Tipping, how generous are you?

Question

I am a waitress, I would like to know what everyone thinks is a good tip to leave, and if you leave good ones. Why is it that some people actually think its ok to leave less than 10%. Might I add, that I have actually waited on Patriots football players and other famous people (Ty Warren, Ty Law, and Bobby Brown), given them respect and privacy and NEVER have asked for an autograph and they leave 10% or less, when I know they make more during 1 game than I make in a year. Your oppinion please...

I also might add, that I do average 20% at the end of the day, but thats taking the good with the bad, my point is, unless I suck (which I am sure there have been days where I haven't been on top of my game and I know when that has been, and I know my tips have been affected) then why wouldn't someone leave 20%... My thoughts are, people who answer this, are people who DO tip good or even great, and the others, are too cheap to comment.

Answer 1

This is the very reason I think it should be mandatory that every person has to wait tables for at least a week! I've waited tables and been a bartender and I have seen my share of cheap people. I even had a fellow bartender leave me absolutely nothing. I just don't get it. I always leave at least 15% (for really poor service - you just never know the kind of day that person is having) and I try to tip at least 25%. It's not the server's fault that they get only $2 - $3 an hour. I don't think most people realize that the restaurant forces you to give back a percentage of the tips for them to give to the host, bartender, and bussers, either. They also don't know that you have to do things like opening and closing sidework, even clean the bathrooms. It's a really hard job and people who are mean and cheap to servers should be forced to eat at home.

Answer 2

Some people just do not know how to tip, or do not feel that they should tip as well. Often I do not think that people know what servers make per hour. I am a server as well, so I do tip well. Even with service i wouldn't call great I will leave 15%, which is the standard for some people when they get great service. I think some people believe 10-15% is good for a tip, when it's not really.

I always tip close to 20%, and will tip more depending on the service and everything else. I have noticed sometimes it seems people that have more money do not tip as well either. I have never waited on someone famous, but I have with those who I know have money and they are even cheaper than others.

Someone I work with told me one time they were watching Oprah, and she does not believe that tipping should occur in restaurants, as she would rather have it in the bill already, like added into the food and everything!

Answer 3

Well the Patriots just prove that most ball players just have no manners in anything they do. Why does this not surprise me. Well, there is an adage, and my husband sort of fell into this until he met me, the more money you have the less you tip. Then my husband met me, and I was a waitress during the summers in college, so I tip between 18% to 20%, depending on the service, but I also leave NOTHING when I get a really bad waitperson who really screws up and doesn't apologize.
Anyway, my husband comes from major money and he was the worst tipper when we met, it embarrassed me and i would add extra money, he has finally learned better and tips correctly. Etiquette calls for a 15% tip, so if you do get a 15% tip you really shouldn't complain. If you get less, then it is bad manners, but what can you do, kick them in the shins. If you get more, be glad that there are enough of us out there that have been in your position and appreciate what you do.

Answer 4

If service is bad, I give at least 15%. If service is average to good, - 20-25% (I usually round up to the dollar or nearest $5). If the service is great, (which kinda sucks for pot tips) I give 30-50%. I tend to overtip, according to friends. That sucks that people would tip less than 10%. Some people just don't know. How they don't know, I will never get the answer. Unfortunately, some people are just jerks and think the service industry is "easy" because you don't need a degree. Too bad they are sorely mistaken! I used to work as a cocktail waitress, so if the tip was less than 10%, a few times i asked the customer what I did wrong (puts them on the spot or it teaches you what you can improve on). If the tip was the loose change or a dollar, I would give it back to the customer and tell them that they obviously needed it more than I did. Keep up the good work and keep your head up!

Answer 5

I have been a waitress for 3 years and I rarely see a tip over 15% anymore. I have worked at private country clubs (which are the WORST!!!!!) and various family restaurants. Personally, when I dine out I tend to leave 20%. I think that it is respectful to leave 20%. Many people don't know how much work and stress a waiter/waitress goes through on one shift. It is a high-impact, high-stress job! I have gotten many compliments, but not an average good tip. I did once, however, recieve a $40 tip for selling a candy bar! I think he was just a pig-headed guy tho - looking for something else! lol... that was also my last day there!

Answer 6

I always leave about 20%, or if I'm at a buffet, $1 for each person in my party. If the waitress/waiter was very nice, I leave a few bucks extra. It's amazing that rich people should be even less generous with their money than the average Joe who makes a fraction of what rich people do. Have you ever noticed that the big families with tons of messy kids that spill stuff all over the floor and make a lot of noise always tip less than the middle-aged couple who order a small meal, are polite, and don't make a mess?

Answer 7

If you are satisfied with the service 15% is the industry standard. I tend to raise it to 20% or more in restaurants with very low prices. In fancy restuarants you do not need to tip on a $100 bottle of wine served with a full meal, but do take it into consideration. Some people just don't know what the minimum wage for this job is! I think right now it is about $2.75 an hour because it is considered by the gov't to be a job where most of your salary comes from tips. My motto is "If you can't afford a 15% tip you can't afford to eat out". For poor service, I MIGHT go as low as 10%. For friggin horrible service I leave $1 preferably in change with as many pennies as you have in your pocket. But ... hello out there cheapskates!!! 15% is expected here in the United States!

Answer 8

I am outrageously generous. I liked a waitress I had last week so much that I left her $10 on a $12.25 check!!!

I too am a server and I enjoy getting really good tips so much that I like to spread the joy whenever I eat out, unless, of course if the service sucks.

I usually always get between 15 and 20% when I work and often more. And I don't work at a fancy joint, just a family owned working class place.

Answer 9

Well some of the people in the world want to go out to eat and just pay and not worry about the tip because in their mind hey they pay them by the hour. And also some people even believe all waitress and waiter's are paid minium wage. But I have also tried to leave between 15% to 20% tip but it depends what kind of service I get too. One time the waitress got mad because we didn't leave her a tip, well why wait more than 15 minutes for her to go ask us for drinks then forget about our drinks, then she wiil remember and come back and ask again then etc. then she never took our orders till the manager just happened to go by our table and ask us if everything was all right, then the **** hit the fan. But teh way I see it if you don't like the job find another one or leave your moods at the door.

Answer 10

I am a great tipper.
Many of our family members have worked in the service industry and know that this is vital to a server, bartender, cook etc.
I am not wealthy, but I tip good; usually 20-50 sometimes 80-100%...Even for terrible service I will leave a buck or two.
Tipping Great at local restraints also pretty much guarantees great service and food in the future!!!
Many times our family will eat out on holidays just so we can bless a waiter, waitress, cook etc!