Tipping BEGINS at 15%

[Taverner]

This is pretty much sacred law for me. Even if the food is bad. Even if the waitperson is slow. Even if there is hair on the burger. They are taxed on 15% so I tip at least that amount.

Then, if they do anything extra, it goes up. If it is a high end restaraunt, and they give great service, maybe 16%.

If it is a typical restaraunt, and they do extra, it goes up more to 18-20%

I never tip below 15%, unless the waitpersonl directly insults me.

[Squatch]

1. Been known to tip 0%

Even wrote the word "ZERO" in the tip blank at a bar in Greenwich Village. Hey, if the waiter can be an asshole, so can I.

[Pawel K]

5. If they are an asshole fine, but understand these people make $2 /hr

and rely on your tips as their wages.

[Squatch]

8. A tip is a payment for service.

Service not delivered? Fine, neither is the tip.

[sam sarrha]

47. here in the Heartland, waitpersons wages are $2.50 and HOUR

[Gormy Cuss]

97. In Calif, wait staff get minimum wage.

I'm more inclined to lower the tip here when it's clearly the server's fault. Elsewhere I don't stiff on the tip except in the most extreme circumstances because I know they aren't guaranteed minimum.

[Pawel K]

72. Thats fair, but understand

A lot of time what you think is their fault really isn't. Some might get extra tables because the hostess doesnt know what she/he is doing. At other times the kitcken fucks up the order. So look at it a little closer but I do agree, shitty service = shitty tip (if its the servers fault).

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

86. This is less than half USA minimum wage, correct? Is this even legal? (nt)

[Endangered Specie]

89. Waiter(resses) have their own "minimum wage"

differing from everybody elses 5.15 minimum (I think theres is a shade above 2, around 2.20?)

[name not needed]

130. $2.12.

[HeeBGBz]

106. Sadly yes.

Servers here in the midwest start out at $2.25.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

119. Farm workers typically get less, as well.

No idea why. It's not like they make it up in tips.

[LynneSin]

114. If they're an asshole and getting squat for tips...

...maybe they should consider a new career path.

I very rarely leave zero for a tip but I once had horrible service where the waitress didn't even bother because there was 6 of us and she could put the tip in bill. I was so furious with her service that I went straight to the manager and said that implied tip doesn't mean that the girl can totally neglect our table so she could flirt with the cute boys at the next table. And I'm such a vocally loud complainer that to management it was just easier to take the tip off than to have the patrons hear my loud, bitch about the horrible service.

I spent 3 years waitressing full-time and I'm well aware of the $2/hr they make as a base pay. To me that was the incentive I needed to work my tailbone off and make close to $35k a year solely on waitressing tables. That $2/hour was non existance since it paid for my tax on tips (which I asked to have taken out of my paycheck) and even my really crappy health insurance (but at least I was covered

[RPM]

43. was that at McSorely's

those guys there are assholes - and i love them. 'Specially Tommy.

[sniffa]

2. adequate service - 15%

piss poor service - 2%

[Lex]

3. Yes, because many times it *isn't* the waitperson's fault

if the food isn't prepared correctly by the kitchen, or is slow coming out of the kitchen, or if someone calls in sick and the waitperson has extra tables to attend to, etc.

[barb162]

57. That's not a reason for leaving a lousy tip. If the food is lousy

I send it back and expect to get a good tasting meal prepared as I ordered it.

[Wcross]

75. I NEVER send the food back.

If the food is bad I leave it and don't pay for the meal. Trust me, I used to work in the food service industry as a youngster. I never did anything bad to the food but I saw some that did. I won't get into details.

[barb162]

93. Ummm, you don't have to get into it.

If you are talking about kitchen people spitting in the food and that kind of stuff, I have heard about it from a guy I know who became a chef and also a book wwritten about this kind of stuff. My friend the ex-chef always mentioned gravy gets X dollars and au jus get another 5-10 bucks over that.

I remember once being on this business lunch at a very well-regarded restaurant. This fish I had had so many small bones it was comepletely inedible. Besides it also had bones about 4 inches long. Anyway I called the waiter over and said something like come on, it's going to take 3 days to finish eating this between the million bones in here. He told me there were none in this partiular fish and certainly no large ones at which point I showed him the side of the plate with all the hundreds of bones I had already taken out. (I had never had any fish in my life with the number of bones in this piece of fish I had been served). Anyway they brought out a new, good-tasting piece of fish with no bones. My attitude is send it back but I also understand your attitude. I think both ways are correct. But let me ask, if you are really really hungry, yhen why walk away hungry from that restaurant.

[HeeBGBz]

108. Most places want you happy

If there is a problem with the food, I know I/we try to make it right.

What bugs the shit out of me is when you serve the food and go back to the table and ask "How is your...whatever" and they say fine. Then they leave, don't tip, and complain to the cashier that the food was ....cold, bad, not what they ordered, etc.

