Have your tipping habits changed?

[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]

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]

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.

[ceejay74]

Same as most here, I eat out MUCH less. I feel like it's because of the economic downturn, but actually it was just that I came to my senses financially coincidentally about the same time as food prices started going up. I have personally barely been affected by the economy except my raise was put off for 6 months.

If I can't afford to tip 20%, I don't consider I can afford to go out at all. However if the waiter isn't very good I will take it down to 15%, if they're really bad I do 10%, and if they're downright nasty and/or lie to me I will leave a buck or two--just enough to insult them back!

If that sounds harsh I should say that I don't mind if a waiter makes mistakes or service is slow; as long as they're nice and obviously trying hard, or basically friendly and competent, I tip 20%. I'm not too hard to please.

[Cassandra]

Like many others, I eat out very rarely, but over all my tipping hasn't changed. The only way it has changed is I give delivery guys (for pizza, etc.) more than I used to. i.e. When gas was about $2-2.50 I was giving $2 for delivery. Now that gas is higher, I give $4-5 for delivery because they have to pay for their gas to deliver my pizza.

[Ima saver]

I wish our restaurant had the tip added to large parties. Our owner refused to do that, so many "large" tables left nothing. Especially the groups that wanted to sit together after church.
I worked one day when a tour bus came in. Maybe they thought the tip was included in the price, because they left nothing.
I had to wait on and then clean up after a group of 35 people.

So, I would rather over tip to make up for other people. Our main waitress is a widow, age 60 and has to support herself and make a house payment. all on $2.15 per hour!! Not fair!! Our bill is usually $16-$20 for both of us. I always leave her $6!!

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Tipping the same but less eating out.

[myrdale]

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 feel a great amount of disdain towards restraunts that practice this. It allows shotty service to be rewarded with out consequence. I refuse to believe tips are an entitlement. They are a reward for good service.

Over the 30 minutes that I spent in a restraunt for lunch, the waitress devoted a full 3 minutes to sitting me, taking my order, bring my food, and then my check. Appart from general politeness, my only requirement for a tip is I get a refill of my drink. I can understand when a waitress is overloaded with customers, but I mainly eat lunch around 1PM after the crowds have left. If they bring me my food then walk off and I do not hear from them again, and I spend half the time there with an empty glass, I am sorry but that is a deal breaker.

Additionally I am put off by one local restraunt that types in bold letters, highlights, and circles the message on their receipt "TIP YOUR WAITERS." Additionally they gives a chart that breaks down 15, 20, and 25% of the total bill.

Since I usually do not carry cash, and pay with debt, I will round the total of my meal up. If it was $8.20, I'll round up to $10 or $11 with a $1.80 or $2.80. Just take the $1.80 example that's over 20%.

As for a more expensive restraunt? $60 bill, maybe $5 tip. That's only 5% but it's nearly 3 times what the other waitress got for doing the same job.

I try to do something nice once or twice a year. If I come across a waitress who is having a really bad day. For what ever reason, boss yelling at her, husband left, kid sick, guy at table next to me giving her a very hard time, I'll tip $20. I do it as discretely as I can. I hope it cheers her up a little bit.

And then you have a buddy of mine. We go out to a restraunt to eat, and the fool is drunk and tips the bar tender $100. Ofcourse he is kicking himself for the next week.

By no means do I agree with Mr. Pink's views of tipping, but I am not just going to throw money at someone because society dictates that I should either. Good service is rewarded. Bad service is not.

[atomicrc11]

I've always left some sort of tip, except for once. In that occasion the waitress spilled to glasses of water in my lap and the restaurant didn't offer any compensation. I had to go back to work soaked. That was unforgivable.

[disneysteve]

As for a more expensive restraunt? $60 bill, maybe $5 tip. That's only 5% but it's nearly 3 times what the other waitress got for doing the same job.

Here's the problem with that theory IMO.

When I go to some greasy spoon diner, I don't expect a whole lot in the way of service. I'm only paying 10 bucks for my meal. As long as the server gets my order right and brings me my food, I figure I've gotten what I paid for.

If, however, I go to a fine dining establishment where I'm spending $60 for my meal, my service expectations are a lot higher. And I expect a much higher caliber of server with better training, better people skills and more committed to doing a good job. The simple fact that I've even gone to the $60 meal restaurant shows that I'm willing to pay for that better experience. Assuming the server meets or exceeds those higher expectations, that is deserving of a more substantial tip than I would leave at the diner. If my service there was such that I didn't think a 15-20% tip was warranted, I'd be speaking with the manager to complain (which I've done on more than one occasion). Otherwise, I will leave the standard amount.

[Mamaw]

It has been said if you can't tip don't go out to eat.

but if a lot of people did that then resturants would be without customers. I don't mean don't tip. I do. I go out with my Red Hat group we try to go not at the busiest times but I watch what everyone else gives as a tip. If it is not much I try to give more. I can't cover every tip but I do try to do a little something extra.

[rennigade]

It's funny how some people will tip 10% - 20% for a meal, but refuse to pay a professional advisor 3% - 5% to invest their money.

[Mamaw]

I do but what does one thing have to do with the other?