MASON CITY – A Mason City woman says she and her co-workers waited on over two dozen players and coaches with the NIACC baseball team Monday and were essentially stiffed on their tips as the team ran up a bill of about $500.
According to Madison Graney of Mason City, she and two other servers waited on the NIACC baseball team Monday when they came into Buffalo Wild Wings for a meal. The team was supposed to play a game against DMACC in Waterloo on Monday, but the game was rained out.
Ms. Graney says that she had the team’s coach at her table, and “he seemed nice, [paid] for the whole team.” She says a total of 26 people were in the party.
“We busted our butts serving this table. It took up most of our dining room,” she told NIT. She said there were no complaints left by anyone in the party about the service or food.
After the meal, a bill of about $500 was presented, and the coach was said to leave a tip of $7, while a few loose dollars were left by a few players, for a total tip of between $17 to $22, split between the three servers. A 15% standard tip would have been $75 on a $500 bill.
“I was speechless when we recieved the tip,” Ms. Graney said. “I live off of my tips. I feed myself, pay my car payments, pay my bills with the money my tables leave me. I don’t think that people understand that. As a waitress your paychecks every other week are extremely small.”
NIT sought clarification from the NIACC Athletic Director, Dan Mason, and NIACC baseball coach, Travis Hergert, about the meal and the tip. Neither had an immediate response to our questions.
104 thoughts on “Waitress: NIACC baseball team stiffed me on tip”
I once was a waitress at a Hooters down South. I worked hard for the money I was given in tips. Even being a previous server (I worked at other eatery’s as well)I didn’t expect a tip if I did a bad job. That being said I wasn’t there so I don’t know what kind of job the waitress did. I only know my past experiences in that establishment and it hasn’t been great. Waiter(ress) disappearing and not being seen, food being served wrong multiple times and cold, and constant attitude.
Why is this even a story??? Can’t believe I read this. Coaches should be ashamed and the waitress should be ashamed.
Please they are no better then MCHS at sports, never will be. Bunch of pussies wanting out cheap. Some coach, simply put an arrogant asshole.
Everybody knows in the world you tip the appropriate amount of the bill…10 15 20 percent. Which ever.
It all comes back coach! Get ready….
“Everybody knows in the world you tip the appropriate amount of the bill…10 15 20 percent. Which ever.”
Tipping is NOT required. It is a gratuity, given without claim or obligation. If service was poor why would you reward such behavior?
I agree but you forgot to include that the 10-20% tip expected is derived from the restaurant industry.
Yeah kinda sounds like she was mad cause she got shafted on the tip.
^LOL
^^ HA HA HA
You’d really have a fit if you saw what the cook posted on Craigslist under “Casual Encounters.”
That’s life
People at NIACC are losing their jobs and the baseball team is spending $500 on a team meal?
With a nick nack paddy whack
Give a dog a bone
This old man came rolling home
Standard tip is 10%. Some people choose to give more. For some reason popular culture keeps mentioning 15%.
What’s funny is all the wealthy people I know who don’t tip. It’s how they stay wealthy.
LOL – this is news???
Buffalo WW has a food cost of 20-25%. Thats means they cleared 350.00-400.00 dollars. Maybe they could show their thanks and give the servers a small piece of the action. I would guess teams will not make the mistake of eating tere again. I am sure they left their thinking they just gave a nice bump to the resturant. Not thinking they caused anybody any type hardship
correct. nobody wants to eat where the waitress bitches about not getting a big tip.
Ya, just like those rich farmers. Imagine what they make with such paltry seed cost, OMG!
Only stupid farmers are poor.
Too bad the owner of this sites own agenda is going to end up getting that waitress fired, and then he will blame others.
@Sad-I just looked at the comment on facebook and saw nothing in them that should threaten the young lady’s comments. As a matter of fact I saw nothing posted by her and the comments of other people should not be used against her and if they are she should go to the Human Rights Commission. Oh damn, I forgot, our mayor did away with that didn’t he?
