News:

"Wings and a Prayer [L-E]"
Congratulations OfferedToEros & Random for completing your RP!

Main Menu

Tipping Etiquette

Started by Fae Brin, June 25, 2011, 12:51:37 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Craz

I tend to follow a "double the tax" rule for tipping, in most cases. Granted, I don't go out very often, and when I do it's to cheapo-ish places, but hey, I'm very picky, and I know how stressful life is in general, so I tip something like 18-20%, even at Denny's.

On the contrary, though, I am a wrathful person when people are assholes. I've been known to leave tips for the people who clean our table and skip the waiter, if the waiter was rude or ignoring our table. Though, I haven't done this in over a year, because I tend to avoid places where I'll get bad service, and me and my buddies have tended to weed out the places we don't like.

sunbeams

I tip. Not at places like Starbucks or Subway, though (I'm usually broke). Our minimum wage is $8.50 in Oregon, even for waiters and busboys and the like. But, at normal, every day restaurants, I'll tip 20-30 percent. Hell, even 20-30 percent at fine dining restaurants ($100+ for two people).

meikle

#102
Quote from: dana eleanor on July 31, 2011, 07:01:57 PM
I tip servers anything between $5-10, depending on if they were nice and had a smile on their faces, because I have had some bad servers who had fake smiles and they were having bad days, so I only tipped them $5.

If I can tell that a server is having a bad day, that's usually a good reason to tip more.

When I go out to eat, 20% is my baseline, and it's hard for a server to get less than that out of me (I think the last time I tipped less, the restaurant was empty except for me and my friend, and our waitress never returned to us after delivering our meal, except to give us our check -- almost fifteen minutes after we asked for it.)

I think the best tip I ever left was like 200% (granted, it was a small bill, like $10 and a $20 tip), because our waitress was putting up with some asshole who kept yelling at her (and said something like "WHY IS THE SERVICE SO BAD?  IS IT BECAUSE YOU KNOW I DON'T TIP?"  Also, it was 2 in the morning, and he was complaining that his pie wasn't made fresh.) 

I did got to the Wisconsin Dells, though, and everyone wants a tip.  You'll go to a candy store and there'll be a tip jar for the cashier.  That kind of drove me crazy.
Kiss your lover with that filthy mouth, you fuckin' monster.

O and O and Discord
A and A

dana eleanor

I do tip at the sushi place I go to because it's always good every single time I go. Plus, I don't go there too often, so it's always a treat to go.

RubySlippers

There is a very simple and legal solution to this used in some countries why not just tack on every bill a service charge of 18-20%. I cannot refuse to pay that in many states and its not an uncommon practice in other nations especially in Asia. Then its up to the customer to decide if they care to go to eat out or not.

Seriously why not its pretty much forced on me by what responses are on youtube to bad tippers as they put it the ones that refuse to tip or tip an "unacceptable amount" which seems to be 18-20% so why not cut out the pretense?

If its not a service charge I'm more than happy to tip what I think is fair and by my experience 7-10% for good service is the global norm in civilized nations is modest so I tip accordingly if the servers don't like it then its to bad.

I'm a Busker I don't even get a wage, or taxes paid out of small check and only get spare change what makes servers so special. I make bad money or good money its the lot of my profession and has been for thousands of years of Buskers. Pauper or prince we survive or starve on gratutities the passing people pay us. I suggest servers have a choice take your chances or fight for better wages as a base an option I don't have.

Thats all I have to say.


Saerrael

I'd like to thank people who posted here. I never really understood why it was such a big deal to tip in the USA, but now (very clearly) get the point. It's not a very common thing to do in the Netherlands. We have a very strong minimum wage and even waiters nearly always earn above it due to the type of work waiting is. Tipping here is usually only done in the more expensive restaurants, and.. more or less to show off how much money you can spend, more than to provide (additional) income. Tipping jars are not uncommon, but no one thinks twice if you don't tip, here.

