I know it depends on the restaurant. In general, I tip 15%. But what about buffets? you get your own food, sometimes even your own drink, so all they do is clear the table. Also, at nice restaurants, like $100/couple, $15 just seems like too much money. Then there are the places where you order at the counter, yet they still have a little tip jar. For what, just taking my order and doing your job? Just seems to me that asking for tips has gotten out of control and people who work as waiters should not be making more than $20 an hour. Another guy one here says he used to make $3-5 tips per pizza he delivered...c'mon, for an $8 pizza?
2006-09-22 09:58:09 · 22 answers · asked by roobs 2 in Dining Out ➔ United States ➔ Other - US Dining Out
Lots of angry comments...but one person had a great example. Her husband works as a cook and at the end of the night, the servers make upto $10 more per hour. That was my point in the first place. Sure these guys work hard. But so do people on farms working for $5 an hour picking vegetables (their legality here being another issue), janitors, hospital maids. They make minimum wage or close to, they perform a service, but don't get tips. And as the argument that waiters make less than minimum, so fine, pay them a living wage. How said some people think we would get crappy service if we don't tip. Tell that to the teachers and nurses and other service professionals who don't require tips. I guess they perform crappy work. Also, a teacher makes an average of $40,000 per year (around $19 per hour based on 40-hour work week). So don't give me the bullcrap that a waiter should be making $40/hour.
2006-09-23 00:43:03 · update #1
Hey Rub,
Well you certainly have hit a nerve, haven't you? I must preface this by saying that I have waited tables and bartended for many years, so anything I say will probably be "tilted".
1). Most servers are taxed on their Sales, meaning that it doesn't matter what you tip them, the government says they will be making $$$ in tips on $$$$ in sales - So that's what they are taxing them for, PERIOD.
2). Benefits: What? In many other industries, Workers will get raises, insurance, holiday and vacation pay. Not your server!
3). Breaks: What? Most servers know that during their shift, if they want to make money, they will stay on the floor. This is fine on a Monday, when they start work at 4:00pm and they are home by 9:00p.m. BUT -- let's try on a Friday night, when it is now 11:00pm and they have not stopped working once! If your boss told you that on a daily basis, screw your breaks -- the company's busy -- you'd tell him to shove his job, you're taking Lunch!
4). Tipping Amount: When I used to wait tables, it didn't matter to me because it would all average out in the end. But, If a couple is spending $100, my guess is they will spend about 2 hours eating. $15.00 is too much to spend in tip? You've just tied up a table for 2 hours....
The TIP CUPS -- Toss them with the help! Just once, try tipping at McDonald's! They will POLITELY inform you that they are not allowed to accept Tips.
Servers also tip out EVERYBODY! Bartender, Busser, Hostess and sometimes, even the kitchen staff.
5). KARMA: What happens one day if someone in your family has to wait tables, would you want this karma hanging over your head.
6). Do you go to a favorite bar? If you go, is it fair to say that you will drop $15.00 for booze? 15% will be $2.25 - Does that seem like too much money? I mean after all, they are just pouring beer.
Lastly, If you feel that tipping has just gotten out of hand -- the next time you go into a restaurant, let the Owner know and ask if he/she will wait on you, I am dying to hear their response. I got mad at a friend of mine years ago because she ordered food to be delivered and the owner personally brought it over. I said to the owner later that I felt that my friend should not have tipped. The owner went ballistic! "Don't I give Good Service?"
When Tipping first started, it was in the 15th Century. You gave the Tip BEFORE your service. It was to insure prompt service!
Would it be fair to go back to that?
My answers aren't any better than anyone else, I've just been there and done that. I've seen a server work a full 2 week pay period and receive a $26.00 check because everything else was taken out in taxes.
I do know this though -- They are happy you appreciate them, but if its a problem, they won't mind it if you stopped coming in.
James in San Diego
2006-09-24 22:20:20 · answer #1 · answered by jpr_sd 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I tend to drink a lot, so I'll tip a little more if I DON'T have to constantly hunt a server down to ask for a refill.
My husband is a cook. He worked in a buffet style restaurant for 7 years. The usual for a server is $1 a head. It's funny to hear them complain about their $3.13 an hour. When at the end of the night, they ACTUALLY made $5-10 an hour more than my husband.
Now he works in a Mom-and-Pop Italian restaurant. They have a tip jar at the front desk FOR the cooks. After all, they are MAKING the food and if the food is exceptional, it's an easy way to compliment them.
The delivery people are a little different. They generally get minimum wage plus tips. The delivery people that my husband works with end up eating most of their tips in gas. The one that never fails to get me is that some delivery type restaurants will advertise that drivers make $17-20 a night. They don't mention that $17-20 includes tips. Which aren't guaranteed.
I don't mind tipping for good service, like keeping my drinks filled or having the wait staff box my leftovers FOR ME. And also, no matter how busy you are, the server better be friendly.
