Have your tipping habits changed?

[Exile]

Most of us have been affected in one way or another by the economic upheaval of the last few years from the cost of fuel to the collapse of the real estate market. If you have been impacted but still have funds left over for such discretionary spending as eating out, do you tip the same amount as before?

[myrdale]

I eat out alot less now. Between budgeting and trying to lose a couple of pounds.

Usually when I do tip, it is seldom more than $2. That has not changed.

[MiikeB]

I am of the opinion that if I do not have the money to tip, I cannot afford to eat out.

I have been eating out less, but my tipping practices will not change.

[disneysteve]

I agree with MiikeB. Tipping is part of the cost of eating out. If you can't afford to tip the customary amount, don't go to a restaurant where you have to tip. Eat at home or stick to counter-service places where no tip is needed.

So no, my tipping habits have not changed at all.

[atomicrc11]

I can say that my tipping habits haven't changed much. However, many people don't like my tipping habits to begin with.

[simpleyme]

We used to be cheap tippers but after we started listening to Dave Ramsey we changed our ways
like others have said DR made us realize tipping is part of eating out so if you do not like it you should stay home

we are ashamed of our old ways so when we do go out we are very generouse tippers , we rarley go out as i am a great cook and enjoy cooking for my family ;-)

the economy over all is not changing anything at our house ,we found Dave Ramsey in 2005 , we were not in too bad of shape followed his program and have laid a pretty good foundation for ourselves

[FrugalFish]

No, we still tip pretty generously for good service, but we are eating out less these days.

[geojen]

I agree with everyone here-If you have enough to go out to eat, you have enough to tip. Its not right to go out and treat yourself and not compensate the server to save yourself some money.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by geojen

Its not right to go out and treat yourself and not compensate the server to save yourself some money.

Exactly what I was trying to think of how to say.

[Ima saver]

Originally Posted by geojen

I agree with everyone here-If you have enough to go out to eat, you have enough to tip. Its not right to go out and treat yourself and not compensate the server to save yourself some money.

I agree completely. Remember these ladies are only making $2 an hour and have to report their tips and pay tax. That means that there paycheck is almost nothing. I know for sure because I worked as a waitress for many years and this area was very well know for it's poor tips.

[Aleta]

We tip the same but do not eat out as much. Sometmes we just order food to go and I don't tip for that.

[Angio333]

My wife and I often leave good and even very large tips. However, we do not base it on the price of the check. We base it on how the service provided and not on the check.

We do not think it is fair for waiter at a mom and pop diner to get a $3 tip since the check was very low due to great prices and a waiter at an expensive place getting a $8 tip since the check was more expensive despite getting the same level of service.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Angio333

My wife and I often leave good and even very large tips. However, we do not base it on the price of the check. We base it on how the service provided and not on the check.

We do not think it is fair for waiter at a mom and pop diner to get a $3 tip since the check was very low due to great prices and a waiter at an expensive place getting a $8 tip since the check was more expensive despite getting the same level of service.

As we discussed in another tipping thread recently, it does bother me that more expensive food = bigger tip, but I don't know how else to do it. That's the way the system is set up. Someone who takes a job as a server at a cheap diner knows going into it that he/she will get lower tips than if he/she got a job as a server in a fine dining place. If a server wants higher tips, he/she needs to work at a more expensive restaurant.

[DebbieL]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

I agree completely. Remember these ladies are only making $2 an hour and have to report their tips and pay tax. That means that there paycheck is almost nothing. I know for sure because I worked as a waitress for many years and this area was very well know for it's poor tips.

Here in Canada that would be illegal. The minimum wage is the same for everyone. Minimum wage where I live is $8/hr (and many servers are making more than that - plus their tips).

[kork13]

Originally Posted by DebbieL

Here in Canada that would be illegal. The minimum wage is the same for everyone. Minimum wage where I live is $8/hr (and many servers are making more than that - plus their tips).

I believe that's how it is justified by restaurant owners.... taking into account tips, wait staffs typically will make at, or frequently more than minimum wage, so therefore "they really are getting minimum wage". I disagree personally, but i think that's the way it goes right now...

[Exile]

IMHO if you can't afford to leave a decent tip (where deserved), then you can't afford to eat out.

Now here's something that I probably should have included in my OP: Here in the Philippines most restaurants tack on a 10% service charge to the check.

Forum members, how do you feel about such an automatic service charge being added to the bill instead of a discretionery tip? For example, would you still include an additional gratuity if the service was exceptional?

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Exile

Forum members, how do you feel about such an automatic service charge being added to the bill instead of a discretionery tip? For example, would you still include an additional gratuity if the service was exceptional?

I think it depends on local custom. Here in the US, 15-20% tip is standard for good service. Some restaurants tack on an 18% gratuity for parties of 6 or more. I think that is too high and goes against the whole point of tipping which is to thank your server for good service. If the server knows in advance he will be getting an 18% tip, what incentive does he have to provide exceptional service.

As for the 10% charge you refer to, I don't see where it makes any sense. Just raise the prices by 10% and forget the service charge. It is just like the hotels and airlines that try and keep their prices artificially low and then tack on energy surcharges or resort fees or luggage fees. Just raise the prices to accurately reflect your expenses.

[atomicrc11]

I've been bitten by the 18% gratuity on parties of 6 or more. Went out once and I tipped 15% on top of the 18% gratuity added. Always read the check to make sure you don't double tip. I usually tip no more than 15%, but certainly don't tip when the establishment has already taken the liberty of giving a handsome tip for service that may or may not be good.

Personally I don't like the tipping culture and think the restaurants should just pay the waitstaff more.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by atomicrc11

certainly don't tip when the establishment has already taken the liberty of giving a handsome tip for service that may or may not be good.

On a couple of occasions when 18% was added but the service was lousy, I complained to the manager and had him reduce the gratuity to what we thought was appropriate for the service we got.

[zakity]

My tipping has stayed the same, but our going out has dropped considerably.