How Well Do You Tip?

[BearBio]

I agree with Bama. I bussed tables in college, worked McDonald's (minimum wage). Good Service=Good Tip. Excellent, do extra service= get extra tip. Poor service=very small tip.

One time, the waiter largely ignored us. The bus boy fetched extra water, condiments, etc. After we got our bill, we had the waiter call the boy over and we tipped him and thanked him personally.

 

[cmort666]

At least 20% for a good waitress.

I don't really like people all that much. I can't imagine having to be "cheerful" with some of the scum and mutants that waitresses have to deal with.

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

I do detest automatically adding a gratuity, and think it should be illegal.
T-Star

On balance, I feel there are two sides on that issue. I'm sure we can agree that there are some patrons, who are just mean spirited, evil or dirty lowdown dogs, who wouldn't leave a tip if their life depended on it, regardless of receiving excellent service. Most of the hotels I've stayed at, routinely do this for room service and fine dining. I don't believe it's unreasonable, if I did, I wouldn't patronize that venue. I also adjust the additional tip over the 15% mandated gratuity based on the level of service. Honestly, I've never received bad service anywhere I have stayed, maybe I'm just lucky. If you receive bad service, most better hotels will adjust your bill or comp you in some way after you complain. I can't speak for chain resturants, because I don't patronize them.

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[Ogandydancer]

Since I am on a fixed income and no job to supplement I will usually tip 10% and if the service is exceptional I try to tip more if possible.

I was with a group once many years ago and there were probably 20-25 people and when the waitress came around with our checks she made a point to verbally tell several of us to be sure and leave her a nice tip since she was only making minimum and that was what she depended on to equal out her salary. The manager happened to know us and we put a bug in his ear when we left. The next time we went back that waitress was no longer there.

 

[feralmerril]

Wife and I eat out a lot but almost never at fancy exspendsive resturants. On top of that most of the time we share the meal and get a extra plate. I always leave a $3.00 tip, our meal bill usualy run $18 to $22s here. Many of the waitress`s and resturant owners here are our friends.
We eat out a lot just to get out. We both are huge, done our damage years ago and are trying to lose weight. Hence, the splitting of meals. Truth is there are such big breakfast`s around here that even with splitting it there usualy is some left over. My wife is always giveing cloths and stuff to the waitress`s. Yesterday she gave a huge bag of yarn to one as her arthritis in her wrists bother her and she wont knit.
How many of you gamble and tip the dealers? Same deal for them. However almost always the casino workers pool and split. I dont like that! I tip ever so many minuets or when I leave the table.

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

At least 20% for a good waitress.

I can't imagine having to be "cheerful" with some of the scum and mutants that waitresses have to deal with.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Cheers;
Lefty

 

[CJR]

I always said everybody should have to work as a server or busboy for 3 months before they are allowed in restarunts.
In my busboy days {many moons ago} I watched women cry after being stiffed by a big party. Also learned to detest "pooling" tips, kinda like any other socialism it rewards laziness. I tend to tip 5-10% for subpar 15-20% average, and 20-25% for above average.
Course thats just me. My dad is an old school gentleman, and his motto is "if you cant afford a tip, you cant afford to eat out".

 

[labworm]

Most of the times I have favorite places that I frequent often, minimum with me is 30%, exceptional service will go a little higher. These people, waitresses and waiters really do depend on it and not their hourly rate.

I'm not wealthy but I like seeing other people smile, and they always remember me when I return. A lot of the younger people who don't have mommy and daddy paying their way through school are the ones I really like helping out. At one time I had absolutely nothing and I do know the feeling.

And like someone else mentioned, if things don't go right, I never complain and make a big deal out of it, I just don't return.

 

[NFrameFred]

And like someone else mentioned, if things don't go right, I never complain and make a big deal out of it, I just don't return.

While I respect the right of those who feel this way to handle it as they see fit, I cannot agree. Having been a retail manager for a time a couple of decades ago with several employees under my direction, I maintain that if there is a problem as described the management cannot always be expected to "fix" a problem unless they know about it.

One doesn't have to be ugly or combative about it, but it needs to be addressed. In a small town where everyone knows everyone your sudden decision to stop patronizing a business may get noticed and questions asked about why you don't shop or dine there or whatever anymore, but most places these days have enough business that the absence isn't noticed and such an approach solves nothing except sparing you the ordeal of going through their bad service again.

I am a firm believer that morale comes from the top down and adherence to expected or corporate standards is the responsibility of the management of the business. But I also know that many times the day to day running of a large establishment doesn't always allow the person in charge to be ever vigilant or to always notice if someone such as an individual waiter or waitress is slacking in the customer service problem. If the customer doesn't speak up, someone else will just be the recipient of the slacker's "talents". And it reflects badly on the business.

I was told at an early age that for every person that does lodge a complaint, there are likely at least 12 to 20 others who felt the same way that probably didn't bother to do so. You are actually doing everyone a favor by reporting poor performance or service. You just don't have to be a **** doing it . . . .

 

[feralmerril]

Counterpoint. Sure if it`s the waitress or waiter`s first day or two complaints would nip it in the bud quick. However if one has a attitude or lazy, over a short time it would still have to be obvious to the manager. I would hate the job, and I am sure most of us would. Most of us, at least us older people that werent college educated, started at the bottom on low paying menial work. The biggest percentage of us eventialy find our nitch at something in a at least fair paying job that we could handel. The vast majority of waitress`s I ever knew were either young girls starting out, maybe going to college too, or divoricee`s that hard against it trying to keep a roof over their and their kids head!
We moved here to utah from southern california. I could hardly belive it when I heard the wages for a waitress is $2.13s a hour plus tips. Come on, I couldnt support a cat on that!
I dont know what they get in southern california and elsewhere, but unless they have help from a boyfriend, child support, hud and food stamps, no person can realisticly have a life depending on being a waitress with no other outside help if they dont have a husband or live in!
Thats a fact! One more thing, unless a kid is liveing at home and/or hanging around going to college why do they even spin their wheels being a waiter, waitress or work at a fast food place? May as well hit the road to the oil fields, service or even go pick grapes!
Unless you own your own business or have a profession you dont have much hope in life unless you work for a big corporation or the goverment.
That or get into poverity, thats where the money is son!