If you don't tell us, we can't fix it.

[davidinalameda]

4. you are much more generous than I am

I tip between 15-20 percent depending upon the service

if the service is bad, then they're lucky to get 10%

if the food is bad, I send it back

[RPM]

6. and life begins at conception

:eyes:

[ibegurpard]

7. As long as server is polite and attentive

then I won't take out things like bad food or long wait times on them personally. If they're rude they don't get one.

[Mojambo]

9. I just tip double the tax

Which makes it around 17-18%.

[funkybutt]

22. Great idea. I'll keep that in mind and pass it along to other...

mathematically challenged individuals like myself.

[bottomofthehill]

116. Come to DC

The tax is 10% on meals. you will make quick friends in the service industry. BTW after 20 years in the business I make $2.77 per hour but after taxes are taken out for the expected tips, shift meal uniform, Social Security and state tax, I have never cashed a check as they all get to me VOID and need to make quarterly tax filings so I don't get a big underreporting penalty at the end of the year.

[wideopen]

10. If the waiter/ress really sucks

and I mean not just slow but really not doing their job I'll tip 10%, otherwise, 20% if their good, 25-30% if their great.

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. Only when the waitperson deserves it

Which is to say, it's not the waitperson's faiult if the food sucks, or the restaurant is too loud, or the lighting sucks, or whatever.

BUT - tipping only begins at 15% if the waitperson treated me like a human being.

[MADem]

12. If the waiter makes an effort to provide good service, I agree

I do not blame waiters for bad food, but I send it back if it is awful. If the service is spectacular, or the waiter is dealing with a very large party (common with me on the rare occasions I dine out) then I go for twenty at least.

[Yavin4]

13. I Always Tip 20%

It's called spit avoidance.

[Zuni]

14. decent service---15%

good service--20%

Great service 25-30%

bad service 10%-5%

terrible, rude service---0%

[Maddy McCall]

15. What if you are at a really expensive buffet.

And you are responsible for seating yourself, pouring your own drink, and your only contact with the waitress is when she brings you your check?

If, for two people, the buffet is $40, I tip five.

Now, when I am at a full-service restaurant, in which the waiter visits the table five times to refill drinks, bring more wine, etc, I tip at least 30%.

[Xithras]

38. Tipping at buffets always causes arguments in my family.

My wife is a flat 15% tipper, and believes that you should tip 15% no matter what...even at buffets where you're getting your own food. I have a more practical take on it. At buffets, I start the tipping at 0% and add 5% every time the waiter comes by to see if we need anything. Most waiters make 5% to 10% (they visit when we order drinks) but I've tipped buffet waiters 30% or more if they've been attentive and deserved it.

A tip is a reward for service. If no service is provided, no tip is required.

[NewJeffCT]

105. I tip half the normal at buffets

we get our own food, but normally the waitstaff pours the drinks at least. So, if it is $40 for the two of us, I go with $4 or $5.

[Debi]

16. I always start at 20%...eaiser to to the math

But I have been known to do 0% if the person is an asshole!

[Skinner]

17. My first job was bussing tables.

I never, ever, ever give less than 15%. No matter how bad the service.

So... whenever you get crappy service you can blame people like me who give the crappy waitstaff a decent tip even when the service sucks.

On a side note, here's a funny bad service story:

My wife and I are at IHOP at Daytona Beach, we're on our honeymoon. (We were supposed to fly to Greece, but all airlines were shut down because of 9/11 so we drove to florida instead. Daytona was our overnight stop on the way to Miami.)

Anywho -- My wife orders orders breakfast and asks for the "hearty whole grain county-style" pancakes or whatever they're called. When the meal arrives, the pancakes are very clearly not heary or whole grain or country-style. They're just plain old pancakes.

We flag down the waitress and my wife asks "Are these the hearty whole grain country-style pancakes?" The waitress looks down at the plate and answers "They're supposed to be" and walks away.

I'm pretty sure she got exactly 15%.

[GirlinContempt]

26. I don't deduct for

something wrong with the food, or if it's really busy and the service is bad... but if the person is rude, or I can clearly see them ignoring the 2 tables they have while they chat, smoke and drink... yeah, I deduct. I also tip what I can reasonably afford. I've never been comfortable with rewarding people for piss poor service though. Yeah, they have a shitty job. So do I. I'm more than willing to acknowledge them when they do really well at their shitty job, but I'm also willing to acknowledge them when they do a substandard job. By deducting from the tip. ;)

[Maddy McCall]

60. OMG, You're MARRIED?

Does your wife have to PM or email you when there's a problem? :evilgrin:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

87. She doesn't PM him, she PMS's him.

:silly: :evilgrin: :spank:

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

80. Wow, "Lunch Lady Doris" attitude for the win!

"When did you stop loving your work?"

[name not needed]

131. More testicles means more iron

:rofl:

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

120. You're a prince among men, Skinner

Unless the restaurant was being slammed with customers and the waitress was clearly distracted, I wouldn't have been so kind.

