Why I tip, and why I think it is important

[The Genealogist]

I remember being very small and wondering why there was money on tables at restaurants. My elders instructed that people left the money on the table to thank their server for being attentive and friendly. Fast forward a few years, and going to eat with my maternal grandmother. She was a working class lady, worked into her 80s even as a babysitter. She did NOT leave money on the table. She always said "they should just pay these people more." Once I got my own money, I'd sneak back and put money on the table after we ate, so as not to cause a scene with her.

Today, I tip 20% automatically. Servers and others are underpaid, and tips are often all that stand between them and total poverty. Many in the service industry are college kids trying to make it through a degree, single parents trying to keep their heads above water, and even older adults working part time trying to make it through. Tipping, though, isn't just about the money. When I tip, I want to send the message that "I know you work hard for a living. You deserve a better wage, but for the time being, I have your back a little bit."

[Squinch]

1. I'm kind of an extravagant tipper. I like doing it. When you think of it, it's a pretty cheap

way to be generous. Also, I tend to go to the same round of restaurants, so these are the people who are feeding me. I want to be nice to them.

[MontanaMama]

2. I tip 20% too.

I worked as a server in restaurants and bartended when I was in college...it’s hard work and tips kept me in gas for my car and books for school and my head above water.

[The Genealogist]

6. People like you are exactly why I tip

I know what it is like to work your way through college. On top of serious time studying, you have to make money to live. I think a lot of people think college attendees are all busy having parties and otherwise just screwing around. Truth is, it was (and is) for many of us a time of hard work. That deserves recognition.

[Miles Archer]

3. I regularly tip 20% unless the server is flat-out rude and / or unattentive

I tend to be polite to everyone, so I have a lower tolerance level for rudeness in return for that politeness. Those occasions are rare, but if they happen, I don't leave a 20% tip.

My mom was a waitress at multiple restaurants. She was working in a donut shop and once my dad got a "thing" for her he was in there daily for coffee and donuts. That's where he "wooed" her. Maria Muldaur released an album called "Waitress In A Donut Shop." It had a special meaning to me, as you might imagine.

[The Genealogist]

9. I like that story

It does sound like what started your Mom and Dad together should be a song!

[FirstLight]

4. Exactly!!!!

I have never worked in food service, but I have worked retail (no tips, dammitt). I appreciate the struggle each of us goes through, especially those who work serving others. My daughter is just starting out and worked a few restaurants locally. We live in a resort town with seasonal tourists... seems like some people often don't tip, even don't give a crap you are bussing their tables when they could do it themselves. She works in a combination counter/restaurant...so she really does the work of at least two different types of server. Her manager is a stuck-up 20-something who treats all the younger workers like his personal servants.
She tells me about the family that drops over $150 on food, but doesn't tip a dime. Then there are foreigners that are super generous, and recognize her hard work (usually southeast asian, Indian, and slavic) then there's the eEropeans who don't *live* in a tipping economy...but some of then KNOW enough about the US to tip well.

[The Genealogist]

8. I had a conversation about this on Sunday

I went to a political brunch for a woman running for city council. Part of her income comes from being an Uber driver, and delivering food. She told me she only does food delivery when it is REALLY slow. It costs more to deliver food than transport people. She spoke of delivering large orders of expensive food to gated communities, and getting no tip at all. The best tippers are working class folks who know what the grind is like.

[Fresh_Start]

5. I tip 20% automatically, more if the server was exceptionally good

but I'd far rather that the prices were raised instead of tips required.
That would far better for the servers and the economy.

[The Genealogist]

7. I agree, totally

My grandmother was right about that, too. People in service jobs SHOULD be paid more. I disagreed with her approach to it, vehemently.

[Hoyt]

10. Having worked for tips, it's automatic.

[MrScorpio]

11. 20% is easy to calculate, that's what I usually tip

[The Genealogist]

13. Very true. I am no genius. I can figure it out in my head and I'd bet most people can too

If a person can't figure it out that way, smart phones can in a jif.

[justhanginon]

12. I'm a 20%er also. It's damn hard work and I appreciate

a good server. I always tip in cash so there is no doubt where it goes. Also, when I have a really good waiter or waitress I always make it a point to tell the manager about their excellent service.

[The Genealogist]

14. I had a particularly excellent server recently

I was with a large group, and our server was efficient, friendly, and completely undaunted by such a large group. In addition to a generous tip, when I submitted a review for the restaurant, I also praised that great server.

[Sherman A1]

15. My minimum tip is $5.00

And 20% when the bill goes above $25.00. I will go to a higher percentage based upon my coffee cup ☕️. If it stays full, I am more generous. The wait staff can’t really control much of what happens in the restaurant, but they can control the coffee. Keep my cup full and I will take care of them.

[Eko]

16. Same here.

I give a fiver even if the bill is only $8.

[mokawanis]

17. I got a tattoo last week and gave the guy a 50% tip

he was pretty happy about that. As for servers my usual tip is 25%.

[rurallib]

18. So many years ago we went to a Mike Huckabee appearance

at a little breakfast and lunch diner. The diner was closed for the event. Everybody got a small dish of ice cream.

When the event was done everybody but us left quickly. We were in no hurry and chatted with the owner a bit. As we left she picked up our dishes and the tip I left. She said "Hey, are you guys Democrats?" I said "yeah. Why?" She said "Well you're the only ones that left a tip."

One of my long term girl friends was a waitress and the tips really, really helped us out. So I try to be quite generous.

[mitch96]

19. Bless you people that tip well...

My Mom was a waitress for ever.. A single Mom raising a kid in the 50's.. The "salary" she made was never enough and some months the money was not there to cover everything.
Tips saved our lives. Tips got us thru the lean months.. She would always smile and give good service even if the customer was a prick. She said she would call them every name in the book (and she knew them all) when her back was to them and turn around with a smile
Always going for the tip... And yes I tip well.. What goes around comes around... Karma!!
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