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Bill W · June 9

Having been a waiter during college at a high end restaurant, I know how important the tips are, since those types of places have such a low minimum wage they can pay the help. Not only that, but we also gave a percentage of our tips to the cocktail waitress, the cooks, and the busboys, so small tips don't go very far. I always tip 20% unless the service was terrible.

Valkyrie · June 9

Quote

Where is this random babbling leading to you ask ? We had great service and meal, like above and beyond. So when I looked over and saw a friend's tip was 0%, I felt like I had to compensate for him. Do you call him out in private? I do understand that we are being asked to tip everywhere nowadays. Maybe the exception being McDonald's. It seems like even places like Subway they expect you to tip them before you leave. Still, I think when someone, including the cook staff, give you an excellent meal that you give a bit extra to say thanks.

My intention is not to start WWIII here . As I know this is one of those different point of view things that Val was talking about in this weeks prompts, but be honest, no judgement, no replies, no justification needed. Do you tip for a prepared menu out, or maybe a sandwich at Subway or a latte at Starbucks? I'll be honest, they have got me right where they want me If it is a meal out, probably going go 20% if I'm happy. In the other places, and the smallest they have is 10%, I'll choose other, and put in 5%.

The scenario with your friend is a perfect tie-in to my prompt blog. If I had noticed someone doing that, I would have compensated for that as well.

In a sit-down restaurant, I always tip 20%. For me to tip less, the service would have had to been pretty sub-par. I understand those workers rely on those tips to make up for being paid less than minimum wage, and it's hard work. I generally don't tip at places with a set menu because those workers, at least in my area, are being paid above minimum wage. Although recently, we had a food truck at work and they really went above and beyond with accommodating my modified order. They even charged me less than I was expecting, so I added on an extra couple of dollars, which was more than 10%, I believe.

Mikiesboy · June 9

I hate tipping. Why? Because it's no longer what they were originally meant for. It was a thank you for the excellent service. Now, especially after COVID it's expected. I shouldn't be expected to make sure everyone has a living wage. I'll tip well if great service is provided.

I shouldn't have to prepay a tip, so that my food is delivered to me within a decent time frame.

kbois · June 9

I'll tip according to service. If it was average it'll be 15%. Excellent service gets 20%. Crappy service depending on how bad it was will get maybe 10%. Horrible service- I'll walk out if we haven't ordered anything or they'll get nothing and possibly a Karen moment when I'll let the manager know why I'm not leaving a tip.

My one exception to the 20% is when we go to our usual Cafe for breakfast. Our check is about $25. I'll leave a $15 tip for our regular server because we've been going there for at least 10 years and she take care of us. Our server was always so patient with my mom, even when her dementia had progressed to the point where you couldn't really understand what she was saying.

Dodger · June 9

Tipping is deliberately ambiguous and, therefore, widely abused and unnecessary. It’s often unfair and causes arguments and animosity among staff and customers. Like every business, the restaurant should be responsible for paying their staff a decent living wage and include the service in the price of the meal. If they can’t do that, then they need to increase their prices to meet their overheads. It’s the principal rule of business. If someone wants to reward good service, then by all means, but if this were the case, it would be the exception to the rule and quite rare. It shouldn’t be expected, and customers shouldn’t feel pressured by credit card machines.

In pubs and bars, I prefer to collect my drinks from the bar rather than be waited on at a table. This is how it works in the UK, where the bar staff rarely receive financial tips. Instead, it’s common practice to reward good service by buying the bar person a drink—a reward that, by its very nature, is self-regulatory.

ReaderPaul · June 9

6 hours ago, kbois said:

I'll tip according to service. If it was average it'll be 15%. Excellent service gets 20%. Crappy service depending on how bad it was will get maybe 10%. Horrible service- I'll walk out if we haven't ordered anything or they'll get nothing and possibly a Karen moment when I'll let the manager know why I'm not leaving a tip.

My one exception to the 20% is when we go to our usual Cafe for breakfast. Our check is about $25. I'll leave a $15 tip for our regular server because we've been going there for at least 10 years and she take care of us. Our server was always so patient with my mom, even when her dementia had progressed to the point where you couldn't really understand what she was saying.

Good points, @kbois. A friend and I go to a particular breakfast buffet one morning a week. The bill is about $36. My friend and I take turns paying, but both of us tip every week; usually he tips $10 and I usually tip $11. (In that state, minimum wage is $12.30 an hour -- except for servers -- for servers it is $3.13 an hour.) We've gone to breakfast at this particular place for 8 years and this particular server takes EXCELLENT care of us whether they are busy or slow.

Some excellent stories in this week's Wrap-Up.

Edited June 9 by ReaderPaul

CassieQ · June 9

I nearly always tip. I know wait staff are usually underpaid and it's not going to kill me to leave a few bucks. But the service has to be really bad to not tip. One restaurant that my mom and I went to had terrible service and she gave them a very small tip. So they would know we weren't happy. I feel that not tipping would make the employee think we forgot or just didn't believe in tipping.

centexhairysub · June 10

Well, I am all over the place on tipping. For a set down meal, 20% for just good to average, but I go 30% for excellent; for me to go under 15%, they have to be bad, and anything less, someone is going to hear about it. I usually will not go under 10% because you never know what is going on that might have prevented better service, but if I can tell they just don't care, I carry a few quarters to leave. Much like @CassieQ, I feel if you don't leave something, they think you just forgot or someone else took it. I have left up to 150% for truly exceptional service and as little a .25 cents to make a point. In Texas, the wait staff is paid 2.13 a hour, and without tips, a waiter, even a good one can't make it.

That said, I do not tip at any fast-food restaurant. I use to round up, but found out that when I do that to supposedly help a charity, even a worthy one like Ronald McDonald Houses, McDonalds puts all the money together and gets a tax break for it. So, I just give directly to something that I want to support.

Only knew two of the words this week, had to look up the other ones.

Thanks for the thoughts and wrap up. Great as always.

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