Dont you think that waitress should have kept their damn mouth shut in the first place if they were worried about starting any trouble?
What agenda is that? Enlighten me.
When collegiate teams travel, they are allotted a set amount of money per person in their traveling party. One school of thought: we are giving you $500 worth of business that we could have taken elsewhere. Another school of thought: the serving staff are those who end up getting the raw deal.
… badpontiac Reply Report comment
May 14, 2014 at 10:18 am
Just as well wrote the check for another 75 bucks – taxpayers are footing the bill anyway.
How asinine of a comment is that? How in the hell do you figure taxpayers are paying for it!?!
and Badpontiac…asinine is another word for ridiculous if you did not know that:)
Ok,
First of all, the NIACC baseball team has a bunch of great kids on the team. Second, service at Buffalo Wild Wings is TERRIBLE. 3rd, BWW should fire the server for her facebook rant. You are hurting the business you work for by offending guests. I had a friend interview for a manager job at a BWW, and the GM of that restaraunt told the person interviewing, “We know our service is not great, but we survive on the atmosphere.” FIX your service problems!
I was kind of wondering the same thing you mentioned about how this employees post on Facebook could possibly hurt BWW.
I know some servers bust their butts and do a great job. In my opinion, they deserve a tip. The one’s with the attitude who act like they are doing me a favor by being my server, they don’t get so much then.
You sound like a status quo cheerleader, cheering on all conventional society’s little darlings. Some may be good, some may be bad, and some are more than likely average. I remember another group of status quo cheerleaders, they were called the CL City Council. Heads way up their self righteous asses.
You calling someone self righteous is HILARIOUS!
I’m sure it is very difficult to serve such a large group. And I’m sure the servers were working hard to make sure everyone was served. They should have been tipped. If the team didn’t want to tip, there’s plenty of fast food restaurants.
STRONG LANGUAGE, HIDE THE CHILDREN
Just as well wrote the check for another 75 bucks – taxpayers are footing the bill anyway.
I have some mixed feelings on this one. not sure how long the team was there but I would think they could eat in an hour. If the workers are getting $4.25 plus the $22 tip split three ways that would come to around $11.50 a piece. that’s not a terrible hourly wage. If they were there for more than an hour was it because they were just hanging around or was the service slow. Not blaming the waitresses but that’s not entirely the customers fault either.
I always try to tip well as my sister used to cut hair and I learned how she relied on her tips. I also have the means to do so, but I don’t think workers should feel entitled to these tips. be greatful for those that tip you well, for those that don’t as long as they are polite and not stiffing you to be a jerk, be happy for their patronage as well. Your place might not be open without some of those nontipping customers. Its kind of a gamble you take for being a waitress.
Interesting perspective here. Very level-headed. In this economy (North Iowa’s) Mike has a point. A lot of those restaurants are inching by. I think it’s good etiquette to tip, but it’s not legally required.
Who made it a law to tip? Tipping is a extra for the people who serve you. Do you ever tip your mail person? He or she serve you everyday and I bet 90% of you never tip them or your garbage person, Think about it, it is not a law just a nice gester that we have adopted. Yes I feel there should be a tip but myself I judge how my service was completed. Also I never base my tip with tax included. If my bill is $20 and 1.40 in tax I give my tip on the $20. Low of 10% and high of 20% based on servic
Good point. We should not have to tip with the tax included. I think people should only tip on the portion of the bill from the business itself.
well I for one enjoy reading stories like this on NIT. Yeah it’s not hard news but I find it entertaining. A 100 years ago I was poor college kid and we all know servers. I enjoyed reading the article and the comments.
