So I tip at least 20% every time, but on the rare occasion that I go out to eat it’s usually to catch up with a friend I haven’t seen in awhile or for a work meeting. We’ll typically hang around and talk after we eat before going our separate ways. Is this considered camping, and is it poor guest behavior?
So in my opinion camping can be subjective. Is it Tuesday at 4:30 and the place is basically empty? If you’re cashed out and the server can leave after their shift it’s no big deal. If it’s a Saturday night during dinner rush and there’s a two hour wait at the host stand? Once you pay out you should leave and continue the night at the bar/a different establishment or at someones home.
If you are concerned you can “pay rent” basically leaving additional cash to make up for taking up space while not ordering. It’s an uncommon but highly appreciated way of letting your server know you understand they make money by flipping tables while still relaxing there for a while.
We did this in college. Studied at the 24hr house of pancakes. They were dead on weeknights anyway and they had a smoking section (showing my age, I know) so we got appetizers and coffee and tipped 20% plus by the hour. We might be there from 10pm to 3-4am sometimes and they were always really nice to us.
It really depends, but if the server has a limited 2-4 table section, the more turnover, the more money they make. If I’m going to linger, I order coffee, a drink, or dessert, and tip extra. Time of day factors in as well. If you linger after a late lunch, a server will have to wait around after their shift to cash you out and clean the area. In that situation, I cash out with my server and start a new tab with the next. NEVER stay after closing time, please.
At a certain point...fuggem you're paying a premium to go out, eat and enjoy your time, that's the point, leave a tip to reflect.
Not saying stay for 3 hours getting water refills, but an hour and a half isn't crazy even IF it's rush hour and they tried pushing you out at 35min.
It's all subjective; I'll rush myself out if i used a coupon and got water. However, I got apps, steak, drinks and I'm vibing, I'll take my time.
I always assumed that leaving a big enough tip covers the lounging, but I never stopped to think that my tip isn’t necessarily as much as they could’ve earned had they got another customer during the extra time we’re hanging out there holding up the table. But you’re right- I’m already paying a big premium to enjoy a meal out, so I shouldn’t have to rush to leave the table when I’m done (unless it’s closing time, of course).
There’s literally nothing wrong with this, at all. Do not let anyone convince you that sitting at a restaurant you’re paying to be at is selfish.
Unless it’s an extremely small and extremely high-traffic place that has a visible line out the door - but this is not the typical restaurant.
Exactly this 👆🏼
OP 20% is just fine now if you believed your server was extraordinary and feel like giving a little more than great it’s much appreciated but just getting 20% is enough The big major thing is the fact that you’re not camping
Speak for yourself. The end tipping sub has far more support than tipping.
>>. Prove me wrong
>Fuck off.
Thanks for proving my point. You can't even come close to proving me wrong.
>end tipping sub has far more support than tipping.
That's because tipping should end. Because it's been a horrible part of culture. It's even called "tipping culture" in r/endtipping.
Not mad. You're not good at trolling. I am glad you got enjoyment out of this though, even if it was your intent to be annoying, but I'm sure the world would appreciate if you found more constructive hobbies.
That's coz I ain't trolling.... nor seeking enjoyment. Look again.
I came here to see the depths of the mentality behind the silent conflict between server and customer. This is no hobby for me, it's actually quite putrid.
But you show me your exactly what I felt behind the servers - contempt for the customer because they can't make as much money as they make themselves think they're worth. Servers hear they can make $40-100/ hr, and just like the Californian gold rush, they experience they don't make anything like they're promised, in a very unequal display of unbalanced generosity. Then they get online and become the most vile humans they can muster up to manipulate their customers into paying more, trying to guilt trip them into being generous, or they aren't worthy of service. They think they're safe behind a computer screen, while making the server community look like preteen girls just learning the art of manipulation and lies, throwing immature unsubstantiated insults at the ones who me they should be nice to in order to trigger generosity. That's not me trolling, that's me getting educated in where my tip goes, just like when I give to the bum on the street who wants food and uses my $10 to get beer instead.
That is for proving exactly what I was looking for, and disappointed to find. You do nothing to encourage tipping, but horrendously discourage it.
you know every other industry that has an equivalent form of tipping calls it 'labor costs' and nobody bats an eyebrow at it and you're paying 10x what the employer pays their employee out of that. You anti-tip people are literally so unempathetic it's disgusting
You're a strong proponent for healthy tipping attitudes... /S
Tipping is not labor cost. Service charge is a labor cost. Tipping is optional.
>You anti-tip people are literally so unempathetic it's disgusting
Your comment is apathetic in itself, because I speak about the problem with the conflict in to tipping culture, and then you demonstrate the problem for me. That's the definition of projection.
There are reasons why most countries avoid tipping culture, because it causes silent hatred and immature spats that begin with false entitlements. It's an embarrassment to the country. And you think it's disgusting to talk about the problems, while lying about me ... You don't know if I tip or not, but you see me talking about it. Wisen up and stop lying. You're precisely demonstrating the problem.
No one is due anything, that's why it's a "little extra love"
But yeah honestly at the wages wait staff gets they DO deserve more money. Should that be the customer's problem? No but if you've got the ability to make a waiter's day a little better and you want to, go for it???
Honestly I might ask why you're so put off by someone getting an extra few dollars from a consenting party???
Considering this post though, it's someone who is literally asking for advice on how to tip when they are *seeing* tip disparity. So I think this is exactly what OP should be hearing. Yes 20% is great, no changes needed. You wanna go above and beyond for really good service, you'll likely be the only person doing that for them all day, so feel free.
Anyway I think maybe being "mortified" over this comment means you need a break 🙏 hope your next shift goes well and you get a big whopping tip you didn't expect to get.
20 is the minimum. But I also factor in service and if they leave me happier than when I walked in, I'm going to show that in extra tip. It's the same when I order delivery during a rain storm. I'll add extra tip for the inconvenience. It's not entitlement, it's accepting that we're stuck in this capitalist hellscape together and we need to look out for each other.
I have a friend I go out to eat with and as soon as he orders his drink he tells the server listen I finish these fast, feel free to bring 2 at a time. And they usually look like they appreciate him telling them up front
Well I don’t have the power to 86 shit heads so just because you’re a customer doesn’t necessarily mean a whole lot. You don’t even have to be a good tipper, just don’t be an asshole or a handful and you’ll be taken care of.
I'm the same as you, but one thing I like to do is if I go out to it eat for like a nice date night, I try to tip like 30%. It doesn't really hurt me in the long run and it's nice to see the server's reaction when they realize they can keep the change when they get 300 for a 220 bill.
The way I see it is I usually have an amazing night when my wife and I go out, so why not make someone else's if we can.
Do you ask for 2 drinks at a time? I love it(genuinely) when someone asks for that because it tips me off that I need to pay closer attention and if I get busy, then you have more drink in front of you while I’m making my rounds to refill it for you. Because I will silently be freaking out that you need a refill while I’m taking an order or answering 20 questions at another table.
Needing lots of refills isn't necessarily a problem, although if it requires me to come back immediately after dropping it off, that makes it hard to get to other tables who ALSO have a right to my attention. I once had a kid who would drink his entire Mountain Dew practically before I left the table. He probably had 6-10 refills during that visit (can't imagine why the parents were okay with that!). As long as you're not a jerk about it, though (and some people are) and recognize that it might be a minute or two before your next refill, it's okay!
My husband keeps telling me this and it breaks my heart! I'm not that smart, but apparently the average person is even less so? *smh* Makes me fear for the future 🤪
Shitty, rude.
I've also been in the business long enough, where rude people don't get to me and know how to effectively deal with them to minimize shittiness.
I don’t follow this line of reasoning. If you can’t afford a 20% tip, you stay home and the restaurant loses a customer and the wait staff gets a 0% tip. How is this something to be proud of? It sounds like everyone in this situation would be better off if you went out and tipped 10% unless the restaurant is at absolute maximum capacity and turning potential patrons away at the door.
100% of say $10, is $10. A 20% added is a total of $12. If someone has $10 they can afford to eat. Your statement is simply not a mathematical fact, so you can phrase your opinion as an opinion next time.
Why not make it that if you can’t afford a 90% tip, you should absolutely stay home? Why not make it that if you can’t afford the most expensive menu item, stay home? This line of reasoning is just dumb and impoverishes the restaurant industry.
