Tipping when dining out...

[Marilyn. 340]

I am all for tipping the servers as an added bonus to what they make but why should we feel like we have to pay the server's wages every time we want to go out and eat..??

[MrsCat 6]

I am all for tipping the servers as an added bonus to what they make but why should we feel like we have to pay the server's wages every time we want to go out and eat..??

That's why I agree with AJ on his tipping practices. A tip isn't meant to replace wages received at work - its a gesture to show that you appreciate the extra service that you've received. Personally (and yes I've worked in the service industry all through university) my wage is what pays me to do my job - reasonably well. A tip is for laughing at your poor jokes, wiping up after you've spilled on my shoes, getting something for your kids to play way, arguing with the cooks to make special changes to your order etc etc etc.

And yes - I certainly appreciated tips. And felt a little cheesed when someone was a total pain in the ####### and left next to nothing.

However, the service industry isn't entitled to a tip. I think that's what it has become, and has since become an excuse for restaurant owners etc to not pay a proper wage - because hey why not pass that onto to the consumer. Why make that an additional expense of my business.

So to answer - 15% is my standard tip - 20% when service was above average.

[ronjie 0]

well I do believe that " TIPS " stand for, to insure proper service. so originally they were given before any service was performed. to insure that your needs were well taken care of. so if I was to go into a well packed bar or club I would tip at least $20.00 before I was even served a drink. and then tell the bartender don't forget me tonight. my friends and I are thirsty. that always worked well for me. and depending how long I stayed, there was more tips to folow. so now today everything is changed for some screwed up reason. i often ask the waitress or waiter if they know what TIPS stand for. and if they do I will double your tip. not one person who I have asked and makes a living from tips ever knew what it meant.. similiar to people who drive BMW'S half of them don't know what bmw stands for. and almost all of them do not know what the emblem represents.

[Asante Maroon 0]

Reservoir Dogs is on TV right now, the tipping scene rocks!!

well I do believe that " TIPS " stand for, to insure proper service. so originally they were given before any service was performed. to insure that your needs were well taken care of. so if I was to go into a well packed bar or club I would tip at least $20.00 before I was even served a drink. and then tell the bartender don't forget me tonight. my friends and I are thirsty. that always worked well for me. and depending how long I stayed, there was more tips to folow. so now today everything is changed for some screwed up reason. i often ask the waitress or waiter if they know what TIPS stand for. and if they do I will double your tip. not one person who I have asked and makes a living from tips ever knew what it meant.. similiar to people who drive BMW'S half of them don't know what bmw stands for. and almost all of them do not know what the emblem represents.

nice to know. I feel armed for my next dining experience

[Marilyn. 340]

I am all for tipping the servers as an added bonus to what they make but why should we feel like we have to pay the server's wages every time we want to go out and eat..??

That's why I agree with AJ on his tipping practices. A tip isn't meant to replace wages received at work - its a gesture to show that you appreciate the extra service that you've received. Personally (and yes I've worked in the service industry all through university) my wage is what pays me to do my job - reasonably well. A tip is for laughing at your poor jokes, wiping up after you've spilled on my shoes, getting something for your kids to play way, arguing with the cooks to make special changes to your order etc etc etc.

And yes - I certainly appreciated tips. And felt a little cheesed when someone was a total pain in the ####### and left next to nothing.

However, the service industry isn't entitled to a tip. I think that's what it has become, and has since become an excuse for restaurant owners etc to not pay a proper wage - because hey why not pass that onto to the consumer. Why make that an additional expense of my business.

So to answer - 15% is my standard tip - 20% when service was above average.

yeah that is what I was trying to say... you said it much more eloquently then I ..lol

[Mina76 0]

WELL... It really depends on the service, if it's bad I don't tip, if it's good I am fair and if it's excellent I "overtip"

This is the same rule for me, it will depends on the service whether they get a tip or not.

[MrsCat 6]

yeah that is what I was trying to say... you said it much more eloquently then I ..lol

what can I say - its a topic I'm passionate about.

[yogib37 3]

I've waffled on about this on expats, so apologise for those who have read this before!

I always say, 20% for excellent service, 18% for good service and 15% for adequate. Anything less is an insult, personally. I speak from experience - I'm the evening manager at the restaurant I work in, so I know how upsetting it can be when you've busted a gut trying to be nice and provide the customers with a great dining experience - only to be greeted with blank stares and a pathetic 10% tip.

Also, take in the surroundings when you eat. See how many tables the server is working (if poss), see how busy they are so, if your drink isn't quite filled often enough, you can maybe understand that they aren't neglecting you...they're just really over worked. Also, if your food is undercooked/overcooked, or poorly presented DON'T punish the server and reduce their tip. That's the fault of the kitchen - who get a wage! Instead, tip the server a decent amount and complain to the manager instead.

Personally, if you're only going to leave me a couple of bucks on a $25 check I'd rather you left me nothing. Our servers get paid $3. Try feeding kids, paying mortgages/rent and utilities on that - pretty impossible.

