xxprettyinblkxx
Well-known member
i always tip 15% whether the service was good or bad...and the easiest way for me to figure out how much my tip is going is to just multiply the tax by 2, since tax out here in CA is about 8% anyway :-|
Do You Tip?
- Thread starter CellyCell
- Start date
katie_070405
Well-known member
In the US server minimum wage is still $2.13 an hour. Even though minimum wage has went up from $5.15 to $6.55 in the past 2 years.....servers pay has not increased in the past what?? like 10 years. I work as a server/bartender 3 nights a week in addition to being a personal trainer/ aerobics instructor during the week. I make 2.13 an hour when serving....but where else can you make 100+ in cash money in 5 hours?? I keep saying I'm going to quit, but I only work from 5-10 at night....so i'm not not out late, and an extra $300 a week is pretty nice. lol....I don't mind getting $2.13 an hour .....but if it does go up, I'm not going to complain.
lindsaycoe
Active member
I always tip. 20% is my standard but it can be higher if they were awesome. If it was poor service, I speak to the manager. If it was just..meh..I try to be understanding. My brother worked in the industry for like 20 years, and poor service can also be because of things the waiter has no control over (overbooked section, slow kitchen, etc.). They have to give off some serious attitude for me to speak with the manager.
BarrelOfDonkeys
Well-known member
Quote:
8%? That's so low! No wonder American tourists are always complaining about the tax when I hand them their receipts. Here it's 13% and up until a few years ago it was 15%. On Friends once Monica said something about tips always being double the tax and I always thought that was crazy cause here back then that'd mean tipping 30%.
Originally Posted by xxprettyinblkxx
i always tip 15% whether the service was good or bad...and the easiest way for me to figure out how much my tip is going is to just multiply the tax by 2, since tax out here in CA is about 8% anyway :-| |
8%? That's so low! No wonder American tourists are always complaining about the tax when I hand them their receipts. Here it's 13% and up until a few years ago it was 15%. On Friends once Monica said something about tips always being double the tax and I always thought that was crazy cause here back then that'd mean tipping 30%.
iio
Well-known member
If the service was good then I base it on a 15% percent tip if it sucked then I would only give them a few bucks.
I remember when I went to LA with my bf and cousin we went to red robin and I guess they had our meal mixed up and our waiter was so apologetic and it really wasnt a bid deal..but he gave us like half off on everything we ordered which was so kind of him and we just gave him a $20 dollar tip because for three meals and a few drinks was definitely more than $20 we only spent $12 bucks. He was so sweet.
I remember when I went to LA with my bf and cousin we went to red robin and I guess they had our meal mixed up and our waiter was so apologetic and it really wasnt a bid deal..but he gave us like half off on everything we ordered which was so kind of him and we just gave him a $20 dollar tip because for three meals and a few drinks was definitely more than $20 we only spent $12 bucks. He was so sweet.
Beauty Mark
Well-known member
Tipping is more of a US practice. In the US, servers do not get paid at a normal minimum wage; it's incredibly low from what I remember. They are allowed to do that, because it's assumed tips make up for that.
I personally hate the tipping practice, because I think people should just receive a fair wage regardless. However, I do tip for sit down restaurants, takeout, my hair dresser, cabs, bars, housekeeping in hotels. I don't tip at a coffee shop, because I believe that they do receive at least minimum wage.
I hope I don't get lynched for this, but I don't tip if I receive shoddy service. I'm not terribly picky nor do I do weird things with my orders, but if you never check to see if we need water during the entire meal or act like a jerk, you didn't do your job.
I personally hate the tipping practice, because I think people should just receive a fair wage regardless. However, I do tip for sit down restaurants, takeout, my hair dresser, cabs, bars, housekeeping in hotels. I don't tip at a coffee shop, because I believe that they do receive at least minimum wage.
I hope I don't get lynched for this, but I don't tip if I receive shoddy service. I'm not terribly picky nor do I do weird things with my orders, but if you never check to see if we need water during the entire meal or act like a jerk, you didn't do your job.
kaliraksha
Well-known member
Quote:
This describes me basically. I think if you can't afford the 15% on your meal then you have no business going out to eat. I'm all for being frugal but not when it screws someone else over.
I always tip, because I understand they make their money that way, don't get paid minimum wage and still get taxed on 10% of your bill whether you tip or not. I tip because their job is to take my order, refill my drinks and bring my food warm and that deserves the 15%, otherwise I would go eat at a place where I order at a counter and do all that stuff myself. I definitely understand that screw ups in the kitchen,delays, etc are not always in their control. But, a smile and winning attitude and an apology go a long way.
