Tipping

[WAYNO]

I gotta keep rambling on this subject, and the many double standards.

Historically, wait staff was paid near minimum wage, and their pay has been very augmented by tips. Now, in Oregon as some other places, minimum wage is being increased to fifteen-dollars an hour. So since these folks are receiving their pay "up-front", should they still be expecting a full tip?

How 'bout cruise lines and some other tourist industries? It is becoming very encouraged to pre-pay your tips. But, at the bar, not only does your bill include an additional tip, but the bartenders and servers have their hand out for even more. So a tip was paid with my passage, it was paid again added to my bar bill, and paid a third time when I'm served. If that's not enough, even though we are severely encouraged to pre-pay the tip, at the end of the cruise you are given an envelope to tip again.

And in restaurants? Often, a tip is automatically added to the final bill when you are in a group. 6-or-more, 8-or-more, or whatever the restaurant standard is. Then, more times than not, folks feel compelled to tip again, and leave tip money on the table. When I am told my party's tip will be added to the bill, I often let the waiter know they would have received more if they had just left the tip amount to me.

WAYNO.

 

[gunzo]

+1 on every word contender said !!

I feel I tip fairly most of the time, & go above & beyond when they do.
But let me get treated poorly or get lousy service & I'll be doggoned if I pay extra for that.

 

[don44]

+1 on every word contender said !!

I feel I tip fairly most of the time, & go above & beyond when they do.
But let me get treated poorly or get lousy service & I'll be doggoned if I pay extra for that.

+1 from me too!

 

[ronto]

I tip, but not members of the anti-American SEIU.

 

[RoninPA]

For 17 years I traveled extensively throughout the US and the world for my job. Tipping is as varied as anything I've ever seen. Some places overseas it is considered rude to tip a server, other places they tell you not to tip, other places tips are all the workers get as wages. I always relied on my contacts to tell me how to (or not to) tip.

I typically put my tips on my bill as I was paying with a CC, but I would ask the wait person if they shared tips or not. If they did, and the wait person did a great job, I would put a tip on the CC and then give cash to the person who took care of me and told them that they didn't need to say anything to anybody, this is for YOUR great work. To a person, they would smile, say thank you and put it in their pocket.

For the Northwest guys, I always tried to eat at least one meal at the Ringside in Portland, whenever I was there. Absolutely a great steak house. Very upscale but they didn't care how you were dressed. Best onion rings I ever had by the way. :D I was in there talking to my waiter, and found out he was the "least experienced" (best way to describe it right now) of the wait staff and he had been with them for 8 years. That to me says a lot, wait staff moves around a lot, Tyrone can probably verify that and for a guy to be with one restaurant for 8 years or more says that he makes some good money.

Here's a "tip" but I don't think that wait staff nowadays knows this. If the service is really bad, leave a 1 penny tip. To an "old" waiter/waitress, this tells them what you really think about their service.

I have had conversations with managers about both good an bad service, don't ever hesitate to talk to the managers, they really do want to know how the service was especially if someone is unhappy. Word of mouth can make or break a restaurant.

 

[smoke-eater]

One of the reasons why I'll never be rich: I'm a tipper. Even when picking up Chinese take-out (or as the English say, take-away), I'll slip the girl a dollar, same with the gas jockey - might make it $2 if he/she cleans the windows (no tip for surly, unfriendly types - I do avoid doing business with Pakistani run gas stations). As a working stiff, I appreciate those who are also hustling to make an honest buck.
The Mrs. and I had dinner recently at the Longhorn, and the waitress did such an outstanding job, that not only did I tip generously, but I followed it up with a phone call to the manager, suggesting that she receive some kind of recognition for her great work ethic.

 

[vito]

Tip the "gas jockey"? At first I thought this must be from someone who has been asleep for 50 years since its been about that long since there were "gas jockeys", but then I saw the post was from someone in NJ. What a state! Is there any other state where you cannot pump your own gas? When I am traveling I try never to have to stop for gas within the state of NJ for that very reason. My last trip I was unable to avoid it, and had to wait several minutes for a "gas jockey" to come out and pump the gas into my car. Anyplace else I would insert my credit card, pump my gas and be on my way, but in NJ I was stuck waiting. Add to the anti-gun laws in that state and I find it hard to understand why anyone would want to live there. But then I remember how many New Yorkers I knew moved to NJ because it seemed at least better than living (and paying taxes) in NY. Maybe on my next visit, instead of leaving a tip in terms of money while in NY or NJ, I will leave a card telling them "Here is my best tip for you, leave this state and move to the United States of America". End of rant.