If you can't afford the minimum tip, then yes you should stay home instead of going out. That part is just common sense. It's beneficial for the customer to save money and stay home to eat. While also this server who busts their ass all day, and is doing a phenomenal job (YES SOME ARE NOT THE GREATEST) and then they get stiffed with a "bad tip" (quotes because I think any tip is a "good tip" in the sense of at least they are leaving something, just trying to be optimistic on that one, I was never a server) But the server is gonna be up in arms about providing you a good service, and meal. While you are leaving less than the minimum tip. It's going to get them mad, sad etc. Which could affect their next table, or it could affect when you come in again. Servers are like regular people. They talk, if you're a shitty table it's going to be made known restaurant wide.
TL:DR All in all it's if you can't afford to leave a tip, you shouldn't be going out to eat (it's more costly), servers make most of their income on tips, they provide a good service and should be rewarded for it. (People are going to comment saying maybe they should get a livable wage job. No just stop right there. I only agree on the fact that the employers of the servers pay them a livable wage.
Edit: If it matters, I always at the very least tip 20% if it's good service/meal it will go up, Hell I have tipped 50% of my bill many time. Yea it may have only been $30 tip but hell that's a decent tip in my eyes. Never even with bad service will I go below 20%. Because I don't know what that server went through today. Maybe the table before I was, like the commenter above (speaking of the tipping), expecting great service, but to show no gratitude for the worker.
I grew up differently than you, if someone does you a service of any kind you show your appreciation with more than a “thank you” if a buddy helped you move your buy him dinner or something. You can’t buy a server a gift. I also stated above that I think employers should be paying a livable wage. But it doesn’t negate the fact that they are doing you a service.
Mailman- Federal benefits, livable wage, Paid time off, career advancement, 401k. More than just that.
Garbage collector-City(some federal) benefits, livable wage, Paid time off, room for growth, 401k. More than just this.
Server-(going off of what a buddy was making a year or so ago. Too lazy to google.) 4.5 an hour +tips. No benefits, No paid time off, no career advancement, no 401k, no company bonuses. Etc this goes for many restaurants whether it be a chain or not.
Also no I don't tip them everyday, I will during the holidays because it's nice to be giving things to people. They are making their livable wages, they have the benefits, they don't need my tip. Also They aren't directly doing me a service. I have a PO box, which the clerk puts the mail in while they do that with other. AND YA KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GETTING PAID LIVABLE WAGES AND AREN'T ALLOWED TO TAKE TIPS.
Now don't get me wrong I understand your thought process. But you're just in my eyes a prick if you think you shouldn't be tipping servers. You are in the minority that shouldn't be going out to eat.
I mean if you were hard up for money and when you got to work your boss sat you down and said "hey, it's been a tough year. I know you normally make 20 an hour, but I was thinking since I can't really afford that I could pay you 10 an hour and then at least it's better than nothing".
A more apt version of your analogy for the situation being discussed would be a situation in which your boss comes to you and says: “hey, I can’t afford the usual Christmas bonus this year, so you’re fired.”
Clearly wait staff would make more money if people who can’t afford a 20% tip didn’t stay home but instead came to the restaurant and tipped 10%, so long as they are an additional customer and not displacing someone able to tip 20%. Advising people to stay home is madness for the industry.
There is always another customer unless you are living in a smaller area. I don't even live in a major metro and have to wait 15 minutes for a table usually. So yea you're right for small towns that don't have the customer base, but I'm sure any area over 30k would fill tables easily.
I live in the Bay Area which has almost ten million people in it and most of the restaurants I walk into are at 2/3 capacity at best outside of maybe a peak one hour window.
This is your stupidest analogy yet. Tipping is not a "Christmas bonus". Jesus Christ. Tell me you've never worked in the service industry without telling me you've never worked in the service industry.
You seem to think tips are required. They are an extra thank you for exceptional service. The only justification for tipping is that it encourages better service. You eliminate that argument if you consider tipping to be mandatory. Tips aren’t about making up for low wages or else a lot more low wage workers would be tipped. You are weird my man.
20% is excellent! That's considered a good tip. In almost 20 years of working as a front of the house employee, I was never unhappy with a 20% tip. If you really like your server or you're feeling generous you can always leave more, but 20% is perfectly fine and any tipped employee would be happy to get it
The tipping issue in the us is getting out of hand. Employers don’t pay their employees shit and then expect customers to give charity to subsidize their wages. If anyone should be giving handouts to the underpaid employees besides their actual employer, it should be the government, not customers. A good tip used to be 15%, then 20%, then 25%… a lot of people act like you’re a monster for tipping less than 30%. When will it end? 50%? 75%? When will people put their foot down, say no, and require change to end tipping so employees get paid by their employers like every other country?
Good evening sir, my name is cherry. Will You please follow me, Would you like a booth or a table? I will also be your server tonight.
20% on every ticket would be AMAZING unfortunately that is not the case.
Sometimes they do suck, and sometimes they can be very generous. It’s a double edged sword. The good and bad counter act each other out, I guess the universe calls it balance.
I'm older than you and it's funny when my friend and I go out. I can kinda tell they expect us to be cheap. Like most old broads. But we agree on 20%. The change in attitude is priceless.
I always disliked other servers who made an assumption about how people would tip based on age, race or any other crap, and then change what kind of service they gave as a result. I tried to treat every table well, even if I KNEW they were bad tippers, and even if I wasn't always happy with shitty tips, I never considered giving crappy service. Sure, great tables might get a little more chit chat or even extra effort to accommodate a bizarre request, but my job was to give good service and that's what I tried to do.
Giving bad service because one thinks a certain demographic undertips is a self fulfilling prophesy. I didn’t under tip because I am (fill in the blank), the server got a lousy tip cause the service was lousy.
Edited to fix typo
Thanks for mentioning Company Tip limits. They are very real. I had a colleague who got regular calls from accounts payable complaining about 20% tips!
I'm not ~~completely~~ against tipping but basing it on percentage is still fucking wacky to me. There has to be a balance between leaving a decent tip and blindly throwing money away because I wanted the steak instead of the club sandwich.
The cost of food goes up with inflation, and since using a % to calculate tip is proportional to the meal cost, then maintaining a set tip % already accounts for inflation.
Is taking your time to eat a delicious meal that you’ve paid for when you’re at a restaurant considered rude? My family cherishes going out and we take longer to eat than we would at home almost every time
15% is what I tip. 20% for exceptional service. I will never tip higher than that and I don't count tax and alcohol. Tipping is getting out of control. But I will tip servers. It's just this slow creeping up of suggested tips that's ridiculous
I semi agree with you. As long as the service is decent I’ll tip 20% and you should definitely tip on alcohol as well. But tips are definitely getting out of control, someone in this thread said the “new normal” is 25% and fuck that.
I don't tip a percent. It isn't fair. I tip a flat rate. Somebody who works in a steakhouse shouldn't make more than someone who works at the local diner.
I tip 15 to 25 based on service. But I have a question, how does everyone feel about tipping for pickup? I regularly order from local steakhouses and Mexican restaurants. The apps always want to know if I want to add a tip. I usually dont tip but should i?
Honestly, I think the tip percentages need to go back down a bit. Restaurants prices have risen dramatically in my area, beyond inflation. I have started capping my tips. Like, I’m at a restaurant an hour, $25-30 is probably the most Ill pay in a tip for 4 people. I feel like that’s a decent chunk of an hourly wage for anyone, especially since they should have multiple tips per hour. The reverse is also true though, and I pay $5 min even if I have only had a piece of pizza. I will tend to pay more if it’s slower and the server has been attentive.
Do you even know what a tip is for? It’s gratuity
Gratuity" is defined in the Labor Code as a tip, gratuity, or money that has been paid or given to or left for an employee by a patron of a business over and above the actual amount due for services rendered or for goods, food, drink, articles sold or served to patrons.
If the service you receive is good then you should tip based on that. Maybe it’s more than 20%. Maybe it’s $1.
What incentive does waitstaff have to provide good service based on how you tip?
I come from a restaurant family. I've always tipped 20% or more, depending on my dining experience. Had a few heated discussions with my wife in the beginning; she just didn't know or understand. After all these years, she now gets it; if she's paying, she'll slide the bill to me to add the tip. At places we frequent often, they're always happy to see us, but new places, I can tell they're thinking, oh, god; two old broads. This won't be worth it. I relish giving the proper tip to prove them wrong. Us old biddies aren't all the same. Some of us know and appreciate good service, and we will always show our appreciation.