[jobycom]

18. I lived off tips once, so I tip big. I also withhold tips for bad service

If it's not the waitperson's fault, I still tip big. I've been known to tip over 20% even with bad service because it wasn't the WP's fault, because the restaurant was too busy, or understaffed, or the kitchen was at fault. I have great sympathy for WPs, less for management.

[GalleryGod]

19. Down in the Brit Virgin Islands-they were adding the 15% In

So that's what they got:rant:

[GalleryGod]

20. And I and my Bride were both "wait staff" during our college careers

So we've "been there".:patriot:

[funkybutt]

21. I wish everyone practiced this logic

It's unfortunate that many people have no clue when it comes to tipping. I'm often embarrassed when I go out to eat with my parents or older relatives who don't tip well enough. Sometimes I bring extra cash if I know they'll be paying or I'll insist that they at least let me pay the tip!

I worked in the restaurant business for many years. Yes tipping BEGINS at 15%...unless directly insulted or something. Please spread the word.

[VelmaD]

23. It wouldn't be necessary...

if we'd just pay waitstaff a decent wage. The minimum for them is ridiculous.

[Squatch]

24. Then, what would be the incentive for service above and beyond?

[GirlinContempt]

27. I constantly get service that is above and beyond

at places where they make just over min. wage and don't make any sort of tips or commission. It's called doing your job, and doing it to the best of your ability.

[Squatch]

32. I do not "constantly get service that is above and beyond"

...in fact, it's rare that the service I get is such. Most often, the service is average...aka "just doing your job", as you put it. It's also rare that the service I get is less.

For that service, I tip the customary 15%, but tip heavily for better service. I also tip less for sub average service.

[GirlinContempt]

33. Maybe

its a regional thing :P Cause I have that problem when I go too far south

[Squatch]

35. I've had the most abysmal service at "fine dining" establishments

in NYC, Boston, and DC. I've only once ever walked out on a dinner without paying, and that was in NYC.

[GirlinContempt]

46. Well, I live

further north than that heh

[Squatch]

48. You've got one too many "h's" in your "heh"

[GirlinContempt]

50. he?

:P

[Squatch]

51. Chuckle. Ya got me.

:toast:, eh?

[northzax]

29. uh, doing your job well?

that might be an incentive. In no other country in the world is there pay for service models like in the US, and you can still get service above and beyond, if the owner of the establishment insists on it for her/his staff.

[Squatch]

34. Yeah...right.

One thing I've seen and learned is that most just do enough to not get fired. Hence, most of the service I've encountered in the restaurant industry is just ...average.

[Endangered Specie]

91. Getting fired.

[Taverner]

25. Minimum wage is a joke

Honestly - if we just upped the minimum wage to a living one - then the welfare rolls would go down by 75%.

[annabanana]

31. My kid sister waited tables for years..

It is tough, physical work with long hours, for very little money and NO respect. PLUS if a person is neurotic, they are 90% more likely to be neurotic about food than anything else...She was working her way through some HVAC courses so she could get away from John Q. Public ASAP! (and I don't blame her!)

[tyedyeto]

37. In many states, servers don't even make minimum /hour.

I had lived for many years in Calif where servers make minimum wage, but in AZ where I live now, I started out making $2.75/hr. I am now a manager and our servers make $4.00/hr to start. Restaurants are supposed to make up the difference if your wage + tips don't add up to minimum, but they don't always do it.

I agree, give them a living wage and be done with tipping. Same goes in other service areas where tipping is the norm.

[LynneSin]

115. Oh Hell no - don't put waitresses into the poverty level too!!

If I had wanted to make minimum wage I'd work at fricking MacDonalds

I waitressed for 3 years making around $25k/year+ - don't go fucking it up for those of us trying to a make a living by waitressing tables

$5.15/hr, 40hrs week = $11,000 years that's McDonalds

I could easily take home in cash $400-500/week (take home) PLUS the $2/hr I make on top of that (which I barely saw any since that pretty much covered my taxes AND I was getting health insurance). Don't go making waitressing jobs into a fricking fastfood restaurant by forcing us to be paid minimum wage.

[JimmyJazz]

28. I completely agree. Plus, if the food is bad, it isn't the server's fault

anyway. The only time I ever did not leave a tip was when my food came out cold with three french fries left on my plate. It was obvious the plate had been sitting and that other wait staff had been doing fly bys on it. Since the server refused to acknowledge what had happened and refused to correct the problem, I didn't give her a tip.

Otherwise, as a former server, I tend to over tip.

[Kraklen]

30. Always 15% rounded up to the nearest dollar for me.

But I don't have a problem not giving anything on certain extreme conditions.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

36. My minimum is 20%, and I adjust upward or downward

I waited tables and bartended for too many years, and many of these people-especially at the low-end chain restaurants-can barely make a living. Everyone should be required to wait on tables at least once in their lives to get an idea of how hard the job is.

