Tip or no?

[Quick Orange]

Do you tip at restaurants? I usually do, but the amount they get is dependent upon whether they did a good job or not. If I barely see them, they might get a written tip. If they bend over backwards to make sure my drink is always full and I've got what I need, they get a generous tip. I also don't tip at places like Sonic or where they just bring me my food and that's it.

[DwarvenChef]

I tip anywhere a person has to do everything for me at the restraunt. As stated the tip reflects their performance. If it stank.. I leave two pennies, it shows that I thought about the tip and they need to improve there abilities.

Not leaving a tip just gets dropped as a guest issue, leaving 2 cents worth sends a different mesage shape up or get out...

[shavingsamurai]

careful, a new site has been up, offline and is about to come back called the Shitty Tipper Database http://bitterwaitress.com/

When it was up, they would list the restaurant, the customers name, the bill and the tip and then the waiter/waitress would leave a nice comment

like...the guy came in with his bimbo mistress and...

quite lovely.

[FiReSTaRT]

In Ontario, floor/bar staff is paid sub-minimum wages so tips are mandatory.. The person would have to be a real jackass not to get a tip from me. Average service gets about 15%.

[jnich67]

In Ontario, floor/bar staff is paid sub-minimum wages so tips are mandatory.. The person would have to be a real jackass not to get a tip from me. Average service gets about 15%.

Having been a waiter and room service server at hotels, I always tip well. As FireStart points out, these people are not paid minimum wage. Now, if someone is a real jerk, the tip will reflect it. As long as they make an honest effort, they will get a 20%+ tip from me. And remember, its not always their fault if the service is slow. Sometimes its the bartender or kitchen that is screwing up.

And I never tip for counter (starbucks, etc) service. They have not earned a tip and probably make minimum wage.

Jordan

[mhailey]

I will tip at a restaurant, and bar, but only min at the bar. Seriously, the beer was $3 and I am supposed to give $1 (33.33333%) for popping the top and handing it to me???? That's outrageous. I will usually open a tab with my card and then give one tip at the end of the night. If it was mixed drinks i give more because there was more work. Beer, not so much.

Restaurants usually 20%, if the service was bad, 8% with a written notice to the manager.

Counter service 0%

In my opinion, tipping has gone completely overboard in the US. I actually saw a tip jar at McDonald's.

[jnich67]

I will tip at a restaurant, and bar, but only min at the bar. Seriously, the beer was $3 and I am supposed to give $1 (33.33333%) for popping the top and handing it to me???? That's outrageous. I will usually open a tab with my card and then give one tip at the end of the night. If it was mixed drinks i give more because there was more work. Beer, not so much.

Of course, at my regular watering holes I know I'm going to get a fair number of drinks "on the house", and will increase the bar keep's tip accordingly

Jordan

[azjoe]

I use Dwarvenchef's method.

For example, once a waiter in Paris gave me a very hard time about my French when I was ordering. I was doing the best I could, but he claimed he couldn't understand me... something I had not had a problem with in other Parisian restaurants. I always tried to communicate in French whenever possible. He said he didn't speak English and so it took a long time to order... in fact, I actually changed my order to something he seemed to understand. Later, however, I went to the men's room and happen to pass behind him... and overheard him speaking to another waiter in perfect English. Bingo!

I personally gave him his 3-cent tip and told him (in English) that making fun of me wasn't the best way to earn a living. I could tell by his expression he understood perfectly.

Otherwise I generally do 15% in cash (even if I charge the meal)... it's up to the waiter whether he reports it . I generally don't tip establishment owners for service unless their service is significantly under priced... then I tip, and again it's up to them whether they report the tip income. (My barber is a good example of that... she charges way below market for the haircut... so she gets tipped.)

[Quick Orange]

After reading my post, I realized that I came off the wrong way. At restaurants, I usually tip between 10-15%. They have to really screw up to not get tipped.

I understand that something may not be their fault, but really, what I count is how many times they come and see how I'm doing relative to the business of the restaurant. I've had waitresses that practically lived at my table on a jam packed night, and I've had waitresses that I see twice when I'm the only person at the place. My food has to take an inordinately long amount of time before I start to get antsy with the staff.

[shavingsamurai]

ok here is my issue

if you have a great diner that has an excellent waitress and the bill is $10

and
in a fancy restaurant you have minimum to subpar service and the bill is $100

So, if 20% for a great waitress --- $2
and
the subpar waiter would get $20

why am I paying the waiter more $$ to carry my food to the table, he didnt cook it, he didnt give me good service?? wy not tip him $2 and give the wiatress $20