Are you a Tipper?

[UrbScotty]

[MissMarple]

1. It's a piece of cake to figure a 20% tip.

I do get confused about the wine, though. :D

[private_ryan]

60. not hard at all

tip on everything. If you can afford the wine, you can afford the tip too :)

[Kellanved]

2. I guess the European 10% count as "tiny bit"

But of course, I give them (almost) every time.

No wonder that American tourists are so popular (and Europeans in the US so unpopular).

[ThoughtCriminal]

3. I tip generously

I can afford it and it helps make up for the deadbeats.
Unless the the treatment is rude, then I cut back.

[southerngirlwriter]

4. I have not-tipped three times in my life

and every time they deliberately, obviously, and purposefully did something to royally piss me off.

The rest of the time, I tip a hell of a lot. The last time I ate out was at Ryan's. The bill was $7.79 and I left a $5 bill for a tip.

[elperromagico]

5. It's not unsual for me to tip 50%.

Sometimes I just don't feel like waiting for change, so I say, "Keep the change" and run screaming from the room.

[sasquatch]

6. I don't tip lousy servers though

I just pay the bill and leave.

[Rowdyboy]

7. 20% for GOOD service (and it usually is)

Have gone as high as 25% in exceptional situation (damn was that young guy was cute and he made sure our drinks were strong!)

[YellowRubberDuckie]

8. If our service was good, if our glasses are kept filled, we tip a lot...

I've even left a twenty to some people who were outstanding. Sometimes 13 bucks on a 23 dollar bill. I'm not cheap...I'm going to ask a little of my server, but they will be well compensated...I don't think getting extra napkins and refills are that hard. I'll even tell the server up front that my bf drinks a lot and will require several refills. And we leave good tips...I understand how much it sucks, I used to be there.
Duckie

[ArkDem]

9. No but she is

[dae]

10. Always tip 15 to 20% for good service.

[Whitacre D_WI]

11. 15% is what you get for sleepwalking through your job.

20% is for going above and beyond.

I've gone to 25% on a handful of exceptional occasions.



I NEVER don't tip at all. No matter how bad the service. If I get bad service, I want someone to KNOW about it.

I'm not talking about human mistakes; I'm talking rude, uncivil behavior. In such cases, I will leave 2 pennies (my two cents) if I have them; otherwise, just a wee bit of small change.

If I charge it, sometimes I'll write "try treating your customers better" on the "tip" line.

[Padraig18]

12. 20% minimum here.

That's for "OK" service. I tip more for "good" service, and more still for "excellent" service.

I've waited tables, so I know how important tips are.

[UrbScotty]

13. We have a problem: TWO TIPPER GORES!

Create your own conspiracy theory.

[OhioStateProgressive]

14. I tip regardless

The fact of the matter is, that no matter how good the service, when you eat at a restaurant or get drunk at the bar, you are having a good time at the expense of those who work there.

[Robb]

16. Good point.

I feel sorry for people who have so little control in the rest of their life, that they feel better about themselves by "teaching someone a lesson" and holding back the scrap change that is that person's livelihood. "I ran out of ranch dressing, so no food for you tomorrow." :eyes:

[Whitacre D_WI]

18. To be clear...

...I do NOT tip poorly just because I "ran out of ranch dressing."

I tip poorly only when I am TREATED poorly. NOBODY should be rewarded for being a prick.

[OhioStateProgressive]

19. most servers are pricks because the job sucks

they tend to make about 2.25 an hour...if they are female they have to put up with every old man thinking they are going home with him...if they are male they know straight off the bat they won't make as much as females in tips because they don't have round asses and tits to show off...it's a stacked business

i agree that bad behavior shouldn't be rewarded...but I know from experience that many servers feel like they are in a corner, and it does reflect in their work

[muriel_volestrangler]

22. Question (from a non-American)

is that rate because the employers are breaking the law? Or doesn't the minimum wage apply to waiters etc.?

[Robb]

25. Many states

have a second, lower minimum wage for any employee who receives tips.

