Tipping Etiquette

[Jonara 0]

oh and I tip around 20% (tax is 9% so I just double it and add a little more)

You are more generous than I am. Tipping in the US has gotten out of hand. I forgot how much so until I returned to the US last year.

But service here is like no other. A smile goes a long way; even small talks. They count on your tip and it matters a lot because generally people are pleasant. I've traveled all over the place and notably it's a challenge to get a decent smile from a sales lady or a waitress and when I do get it, I tip really well and it generally surprises them. I was in France once and gave a waitress 10 euro and she looked at me as if I got 2 heads. I don't think it's outrageous to tip in the U.S. The culture is very much service oriented and there is a price tag for that. :-)

[ScottThuy 140]

I am a waitress and I make $2.13 an hour. This means that I do NOT get a paycheck b/c they take our taxes out of that. We really depend on tips...and usually hope for 18-20%

Im confused... how come you dont get a paycheck?

Whos they? And do they take the whole $2.13 off you??

It doesent make sense to me that someone could get paid that low. Is there a minimum wage in the service industry...

They is the IRS and FICA and health ins. etc... they take out taxes based on the amount of sales on the servers acount... I remember one week I would have owed money because my hourly wage was not enough to offset the calculated tips taxed... the saving grace was the tips from credit cards...

the minimum wage for servers and bartenders is just over 2 bucks..

Edited July 31, 2009 by ScottThuy

[Emily and Gareth 0]

I am a waitress and I make $2.13 an hour. This means that I do NOT get a paycheck b/c they take our taxes out of that. We really depend on tips...and usually hope for 18-20%

Im confused... how come you dont get a paycheck?

Whos they? And do they take the whole $2.13 off you??

It doesent make sense to me that someone could get paid that low. Is there a minimum wage in the service industry...

They is the IRS and FICA and health ins. etc... they take out taxes based on the amount of sales on the servers acount... I remember one week I would have owed money because my hourly wage was not enough to offset the calculated tips taxed... the saving grace was the tips from credit cards...

the minimum wage for servers and bartenders is just over 2 bucks..

Thanks. This is useful to know as I was a bartender for years in Ireland and I am thinking of getting back into it (while this recession is in full swing anyway!)

Do bartenders earn a decent wage in the average bar? Could anyone give me a ballpark sort of figure?

[tomsarah11 0]

I am a waitress and I make $2.13 an hour. This means that I do NOT get a paycheck b/c they take our taxes out of that. We really depend on tips...and usually hope for 18-20%

Im confused... how come you dont get a paycheck?

Whos they? And do they take the whole $2.13 off you??

It doesent make sense to me that someone could get paid that low. Is there a minimum wage in the service industry...

yes--there are laws about min. wage. Basically, they record how much you make in tips and if I don't make at least min. wage my boss has to make up the difference. I have worked in 4 restaurants and they all have paid a very low wage and waitresses work for tips.

[JillA 2]

This thread reminds of a few years ago, I was still living in Canada and went to NYC on vacation. My friends and I went to this restaurant, our service was terrible so we left a poor tip, about 8% or so. Anyway we left and the waitress literally CHASED us outside and started yelling that tips were her means of living and it paid her rent! Proceeded to yell how could we tip her so poorly. I was shocked! I mean if the service was good, of course we'd tip well but give good service to get a good tip! I just cannot believe she chased us out the restaurant to yell

[Old Dominion 26]

That IS the minimum wage for waiters and waitresses.

[ScottThuy 140]

I am a waitress and I make $2.13 an hour. This means that I do NOT get a paycheck b/c they take our taxes out of that. We really depend on tips...and usually hope for 18-20%

Im confused... how come you dont get a paycheck?

Whos they? And do they take the whole $2.13 off you??

It doesent make sense to me that someone could get paid that low. Is there a minimum wage in the service industry...

They is the IRS and FICA and health ins. etc... they take out taxes based on the amount of sales on the servers acount... I remember one week I would have owed money because my hourly wage was not enough to offset the calculated tips taxed... the saving grace was the tips from credit cards...

the minimum wage for servers and bartenders is just over 2 bucks..

Thanks. This is useful to know as I was a bartender for years in Ireland and I am thinking of getting back into it (while this recession is in full swing anyway!)

Do bartenders earn a decent wage in the average bar? Could anyone give me a ballpark sort of figure?

