Remember when we asked about how much you tip in non-service restaurants and cafes?  A lot of you weighed in on the issue.  Our poll indicated that about 70% of you don’t tip in these situations.  We had an interesting discussion about the obligation of the customer in situations like this to which Dan from Eppie’s added:

I can’t speak for other quick service/counter service joints, but here’s what’s going on at Eppie’s. We started out without a tip line on the cc receipt. We added it after we’d been open several months b/c a lot of folks were asking how they could leave tips on their credit cards. However, by no means should YOU feel obliged to tip just b/c there’s a line on the receipt. It’s not on there to pressure folks into tipping. Nor does the staff take umbrage if you scratch through the tip line or put a zero in there. Does the staff enjoy getting the tips? Of course. It’s a nice bonus at the end of a busy shift. But we certainly don’t expect everyone to tip.

To my enjoyment, I found a fantastic New York Times article by Paul Wachter, relevantly titled “Why Tip?” In the article, you learn some very interesting things behind the relatively recent phenomenon of tipping.

Here are the interesting facts (i.e. things like laws against tipping), straight up, for you to share with your non-cVillain friends:

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Popularity: 23% [?]

When I go to a standard, sit-down-and-a-server-comes-to-your-table restaurant, I normally tip well over 15% (and on the total amount of the bill).  I know servers think that 15% tips are pretty bad and chances are upon your return you will receive above average service.

The 15%+ tip represents a cornerstone in the waitstaff industry.  Restaurants have a pretty good deal with waitstaff in that, you and me, decide their salaries.  Now I know restaurants are super competitive and no one makes any money on them, but the sad part is that if I get really horrible service, I feel guilty about leaving less than 15%.

The real feelings of guilt hit when I get coffee, takeout or something like Eppie’s.   These places share the same ordering process where you go up to a register, order your food and you pick it up either down the line or from the same person you order it from.  Then, they give you the receipt and there is that inevitable TIP/GRATUITY line on the receipt.

What do you do!? I’m stuck in a restaurant mindset most of the time, but sometimes I think, well, the people here didn’t really do anything and why should I pay them for doing their jobs and not really providing me any service.

It’s confusing, and I call upon you, cVillains to help me solve this dilemma.

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Popularity: 17% [?]

I’m feeling more and more cool that I don’t have an iPhone, because apparently, AT&T is now having problems with iPhone users all over the East Coast.  Are you having issues?

Check out this twitter post:

I am really surprised that bloggers and MSM are not covering the AT&T outage. Affects iPhones only (EDGE and 3G) up and down east coast

If you recall, we had major AT&T outages in Central Virginia in early July and the AT&T didn’t formally acknowledge it.  Now, let’s run a little poll for Charlottesville iPhone users…

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Popularity: 17% [?]

HEADACHES!!!

We are hearing about big problems with AT&T service in Central Virginia.  Users are experiencing dropped calls, lack of outgoing texts amongst many other problems.

These problems started yesterday evening at the latest and still no updates on when the problem will be fixed.

If you are on AT&T and having problems, let us know what you’ve been experiencing and when it all started!

Update #1 11AM, July 2nd - It appears that AT&T problems are affecting ALL AT&T customers in Central Virginia.

Update #2 11:15AM, July 2nd - It appears that AT&T mobile customers have NO VOICE AND NO TEXT MESSAGING abilities.

Update #3 3:45PM, July 2nd - Intermittent service reported, but most customers still have problems.

Update #4 11PM, July 2nd - Service seems to be fixed. Let us know if you experience anything otherwise.

Update #5 4PM, July 3rd - Service still intermittant.  Mysterious calls from Number 1.  No word on 007.

Popularity: 67% [?]

I was walking down the mall in my Tux (as I often do) and a chapping young lad approached me.

“Sir Gentleman,” he continued, “It would behoove you to take my business card.”

I responded, “Why thank you, dearer sir.”

I looked at the card below and didn’t know what to think:

Popularity: 17% [?]