat at home.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Okay, thanks for reassuring me! I do worry about rips/stains and so that's why I don't wear them to work. It's laundry time! I may be able to wear my grey skinny cords . . . but it's good to know if I have to wear these it's not likely to affect my income

morethanbeige

Veteran

I don't think it would affect the tip either, Mo. You look fab (and therefore probably feel fab) and I think this would make people want to tip more.

I think the tips are more about friendliness and service.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I don't think it would affect your tips much if at all. Like the ladies said, most people aren't likely to know the brand or even pay attention. Plus, even if they did notice, they wouldn't know if you bought them full price, on sale, after saving for months, off ebay, from a friend or whatnot.

Deborah

Veteran

Tipping is not the custom here but we do tip from time to time and it is ALWAYS based on the service we receive. We have never made a decision based on if we think the person 'needs' the tip, it is purely a response to excellent service. What you are wearing would not influence my decision at all.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Ditto w/ Deborah; I only tip based on the service and not whether or not someone appears to need it.

ironkurtin

Veteran

No, I don't tip based on jeans. Go out and be fabulous!

Rose

I concur with those who say that most people probably won't notice or recognize your clothes, and that - if anything - looking nicer means looking more professional and tip-worthy.

Unless there are logos or bling in the question, I usually perceive expensive/well-made clothing as "she looks great" rather than "she looks like she paid a lot for that."

rachylou

Veteran

I think, actually, they would effect your tips. People think the thoughts that their brains tell them to think. And brains make a lot of snap judgements.

Be an interesting experiment to run, though.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It certainly wouldn't make me tip any less. On the contrary, a server who looks great is a credit to the place she works and I am likely to tip her well. But I would worry about wrecking them without an apron. So it would depend on the rest of the uniform and the shift.

Girl X

(website)

Veteran

I just voted Yay - meaning, wear them! But if Yay actually means 'yes fancy jeans might negatively affect your tips' then I should change my vote to Nay - because I can't imagine they would have any negative impact. Actually, I can't imagine tipping based on how much or how little the perceived need was, and really the idea of that seems pretty creepy to me. If my server looks great, then I get to enjoy their outfit, which adds to my overall enjoyment, which means better tips! Wear the damn jeans!!!

RunnerChick

I tend to tip the same amount (20%) unless the service is egregiously poor or outrageously excellent. It's really not dependent at all on the clothes of the server, but on the fact that I have worked in the service industry and I know what servers are usually paid. It's always a plus to encounter a server who's pleasant, charming, and helpful...regardless of how they're dressed. As IK said, go out and be fabulous!

BTW, speaking of tipping, I just came across this blog post on the freakanomics blog: http://www.freakonomics.com/tag/tipping/
Interesting, huh?

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Late to chime in, but I would never tip less if I somehow happened to notice that someone's jeans were a more expensive brand. I don't think I'd really notice this, but if I did - how would I know whether the jeans were a gift, patiently saved-up for, or bought at a great discount, and further - what difference does it make anyway?

Actually, come to think of it - I don't notice brands all that much at all. I notice style, beautiful fit or what have you, but brands/price don't really resonate with me.

That being said, I *do* notice when someone goes the extra mile and provides stellar service and I tend to tip more in those cases.

So don't worry that wearing your nicer jeans will somehow make people think twice about their tips - I don't think this will happen. If anything - you'll feel better and as a result you might do a better job - thereby increasing your tips. Just a thought.

Freckles

Veteran

We went out to lunch today and while I couldn't tell you what our server wore I can tell you that she was well groomed, clean, friendly, accomodating to the grr one dictator person in the party and gave EXCELLENT service. She was tipped on her service but I appreciated all the other parts as well.

Wear the jeans if you wish Mo, they look great on you.

crazyone

Veteran

I honestly don't think most people would notice your jean brand, or even know if they did notice. So I doubt it will affect your tips in any negative way.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Makes me grateful my brief foray into food service was uniformed. Wear the jeans.

rute

Veteran

I notice my server clothes too but I like to see them well put together and presentable and not poorly dressed!
I guess that would not affect the tips.
I LOVE those jeans on you!

Anonymous

They look fabulous, get them out and wear them. That's one way to bring down their CPW, and most jeans are sturdy stuff so I doubt you'll ruin them. If anything you'll get better tips because they look fantastic.

rachylou

Veteran

On a related subject, I once worked at a place - we're talking baking now - and would wear my Marc Jacobs tees. They were tissue thin, sleeveless, and really quite ideal for hellish kitchen heat. I don't think anyone spotted them for being Marc Jacobs, but I got a lot of *comments*. Unpleasant.

People tip for the quality of service, but the perception of quality depends on how they feel about you. And how they feel about you depends to some degree on your clothes and if they match their idea of appropriate. If you make enough for fancy clothes - ok, you were nice, but why weren't you nicer?

The bankers' dress code, you know, expressly forbids the wearing of Rolex watches. No one wants to come in and see you spending their money on frippery. People want you to be careful and conservative with their money. It's subconscious.

Anyways, so did you wear them?

Isabel

Veteran

I know that I am late with the answer, but mine would be absolutely not affect my tipping on bit. Unless the wait person is the owner.

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