Tipping Etiquette

[Naeo]

My tipping strategy is thus: for larger meals/bills, 15% if there was more or less a "whaddaya-want-here-it-is" type of service. On smaller meals/bills or with better service/food, usually 20%.

 

[Dr. Pepper Unlimited]

I'll never understand the tipping scene here in the United States. We're expected to tip for some of the most ridiculous reasons too. It's insane...and if you don't, you're looked at like the worst person in the world. Everyone gets paid to do their job. I'm not paying you on top of that to do it [your job]. I'm not your payroll and I should never be expected to be. Why are some jobs expected to make tips and others aren't? The "system" (if you can call it that) is so broken.

I work 10-12hr shifts dealing with criminals every day and the only tip I get is "Fuck the police". Yeah...I'll pass.

 

[Montassiner]

What is interesting being an Australian on holidays though is that I often forget how it is in different countries, and it's only afterwards that I'm like - oh no! they will hate me!

It isn't intentional, it's just not on our radar. But we get a reputation for not caring just the same.

 

[Ledan]

I find North America bull in that you pay tax separetly. In Europe, and everywhere else I've been, tax is included in the price. If a sign says: Coke 20kr, you pay 20kr not 20 and then some.....

 

[Flames66]

I always tip generously; the restaurant industry sucks, period, and the way waiters are paid is retarded. Most of them need good tips just to get by. You aren't helping gild their mansions' toilets by throwing in another %5, you're getting their utilities payed on time.

But more than just the money, it's always worth it to just be courteous and nice to your waiter. Anyone that's ever worked in the service industry can tell you that it only takes one asshole customer to ruin your whole day, and you don't know whether you're the table right before or right after that guy. So it's worth it to try and make up for that- never mind just being the right thing to do anyway.

I can't stand eating with people who treat their waiters like garbage. I've just never understood what it is about a notepad and a button-down/vest combo that scream "I'm not a person working eleven hours a day for sub-minimum wage" to some people.

I'm not sure I'm with you here. Common courtesy is phrasing your order politely eg. "Could I have a medium rare stake please?" rather than "Medium rare stake! Now!!". Common courtesy is not giving everyone you speak to money.

Basic rule of thumb is "Don't mess with the people who handle your food". If you eat at some place regularly, tips are absolutely essential. If you are well acquainted/friends with your server, likewise. Standard fare is 15%, negotiable depending on the quality of service. Generally ordering many dishes at once or more expensive dishes should be rewarded with larger tips (i.e. ordering lobster or eating at a fine dining establishment), small or inconsequential dishes (i.e. a hamburger, desert, or appetizer by themselves) can call for smaller tips. If you're eating at an establishment that's packed (i.e. a newly opened restaurant or you're watching the game there with friends) or catch a restaurant right before they're closing, a large tip is much appreciated. Never pay below 10% (or none at all) unless a.) the service sucked, or b.) you never plan to eat there again or very irregularly regardless of the service (and are a douche).

I eat at the same place every week, am known there and have never tipped the staff. For them, seeing casual violence, threats and obscene language and behaviour is a daily occurrence because of the area, so just seeing a friendly face is a relief. The food is reasonably priced, but still I would not pay extra for something they are already paid for.

 

[Lieju]

I am so glad I live in a country (Finland) with no tipping. People are expected to be paid well enough without tips.

When travelling (and I've briefly lived in the States and travelled in the EU) I always check tourist guides for this kind of a thing.

 

[RuralGamer]

I always tip if the service has been good. I tip even if the service was meh-okay. Waiter/waitress shows me respect as a customer, I'll reciprocate with a tip and a comment, because I know how much of a difference a "thanks" makes.

 

[bmasta]

around me it's usually 10% of the bill, 7 dollars will give 70 cents (or 1 dollar if you feel generous). simplifies the math, more or less 10% bonus malus if the guy's a prick. asking for a tip is a guaranteed way of not getting any, serving well gets you a bonus and you're at around 20-30%

 

[Cheshire Cat]

It's not down to me to pay the servers wages, that is the job of their company/organisation.
If the wages are so low that the server cannot live on them, then the government needs to step in and set minimum wage laws and controls, or the server needs to learn better money management.