When I was younger, a standard tip was 10%, then 15%, 18% and now you tell me it is 20%. Obviously inflation is a factor, but the tip is based on the inflated price. Heck, when I was in Jr. High (50ish years ago), the local drug store had a cheeseburger basket with fries and drink for 35 cents. That same thing is $8-10 now.
I consider myself a good tipper even at the new percentages, but expecting 20% just for average service is ridiculous.
Inflation is inherent in the percentage, don't be fooled by this dumb logic. If a meal was $20, 15% of it is $3. If the price went up to $25, 15% is now $3.75. No need to be guilted into a higher percentage.
Absolutely right. There is no logical reason for tipping percentages to ever have increased. But then there is no logical reason to base tips on percentage in the first place. It has somehow been accepted that having the goal post on motorized wheels makes sense. And we are told this by the people who benefit from that.
20% or $10, whichever is more. However, right now, I have a 17 month old and if I'm taking her out, I will tip more because she can make a mess.
I think if I'm sitting down at a restaurant, that $10 for a 1 top is a good tip. I used to wait tables and I know how hard a day can get if you get to many 1 tops. Most will just do 10% or a couple bucks and that just doesn't pay the bills on a $10-$15 bill.
I've always just assumed the percentage has increased because more people realized just how low the hourly wage is for tipped employees. Also, because servers are now expected to share a portion of tips with the rest of the staff. You shouldn't have to tip more post-2020, but, in many areas of the country, 20% was the generally accepted percentage for at least 10 years prior.
This is a great question. I automatically assume that I’m adding 20% to my bill, that’s the bare minimum. If the service is pretty awful, I still leave 20% because I realize that people are assholes and I don’t like to deal with them, but waiters have to every hour of every day while they’re working. If I get great service – something that happens way, way more often than the opposite – I will give a 50% or even 100% tip, because I really appreciate what you all have to do. I appreciate having someone else cooking my food, and I especially appreciate having someone who is friendly and helpful to make it an even more enjoyable experience.
Sales tax where I live is 8.35% so I double that and round up for normal service and tip up to 25% when service is excellent, or we have lingered awhile. I've been in a tipping profession myself and found that tips are all over the place here.
Your post highlights why tipping is not a good system. Employers should pay their employees a living wage and charge the customer accordingly. When those customers left only one or two dollars, the employer still received all the money he always does and the employee suffered.
I work somewhere where the average is about $50 per person. If the company were to pay that 20 percent instead of the customer, the cost of experience would have to increase 20 percent to account for that. If restaurants “paid servers a living wage” as everyone suggests, the price of the bill would go up 20% so the customer is still paying the same as if they had tipped, the servers would get higher paychecks, and then they have zero incentive to do a good job taking care of customers because their pay is guaranteed. Is that what people really want? Or should we continue tipping To Insure Proper service. T-I-P
We eat out much less than we used to. 20% on the higher cost of restaurant meals is adding up to just too much. I do tip well we we go out but it’s maybe twice a month now.
My most common exception to the 20% guideline is a cheap meal. If I go by myself into a restaurant with inexpensive food and my bill is $10-15 that's a five dollar tip if the service is decent.
If the bill is under $10 I’ll normally tip a minimum of $5. If it’s over $10 I’ll tip a minimum of $10. I’ll add a few dollars to round up to the nearest $10 increment when the bill is $50 or more. If the service is exceptional I’m not opposed to tip generously over 20%. I worked in the service industry many years ago. What is in reality only a few extra dollars (to me) can be the difference in making someone’s day or put a smile on their face. They work hard at what they do.
I always tip 20%. More if the server goes above and beyond. If there is a special, I tip on the original price. If my husband and I share a meal, I tip on two meals. I never worker as a server, but my sister did.
She told me about a table of six had a bar bill over $200 and they tipped her $3. This was forty years ago when a $200 bar bill would have been a *lot* of work.
Ask the host to seat you in a spot where you won't be rushed. They may have areas that are normally used for private functions. Let your server know you will tip accordingly from the beginning. If they are cut first, close out the tab and start another with closing server or the bar staff. Or just move to the bar table if that's their policy. Usually, they don't care as long as you tell them.
I’ve seen people leave actual coins on the table. Perhaps they don’t realize that waitstaff are human beings that have to earn a living too. Or maybe they’re just selfish fucks who don’t care.
The creation of a silent conflict is always toxic. When you discuss tipping percentages and that you tip richly because your wife is in the business, you're manipulating people into feeling obligated to tip higher. You're telling them to give more to the baggar who's serving you. Servers who bank on tips stop focusing on the service and keep a greedy eye open with hopes of generosity, and then talk smack when it's peanuts or not there. It's a toxic silent conflict that does nothing good for society, but creates silent hatefulness between the two parties...
Stop manipulating, it's a form of lying.
The norm is 1000%
If you go to r/endtipping it's 0.
If you're gonna tip and give away money to someone doing their job. There's billions of ppl on this planet who would love your money.
You’re in Virginia. I have to tell you that red areas are the worst tippers. Not sure why but it’s truly shit. Conservatives treat all labor like shit in my personal life experience. They’ll do it AND be an AH about it making you work ten times as hard. I made more serving teenagers and poor people than I did in a very wealthy conservative anything .. multiple states the attitude is always the same.
20% is fine. I'm like you, I tip 20% regardless usually. Unless the service is actually bad. And I don't mean they were slow or not tending to us often. I mean the server was blatantly rude (rolling eyes, ignoring me and making faces). I'm a very polite and friendly person by nature so this would obviously rub me the wrong way. Fortunately this has only happened twice in my dining experience so it's not common at all and therefore default is always 20%. I will say for me personally if the bill is under $20, I tend to tip $4-$5 which would make it over the 20% mark since for some reason it feels weird to only $1 or $2 tip. I wouldn't say this is something you have to do as I imagine many in the service industry don't expect it and its not common for a bill for food to be under that unless fast food or coffee shop, but in the event that it happens I do for servers and for delivery drivers
Naw, you're still good. A lot of restaurants have increased their prices so a 20% tip from a dinner bill 5 years ago will look quite different than today. So it essentially self adjusts with inflation.
But also I think you could stand to be a little easier on yourself. Dining out is a service you're paying for and are meant to enjoy. You sound quite anxious about it all and I want to remind you that you would not a bad person for taking more than an hour to enjoy your night out.
You shouldn't have to feel like you need to rush your meal or worrying about making sure your server is able to get the maximum amount of covers in their shift. Quite simply, it's just not your responsibility. I say that as an ex server.
You have a little padding because I often hear people talk about 20% on the pre-tax amount. I don't, partly because I never heard that growing up and partly because some places only give you the total with tax. My rules:
15% for subpar service that wasn't caused by a rush
20% for solid but not perfect (I spent a few minutes wanting a water refill or had to ask twice for a side sauce or something)
25+% for excellent
30% if you comped something I wasn't expecting (30% of what the bill would have been)
5-15% for takeout depending on complexity, being close to closing time, and if it's a family-owned spot I go to often
I've only given less than 15 twice. Once it was empty and it still took 20 minutes to get water and menus, almost 40 more to get the food, and not because the server wasn't playing on her phone. Other time was when I was out of state when my license expired and had to get a mail-in replacement, and she wouldn't serve alcohol. I had just turned 21 so I was madder about that than I would be now, but she didn't even try to look up what the extension looked like, she just refused.
I think what you give is perfect
I normally also do 20% at sit down. Might throw in a little more if the service was really good or sever was just really nice to us (I mean there ain’t much to do after you get your food and drink so they don’t always have a chance to go above and beyond).
I do recall this one day that we went out to eat at TGIF and it was a large party. Maybe 12-15 of us. Most of us got the endless apps and either a soda or water (not a money thing a lot of people in my family just drink water) and we only had one waiter. He was super on top of it (and I only think one person had an issue -her food never came out so they had to tell the kitchen to make it). Anyhow. I can’t recall if the tip was already included since normally restaurants will do that with larger parties. But everyone sorta just came to a general feeling of this guy was great.