[NicoleM]

23. No excuse.

I've worked for tips and I've worked for a regular hourly wage in customer service. There is NO EXCUSE for treating your customers badly. If you can't treat your customers well, you need to get out of customer service.

[Pithlet]

24. If there were plenty of jobs around

for everyone, then I'd agree with you. But, particularly lower-end restaurants, those people aren't there because they enjoy serving customers. They're there because they have mouths to feed. The restaurants should pay them a living wage.

[NicoleM]

26. The restaurants *should*

pay them a living wage. But if someone is paying you to do a job, you do the job. And if you're in customer service, the job is to take care of the customers. You don't have to bend over backwards for them, but there is no excuse for being a "prick," to use the word from the earlier post. I have worked at sucky jobs for next to no money. I know it's no fun.

[Pithlet]

27. But they aren't.

They should get paid for doing their job, but the restaurants won't do it because they rely on the public to do so. That is a racket, if you ask me. I just must have much better luck, because I've eaten out many times in my life. Until I had kids, I ate out probably on average 1 to 2 times a week, maybe more. I just haven't encountered too many times where I thought the service was horrible. Almost always, I got at at least good service, and they always worked their tails off. This was at all levels. When I encountered bad service, I just shrugged it off. The tip I would have withheld was nothing to me, but probably matters a whole lot more to them considering that is their paycheck. My boss never withheld money from mine when I turned in a report late.

I just thank whomever's in charge that I've never had a job like that.

[NicoleM]

29. I know.

The first non-babysitting job I ever had was for tips. My base wage was $1.85. This was in 1992, when the minimum wage for non-tipped jobs was $5.25. It was and is a total rip-off for the people who work for tips.

In the other thread, I mentioned the only two times I haven't tipped were for almost total non-service. Normally I tip 20%.

I still think that if you're getting paid to do a job, you do the job. Even if the job sucks, and even if you're not getting paid what you should be getting paid.

[Pithlet]

32. I agree.

You should do the job you're paid to. I guess where we disagree is how that should be enforced.

If you ask me, leaving it up to the general public, who can decide if and how much, regardless of what the waitperson actually does,is wrong. But, that is how it is. It's arbitrary. You have the people like me who just appreciate the fact that I'm being waited on and not staying at home, and then you have those who think that their precious tip is something that should be lorded over the poor waitstaff because they work hard for their money, dammit, and the waitress is going to work for her money by God! I just hope that my generous tipping balances things out for some.

I'm just glad that I got paid even when I was having a bad day. I got paid even when I made mistakes. I'm glad that I'm not the one schlepping the tables. I'm going to give them their paycheck.

[OhioStateProgressive]

28. accepting what "is" instead of what "should" be

is a sign of liking how it is and not liking how it should be

[NicoleM]

30. You're going to have to

help me out a little bit. What about my post are you responding or objecting to?

[OhioStateProgressive]

33. here

you say 'the restaurants should pay, but they don't' and then insist that this is to be accepted...whereas I say if you eat at a sit down restaurant it is your obligation to pay the gratuity

that is the objection

[Whitacre D_WI]

54. My last comment on this one...

Of course, how many times do I say that? ;)


If you give a full gratuity to someone who has clearly not fulfilled the obligations of his or her job, you are INSULTING the people who are busting their asses trying to do the best they can.

Those who give the standard, expected level of service should get 15-20%. Those who truly bust their humps should get a LOT more. It is degrading to the 99% of servers who work hard to be lumped in to the same category with the 1% who do not even try.

[OhioStateProgressive]

55. i do agree

but I don't agree with stiffing any server out of a tip

if servers made the wages bartenders do, I would agree...but they just don't

[Robb]

20. Well, OK.

If you see someone being able to feed their kids or whatever a "reward", sure. I guess I'm not willing to sit judgement so harshly in that situation. :shrug:

[Whitacre D_WI]

38. Here's the thing.

If I treat my customers like shit, I get FIRED; and my boss would be RIGHT to fire me. If I am treated like shit by a restaurant server (and this is very rare, most do a wonderful job and are tipped accordingly), I am doing them a favor by giving a small tip.

