How do you feel about tipping?

[GoodSteward]

Someone mentioned they didn't' like tipping elsewhere, and instead of hijacking the thread I decided to just start another one since it wasn't part of the OP.

I am not fond of tipping in most situations because I'm expected to. When I was a waiter I appreciated the tips, naturally. However, it makes it hard for me to want to go to any sit-down places knowing I'm going to lose 10-15% more in a tip. Nothing against waiters/waitresses, I just don't like having to pay more for the meal than just the food. I do tip, but it's rare I tip a lot.

[bigdaddybus]

Here is part of my response in the financial success thread.

"If I was as thrifty as some on this site I could retire with quite a bit more wealth. But I am not all that thrifty, and I am good with that. We adopted a couple kids out of the foster care system that have been one of the biggest joys in my life. I am thankful I have the financial security to comfortably raise 4 children as they are expensive.
Also I like to be a generous giver. This is also something that I am thankful for being financially secure enough to do. I am not going to get rich by over tipping or giving away gift cards to local restaurants to those who provide me good service, but its how I want to live my life....and to me that is true financial success"

[DaveInPgh]

Guessing you already know my answer

Overall I hate tipping, but I don't mind tipping a good server at a sit-down restaurant. I have a good idea of what it is going to cost me WITH tip when I go to those places, so it ends up with a decision of whether I want to pay X for counter service or Y to be waited on.

I absolutely LOVE PIZZA but I don't recall the last time I had it delivered. I don't want to pay the tip. I think we had it delivered once last winter when the weather was bad and I just didn't feel like going out. Probably average less than once per year.

And I absolutely HATE tip jars. How that trend caught on is a mystery to me.

[GoodSteward]

Here is part of my response in the financial success thread.

"If I was as thrifty as some on this site I could retire with quite a bit more wealth. But I am not all that thrifty, and I am good with that. We adopted a couple kids out of the foster care system that have been one of the biggest joys in my life. I am thankful I have the financial security to comfortably raise 4 children as they are expensive.
Also I like to be a generous giver. This is also something that I am thankful for being financially secure enough to do. I am not going to get rich by over tipping or giving away gift cards to local restaurants to those who provide me good service, but its how I want to live my life....and to me that is true financial success"

I don't consider giving and tipping in the same category, personally. With tipping they have to pay taxes, often split with others, etc. I enjoy helping a lot of people(and I do), but I don't just give a lot as a tip all the time. I'm glad you are generous and use tipping as your outlet. I have a lot of outlets but rarely use tipping as one of them. I prefer to learn of a need and help more directly with that need. Sometimes this can happen in a restaurant, but not often.

Not to take away from tipping, but they are making at least minimum wage regardless. If they don't make it in tips the business has to pay them what is needed to bring them up to minimum wage. Some businesses keep the tip and just pay them a flat rate. I just like knowing a need is being met more directly. I say all that to explain I'm not against being generous. To each their own, and i hope everybody finds a way to be generous. Again, I do tip...lol

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I would rather pay more and not tip. I prefer it when we travel and there is no tipping. But it's standard in the US and unfortunately it's rampant not just eating out.

Everything uber/cabs, anything that is service related you are expected to tip. Cruise ship? Porter? Hairdresser. barista making coffee? Take out? They expect tip. I mean I've worked in restaurants and they aren't busy enough usually to require a tip.

I don't mean to hijack but now also you have to give for everything. I mean you have to give the teacher a birthday present chip in, holiday gift chip in, end of year chip in, teacher day. Then they want stuff for the t ball, soccer, basketball coaches, etc. Maybe I'm being a scrooge but I'm just getting annoyed.

I do it because apparently I have to. I tend to give a gift card and not chip in. But it really adds up. I have to do the speech therapist, the teachers, aids, etc. It's ridiculous. They want buy in for school librarian, etc. I wonder if private school you do all this? And if all sports you are sent an email requesting a "thank you gift donation?"

[rennigade]

Tipping puts the burden on the patrons of paying the employees a fair wage.

Im not sure how this model ever got started. How is it legal to pay someone $2/hr or whatever servers get paid. Makes no sense.

I dont really mind tipping. I dont go out to eat a lot so it is what it is. When I get a server that sucks ill tip them $1 on a $40 meal. If they're good ill always tip around 20%.

Tipping becomes confusing when you start to order expensive wines (which I dont.) If a waiter open a $1000 bottle of wine...should you tip 20% on that ($200?) Would it not be just as easy to open a $50 bottle of wine. A bottle of wine is a bottle of wine...who cares how much it costs. Its going to opened the same way and take the same amount of effort. Everyone has different opinions on this though.