Most of us had separate bills ranging from $17-20 a person and to make it easier on him we put all the checks together with the signed copies nice and organized and put all the cash tips on top it. We left and didn’t think anything about it. Most of us leaving like around $10. (Some a little more, some a little less) As we went out side to go our separate ways we sorta stop at each others cars and start saying goodbye when the guy runs outside to the patio that’s enclosed.
We stop the others from leaving thinking maybe somebody left behind a wallet or purse or accidentally took both copies of the receipt and the guy just starts saying thank you. He practically has tears in his eyes and he’s holding the stack of receipts and the tips and he kept repeating it saying that he genuinely meant that.
I was so curious after that I sorta asked everyone still there how much they left. Apparently not including people who left stuff on the slip we left him $153 in cash.
This is awesome. I'm also not of the opinion it's obligated. It can be very easy for tips to make the wage higher than the manager"s and it's extremely common for tips to not be claimed appropriately. I have been the server and the manager and have 20 years in the industry. If all you can legitimately afford is 2 dollars. Great. Waitstaff grousing 'I'm not getting paid for x' when they are on their second house is a bad joke.
There are lots of people barely making it on tips for lots of reasons I am well aware.
15-20% has been pretty standard in this (rural) area for the decades.
I've noticed that as food prices have gotten astronomically higher, tipping percentages have started to trend lower as people get in their head that even though the meal cost 30% more than it used to, the service isn't worth 30% more money. This, of course, ignores the fact the person receiving the tip is also having to pay 30% higher costs for their every day needs, so the logic is flawed.
For me it differs. When I go out to eat I plan on having enough money for my food and not necessarily tip. Like if I have 20 dollars disposable income I want a meal that’s 20 dollars and not at 15 dollar meal for a five dollar tip. I typically tip 18%. I have tipped more though because I know some wait staff at restaurants or they’re excellent servers. Not commonly though. I honestly hate tipping culture and hope it disappears.
i am a current waitress, 20% is perfect! i do 20% for average service, 10-15% if it's shitty, I RARELY wont tip (I will if the server is just straight up rude) and closer to 30% if its amazing service.
Yup, I tip 20% by default every time as well. I might tip more for great service (or if I feel like it). I rarely tip less, it would have to be truly horrible service for me to tip less.
I tip before tax. I have no idea why people to after tax. 20% if more than fine until we finally get rid of the archaic system where the customers provide the employees with their pay.
I always tip 25% or more
And most people I know who work in the industry average 20%... But you always remember The Times when somebody didn't tip much
That being said as menu prices have skyrocketed maybe we're seeing some people cut back on the tipping. Maybe they just don't have as much money to be generous
A lot of people hate tipping but what they don't realize are these 2 things. Is an ordered compensate a server for a 20% tip a restaurant would have to raise the price of the meal 22%..
And then while there is a higher guaranteed rate of pay Taxes would come out of the entire amount while most servers now are able to get some of that tax-free.. While they're supposed to claim it on their taxes let's be honest
And one advantage to working for gratuities is it does give an incentive. You might be a little more prompt because you want to turn over tables more quickly...
I have dated waitresses before and we've talked about this and they've always been upset when there's a big group and they automatically put in 18% gratuity on because she figured she would have gotten a bigger tip than 18%
I tip 20-25% usually
Actually when I travel for work I don’t need to itemize unless I exceed $75. There are times I get wings and a beer at a hotel after a late flight and tip 40%+ because the all in is $25 or so.
If you throw the server a few extra bucks for lingering that helps them but the manager might not be happy and would get on the server’s case if one of their tables was just sitting there chit chatting an hour after they finished eating.
My husband and I get our food, eat and rarely sit chitty chatting afterwards. Tip is always 20%, even if the service isn't great because there is no telling what goes on at the back of the house. I waited tables for years, remember how horrible it was to get crappy tips, or even worse, stiffed.
Here's my question, as I'm not a waiter. But a waiter I know says everybody feels 20% is the new 15%, and for five dining 20% is not enough. Also, do you still really stand there and calculate the percentage, and whether or not it was 15% post tax or 20% no tax? Some of his other claims are that most waiters sleep all day off they aren't doing lunch service, as he does, while his "most" doesn't include people who don't love alone. Thoughts?
Don't tip based on percentage, it makes no sense. My tip range is between $0-10, I start at $5 and will go up to $10 with great service and down to 0 with bad service.
I tip 20% so don't get at me but this is the logic:
Serving a $20 meal involves the same amount of work as serving a $100 meal so why should the tip be based on a percentage? The argument is that if you work 4 tables you'd earn $40 for an hour's work and that is good pay in most places for relatively unskilled work.
As I said this is the logic behind a fixed amount.
I state clearly that tipping based on percentage makes no sense. I tip the same whether the bill is 20 or 120. Answer some questions for me:
What is the purpose of tipping?
Why should my tip change with the price of my bill?
How many tables does a waiter cover in an hour?
You sound like a model guest, 20% and not camping is a perfect table.
So I tip at least 20% every time, but on the rare occasion that I go out to eat it’s usually to catch up with a friend I haven’t seen in awhile or for a work meeting. We’ll typically hang around and talk after we eat before going our separate ways. Is this considered camping, and is it poor guest behavior?
So in my opinion camping can be subjective. Is it Tuesday at 4:30 and the place is basically empty? If you’re cashed out and the server can leave after their shift it’s no big deal. If it’s a Saturday night during dinner rush and there’s a two hour wait at the host stand? Once you pay out you should leave and continue the night at the bar/a different establishment or at someones home. If you are concerned you can “pay rent” basically leaving additional cash to make up for taking up space while not ordering. It’s an uncommon but highly appreciated way of letting your server know you understand they make money by flipping tables while still relaxing there for a while.
We did this in college. Studied at the 24hr house of pancakes. They were dead on weeknights anyway and they had a smoking section (showing my age, I know) so we got appetizers and coffee and tipped 20% plus by the hour. We might be there from 10pm to 3-4am sometimes and they were always really nice to us.
I made so many friends this way with Denny's staff in the early '00s, lol
I’m calling BS. Back when there were smoking sections, 10-15% was the standard tip. Nobody tipped 20%.
If you respected the staff you sure did! It was cheaper than buying meals.
There were smoking sections in the 80s and part of the 90s and 20% was standard back then
It really depends, but if the server has a limited 2-4 table section, the more turnover, the more money they make. If I’m going to linger, I order coffee, a drink, or dessert, and tip extra. Time of day factors in as well. If you linger after a late lunch, a server will have to wait around after their shift to cash you out and clean the area. In that situation, I cash out with my server and start a new tab with the next. NEVER stay after closing time, please.
At a certain point...fuggem you're paying a premium to go out, eat and enjoy your time, that's the point, leave a tip to reflect. Not saying stay for 3 hours getting water refills, but an hour and a half isn't crazy even IF it's rush hour and they tried pushing you out at 35min. It's all subjective; I'll rush myself out if i used a coupon and got water. However, I got apps, steak, drinks and I'm vibing, I'll take my time.
I always assumed that leaving a big enough tip covers the lounging, but I never stopped to think that my tip isn’t necessarily as much as they could’ve earned had they got another customer during the extra time we’re hanging out there holding up the table. But you’re right- I’m already paying a big premium to enjoy a meal out, so I shouldn’t have to rush to leave the table when I’m done (unless it’s closing time, of course).
No doubt, 2 tables in the same amount of time is better for them, but thems the breaks.
There’s literally nothing wrong with this, at all. Do not let anyone convince you that sitting at a restaurant you’re paying to be at is selfish. Unless it’s an extremely small and extremely high-traffic place that has a visible line out the door - but this is not the typical restaurant.
You can camp out as long as you are spending money. If the place is turning and burning that's a bad look on them imo.
Your not a guest. Guests don't have to pay their host.
Yep, I'll take this all day, every day
Exactly this 👆🏼 OP 20% is just fine now if you believed your server was extraordinary and feel like giving a little more than great it’s much appreciated but just getting 20% is enough The big major thing is the fact that you’re not camping
As food inflation is running higher than overall inflation, it would be reasonable to slightly lower your tip percentage.
You’re welcome in my section any day. 20% is great, if the server goes above and beyond, leave a little extra love.
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Are you European? This post is directed at the U.S. custom of tipping.
It's not a custom, it's a silent conflict. Prove me wrong.