I am a player for the NIACC baseball team and I must clarify a few points on this topic. 1. The service was below average at best multiple orders were dropped or not even brought out until after everyone else had ate or they were completely wrong 2. The coach told us players earlier in the day he had the bill for us so many players did not bring their wallets and the ones that did (about 5-6) combined for that 22$ which was nice on their behalf to do that
As someone who worked as a server for 8 years, I can say that when you have a multitude of people come in (i.e. Young kids with loose morals and a lesser understanding of the service industry) it’s hard to juggle a crowd, especially with multiple servers involved. It is NOT the servers fault that your food came out late, it’s more or less the bombardment of a hefty crowd coming in at one time being put on the shoulders of the cooks and food prep staff.
Also, it’s proper etiquette that when someone else is paying the tab that you cover the tip. Your false sense of entitlement and justification to not tip your server is completely uncalled for, and disgusting. You’re in college, so brush up on your math skills and learn to be a proper and decent human being, and join the rest of society, kid.
I always thought that unless other arrangements are made prior to the paying of the bill the person paying the bill covers the tip and that it could be considered rude to the person paying for the meal to also tip. Is that not right?
I’d agree with this, unless the bill payer asks his guests to chip in……
Maybe you should write an article on proper etiquette. Since you are so high and mighty.
tl;dr
service bad, blame the cooks
service good, tip your waiter
I have been in BWW less than 5 times but EVERY TIME have has below satisfactory service. Waiting forever for servers, servers that take your order and never return, messed up orders, ect. Even had a server argue with my husband that she brought him back his credit card when she never did. She later found it on the floor in the kitchen. YUCK! No apoligy. If service is bad, tip is bad and I wouldn’t doubt this was the case for the NIACC baseball team.
Don’t blame matt….people need be responsible read last post…you can get a crip too! God how stupid are people let me guess you don’t tip either! “Guest”
Matt Marquardt why do you post this random crap. Really you try to make everybody look bad like the trout family and now the niacc baseball team. like i feel sorry for you that you didnt win your city election but your not going to win if you make everyone hate you for posting things like you have…. so you should quit it cause this is useless information to our daily lifes
Well you said a mouthful there, and I can’t really agree with you on any of your statements. This is not “random crap” as you say. This is someone’s livelihood we are talking about here. Now, that might not mean squat to you, but to this young lady who worked very hard in order to earn money to pay her bills, it certainly means the world. It seems you want to blame me for the transgressions of others. Did I make Mr Trout behave like a barbarian at the library? No, I did not. Did I force Mr. Trout to not watch his kid and allow him to throw a booze party in his house, in close proximity to guns? Sorry, wasn’t me. I did do my job, however, and report what I felt was newsworthy information. I have a feeling this NIACC story has only just begun, so please, stay tuned for much more on this developing situation.
Speechless! All these people are all stupid that are defending not tipping! Sounds like the people that bitch about everything anyway…I love the rich bitch people in this town..NOT EVERY PLACE HAS GRATUITY SO FIGURE IT OUT…AND AS FAR AS THE PEOPLE THAT THAT THINK ITS THE EMPLOYERS ITS THE GOVERNMENT SO UNTILTHEN TIP YOUR SERVER…..
Thanks your pissed off local server….I know some names now…haha happy eating!
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires payment of at least the federal minimum wage to covered, nonexempt employees. If an employee’s tips combined with the employer’s direct wages of at least $2.13 an hour do not equal the federal minimum hourly wage, the employer must make up the difference.
I did not know this. SO, it kinda sounds like a server should shut their mouth weather they get a tip or not. As they are still working for minimum wage. like many people do, and harder work I may add. If they dont like it then get another job.
I am not contracting your services.
Your employer is contracting your services.
I am exchanging a set amount of money with your employer to have food and drink delivered to the table I am sitting at.
Delivery service is included by your employer.
You have chosen to perform this service.
If any of the above is distasteful to you, take it up with the one who has contracted your services.
The only place I fit within this relationship is that I give money to your employer.
I do not give…
I do not give money to you.
You do not give food or drink to me.
You are merely an extension of the service your employer has offered to me.
You are the organic delivery robot, and so long as you are wearing your uniform, you are not a person.
Eric, is that you? Put the Moscow Mules and unfiltered stogies away and go to bed.