Also, read "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich. It gives you an idea of how difficult all service work is.

[Skittles]

96. I agree with this

actually I already know there is no way I could handle being a waitress - I don't have the patience and tact it takes, not at all

[Strawman]

127. 20% and I'll round up to the next dollar

So it's often more, if I go to coney and get a $7-8 lunch, I leave $2 for the waitress. Usually the difference between a decent tip and a shitty one is a dollar or a couple bucks. If you can't afford that, make your own fucking food.

A pet peeve of mine is when someone agrees to treat me to a meal and then leaves a shitty (we're talking 10% or less) tip. I'd rather just pay for the goddamn meal and leave a respectable tip rather than look like a fucking cheapskate by association. You don't want to seem rude or unappreciative to the treater, but you don't want to see the waitperson get stiffed.

[SnowGoose]

39. How about 'take out'?

My wife and I go back and forth on this one. Is there a generally-accepted standard?

[Squatch]

40. Or Starbuck's baristas? That tip jar pretty much glares at you..

but I'll be damned if I'm tipping for a person to pour me a $2.00 cup of coffee.

[jmm]

58. If it's a place I frequent I'll tip for coffee

There are a few places I'll always tip for small things like that because I've consistently received great service. When I go out for meals I generally tip between 20-40% but I've given as much as 50% on a number of occasions and left nothing a few times.

[radwriter0555]

76. YES. At our favorite starbucks our barista whacks out our coffee before we

even hit the cash register, so you damn well know that I tip them VERY generously. We're greeted by name, inquired upon and know our baristas at least by face.

You can't pay enough money for a warm, welcoming familiar smile and hello, and a gentle cheerful daily inquiry!

It makes MY day. If I toss them a buck it makes their day.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

61. I usually throw some change in the jar

[Ms. Toad]

70. That's the one I struggle with.

I despise the structure that makes tipping necessary - I would rather be charged a fair price and have the waitstaff be paid a fair wage. Federal law permit waitstaff to be paid something between $2 and $3 per hour, on the expectation that they will make enough in tips to bring that pitiful wage up to the minimum wage everyone else is required to be paid.

That means that when I don't tip, I am cheating someone out of the pay to which everyone else is entitled - whether or not they provide good service (to answer the "what would be the motivation to do a good job if there is no tipping" question asked by another person).

So, I tip a minimum of 15% - and generally more - because I know there are a lot of folks who don't tip - or don't tip enough to bring the pay up to minimum wage.

But, it is my understanding that baristas (and others who have recently started to put out tip jars) do not fall into the category of employees that employers are permitted to cheat out of minimum wage - which relieves me of the obligation to tip to make it up. I generally don't tip there on principle, in order to discourage the movement toward including more and more classes of employees to the group permitted to be paid less. But I do have mixed feelings about it - especially when I am visiting a regular watering hole with folks who always give good service.

[caty]

41. I have a base of 15%.

I then add or subract from that, depending on the service and the attitude I get from the server. A tip is a bonus that we give based on how good the service was. If I am totally disgusted with the service, I leave a dime. This shows them that I didn't forget to leave a tip--I left what I thought they deserved. I leave 15% most of the time, and leave more than that more often than I leave less. If you leave a tip they didn't deserve, how will they ever learn to be good at their job? :shrug:

[Squatch]

42. Exactly. And that's a pretty good way to send a message.

tip = carrot
no tip = stick

[matcom]

44. 16%???

:wtf:

"...high end restaurand, and they give great service, maybe 16%?"

:wtf:

[MissB]

67. What? You can't calculate 16% in your head?

:evilgrin:

[sam sarrha]

45. here in the heartland waitpersons get $2.50 an HOUR

[hyphenate]

49. I get a bit p'oed

sometimes when I'm in a restaurant. I often go dining on my own, partly because I like to eat out and I find myself a little adventurous some days in doing so.

However, I find often that the waitress or waiter treats me a little above dog doo because I'm alone. It's understandable when there is a very large party that they might be taking care of and they expect that large group to tip well, but hey--I tend to tip anywhere between 15%-20%, and I expect to be treated like anyone else there, even if I'm alone. It just annoys the crap out of me to be left sitting there, tapping my fingertips and being ignored. I will still tip, but it's definitely a pause to consider for me when it happens, and I will make a mental note not to go into that restaurant on a more consistent basis if I'm treated in such a manner.

[caty]

52. When you left that tip

you rewarded the server for poor service. I understand that they make a low hourly rate, but that does not mean they can treat you like that and expect a decent tip. Tip what YOU think they derseve, not what THEY think they derserve. I'm am always polite and friendly to them. I say thank you when they bring or take somthing from my table, etc. But I am not going to reward them when they are rude to me or neglect me.

[Nye Bevan]

53. I don't blame the waiter if there is a problem....

such as the order being delayed *provided* that he comes to the table, apologizes for the delay, sees if we need drink refills, etc.

