Why do people tip 10 or less percent and think it is an okay thing to do?

Question

When the service is very good or at least par.

Answer 1

Sadly, Monica might be right that some people are too stupid to figure 10% plus half of 10%. Worse is that Monica, and hopefully only a few others, are ok with such stupidity.
OK...so let's figure some people arent as stupid or agreeable as Monica.

People might tip 10% or less for
1) poor service
2) lack of education/social understanding and believe that $1 or $2 on $40 is a good tip
3) lack of knowledge that waits make LESS than standard min. wage -- instead make roughly half of the std min wage. STANDARD people not the $2.35 or whatever it is now that waits are allowed to be paid vs. the $5. something that is currently min. wage
4) oversight - they forgot to bring extra cash or over stretched themselves when eating out and dont have the extra buck or two to spare
5) split tickets and no one there can do simple math (sad, but true too often)
6) Don't know about inflation due to their old age and are thinking about 1940 prices
7) they are cheap assholes (probably rich too).

I just finished reading some peoples comments and they show some severe ignorance.
FIRST min wage for servers is NOT the same min wage as others. The reason for this is you are being provided a service as a percent of your bill. When you walk into a restaurant where servers provide service you are EXPECTED to tip. Part of the deal morons! If you go to a hotel you TIP the doorman, the bell hop, everyone else. If you live in a high-rise, you TIP your doorman and maintance.
SECOND if you get bad service then tip 10% rather than the standard 15 to 18%. If its really bad service then stiff or leave 2c. But christ, pay attention to see if the server is over worked which case its not their fault. Tell the manager you think they need more staff and complain...you might get a free meal and leave the money you would have spent for a tip. WHY? Because that server is also having to deal with pricks who stiff simply because some dumb *** manager decided to be short on staff. So before you go answer why you want to punish the server for the managers mistake...go kick your dog.
THIRD.. The restaurant could pay the wage for the server, but wait. He/She would have to RAISE prices about 20% or more and listen to you complain about the price and because the server is not longer paid based, in part, on his performance to you -- your service might SUCK. Take a look at service at fast food restaurants guys! They dont get tips so why do you think they dont care?
FOURTH...If you dont want to tip then dont. But dont go to a restaurant where tipping is part of the understood SOCIAL AGREEMENT. Go to McDs, Wendy's or some other fast food place where you get your own food and serve yourself.

Stopping being MORONS on this post.

Answer 2

Some people are defiantely cheap! But they work hard for their money & don't part with it easily. They figure you are paid (or at least should be) a wage and tips are extra and are recommended not expected for outstanding service. I sometimes cannot afford the expected tip, if so, I just don't eat there. Others probably figure they aren't going to not eat at the restaurant just because they can't afford the tip. Also, whether you order a $9 burger or a $30 steak dinner, the work for the waitstaff is nearly the same. I think $1 tip, on top of wages is plenty to bring out a plate & a drink and maybe run back once for ketchup or steak sauce.

Answer 3

Because a tip is supposed to be for superior service. Waiters and Waitresses have decided it is their right instead of a perk for exceptional service. That is why you get a salary. So, quit whining and do your job well and the good tippers will outweigh the cruddy tippers by alot. I personally don't tip well because I rarely get good service anymore because the attitude is I get a tip no matter what, so bite me. Plus, managers are working waiters too thin and the customer is getting the shaft. So, your tiff may be with management, not the customer. It isn't the customers responsibility to compensate you for bad management or the fact you are in a service job that requires no education so you cannot reasonably expect a decent wage.

Answer 4

I was a waitress for 4 years, and had to deal with people blowing smoke in my face while I was pregnant, and tipping me a dollar or two for a table of 4 people...stuff like that. It was VERY hard, physically demanding work! I don't think people understand how difficult it is to be a server. You REALLY need to know how to multi-task, especially when the restaurant is under-staffed, which is very common. They also don't understand that we get "assumed" tips taken out of our paychecks for taxes! So we get ripped off, because we never get tipped as much as the government thinks we do. I'm so glad I'm not working there anymore. And I was a very good waitress, always smiled, had their drinks, appetizers, and food out to their tables in time, and made sure that they didn't have any problems. Some people are just jerks, or clueless.

Answer 5

People who eat in restaurants may or may not be rich, but they definitely either don't know how to cook or are feeling lazy at meal time. I'd say most aren't rich. For the common folk, parting with two dollars on a ten dollar meal would be easier than parting with three dollars on a thirty dollar meal. You might think well why by the thirty dollar meal when you can't afford it, but maybe the client can afford 33$, should he/she not choose what he or she likes to save to tip a stranger. What's wrong with three dollars, when it's hard earned?

Answer 6

Because 10 percent is easier to calculate, and that's okay by me.

Answer 7

I don't think it's fair to automatically expect a tip. People will give you a tip if they think you deserve it.

Answer 8

Because some people are selfish assholes with no respect for anyome, and are only nice to someone when they want someting from them.

Answer 9

they never worked in food service. Or conversely, your service sucks.

Answer 10

Because some of us think the damn owner should pay you minimum wage instead of expecting us to pay your wages.