What is all that fuzz about tiping in the USA?

Question

In Europe you tip what you like an not 15% at least where I come from.

What is so special in america? are the waiters not paid? do they rely on tipping?
Or is it just rude not tipping in USA and England?

15% of a 300 bill means 45 for the waiter, that's just insane!

I think the salary is included in the price

I'd like to add that I mean in the USA and ENGLAND, thanks to the people who remembered this in their answer.
I don't know exactly how it is overseas

I live in Europe, waiters/servers are well paid here, and are not dependent on your tip for salary, of course that would mean some extra cash.

I DO LIKE eating out, and I DO KNOW that it is just too expensive, already without the extra tipping....

thanks anyway for all the good answers I had so far

Answer 1

I tend to agree with you. I think they should do away with it. For one thing, it's confusing sometimes on who to tip, what to tip on and how much. Then there is the built in tip, which I personally don't like. Then there are the people who get paid plenty (hairdressers) but still expect a tip. They should do a way with it, it's extortion.

Answer 2

I would also like to say (as an American) that I am so used to the system that I pretty much just include my expectations of the tip into how much I am willing to spend for an evening (so, I know that whatever I order will automatically be inflated by 15-20% and I just add that in).

One thing that has not been mentioned is that the experience you have in a restaurant is in large part dependent on the behavior of your server. Of course the quality of the food is important, but...if I went to a restaurant with amazing food and equally awful servers, I certainly wouldn't go back! If I did, I would just get takeout and circumvent the whole server situation and tipping! I like the fact that I can show my appreciation by the amount of my tip and reward good work (and the converse!).

I've lived in other countries where there is no tipping (in Asia, the Pacific, and Europe--although not in England) and I have to say (bias, admittedly, may be a part) that overall servers in the US seem more efficient and attentive. I think this is in no small part because they know that they are working for the tip. Because, as others have mentioned, servers are usually paid below minimum wage in anticipation of their tips making up the rest.

Answer 3

A lot of states in the US have sub-minimum paying jobs (legally) for people who are waiters - so they make (for example) $5 an hour and depend on tips for the rest of their income.

It's just customary & considered the "polite" thing to do. And the 15% rule has gone up to more like 20%. Large parties in a restaurant often have the gratuity automatically included in the bill.

Answer 4

It should be 20-25% here on a good meal with great service. But if you have a party of 6-8 or more, the tip is usually tacked on because people don't know how to tip. Yes, servers are underpaid, and do rely on tips. And on top of that, the servers usually have to tip out the hostess, dishwashers, busboys, you name it. So that $45 will really only be about $10 by the time they're done tipping out.

Answer 5

They have to pay taxes on tips, whether they receive them or not. Tipping 20% is what you would normally do for, "good", or "OK" performance.

Tipping then becomes a way of expressing ones feelings about how well they were served. If the service was pathetic, leave nothing, or better yet, leave a penny, or nickel, because leaving nothing often is interpreted that you merely forgot, while a penny, or nickel is so small as to be a huge insult!

When I take my g/f to our favorite Italian restaurant, I always tip very generously. That way we've become known as regulars there, and are seated and served very quickly.

Answer 6

In my experience, Servers usually are paid about 2 or 3 dollars an hour, so yes they do rely on the tip. Plus at the end of the day they usually have to tip the busy boy and taxes are also taken out of their tips.

Answer 7

The waiters only get paid a little bit, they get most of there earnings by tips. So yes, we are basically paying thier salary. I know its insane. After you pay so much for a meal, you have to pay the server so much too. But its rude not to do it.

Answer 8

The Wait Staff in the USA receives a very small hourly wage, much less than minimum wage. They earn a living by the SERVICE provided and the quality of the food.
I normally pay at least 20% and at times much more. In addition we dine out about 10 times a month.
There is NO SALARY in the USA, just a minimum hourly wage.

Answer 9

Here in the states, restaurants generally pay their waiters a very paltry salary, knowing (or believing) they will make up for it in tips. So, essentially, it is a matter of the customers subsidizing the staff's salaries for the restaurant.

Answer 10

The salary is not included in the price, and if you don't like tipping, don't go out to eat. We have our ways of revenge!