Does service matter in your tipping of a server?

Question

Does a servers service influence the % you tip on the total bill? if so, what factors play into or influence what you consider good service? would you prefer a friendly , witty or interesting server over someone who leaves you alone and just does their job? do you know servers only make 3.25 an hour?

i work at a local white tablecloth establishment and i do VERY well (32k+/yr) but i was wondering what the consensus for normal restaurant goers is regarding tipping.

Answer 1

To me, service matters very much. If the quality is there, prompt service, professionalism, I tip well above the minimum.



That and I am lousy at math anyway . . .

Answer 2

The reason in the US is that in most, if not all states, servers are paid below minimum wage. The other jobs you mentioned are paid at or above minimum wage. To add to this, servers' W-2 forms include Tips earned (which are estimated by the restaurant or restaurant manager) by law. The tips on the W-2 is not actual tips earned, but what the restaurant estimates the server would have earned and is reported to the IRS. The reason it is estimated is that many servers receive tips in cash and also "tips out" to other restaurant employees (bus boys, bartendars) so the actual amount is not known. Therefore if servers are not tipped --- not only do they earn below minimum wage, but they are taxed on an amount they did not make. For other low paying workers that may "serve" me --- I tip if their service is above expectations simply to show my gratitude. Or I tip if I regular get some sort of service from a certain individual regularly as a special thank you. But to me, other workers (ie coffee shop/McDonalds, ice cream) - I see no reason to tip unless you feel you are given extra special service. And I am in agreement that perhaps the restaurant industry should change whereas servers are paid from the restaurant and the prices are a bit higher. Then you would not be "obligated" to tip in a sense. Then you would only tip if the service was above and beyond (usually I tip higher if this is the situation otherwise I leave a minimumal tip to cover their salary which averages 15 - 18% of bill - above service 20%+ but that is my personal opinion).

Answer 3

Less than passable service, I complain and leave NO tip.

Passable service about 10-15% (whole range from barely passable to passable)

Excellent service, I tip more. Service is the ONLY thing that comes into play for tipping, not the quality of the food or the atmosphere of the restaurant. If the food is bad, the server can take it back and offer a replacement selection, so I realize it isn't the server who is buying and cooking inferior food.

Answer 4

Oh, yeah. 10 percent for a not-good job, 15 percent for normal serving, and 20 percent or more for above-and-beyond the call of duty.

I like a server to be witty and interesting, but not hovering. OTOH, they should be paying attention, if someone spills a glass, or drops a fork, they should be THERE, or easily called. And I really like having my water glass filled at all times.

I think a good server has to be a good judge of human nature -- some people like minimal service, while others almost want to make the server part of the party.

(-: You must be a pretty good server, then.

Answer 5

My tips, even before the waiter/waitress gets to the table is 20%. If the service is excellent, the tip will be more. If service is on the poor side, the tip will go down to 15%. If it is horrible (I know the difference between being having to many tables to wait and just being lazy), the tip may be a dollar.

Now that I'm on the other side of the menu, I reward those that do great work.

Answer 6

The single most important factor is the Refill if you do not refill my drink I will not give you a good tip. The more you fill my cup the better the tip. Also I like for the server to have a positive attitude.

Answer 7

Servers make more than THAT in my country (Canada).

Anyway, I do tip servers. I start at 10% for basic, non-chalant attitude... then add to that if they're nice/attentive but non-intrusive..... I've tipped as little as 3 cents!! ... and up to 55%!!

The 3 cents was almost 18 yrs. ago: Local diner, server kept leaning at the back counter talking to short-order cooks... would drop food on table and walk away (no eyecontact etc)... I asked her, "Oh, excuse me, could I have a spoon, please"... she dug in her front (dirty) apron, pulled out a spoon, and threw it on the table...the spoon actually skidded a bit!!... then walked away.

Patrons all around had the same treatment. One woman actually got up to get the coffee pot to pour herself more coffee!!
My friends got mad and said, "Don't tip"..... I said NO... she'll just think we're cheap. So, I came up with the suggestion of leaving 1 penny per person!.... as we left (outside) I looked in and saw her looking down at the pennies.

I wasn't being mean.... what would you have done in that situation. I'm glad to say I've never had to do that ever again.

Answer 8

i usually tip between 15-20% but if the waiter/waitress does somethings that aggrivate me i will tip lower. some of those things are:

-waiting forever just to get our drink order. i understand they might be busy but just to getting the drink order will make us happy for the time being.

-someone who does not refill drinks. i cannot stand that.

-someone who openly stands around and chats with friends while we are in need of something

-someone who doesnt know when to go away. i like friendly service but sometimes you get a server who just gets too much in your business. i've had some that pester the hell out of my child. she is 6 and shy. a simple hi sweetie how are you is fine but i had this woman in my childs face saying stuff like "you know you have to finish whats on your plate here!" you dont tell my child what to do EVER!

i do not, however, adjust the tip of the server if the food sucks because i know it is not the servers fault. it is the resturants/cooks. i dont beleive in taking that out on the server who is doing a good job of serving.

anywho those are a couple of my pet peeves..

Answer 9

yes, it does...the total bill is already inclusive of the government tax and the service tax and what the diners tip is their own generosity and the amt is reflected on the kind of service given...i'd prefer a friendly server walking up to me with a smile...smile really enhance my appetite...nobody would want to go to a restaurant without a smile...when there's no smile, the food will not be tasty either

Answer 10

Yes-but it has to be pretty poor service before I tip less than 10%. I really prefer someone who is paying attention in case I want something but not hovering.