I have never waited tables, bt my fiance does at a fine dining establishment. Tipping in America is 20% for servers and 30% for bartenders, MINIMUM. Why do so many people stiff still? I was shocked to hear it happens in fine dining! How can people have a server who is paid WAY under minimum wage hourly slave over them and then basically steal from them when they have money to buy $100 bottles of wine? If the service is bad that is one thing....but my fiance is very attentive, knowledgable, and polite when he serves. He brings out samples, offers recommendations, and is timely and kind and still has people who spend $400 on dinner tip him $40 after taking up his 8 top table for 3 hours where he might have had more generous guests sit. I get so angry. I understand why tipping is not generally enforced. I have had awful servers a few times, but the more likely situation is that of cheap guests. If you can't afford the 20% tip, DON'T DINE there.
2007-05-09 13:36:08 · 8 answers · asked by Lindsay W 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Tipping by customers in the US is optional. 20% is not a minimum. Traditionally a tip should be 15% for good service, 20% for exceptional service. But still, it is the customer's choice what to give. If your fiance doesn't like working for tips, maybe he should explore another job. Getting stiffed, unfortuately, is a risk that he takes. A minimum tip is only guaranteed when taking care of a large party (typically 18%) - and even then, it is the customers choice if they want to leave any amount above or beyond that.
30% for a bartender tip is not a rule either. Typically it's the same as I mentioned 15%-20%. Although, if a person orders a bottle of wine with a meal, the amount of the wine normally is excluded from the total when calculating a tip.
2007-05-09 13:49:41 · answer #1 · answered by clam001122 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Although I'm certain your fiance provides quality service, you have to figure in a number of other factors in the way people tip. I'm in agreement with those who answered that a tip is generally 15 percent rather than 20 percent (although the example you've given is 10 percent, and is less than I would tip a quality server). I have definitely given 10 percent and below for poor service, but I have also given 20 percent and above for those servers who go above and beyond the call of duty. I have, on at least one occassion, actually tipped at pretty close to 100 percent of the cost of the meal.
But, additionally, I'll take into consideration what my server is being "paid" by tippers, especially when I am dissatisfied with the service. Others may do so even when they receive excellent service.
And to take that into consideration, even though your fiance works in a fine establishment, he's still seen as a server, which is not perceived as a job which requires a high level of education (not saying that your fiance is not, but simply that I've never, even at fine dining restaurants, seen an advertisement that requires servers to have a full college education). And if those people are there for three hours, and tip $40, it's still a wage in excess of $10 per hour, which you must admit is a decent wage for the education requirements. And that's for only one table...
2007-05-10 16:49:45 · answer #2 · answered by JenV 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
When did tipping raise to 20%? I tip according to the quality of the service. If it's good, it's usually at or above 15%. Bad service gets less or maybe even zero. Don't feel pressured to give a certain amount if you don't feel the service was worth it. Also, don't allow the restaurant or establishment to figure in the tip. When that happens, I cross the total off the bill and refigure it. I also make sure it's the server that gets the tip, not the cashier or the busboy or some other flunkie that had nothing to do with the service I got.
2007-05-09 23:46:02 · answer #3 · answered by bubbabear 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Yikes you're demented... 30% for bartenders MINIMUM? If you think I'm going to give him a buck every time he pours a sleeve of draft you've got water on the brain! And I'm NOT going to give a $30 tip on a bottle of wine (not that I could afford $100 for wine anyway...hehe)
Maybe everyone should follow your advice... if they can't afford to overtip they should stay home... then your fiance can try living on welfare because he won't have a job at all!
2007-05-13 06:30:44 · answer #4 · answered by endorable 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I see why you are angry.
But the fault is with the tipping system itself.
A large section of the public do not see why they should pay someone more for simply doing their job. They do not tip their dentists, accountants, or bus drivers.
Tipping should be banned, and the basic service wage should be increased to a decent level.
2007-05-09 21:56:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Who told you it's 20% minimum? Around here, 15% is a good tip. Even 10% is considered okay.
2007-05-09 21:47:53 · answer #6 · answered by kiwi 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Tipping is not required. I will tip, but it will be what I feel the service was.
2007-05-09 21:22:25 · answer #7 · answered by Terri 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
maybe he's using the tips he says he doesn't get for something else....???
2007-05-09 20:56:02 · answer #8 · answered by Steven's Mommy 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