I have only tipped like crap once, it was seriously like 2%. The waitress was rude, refused to give me lemons because she was scared I would make lemonade, would not let me sub my order the way I had been doing for the past 3 years at that exact restaurant, never refilled my drink, and threw the plates on the table. I talked to the manager and emailed corporate.
I agree that the server is in a service industry and should provide a service, but that service is to make sure your food and drink gets to you and fetches things that they can for you without making you feel unwelcomed- not to kiss ass. However, if the server has a nice personality, a good attitude and makes my meal more enjoyable I have no problem tipping over the 15%.
| Originally Posted by InRetospeck
I always tip! I can not think of a time when I did not tip. I tip between 15 and 20% and sometimes more. There have been few times when I have recieved bad service, but I always try to give the server the benifit of the doubt... maybe they are having a really bad day or they have had really rude customers and there wall is up. Working with the public can be a really hard thing! I think if a server was being rude (using your common sense) then I would not tip. But, I think if you can not afford the standered 15-20% then you should just get take out. This is how people make there money... to live... and I think it is rude of you if you do not tip what is standered. At least in this country when servers are only basically paid with tips. |
This describes me basically. I think if you can't afford the 15% on your meal then you have no business going out to eat. I'm all for being frugal but not when it screws someone else over.
I always tip, because I understand they make their money that way, don't get paid minimum wage and still get taxed on 10% of your bill whether you tip or not. I tip because their job is to take my order, refill my drinks and bring my food warm and that deserves the 15%, otherwise I would go eat at a place where I order at a counter and do all that stuff myself. I definitely understand that screw ups in the kitchen,delays, etc are not always in their control. But, a smile and winning attitude and an apology go a long way.
I have only tipped like crap once, it was seriously like 2%. The waitress was rude, refused to give me lemons because she was scared I would make lemonade, would not let me sub my order the way I had been doing for the past 3 years at that exact restaurant, never refilled my drink, and threw the plates on the table. I talked to the manager and emailed corporate.
I agree that the server is in a service industry and should provide a service, but that service is to make sure your food and drink gets to you and fetches things that they can for you without making you feel unwelcomed- not to kiss ass. However, if the server has a nice personality, a good attitude and makes my meal more enjoyable I have no problem tipping over the 15%.
ginger9
Well-known member
Like a lot of posters I always tip unless it's really bad and rude service.
I tip at restaurants, bars, hairdresser and hotels.
At restaurants it varies from 10% to 30%. Sometimes more if I think the service is exceptional. At bars I tip 1 dollar per drink I am served. At hairdresser it depends too. If I love the cut then I can tip up to 30% (but I don't get very expensive cuts to begin with, usually around 40dollar cuts).
My motto is if I do go out I don't cheap out on someone else's livelihood. Sure not all of us are big spenders but if I am low on my budget then I'd rather stay in or just chill out with a movie and fast food or something.
I used to work in service as well and I understand that tips (in north america at least) is a big part of the total income for someone in that industry. Also if someone gives exceptional service one should reward that because it's part of the experience you are getting. There's such a big degree of the level of service and I like to recognize a great job done.
Lastly I have some friends who are on the other hand of the spectrum where they still tip well if we get shitty service because they feel "embarrassed" if they don't. i.e. that they may be seen as cheap. I think that's kind of ridiculous
I tip at restaurants, bars, hairdresser and hotels.
At restaurants it varies from 10% to 30%. Sometimes more if I think the service is exceptional. At bars I tip 1 dollar per drink I am served. At hairdresser it depends too. If I love the cut then I can tip up to 30% (but I don't get very expensive cuts to begin with, usually around 40dollar cuts).
My motto is if I do go out I don't cheap out on someone else's livelihood. Sure not all of us are big spenders but if I am low on my budget then I'd rather stay in or just chill out with a movie and fast food or something.
I used to work in service as well and I understand that tips (in north america at least) is a big part of the total income for someone in that industry. Also if someone gives exceptional service one should reward that because it's part of the experience you are getting. There's such a big degree of the level of service and I like to recognize a great job done.