[DaveInPgh]

Tipping becomes confusing when you start to order expensive wines (which I dont.) If a waiter open a $1000 bottle of wine...should you tip 20% on that ($200?) Would it not be just as easy to open a $50 bottle of wine. A bottle of wine is a bottle of wine...who cares how much it costs. Its going to opened the same way and take the same amount of effort. Everyone has different opinions on this though.

Does it take more effort for a server to carry a tenderloin than it does to carry a burger?

I really don't know the tipping etiquette when it comes to ordering wine. I would assume it is the same.

Thankfully I am not a fine dining type of person. And I can say with certainty that wouldn't change even if I were extremely wealthy.

[Tabs]

I always try to tip well, especially when the service is good.

However, I am also not fond of the concept in general, because it does feel like you're just giving your precious money away.

In the end, I decide in advance if I really want to even go somewhere to eat, and part of that decision-making process is factoring in on how much I am likely to tip.

[Jluke]

Tipping is the main reason I do not like to go out to eat.

BUT it's because I can't bring myself to not tip 20% or more every time. It really adds to the cost of the meal/experience.

Luckily I have a toddler now, so eating out isn't enjoyable

[bigdaddybus]

Tipping is the main reason I do not like to go out to eat.

BUT it's because I can't bring myself to not tip 20% or more every time. It really adds to the cost of the meal/experience.

Luckily I have a toddler now, so eating out isn't enjoyable

^^^ lol, raising 4 kids we have taken several years off in the past for that very reason

[DaveInPgh]

The above could definitely be a thread of its own. I have always been conscious and respectful to my surroundings, and we did not dine out until we could control our child's behavior. Obviously opinions vary on this one.

We do a lot of local travelling for sports and dining out is a big convenience for us. We try not to get carried away with it, and the tipping (and time) does play a factor in to where we choose to eat.

We are just as happy to stop at Sheetz and get a made to order sandwich/sub.

[bigdaddybus]

Tipping puts the burden on the patrons of paying the employees a fair wage.

Im not sure how this model ever got started. How is it legal to pay someone $2/hr or whatever servers get paid. Makes no sense.

This is a great point, and the main reason I look at non tippers/poor tippers as nothing more than cheapskates.

Get your food carryout if you dont want to pay for service. It is called a service industry for a reason.

With that being said, I would prefer that tips just be included in the cost. I think its more fair for everyone, especially the server trying to manage a budget

[HundredK]

I always tip at sit-down restaurants, cab drivers, maid service in hotels, salons, the list goes on. I always tip in the 20%-25% range. Now we're a lot more careful about going to places that require tipping because it adds up to an absurd amount of money. But I won't go to a place in the US where tipping is customary and not do it, because I think that's just not right to the server who relies on that income.

We travel a lot too, and just being American, even people in places where tipping is not customary will still hold their hands out or give you the look. They expect it. I always look up tipping customs before we go anywhere and follow those customs. In that case, I never feel bad about not tipping.

Here's an interesting little chart about tip and pay requirements by state: https://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm

[snafu]

Minimum wage here for servers is $ 15. per hr. The culture requires tipping for all types of service so if you want the service it's realistic to add the cost of tip and parking.
Our eating out is mostly driven by social events and I generally plan spending that includes honorees, tip, valet/parking. I don't think most people actually plan eating out, it seems more a last minute decision. Do most SA participants have a line items in their budget for restaurants? Do you include it in entertainment/events?

[GoodSteward]

Tipping puts the burden on the patrons of paying the employees a fair wage.

Im not sure how this model ever got started. How is it legal to pay someone $2/hr or whatever servers get paid. Makes no sense.

They get paid min wage for their state. However many hours they work is figured into the tips(which they take home), and the paycheck they get is supposed to cover the taxes of the tips plus anything they may be short to be have made min wage per hour. In other words, the business is supposed to pay the difference between tips and min wage if they are short.

Minimum wage here for servers is $ 15. per hr. The culture requires tipping for all types of service so if you want the service it's realistic to add the cost of tip and parking.
Our eating out is mostly driven by social events and I generally plan spending that includes honorees, tip, valet/paring. I don't think most people actually plan eating out, it seems more a last minute decision. Do most SA participants have a line items in their budget for restaurants? Do you include it in entertainment/events?

I have a section for it, but it's only for planned eating out due to traveling for ministry. We try to avoid supraoptic eating out, but still do it a few times a mont.

Also, They are getting paid to offer the service already. You pay the Dr office for their service, but do you feel bad for not tipping the doctor that provided the service? How about your dental hygienist or the people who help fit your eyeglasses? Funny how we only tip some services offered. I tip at restaurants, but I don't carry cash so good luck with tipping other people. I'm sorry, I don't see any reason to tip a guy who forces me to let him park my car. That happened once, and I didn't even think about tipping cause I had to pay a fee to have the service at that hotel. Hah...