I agree with you Bill.
Wow I can’t believe some people…tipping is something you do…people like me depend on tips to pay bills….please let me know before hand so I know to give you the best service as possible…I feel sorry for everone that had everything handed to them get a life and eat at HOME!
arrogant a$$holes like you are part of the problem. I bet you would never tip the tow truck driver that got you out of the ditch either. You cheap a$$. Those guys work a damn site harder than you do and with no thanks.
I thought if a table is over 6 people that the gratuity is automatically put in the bill.
Most restaurants allow servers to add gratuity to parties larger than six or eight. I’m not sure what BWW’s policy is, but I’d always put it on to be safe. If they really like the service they can tip above and beyond the gratuity, and if the service is horrible (or they’re cheapskates) a complaint to the manager usually gets it removed.
And then I cross it out and tip what I want, you can’t force a gratuity.
Junior College sports teams usually take prepared meals or stop for fast food. It is possible because the were headed to Dmacc that they did not have any money with them to tip. It is also possible that Mr. Mason thought the men would leave a tip not realizing their pockets were empty. I do know if Ms. Graney is not doing BWW a good service by submitting this article.
Quick point of clarification: She did not submit it. I interviewed her based on a social media post she made.
Also, you raise some good points that I am already working on … NIT readers should expect some follow-up stories on these peripheral issues.
Well it’s going on reddit so new corporate will hear about it and more then likely all three servers will be fired for making it public
Correct. People should boycott Buffalo wild wings because of the poor service and bitchy waitresses.
I imagine the servers/bartenders at the country club could tell some stories on bad tippers.
Hahaha. You mean the “elite” are cheapskate munny grubbers? Naaaaah. You must be mistaken.
They don’t get rich from wasting money…
Prehaps we should reconsider the policy behind “tipping”. If you pay for food and tip, the cost is about the same as it would be if the restaurant paid minimum wage to the server and upped the food price to reflect the increase in wage. No tip would then be expected. The patron could decide whether the service was so good the server deserved something extra.
Tipping does seem to be ever-so-slightly antiquated. Too much room for subjectivity, and now that people have such bad manners, it has to be hard to be in the food service business.
Plus the government would get their “PROPER” amount of taxes from these servers. Is anyone really dumb enough to think servers report 100% of their tips?
We ate at Whiskey Creek tonight and I left a 25% tip. The food was great and so was the service. The place is so clean you could eat off the floors. Don’t mind tipping in a place like that. The only drawback was john Skipper was in there and almost made me throw up the good food.
nobody likes a bragger!
@Rabbit-Not bragging at all. Just making a point. If you want a good tip have a clean place and good food and service and the tips will come. Do you tip or just run around sniping at people like a troll?
definitely bragging
First time I went to Whiskey Creek, Jay had his hand down the back of his pants (to just below the belt) I haven’t been back.
What came first when dining out. The food or the service. Without tipped employees the would be no food service.
If I ran a restaurant or any service business, I would work out wages so that tipping wasn’t expected. I wouldn’t forbid a patron from delivering a tip to someone, but the common knowledge when dining there would be that tipping wasn’t expected in that establishment. When people go out they should not have to worry about tipping.
At many restaurants, a 15 % gratuity is automatically added to the bill.
As the story reads, a few player MAY have attempted to increase the tip left, but lacked the funds. The coach (person paying) should have left the appropriate tip.
If you ran a restaurant, it would mean having a job. So we will just chalk this up as another fantasy.
My job is sage, farmer, construction theorist, host, facilitator, and societal rehabilitative specialist. Let’s just say society is playing catch up to my skill set.
I think “theoretical realist” fits the bill much better.
Maybe they will stop back after they make the majors and make it right?
I can’t believe the negative comments from some of you! Get a better job? Did you not see she is paying her rent, car payment etc? I know Madison personally and she has a heart of gold! She did her job and did it well. I hate it when I see some stories on here like when I told mine with the YMCA, and all these negative comments! If you don’t want to tip for good service go to Burger King and see what kind of service you get! She deserves it!