I *hate* sitting and sitting, drinks empty, wondering what the problem is, without anyone coming over to tell us what is going on.

A smiling apology in this case works wonders for my tipping. I will give around 20%, and if I am paying by credit card I will typically leave the tip in cash (I have heard that waitstaff vastly prefer this).

[HeeBGBz]

54. You're nice. I am a server.

I am a good server.

If I give sucky service, I don't expect anything.

However, time and time again, I've had tables of 8 or 10 leave $2 or $4 when the service was damn good. I really wonder what these people are thinking. How they could possibly assume that was adequate?

I have one week left at my current job because I'm moving. Last week was a "camp" weekend. There is a Christian summer camp for rich kids near my workplace. Every two weeks in the summer we get slammed with families whose kids are either leaving or coming to camp.

The kids are okay but their parents are horrid. Last mega-busy Saturday we were slammed with the camp folks. I was very busy with a large table when another server mentioned to me that one of my tables was in major whine mode about needing service. I noticed there were two tables I needed to wait on. One was the whiner, and one other.

I picked up silverware for both tables and approached the whiners first with a cheery greeting and introduction. Immediately, "Dad" is in my face with "Is it NORMAL to have to wait 20 minutes to be served in this place???"

Now, knowing for sure that this table could NOT have been there for any more than 5 minutes, I slammed the silver down on the table, gave a bit of a snort and said "No, it isn't" and then walked away and took the other table's order. Of course, Mr I'm So Important and family walked out. I never felt better.

Moran Moral: Never get shitty with a short-timer waitperson. What were they gonna do, fire me? Please, what a blessing that would be. I have 4 days left, and me tolerance of taking shit is way down. The loss of one-shitheads 2% tip is well worth the experience of looking eye to eye and dishing the shit back to them.

[Endangered Specie]

92. Is it true that if you tip lousily the

waiters will let everyone know and next time you might get shitty service :shrug:

I know if I got tipped badly when giving good service, theyd better not show up again.

[HeeBGBz]

103. They will let everyone know

You may not get shitty service next time. Someone might give you the benefit of the doubt. However, do it twice and you are on your own.

Not only will you be discussed in non-flattering terms but you may end up here.

Of course, if you're a good tipper you may end up here too.

http://bitterwaitress.com/

http://www.stainedapron.com/

[mark414]

55. anyone who doesn't tip well should spend eternity as a waiter

in hell's kitchen

and have the words "fucking asshole" tattooed on their forehead

i worked as a busboy in high school and swore that one day i would have my revenge on bad tippers.

i went out for breakfast with my girlfriend this morning and gave a 100% tip. because the service was so great? no. because the restaurant is littered with stupid college kids who don't tip at all. the waitresses there hate us young folks, for good reason.

unless the waitstaff calls you ugly, you are a douchebag if you do not tip well.

[caty]

63. Sorry, but I don't agree.

I know that servers get shafted a lot of times. But, that does not give them the right to be rude or short with my 82 year old mother because she is having a hard time making a decision. Or never checking to see if we need anything once the food has been brought. If I see that a server is swamped, I understand and patiently wait my turn. I can see when a server is doing their best and I give them a good tip. But, I refuse to leave a decent tip to someone who has not treated me and my companions decently.

[bliss_eternal]

81. I understand what you are saying, but why not just complain

to a manager, as opposed to feeling you are 'withholding' a 'reward' from the server.

I'm sorry I just don't understand that...

[caty]

83. It's not that I am withholding a reward from the server.

I realize that there are things that go wrong that are out of their control. That's what I would complain to the manager about. But, when a server acts like we are bothering them when we ask a question, or they don't come back to check on us or refill coffee cups, or sigh loudly if one of us takes too long to order--I don't think this is service I want to pay extra for. If we get what we pay for then they should get what they earn. All I'm asking for is a smile, politeness, patience, and good service. For that I will give a dam good tip.

[bliss_eternal]

88. I understand what you are saying--and thank you

for clarifying your post.

This is merely my opinion (for whatever that's worth...lol) but if a server was sighing and doing all the things you describe, I would still talk with a manager. Here's why:

Having worked in restaurants, I can admit that bad attitudes sadly can be prevalent. Some of it is personally inherent, some of it is bred by the industry. It is a VERY hard job--(but that is no excuse for what you describe).

Some servers aren't the kind that may be self reflective enough to think,'oh--she didn't tip me, maybe I did something wrong.'They may assume that the table were just assholes that stiffed them or that they were cheap. I know, I heard this kind of stuff all the time.

If you really want to improve guest relations or make an impression, it CAN help to say something in addition to with holding a tip...

Just a thought. :)

[HeeBGBz]

104. Nobody is asking for a tip if service is rude or shitty

What we have a problem with is good service/shitty tipper. There is no need to apologize for no tipping crappy service.