Lastly I have some friends who are on the other hand of the spectrum where they still tip well if we get shitty service because they feel "embarrassed" if they don't. i.e. that they may be seen as cheap. I think that's kind of ridiculous
abbyquack
Well-known member
I worked as a tour guide at an Alaska cruise ship port this summer, and even though I've always tipped 20% on meals, I realized how important it is for all gratuity-dependent jobs out there (hotel workers, car washers, valet, some bus drivers, etc). My base wage wasn't horrible but definitely not amazing, and so I relied on gratuities to make my $$. It is frustrating when you work hard, and it's not acknowledged. Granted, 50% of the people that don't tip their tour guide simply don't know they are supposed to, but some are just cheap.
I don't necessarily think tipping is the best system- most countries in the world don't tip, they just pay their employees more and i think it takes off a lot of that stress- but since it is our system, I am definitely an advocate of tipping and it horrifies me when someone I'm with is cheap with the tip.
I don't necessarily think tipping is the best system- most countries in the world don't tip, they just pay their employees more and i think it takes off a lot of that stress- but since it is our system, I am definitely an advocate of tipping and it horrifies me when someone I'm with is cheap with the tip.
zzoester
Well-known member
I usually tip about 20% on average. If I'm at a higher end establishment and receive exceptional service, I tip more than that. If I'm at a quick type of place but still sitting down to eat but service consists of bringing out food and maybe refilling water glasses once, I tip 15(ish)%.
If something is REALLY wrong with the service and it's downright awful, I still tip. I just tip a low amount that IMO shows the bad server how clearly disappointed I am with the service (if I have not already told them verbally). Sometimes tipping a buck is worse than tipping none at all, if you know what I mean.
On takeout orders I generally tip a buck or two just to be nice.
If something is REALLY wrong with the service and it's downright awful, I still tip. I just tip a low amount that IMO shows the bad server how clearly disappointed I am with the service (if I have not already told them verbally). Sometimes tipping a buck is worse than tipping none at all, if you know what I mean.
On takeout orders I generally tip a buck or two just to be nice.
xxsgtigressxx
Well-known member
I live in Jersey, servers and bartenders make 2.18 an hour AND they get taxed on their tips. In almost all circumstances, I AT LEAST tip 20% but usually more. My bf was a server and bartender for years, and I understand how hard he and most of the other servers worked. I just get really irritated by what people deem as "poor service." If your food is overcooked, undercooked, or you got fries instead of a baked potato, 98% of the time thats the kitchens fault in which the cooks are paid no matter what and dont rely on tips. If your food takes forever, that again is almost all the time the kitchens fault. If the server forgot your drink, he or she is a HUMAN BEING and makes mistakes. I can only think of 1 time I had terrible service, and even then I think I tipped her at least 10% and she literally was the WORST server ever. No, it's not up to you to pay them because they "need the money" but the reason your steak at Fridays costs $12 and not $26 is because they arent paying their servers much at all! And the people who only tip for exceptional service? That just makes me so angry because although it is their job to serve the customers food and make sure their time out is as smooth as possible, it is NOT their job to kiss someones ass and slave over a table when they have plenty of other people to help as well. Plus, regardless of what a server makes (even if its 0 dollars) they are obligated to tip out a certain percentage of their sales to busboys, hosts, etc. Sigh. I dont know why I get so heated about this I just really feel bad for servers considering their job can be pretty shitty and on top of that getting paid accordingly isnt guaranteed. If you frequent a place, especially if you tend to have the same server, tip appropriately and you will get better service everytime you come in. Never piss off someone that handles your food!
COBI
Well-known member
Quote:
If I don't leave a tip, I always speak to a manager because I want to be sure that they know it was service-related (and valid) and not just make the assumption that I am cheap or screwed them on the tip.
If the issue is not significant enough to talk to a manager about then a tip should be left IMHO. At the same time, I will not reward bad service, and I'm talking about actual service from the server not kitchen screw-ups, etc.
| Originally Posted by abbey_08
i had a meal out with my bf last week and i did not tip because the service was terrible, i made a point of paying to the penny. i never ever normally do this but i was really peeved over the service! |
If I don't leave a tip, I always speak to a manager because I want to be sure that they know it was service-related (and valid) and not just make the assumption that I am cheap or screwed them on the tip.
If the issue is not significant enough to talk to a manager about then a tip should be left IMHO. At the same time, I will not reward bad service, and I'm talking about actual service from the server not kitchen screw-ups, etc.
Lauren1981
Well-known member
i normally tip around $2/$3. maybe $4/$5 depending on what i had and the service.