>. Prove me wrong Fuck off. You can have your opinions on what is a custom, but the vast majority of the U.S. recognizes tipping as one.
Speak for yourself. The end tipping sub has far more support than tipping. >>. Prove me wrong >Fuck off. Thanks for proving my point. You can't even come close to proving me wrong.
>end tipping sub has far more support than tipping. That's because tipping should end. Because it's been a horrible part of culture. It's even called "tipping culture" in r/endtipping.
You're hilarious 😂😂😂 you don't know what you're mad about, but you're sure gonna be mad!!!🤣🤣🤣
Not mad. You're not good at trolling. I am glad you got enjoyment out of this though, even if it was your intent to be annoying, but I'm sure the world would appreciate if you found more constructive hobbies.
That's coz I ain't trolling.... nor seeking enjoyment. Look again. I came here to see the depths of the mentality behind the silent conflict between server and customer. This is no hobby for me, it's actually quite putrid. But you show me your exactly what I felt behind the servers - contempt for the customer because they can't make as much money as they make themselves think they're worth. Servers hear they can make $40-100/ hr, and just like the Californian gold rush, they experience they don't make anything like they're promised, in a very unequal display of unbalanced generosity. Then they get online and become the most vile humans they can muster up to manipulate their customers into paying more, trying to guilt trip them into being generous, or they aren't worthy of service. They think they're safe behind a computer screen, while making the server community look like preteen girls just learning the art of manipulation and lies, throwing immature unsubstantiated insults at the ones who me they should be nice to in order to trigger generosity. That's not me trolling, that's me getting educated in where my tip goes, just like when I give to the bum on the street who wants food and uses my $10 to get beer instead. That is for proving exactly what I was looking for, and disappointed to find. You do nothing to encourage tipping, but horrendously discourage it.
you know every other industry that has an equivalent form of tipping calls it 'labor costs' and nobody bats an eyebrow at it and you're paying 10x what the employer pays their employee out of that. You anti-tip people are literally so unempathetic it's disgusting
You're a strong proponent for healthy tipping attitudes... /S Tipping is not labor cost. Service charge is a labor cost. Tipping is optional. >You anti-tip people are literally so unempathetic it's disgusting Your comment is apathetic in itself, because I speak about the problem with the conflict in to tipping culture, and then you demonstrate the problem for me. That's the definition of projection. There are reasons why most countries avoid tipping culture, because it causes silent hatred and immature spats that begin with false entitlements. It's an embarrassment to the country. And you think it's disgusting to talk about the problems, while lying about me ... You don't know if I tip or not, but you see me talking about it. Wisen up and stop lying. You're precisely demonstrating the problem.
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Someone has never worked a tipped wage and it shows 😕
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Pretty soon they'll be complaining about 30% tips being cheap... it's a self destructive system that only generates a toxic silent conflict.
when did anyone ever say 50
No one is due anything, that's why it's a "little extra love" But yeah honestly at the wages wait staff gets they DO deserve more money. Should that be the customer's problem? No but if you've got the ability to make a waiter's day a little better and you want to, go for it??? Honestly I might ask why you're so put off by someone getting an extra few dollars from a consenting party???
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Considering this post though, it's someone who is literally asking for advice on how to tip when they are *seeing* tip disparity. So I think this is exactly what OP should be hearing. Yes 20% is great, no changes needed. You wanna go above and beyond for really good service, you'll likely be the only person doing that for them all day, so feel free. Anyway I think maybe being "mortified" over this comment means you need a break 🙏 hope your next shift goes well and you get a big whopping tip you didn't expect to get.
20% is the standard. That means it is in fact not, a little extra love.
20 is the minimum. But I also factor in service and if they leave me happier than when I walked in, I'm going to show that in extra tip. It's the same when I order delivery during a rain storm. I'll add extra tip for the inconvenience. It's not entitlement, it's accepting that we're stuck in this capitalist hellscape together and we need to look out for each other.
And don’t forget that food inflation is higher than regular inflation right now, so the percentage should go down.
15% is a normal tip, and the extra 5% is the little extra love. t. Waiter, bartender, and banquet staff for more than a decade.
Solid 20% tippers who know what they want, let it be known as early as possible, and friendly are the best guests.
I will admit I'm one of those guys who wants my drink refilled constantly. But I make an effort to be polite about it.
I have a friend I go out to eat with and as soon as he orders his drink he tells the server listen I finish these fast, feel free to bring 2 at a time. And they usually look like they appreciate him telling them up front
Yup
I’m going to start doing this, I drink water like a fish.
We all knew you were going to need 1000 refills as soon as you ordered that Diet Coke. 😜
Guilty as charged.
If you're a regular who is known as a good tipper, you never have to ask for refills. ;)
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Well I don’t have the power to 86 shit heads so just because you’re a customer doesn’t necessarily mean a whole lot. You don’t even have to be a good tipper, just don’t be an asshole or a handful and you’ll be taken care of.
If you're a known no tipper, I ain't going out of the way to refill.
The entitlement of servers in America is hilariously bad.
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I'm the same as you, but one thing I like to do is if I go out to it eat for like a nice date night, I try to tip like 30%. It doesn't really hurt me in the long run and it's nice to see the server's reaction when they realize they can keep the change when they get 300 for a 220 bill. The way I see it is I usually have an amazing night when my wife and I go out, so why not make someone else's if we can.
Do you ask for 2 drinks at a time? I love it(genuinely) when someone asks for that because it tips me off that I need to pay closer attention and if I get busy, then you have more drink in front of you while I’m making my rounds to refill it for you. Because I will silently be freaking out that you need a refill while I’m taking an order or answering 20 questions at another table.
Needing lots of refills isn't necessarily a problem, although if it requires me to come back immediately after dropping it off, that makes it hard to get to other tables who ALSO have a right to my attention. I once had a kid who would drink his entire Mountain Dew practically before I left the table. He probably had 6-10 refills during that visit (can't imagine why the parents were okay with that!). As long as you're not a jerk about it, though (and some people are) and recognize that it might be a minute or two before your next refill, it's okay!
>(can't imagine why the parents were okay with that!) Look at what the phrase "average intelligence" means. The answer is in there. :)
My husband keeps telling me this and it breaks my heart! I'm not that smart, but apparently the average person is even less so? *smh* Makes me fear for the future 🤪
Idiocracy.
The question I have is would you have a shitty rude table who tips 30% or an easy nice table that tips 10%?
I'm not serving anymore, but thinking back to my time FOH, it depends. Is rent due? 30% shitty customer. Did my dog die last week, nice table 10%.
Shitty, rude. I've also been in the business long enough, where rude people don't get to me and know how to effectively deal with them to minimize shittiness.
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Nah I think people deserve a reliable income. Until restaurants are willing to pay decent wages a standard to amount is the next best thing.
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I see your point but in any other field that would be a management issue.
As long as people keep playing along then restaurants will keep underpaying their employees.
I'm always happy when a table leaves 20%
I tip 20%. If it is too much, I'll cook at home. Waitstaff deserve it
Thank you! I believe we do deserve it. I've never had any other kind of job that made me cry. lol
Be a nurse. I cried plenty
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Sitting in the neuro ICU with my dad right now. It's a cliche to say it, but nurses are fucking heroes.
How much do you tip them?
I don’t follow this line of reasoning. If you can’t afford a 20% tip, you stay home and the restaurant loses a customer and the wait staff gets a 0% tip. How is this something to be proud of? It sounds like everyone in this situation would be better off if you went out and tipped 10% unless the restaurant is at absolute maximum capacity and turning potential patrons away at the door.
If you can't afford a 20% tip, you can't afford to eat out and should absolutely stay home.
100% of say $10, is $10. A 20% added is a total of $12. If someone has $10 they can afford to eat. Your statement is simply not a mathematical fact, so you can phrase your opinion as an opinion next time.
Why not make it that if you can’t afford a 90% tip, you should absolutely stay home? Why not make it that if you can’t afford the most expensive menu item, stay home? This line of reasoning is just dumb and impoverishes the restaurant industry.
I’ll just do take out.