Why? Because the alternative is for me to complain to the manager and get them FIRED.

I don't know about you, but I'd much rather lose a buck or two from the tip than lose my job entirely. Some of my customers are stupid, some of them are assholes, but you know what? I treat them all like human beings. That is all I ask.

You screw up my order? You're human, you still get a tip.

You move a bit too slowly for my taste? We're all of a different pace, you still get a tip.

You act in a manner that would get you kicked out of my house? Screw you -- you get stiffed.



Listen -- I understand how hard it is for many people to make ends meet, especially in food service (been there, done that). But people get paid for doing their jobs. If you don't do your job, you shouldn't get paid.

[MercutioATC]

42. Thanks, you explained it nicely.

[Pithlet]

50. If a person behaves that way consistently

enough to get thrown out of someone's house, then they're probably going to have a hard time keeping a job anywhere of any kind, let alone waiting tables. I've never had that kind of service in all the years I've been going to restaurants.

People who work are entitled to a livable wage. The whole "if you don't do your job, you shouldn't get paid" does not apply to wait staff the same way it does to other jobs. Other people depend on their employer to determine the job they're doing and how they get compensated. Wait staff depend on total strangers who made the choice to come in and get waited on.

[buddhamama]

15. 20% every time

i have only tipped less than 20% once, the service was non-existent.

[DrZhivago]

17. Itd be very interesting to ask this question at freeper HQ

"15% only if it was exceptional service" would be the common answer.

[TheMightyFavog]

44. Religous tract that looks like money

Would be another common one.

My ex was a waitress, and she observed that fundies generally tended to be the worst tippers. She got burned a couple of times by those fucking tracts. :grr:

[beyurslf]

21. being a waiter is hard work.

15-20 for adequate service. Excellent and outstanding service is worth more... plus getting the server's name and requesing their section the next time you are in.

I have worked in restaurants... and managers pay attention to people requesting servers. It is a sign they are good.

[MrSlayer]

31. I always tip but how much depends on the service.

A good waiter/waitress usually gets more than 20%.

[MercutioATC]

34. I start at 25% and work my way up...

30% is average for me...I've tipped over 50% for excellent service.

I've also tipped 25 cents for truly horrible service.

For me, it's a question of employment Darwinism. I want the good servers to get tipped well and continue being servers. I want the bad ones to make nothing and quit.

[OhioStateProgressive]

35. yeah, bad servers don't need to feed their children(nt)

[MercutioATC]

36. Heeheehee. I KNEW there'd be a reaction like that...

Sorry, but bad servers shouldn't be servers. If they want to feed their children, they should look for other work or work on being GOOD servers.

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MercutioATC]

39. I'll chalk it up to you having a bad day...

You're seriously saying that there's an excuse for not doing a good job and that people should be REWARDED for it?

Sorry, I don't see how that helps anybody.

[OhioStateProgressive]

40. well

I don't think I attacked you with my last post...but I apologize if I did

you know, I fired servers that did a bad job

at the same time, I also realized that they made 2.25 an hour...and without being able to change the pay structure, the only way for the servers to make an honest and fair living is for them to get a tip from every table they turn

[MercutioATC]

41. ...which they'd make if they did a good job...

Look, I'm not arguing the fact that they're underpaid. I AM, however, taking issue with the idea that they're entitled to a tip regardless of how good a job they do. I'm not defending people who just tip poorly, but if my server doesn't care enough about their job to provide decent service, why should I reward them?

As I said, I DO appreciate good service and I'm willing to tip quite well for it. People who don't care enough to try shouldn't be servers.

[OhioStateProgressive]

43. I have a fundemental disagreement

I believe at a sit down restaurant you are obligated to at least a 15% tip

i feel verys trongly about this, and in fact, responsible restaurant owners and managers make sure the waitresses have the authority to add this tip tot he bill..maybe not at a truckstop, but in a fine dining establishment

unless the server forgot to bring your food entirely...meaning if you eat it, you pay a tip for it

[MercutioATC]

46. Why? I'm already paying a premium for having it prepared and served.

I completely agree that servers should be paid more. However, isn't that the employer's responsibility? By your logic, I should tip any number of people in low-paying professions whether they do their job or not.

