The next tipping question.

[Rincewind]

I found several threads for tipping sleeping car attendants and the Dining car staff. But how about the café car staff? I was really unsure and tipped every time. Is there a common ground?

 

[Triley]

That really is a personal judgement. Many passengers leave the quarters for small purchases. For larger purchases ($20+) a dollar + quarters, or a few dollars, depending on the complexity of the order. Occasionally someone will tip based on a percentage, but not often.

Do keep in mind, if you're drinking and keep getting the same order and you're tipping you well, I will remember your order and have it ready by the time you get to the counter, if I see you coming again.

All that being said, there are a lot of folks who leave nothing. It doesn't really bother me, but it goes without saying that if you take up five minutes to place your $50 order and build a huge line behind you because you're taking your time and you leave me nothing? Don't expect me to do you a favor when you come up again!

 

[crabby_appleton1950]

Interesting. I had not thought of tipping there, but usually get something simple and quick. (A hot dog and soda?)

 

[fillyjonk]

The few times I've used the cafe, the attendant has been friendly and helpful and depending on how much I was buying, I tossed a few quarters or a buck into the tip cup. The time I was given a comped breakfast (in the sleeper but the diner was bad-ordered) I tipped the guy about 10% of what I would have paid for the stuff.

If the attendant is surly, they get nothing.....

 

[Hal]

That really is a personal judgement. Many passengers leave the quarters for small purchases. For larger purchases ($20+) a dollar + quarters, or a few dollars, depending on the complexity of the order. Occasionally someone will tip based on a percentage, but not often.

Do keep in mind, if you're drinking and keep getting the same order and you're tipping you well, I will remember your order and have it ready by the time you get to the counter, if I see you coming again.

All that being said, there are a lot of folks who leave nothing. It doesn't really bother me, but it goes without saying that if you take up five minutes to place your $50 order and build a huge line behind you because you're taking your time and you leave me nothing? Don't expect me to do you a favor when you come up again!

What kind of favor? Seriously I don't get this tipping at a counter thing that has come into vogue. Also LSA's are not making Fast Food restaurant wages. They actually have a career.

 

[Cina]

I treat it the same way I do a coffee shop barista. If I'm just getting a cup of black coffee, and all they do is ring me up, I don't tip. Lots of people ring folks up without receiving tips. If I ask for a drink that involves skill to make, then I leave a tip. Not a huge one, just my change usually. Same with the cafe.

 

[fairviewroad]

I can honestly say I've never taken 5 minutes to place my order or spent $50 at the cafe. Not even remotely close on either account. Do people really do that?

I think the most I spend on an Am-Cafe is on the Cascades, which have rather decent sandwiches...get two of those plus two drinks and you're looking at perhaps $20. But the attendant simply takes the pre-packaged sandwiches and the drink out of the fridge....not really a tip-worthy exercise, IMO. Sorry...guess I'm a cheapskate.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I'm with the leave the change or a buck crowd IF the LSA isn't surly or grumpy!

I consider this the worst job on a LD Train since the person works by themselves, and on a Superliner works downstairs in the dungeon for Looong Hours.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I don't recall ever tipping in the cafe's, on the NEC or LD trains. I rarely ride and don't always use the cafe on my trips.

 

[Triley]

That really is a personal judgement. Many passengers leave the quarters for small purchases. For larger purchases ($20+) a dollar + quarters, or a few dollars, depending on the complexity of the order. Occasionally someone will tip based on a percentage, but not often.

Do keep in mind, if you're drinking and keep getting the same order and you're tipping you well, I will remember your order and have it ready by the time you get to the counter, if I see you coming again.

All that being said, there are a lot of folks who leave nothing. It doesn't really bother me, but it goes without saying that if you take up five minutes to place your $50 order and build a huge line behind you because you're taking your time and you leave me nothing? Don't expect me to do you a favor when you come up again!

What kind of favor? Seriously I don't get this tipping at a counter thing that has come into vogue. Also LSA's are not making Fast Food restaurant wages. They actually have a career.

I mean things like...You insist you want club soda or tonic water, when all I have to sell is Perrier. Or maybe bloody Mary mix. Is it suppose to be sold? No. Is it suppose to be given away without liquor? No. Could I do either of those things? Well...

Or how about sitting at my table? Take care of me and I may let you sit at my table if you ask. It's one thing if it's a busy train that I'll be standing the whole trip anyway, but if we're going through New Rochelle and I'm about to close for my break, I'll be real reluctant to give up my seat, especially if I've been busting my butt.