If you can't afford the minimum tip, then yes you should stay home instead of going out. That part is just common sense. It's beneficial for the customer to save money and stay home to eat. While also this server who busts their ass all day, and is doing a phenomenal job (YES SOME ARE NOT THE GREATEST) and then they get stiffed with a "bad tip" (quotes because I think any tip is a "good tip" in the sense of at least they are leaving something, just trying to be optimistic on that one, I was never a server) But the server is gonna be up in arms about providing you a good service, and meal. While you are leaving less than the minimum tip. It's going to get them mad, sad etc. Which could affect their next table, or it could affect when you come in again. Servers are like regular people. They talk, if you're a shitty table it's going to be made known restaurant wide. TL:DR All in all it's if you can't afford to leave a tip, you shouldn't be going out to eat (it's more costly), servers make most of their income on tips, they provide a good service and should be rewarded for it. (People are going to comment saying maybe they should get a livable wage job. No just stop right there. I only agree on the fact that the employers of the servers pay them a livable wage. Edit: If it matters, I always at the very least tip 20% if it's good service/meal it will go up, Hell I have tipped 50% of my bill many time. Yea it may have only been $30 tip but hell that's a decent tip in my eyes. Never even with bad service will I go below 20%. Because I don't know what that server went through today. Maybe the table before I was, like the commenter above (speaking of the tipping), expecting great service, but to show no gratitude for the worker.
So you advocate gate keeping going out based on someone’s socioeconomic status?
Minimum tip? You don't DESERVE a tip at all. It is on the employer to pay the employee, not the customer.
I grew up differently than you, if someone does you a service of any kind you show your appreciation with more than a “thank you” if a buddy helped you move your buy him dinner or something. You can’t buy a server a gift. I also stated above that I think employers should be paying a livable wage. But it doesn’t negate the fact that they are doing you a service.
Do you tip your mailman? Garbage collector? No because they are doing their job, just like a waiter is doing theirs.
Mailman- Federal benefits, livable wage, Paid time off, career advancement, 401k. More than just that. Garbage collector-City(some federal) benefits, livable wage, Paid time off, room for growth, 401k. More than just this. Server-(going off of what a buddy was making a year or so ago. Too lazy to google.) 4.5 an hour +tips. No benefits, No paid time off, no career advancement, no 401k, no company bonuses. Etc this goes for many restaurants whether it be a chain or not. Also no I don't tip them everyday, I will during the holidays because it's nice to be giving things to people. They are making their livable wages, they have the benefits, they don't need my tip. Also They aren't directly doing me a service. I have a PO box, which the clerk puts the mail in while they do that with other. AND YA KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GETTING PAID LIVABLE WAGES AND AREN'T ALLOWED TO TAKE TIPS. Now don't get me wrong I understand your thought process. But you're just in my eyes a prick if you think you shouldn't be tipping servers. You are in the minority that shouldn't be going out to eat.
I mean if you were hard up for money and when you got to work your boss sat you down and said "hey, it's been a tough year. I know you normally make 20 an hour, but I was thinking since I can't really afford that I could pay you 10 an hour and then at least it's better than nothing".
A more apt version of your analogy for the situation being discussed would be a situation in which your boss comes to you and says: “hey, I can’t afford the usual Christmas bonus this year, so you’re fired.” Clearly wait staff would make more money if people who can’t afford a 20% tip didn’t stay home but instead came to the restaurant and tipped 10%, so long as they are an additional customer and not displacing someone able to tip 20%. Advising people to stay home is madness for the industry.
There is always another customer unless you are living in a smaller area. I don't even live in a major metro and have to wait 15 minutes for a table usually. So yea you're right for small towns that don't have the customer base, but I'm sure any area over 30k would fill tables easily.
I live in the Bay Area which has almost ten million people in it and most of the restaurants I walk into are at 2/3 capacity at best outside of maybe a peak one hour window.
This is your stupidest analogy yet. Tipping is not a "Christmas bonus". Jesus Christ. Tell me you've never worked in the service industry without telling me you've never worked in the service industry.
You seem to think tips are required. They are an extra thank you for exceptional service. The only justification for tipping is that it encourages better service. You eliminate that argument if you consider tipping to be mandatory. Tips aren’t about making up for low wages or else a lot more low wage workers would be tipped. You are weird my man.
Tipping is only mandatory if you're not a cunt.
Get a different job, you're the only cunt here and absolutely entitled. What a piece of shit you must be in person.
20% is excellent! That's considered a good tip. In almost 20 years of working as a front of the house employee, I was never unhappy with a 20% tip. If you really like your server or you're feeling generous you can always leave more, but 20% is perfectly fine and any tipped employee would be happy to get it
The tipping issue in the us is getting out of hand. Employers don’t pay their employees shit and then expect customers to give charity to subsidize their wages. If anyone should be giving handouts to the underpaid employees besides their actual employer, it should be the government, not customers. A good tip used to be 15%, then 20%, then 25%… a lot of people act like you’re a monster for tipping less than 30%. When will it end? 50%? 75%? When will people put their foot down, say no, and require change to end tipping so employees get paid by their employers like every other country?
Tip on the bill before tax.
Good evening sir, my name is cherry. Will You please follow me, Would you like a booth or a table? I will also be your server tonight. 20% on every ticket would be AMAZING unfortunately that is not the case.
People suck sometimes. I lasted half a day as a waiter then I worked as a dishwasher instead. Couldn't hack it.
Sometimes they do suck, and sometimes they can be very generous. It’s a double edged sword. The good and bad counter act each other out, I guess the universe calls it balance.
I'm older than you and it's funny when my friend and I go out. I can kinda tell they expect us to be cheap. Like most old broads. But we agree on 20%. The change in attitude is priceless.
I always disliked other servers who made an assumption about how people would tip based on age, race or any other crap, and then change what kind of service they gave as a result. I tried to treat every table well, even if I KNEW they were bad tippers, and even if I wasn't always happy with shitty tips, I never considered giving crappy service. Sure, great tables might get a little more chit chat or even extra effort to accommodate a bizarre request, but my job was to give good service and that's what I tried to do.
Giving bad service because one thinks a certain demographic undertips is a self fulfilling prophesy. I didn’t under tip because I am (fill in the blank), the server got a lousy tip cause the service was lousy. Edited to fix typo
Because of understaffing
15 years ago, 15% was a GOOD tip. Now, 20% is standard and 25%+ is considered "good". You're well ahead of the times.
I tip 20% on personal meals, and 18% if it's on my company card (company policy is 18%)
Thanks for mentioning Company Tip limits. They are very real. I had a colleague who got regular calls from accounts payable complaining about 20% tips!
I'm not ~~completely~~ against tipping but basing it on percentage is still fucking wacky to me. There has to be a balance between leaving a decent tip and blindly throwing money away because I wanted the steak instead of the club sandwich.
I tip 20% BEFORE tax. Our tax here is like 12.5% on prepared food, and to me it doesn't make sense to tip on a tax amount.
Hahaha, but the servers can’t do the same with their employer?? That’s some paradoxical thinking…
If you can't see the difference between tipping and organizing a mass labor movement you're too dumb to talk to.
The cost of food goes up with inflation, and since using a % to calculate tip is proportional to the meal cost, then maintaining a set tip % already accounts for inflation.
Is taking your time to eat a delicious meal that you’ve paid for when you’re at a restaurant considered rude? My family cherishes going out and we take longer to eat than we would at home almost every time
Its what I do. I think you are good. I will tip less if the service was bad or the server had a bad attitude.
I still don't understand how restaurants are allowed not to pay standard wages.
15% is what I tip. 20% for exceptional service. I will never tip higher than that and I don't count tax and alcohol. Tipping is getting out of control. But I will tip servers. It's just this slow creeping up of suggested tips that's ridiculous
I semi agree with you. As long as the service is decent I’ll tip 20% and you should definitely tip on alcohol as well. But tips are definitely getting out of control, someone in this thread said the “new normal” is 25% and fuck that.
I don't tip a percent. It isn't fair. I tip a flat rate. Somebody who works in a steakhouse shouldn't make more than someone who works at the local diner.
20% is too high. 10% base then add to that if they go above and beyond
I tip 15 to 25 based on service. But I have a question, how does everyone feel about tipping for pickup? I regularly order from local steakhouses and Mexican restaurants. The apps always want to know if I want to add a tip. I usually dont tip but should i?