It depends on the bar... I was lucky and averaged $200+ /night... but that was 10+ years ago... when money is tight like today people are not likely to tip heavy unless its a high end club... JMO

[ScottThuy 140]

This thread reminds of a few years ago, I was still living in Canada and went to NYC on vacation. My friends and I went to this restaurant, our service was terrible so we left a poor tip, about 8% or so. Anyway we left and the waitress literally CHASED us outside and started yelling that tips were her means of living and it paid her rent! Proceeded to yell how could we tip her so poorly. I was shocked! I mean if the service was good, of course we'd tip well but give good service to get a good tip! I just cannot believe she chased us out the restaurant to yell

Sucks to be her.. if she gave good service she would have gotten better tip... In Vietnam tipping is not customary.. it is awkward for me at times as I am in the habit to tip... service is often great there and they expect no tip.. they are happy to have a customer and a job....

[Emily and Gareth 0]

I am a waitress and I make $2.13 an hour. This means that I do NOT get a paycheck b/c they take our taxes out of that. We really depend on tips...and usually hope for 18-20%

Im confused... how come you dont get a paycheck?

Whos they? And do they take the whole $2.13 off you??

It doesent make sense to me that someone could get paid that low. Is there a minimum wage in the service industry...

They is the IRS and FICA and health ins. etc... they take out taxes based on the amount of sales on the servers acount... I remember one week I would have owed money because my hourly wage was not enough to offset the calculated tips taxed... the saving grace was the tips from credit cards...

the minimum wage for servers and bartenders is just over 2 bucks..

Thanks. This is useful to know as I was a bartender for years in Ireland and I am thinking of getting back into it (while this recession is in full swing anyway!)

Do bartenders earn a decent wage in the average bar? Could anyone give me a ballpark sort of figure?

It depends on the bar... I was lucky and averaged $200+ /night... but that was 10+ years ago... when money is tight like today people are not likely to tip heavy unless its a high end club... JMO

Im hoping to get a job in an Irish bar and to use my accent as a weapon.... Theres not too many real Irishmen working in Irish bars in Indiana so I could onto a winner!

I have heard that barmen need special training over there. Is that correct?

[ScottThuy 140]

Im hoping to get a job in an Irish bar and to use my accent as a weapon.... Theres not too many real Irishmen working in Irish bars in Indiana so I could onto a winner!

I have heard that barmen need special training over there. Is that correct?

Just need to know how to pour whats ordered... if they only sell pints its easy....

[Emily and Gareth 0]

Im hoping to get a job in an Irish bar and to use my accent as a weapon.... Theres not too many real Irishmen working in Irish bars in Indiana so I could onto a winner!

I have heard that barmen need special training over there. Is that correct?

Just need to know how to pour whats ordered... if they only sell pints its easy....

Oh...I had heard a few years back about bartending school... I did a quick google search and there is some stuff on schools and some licences that you can get online but I might just wait till I get there and ask someone in the bar.

[rmncm 0]

http://www.paywizard.org/main/Minimumwagea...WageTIPRecevers

This is why I want to leave this country and renounce my citizenship, what a way for the richer to get rich and keep the working class poor!

[bulaklak 0]

I gave $5 cash, if she/he's doing job great.

[Dave and Helena 0]

Im hoping to get a job in an Irish bar and to use my accent as a weapon.... Theres not too many real Irishmen working in Irish bars in Indiana so I could onto a winner!

I have heard that barmen need special training over there. Is that correct?

Just need to know how to pour whats ordered... if they only sell pints its easy....

You'd better know how to properly pour a Guinness with a cloverleaf on top. Oh, and if my husband and I come by when you're working and you happen to have some nice Jameson's glasses there we will tip you very nicely if you look the other direction when they magically makes it to our private collection.

Don't know where in Indy you're going to settle but Claddagh Irish Pub (http://www.claddaghirishpubs.com/) seems to be a hot spot. We had a lot of fun when we went to the one near "The Circle" last year.

[Swenglish 0]

http://www.paywizard.org/main/Minimumwagea...WageTIPRecevers

This is why I want to leave this country and renounce my citizenship, what a way for the richer to get rich and keep the working class poor!

Wow, that's quite shocking actually. I've worked in several restaurants, but since California does not have a "tip credit", I made the state's minimum wage ($8) plus whatever tips I made, which usually meant I was averaging $20 per hour (wage and tips combined). I'd never even heard of a tip credit until now, but it's good to know when I'm traveling to other states. It's absolutely insane if you ask me!

Anyway, I usually tip a minimum 15% for most services (taxi, hairdresser, restaurants, etc.).

I think we need to remember too that prices are relatively low in the US vs. other developed countries, so rather than the employer raising the price of the items/services you are provided and paying higher wages to their employees, you pay a lower price and are expected to tip. Whereas in other countries, you'll pay more for the item/service but are not expected to leave a tip and the employees' hourly wages are higher. (At least in my experience in Europe and Australia).