Thank you for the information! Though I do not plan to visit the USA any time soon, I'll be sure to tip where appropriate if I ever do.

Will

Quote from: RubySlippers on August 03, 2011, 09:07:56 PM

Several people have explained why fighting through normal means to get a better wage isn't really an option, and yet you keep harping on that point.  Sure, give up your job and your livelihood, no matter how meager, in hopes of getting more!  Yeah, that makes sense.

Also, it's been pointed out that making tips mandatory or simply raising prices cuts out the servers' incentive to do a good job for you.

You're kind of just repeating yourself.
If you can heal the symptoms, but not affect the cause
It's like trying to heal a gunshot wound with gauze

One day, I will find the right words, and they will be simple.
- Jack Kerouac

TheGlyphstone

Quote from: Saerra on August 03, 2011, 10:04:25 PM
I'd like to thank people who posted here. I never really understood why it was such a big deal to tip in the USA, but now (very clearly) get the point. It's not a very common thing to do in the Netherlands. We have a very strong minimum wage and even waiters nearly always earn above it due to the type of work waiting is. Tipping here is usually only done in the more expensive restaurants, and.. more or less to show off how much money you can spend, more than to provide (additional) income. Tipping jars are not uncommon, but no one thinks twice if you don't tip, here.

Thank you for the information! Though I do not plan to visit the USA any time soon, I'll be sure to tip where appropriate if I ever do.

Don't they offer university courses in restaurant staffing in Europe? I understand it's a well-respected and well-paid profession there, rather than the minimum-wage work-your-way-through-college crap job it is here.

Saerrael

They do, yes, but there are also waiting jobs that do not require you to have certain papers. Those are often popular with students. These jobs do pay less, of course, but still often above minimum wage. The staffing jobs you need papers for pay a lot over minimum wage (obviously).

Inkidu

I was taught to tip ten percent.. I usually do this for every service. I just don't carry a lot of cash on me, and if I put it on a card the management usually takes it outright or a huge chunk of it anyway. I mean waiters are given a wage with what they should make on average a week in tips so I feel for them. It's just good manners.
If you're searching the lines for a point, well you've probably missed it; there was never anything there in the first place.

Cecilia

#110
For the first time in a very long time, I experienced bad service on Friday night.  Thursday, I went to this Italian place near the conference I was attending and had a terrific experience.  Then, I found some friends on Friday and we went back to the same place because I was so impressed.  We were in a different section than I was the previous night, with a different waiter.  He was slow to bring out the drinks, even though we were clearly in a celebratory mood, and then he didn't tell us the specials on the fresh sheet, took our orders without even prompting us for salads or starters.  He didn't smile, and we had to ask him to repeat himself several times because he spoke softly.  The table next to us got their salads, ate them and got their entrees before ours came--and they were seated after we had been served our drinks.  The night before, my salad was in front of me in five minutes.  I flagged down our guy as he served the table next to us their meals and he looked sort of confused but ran off instead of coming over.  One of my friends said "He forgot to put in our order....has to be it."  he came back over and said,"yours will be right up." and ran away before checking our rather enough glasses or anything.   This is at least 45 minutes....he did come out moments later with our food--except one of the orders was totally wrong--Mussels, not tagliatelle....really wrong.  The food was delicious once we got it, but two of us were halfway done before the correct dish came out. 

The bill came, and it was for full price.  He didn't even comp my friend a glass of wine.  When it came time to tip, we all three had the same response...he gets a bad tip.  So we went with 10%.   Which was still a tip, but none of us felt right leaving nothing.  The waiter I had the previous night came over to collect the check and I said to him,"I wish you'd been our waiter tonight..." he asked what happened, apologized profusely and explained that the other guy was on his second night and offered us free tiramisu.   

Carver

I usually tip 20% if the service is good. That usually goes for anything that might require a tip. If the service is awful, well. That depends.

