Tipping Etiquette

[Caladan 19]

I don't tip for carryout orders, but I usually tip generously for wait service.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I still tip according to service

Exactly!

Great service = Great tip (north of 20%)

Expected service = Expected tip (15% give or take)

Less than expected service = Less than expected tip (south of 10%)

No service = No tip

The latter rarely happens but I've walked out of places w/ no tip or close to no tip paid - and I'd never set foot into any such restaurant again.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I don't tip..... I over-tip.

[*Robert* 2]

Fast food/self-serve/prepay = no tip

buffet/self-serve/bill = 1/2 tip

table menu/full service/bill = full tip

that sounds reasonable to me!

I still tip according to service

Exactly!

Great service = Great tip (north of 20%)

Expected service = Expected tip (15% give or take)

Less than expected service = Less than expected tip (south of 10%)

No service = No tip

The latter rarely happens but I've walked out of places w/ no tip or close to no tip paid - and I'd never set foot into any such restaurant again.

Sounds even better!!!

When I go into a restaurant... the tip is going to be a great tip. Its up to the waitperson to keep it that way. The more things that go wrong with the service, i.e. long wait, wrong order, slow service, bad food... the more that gets deducted from the tip amount.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

In the US I would say tipping IS an obligation, because that's the system. That's how they make their $$. In Wisconsin waitstaff made $2.33 an hour. I know this has already been pointed out in this thread but it's important to remember.

That's why I will always tip unless the waiter was outright rude. During the summer after my freshman year in college, I ended up busing tables because I could make more money than the servers - in Arizona it's the same thing (lower hourly for servers), but busers got minimum wage plus a percentage of the server's tips. On one Sunday night (Father's Day), I made over a $100 in tips as a buser but I nearly died working my ####### off.

(Just want to make it clear that $100 in tips for a buser is RARE. Most shifts I'd walk away with maybe $30-40)

Edited August 13, 2006 by Steven_and_Jinky

[dani_christine 0]

how much i tip depends not only on the quality of service, but the type of restaurant. i've worked many jobs as a waitress in my time. most of the places i've worked, we were taxed on a minimum of 8% of our sales. we were on an "honor system" to report our tips each night, which were usually much higher than 8% of sales...and i can guarantee you that NO ONE accurately reported their tips...ever.

in most nicer restaurants, the wait staff is required to tip out to the bus boys...and to tip out a certain percentage of their bar sales to the bartender. so, if i'm in a place like that, i'll definitely tip 20%. if i'm in a smaller-type restaurant where there is no bus boy staff and no bar staff, then i think 15% is quite reasonable.

when i waited tables, it was not at all unusual for me to earn $100-150 on a weekend night, mostly tax-free. yes, the hourly wage for servers is really low...but i was never starving when i was a server.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

In the US I would say tipping IS an obligation, because that's the system. That's how they make their $$. In Wisconsin waitstaff made $2.33 an hour. I know this has already been pointed out in this thread but it's important to remember.

As far as I am concerned, waitstaff ought to make their $$$ just like I do: EARN it! I'm kinda old-fashioned that way. So for me, that's what it'll be. The tipping system is a meritocracy. There ain't no stinkin' entitlement to a tip. It's got to be earned - earned by providing good service. And a server has the advantage that (s)he doesn't have to wait 'til year end to reap the benefits of a job well done.

Edited August 13, 2006 by ET-US2004

[desert_fox 32]

If they provide a timely service...i.e waitress, delivery, etc.....I tip to the max

If they provide no service, like fast food, buffets, etc....no tip. Sometimes Ill throw the loose change that I receive in their tip jar.

Do you think that McDonalds deserves a tip??

Also...Ive always been amazed at the nerve of some cultures in some countrys where they automatically add a magical 10% to the bill for service......plates and silverware??

The dumb Americans usually include a 15% tip on top of that.

