how much do you tip?
keithvanhorn
3,855 Posts
It is common practice to tip 15-20% on meals, right? Does this make any sense though?A waitress at a diner busts her ass while serving you on a $25 tab...and gets $4, but a snooty waitress at a 5 star restaurant who only has to worry about covering a few tables gets $40 for a $200 tab. Same number of courses and people served.I'm one of the sheep who follows the rules. Has anyone strayed dramatically from the normal tipping etiquette? If so, did you get boo'd out of the restaurant?Tipping on drinks is the same game. 
Comments
i used to work a tip job so i kinda feel for them.
I see where you're coming from with the diner vs. upscale thing and while i see where you're coming from any 5 star worth it's weight in caviar is going to have some knowledgeable ass servers. What can you tell me about this cut of meat? What do you have in a dry oak aged red wine? I'm allergic to this and that, what can you reccomend?
If i'm in a diner and the waitress is busting her ass with 10 tables spread out across the joint, i'm not going to let my calculator determine how much i tip...she's busting her ass for people who rarely appreciated under conditions that are more than likely less than optimal. Same goes for fancier places. If i get some kid who hardly shows up at the table and doesn't seem to care one way or the other how my dinner goes, then i am going to let my tip reflect that.
I've had a lot of great service in not so expected places and vice versa, i've served tables and tended bar so i know when someone is really working hard or really slacking off. It was my job for a year to bust people when they weren't giving guests the service they should be and reward them when they did, so i am kind of tuned in on it when i go out.
Sorry for being long winded about it. Just wanted to build on the diner / fine dine thing.
yeah that shit sucks. the last job i worked at i worked as a cook. there was a tip jar for the servers that would get pretty full, but the thing is, at the end of every two weeks, the manager would split up the entire tip jar between EVERY employee, based on their performance. im not sure exactly how fair this system was in general, but the fact that even the dishwasher and shit would get part of the servers tips seemed kinda shitty to me.
not that i should really complain since i got an extra $20 cash every paycheck, but still.
yeah but what about very assholish customers that dont tip worth shit? A waiter/watiress could work their ass off for some douchetards who are never satisified and have them walk leaving a 2% or 5% tip on a big ticket...that is very unfair also..I think pooling helps this kind of situation out since it is a crap shoot who is going to get good customers versus bad customers....
??? i dont think ive ever seen this. is it common?
25% on the final total for places we go to regularly and for a favourite/excellent server.
Absolute minimum is 15%, and 10% if things were just horrible and we've already said something and/or it's totally clear things were not right.
Problem is servers get punished for things they don't always have control over. If the food is no good or kitchen is behind...but then again, for the latter, s/he should let you know right off the bat so you can expect the wait and decide whether you want to wait it out or not. And wrong orders are not always the servers' mistake!!
Take-out is what I'm not sure about, usually I tip, sometimes I don't...if there's a tip jar, then yes, fine. Otherwise - what is the rule on take-out? I mean someone is still working to get you that food.
Great point. Even cooler are the customers who ask about this before they tip you. It shows they understand what you're doing or really appreciate that you helped them have a fun time / good meal.
thats true, its fair in that respect, but at the same right if youre an awesome waiter who deserves good tips, and you end up getting the same amount as a dude who doesnt even try, thats kinda discouraging. basically it seems like it would just even out the amount of effort everybody would put into their job.
these days i don't put up with ANY bullshit at restaurants. last month I was served and awful meal after waiting over an hour at my table. i sent ti back and asked the server to bring the manager. i told the manger in front of the server that i am leaving and not paying for anything. furthermore, the service was adequate considering the circumstances (it's the kitchen's fault). therefore, the kitchen or the management should pay her tip. should i have paid her tip? if so, why?
I usually do 10% on take-out and buffets...you are only interacting with your server once in that situation, so I think 10% is fair for handing you your take out bag and/or drink.
10% on delivery
5% on take out
"I don't tip, I over tip"
Especially if I'm going to be spending any time at a bar drinking....first beer I tip $20....then I know I'm gonna be taken care of the rest of the night.
I think people who have been waiters/bartenders tend to tip more than folks who haven't.
i never even knew you were supposed to do this, but then again i havent gotten my haircut at an actual shop in probably 9 years...
I've tipped $1,000 on every haircut I've gotten in the last 10 years.
Myself and most of my circle of friends have all worked food service at some point, and in Baltimore hosts usually get paid at least minimum wage (unlike waiters/waitresses in most areas), and usally get tipped in coins or not at all. Believe me, if you put a buck or two in a tip jar for a bag of carry-out, you departed from the norm and made that person happy.
I usually tip more than 20% on a sit down meal, and wouldn't go lower than 20% unless there was a problem.
If I'm eating alone and the bill's $10 or so, I'm still going to tip $4 or more. The waiter/waitress didn't work substantially less than if there was another person at the table, or than if I'd ordered more expensive grub.
hair= 25%+
exactly. when im alone, or with a couple people even, i tend to get closer to the 40-50% mark.
Buffet, little tip if any...
Damn, maybe I'm just an a**hole....
i hate people who care so much. dude you sat at a table and didnt do anything, pay your waiter or eat at home.
Yeah, that's me as well. I've never been a waiter, but I've known enough people who have been to know what a difference a nice tip can make for your server.