 

[NikA]

Oregon. And if you're really lucky, some high school dropout gas attendant will tell you why your multifuel camp stove container isn't approved for gasoline because he doesn't know gasoline falls under the heading "hydrocarbon liquid." And since ultimately he is "in charge," there's no point arguing and it's best to just move along down the street to the gas station run by nice immigrants. Speaking of tipping, that guy got like a 200% tip on a buck's worth of fuel because he just filled the clearly marked container and didn't waste my time trying to show his reading comprehension on the canister warning label.

 

[Tensaw]

Never waited tables. But I make a very good living. Tipping 20% doesn't hurt my bottom line, but might just make a difference for the wait staff. Other's may not be able to tip as well, but if figure if I can, and the service is adequate I might help make up for those that either not as well of or just plain cheap.

What Jeepnik said.

 

[volshooter]

I tip 15% for no to bad service and 20-25% for good service.
Those waiters have to pay taxes on what is sold and how can anyone not tip at least 15% to cover the taxes on what you eat?
I normally slip the waiter a 20$ when they take the order and tell them it goes in their pocket, not in the pool that is shared.
I ain't rich but respect those that serve me, besides I won't miss a 20.

 

[Snake45]

why are my responses not showing up?

Did you tip the moderator?
Dave

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

But seriously, maybe you're hitting the Preview button instead of the Submit. We've all done it at least once.

 

[Rancher Will]

After reading most of the above, my wife and I discussed our experiences. I travel quite a bit on business with my wife with me, plus we regularly travel for pleasure and to visit family, etc. I guess we have patronized a few thousand restaurants since we were married 62 years ago.

There have been many variations. There has been one thing that has stood out in both of our minds about where we received the best food and service.

Fast food restaurants usually give the best service. Their service is usually quick, friendly, accurate and clean. This is why we stop there when that is all we want and we don't want to spend time.

High priced, "trendy upscale" restaurants usually skimp on real food such as meat, adding what we call "foo-foo" fixings to make us believe that it is a good meal. A meal for two that costs to, or over $100, is almost always a ripoff. The charge is almost always a charge for "Ambience". The wait staff is usually either too pushy or disappears after serving, interrupting our meal every minute or two for no reason or is not their until we get the bill. The service is usually slow too. The coffee is usually served in small cups and I have to continually tell the waiter, when I can get the waiter's attention, to refill my cup, then wait minutes to get the refill. The coffee is usually not hot either. High price restaurants must not sell much coffee since it is usually luke warm. I think these places try to sell wine instead of coffee and I hate wine. Many do sell real beer but usually only Lite beer. I like good beer but order coffee in place of lite beer. My wife likes coffee but often orders hot tea. When we are met at the door by a flunky who says that a table will be ready in a short time, than in a few minutes takes us into a room with numerous empty tables, another person brings a menu, then another person asks us what to drink, and another person finally takes our order, we have come to not expect a fine meal. I remember years ago after four of us had supper at the Stork Club in New York City for a ridiculous price, as soon as we left we all had a taxi take us to a cafeteria to get enough to eat.

The best meals are usually in restaurants that cater to families and truckers, usually in small towns or on the edge of cities. There are some good restaurants in cities but you have to find them. A full, satisfying meal for two is these places usually costs under $50, sometimes a little more, often under $40. There will be plenty of meat, usually twice the size served in upscale restaurants, fixed the way ordered, and the wait staff will be knowledgeable and friendly. Coffee is served hot in large cups. After the first cup is served, the waiter always brings the coffee pot every time he or she comes by without my having to flag them down. (I like and drink coffee with every meal, even with a beer.) These waiters know that when a customer orders coffee, refills will be needed for the meal. When I order beer, I will get beer. The beer will not be lite beer. These are the places where I leave the best tips.

 

[Taterman]

I'm very similar too you Will, except for the eating at expensive places part. Can't afford that but I like smaller diners too and family/trucker places.

 

[Kevin]

I thought about this thread last night. We went to this burger joint. Nothing fancy, but right next to a movie theater, so lots of teenagers on a Friday night. No big deal. But the wait staff would literally clear empty plates as soon as you put the last bite in your mouth, swallowed or not. Just so super fast....I told sweetie I felt like we were rushed out the door. Our bill was 40 dollars and I left 5 bucks...someone's suggested that here. Otherwise I would have left probably 8 dollars or so.

It was the kind of place that over salts the French fries to get you to drink more beer.... food was marginal, but I won't go back.