Now, if you got good service and didn't tip, you suck. There is no valid excuse.

[bliss_eternal]

79. I agree with you...

There was a time that tipping was just tipping and not some sort of system of 'rewarding' the server.

You never know what's going on behind the scenes,sometimes the cooks are having a bad day, or managers can't be found, or their bussers suck...there are too many factors that go into getting the food to the table to take it out on the person you see.

[Endangered Specie]

94. Ive noticed that...

College kids are pretty cheap, and besides, I cant help but notice that at places where I frequent (because they are good) and tip high, Ive never had the slightest trouble with the waitstaff.

Win win situation there :)

[barb162]

56. I have way lower standards than you; I have been known to leave two

cents when the wait staff really piss me off.

[BikeWriter]

59. Up to $10 bill, I usually tip $2.00 to $3.00...

~$20.00 bill, I leave $5.00 or $6.00.

[In_The_Wind]

62. I over tip if the service is good

by over tipping I mean above 20% because that's where I start

[fleabert]

64. when I waited tables, and everyone I knew that waited tables, we

never ever never ever never claimed all of our tips. Management left it up to us to put an amount down, on the honor system. None of us had any honor, and this is over the course of 10 years and maybe 10 restaurants in two states.

A gratuity is for the gracious. I tip 10%-0% if they suck (and I tell them why if I leave nothing, along with the manager), and I tip 20-25% if service is good to great. Exceptional service gets 30-50%. I tip well and don't expect much to bring me to the 20% level. someone has to fuck up pretty badly for me to leave less than that.

[DS1]

65. Bullshit

I'll tip NOTHING if they deserve nothing.

Of course, it takes a lot of effort to deserve nothing, but you'll get it if that's the kind of service you warrant.

Typically I'll go above 15%, unless of course, you deserve shit.

[UdoKier]

66. I usually tip exactly 15%.

If the service sucks, I tip 10%. If the food is lousy, I don't take it out on the waitperson.

Nice that you're generous, but we're not all loaded. I generally don't have wine or dessert either...

[bigwillq]

68. 15-20% is what I tip

No matter how bad, slow, awful the food. Food services make basically shit per hour and rely on their tips. They need to pay bills, too, so evern if they're really bad they still get a good tip from me. I have a lot of friends who are waiters (es), bartenders and in the food services business. It's not an easy job.

[WI_DEM]

69. I know I'm in trouble if when I call the waiter, "Oh, Waiter, Waiter"

and he turns around and goes "YEEEEESSSS"

[Misunderestimator]

71. Oh hell... I tip the Starbucks workers for my overpriced cup of coffee.

For a normal restaurant, at least 25% unless the service is poor. I can't remember EVER having service so poor that I did not leave a tip at all. The least amount I ever remember leaving was 10% for really, really lousy service.

And at my favorite places and for very good service, I usually tip 30% or more.

[redsoxliberal]

73. with the price of living increasing, I tend to base at 16.67%

(easier to calculate... $1 tip for every $6.) I have been known to tip extremely high amounts... 25-30% at times.

[fortyfeetunder]

74. When gratuity is already on the bill

Like last week, I got a 15% gratuity tacked on...so I rounded the bill to the next dollar, which was another 5%...hope they were happy.

[Burma Jones]

77. Minimum of $3.00, like for a breakfast that runs $5.00

Otherwise, I usually tip 20%. Often, I'll tip 25% or more. If our kids make a big mess that has to be cleaned up, we'll leave 30%. Once, some college buddies and I left 200% to a Giordano's waitreess that was starting up at Northwestern, she was just so damn happy and so positive, we tipped her $300 on a $150 tab - she was also very wholesome, and we were so drunk......

Sometimes, I'll tip 15%. Eleven years ago, I stiffed a waitress that asked my (now) wife whether she and I were attending a father-daughter convention. Sheez, I'm only ten years older than my Wife (this was after she sat down at the table with us to complain about her boy friend)..... That was the only time I left less than 15%....

[bliss_eternal]

78. Tipping says more about the person tipping than the person

being tipped, imo.

I personally feel that people that feel that they have to lord over their server and base the tip on 'how much they do' have issues and should probably not eat in sit down restaurants--EVER. :eyes:

It drives me nuts that our society is turning into one where people feel others have to 'earn' common decency and respect. :mad:

Yes, a tip IS a gratuity--why does someone have to EARN your kindness, graciousness, or fuckin' compassion?!? Hello?! It's a few bucks out of your pocket in the grand scheme of things.

:banghead:
If the service is completely unacceptable, ask for a manager and lodge a complaint.

It's frankly shitty and I am shocked to see progressives with such nasty attitudes on this issue.

[bliss_eternal]

82. BUT I do have to acknowledge after reading this whole

thread...YES there are people that aren't good servers. There are petulant teenagers everywhere, hell people way older than teens that don't take pride in their work. But I just feel there are other ways to address that--

--like talking to a manager if it was truly bad service. Or talking to someone in charge and letting them know I won't be back and why.