BUT....
the performance has A LOT to do with it. i went to applebee's the other day and the boy was okay. i could tell he was new but he did his job. so i gave him like $3.
i went to a diff applebee's a few months ago..... the girl came and took our drink orders.... we both had a glass of water and i had a beer and my friends had some drinks. this broad brought the water and that was the last i saw of her.............. everyone else was doing her job. not to mention the fact that after she did the hard ass task of bringing some freakin water to the table this chick was sitting at a table right across from us........... eating. then had the nerve to come back at the end when the check got brought to us by waiter#3.
yeah, NOBODY got a tip.
and for some reason we were there for almost 2 hours and the whole rest. was EMPTY.
so yeah, for me, it depends on performance
and if gratuity is already added in. lol! i'm broke enough as it is. if gratuity was added in well there you go. you don't need any more of my scarce bills. ha!!
BUT....
the performance has A LOT to do with it. i went to applebee's the other day and the boy was okay. i could tell he was new but he did his job. so i gave him like $3.
i went to a diff applebee's a few months ago..... the girl came and took our drink orders.... we both had a glass of water and i had a beer and my friends had some drinks. this broad brought the water and that was the last i saw of her.............. everyone else was doing her job. not to mention the fact that after she did the hard ass task of bringing some freakin water to the table this chick was sitting at a table right across from us........... eating. then had the nerve to come back at the end when the check got brought to us by waiter#3.
yeah, NOBODY got a tip.
and for some reason we were there for almost 2 hours and the whole rest. was EMPTY.
so yeah, for me, it depends on performance
and if gratuity is already added in. lol! i'm broke enough as it is. if gratuity was added in well there you go. you don't need any more of my scarce bills. ha!!
Vixen
Well-known member
It's fairly standard in Canada to tip 15% but I didn't realise until I went to the States recently that the standard in the US is 20%.
I live in a city filled with pretentious restaurants with poor service. Several new restaurants opened within the the last few years due to the 'boom' we experienced around 2005. The restaurants were appealing to the eye but lacked the same appeal in taste and service. It's rare now that I find good service, more often than not I expect to be ignored - it's sad that it's become a standard now.
But I always tip, when the service is horrible, I leave 10%, when it's merely okay I'll tip 15% and when it is outstanding it's 20%+.
In response to the question by the original poster, I tip out of obligation when the service is appalling and when the service is great, I tip because I want to.
I live in a city filled with pretentious restaurants with poor service. Several new restaurants opened within the the last few years due to the 'boom' we experienced around 2005. The restaurants were appealing to the eye but lacked the same appeal in taste and service. It's rare now that I find good service, more often than not I expect to be ignored - it's sad that it's become a standard now.
But I always tip, when the service is horrible, I leave 10%, when it's merely okay I'll tip 15% and when it is outstanding it's 20%+.
In response to the question by the original poster, I tip out of obligation when the service is appalling and when the service is great, I tip because I want to.
Delerium
Well-known member
I worked as a server at Applebee's for a couple years, so I know how much servers depend on their tips to survive. Consequently, I normally tip pretty well because I know how it can be. We generally tip 25 - 30% if we eat in the establishment. We also tip about $10 minimum on any delivery order and atleast $5 on take out orders.
Dizzy
Well-known member
I worked all through high school as a server and I still occasionally pick up shifts as a bartender. I made $2.13/hour all through high school- there were times I didn't even get a check because it wall went to taxes. I literally depended on my tips for my paycheck. And those tips were used to help pay for my tuition. $10 was sometimes the difference between being able to eat one day or having to give it to ConEdison to keep my electricity on.
I always tip, without exception. It might be less if I get particularly bad service, but I want to give people the benefit of the doubt- people sometimes have bad days.
I always tip, without exception. It might be less if I get particularly bad service, but I want to give people the benefit of the doubt- people sometimes have bad days.
X4biddenxLustX
Well-known member
I've worked at restaurants before and hated it. I dont ever want to work in food service again. Although I did enjoy my job as a cafeteria aide at my school but that was because of the people. But yeah from my experience it sucks whenever I give such great service to a customer and sometimes having to go out of my way to try to appease them and get a crappy tip or no tip at all! To me thats just rude. And its almost like making someone work for free because restaurants can pay you like practically nothing after taxes and if you dont get good tips your screwed. So I think you should always tip around 15-20% for okay service but def more if it was great. Now if you got horrible service I wouldn't feel that bad leaving a lower tip.