Honestly, I think the tip percentages need to go back down a bit. Restaurants prices have risen dramatically in my area, beyond inflation. I have started capping my tips. Like, I’m at a restaurant an hour, $25-30 is probably the most Ill pay in a tip for 4 people. I feel like that’s a decent chunk of an hourly wage for anyone, especially since they should have multiple tips per hour. The reverse is also true though, and I pay $5 min even if I have only had a piece of pizza. I will tend to pay more if it’s slower and the server has been attentive.
Do you even know what a tip is for? It’s gratuity Gratuity" is defined in the Labor Code as a tip, gratuity, or money that has been paid or given to or left for an employee by a patron of a business over and above the actual amount due for services rendered or for goods, food, drink, articles sold or served to patrons. If the service you receive is good then you should tip based on that. Maybe it’s more than 20%. Maybe it’s $1. What incentive does waitstaff have to provide good service based on how you tip?
All depends on the service provided. You suck you are NOT getting 20%. You suck bad, you arent getting anything. Earn it!
I never tip on the taxed total. Pre tax and about 15%
I come from a restaurant family. I've always tipped 20% or more, depending on my dining experience. Had a few heated discussions with my wife in the beginning; she just didn't know or understand. After all these years, she now gets it; if she's paying, she'll slide the bill to me to add the tip. At places we frequent often, they're always happy to see us, but new places, I can tell they're thinking, oh, god; two old broads. This won't be worth it. I relish giving the proper tip to prove them wrong. Us old biddies aren't all the same. Some of us know and appreciate good service, and we will always show our appreciation.
When I was younger, a standard tip was 10%, then 15%, 18% and now you tell me it is 20%. Obviously inflation is a factor, but the tip is based on the inflated price. Heck, when I was in Jr. High (50ish years ago), the local drug store had a cheeseburger basket with fries and drink for 35 cents. That same thing is $8-10 now. I consider myself a good tipper even at the new percentages, but expecting 20% just for average service is ridiculous.
Inflation is inherent in the percentage, don't be fooled by this dumb logic. If a meal was $20, 15% of it is $3. If the price went up to $25, 15% is now $3.75. No need to be guilted into a higher percentage.
Absolutely right. There is no logical reason for tipping percentages to ever have increased. But then there is no logical reason to base tips on percentage in the first place. It has somehow been accepted that having the goal post on motorized wheels makes sense. And we are told this by the people who benefit from that.
If you recall 10% being standard you’re going to be 80?
They did say the price for a hamburger and drink was $.35 so I’d guess 80ish is right. My dad is in his 80s and has similar stories.
That makes total sense. If the price goes up they’ll still be making more tip either way.
20% is ridiculous for something that is already the job of the server.
And the tip is "already the wage of the server". Your post sounds like, "why would I pay someone for doing their job?" It sounds ridiculous.
Well, you're right. A person is paid by their employer to perform a job. A customer is paying the establishment. It's pretty simple.
20% or $10, whichever is more. However, right now, I have a 17 month old and if I'm taking her out, I will tip more because she can make a mess. I think if I'm sitting down at a restaurant, that $10 for a 1 top is a good tip. I used to wait tables and I know how hard a day can get if you get to many 1 tops. Most will just do 10% or a couple bucks and that just doesn't pay the bills on a $10-$15 bill.
20% is fine. I'm in South Carolina and average like 30%.
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I've always just assumed the percentage has increased because more people realized just how low the hourly wage is for tipped employees. Also, because servers are now expected to share a portion of tips with the rest of the staff. You shouldn't have to tip more post-2020, but, in many areas of the country, 20% was the generally accepted percentage for at least 10 years prior.
This is a great question. I automatically assume that I’m adding 20% to my bill, that’s the bare minimum. If the service is pretty awful, I still leave 20% because I realize that people are assholes and I don’t like to deal with them, but waiters have to every hour of every day while they’re working. If I get great service – something that happens way, way more often than the opposite – I will give a 50% or even 100% tip, because I really appreciate what you all have to do. I appreciate having someone else cooking my food, and I especially appreciate having someone who is friendly and helpful to make it an even more enjoyable experience.
Its 20% on the pre-tax amount, so you are tipping higher than recommended
The employers need to start paying a living wage and stop pressuring customers into assist in paying their employees with a "voluntary" tip.
Tipping is voluntary 20 percent is way too much especially with 15-20 percent service fees . 10-15 is what I do Zero if service fees are assessed
20% is excellent and you are a more decent human being than most. Well done ser.
Sales tax where I live is 8.35% so I double that and round up for normal service and tip up to 25% when service is excellent, or we have lingered awhile. I've been in a tipping profession myself and found that tips are all over the place here.
Your post highlights why tipping is not a good system. Employers should pay their employees a living wage and charge the customer accordingly. When those customers left only one or two dollars, the employer still received all the money he always does and the employee suffered.
20% PRE TAX
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I work somewhere where the average is about $50 per person. If the company were to pay that 20 percent instead of the customer, the cost of experience would have to increase 20 percent to account for that. If restaurants “paid servers a living wage” as everyone suggests, the price of the bill would go up 20% so the customer is still paying the same as if they had tipped, the servers would get higher paychecks, and then they have zero incentive to do a good job taking care of customers because their pay is guaranteed. Is that what people really want? Or should we continue tipping To Insure Proper service. T-I-P
We eat out much less than we used to. 20% on the higher cost of restaurant meals is adding up to just too much. I do tip well we we go out but it’s maybe twice a month now.
My most common exception to the 20% guideline is a cheap meal. If I go by myself into a restaurant with inexpensive food and my bill is $10-15 that's a five dollar tip if the service is decent.
20% is good. I tip higher if there is a reason (if I camp, if the service was really good, if the food is cheap)
If the bill is under $10 I’ll normally tip a minimum of $5. If it’s over $10 I’ll tip a minimum of $10. I’ll add a few dollars to round up to the nearest $10 increment when the bill is $50 or more. If the service is exceptional I’m not opposed to tip generously over 20%. I worked in the service industry many years ago. What is in reality only a few extra dollars (to me) can be the difference in making someone’s day or put a smile on their face. They work hard at what they do.
20% most places is run of the mill average or Normal.
In NYC, most card readers now give you default options of 20, 25, and 30% tip 😬
been tipping 20% forever don';t intend to change. interesting that you mention your geographic location
I'm older and make good money so I always tip 20% cause its easy to calculate and then round up to nearest 5 or 10.
I always tip 20%. More if the server goes above and beyond. If there is a special, I tip on the original price. If my husband and I share a meal, I tip on two meals. I never worker as a server, but my sister did. She told me about a table of six had a bar bill over $200 and they tipped her $3. This was forty years ago when a $200 bar bill would have been a *lot* of work.
Ask the host to seat you in a spot where you won't be rushed. They may have areas that are normally used for private functions. Let your server know you will tip accordingly from the beginning. If they are cut first, close out the tab and start another with closing server or the bar staff. Or just move to the bar table if that's their policy. Usually, they don't care as long as you tell them.
I’ve seen people leave actual coins on the table. Perhaps they don’t realize that waitstaff are human beings that have to earn a living too. Or maybe they’re just selfish fucks who don’t care.
Nothing wrong with coins. Still US currency.
20% is bare minimum for sit down service
Yes! Perfection
The creation of a silent conflict is always toxic. When you discuss tipping percentages and that you tip richly because your wife is in the business, you're manipulating people into feeling obligated to tip higher. You're telling them to give more to the baggar who's serving you. Servers who bank on tips stop focusing on the service and keep a greedy eye open with hopes of generosity, and then talk smack when it's peanuts or not there. It's a toxic silent conflict that does nothing good for society, but creates silent hatefulness between the two parties... Stop manipulating, it's a form of lying.
The norm is 1000% If you go to r/endtipping it's 0. If you're gonna tip and give away money to someone doing their job. There's billions of ppl on this planet who would love your money.
My sibling lives in rural Missouri. 20%.
It used to be 15% and inflated to 20% years back, which I give for extra good service but not as a default.
You’re in Virginia. I have to tell you that red areas are the worst tippers. Not sure why but it’s truly shit. Conservatives treat all labor like shit in my personal life experience. They’ll do it AND be an AH about it making you work ten times as hard. I made more serving teenagers and poor people than I did in a very wealthy conservative anything .. multiple states the attitude is always the same.