 

[Wushu Panda]

Of course I give a standard amount. It's included in the bill and it's called their wages.

I have no doubt that there are rude people around that make the job harder than it needs to be. I've seen it happen. I also feel no responsibility to make up for those people by leaving extra money when I've received nothing exceptional.

If someone provides me with great service, I will tip them. If I get the service that is expected, then that's what their already paid for. And if I receive shitty service, which does happen, I will complain and generally, I won't pay the full bill.

Hospitality work is about service. If you don't provide the service, you don't deserve the pay.

so do people who work in tech support
do you tip them?

I only tip if the service was really good, otherwise they didn't earn it. (being from the uk, they are earning livable wage anyway).

It must be nice to live in the UK where you can stiff complimenting the service you get and feel alright about it. But as it was said in OP, servers in the United States DO NOT in fact get livable wages included into their wages. I suppose it also forces more servers in the United States to go above and beyond elsewhere. Sure, I get the occasional bad server but more often I get a server who always has a smile, greets me, and makes me feel at home.

I heard you sad people dont even tip your bartenders. What a terrible place it must be.

If you were able to tip tech support, dont you think they would be more useful and efficient?

 

[suitepee7]

other style restaurants-- you know the type. You go in, stand at the counter, order, and sit down with a number. The staff brings you food, and busses you table, but you get your own drinks and ordered your own food. What the heck do you do here? Its not exactly a fast food joint, where no tip is expected, and its not a table service restaurant...

i work in one (in the UK mind you) and our company policy doesn't allow us tips (that the managers know about). i've worked there 3 and a half years, and i have only been tipped once, because i went out of my way to help the customer because we were quiet and i was in a good mood. other than that, i have only ever seen 2 people ever get tipped. i don't expect tips because the customers do a lot of the work, but we serve so many people and we are seen as a sort of fancy cafe so people just don't.

personally i'll tip a proper restaurant, usually 10-15%, so for me and my girlfriend eating out, about £3-4, or i'll tip my hairdresser about 20% because she does a good job.

 

[A BigCup of Tea]

there is a place here in the uk called frankie and bennys, i found out the other day that the sly bastards actually work their tip into your bill!! lets just say that's the last time i fo there as i believe the amount i tip should be based on how the service is.

pizza hutt do that too. I think a few chain s try to. But for the most part its not that widespread yet fortunately.

strange my local pizza hut doesn't do that, ive only ever paid for my meal (unless i tip obviously)

 

[MetalMagpie]

Standard tip in the UK is meant to be 10% (although research suggests the average tip given is more like 5-8%), and we only do it at restaurants with table service. It's not considered abysmally rude not to leave one at all, but it generally indicates you were disgruntled about something.

what do you tip at restaurants withOUT standard table service, excluding fast food style joints?

No table service, no tip. It's meant to be for the waiter/waitress. So if there isn't one, there's no point tipping!

 

[DoomyMcDoom]

I live in Victoria BC Canada, here there's a ton of restaurants, and none of them pay well for wages, our minimum wage, well I live on it, barely, I tip when I can afford to, and I encourage others to tip at least 15% if the server is on the ball, if they aren't, 10%, but not leaving a tip is BS, this city is not a cheap place to live, and don't fool yourself into thinking all these servers live somewhere cheap, cuz I can guarantee that kinda place doesn't really exist.

Just saying, tip em something, don't be a jerk if you can help it, least here.

 

[RickyRich]

I usually tip pretty generously. I spend only a bit on myself, fifteen dollars, maximum. And I usually tip with about five bucks. That's about 1/3 the cost of the meal and most of the time they deserve it. But, if I get a waiter/ waitress who basically forgot I existed, then guess who is getting the shitty 2 dollar tip in quarters and nickels?