How much to tip?

[raljr1]

I alost always tip 20% rounded up. I am not afraid, however, to leave considerably less if service warrants. And in those cases it is not a meal that wasnt what I expected, it is purely service related. If I have to wait for something that should have been there before I asked, etc.

on my africa plains game trip, we tipped 10% to the guide and another $100 each, per hunter, to the little lady who washed our clothes and cleaned the huts each day and the cook.

 

[usmc2427765]

If you are talking about waiters, bar tenders and those who are on the lower end of the pay scale and do a good job, I have no problem with 18 or 20%.

 

[shouldazagged]

Europeans consider Americans foolish for assuming waiters are not paid a living wage.

We make that assumption, or at least I do, because in this country they aren't. Except in really posh places they make far less than minimum wage. The last I heard, I think the minimum for servers was around $2.30 an hour. They depend on tips, heavily.

Years ago I worked for tips for about three years. I tend to overtip today unless service is truly lousy.

I'll go further if it's outstanding. I'll ask to speak to the manager and put in a compliment for the server.

I do the same if someone gives me pleasant, efficient, effective assistance on a phone call, because I've done that kind of work too. I know how much that can mean in a day spent talking to people who have called to complain about a company policy or federal law and start the call saying "You people..."

I'm damn sure not rich. I live on a very small fixed income. But I believe in helping hardworking, underpaid people whenever I can. I remember.

 

[Golddollar]

When the Sons of the American Legion at my post decided to help out the post members by re-opening the bar, a number of the Sons acted as volunteer bartenders for the tips. I was one of them for a while. That really gave me an appreciation for the lives of people who rely on tips for a living. So now I try to give servers good tips unless they really blew it. Of course, they get tips from me in Gold(en) Dollars.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I'll bet this was bigride:

 

[crazyphil]

Haven't been to Las Vegas, Reno, or Tahoe for over 20 years, but we
used to go to the shows. Back then a $50 tip to the usher would get
a front row center seat. No tip would get you way up in the peanut gallery.

 

[kpap]

I am a Blacjack dealer and we keep our own tips, we do not pool our tips. I hear on a weekly basic " I can't believe how friendly all of you Dealers are." We make 5.15 a hour plus tips, needless to say we do really well especially if you have a personality and are a entertainer. I don't have to have the players win to get tipped, just make sure my players have a good time. Not everyone tips even when they win, but they are far and few between. It's definitely been a fun and interesting job for the last 17 years.

 

[johnbeaver]

In New Orleans, back in another lifetime, we left a one penny tip. Then waited just out the front door for the waiter to come see us. A young strapping fellow, he rushed right out to catch us. We explained what we had expected and what we got. I like to think we helped that kid out. But never went back to that place again.
Now days I generally tip in the 25-30% range on good service.

 

[dmn57]

I was a full-time bartender for a number of years and depended on tips. Now 35 years later I tip well for good service, beginning at 20%, and actually tip better than I should for not-so-good service.

 

[skipnsb]

If its not a restaurant, I try to subtly find out if the worker is being well paid-if well paid, I don't tip. But if guy isn't well paid, I leave a tip for the person getting his hands dirty. We have a deaf waitress locally, always messing orders up, I still tip her.

 

[nachogrande]

I AGREE WITH LOBO, IN THEORY.

In REALITY if I am going to stiff a server, something must have gone REALLY BAD & I leave a note, or tell them or the Mgr in person & DO NOT go back! I don't like any foreign matter in my food. I have a thing about rounding the bill +/- to an even dollar amount so the tip could fluctuate "generally 20%, 25% for real good service. However I NEVER tip the GOV'T! The tip is on the pre tax amount.

 

[292]

So, what'd you end up doing with this?

On my first night in camp I asked the owner of the guide service about tipping my guide. He said most folks give the guide 100 bucks or so. My guide certainly didn't work hard but he did sit there with me the whole time and seemed almost as disgusted as me when the owner guided the other fellow on the same property we were hunting and killed "my" bird. I handed him 3 50s the evening of my last day in camp. At first he refused to take it, I insisted. Believe me no one else diserved any extra pay.

 

[nachogrande]

2 HUNTERS 1 BIRD

Well you had a 50/50 chance, unless the outfitter put the bird to bed. Who was the better caller??? Luck of the draw??? When working I always asked the Pt's & family about their REALISTIC expectations & Told it like it was. That prevented many problems. IF the outfitter told you that YOU would be the only one hunting that property then HE definitely should have been stiffed at the least. It sounded like your guide did what he could & deserved a tip (IMO) you disregarded his ideas? WHO KNOWS??? It coulda been you that got the bird, & even IF you were the only hunter, there is still no 100 % guarantee that you would have bagged it. Put in your homework/due diligence/speak to other hunters that previously used this outfitter?