If you can't afford to add a potential 20% tip on a meal then you shouldn't be eating out in the first place.

This is my philosophy as well... last night, the couple we were out with (work contacts) had no clue on manners or civility. The husband was wanting the server to go back and split the check and wanted to itemize the bill. How embarassing. My husband told the server "no" and grabbed the check. The bill was close to $100. And my husband tipped $25 (the service was excellent). The wife proceeds to grab the check holder (which was rude anyway) and almost had a heart attack. She says she only tips 10% and less if the service is bad. I could have died. She said that if they want more money they should go back to school. What?! I was trying to be polite for my husbands sake, but I wanted to kick this heifer in the shin.

I am glad I don't have to deal with these morons on a regular basis. But I just wanted to know how others felt on the subject.

I have to reply to you. This couple seems like they are really cheapstakes. That comment she said if they want more money, they should go to school. That pissed me off.

I tell you something, I have two cousins that did that job while going through the college. That job got them a college education. One of my cousin that did food service is now in Sr. Management in DC for Verizon. Other one is a Nurse getting a PHD. their father always gave great tips, and he said it is a tough job and it put his daughter through college.

SO she sounds like a stuck up Snob.

Peace

[Hannah+Vito 0]

i'm clueless i have to admit. but its not completely the norm in England, and i know i'm a bar made in a small costal town I have had more drinks bought for me than tips thats prob around a drink a month. as for tips its usually someone who other wise would never come in i.e out of town guest or none regular more often at xmas. I'm no good at maths and i can't remember how much i'm ment to put down so just get Vito to tell me.

[Yiyi and Chris 0]

well I do believe that " TIPS " stand for, to insure proper service. so originally they were given before any service was performed. to insure that your needs were well taken care of. so if I was to go into a well packed bar or club I would tip at least $20.00 before I was even served a drink. and then tell the bartender don't forget me tonight. my friends and I are thirsty. that always worked well for me. and depending how long I stayed, there was more tips to folow. so now today everything is changed for some screwed up reason. i often ask the waitress or waiter if they know what TIPS stand for. and if they do I will double your tip. not one person who I have asked and makes a living from tips ever knew what it meant.. similiar to people who drive BMW'S half of them don't know what bmw stands for. and almost all of them do not know what the emblem represents.

I hear today was your Brthday

[bora bora 1]

We usually tip about 20% unless the service is BAD, then I tip a lot less, but I make a point to tell the server/management why I'm tipping so little. I will tip more than 20% IF the server is REALLY good.

My husband's former boss tips $4 all the time, no matter the price of the food/how the service was, but that's why my husband got a new job - that boss was too cheap.

[ronjie 0]

well I do believe that " TIPS " stand for, to insure proper service. so originally they were given before any service was performed. to insure that your needs were well taken care of. so if I was to go into a well packed bar or club I would tip at least $20.00 before I was even served a drink. and then tell the bartender don't forget me tonight. my friends and I are thirsty. that always worked well for me. and depending how long I stayed, there was more tips to folow. so now today everything is changed for some screwed up reason. i often ask the waitress or waiter if they know what TIPS stand for. and if they do I will double your tip. not one person who I have asked and makes a living from tips ever knew what it meant.. similiar to people who drive BMW'S half of them don't know what bmw stands for. and almost all of them do not know what the emblem represents.

I hear today was your Brthday

that surprised me,... THANK YOU !!

[LaL 418]

What about bartenders? They seem to want to be tipped too. Just as a point of reference, what's the standard there? Not as much as eat-in table food service I assume?

My confusion stems from carry-out. Tip or no tip? I do tip a dollar or two if I wind up doing curbside (they bring it 10 feet to my car ), but if I go in to grab my food from the bar? Eh - I just don't know, seems like that would be a "handling" charge to me

[belinda63 3,038]

Maybe someone hit this earlier and i missed it. I make my living as a server in the US, I know in other countries it is different so I can only speak for the US.

The federal minimum wage for servers is $2.13 per hour. This is far less than the worker at McDonalds makes. While minimum wage has gone up recently server wages have not. When I was in college more than 20 years ago servers were paid $2.03 per hour. Wow a 10 cent raise in 20something years.

Also due to what the US Federal government thinks we must claim as having received in tips at least 10% of our sales. For example if I sell $500 in food and drinks I must report I made at least $50 whether I actually did or not. If I consistently do not claim at least 10% the burden of proof is upon me to prove to the IRS that I did not make that much.

But, if the money was not good I would not being doing this B)

My general rule is 20% unless the service is really bad. And if a group of us sits there for a long time maybe just drinking or chatting I leave more because after all I am taking up the table. I call it paying rent.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I like the episode of Seinfeld where George wants to show the guy at the carry-out where he gets George Steinbrenner's favorite calzones that he's a generous tipper but the owner thinks he's stealing from the tip jar and bans him.