fellow bartenders?

Question

when is big tip too much-and i know "Never" is best answer-but you all know what i mean. When do you feel like they are giving because they expect more. And before i hear the 15 yr olds chime in-trust me-HAVE bartended long time and taken 100$ or more tips (on 30$ tabs)-just asking, cause at times it almost-ALMOST feels wrong-LOL

Answer 1

I tended bar YEARS ago and it was not unusual for older gentlemen to give me big tips, especially in upper class establishments, ($20 -$100). It made them happy to be able to talk to a pretty girl and enjoy their friendly smile....

Now if they had been obviously after something else I would not have accepted it....I had those customers too...

Answer 2

I'v bartendered for 10 years and the biggest tip i got was $1000, The guy was having a good night and had just won big at the casino. He also got drinks for nearly everyone in the bar and I was happy to accept his money. A tip is a tip and at the end of the day if they can afford to spend it, it's their way of saying thank you and I had a really good night.

Answer 3

When a tip makes you feel uncomfortable it is too much. As you probably know it's hard to give it back though. This is how I handled it. If it is a regular customer I would try to return it and if they wouldn't take it the next time I served them I would pay the tab off without giving them the bill.

Answer 4

Having worked my way through college as a bartender, sometimes I wondered if the customer actually meant to leave as much as they did. I would discretely ask them, "As much as I appreciate this, did you really mean to leave that much?" Sometimes they thanked me and left a smaller tip, but in most cases they said to keep it. A tip is a gratuity for services already rendered. If they expected anything more as a result of a big tip, then they were sadly disappointed.

Answer 5

My biggest tip was $800. Initially the gentleman had tipped me $300. I graciously accepted his tip. Shortly afterwards, he asked me for the tip back. I was not too happy but I returned the $300. He began to argue with me that he had only given me $200. I insisted that it was $300. He handed the money back to me and proceeded to remove another $500 from his pocket. He handed me that money also and told me that he appreciated my honesty. At the end of the night, we were all happy. No amount of money is too much. However, you cannot buy back your pride. If anything seems to be uncomfortable or just not worth it, don't accept the tip. If they offer it, take it. The economy sucks.

Answer 6

A tip is a tip no matter what the amount is. If the person can afford it, then by all means. It's how the tip is given determines if it's wrong or right. For instance... a tip with a sexual innuendo is usually not a good sign... and should be refused.

Answer 7

i have taken $200.00 tips before. it is all about where you are how many people and what you are doing right? Maybe they have a little extra and they want to give to you. Who cares. as long as they don't come back and expect it back someday. I have had people say that to me too. "remember when i gave you that 100 bucks? well can i borrow..." whatever.

Answer 8

I had MANY people leave large tip....one New Year's eve it was over $200 from one person....he felt bad being young I had to work while my friends were out....

Answer 9

just be happy. if it is way to much then ask them if they ment to leave that much ecspecially if they are flat out wasted. otherwise just thank them and be grateful b/c there are always the people that barely tip at all or not even.