How much do you tip?

[Prloko]

I have also lived in Europe, and big tips where not expected (just a few euros added on to the whole bill), though they were given for very good service. Also, in most countries the tip is already built into the prices or added as a "service charge."

Cheating servers here in the US is not hurting The Man, nor is it making a difference in the amount servers are legally paid. I recommend joining a Service Employees Union to make real changes to the practice of requiring patrons to tip their servers so they can survive off gov't assistance.

It would make a difference if most everyone stopped. That's just plain economics. The cost would either be worked into the price of the food or tacked on as a service charge. Either way, this benefits the servers with a steady paycheck, better overtime pay and possibly better benefits. With the cost worked into the price, restaurants still have to compete with each other which means the increase will not be dollar for dollar for long as competition would dictate better prices for the consumer.

My mother was a career waitress (yes her entire working life), and she herself gave me the advise of not tipping for the sake of tipping. She was always a proud worker and worked hard no matter what she was tipped and had a great disdain for her fellow servers who did the bare minimum and confronted customers who didn't tip to the server's liking. And yes, back in the states I DO tip, but only if it is worth it. If not, I'll happily leave a penny for garbage service and leave a note to managment on why I won't be returning. It is NOT my job to pay someone's salary just as it is not your job to pay mine (at least directly). Employment is a contract between the employer and the employee, not the customer, or else the server would be considered an independent contractor. And a percentage of the bill is such a random nonsense baseline. Why would a waiter at a diner who works just as hard get less money then a waiter at an expensive restaurant for the sole fact the food costs more at one? If I'm expected to enter into this contract with the wait staff, it would be nice if I had an a la carte menue for service, 2 bucks for just plates, an extra buck for refills, or star service, so if I wan't the waiter to leave me the hell alone, I'll pay for the standard 1 star service for 5 bucks, if someone else wants to be waited on hand and foot, they can order the 5-star and maybe spend 50 bucks or more. That is a lot more fair than some random "customary" percantage that seems to be arbitrarily increasing every year.

I really hate it when people say if you don't want to tip, stay home. That argument is nonsense. I can take the same argument and flip it around and say, if you don't like not knowing what you'll get paid every week or depending on the kindness of strangers then don't be a waiter/server.

[taylor]

Ireally hate it when people say if you don't want to tip, stay home. That argument is nonsense. I can take the same argument and flip it around and say, if youdon't like not knowing what you'll get paid every week or depending on the kindness of strangers then don't be a waiter/server.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Servers usually say this, "if you can't afford to tip, don't eat out." But restaurant owners will never say this because they know it's harder to maintain and replace a customer than it is to replace an employee. Also wanted to add the definition of gratuity/tip : something given voluntarily or beyond obligation usually for some service; especially : tip

[sanantone]

I found this article interesting.
Tipless restaurants: The Linkery’s owner explains why abolishing tipping made service better. - Slate Magazine

[taylor]

I found this article interesting.
Tipless restaurants: The Linkery’s owner explains why abolishing tipping made service better. - Slate Magazine

I like this owner's idea of charging an 18% service charge to the bill to compensate his servers as well as the cooks. Also this eliminates everybody busting out their phones and calculating how much tip they should pay. Ultimately FOOD is the most important reason I will go to a restaurant. If a restaurant has great food and mediocre service, I will go there time and time again. If a restaurant has great food and bad service, heck I'll still go as long as they don't spit on my food. But if a restaurant serves ALPO with great service, oh hell no.

[UptonSinclair]

I make a good salary and enjoy the opportunity to show my gratitude for those who struggle paycheck to paycheck. Those who don't tip are just looking for an excuse to be stingy.

It is never wrong to tip over 15%. It is always wrong to tip less!

[Lindagerr]

I almost always tip 20% or more if the service is really good. If the service is REALLY bad like we had to ask 5 times for something, my water was left empty or waiter was rude I will tip less no less then 10%. If service was poor and the server apologizes, is new or obviously over worked I will usually still give 20%.

Recently I went to a walk in salon where my girlfriend was going to get her bangs trimmed. I decided while I was there I would just get my long hair trimmed even. My girlfriend was talked into henna and hot oil treatments and I was badgered into agreeing to a dye job (I usually do it myself at home) and having my hair styled instead of just trimmed. We went to this shop because it was only 15.95 for a simple cut. Well I was not happy with my hair color, she went darker and browner then I wanted, I had told her I like to put my hair up because it is thick and it gets hot so I needed a cut that would still allow for that and I told her I don't like to blow dry or fuss with my hair. She cut my hair in layers that only look nice if you blow dry and use the right brush. Needless to say I was not happy. I had said no several times and told her I only wanted the trim before I let myself be bullied. When she told me the bill was $100 I almost passed out. I gave her only a 10% tip because I could not afford more and because I felt she did what made her happy business was slow and she was bored so she worked on me. I do not feel guilty or that I was wrong. What bothers me most is that I didn't just walk out when she pushed to hard.

I don't get a raise if my work is not good so I don't think any poor service person should get the same tip as one who cares about the customer.

[Westerner]

Been following this convo somewhat and finding it interesting Here's another article I saw on MSN today: Donatella Arpaia: Service will suffer if we get rid of tipping - TODAY.com

[sanantone]

The most interesting part of that article is the study that says that tipping does not improve service, but including a service charge in the bill makes people feel that the restaurant is more expensive even if the customer would have spent more when tipping. It is all about control.

[ryoder]

Question, when I go to the restaurant I end up buying top shelf drinks. Those cost around 6 bucks each at a chain restaurant. I'll rack up 15-20 dollars between me and my wife in drinks alone. The food is then around 25 so the two of us drop 45 dollars on the deal. A family of four may spend 35 dollars but they have children that need booster seats, spill drinks, and cause a mess. Shouldn't that family pay more of a tip because they are presenting more of a burden than me? The waitress most often doesn't even bring my expensive drinks, someone else does. So she just put the order in and gets 15% of $20 for that.

[taylor]

Question, when I go to the restaurant I end up buying top shelf drinks. Those cost around 6 bucks each at a chain restaurant. I'll rack up 15-20 dollars between me and my wife in drinks alone. The food is then around 25 so the two of us drop 45 dollars on the deal. A family of four may spend 35 dollars but they have children that need booster seats, spill drinks, and cause a mess. Shouldn't that family pay more of a tip because they are presenting more of a burden than me? The waitress most often doesn't even bring my expensive drinks, someone else does. So she just put the order in and gets 15% of $20 for that.

It's hard to make sense of that but the tipping culture in the US is to tip based on the total bill even though the server has no influence on the item price on the menu whatsoever. When I'm out with my daughter or other children I do tend to tip more because I do think a little more service is involved.