 

[Railroad Bill]

I am with the "change or a buck" crowd for tipping in the cafe car. If the person acts like he appreciates my business, then I will usually drop something in the cup. If they throw the food on the counter and act like they are doing me a favor. Probably not.

 

[Triley]

I can honestly say I've never taken 5 minutes to place my order or spent $50 at the cafe. Not even remotely close on either account. Do people really do that?

I think the most I spend on an Am-Cafe is on the Cascades, which have rather decent sandwiches...get two of those plus two drinks and you're looking at perhaps $20. But the attendant simply takes the pre-packaged sandwiches and the drink out of the fridge....not really a tip-worthy exercise, IMO. Sorry...guess I'm a cheapskate.

Thankfully it doesn't happen often, but when it does, oh boy... And it's usually someone who comes up by themselves and gets frustrated when there's 3 trays of food/drink to carry three coaches back with no help.
I have one guy in mind who was able to speak perfect English (so I'm assuming he was not illiterate), and would point to a menu board and ask what the sandwich is. Mind you, I'm not behind/next to him, so when you're pointing to a sign on the far side of the counter, you could be pointing at three different sign boards! I'd tell him, he'd say be doesn't want that, then ask what's this other thing. I'd point out the part of the menu that describes the sandwiches better than I ever could, and he wouldn't even acknowledge I had spoken.

Anyway, eventually he gets sandwiches and drinks picked, then decides he wants two pizzas and a cheeseburger (remember, only two microwaves, and you can not fit two pizzas in one oven). By this point there's at least eight people in line. I could have had those things cooked already by this point, but I digress.

After all is said and done, he spent over five minutes at the counter, and ran the total up to something like $64. He pays, cash thankfully, then says "Oh, business class doesn't get free drinks?" I probably had to pick my mouth up off the floor, but I didn't say anything, and I refunded the drinks and sent him on his way.

After he left, a bunch of the passengers in line started complaining about how long he took, and that I did a good job trying to keep him moving along. One of them asked if he tipped me, and couldn't believe he didn't, and that they'd take care of me.

Don't get me wrong, I am neither supporting nor condemning tips for my craft, especially high tips like 20% like you would in a restaurant. I do agree that our wages are great, and I do not take my tips for granted. However, if you are at my counter long enough that you more than triple the amount of people in line, and then don't do much as give me a thank you when you leave..? Yes, I would expect a little something.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

Yup.... All about the attitude. Be friendly and professional and you'll always get a $1. Once I tipped $5 because he was super friendly, offered me a refill on coffee, and whenever he didn't have a line he wiped the tables in the cafe. He was on the crescent a few years ago but he said it wasn't his normal route.

Only at Amtrak would an employee be "doing a favor" to let a customer sit at a table.

 

[Triley]

Yup.... All about the attitude. Be friendly and professional and you'll always get a $1. Once I tipped $5 because he was super friendly, offered me a refill on coffee, and whenever he didn't have a line he wiped the tables in the cafe. He was on the crescent a few years ago but he said it wasn't his normal route.

Only at Amtrak would an employee be "doing a favor" to let a customer sit at a table.

So I should give up my table and only spot to sit, and not sit for my one thirty minute break in a ten hour day? And I'm talkin' about a group of people, usually drinkers, where I would have to give up the whole table, not just one side. And remember I'm talking about working on the corridor and referring to trains where it's non-stop busy. If it's something like 67/66/151/190, I will tell commuters to sit, because I don't mind standing for an hour or whatever, because I've been sitting for a bunch of the trip anyway.
On a side note, I thought I was the only one who would actually go out and clean tables, especially at high change over stops.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

Triley... I apologize, that comment was not directed at you personally. Amtrak should have all of that thought out.... It's the system that is at fault. I know that Amtrak allows you to reserve a table, and expects you to take your break at that table.

It just looks so sloppy to have LSA's and other crew members taking up tables in the lounge and diner. Especially the diner.

And you are one of the few that wipes the tables that's for sure!

 

[FormerOBS]

In reference to employees having a place to sit down when they have the chance, it's worthwhile to remember what we used to say on our train:

"The passenger sits down and rides to Florida; we stay on our feet and walk to Florida". In that situation, you would sit down whenever you get the chance, too.

 

[BoulderCO]

I like to be on good terms with the cafe car person, so I do almost always tip. I travel alone and never have a big order - a bag of chips or coffee or juice, etc. For that I just leave the change as a tip. If I'm ordering an alcoholic beverage and the attendant prepares the ice, cuts a lemon twist, etc. I leave $1 for each drink. They seem appreciative.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

In my view there are two primary factors that work to dissuade me from tipping on Amtrak as much as I might tip elsewhere.

