LeBron Not a Cheap Ass After All?

16. the reason that waitstaff make so little is BECAUSE the industry expects customers to tip. i think that by and large, servers do appreciate their tips, but it doesn't negate the fact that they bust their @$$es to EARN them. what customers don't understand is that what you are providing in your tip is actually just a server's living wage (if you can call it that). at most mid-range chains, the reason why the cost of your meal isn't more is because the cost of labor is relatively low. as the customer, you make up the difference. serving people is not easy - even bad service is work, because customers are very demanding; everyone thinks they are the only table and as a server, you may have 8 tables in your section. on top of that, a server has to "tip out" the bar and the bussers, usually based on percentage. so it hurts when a big check comes through but, in lebron's case, the server is left, what, 1%?!?! that's crazy.

i agree, bad service shouldn't be rewarded, per se. but as someone who has worked in the industry, my minimum is 15% across the board and 20% for good service. i will hook a server up even more if she/he is outstanding...and for the record, i'm a black woman. and i've seen it all - so that whole racial profiling bit is bogus. don't believe the hype. i've had 50% tips left by blacks, literally coins left by whites and latinos, and 5% left by east indians...and then i've had standard 20% left by all. so don't get drawn in to racist notions of class and stereotyping. it's ridiculous.

Posted at 6:08PM on May 9th 2008 by former server 32

17. How could the waiter have been mistaken about the $10 dollar tip, if Lebron has to send over a separate tip now? How does paying with a credit card make the receipt of a meal more complicated than usual? Sound's like a cover-up to hide Lebron's cheap ways.... I know he has only come into money recently, but too many spoiled rich athletes think they can get away with being cheap towards others.. just ask Bernard Hopkins.

Posted at 2:49PM on May 10th 2008 by TheGreatBrajole

18. Oh, yea, I'll bet he can do the MATH, when it comes to his fricken CONTRACT!!

Posted at 6:22PM on May 9th 2008 by mamacita

19.
firstly, most celebrities are used
to getting everything for free;

secondly, this guy has, at the very best, a
" pushed " through high school education.

most importantly, the race factor has
nothing to do with the tipping policy.

if theys gonna be impotent, theys
wants to pays like da impotent.......

Posted at 6:54PM on May 9th 2008 by rosaparks

20. Surprises me NOT that LeBron would be a cheap ass. When in New Orleans for the NBA All Star Game the LeBron James Foundation approached a local school system (in neighboring Jefferson Parish) to arrange a school visit. The school chosen has 97% of the children on free or reduced lunch. Did LeBron personally show up? Did he make a donation to the school? Did he bring gifts for the children? NO, none of the above. He sent a salesman to pitch books to the children. He tried to SELL books to the kids. Even brought characters in costume to peak their interest. Oh, they did give book marks to the pre-K and kindergarten. What a douche!

Posted at 7:43PM on May 9th 2008 by not a lebron fan

21. this is off the subject, but anyone know what kind of tie he has on in that pic? That is a pimp ass necktie...I need to get me that one

Posted at 8:13PM on May 9th 2008 by Nick

22. Misunderstanding my foot! Poor service?? My other foot!! The guy has a history of poor tipping and I have seen it in person!

Not all celebrities are bad at tipping. When I worked for the restaraunt that I did in the past...Jerry Springer came in and ordered 2 lunch sandwiches(this was a chain restaraunt)...His bill came to around 20. He handed the server 20 for the check..then handed her another 20 for the tip. 100%.

Another thing....Tipping is a tradition in America, whether you like it or not, as are many other traditions. Since this tradition has become the standard, servers and other tipped positions are traditionally paid less.

Not to mention as previously posted...when you tip a server, that server has to tip the bartender(whether they made you a drink or not), bussers, and if they have food runners...them too. So just because you tipped 8%..that doesnt go all to the server...not to mention, in proper establishments(as stated before...)you have to claim at least 10% of your sales in tips, whether you made that or not.

Posted at 9:04PM on May 9th 2008 by Dawn

23. You don't have to be a certain color to be cheap. If the visit consisted of him alone and he consumed 8 large in food and beverage, the waiter didn't have to bust his hump too hard, but 10 is past cheap. If the party was two or more, then the waiter had to work hard, he should get a tip accordingly, then again, leaving a 10 might be akin to one of us leaving a penny for terrible service. None of us were there.

