Tip etiquitte for extreme tabs

Move to Japan, tipping is actually disrespectful to them.

If you try to leave a tip, they will usually run you down and return the money you left behind.

 

I would fucking murder to get stationed in germany

 

OP: To be clear, I think your tip was great.

I guess I'm a minoity here. I see the US (& some other counties) system of compensation to be a great use of capitalisim when it comes to the wait staff of many places.

Here's my view....

As most places pay much less the the standard minimum wage (although this is different depending on what state you are in), I see visiting a place to eat as more than one purchase. Buying food is one part of the purchase and the other part is having someone provide the product. I do like the concept of paying the wait staff based on the quality of service and I really like the idea of paying them based on an hourly rate as some on here have stated (although this may create its own problem at tax time). My problem with this is, I have trouble defining how much time each person providing my service has spent and what their portion should be....for that reason, I guess I'll continue using the petcentage system in hopes that it is fair.

As far as those on here who don't tip or don't understand that the tip is part of the wait staffs compensation, I suggest you educate yourself a little (not trying to sound like s dick, I'm just guessing people really don't understand or they would tip accordingly). Many states tax tips as income similar to the following example. If a person does $1,000 worth of business at their table, the government will tax them on (using a random number of 8% which I believe is close). So the government will tax them on the paid wage by the owner (sometimes as low as $2.13 an hour) + $80 (8% of $1,000).

What this means is, if you leave no tip the wait staff is being taxed on income they never got. The government assumes buyers will leave a tip.

 

I can see your points on everything except minimum wage laws. Wait staff are not usually included in the normal minimum wage calculation, their tips count toward their minimum wage. The restaurants aren't classifying them as anything other than wait staff, and they aren't doing anything illegal or questionable. In the US it's assumed waiters work for tips. The hourly wage they get covers taxes if they're lucky, usually a couple bucks an hour.

You seem like you tip fairly but there are definitely times when the system you originally described would not result in a reasonable tip.

 

That's true in principle, but the practice of not paying waiters or waitresses in restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and similar continues virtually unabated. Don't believe me? Ask at various restaurants, especially the smaller ones. I have since my wife recently worked in such a position. Instead, many such personnel still work solely for tips, without wages, taxes, social security contributions, and so on. Once again, that's accomplished by the employers listing them as independant (self-employed) contractors to evade the wage and tax laws.

 

To all those who don't tip or believe in tipping shit. I can tell you've never done CS in your life. That or you're extremely bad at it or a supervisor in said role.

 

^This.

 

I believe it happens, even frequently. I have a number of friends who are waiters and they've all worked for places that pay $2.00-$2.50/hour and of course they never get a paycheck, it goes to taxes. So there are places out there that do what they should. Also, you take the job knowing how you'll be classed- employee, contractor, etc. No one is conscripted to work in those places.

I'd be happy if waiters simply made a regular wage and I wasn't supposed to tip unless the service was truly outstanding. Makes more sense to me; I don't tip cashiers for ringing up my purchases, no one tips me at my job. But... *shrug* I don't run the world. Yet.

 

In restaurants and such I usually start at 20% then go up from there. The fact that someone is actually willing to bring me stuff so I can sit on my ass instead of getting it myself is, to me, deserving of my acknowledgement. In the global picture of things, I know that we're spoiled in the US, but that doesn't mean we should expect other humans to do our bidding just because "it's their job".

Let's also not forget that wait staff aren't the only people who do things that make our lives a hell of a lot more comfortable. I also tip my mail carrier at New Years, the welder up the road who did a great job on my trailer, the mech at the shop who delayed his other jobs and swapped my coilover springs on a walk-in, my UPS driver who brings me shit for my truck, slip the garbage man a $20 when he's sweating his balls off in 100+ heat in July smelling my trash, etc. Most of these are folks who do earn a decent hourly wage, but that doesn't mean I should just expect them to give me good service because of it. We have the easiest way of life that any humans throughout history have ever experienced and we damn sure ought to realize that, in large part, it's because others are willing to 'serve' us.

OP, as to your question, your tip was fair and your buddy's a tight-ass.

 

I usually sit right around 20%. If the service was shit, it drops to around 15%, and I donʻt go back. Iʻve done 100%+ a few times at places that we go to frequently, on smaller, dessert only runs or something. Especially the places that we go to often, a nicer tip brings perks and freebies.

And like Bobbb ^^^, I tip most everybody that does services for me throughout the year, usually around Christmas time.

Used to work at a gas station. Anybody ever tip the guy that puts gas in your car? Hardly anybody ever does. Never expected it while I was working for minimum wage, but sure did appreciate it. $40-$60 bucks of gas, oil, tires, windows, the whole "full service" thing. Get a buck (what is that, like 2%), buy a soda, sweet! Bet your ass that we knew the driver and the car. Take care of us, we do what we can for you.

