35 replies to this topic

[Oriole85]

Everything You Don’t Know About Tipping (Wait But Why)

 

I'm a firm believer in if you can't afford an extra 15-20%, don't go out to eat -- tipping is part of the deal. I never tip on carryout, I guess there's a point if you are doing a huge order. Part of the appeal to carryout for me is just paying for the food and eating in the comfort of my place without having to place extra costs.

[Pedro Cerrano]

20% for me. Unless the server is a dick. Even if service is bad/slow -- still 20%. Maybe it's their first day. Or maybe they're understaffed. Who knows.

[Chris B]

20% for me. Unless the server is a dick. Even if service is bad/slow -- still 20%. Maybe it's their first day. Or maybe they're understaffed. Who knows.

Yup. Though I am definitely not in that 35% of people who tip for restaurant carry-out. Definitely will for delivery, though I rarely get anything delivered.

[Oriole85]

20% for me. Unless the server is a dick. Even if service is bad/slow -- still 20%. Maybe it's their first day. Or maybe they're understaffed. Who knows.

Also, at most places, they pool the tips and have to tipout bussers, hosts, and other support staff. So you're really taking away from them as well. I will tip better for good service or someone who goes beyond what they have to do, so I guess in these cases those people are benefitting as well.

 

Yup. Though I am definitely not in that 35% of people who tip for restaurant carry-out. Definitely will for delivery, though I rarely get anything delivered.

I posted this article in another place and someone made a point that a dollar or two can go along way for the people working in terms of carry-out. Basically, it's a nice gesture, I doubt I'll change my philosophy here. Remember Drew Brees got criticized for his lack of tipping on carry-out, but if I had his kind of money, I'd be a lot more generous than he was. Delivery you should definitely tip.

 

Something I always make sure to do is tip on the pre-discounted amount and/or if you get something on the house, make sure the tip reflects what it would've been otherwise. I notice at some places, I don't get charged for a soda. When I pointed out this "error" to the bartender a few weeks ago, she told me it wasn't. I just gave her the amount it would've cost because I thought it was a nice gesture on her part.

 

A bit of a side-note, but the Groupon/Living Social deals are almost always a rip-off for this reason. You do $10 for $20, they make you spend $20 (which usually means you have to go over) including tax it usually gets to around $12-13 then add tip it's $15-16.  So you really end up saving $4-5 instead of the $10.

[BobPhelan]

20% and round up, 3 bucks for delivery.

[Dupin]

I usually tip 20% at restaurants, but I lament the concept.  Just charge what it's supposed to cost and take people out of the equation.  Far too many people I know are super cheap and it screws over people who actually need that money.

[Oriole85]

I usually tip 20% at restaurants, but I lament the concept.  Just charge what it's supposed to cost and take people out of the equation.  Far too many people I know are super cheap and it screws over people who actually need that money.

The downside to that is it gives the waiters/other support staff less incentive to give you good service.

 

Other countries do what you're describing -- some will take out tipping or add some kind of fee or make the standard less.

 

Not sure how long 20% has been considered for "average" service, I remember when it was 15%. 

[Dupin]

The downside to that is it gives the waiters/other support staff less incentive to give you good service.

 

Other countries do what you're describing -- some will take out tipping or add some kind of fee or make the standard less.

 

Not sure how long 20% has been considered for "average" service, I remember when it was 15%. 

 

It is 15%, I just try to make up for other people being assholes.  And the service incentive is rather overblown, if people were paid a fair wage and had less incentive to hate their job I don't think there'd be an issue.

[Oriole85]

It is 15%, I just try to make up for other people being assholes.  And the service incentive is rather overblown, if people were paid a fair wage and had less incentive to hate their job I don't think there'd be an issue.

I disagree, if you know you are making $10 no matter what, you have less incentive. I don't think people would get completely lazy and give awful service but I think they wouldn't care about pleasing their audience as much. It's not like there is a ton of mobility with waiters especially internally.