 

[27145]

I like to take care of hard workers. My only pet peeve is when you hand the waiter/waitress the check and payment, so many ask "Do you need change?" They should always say "I will be right back with your change" at that point you say "No the rest is for you".

Technically for good service you tip 20% of the bill, excluding tax and alcoholic beverages. If the service is good, I at least give 20% of the total including tax and beverages. If I use a debit card to pay the bill, the tip is in cash. If I am not wrong, the IRS assumes the waiter gets at least 10%. So If I give them 20% in cash, they won't take such a hit.

When I was a Cop, my job went after establishments who gave Cops "a break" on the bill. So this practice was almost non existant. I personally never liked getting a "break", to me it was embarrassing, considering that I was making a decent living, compared to them. There was a diner in a really bad area I worked. The food was so good and was about the only decent place to eat. I would go to pay the manager at the cash register. He would cut the bill in half. For example, a $20 dollar bill was $10. I wouldn't say a word, pay the $10 and then give the waitress $12, so in essence I payed my bill, although I guess I was saving $2 on the tip, instead of my total being $24.

I never had to feel bad about eating there a few times a week, the manager was happy and the waitress received what she deserved.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Wife and I usually go to the average chain restaurants like Cracker Barrel, Chilis and such... . I'll toss $5 on the table when we leave as long as the bill is $30 or less. I feel compelled to do so rather than expecting service to be better or worse. It's rare to see the same waitress more than once...

Waffle House is different. I'll have an early breakfast once or twice a week. I know the gals and they know me. A cup of coffee, scrambled eggs, toast and grits will be served without me ordering a thing . A $5 meal earns a $5 tip. I tip the groomer that does Pugsters' nails $5 (price of nail trim is $8). If all the grooming tables are being used when Pugsters and I walk through the door, a dog is dropped to the floor and Pugsters is taken care of. I'm in and out in less than 5min. That's worth the $5. Paying a little extra and getting a little extra can be a fun and rewarding part of doing business for all. Paying 20% just cuz you're supposed to is boring.

 

[BE Mike]

I usually tip 15-20% when the service is good. I usually double the sales tax and round up to the nearest dollar or two. I give my garbage men a card and some money at Christmas. I give my postal carrier a card and present at Christmas. These service people treat me very well.

I noticed that Sonic is closing many of their restaurants, so that may explain them lowering the hourly wages they pay. Personally, I can't stand the stuff they make and try to pass off as food. Their tv commercials are very funny though.

I don't send back food at restaurants and don't complain about the quality of the food, because I don't want to have the cooks and/or waitresses spit in my food or do worse.

 

[xray97]

I normally tip about 15% for typical service. A little extra if service is "over and above". For the last few years I've been adding a dollar to whatever amount I tip, as my own little "economic stimulus" plan. These dollars are likely to be spent not only in the U.S. but in my own community. Small gesture, I know, but in the past I've been in situations where every little bit helps.
If I'm having something that amounts to $5 or less I tip at least a dollar. Each week I have lunch with some of the other "old retired" people from work. I'm embarrassed by the number of them who leave a dollar tip regardless of the price of the order or the service received. I know what these guy's retirement income is and there is (IMO) no excuse for their cheapness. The worst offenders are usually the biggest pain in the *** to the servers.

 

[sigp220.45]

I put myself through college working for tips, so I'm a good tipper. 20 percent and up.

There's a place my coworkers I frequent for breakfast. They insist on giving us the 50% "good guys" discount. I just tip 120% to make up for it. Makes the waitresses happy.

 

[reddogge]

For food and beverage, 20% and I usually round up. My friend whom we dine and share some beers with will undertip to the point it's embarrassing. His rationale is they throw the tips in a bucket and divide them. I told him yes, that's true, but OUR server gave us good service and can see how much we leave so tip he well. The other night he we overboard the other way I guess at the urging of his wife.

 

[wbraswell]

"The worst offenders are usually the biggest pain in the *** to the servers."

Boy, ain't that the truth. Wisdom is never being mean to your waitress.
Texas Star, that Hooter's had almost no girls 21 yrs old waiting tables. They would put the order in on computer and then the bar would fix any alcohol, someone of age, a bartender or manager, would then bring it to the table. Lots of miscommunication, and ineffeciency with that system.

 

[jimmyj]

When I was "Gainfully Employed" I bought food from home as a lot of restaurants had kitchen help that was/were in the "System". Also with a wife and six children there was not a lot of extra dollars in the budget.
Now I tip at least 20%. Tip is in cash and given directly to the waiter/waitress. When my wife pays I tell the waiter/waitress that I am a "Kept Man/lady's suger boy".

 

[PALADIN85020]

I normally tip around 20% if the service is satisfactory, attentive, and friendly. If a waitress is pretty, there may be an extra bonus!

I remember once when I was a boy and on vacation with my folks that we got really lousy service from a waiter in a greasy spoon restaurant. My dad left him a penny as a tip; my mother quietly removed the penny before we left. I didn't understand then, but I certainly do now. I've sometimes been tempted to leave a penny, too.

John

 

[617X10]

Beats what my grandad did at a pizza place decades ago. Took an hour and a half to get the pizza he ordered. Put out his cigarette in the middle of the pizza and left. Obviously they didn't get the message, because they went out of business not long after that.