I look at it this way, doesnʻt matter what the job, I show appreciation to the people that make my life easier.

OP, your tip was normal in my book, your friend...Iʻd have dropped extra if I was with him just so I wouldnʻt be shame the next time I stepped foot in the place. Aloha!

 

Right. And, with the abundant tipping you advocate, most soon wouldn't have a dime left in their pockets. None provide services for free, so we're already well paying for the services provided. The restaurant industry, on the other hand, is simply keeping that for themselves instead of paying employees properly like nearly every other business. Why would you go along with that, Bob?

 

The guy that puts gas in my car is... oh wait, I put gas in my own car. LOL I have never even seen a full-service station, let alone stopped at one.

 

Well, I don't know where you got that I said you (or anyone) should go broke by tipping people who provide services to you personally, but just gave my opinions on how I see life. I'm saying that each and every one of us are the recipients of other's labor and I appreciate that fact and choose to recognize other's addition to my comfort. Yes, I've already paid their employer to have them provide for me, but that has nothing to do with the individuals that are actually doing the providing.

As to your restaurant industry comments, you've lost me completely. I never said that I support our society's system that says it's okay to underpay foodservice workers. As to why I would give a waitress/waiter 20% or more tip is in recognition of that very fact.

 

20% mandatory. $5 a person is ridiculous, that doesnt make sense. min wage laws only state that if their declared earnings dont reach the state min, the employer has to cover the difference. yeah true, in japan and cali , tipping is different, the server makes a better wage per hour. here on the east coast in my area, the server makes 2.35 / hour. so you can probably take your set $5 / person and keep it for yourself because obviously you need it more than the person "waiting" on you or "taking care of you". if you cant afford (or understand why ) to leave a decent tip, you definitely shouldnt be going out to a full service restaurant...... Take yourself and the wife to an in-and-out or a fucking taco bell.... you dont have to tip there by any means.

this is why everyone who ever has the desire to go out to eat should work in a restaurant at least once in their lives.

oh yeah.....if your standing at the bar.... $1 a drink. if you cant afford it, go to the liquor store.

This topic makes my blood boil.

 

I'm just impressed you made it out of Ruth's Chris with only a $115 tab

 

I always tip about 20%... I've tipped 50% before without blinking an eye. No biggie to me--most servers do an outstanding job in my opinion.

But I will call out a waiter/waitress for shitty service and I've gotten one fired on the spot for being not only lazy but rude. Just because someone is a server and is having a bad day does not mean they get a pass from me for crappy customer service. I expect great customer service every time.

 

I thought the same thing. What's that? Two drink and a couple appetizers, maybe one dessert?

 

Well based on most of the responses I'll be awaiting my tips as I get paid to do my job which gets the US natural gas and fuel. I've been doing this or nearly this job for about 12 yrs. So if you use fuel or natural gas I'll be waiting. Oh and I think I do an above average job so at least 15% would be ok with me. My monthly pay varies so if you need specifics PM me. Thanks.

No but honestly I think most people tip when the service is good, but I do expect good service whenever I go eat out because it is indeed "their job" to serve me, its what they get paid for no matter how poorly the pay is. I didn't hire on to that job and I'm not their employer. The prices at a fast food restaurant and a dine in restaurant is priced accordingly to accommodate for the employees pay, if the business owners feel the employees aren't worth more then so be it. I'm very nice and patient but if service is poor then my tip to you is get another job. I've walked in your shoes and its not difficult.

 

I'm guessing no alcohol, just dinner for 2.

We've actually got Restaurant Week here and the really nice steak houses have a pre-fixed menu and it's $35/person for a great 3 course meal. If you have it in your area, it's a great way to experience the great food at normally very expensive restaurants at a reasonable price. Normally, the types of places that participate would run you at or over $75+/person. As long as the staff still gives the same service, I'll tip more in that situation because normally the server would make a lot more.

 

This is what sometimes pisses me off about our society when I think about it... People have come to "expect" a tip... In many countries it's not customary.... What's really ignorant to me is that the average tip rate keeps going up right with inflation, as well as the menu prices. Average used to be 10-15%, now it's 15-20%.... My wife and I enjoy eating out regularly, but I base the tip on the level of service as many have mentioned. After all, it's technically called GRATUITY. And for the places that automatically add it in, that's all they get, nothing more, because they aren't leaving me with the option. We ate at The Tobacco Company last night, a well known and respected restaurant in Richmond, VA... The bill came out to $106 and I left a $25 tip, we were there for just over an hour and had desert with our meal. The service was above par, with the waitress checking on us every 10-15 minutes kindly asking if everything was acceptable and if we needed anything, THAT is the kind of service that DESERVES a tip... It's not, and should not be made or thought of as a God given right, it's a reward... The business gives the employee the paycheck, not the patron. I just find it funny, because something so simple is a great example of how jacked up and spoiled our country is.