And that's exactly why I stated "in PA and NJ".
Granted, but you also started off by saying "I can tell you this is BS". It's not BS. That's a
fact. It may not be universally true everywhere 100% of the time (in fact it's quite common), but calling it "BS" is a bit of a strong statement, a real stretch of the truth.
This is WAY off topic from what the OP is talking about though. He's talking takeout. There's no real need to tip for takeout. Nothing wrong if you want to, but it's not expected. Tipping is paying a little extra for a service provided. There is no extra service when picking up your own takeout.
Still relevant. Often times the server putting together your takeout order is a tipped employee making $2.13/hr and working under a tip-pooling scheme. That takeout order is counted in their sales, and when you don't leave a tip, they are having to pay bus/bar/host staff money based on those sales. Once again you are costing that server money by not tipping.
Again, not 100% universally true, but common enough to be a real issue. I'm not saying it's right either, but it is the way it is. I'm not advocating you tip them 15-20%, but you should at least leave a buck or two, imho.
I think that's exactly what he meant to insinuate. Otherwise, why did he include the word "actually" in his statement?
He said, "it has actually cost the server money." The inclusion of the word "actually" strongly suggests he meant to imply a negative wage. If he simply meant that they wouldn't have earned as much as they would have if you'd tipped better, he would have a) omitted the word "actually," and b) not said it at all because it's pointlessly obvious.
What does the word "actually" have to do with this? Does that word mean something other than what I think it means?
Let's look at what he said again:
So if you leave nothing or you leave the 5% special, it has actually cost the server money to tend to your cheap ass for an hour.
This statement is a fact under certain (common) tip-pooling schemes. It does ACTUALLY cost the server money to tend to a customer that leaves a $0 tip. That doesn't mean that they walk away with negative dollars, but it does mean that it ACTUALLY cost them cash money.
The Dictionary said:
ac·tu·al·ly
ˈakCHo͞oəlē/Submit
adverb
adverb: actually
1.
as the truth or facts of a situation; really.
"we must pay attention to what young people are actually doing"
2.
used to emphasize that something someone has said or done is surprising.
"he actually expected me to be pleased about it!"
synonyms: really, in (actual) fact, in point of fact, as a matter of fact, in reality, in actuality, in truth, if truth be told, to tell the truth; More
used when expressing an opinion, typically one that is not expected.
"“Actually,” she said icily, “I don't care who you go out with.”"
used when expressing a contradictory opinion or correcting someone.
"“Tom seems to be happy.” “He isn't, actually, not any more.”"
synonyms: really, in (actual) fact, in point of fact, as a matter of fact, in reality, in actuality, in truth, if truth be told, to tell the truth; More
used to introduce a new topic or to add information to a previous statement.
"he had a thick Brooklyn accent—he sounded like my grandfather actually"
Nope, it means exactly what I thought it meant.
It's okay to misunderstand what someone is saying. It happens, especially when it comes to the written word, on the internet, without the social cues we are used to in face to face conversation. But to go on stubbornly insisting that someone "meant" something that is clearly not there... well that's just silly.
He stated a fact. As a restaurant payroll professional, I can attest to the statement's veracity. I'm a bit puzzled why you are so vehemently arguing the point just because you misunderstood what he was trying to say.