I always tip about 20%. But the only thing I don't get is this. Say I order a 10 oz Ribeye, and my wife orders the same. We both get water to drink. So, the total bill is say...$29.00. I would usually tip $5 (17%).We come back the next week, and order 16 oz Ribeyes, and we get tea to drink this time. So now the bill is $40.00. It shouldn't take any more effort to pour tea instead of water, or bring out a different cut of steak should it? The service is exactly the same, but now 17% of $40 is $7! Unless the service was just mindblowing, I'd probably still give $5. Am I wrong for that? I just don't understand why I should pay 2-3 dollars more of a tip for basically the exact same food, and the exact same service just because i chose to get a better quality steak. But, if I go out to eat by myself for lunch, and get something thats like $7.99 plus a water...which means the total bill will be $8.70, I'll still give $2-3 tip. That is a 25-35% tip. What do you think about it?
2007-08-27 05:39:22 · 16 answers · asked by sptool 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Wineisfine,
You're answer isn't totally right. You say 20% is the new 15% b/c the cost of living has gone up. I disagree. Not only the cost of living has gone up. So has everything else. It's called inflation. I could go out to eat a good meal 10 years ago for $25 easy. Now, that same meal costs $30-35. You don't inflate the % to 20%. The price of food has gone up. So, 15% on a $25 meal 10 years ago got you a $3.75 tip. Paying $30 for the exact same meal 10 years later gets you a $4.50 tip. So, 20% is not the new 15%. By that mindset in 20 years we'll be paying a 40% tip. Give me a break. And don't act like being a waiter is a poor man's job. If you wait on 5 tables at a time, and you get a $5 tip from each in an hour. That's $25 an hour on tips PLUS $2 you make automatically. That's $27 an hour. That's a pretty good living.
2007-08-27 09:28:45 · update #1
Double the tax is only 12% in most states and that is low. 15-16 % is the minimum you should tip (unless you get really poor service). I tip 20% (only 10% if my service wasn't great and I tell the server why I tipped only 10%). I think all evens out for the server and customer in the end. Just give each server what they are worth. If you really had outstandind service on a $20 bill, I would give $6 and if it was ok service, I would give $4, and if it sucked, I would give $2.
2007-08-27 05:51:25 · answer #1 · answered by Mel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should tip on the total bill. Waitress must report their tips to the IRS based on a percentage of their daily food AND drink sales. So, say your waitress only serves you. Your bill is $40, and you tip $5. Well, $5 isn't even 15%. Yet, the server has the claim that you tipped them $6 or $7. b/c if they don't. They have a chance of being audited by the government. Now, your server is paying taxes on wages she did not make.
Yeah, you probably don't care. It's not your money, right? Well, how would you feel if your boss taxed you on money you did not make?? You'd be pissed.
Yeah, you see it as no extra effort. But, it's the way the system works. It's also very cheap of you. Secondly, who says it's not extra work on the waitresses part. Something they have to make the tea, if it's iced. Or if it's hot, they have to give you a tea set up. Something like, a little kettle of hot water, tea bag, cup/spoon/saucer and a few lemons or maybe milk. It IS a bit more time consuming then pouring a water.
Just tip the extra $2 dollars. Honestly, what are you going to do with it. Your server just waited on you hand and food. All you did was point to the item you wanted and that was that. Give her credit where credits due when you tip her.
What if your boss decided he just didn't feel like giving you your total hourly wage? You'd say, "Not Fair" You earned it.
Same here.
Tip 20% for good service.
20% is the new 15%. In today's society, the cost of living has increased the tip percentage. 15% is just not standard anymore. You have to remember that servers only make about $2 an hour.
2007-08-27 05:58:16 · answer #2 · answered by Answer Girl 2007 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are correct. Tipping is not based strictly on how HARD it was to serve you.
The rule, 15-20% of the total bill, is based on an assumption that a more expensive meal is more difficult to serve. Assumption. Which means that it's not always true.
Indeed, I've seen more work put into serving someone at the IHOP than at Mortons. But the tips are going to be a fraction.
If this bothers you, then tip what you think it fair given the amount of work. I think you'll find that you UNDERTIP when you order water. Tip that $7, whether you order water or tea.
2007-08-27 05:48:14 · answer #3 · answered by Jay 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would try and go with the service / food range between 15-20% depending on first the service then the food. I know making bills are nice, also more expensive food does seem to default to get more tips, but that is where one can justify tipping more for more / better food. Most places have a cut go out to the kitchen.
2007-08-27 05:50:34 · answer #4 · answered by monkeymobster 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow. I never thought about it that way. However, the etiquette is to tip a certain amount of the bill. I go with 15%, but now people are saying 20%. I usually just double the tax because that is right around 15% and then round up.
2007-08-27 05:47:28 · answer #5 · answered by Mybal Zitch 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your logic is correct it doesn't take anymore effort to pour tea than water but unfortunatly etiquette states that you tip off of the entire sum of the bill. Not just the food portion. So if you only tip $5 on a $40 bill the waiter/tress is going to feel they got stiffed. I say if you can't afford the tip or don't want to pay the tip then order take out.
2007-08-27 05:52:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
As a former waitress, I have to say that I never actually took the time to figure what percentage I was given. Wait staff is generally very busy and sometimes is not the one to take the tip. When clearing the table I just scooped it into my pocket. Now, there was occasion where I would take notice because it was slow or whatever. I think anything around 15% is quite acceptable if the service is the same.
2007-08-27 05:56:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think the way you tip, with the $5 instead of an accurate $7 according to the percentage, and the $2-3 for the $8.70, is just fine.
2007-08-27 05:49:00 · answer #8 · answered by ♫♥~nycgirl~♥♫ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
15% to 20%
2007-08-27 05:54:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I Just go by ~20% of the bill. It may not take any more effort, but you know the standard rule before ordering...BUT< I am OK with a $5 tip on any bill...lol
2007-08-27 06:27:06 · answer #10 · answered by country_girl 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