Do YOU know how to tip???

Question

I have been in the service industry for 7 years and am AMAZED that not everyone knows the 'standard' tip percentages for waiters and bartenders in the united states. Standard pay ranges between $2.13-$3.00 and HOUR, just enough to cover half of the taxes taken out. MY QUESTION... DO YOU know what the standard tip range is for resturant service??? (and i understand if the waiter SUCKS, then thie tip will go down, but i'm asking for good to exellent service)

Answer 1

OK people it is 2006 and everyone should know this but I'll give you a quick review on tipping etiquette:

25%-30% for amazing service
20% is standard
15% for a substandard performance
10% if it is terrible
Never, ever leave nothing

giving a 10% tip to great service is beyond insulting. A great server will make you feel like you are the only table that matters, even when he/she is in the weeds. That kind of performance deserves a reward. 10% is not a reward.

For everyone that believes 10% is a decent tip, I suggest that you work in a service position for a day and see what people have to deal with.

Please please please when you go out to a restaurant to don't act like a spoiled whiny princess and rate the server as you go (like making comments such as "well there goes her tip"). That person is there to serve you, he/she is not your servant. Try to have some compassion.

Answer 2

If you answered 10% as a standard tip, please don't eat out any more, but thank you for making me look like Bill Gates to waitstaffs everywhere.

20% is standard, a little less if service was substandard. If a server was so god awful you would consider leaving 10 % or less, you need to speak to a manager or maitre de.

Around holidays, I'll tip 50%. Also, I have five kids. If you have kids, you need to consider how the waiter or waitress deals with them and what kind of mess is left behind when you leave. Kids can be a lot more work for the waiter/waitress. OR if you're out with friends and you've been drinking, you better tip well. The only thing worse than kids are grown ups who are half in the bag.

Also, remember if you frequent a place, it's good to tip well as it may ensure great service in the future.

Answer 3

Well if you are talking about the USA then yeah I know how to tip (other places usually pay their waitresses/waiters better)

I ALWAYS LEAVE 15% for a bad job done, unless it's horrible I leave less or none at all, but usually even if it's bad I tip 15% b/c I know it's not always their fualt, it could be the cook, or the manager understaffing.

I usualloy leave 20% if they do average or decent...

depending on how much I can spend I leave a 25% to 28% tip for really good service.

I have only left a 30% to 38% tip 4 times in my entire life (the 38% tip was to a friend who begged me to go where they were working LOL of course I'm never going back there c0z the Vegan options really s*cked I just went for my friend and ended up eating grits for breakfast which I could have cooked at home LOL).

I personally think that 20% should be included in the customers exspenses to pay exspesially if it's a party of 4 or more (that's my personal opinoin). It should be manditory, like a tax. And only waived if one really does have bad service (which one could talk to the owner or manager about that to get it off their bill and leave). I also think people should get a FREE meal if the service is outstandingly BAD!
(again my opinoin)



IF I don't have money to tip, then I "A." do not go out to eat (DUH!), or "B." I go to an all you can eat where everyone gets paid minimum wage or more, and decide from there to leave 0.00 or more.
;-)

Answer 4

People don't pay attn to that unless they have worked in that field. I am a great tipper but also will not put up with sloppy rude servers or those that never get your order right. No one likes to go to a resturaunt where the server is chewing gum like a cow chewing cud and no one really wants to hear about how hard her day has been, we obviously go out to get away from the rip roar. In our profession my hubby and I end up going out often. I've had better service by male waiters then I have female. Tips to ponder; We don't really want to hear your sob stories, we don't really want you to keep asking us how our food is when we have a mouthful, we don't appreciate you reaching across our plate for any reason and we don't appreciate getting cold food when it should be hot. Of course thats the chef's fault but its the waitress/ waiters job to make sure it doesn't get to the table that way. Scorned by bad service? You betchya... do I still leave tips? You betchya... to good service I leave very very nice tips and make sure I ask for the same server each and every time.

Answer 5

Alot of people have never worked jobs that pay mainly by tips so they dont know that you basically only make what they give you. I myself never knew that until I went out to eat with a friend who was a waiter and he got all pissed off that I left the girl more like 5% so he gave her more. Since then I try to keep that in mind even if the service isnt very good.

Answer 6

About 20% but you can't count on it always. Let's face it there are allot of people that tell you to help them but when you ask, "it's got you sucker". Then the emotional beating makes you furious. You are supposed to let it go but where do you displace this anger. This is why I'm on Answers because I originally asked a similar question but I worded differently, I asked, "How do you right injustice?". Not until now have I revealed this, so read the answers I received if you like. I received over 300 responses and after all that they voted the best answer saying (lol) impeach Bush. Maybe some how it all ties in with the new world order or something like that.

Answer 7

I am a server, but I have always tipped well. I start at 15 percent and go no lower. I usually go up to 25 percent of the total bill, but if I know the server or they do a REALLY good job I give more. I also think some people can't do simple math and have no idea how to figure out the tip.

I think that if people can't afford to leave a decent tip then they shouldn't go out to eat!!!

Answer 8

For good service I will tip at 20%. The problem is that every person in this country should spend at least six months working in the service industry. That would help with the problem a lot.

Answer 9

I tip based on service and the quality of the whole dining experience...15% for any kind of service is overrated....If i didn't do my best,i don't expect a good tip..so why should someone else?

Answer 10

Everyone knows the "standard tip percentage", it's just no one cares enough to do it. Much easier to through a fiver down and leave.