 

If people were paid a "fair wage" also, that would probably mean higher prices and/or other fees you don't currently see.

 

Let's not turn this into a minimum and/or fair wage debate, I know Chris doesn't want politics on this site and I'm trying to respect this.

[Dupin]

I'll just say if money was such a motivating factor so many waiters wouldn't be so terrible to meh and leave it at that.

[Oriole85]

I'll just say if money was such a motivating factor so many waiters wouldn't be so terrible to meh and leave it at that.

Money is always a motivating factor, especially in a commission-based job. I haven't had these same frequent terrible service experiences as you (or maybe I'm just easy to please).

 

But to your point, I think it would even be worse IF they had a set wage unless it was high enough that they wouldn't want to lose their job.

 

Many restaurants have ~20% gratuity for large parties. If every restaurant just(but you had the option to pay more) charged that regardless of size of your party, would that be OK?

[Mike in STL]

I'll just say if money was such a motivating factor so many waiters wouldn't be so terrible to meh and leave it at that.

Have you ever worked in a restaurant, for tips? You wouldnt find me slinging drinks or serving food for $10 an hour. I think anyone else who has taken home tips equaling about $20 and hour would tell you the same.

[SammyBirdland]

How do you guys tip at a buffet-style restaurant where you get your own food, such as Chinese restaurants or pizza buffets?   I usually leave $2 for the table.

[Il BuonO]

I got into this a while back on another board when Flacco jumped into my car. I was thankful that he gave me a $20 to but some others thought it was too cheap since he makes millions. It was a half hour ride to his hotel room in Beverly Hills so the $20 was about right. I get the point of the people who were put off though. At that level of wealth it's really nothing for me to throw someone $100.

As a chauffeur, we are dependent on tips of course but a gratuity is also figured into the bill. Many times, though, our company does discounted or flat rates so the extra cash does help. I can always tell I'm not getting a tip when the client says,"So, the gratuity is included, right?"

[Oriole85]

How do you guys tip at a buffet-style restaurant where you get your own food, such as Chinese restaurants or pizza buffets?   I usually leave $2 for the table.

If you're going with a large party, I'd probably tip a little more than normal. But I'd say this is where 15% or a relatively small dollar amount should suffice assuming you aren't getting lots of specially made drinks or other things requiring a lot of service.

[Dupin]

Have you ever worked in a restaurant, for tips? You wouldnt find me slinging drinks or serving food for $10 an hour. I think anyone else who has taken home tips equaling about $20 and hour would tell you the same.

That's an oversimplification of the argument and no one said that.

[Oriole85]

I got into this a while back on another board when Flacco jumped into my car. I was thankful that he gave me a $20 to but some others thought it was too cheap since he makes millions. It was a half hour ride to his hotel room in Beverly Hills so the $20 was about right. I get the point of the people who were put off though. At that level of wealth it's really nothing for me to throw someone $100.

As a chauffeur, we are dependent on tips of course but a gratuity is also figured into the bill. Many times, though, our company does discounted or flat rates so the extra cash does help. I can always tell I'm not getting a tip when the client says,"So, the gratuity is included, right?"

I don't think celebs should have to pay a ridiculous amount because it's chump change for them. However in case like Drew Brees, I don't think it's wrong to think he should give a decent amount even if it's just carryout.

[Mike in STL]

Have you ever worked in a restaurant, for tips? You wouldnt find me slinging drinks or serving food for $10 an hour. I think anyone else who has taken home tips equaling about $20 and hour would tell you the same.

That's an oversimplification of the argument and no one said that.

I only ask because from your statements it sounds like you haven't worked in the restaurant business before. Then you went on to say that they should just get to away with tipping which I'm assuming you mean they should just pay servers a decent hourly wage. Unless that wage is $20 an hour its not worth it.

[NewMarketSean]

I usually tip 20% for everything because the math is easy. Double the first two numbers.

[SportsGuy]

If you give me garbage service, you aren't getting tipped nearly as much as the person who gives me good service.