Edited August 13, 2006 by desert_fox

[CarolineM 0]

I also feel uncomfortable tipping well at takeout because I have no idea how my food is going to be. I hate tipping someone 15% then getting home to find out my chicken sandwich is still pink and cold in the middle, there's sauce on the sandwich I asked to be on the side, they forgot my baked potato, whatever

I hate That. I never cooked the food ... only served it. How am I supposed to know if the cook messed it up. YOu don't tip because of that? Don't punish the waitress for the cook's mistake.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Don't punish the waitress for the cook's mistake.

It's called the chain of command. As a waiter/waitress, it is your duty to bitchslap the cook if (s)he messed up. The customer only encourages and motivates you to take care of your duty by withholding the tip.

[jordanianprincess 0]

Also...Ive always been amazed at the nerve of some cultures in some countrys where they automatically add a magical 10% to the bill for service......plates and silverware??

The dumb Americans usually include a 15% tip on top of that.

I was so irritated in Jordan when we went out for meals. THey always charge you $3 JD ($5 USD) for a big bottle of water that sits on each table. It doesn't matter if you open it or not, they still charge you and most people that are not locals don't realize it and just leave the bottle behind.

[iceyspots 0]

man that's a lot for some water

[dollface41601 0]

I always tip good....unless the server gives me a reason not to.....Reason being, I have been a server for applebees for 2.5 years....Man i wish more people like you came there, I cant tell u how many times i get left with 2$ on a 40$ check....people seem cheap now a days....maybe its the area of the restaurant...who knows....I think some customers may not know that...yes i make tips...but i only make 3.20$ every hour and i also get taxed on my tips...so a 45 hour pay check is only about 45$, not to mention, i have to tip out daily to the hosts and bartender, 2.5% of my sales, which is relatively 8-10$ everyday....which i also get taxed on....its an iffy job.....there are 3 months of the year that are REAL good....and the rest is ok....

[jezebelseven 0]

I also feel uncomfortable tipping well at takeout because I have no idea how my food is going to be. I hate tipping someone 15% then getting home to find out my chicken sandwich is still pink and cold in the middle, there's sauce on the sandwich I asked to be on the side, they forgot my baked potato, whatever

I hate That. I never cooked the food ... only served it. How am I supposed to know if the cook messed it up. YOu don't tip because of that? Don't punish the waitress for the cook's mistake.

I never said I don't tip because of that, I said I feel UNCOMFORTABLE doing it. That being said, if you took my order and in most cases are the one who boxes it up (I've been to some places that don't, again, this depends on the place you're at, which is what my point was), you should at least be able to notice that there's an item missing from my order and there's a gallon of ranch sauce dripping off my sandwich. You'd do it if you were a server, and servers tend to 'earn their tip', so I'd expect the same thing from a carryout service. I can almost understand on the undercooked sandwich, but these places have food thermometers, people boxing the food should be able to use them.

Sadly, every time I haven't opened up my food to double check it, I get home and have an incorrect meal, and the person that bagged up my food got a extra $5 for it. Thankfully the place that this happens at most (also my favorite place to eat) has a manager who is always very understanding and not only refunds my money, but sends us vouchers for a free meal next time. Again, I have to wonder though, even if I got my money refunded, does the $5 get taken away from the 'server/order taker' who boxed it up wrong, or do they still walk away with a bonus?

Like I've said before, it depends on the restraunt, and that is really what bothers me. I'd prefer it was the same at each place so I'm familiar with the chain of command and who the tip is going to. If I go to one place, I get someone who takes my order and does nothing else, they aren't getting a tip. If I go to a place and they offer me a drink while I wait, or they package my order in timely fashion, or do something more than stand there waiting for someone else to take an order, or sweep the floor, I'll likely include a small tip.

Edited August 14, 2006 by jezebelseven

[pedroh 21]

good tip for good service, even if it's the waffle house... tipping for to-go orders? not really, waiters actually didn't serve me, just handed me a bag of food..