I just feel this whole 'silent, I'll deduct money from your tip if I feel you suck' thing is passive aggressive and reeks of the whole system of hierarchy in this country of punishing those that have less than we do....

I may be wrong in this assessment, but I don't like it and won't participate in that no matter how the service was.

I've personally found that as a person that expects good service and ALWAYS tips, I very rarely get poor service. When I do, I hold people accountable in a way that is productive.

Ok...stepping off my soap box on this one...lol.

[sleipnir]

84. I'll tip whatever I feel is right.

If that's 10% fine, if it's less than so be it.

Call me an asshole if you will, but I do go with the Mr. Pink (Reservoir Dogs) philosophy to a degree. I'm sorry if you depend on tips, if it's that big of a deal for the employee, get a different job. Work at McDonald's or Wendy's that will at least pay you somewhat more than minimum wage and not $2.50 hr with tips.

I usually tip between 10-15%, with amazing waiters getting 20%.

[Endangered Specie]

98. have you ever waited tables?

[sleipnir]

100. No, because I could see what a scam job it really was.

Why work for a little cash and a promise of more when you could opt for a fixed wage job that is consistent and with overtime if you work more than 40 hours in a wekk. No offense to anyone who works as a waiter as currently organized in this country, but it's a scam.

What should be done is to pay the waiters and other service people a damn living wage with overtime and, yes, that might mean paying out a bit more cash to eat at a restaurant. So be it, at least the idea of tipping to cover the salaries of people will be gone. Only tips for good and pleasant service.

I think my anger at tipping comes from the horrific wage disaprity for no reason other than to line the pockets of the restaurant.

[Endangered Specie]

101. alot of people dont have much choice when it comes to a job

[Misunderestimator]

132. Yeah, I think I remember serving you when I waited tables 20 years ago.

:eyes:

[Roland99]

85. The default is 15%...good service gets 20%...bad service gets 1%

[Endangered Specie]

90. I start at 15% and that can go up or down based on service alone.

It takes a pretty insulting thing to drop it below 10%, and if I do go lower than that, then the manager will know too. Otherwise, Im usually inclined to go 20% if things go smoothly, and its easier to figure in my head. Ive given tips as high as 25%.

If the food sucks, I complain about it to the manager about the cooks, not the waiters, tip unaffected, aamof, if they have to keep going back and forth to get it right I usually tip up.


edit: I should note that, Ive never been insulted enough to drop below 10%, as it is if I have a bad experience I just dont go there, I go to places with good food and good waiters, and tip higher at places I frequent.

[stevans_41902]

99. The normal amount I tip is 15-20%. Most of the time the wait staff

is pretty friendly and I don't blame them when it takes a while for the food to come. The only time i wouldn't tip is if they went out of their way to be bitchy to me or seem really annoyed when asking for something. this has only happened to me twice, though.
there was one guy who my bf tipped but he made me mad b/c when i told him i wanted french dressing for my salad he looked at me like he was in totaly shock and said in an arrogant matter of fact voice "we dont have french, we have tangy tomato.") The anti-french b.s. was uncalled for IMO.

[brokensymmetry]

95. One cent.

From as little as one cent (not one percent) - so they know it was intentional - to as much as two hundred percent (i.e., food cost $10, I leave $20 as a tip).

I believe in giving a generous thank you for excellent service during busy times. But I also believe in letting them know when I'm not a happy camper.

Most of the time, I leave 20% - they've got a tough job.

[MrScorpio]

102. I just do 20% percent, it's easier to figure out that way

Besides, it's better for them that way

[Maddy McCall]

109. Crazy me. I thought that 20% was standard.

I usually start at 20% and go up from there. If I see a table of redneck assholes abusing my waiter/waitress, the tip goes up.

[NMMNG]

107. I normally give *at least* 15% for adequate service

Extra for really good service, and maybe less if the service was really lacking.

I would never deduct from the wait-staff's tip for lousy food; they have no control over that.

[cleofus1]

110. so a 25 dollar meal

the tip begins at 3.75...then up for better service...

[BlondieK143]

111. If you don't have the money to tip correctly - DON'T GO OUT TO EAT!!

I start at 20%. Even if I get the worst service ever, I give 20. Until you've worked as a server, you have NO idea what it's like.

[ProfessorGAC]

112. I Tip 1/6th.

Then i round up to something convenient.
The Professor

[LynneSin]

113. I agree almost

Tipping usually starts at 15% for me since I've spent 3 years as a waitress and even 15% isn't enough to survive on (I usually averaged around 18% which makes a world of difference).