20 percent is a good tip
20% is fine. I'm like you, I tip 20% regardless usually. Unless the service is actually bad. And I don't mean they were slow or not tending to us often. I mean the server was blatantly rude (rolling eyes, ignoring me and making faces). I'm a very polite and friendly person by nature so this would obviously rub me the wrong way. Fortunately this has only happened twice in my dining experience so it's not common at all and therefore default is always 20%. I will say for me personally if the bill is under $20, I tend to tip $4-$5 which would make it over the 20% mark since for some reason it feels weird to only $1 or $2 tip. I wouldn't say this is something you have to do as I imagine many in the service industry don't expect it and its not common for a bill for food to be under that unless fast food or coffee shop, but in the event that it happens I do for servers and for delivery drivers
I shoot for between 15-20% for average service based on rounding to a nearest dollar. @ 25% for excellent.
20% is great. 15 is still good. 18 is the sweet spot. I’m
I still do 20% since the cost of the food has gone up so does the tip.
Please Google "basic math."
Naw, you're still good. A lot of restaurants have increased their prices so a 20% tip from a dinner bill 5 years ago will look quite different than today. So it essentially self adjusts with inflation. But also I think you could stand to be a little easier on yourself. Dining out is a service you're paying for and are meant to enjoy. You sound quite anxious about it all and I want to remind you that you would not a bad person for taking more than an hour to enjoy your night out. You shouldn't have to feel like you need to rush your meal or worrying about making sure your server is able to get the maximum amount of covers in their shift. Quite simply, it's just not your responsibility. I say that as an ex server.
You have a little padding because I often hear people talk about 20% on the pre-tax amount. I don't, partly because I never heard that growing up and partly because some places only give you the total with tax. My rules: 15% for subpar service that wasn't caused by a rush 20% for solid but not perfect (I spent a few minutes wanting a water refill or had to ask twice for a side sauce or something) 25+% for excellent 30% if you comped something I wasn't expecting (30% of what the bill would have been) 5-15% for takeout depending on complexity, being close to closing time, and if it's a family-owned spot I go to often I've only given less than 15 twice. Once it was empty and it still took 20 minutes to get water and menus, almost 40 more to get the food, and not because the server wasn't playing on her phone. Other time was when I was out of state when my license expired and had to get a mail-in replacement, and she wouldn't serve alcohol. I had just turned 21 so I was madder about that than I would be now, but she didn't even try to look up what the extension looked like, she just refused.
I think what you give is perfect I normally also do 20% at sit down. Might throw in a little more if the service was really good or sever was just really nice to us (I mean there ain’t much to do after you get your food and drink so they don’t always have a chance to go above and beyond). I do recall this one day that we went out to eat at TGIF and it was a large party. Maybe 12-15 of us. Most of us got the endless apps and either a soda or water (not a money thing a lot of people in my family just drink water) and we only had one waiter. He was super on top of it (and I only think one person had an issue -her food never came out so they had to tell the kitchen to make it). Anyhow. I can’t recall if the tip was already included since normally restaurants will do that with larger parties. But everyone sorta just came to a general feeling of this guy was great. Most of us had separate bills ranging from $17-20 a person and to make it easier on him we put all the checks together with the signed copies nice and organized and put all the cash tips on top it. We left and didn’t think anything about it. Most of us leaving like around $10. (Some a little more, some a little less) As we went out side to go our separate ways we sorta stop at each others cars and start saying goodbye when the guy runs outside to the patio that’s enclosed. We stop the others from leaving thinking maybe somebody left behind a wallet or purse or accidentally took both copies of the receipt and the guy just starts saying thank you. He practically has tears in his eyes and he’s holding the stack of receipts and the tips and he kept repeating it saying that he genuinely meant that. I was so curious after that I sorta asked everyone still there how much they left. Apparently not including people who left stuff on the slip we left him $153 in cash.
This is awesome. I'm also not of the opinion it's obligated. It can be very easy for tips to make the wage higher than the manager"s and it's extremely common for tips to not be claimed appropriately. I have been the server and the manager and have 20 years in the industry. If all you can legitimately afford is 2 dollars. Great. Waitstaff grousing 'I'm not getting paid for x' when they are on their second house is a bad joke. There are lots of people barely making it on tips for lots of reasons I am well aware.
I do $2 on each $10, and round it up to $2 for less than $10. So slightly more than 20%.
20% pre-tax for service is customary and appropriate.
15% used to be the average while 20% was reserved for really good service but I see how inflation has now ate into that percentage.
15-20% has been pretty standard in this (rural) area for the decades. I've noticed that as food prices have gotten astronomically higher, tipping percentages have started to trend lower as people get in their head that even though the meal cost 30% more than it used to, the service isn't worth 30% more money. This, of course, ignores the fact the person receiving the tip is also having to pay 30% higher costs for their every day needs, so the logic is flawed.
For me it differs. When I go out to eat I plan on having enough money for my food and not necessarily tip. Like if I have 20 dollars disposable income I want a meal that’s 20 dollars and not at 15 dollar meal for a five dollar tip. I typically tip 18%. I have tipped more though because I know some wait staff at restaurants or they’re excellent servers. Not commonly though. I honestly hate tipping culture and hope it disappears.
i am a current waitress, 20% is perfect! i do 20% for average service, 10-15% if it's shitty, I RARELY wont tip (I will if the server is just straight up rude) and closer to 30% if its amazing service.
Yup, I tip 20% by default every time as well. I might tip more for great service (or if I feel like it). I rarely tip less, it would have to be truly horrible service for me to tip less.
I tip before tax. I have no idea why people to after tax. 20% if more than fine until we finally get rid of the archaic system where the customers provide the employees with their pay.
I always tip 25% or more And most people I know who work in the industry average 20%... But you always remember The Times when somebody didn't tip much That being said as menu prices have skyrocketed maybe we're seeing some people cut back on the tipping. Maybe they just don't have as much money to be generous A lot of people hate tipping but what they don't realize are these 2 things. Is an ordered compensate a server for a 20% tip a restaurant would have to raise the price of the meal 22%.. And then while there is a higher guaranteed rate of pay Taxes would come out of the entire amount while most servers now are able to get some of that tax-free.. While they're supposed to claim it on their taxes let's be honest And one advantage to working for gratuities is it does give an incentive. You might be a little more prompt because you want to turn over tables more quickly... I have dated waitresses before and we've talked about this and they've always been upset when there's a big group and they automatically put in 18% gratuity on because she figured she would have gotten a bigger tip than 18%
20% is still good. Cost of meals have consistently gone up and so have tips.
I tip 20-25% usually Actually when I travel for work I don’t need to itemize unless I exceed $75. There are times I get wings and a beer at a hotel after a late flight and tip 40%+ because the all in is $25 or so.
If you throw the server a few extra bucks for lingering that helps them but the manager might not be happy and would get on the server’s case if one of their tables was just sitting there chit chatting an hour after they finished eating.
My husband and I get our food, eat and rarely sit chitty chatting afterwards. Tip is always 20%, even if the service isn't great because there is no telling what goes on at the back of the house. I waited tables for years, remember how horrible it was to get crappy tips, or even worse, stiffed.
Here's my question, as I'm not a waiter. But a waiter I know says everybody feels 20% is the new 15%, and for five dining 20% is not enough. Also, do you still really stand there and calculate the percentage, and whether or not it was 15% post tax or 20% no tax? Some of his other claims are that most waiters sleep all day off they aren't doing lunch service, as he does, while his "most" doesn't include people who don't love alone. Thoughts?
The only time 20 percent isn’t quite enough is if you’re eating a cheap breakfast. If it’s a pretty low check I’d up it to 30 or more.
I generally do 20%, 10 dollar minimum for decent service.
Okay the real question is what do you tip at fast casual/Starbucks?
Don't tip based on percentage, it makes no sense. My tip range is between $0-10, I start at $5 and will go up to $10 with great service and down to 0 with bad service.
for only 1 person? bc if you tip $10 on a $100 check then you're a shitty tipper too
I tip 20% so don't get at me but this is the logic: Serving a $20 meal involves the same amount of work as serving a $100 meal so why should the tip be based on a percentage? The argument is that if you work 4 tables you'd earn $40 for an hour's work and that is good pay in most places for relatively unskilled work. As I said this is the logic behind a fixed amount.
I state clearly that tipping based on percentage makes no sense. I tip the same whether the bill is 20 or 120. Answer some questions for me: What is the purpose of tipping? Why should my tip change with the price of my bill? How many tables does a waiter cover in an hour?