I was a waiter for close to 3 years in college, and relied on tips to survive. So in general I am a good tipper. Especially if I know the person is trying to do their best at both work and school...as many waiters/waitresses are in school....

One time, at this resort in Northern MN (Crane Lake... south of International Falls) my "tip" was a ride in this guy's sea plane. How cool is that??? !!! I talked the customer/pilot, into getting some of my friends rides also. Pretty fun afternoon.

 

[caryc]

Waiting tables is hard work.
I tip at least 15% and usually more.

Until you get one like I had.
Sit down, wait person takes order, delivers food and drink type.
I tipped 20% and the waitress got huffy. She wanted 25%.
I've not been back in there since (two years now).

YES, they are trying to make a living. But YES the prices keep going
up (thus the tip for a fixed percentage) and my income DOESN'T.

I think 10% for lousy service, 15% for reasonable and 20% for good service.
But a huffy server gets zero, because I do not go back.

You tipped 20% and the waitress wanted 25%. I'm curious, how do know she wanted 25%? I've never heard of a waitress telling the customer how much they were supposed to tip.

 

[contender]

Just like tipping,,, the responses here are varied.
:D :D

As noted,, a GOOD waiter or waitress staying at the same place for years is a sign of a person with a work ethic,, and knows what they are doing.

Waiting tables is NOT easy. Demanding snobs, bratty kids, cheap eaters,, folks expecting a prime dinner for the price of McDonalds, pranksters, etc, etc. can make you miserable.
Yet,,, those folks who do enjoy the work,, and make sure they try hard to please,, (and often succeed,) allow for the problems,, and still give good service are truly a pleasure to have serve you. THOSE folks are the ones who get good tips & make a good living.
It's the demand & expectation of tipping that I find WRONG!!!!!

 

[blume357]

I generally over tip... as others have said more often than not it is just a few dollars and I usually waste more than that every day.... these are folks just trying to make a living .... even semi bad service I usually tip 20%....
when I take my wife out the tip can be 30-40 bucks..... she likes really nice restaurants..
I don't usually drink alcohol when we go out... I'm driving and also carrying.... but if it is during the week and I've worked that day I can go through 6 or more glasses of water.... servers have to often work to keep me supplied... that's almost as much work as if I was drinking beer, wine or spirits... but they don't charge for it.... So, I think I need to figure this in. I also don't try to figure out the percentage before taxes.... my 20% is on the bottom line.
as for the order at the counter and they then bring it to you places... well, I generally throw a couple bucks on the table....

 

[gtxmonte]

Can't say I much agree with what Rancher Will said. I find more "upscale" restaurants have the best service and wait staffs. The reason? usually these places are a bit more pricey, they hire better workers and those workers stay, because they make good tips.

My girl and I frequent a Connor's Steak and Seafood here locally. Not cheap, usually costs the two of us $150 or so with a decent bottle of wine and desert. But the service is outstanding, the food is great and a server that we seem to get regularly for some reason, says she has been there 10 years. And there are several others who have been there a while and I think manager is same since place opened.

Truck stop food?............pass. Little mom and pop family restaurants, some are great, some are lousy.

 

[stubbfarmer]

Tipping should be something that makes you feel good as well as the server. I read somewhere women try to figure an exact amount by percent while men round to make it easy.

 

[mishtub]

I remember when I was still gainfully employed and went to dinner with my supervisor. We were both on expense accounts he had a surf-n-turf while I just had a burger, fries, and soft drink. When I later filed my expense sheet for re-reimbursement, he called me in and wanted to know why my tip was equal to his. My reply, "It took the waitress the same effort to bring my meal as it did yours, why should the price of the meal have any bearing on the tip?" He signed off on it right away. There have been times when my tip at a restaurant was equal to or more than the price of what I had to eat.
Quality, fast, friendly service usually gets a better tip.

 

[gtxmonte]

I remember when I was still gainfully employed and went to dinner with my supervisor. We were both on expense accounts he had a surf-n-turf while I just had a burger, fries, and soft drink. When I later filed my expense sheet for re-reimbursement, he called me in and wanted to know why my tip was equal to his. My reply, "It took the waitress the same effort to bring my meal as it did yours, why should the price of the meal have any bearing on the tip?" He signed off on it right away. There have been times when my tip at a restaurant was equal to or more than the price of what I had to eat.
Quality, fast, friendly service usually gets a better tip.

While that's true..........it's also no more trouble for her to bring the $100 bottle of wine vs the $19 bottle. So should your tip, reflect your decision to have the expensive bottle??.......questions, questions..............LOL!!!!