I just saw something on the news about people tipping less because of the economy. I see both sides.
My husband waited tables for a while when we were first married and tips really helped. I realize that employers pay
their wait staff like $2.65 an hour or something and that is ridiculous. But shouldn’t they have to pay more? I wish that
tipping was truly a reward for good service, not an expected part of the bill. However, it is an expected part of the bill.
I generally tip 15% unless it is really bad and then I tip 10%. If it is really great I’ll tip 20%. But we are talking REALLY great.

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Not much tipping goes on here in the land of Aus. And I’m grateful, because I couldn’t work out 22% of anything in my head. Except, perhaps, 22% of $100: that I could do. And that’s a mighty huge bill for a meal for 2 over here.

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For me…15% is what you get unless you are great. I work hard at my job (tipless) each day and give it my all – I expect the same out of everyone else in the workforce – though they seldom live up…
Also, 15% remains a good number because with it being a percentage, inflation at the restaurant takes care of their cost of living raises…
That being said, if we take advantage of some restaurant offers and all of our 4 kids eat free…I am typically in a generous mood.

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My grandpa always says that, too. He’s from West Virginia. Yours?

Ok, we are nice tippers- at least 20% (we always divide by 6) and I think that varies by exception- for really bad service or really good service. It sounds like your server was either in a really bad mood that whole night or is just a not nice person. Hope she has a better day today. And um, now I want a roll and some honey butter. We have Texas Corral here and just ate there on Sunday!

Steph

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I’m not usually the one figuring the tips – that’s what I have my math brainiac hubby for. :) We usually tip around 15% though – it’s what I’ve always been used to leaving. Unless we get really stand-out service that’s either awesome or horrible, in which case we adjust either up or down.

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I usually double the tax, unless of course the service is spectacular. I absolutely hate when the waitresses talk to us with a “fakey” happy voice, you know really boisterous with a fake smile plastered on, and that earns them a minimum tip automatically.

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15-20% depending on service.

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I think you are right on with the tip. I agree with you 100%, as tha tis basically how I feel about it too. After being a server for several years, I think that 15% in spite of terrible service is still a very decent tip. (But I haven’t served in 7 or 8 years, so what do I know?)

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I would say 15-20%, depending on service, although lately I’ve been tending more towards 20%. I will go as low as 10% for really bad service, but it has to be the server and they have to really mess up (dinner arriving 45 minutes after we ordered it does not necessarily have anything to do with the server, especially if they apologize, but a dirty look from them after having asked several times for a drink refill is definitely on them, although it would take more then this).

That said, I always tip at least $2 per person at lunch and $3 per person at dinner. If dinner for two costs only $20, I will give a $6 tip rather than just $4, because that waitress has had to work just as hard to refill drinks, check in on us, etc., as if the meal cost twice as much.

Also, if we get a discount for whatever reason, I always tip based on the original price.

I also like getting my first drink at the bar while waiting for a table, because then I can tip the bartender directly for at least one drink. Servers tip out to the bartenders at the end of the night, but it’s usually only 10% of their tips (at least it has been where I’ve worked previously), so unless I tip $10, they won’t even see $1.

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I was reading the comments. I don’t look at names just comments. I saw the one that started “For me…15% is what you get..”. I read very fast and so read “tipless” as “topless”. That stopped me in my hurried perusal. I wondered which of your normally female commenters is a topless whatever so I looked back for the name. I saw it was Jeff and then visualized him running around his office barechested. I then looked back at “topless” and saw it was “tipless”
Darn. it was just Jeff and just “tipless”.

But I digress! I’ve been known to tip 0% when greatly displeased. But between 10-20% depending on my overall enjoyment when the meal is over.

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We tip 20% and adjust down if the service is below average and adjust up if it is exceptionally good.

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Back in the “old days” when I was a waitress, it was also a sign of bad service if you only left a penny … or with your small tip, also leave a penny. Don’t know if servers todays recognize that sign though.

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Did you ever see that episode of Third Rock from the Sun where Dick puts a stack of one dollar bills on the table and tells the waitress that that pile represents her potential tip and each time she messes up he pulls a dollar off the top and puts it back in his pocket?

That is how I think tipping should work.