Posted at 9:19PM on May 9th 2008 by pua

24. A servers salary should not be based on his or her tips. If I get good service I tip well if the server is lazy and could care less about me the customer she gets a lousy tip. i usually leave a 20% tip, but it is my decision based on how well the service was. If the food comes out and is not cooked right then it is the cooks fault and not the servers. however if I did not get what I asked for such as fries instead of mashed the server should not bring that dish to me she needs to be aware of her orders. It is not easy being a waitress and some do work hard. but I will not be told what to tip. If that server here only got a $10.00 tip than he should be happy he got one at all. If I am at a buffet I don't tip 20% for someone to pour me coffee and take my dirty dish way. I had to serve myself!

Posted at 10:11PM on May 9th 2008 by Taboo

25. First of all, some of the comments about how waiters need to find a better job or stop complaining are hilarious. Do you know how hard it is to find a job without your parents help or connections? I'm sorry people, you need to realize what real people go through to get jobs. These people are having to wait until 3:45, almost FOUR-FIVE hours after the place closes for King James. That's ridiculous and unfair, especially for $10.00.

But hey, I guess these people would rather be waiters than doctors, huh? I guess all of them have a choice...losers.

That was sarcasm, btw.

Posted at 10:43PM on May 9th 2008 by Justin

26. He was bred to throw a ball into a basket.....math, language skills, economics, and other tools are not useful or necessary to him.

Posted at 11:08PM on May 9th 2008 by Pablo

27. 24. i laughed all night at you.

FIRST. GETTING A GOOD JOB DOES NOT ENTAIL A HUSTLE. I WENT TO SCHOOL. I WORK FOR THE STATE. I TIP ACCORDINGLY AS STATED IN EQUITETE GUIDLINES. i STILL SAY THAT TIPPING IS NOT MANDATORY. IT'S A CONSIDERATION NOT A GIVEN.

YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO A TIP. I DON'T CARE IF YOU WORK AT SONIC BURGER AS ONE OF THOSE GOOFY PEOPLE ON SKATES. YOU CHOOSE TO FILL OUT THAT APPLICATION AND GO TO THE INTERVIEW AND EVEN PARTICIPATE IN THE ORIENTATION. SO DON'T COMPLAIN NOW THAT YOU ARE NOT MAKING WHAT YOU WANT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT ALL MAYBE CANNOT AFFORD TO GO TO COLLEGE. BUT THERE ARE TOO MANY PROGRAMS AND AIDES AND VOCATIONAL WHATEVER FOR SOMEONE TO COMPLAIN - AGAIN- ABOUT A TIP THAT YOU DIDN'T GET FROM A CELEBRITY.

A CELEBRITY IS NOT HERE TO TIP YOU OUTRAGEOUSLY BECAUSE THEY ARE A STAR. I WISH I WAS AND SOMEONE COMPLAINED TO ME. YOU'D SEE A WHOLE NEW WORLD.

Posted at 4:29PM on May 10th 2008 by cmyman

28. what is all the damn fuss about these tips? you chose your job no one made you if you don't like your job get A new one. half of the waiters and waitress don't deserve what they get they expect it nobody says we should tip out the ass get A new job so you don't haft to depend on tips and stop your bitchin.

Posted at 12:31AM on May 10th 2008 by medicswifet

29. FIRST OF ALL I AM TIRED OF ALL YOU RACIST ASS PEOPLE ON HERE ALWAYS RUNNIG YOU DAMN MOUTH ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE PERIOD I DONT HERE YALL MAKING COMMENTS ON STUPID ASS SERIAL KILLERS AND THEY STILL FINDING BODIES NOW OF ALL THOSE WHITE PEOPLE HE KILLED SO WHO GIVES A RATS ASS IF THE WAITER GOT A TIP HE PROBABLY A RACIST ASS TOO JUST BECAUSE HE GOT MONEY HE DONT SUPPOSE TO GET A TIP TO BE ABLE TO NOT SHOW UP FOR WORK THE NEXT DAY HELL GO LEARN HOW TO PLAY BASKETBALL TOO AND THEN MAKE SOME MONEY AND YOU LEAVE A TIP BIG AS YOUR HOUSE PAYMENT LOL.ALOT OF BLACK PEOPLE DONT LEAVE TIPS CAUSE THE NICE RESTARAUNTS WE GO IN ARE RACIST ---PEOPLE THAT WORK AND OWN IT AND WE DO GET ------SERVICE

Posted at 12:32AM on May 10th 2008 by whatever

30. Actually I work with several black servers who I also happen to be friends with and they also bitch all the time that black people don't tip. Maybe it's a western United States thing. In fact two of the black servers have said it makes them ashamed to be black. Also where I work, white people who work there are the minority.

Posted at 12:36AM on May 10th 2008 by LVserver