Just remember....tipping is a way of saying thank you for what you do. Both serving and cooking require skills. Don't get me wrong, I love to cook....but having to cook the same things every day in exactly the same way would kill me.
2006-09-22 17:18:52 · answer #2 · answered by jenn_jenn02 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Most servers make much less than minimum wage. The waitresses where I work make $3.13 an hour. Any real money they make comes from tips. If a waitress gives you good service, you shouldn't have a problem leaving them a decent tip. And by the way, 15% is the very minimum. If you have a great server who takes good care of you and is friendly, you should leave 18-20%. Most servers are college students or single parents trying to make a living. Think of that the next time you go out. And if you can't afford to leave a good tip, then you can't afford to be going out to dinner.
2006-09-22 14:55:04 · answer #3 · answered by Me 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I agree to a point I don't always tip 15 % but if they're good. that & maybe a little more. The one thing I do not like is when servers think that tipping is mandatory & service does not matter. That is so wrong. If you give bad or no service it tells me you don't work for tips. So I tip accordingly. I tip at buffets but not 15%. As for places having tip jars @ the counter, I think that customers started giving tips anyway & there they have a place to put them although I don't think they ask for them.
2006-09-22 10:13:56 · answer #4 · answered by marquie 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
We eat out at restaurants where we are seated and served by a waiter/waitress. They start out with a 20% tip.... if the service is not good... it goes down. The things that are important to us is the following. 1. drink order taken quickly and arrives in less than 10 minutes. 2. When drinks arrive waiter/waitress takes order for appetizers or meal. 3. If we are still eating salad, soup or appetizer ....do not bring main course. ( don't rush me or stack a bunch of plates all over table). 4. Keep husband's ice tea glass full at all times. 5. Take empty plates away in timely fashion.
It's tricky with me... do things on time, don't rush me, get order right ..as I add on and subtract from menu items. But if they are good and keep smiling they will end up handsomely rewarded. Even more than 20%.
As for the 'Jew' remark, ( by one of the responders ) you won't find a more generous person with the tips, the gifts, and other nice things that my Jewish husband does. I've seen him leave $40.00 to $50.00 tip for just the two of us. Remember all the nice Jewish boys went to school to become Doctors, Lawyers, and Financial Analysts.
2006-09-22 20:36:36 · answer #5 · answered by kar_summers 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Twenty percent or more if the service is great. Maybe fifteen if it is just okay. For buffets, remember these folks are probably making minimum wage, and though brief, are still providing a service to you. I wouldn't give them 22 percent, but a decent tip. Nobody tips $5 for an $8 pizza. Way out of proportion. Where the heck can you get an $8 pizza anyway?!!
2006-09-22 10:56:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
15% is for adequate service. 18-20% is for good service. If you can afford $100 on dinner but can't afford to leave a good server a $20 bill, then stop eating out. Buy frozen pizza and sit at home.
At buffets, no, you don't have to tip 15-20% unless there are extenuating circumstances.
And for counter people, I usually tip $1. They are usually making minimum wage or more so I don't find it necessary to tip them for doing their job.
I have no problem with a waiter who makes $20 an hour - in fact, I'd feel bad as many servers make $40 an hour and up.
Seriously, stop being so cheap or don't eat out. It's not your concern how much a server is making an hour. Tip them at least 15% for being adequate and stop complaining about it. If you don't like it, move to Europe.
2006-09-22 13:15:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
I tip because I have worked many jobs..,waitress,bartender,hotel maid etc..,I know what an extra dollar can mean to you if money is tight.Had an ex beau chew me a new one because I left a tip for a maid for a clean room..,I do tip 3-5 for a pizza they use the gas to bring it to you..,company doesnt pay them for the gas.,i did that too for a while.Tipping doesnt get out of hand unless you let it..,I just like to let people know I appreciate the service they provide me.Bad waitress no tip,dirty room no tip..,simple..,then there are some people who want to complain about leaving tips.
2006-09-22 10:09:34 · answer #8 · answered by halfbright 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
In response to a couple of your answers. About a waitress making a living wage rather than get tips. That would be fine with me. But in order to cover the cost of having the restaurant pay it's waiting staff what there worth, watch meal costs skyrocket. Any one out there want to pay $35.00 to $40.00 for a burger and fries at Dennys? I didn't think so. You have to remember that even during the slow or dead times a restaurant has to keep a full staff on duty in case it gets busy for any reason. And if they don't then your service level has to drop. So isn't it better to leave a 15% tip for good service and a 20% tip for great service, Than pay outrageous prices for a meal that you most likely will get bad service?
2006-09-24 07:20:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
In Cairo you have to tip the Policeman to stop traffic so you can cross the street, no lie.
I agree with you except that I think $15 on $100 is OK, and I strongly suggest you tip the pizza guy well, otherwise you may get butt pizza next time.
2006-09-22 10:05:19 · answer #10 · answered by tspbrady 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