What percentage do you think is appropriate to tip a server?

Question

Assuming the server did a good job, what does everyone think is an appropriate tip? 10%? 15%? 20%? 25%? As a server, I am just curious as to finding out what some people are thinking when they go out to eat, get great service, and then leave a crappy tip. Please explain why this happens.

Answer 1

I'm a server too, Kelly. I can't explain why this happens. But when I go out to eat, I never even consider the total amount of the check. I consider the service given and tip accordingly, as my wallet will allow. I have been known to leave a $5 tip for coffee. And to leave a penny for a $50 dinner. Totally depends on service given.

Many people do not realize how much tips mean to servers. Most are paid backward minimum wage - $2.13 an hour, and you have to claim tips to make it up to the minimum wage. If you don't make those tips, tough. You still have to claim them. If I am in a restaurant, and don't have the cash on me to leave the tip I want to, I will stop the server and explain. And will go back at a later date and make it up to him or her.

Many people consider leaving $1 on the table as fine. It probably was in 1950 or so. Others simply don't think.

The only way I know to solve this problem is to make it mandantory for everyone to work one week as a server, and see what kind of crap we have to put up with, usually from those who either don't tip at all, or very little. It has been my experience that most people tip something. But there are those that don't. And won't. Don't believe in it. For whatever reason.

I have always gone into work with the attitude that all my tips are earned, not deserved. And wait on people accordingly.

If anyone else comes up with the reasons behind this, I'll be checking to see. I'm curious what excuses people will come up with.

Answer 2

Its a cultural thing.

If you go for a meal and pay a lot for it you expect the food to be great and the service professional and attentive. Thats why you pay $100 for a plate of ingredients which have a value of $5.

You are already paying $95 dollars a head to have had a really nice experience.

Some restaurants then put on a service charge so you are again paying a second time for someone to carry your food from the hatch to the table.

A nice experience should be the minimum level of service expected.

If a server or waitress or bar tender is extra great and leaves you saying wow, or if there is no service charge then you should leave a discretionary tip, and in europe this tends to be 10%

In the U.S however it is expected and like everyone else I routinely tip 18-20% just because its expected. Whilst I have receieved some great service and tipped 20% I have also recieved lousy service and still tipped 20% because I have seen the abuse people who do not tip enough get.

Answer 3

Generally, 15%. However, I wouldn't tip more than 10% to anyone who isn't providing an actual service, such as your buffet server. Fine dining and more affluent establishment deserve between 20 and 25%. If you're extremely happy with the service, on top of your tip tell the person how you felt, and advise them that you'll be telling other people about it. Write "thank you very much!" on a napkin and leave it in the payment tray. It'll make your servers day! If you are upset about the service, don't leave a small tip. It is better to voice your concerns, and when they are addressed, then tip the proper amount. If they are not addressed, then feel free to skip the tip. - @

Answer 4

Kelly,
Most people who leave a bad tip for good service have never worked in the food service industry. They really have NO clue as to what a server goes through to make a dinning experience perfect.
If the chef is slow, the server gets the brunt of complaints. If the host sat them in a bad spot, the server hears about it first. If the food sucked, the server has to apologize and work out a deal.
When I eat out, tips are 15 to 20% for average good service, 35% for super great service and the rare 50% for the server from heaven. For the bad server who is lazy, never smiles and is mean to the kitchen staff, they get a tip written on a napkin. The last tip I wrote on a napkin was: Never accept wooden nickles from a Camel.

People,
If you like to dine out and can not tip too much in money then be creative. When I was in college and waiting tables, I received tips that were part cash and part: bottles of really nice wine, a massage certificate to local spa, free prepaid tasting card from domain chandon, movie production tee shirts and hats, certificate for a resume make over, buds, haircuts, free dinners at other restaurants, coffee cards from Starbucks.

Answer 5

20% is great! I was a server as well, and I hate it when you give great service and end up with less than 10% as a tip. We have to tip-out at the end, so if we get $1 on a $35 check, we end up with no tip at all! I get so mad when this happens, because I give the same service to everyone, and end up with some great tips, and some lousy ones from ppl who u can judge won't give a good tip... I thought I was prejudice at first, but now, I think it's just a reality. Certain ppl don't tip!!!!

Answer 6

The standard as known is 15%. If I get good service though I generally tip 20%or more. If I get lousy service I tip below the standard. I know there are people out there who don't believe in tipping. They should spend the day as a server.

Answer 7

20% I know that most servers (if not all) get paid low wages - with the expectation that their tips will bring them up to minimum wage. I rarely if ever base it on 'level of service' - although good service makes for a nicer 'experience'.

Too many people believe that the company 'takes care' of the wait staff. When I learned that a local restaurant was paying servers $2.50/hour I was astonished! That's slave wages.

We have been trained by society to get 'deals'. Something cheaper is somehow more 'satisfying' than something more expensive. So, I would guess that many get great service and get a 'deal' by cheating on the tip.

Answer 8

I think that 15% would be a good tip for a job well done. If the server was really really good then 20%

Answer 9

15-20 for average service, more for better service, maybe 10 for crappy service.

Also, I've found that many people not familiar with tipping think that $1 per person is perfectly acceptable. It's aggravating after you've waited on them hand and foot and they raved about the food. Usually those people are either arrogant or old.

Answer 10

My friends all do 15%, but i used to be a server and i always give at least 20%. Depending on what I order, sometimes i tip more. When i go to the bar, if my table is taken good care up, i sometimes tip around 50%, but like i said, the minimum i give is 20.