I've worked in customer service before though, so I have a good idea of what customers can be like. :)
Yarr!

MissMoonchild

We always over tip but it's because I worked as a waitress for several years in a crap diner where old people would order a cup of coffee, expect you to keep it topped off for hours, then tip you 32 cents. (change after paying for the cup of coffee with a dollar)

One thing that my husband and I always do is if the service is especially good, like the waiter or waitress was really exceptional, we speak with the manager about it. Too many people are quick to bitch to a manager about bad service but not nearly enough people will say something if they get really good service. This has resulted in waiters and waitresses wondering why (with hurt looks on their faces) we're talking to their manager after giving us great service. I'm sure they were thrilled when they found out after we left. hehe

RubySlippers

I decided to keep my tipping simple for a service with a fee where tipping is expected or restaurant checks (based on the menue price of items if I use a coupon or discount, not including taxes) a flat to the penny 8% which is the global average including the Canada and USA at 15%. For all other services not with a fee or check 50 Cents (bathroom attendants, maids, bellhops or whatever).

There nice and simple if my check for food is $5.99 I leave a fair 48 Cents including pennies.

I figure any other money for their work should be in the fee or covered by their employer that is fair since I'm only paying a gratuity for the service and I think that is worth 8%. But if I get a drink from the bar I get that myself tipping 8% for the drink seperately.

Will

Maybe you're onto something.  Maybe we should calculate the global average for total annual income and just pay that to everyone.  Then we wouldn't have internet, and we wouldn't have this argument to make.  Problem solved.
If you can heal the symptoms, but not affect the cause
It's like trying to heal a gunshot wound with gauze

One day, I will find the right words, and they will be simple.
- Jack Kerouac

TheGlyphstone

Quote from: Will on August 22, 2011, 11:37:36 AM
Maybe you're onto something.  Maybe we should calculate the global average for total annual income and just pay that to everyone.  Then we wouldn't have internet, and we wouldn't have this argument to make.  Problem solved.

Good idea. Let's calculate the global average calorie intake as well and limit everyone to eating that much per day. Then we'll all be heavily malnutritioned or dead, and having internet or not is irrelevant.

Beguile's Mistress

If you don't tip because you can't afford the money I hope your situation improves.

If you refuse to tip because you don't want to spend the money I hope you don't expect a 'thank you' or appreciation of any kind for doing your job.  After all, you get a pay check and appreciation or any other type of considration from your employer is not warranted. 

I'm sure that if they do say thank you or show appreciation you turn right around and tell them to shove it and put the thanks in your paycheck.  Right?  You remind them that you work for them for money and not appreciation.  Right? 

Torch

Quote from: RubySlippers on August 21, 2011, 10:17:14 PM
But if I get a drink from the bar I get that myself tipping 8% for the drink seperately.

Tipping a bartender anything less than $1 per round is just plain rude. I've seen bartenders flip a quarter back at the customer (which is what your measly 8% tip would be on a $3.00 beer).

If you are that poor, buy a six pack and drink it at home. Seriously. If you cannot treat servers with respect, don't eat out.
"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle, when the sun comes up, you'd better be running."  Sir Roger Bannister


Erotic is using a feather. Kinky is using the whole chicken.