1. Amtrak employees are paid a living wage that in no way depends on tips to make ends meet.

2. Many of the little things that other staff might do to reward a tipper are difficult or impossible to provide on Amtrak due to the setup.

That being said I've actually had pretty good luck with the cafe car LSA's. If they're friendly and efficient and don't push for tips it's easy to leave some extra at the end.

 

[HenryK]

I believe that the IRS expects a certain portion of an Amtrak server's income to be from tips and red-flags the return if the figure is under the expected sum. Stiffing on the tip can cause problems for the server.

(Of course, this comment is based on extensive interviews with on-board personnel in the 1990s. Things may have changed since then.)

 

[fairviewroad]

I believe that the IRS expects a certain portion of an Amtrak server's income to be from tips and red-flags the return if the figure is under the expected sum. Stiffing on the tip can cause problems for the server.

(Of course, this comment is based on extensive interviews with on-board personnel in the 1990s. Things may have changed since then.)

That's surprising. The total number of Amtrak servers must be a tiny, tiny blip in terms of the total number of overall American workers. I mean, if they put down "waiter" as their occupation, then I guess that'd be true. But if they put down "train crew" or something like that, what would even signal the IRS that something is out of place? Furthermore, if someone's W-2 indicates they are earning well over the federal minimum wage in salary, why would the IRS expect a certain % of income to come from tips?

 

[Triley]

I believe that the IRS expects a certain portion of an Amtrak server's income to be from tips and red-flags the return if the figure is under the expected sum. Stiffing on the tip can cause problems for the server.

(Of course, this comment is based on extensive interviews with on-board personnel in the 1990s. Things may have changed since then.)

This is true depending on what LSA job you are coded as/working. LSA Cafe/Club, we don't follow this rule. LSA Diner, they do. I believe they are suppose to get taxed based upon the sales in the dining car, and what the IRS expects they should make in tips.

I may have it wrong, as I have never worked a diner.

 

[Triley]

Triley... I apologize, that comment was not directed at you personally. Amtrak should have all of that thought out.... It's the system that is at fault. I know that Amtrak allows you to reserve a table, and expects you to take your break at that table.

It just looks so sloppy to have LSA's and other crew members taking up tables in the lounge and diner. Especially the diner.

And you are one of the few that wipes the tables that's for sure!

It's alright, I shouldn't have taken offense. I just thought it was directed at me, and I found it a bit insulting, since I consider myself to be one of the "better" and more accommodating LSAs out there. And I do agree with you about crew taking up multiple tables, and I don't like it very much either. Zone 2 conductors out of DC (WAS-NYP) are not suppose to be allowed to sit in the Cafe, unless they sit with the LSA. That can be a PITA some times, but I suppose it's a step in the right direction.

 

[snvboy]

$1-ish per alcoholic drink. If my change is close to a buck, maybe that.

$1 plus change per order for coffee/soda, unless it's just a single drink and the change is close to a buck.

$1 for each load of ice i come and fetch (if you give me 3-4 cups)

Multi-day long distance trip, I'll tip $5 on the first visit if I'm expecting to visit frequently, and then roughly the above schedule if I'm remembered.

Giving me the WHOLE can of tonic/bloody mix will bump this up a bit. It pains me to NO end that these aren't sold on their own, and rarely given beyond what will fill your cup.

 

[Deni]

$1-ish per alcoholic drink. If my change is close to a buck, maybe that.

$1 plus change per order for coffee/soda, unless it's just a single drink and the change is close to a buck.

$1 for each load of ice i come and fetch (if you give me 3-4 cups)

Multi-day long distance trip, I'll tip $5 on the first visit if I'm expecting to visit frequently, and then roughly the above schedule if I'm remembered.

Giving me the WHOLE can of tonic/bloody mix will bump this up a bit. It pains me to NO end that these aren't sold on their own, and rarely given beyond what will fill your cup.

Pretty much the same for me. I like to buy beer or cocktails on the train, I tip just like I would a bartender.

 

[the_traveler]

As a former IRS tax auditor in my previous life, I can not say specifically about LSA's (due to being in PVD where no crews are based and in AZ where Amtrak doesn't serve - according to a certain Senator from AZ), but that is true about wait staff and casino workers (like dealers). The IRS "assumes" they make a certain amount of tip income. If they do not report at least that amount, they are flagged. (The amount varies on the location - a dealer at "Joe's Casino" may "be expected" to earn $0.15/hour in tips while for a dealer at the MGM in Las Vegas it may be $20/hour.)