So, do you tip your waitress?!

[aliciaandfran 0]

Ok...So, I'm a waitress. That's what I do full-time. I want to know how many of you out there tip your waitress/waiter when you go out to eat....just curious.

[ieldanth 0]

Yes.

The method for determining amount is rather complex though.

[aliciaandfran 0]

Yes.

The method for determining amount is rather complex though.

How complex?

[salgood411 0]

Yes, and if the service is excellent it is always 20%

[Scott & Lai 12]

Yep. I usually give double the sales tax, which is a bit more than 15%.

[ieldanth 0]

Yes.

The method for determining amount is rather complex though.

How complex?

It starts as a base 20%, then factors in such things as politeness, service, how crowded the restaurant is, time of day, number of people at the table, manners of surrounding patrons and overall atmosphere. I do not tip based on food quality. You probably didn't cook it. Politeness and service are determined from such things as how long my glass is empty and if you smile or are cheerful. Other factors, such as time of day, crowdedness, manners of other customers, etc serve to enhance good service or mitigate bad service. If it is crowded I will not deduct for the empty glass for a longer period of time than I would if there are not many people in the restaurant. All factors combined do not affect the tip more than 10% either way though, unless in situations where the waiter/waitress is exceptionally rude(no tip) or if the bill is too small to make 20% worthwhile(upward of 100%).

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

Yes. I will tip 20% but if the bill was under $20, I'll always leave at least $4...unless I'm at a group luncheon, then 20% of my portion.

As for the service I expect - I bused tables at the Olive Garden back in college and I saw many of the servers standing around in the kitchen instead of checking on their tables. Many of them wouldn't even clear the table of empty plates, leaving it all up to the buser's to do the dirty work. Servers should be doing just what they're job name means - serve. They should be watching and observing, asking and offering service to their tables. Why that is so hard for some, I don't understand unless they are given more tables than they could handle, but from what I witnessed as a buser, that usually isn't the case.

So as a customer, if I don't see my waitress/waiter walk by my table often, then they aren't doing their job.

Edited October 7, 2006 by Steven_and_Jinky

[Mags 112]

Always tip, unless the waiter/waitress was particularly foul...which happens to me only occasionally. Then I will leave something...but it couldn't be considered generous.

My Dad lives in Malta and the waiting staff's attitude there is awful. Rude, disrespectful and generally appalling. I asked for the bill once and ACTUALLY GOT TUTTED AT!! Yeah, I didn't leave her a tip at all. No way.

America has really nice waiting staff (that I have experienced anyway). Even London (where I live at the moment) has a pretty good attitude. But in the UK we have a minimum wage that is £5.35 an hour. This applies for all employed people over 18, including waiting staff so, although they rely on the tips too, their base rate is (I think) much higher than in the US.

Edited October 7, 2006 by mags

[almaty 19]

yes...

[Angelica 0]

Yes. The only reason I wouldn't would be if my server was REALLY rude...that's only happened once .

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Ok...So, I'm a waitress. That's what I do full-time. I want to know how many of you out there tip your waitress/waiter when you go out to eat....just curious.

It's not tipping I believe in. It's overtipping.

[Savanphil 3]

yes I always do...when I'm in the US

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Absolutely.

[I'm Gone 60]

I normally give 15% of the bill and then round it up to the next dollar.

[Jenn! 918]

I give 15% for bad service and go up from there. Breakfast waitresses always get $2 a head, no matter the bill. Generally I leave at least 20%.