On's and Off's

Gadifriald

#118
Me, I live in the capital of tipping here in Las Vegas and thought I'd add a few words to the discussion. There is definitely an etiquette to tipping and the main thrust of that etiquette is that tipping is done to show appreciation to someone who provides you a service! Those tipping jars at the Starbucks counter are ridiculous but slipping your coin change into one after paying for your coffee is a nice thing to do. However you should ALWAYS tip a cocktail waitress/server and your waiter/waitress when you have table service at a restaurant!
If say you're at a casino or a show or a club where the cocktail servers make the rounds always tip at least a dollar a drink and in Vegas where the drinks are free when you gamble the etiquette is the drink is free but the server gets a dollar per drink if you're in a group or two dollars if you're by yourself...those ladies are on their feet constantly after all! Table service tipping really isn't about complex mathematical formulas but about being fair and generous and the more a server busts their butt and the friendlier they are the more generous you should be. Me I never leave less than $3 for a meal and give $5 or more if the server was friendly and attentive and fast and of course as the bill goes higher in dollar terms so does the tip!
Bar servers are another category all their own and it's all about how long you're there and what you order/they gotta bring to you. If you have a couple of drinks a couple of bucks is fine but if your server has to bring you both food and drinks and serves you for hours on end because you're in a place all night $5 or $10 when you settle the bill will be much appreciated! Bartenders are another category and I go with the keep the change method if paying by the round (drinks are $8.75 you give em $10.00 and say keep the change) and if running a tab I'll use the same method and usually toss in a couple extra bucks as well.
I won't go into the whole valets and bellhops and room service and dealers and delivery driver tipping etiquette but the whole thing with tipping is to be fair and generous and have some class when out on the town or when having food delivered to your room or home!
Edit to add a quick note: Tips should also generally be given in cash even if you pay with a credit card, debit card or check!
I am a mighty ravisher of captive damsels and princesses!

meikle

There is something weird about someone who admits to living by the generosity of others fighting so hard against the idea of being generous to others.
Kiss your lover with that filthy mouth, you fuckin' monster.

O and O and Discord
A and A

Silverfyre

Quote from: meikle on August 23, 2011, 01:50:04 PM
There is something weird about someone who admits to living by the generosity of others fighting so hard against the idea of being generous to others.

+1

Weird and almost ironic.


TheGlyphstone

Not unthinkable though - I know someone who was homeless once who flatly refuses to give any homeless/street person so much as a penny, on the grounds that because he was able to use the support system to lift himself out of poverty without taking handouts, so can they. I can follow the logic train, even if I can't condone it in any way.

didoanna

I always try and tip after a meal.  I tend to use the same restaurants anyway so the staff get to know you and you get to know the staff.

Also, I tend to drop off a couple of boxes of chocolates for the staff at Christmas and at Easter so hopefully they know that I appreciate them.

Oreo

Quote from: didoanna on August 23, 2011, 09:11:16 PM
I always try and tip after a meal.  I tend to use the same restaurants anyway so the staff get to know you and you get to know the staff.

Also, I tend to drop off a couple of boxes of chocolates for the staff at Christmas and at Easter so hopefully they know that I appreciate them.
That gesture would have gone a long way with me back in the day. It's true about returning customers too, there was a closer feel and familiarity.

She led me to safety in a forest of green, and showed my stale eyes some sights never seen.
She spins magic and moonlight in her meadows and streams, and seeks deep inside me,
and touches my dreams. - Harry Chapin

Chelemar

When I was a waitress, about 20 years ago, min. wage for waitresses was $2.01 per hour.  My bosses believed that everyone would eat regardless, so they also took a quarter an hour for food.  We could eat whatever we wanted, except for steak. 

So, I made $1.76 cents an hour.  Plus tips.  Now, some days were good and in an 8 hour shift I could make $50.00.  But, I also had bad days where there was little traffic, and would make $5.00. for the whole day.  The good days had to carry the bad so that it would even out to a minimum wage of around $4.00 an hour.

I spoke with a waitress about a week ago.  Minimum wage for waitresses (tipped employees) is now $2.83 an hour.  While Minimum wage for all other employees is $7.25 an hour.  From $2.01 to $2.83.  An $.83 cent raise.  And there are those who begrudge a tip. 

If the food is bad, it's not the server's fault.  It's the cook's.  Do tell the server so that he/she might take the food back to the kitchen, but judge the server on his or her promptness, attention, and service to you.  The food is the responsibility of the kitchen.  The cook makes at least minimum wage, and most likely more.

Thanks for reading. :)