My point is that providing good service isn't something optional for a server. It's their JOB. They have a potential to supplement their low hourly wage with tips based on how well they do that job. This is something they're aware of when they accept the job.

I've known servers who made much more than minimum wage because they did their job well. I've seen servers who, if their performance was any gauge, weren't. Why should the ones who aren't willing to apply themselves recieve the same benefits as those who are?

[OhioStateProgressive]

47. no

"I completely agree that servers should be paid more. However, isn't that the employer's responsibility? By your logic, I should tip any number of people in low-paying professions whether they do their job or not.
"

it is understood in a sit down dining atmosphere that the customer pays part of the servers wage...that is why servers aren't paid minimum wage...if you make the decision to not tip, you have made the decision to have someone work for you for less than minimum wage

[MercutioATC]

48. Ahh, THAT'S the crux of our disagreement!

I certainly do NOT understand that it's my responsibility to supplemment the server's wage. I understand that a server is akin to a salesman that works on commission. If they do a good job, they make money. If they don't, they don't. Both the server and the commission-only salesman know this upon accepting the job.

Again, I'm very happy to tip well for good service. I simply refuse to encourage bad behavior.

[OhioStateProgressive]

49. then you don't understand sit down dining

because it is the customers responsibility to make up the difference in wages...this is why they don't make minimum wage in the first place...beacuse it is the customers responsibility to tip

[MercutioATC]

52. So I'm supposed to pay a real estate agent that DOESN'T sell my house?

I mean, they're doing work for me and only get paid upon successful completion of that work. If they don't succeed, they get nothing, not even $2.25 an hour.

Again, I do understand what you're saying, I just disagree. What I don't understand is why somebody would defend a worker who did a lousy job. If a server (or anybody, for that matter) can't do their job, they should be fired. Are you REALLY advocating the continued employment of incompetent (or lazy) workers?

[OhioStateProgressive]

53. all businesses are different and operate under different payout models

real estate is commission based

serving is wage and tip based

[MercutioATC]

56. Again, I'd argue that serving is a performance-based position.

The compensation is dependant on performance. I think that's understood by servers. Are there servers somewhere who take the job thinking that tips are a part of their wage that they'll recieve regardless of their performance?

[OhioStateProgressive]

57. um

many fine dining establishments automatically add 15% gratuity as part of your bill...so yes, it is to be paid no matter what

and yes, the compensation is tied to performance...you can always give more

[MercutioATC]

58. As was said by another poster in the other tipping thread....

We're just not going to agree.

Peace.

[Pithlet]

59. I think servers take the job

so they can earn a living. There are no set standards that all consumers have come to an exact consensus on what is considered good service. It is a very arbitrary system. As a waitress I could bust my hump and still get stiffed. I know, because it has happened to friends of mine who wait many times. If wait staff were paid a livable wage to begin with for showing up and working, then I'd agree with you. A lousy waiter/waitress is probably not going to be in the industry long, whether you tip them or not.

[Pithlet]

51. You aren't supplementing it.

You're PAYING it. Most other jobs depend on their boss or employer to compensate them, and decide on the job they're doing. Not on total strangers who made the choice to come in and get waited on. I said it in another post; working people deserve a livable wage.

A person would have to dump the food on my head and insult my mother to get stiffed by me. And if they're that bad, then they're probably not going to do very well holding down any job, let alone that one.

[private_ryan]

61. they do need to

that's why should work to be better servers or get another job. It's not my fault if they suck!

[solinvictus]

45. Good Service

I start out expecting to tip 20%, the rest is up to the server. If the service is superior, they can get more.

[Beaker]

62. no...i rub the whole thing.

not like it's any of your business.

[UrbScotty]

63. I bet 74% of you are lying.

Just kidding.