Tipping is just a ridiculous thing. I would MUCH prefer that rest. just pay a reasonable wage and price the food so that it reflects that. Essentially, you would pay the same amount it would just be an “up front” price instead of a tacked on charge at the end.

I have had too many waitstaffers that just have a crappy night and don’t care what they get for a tip since they will just make up for it another night. It is just a system that isn’t working anymore- people that wait tables are unhappy and so are the customers.

Once I had service that was so bad I left not one single penny. I also called the next day to speak to a manager about it.

I would rather walk to the back and pick up my own food and get my own refills than pay someone else to do it who clearly doesn’t want to be there and who has the potential to spit in my food if I do the slightest thing to upset them.

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I’m with the 15-20% range, and I’m also all for skipping the tip altogether if the service is that horrible. I’ve only done that once, and in fact gave the bus boy a $20 because HE was the only one we saw all night. I always wondered if he gave it to her anyway. I hope not!

Great blog! :)

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I leave 20% unless service is bad and then its 10%. I remember one time the service was so horrible we left $1 and never returned but like I said that was one time. I try to be understanding that everyone has a bad day or a busy day and leave a decent tip hoping that might cheer them up.

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15 to 20 here too. I can’t imagine her being grumpy b/c of 15%. That’s certainly adequate. If it’s BAD service, I’d leave 10. But it would have to be BAD.

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15%. If it is fantastic service, I’ll go higher. If the service is lousy, I leave a small tip. I hate the idea that the tip is expected. I don’t know why, I just do. Isn’t that what you are paying for in the price of a meal–to be served some good food? Anywho… Gramps, your comments made me laugh! I’m tired…must get some sleep.

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I remember when the standard for tipping was 10% – and you got the whole 10% if you gave good service. The whole idea that people expect a tip chaps my hide. I do tip, and I am not stingy, but sheesh, a tip is for the quality of service rendered. It is not simply because you brought me my food. Someone has to bring me my food. I can’t go back and get it myself. Don’t even get me started on my whole “People feel so entitled these days!” soapboax. It starts out like this…No one OWES you anything…even respect – that you have to earn.

But I digress…

I at least double the tax and round high if the service is acceptable, then I deduct or pad depending on the level of service is poor or very good.

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I worked as a waitress for a time, so I tend to tip well 20% or higher for good service, because I know how hard it is to give it. For the service you got, I handle it the same way you do — 15% (and they should feel lucky I left that, in many cases).

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I do the same…20% for good service and 15% for ok service. I know people who have left $.25 for terrible service, just so the waiter knew they hadn’t forgot and that they wanted to make a point. I cant bring myself to do that but i have no problem leaving 15%.

BTW, we are going to see Prince Caspian on Monday. Can’t wait! Glad to hear its good!

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After reading this post a few days ago, I’m paranoid! Sure we don’t USUALLY tip in Aus, but now I freak out and wonder if some of the Thai & Indian takeaways we frequent are grumbling as we leave, “Stupid Aussies, never leave a tip.” Hmm.

Gramps, I often mis-read things too, and the errors are usually amusingly rude! Wish I could think of an example off the top of my head…. :)

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I always give at least $10 if the bill is under $50, if the bill is over $50, I give at least 20% like you depending on the service. If the service is bad, they will be lucky to get 15%. From how you described your service, she was lucky she got 15%. Don’t worry, you were right in only giving her 15%.

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15% for okay service
20% for excellent service
a little more for over-the-top service

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We are good tippers if drinks are routinely refilled. 25%? If it’s a regular waiter – or bartender at a favorite hangout – we’ll tip even better. We figure it’s a way to establish a rapport – and potentially share Christ…..

However – if the service is poor – I have a hard time tipping even 15%.

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I’m late on this I know, but my two cents…

We do exactly what you do. We were both servers/bartenders in college so we know how it feels on the other side.

I agree that restaurants should pay their employees more, not customers. But unfortunately that is the law so they don’t. That also means that, for those of you leaving small or no tips, you are actually taking money out of your server’s pocket. They are required by law to claim a percentage of sales on their taxes, so they are paying that 10% whether you give it to them or not. It’s a pretty crappy thing to do. If you can’t or won’t leave them at a minimum 10%, then please don’t go out to eat. It’s usually broke college kds working at restaurants and they need that money.

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