So far the worst comment is “go back to school and get a better job” … no attacks against the waitress will be tolerated here. I will, however, allow a very spirited debate. Please report any comment that seems out-of-bounds. Thanks Angie.
GEES MATT: Dont you think she should have thought about it before SHE opened up this can of worms. Maybe she should have kept quiet and not bitched if she doesn’t like what she hears. Here is a new (low?) for you to announce. “IF YOU DONT LIKE THE HEAT GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN”. BTW what is the current wage of the cooks?
To be fair, the last couple times I have went to Buffalo Wild Wings the service has been atrocious. Long wait times, terrible attitude from the waitstaff and cold food.
Perhaps the service was commensurate to the tip.
This is possible. The waitress says there were no complaints. Who knows what the 26 patrons really thought, collectively. I can say, I don’t eat there. I tried it twice – ever – and didn’t like the food.
Not cool NIACC!
You would be surprised at some of the names here in Mason City and Clear Lake and what they leave for a tip. No wonder they have money, they are so tight they squeek. Some leave coupons as a tip for their establishments.
You couldn’t possibly be referring to Jay Urdahl, now could you?
BAHHH HA HA!!
Jay was having lunch at the Quarry the other day with one other Mason City businessman (not a supervisor). Apparently he didn’t want to strain himself by reaching across the table for the bill. Never blinked an eye when the other guy paid for everything. Has he EVER picked up a tab in his life?
I was in Mitchell county couple years ago covering some story affecting the courthouse and afterwards was outside mingling with folks. County supervisors and other officials were outside chatting. I heard Jay Urdahl’s name come up, so instantly honed in to listen. They went on and on about what a massive cheapskate Jay Urdahl is. They laughed and laughed, said he horned in on free food and drinks at some function, never tipped, then disappeared. They said he’s done that more than once.
People don’t be on my way rich from wasting money..you must be broke
You should probably thank the coaches for the cheapest lesson you will ever receive. Stay in school and get a better job.
find a different job, there’s no law that you have to leave a tip, eating out is expensive the way it is
You’re right, there’s no law that says you have to tip. If you can’t afford to tip someone for SERVING your food or drinks, stay home. OR! Let your bartender or server know UP FRONT that you have no intention of compensating them for good service, so we can adjust how well your table gets served. I think that’s fair. Let me know you aren’t going to tip me, and I’ll get to you “just as quickly as I can”.
I can agree with this. A waitress works under the assumption of a 15% tip, which society has deemed fair. She works to serve the patron, who then arbitrarily decides to stiff her, even if the service is adequate. See the comments on the NIT Facebook page for people arguing the opposite and blaming the waitress. Facebook.com/northiowatoday
I probably shouldn’t go to that page. I’m positive it’s full of ignorant people who feel they are “entitled” to something because of the server’s “choice” to work there. I get too fired up and angry over this subject.
Perhaps. It won’t be long before the NIACC apologists show up there and defend the tip, blame the waitress, and even NIT for simply reporting the story. In their world, NIACC is on an untouchable pedestal; there are no drugs dealt there (by the former college president’s son), no rapes, no assaults, no bad teachers, it is Shangri-la to them and they don’t want any of their dirty laundry aired.
The work you put into a $5 glass of “5 star” whiskey and a $25 glass of Johnnie Walker Blue Label is exactly the same. Why should I be expected to tip you more for bringing me a more expensive drink?
Also, if tips won’t bring you to the minimum wage your employer is required to make it up.
Quite a lot of servers are working to pay their way through schooling. Maybe you should go back to school to learn some respect for the people that wait on you for 4.25 an hour.
^LIKE^
Excuse me Miranda, and anyone else bitching about waqes: the Federal gov says that the restaurant must increase wages up to minimum wage, if tips do not make up that difference. So in reality there is no reason to complain about not getting a tip at all. Also there is always someone else out there ready to take your job if you are not satisfied.