Tipping Rant

[marla]

Okay, I just need to get this off my chest. I hate tipping! Whoever came up with the idea did the world one of the greatest disservices of all time. Why are we supposed to give extra money to some people for doing their job? Even if they don't deserve it? And when they don't deserve it and don't get it, then they get all upset because they think they deserve it. I think it should be outlawed. It would make life a lot easier.

[emily1067]

I try to look at tipping as a way of showing someone they did a good job. I spent 3 months in London, where you don't have to tip because the servers make a decent base wage. Tipping there is like an added bonus for someone who does an exceptional job. Here in America we HAVE to tip because the servers would make no money if we didn't. If I have bad service I'll usually leave just 10%, but I usually leave 20%. I've been a waitress before and it is by no means an easy job. Take a little pity on those poor servers.

[Razzy]

If the service is great I will tip great. If the place is packed and the service is slow I will tip the minium I can. But when the service down right sucks and the place is empty I will not tip and I will complain to management. Yes I know hat waitressing is hard and it is a job I know I could not do. But I always try to leave some type of tip.


Razzy

[PRICEPLUS]

15 to 20 % tip is what I leave. More if the service is outrageously good and less if the service is particularly bad! I try not to eat out so much so as not to have to worry about it!

[jacquelynrose]

I love tipping! Some of the people really do appreciate it and they really don't get paid that much. Usually between $2-4 an hour.

Jacquelyn

[SeeAPenny]

Yes, servers do depend on tips, since they typically make a very small hourly rate (less than minimum wage). While our family doesn't eat out often, whenever we do we always include/budget in at least a 15% tip (perhaps a little less for buffet-style restaurants, where the waitstaff primarily bring drinks, remove plates/supply new ones, etc)....

[jhd815]

I always try to leave a 20% tip knowing that the servers make less than minimum wage in most instances. If my server goes beyond the "regular" level of service, I tip more to show I appreciate their extra attention.

I'll also ask to speak to the manager if my service is bad just to let them know that an employee may need some extra help to take care of customers. If someone does an outstanding job, I'll also ask for the manager to commend that employee.

[Razzy]

If I know they are new I tell to make their mistakes on me because I will understand and the next person might not. If the server does a good job I will tip them more if the don't do a good job I tip less.

[Julianna Wolfe]

Here is how hubby and I decide how much to tip:

0-.99 cents Very poor, offhand, service
5-10% Low to mediocre service
10-15% Mediocre to good service
15-20% Good to great service
20-25% Great to Exceptional service

Also, we too will help a bit if we know the server is new, as long as they treat us like human beings.

[neatdesign]

Some trivia: The term "tip" comes from "To Insure Promptness". This originated in 19th century England, but the patrons tipped the servers BEFORE the meal, not after. The philosophy was that if the servers received a good "tip" in advance they'd be more willing to go that extra mile.

I don't know when the practice flipped so the tip was received after the meal -- probably because the tip tends to be a percentage of the total cost of the meal, and you won't know what that is until you get the bill.

However, by giving the tip AFTER the meal, it is now assumed to simply be given as a matter of course. Some people in this thread have already commented about how servers are paid below minimum wage and depend on tips to make up the difference. The problem with this approach is that that's NOT what tipping is supposed to be for -- it's NOT supposed to be a given! It's supposed to be a reward for performing excellent service.

My husband is from England, and he's told me that he feels that the service in British restaurants is pretty much the same as the service in American restaurants. The attentiveness, promptness, friendliness and so on are comparable. And yet British servers don't usually get tipped. They get a decent wage (of course, keep in mind that the minimum wage in the UK is about $7/hr compared to $5.15/hr here).

I do tip, but it because I know if I don't they're going to be screwed by their employers, they'll only make $3/hr or something hideous like that. Their employers aren't paying them for the hard work they do, so it comes down to me to make up the difference. But if I knew the servers were being paid decently I would not tip. We could have a nice meal for two for $22 and all of a sudden it's $27 instead. Just doesn't seem fair to me.

~ Jenney

[bankruptcyonline]

I always try to leave a 20% tip unless the service is horrible then its hard to leave that tip. I realize they don't make much without a tip but they should do a better job then

If I see the server is just plain busy is one thing, I am a reasonable person. But a few too many times I have seen the server just off chatting to another server or simply not paying attention. If they depend on their tips they should provide good service. Just my two cents worth.

[kashi]

The other night, our waitress gave us half off the bill, and then reminded us to tip her based on the original amount because it wasn't half the work for her. I was flabbergasted. She hardly came back to our table and was rude when she did!

[Razzy]

I don't think I would have tipped her and I would have reported her poor service and behavior to management and maybe the corperator head quarters of the restaurant (if it is a chain). That sort of behavior is never acceptable and should not be rewared with a tip.

Raz

[neatdesign]

Originally Posted by kashi

The other night, our waitress gave us half off the bill, and then reminded us to tip her based on the original amount because it wasn't half the work for her. I was flabbergasted. She hardly came back to our table and was rude when she did!

I agree, I wouldn't have tipped her either -- or, just to bring the point home, done the opposite of what she said and only based the tip on what the bill said, not what it would have been. It is bad enough to receive crappy service, but then for that same server to remind you to tip the "proper amount" is even worse!

This is a great example of what I said earlier about how most servers feel entitled to receiving tips and forget that tips are up to the discretion of the customer.

~ Jenney

[srace]

I am a bartender/waitress and I would never even think about telling someone how to tip me. That is just rude. I am lucky I guess in the way I am paid. I started out at minimum wage which is 5.15 here and in about a month I got a raise to make it 5.50/hr. Last week I got another raise and now I make 5.75/hr. I know that a lot of witstaff only get about $3 an hour and I have been in their shoes. I know that they depend on the tips or they will not make good money, but I also agree with all you guys that if they want the good tip then they should give good service. It has always been my pinion that the tip reflects on the service providede.