But I have no problem giving less than 15% if the waitstaff sucked. If the food sucked I won't blame the waitperson - they didn't cook it. BUt I've had inattentiveness by a waitperson after numerous attempts to get assistance and after the frustration the tip will go down below 15%

However, if I feel I need to tip 10% or less you better believe I've registered a complaint to management about the horrible service. It doesn't happen often but when it does I feel that something must be said. I'm vocal like that

BTW, when I waitressed and even as I tip now as a customer - my starting tip is usually around 18%. Waitpersons don't get to keep all that money. Uncle Sam tips on 15% (and they know how much you're probably getting in tips since most restaurants know how much food/beverage you've sold) but I also know that waitstaff have to tip out the bartender, the buskid and the food runner so that 15% gets even smaller. That's why I always work for 18%+ that way I have a chance of taking some decent cash home after I've tipped out everyone

[Bridget Burke]

117. That's the minimum...

Unless the server is personally rude.

My late mom & I often went out to eat--sometimes I could hear the waiter thinking: "2 women, oh no!" I wanted to get an "ex-waitress" T-shirt. But they served us well anyway, we tipped well & tended to return. They do remember you.

It's not a fair system, but anyone who thinks that gives them permission to be stingy really needs to stay home. And folks who constantly get rude service might benefit from examining their own behavior.

[SCDem]

118. Starts at 15% for me - most always 20% though

Rarely to I get poor service - If I get poor service more than two times at a place I usually don't go there anymore - or try to avoid said server.

[SmokingJacket]

121. I agree.

A restaurant meal is a luxury. You should PAY to have people serve you -- even if they do it badly.

[caty]

129. Why are you paying

someone who did a bad job serving you? They will never strive to improve themselves as long as we keep paying them not to.

[fujiyama]

122. I tip between 15 and 20

I rarely tip under 15, though it happened maybe once or twice.

Another thing is, when ordering a meal, I try to leave a two dollar tip minimum, even if the meal is cheap. It feel really cheap to leave anything less.

[BiggJawn]

123. I left a NOTE once.

It said "Here is your TIP: Save the drugs for AFTER work!"

The service was THAT bad. and not only did I not tip Beavisina, I demanded the manager "comp" the poor-assed excuse for a meal.

So what if she was taxed on 15%? I should reward incompetance? I'm serious, it was like "No, I said I wanted a COKE. The BROWN stuff, OK?" "My daughter's fries are cold" (considering I saw them sitting in the scuttle for 15 minutes, not surprising)

[tyedyeto]

124. You said.....

So what if she was taxed on 15%? I should reward incompetance?

So, you believe workers should be taxed on money they did not collect? That person will be taxed for something they did not receive. Where is the justice in that?

BTW, we reward incompetance all the time. Take for instance, this administration. And I have seen incompetant employees promoted while passing over competant ones.

[BiggJawn]

133. Rewarding incompetance...

"BTW, we reward incompetance all the time. Take for instance, this administration."

No, somebody ELSE take them. FAR away, please. *I* didn't vote for the bastards.

"And I have seen incompetant employees promoted while passing over competant ones."

And that makes it right?

To live in your Utopia, we SHOULD reward incompetence? I think I'll bring that up with my employer. Yeah, maybe even start coming to work stoned, like that young lady was....
Do away with crap like performance reviews and merit increases, and just give me more money because it's expensive out here....Yeah, that's the ticket...

BTW, I have been known to lay down 20% or more for stellar performance.

[newportdadde]

125. I generally tip 15% I use to tip more back when the servers

brought out the food and I actually saw them.

But now I usually only see the servers 3 times. 1) Intial order 2)The oligatory is everything okay check fly by. 3)Check. If you you can't be bothered to check my water level once during the meal and someone from the kitchen is toting the food your probably going to go down to 10%.

I also don't appreciate the often common loud *sigh* when my wife and I just get water instead of an overpriced soda or an extremely overpriced alcoholic drink, ie the check total is less.

I guess they figure water drinkers with a little kid means low tip so they don't even bother to try.

[BlueIris]

126. Anyone who tips less than 20% is an asshole.

If you can't afford to do that, stay at home. Make you own coffee, cook and serve your own meals, cut your own hair, drive your own car wherever you need to go.

[trigz]

128. Once, in Italy

I had a waiter treating my girlfriend (now wife) and myself like shit. He got 5 Eurocent in tip. Otherwise, I follow local etiquette and tip around 10%. Things are different here, but then again so are the prices :)

[youthere]

134. I'm a very generous tipper..

unless the service has been absolutely inexcusable-then I leave nothing. I'm not talking about bad food, or long waits for the meal to arrive because the server can't control that. I'm talking just plain rude. Fortunately I can say that has only happened a few times in my life.
My husband is a rotten tipper. He seems to think that $2 is an appropriate tip for EVERY meal-no matter what the bill is. I used to hang my head in shame, now, I always carry extra cash with me and after he leaves his "tip" I put down extra money. The first few times I did it, he would always ask "what's that for?" I'd point to his pathetic two dollars and say "that's your tip, this is mine". After 15 years of this he just rolls his eyes and says nothing.