Tipping your server?

[Stratocaster]

What are people's thoughts on tipping your server at a sit-down restaurant?

I've heard the argument that you must tip, because most restaurants (legally) pay their servers below minimum wage, assuming they will make up more than the difference in tips.

The law is posted here on the Department of Labor's website: U.S. Department of Labor

But it also looks like if they don't receive enough tips, the employer will have to make up the difference anyway.

I've heard the standard is 15%, or 20%, and 10% if you had terrible service. I've heard of people only leaving a "reasonable" tip (i.e. a few bucks, regardless of the price of the food), and people saying it completely depends on the service, and people saying it's completely unnecessary.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Kooper]

This is why I like making the big tips every chance I get to go out of town. I just hate having that one arguement with someone else as to how much to tip.

I think do unto others as you'd like to be done unto yourself applies here.

But that's just me.

 

[rainacorn]

We try to be fair. Bad service (like 'how did you get this job' bad) deserves no tip. Great service, however, should be tipped generously. Service industries are very hard work and we don't have any problem at all giving 50% for an excellent experience where people are doing exceptionally well. Oh and we always tip delivery guys extra if the weather is bad. You have to.

We're also the kind of people that send emails and write letters when we have good experiences at places where you don't tip. Like fast food places. If it's clean, everyone is friendly and the food is delicious, they deserve a pat on the back! Same with movie theaters. If the people are friendly, the place is clean, the movie sounds good and looks good, let them know! It encourages them to keep working hard and gives them pride in their work. They can't do anything about the price of popcorn or tickets and you know they get an earful about it all day long. Change things up a bit and actually thank them for doing a good job!

Minimum wage jobs can be grueling and with this ridiculous notion that 'the customer is always right,' the lowest paid people often have to eat dirt all day long and get yelled at by inexplicably furious customers for things they can't do anything about. If someone has been going through that all day long, for Lord knows how long, and they can still muster a smile, a friendly tone and perform their job well then TAKE NOTE. Compliment their hard work. Say it loud and proud or write a letter to their manager. Chances are good that the overall quality will be even better the next time you go there.

 

[Liz01]

I dont know if the employer give them the difference, but I usually tip 10%, except when it is a very small amount, then i give them a little bit more 15 or 20%

 

[Dude653]

Not tipping a server equates to stealing, because she gave you her services and you did not pay her.

 

[Matthew]

What are your thoughts?

My thoughts are that the service industries have destroyed the whole thing.

As you say many places purposely use tipping to pay low wages because tips can 'make up the difference', even though tips are actually bonuses, just given directly by customers.
It is disgraceful the way they are treated as legitimate earnings given by an employer, they aren't.

Ideally I'd always calculate a tip based on the service I receive, because tips aren't mandatory, I already pay my bill.

Sadly though it is akin to garnishing someones wages if you don't tip or tip low, employers have discovered they can play on the conscience of decent people by putting them in this dilemma.

My experience has been if I go to a good place I get good service so I tip the normal amount, cash in hand to the server, it ususally works out.

 

[LightningClap0002]

My thoughts are that the service industries have destroyed the whole thing.

As you say many places purposely use tipping to pay low wages because tips can 'make up the difference', even though tips are actually bonuses, just given directly by customers.
It is disgraceful the way they are treated as legitimate earnings given by an employer, they aren't.

Ideally I'd always calculate a tip based on the service I receive, because tips aren't mandatory, I already pay my bill.

Sadly though it is akin to garnishing someones wages if you don't tip or tip low, employers have discovered they can play on the conscience of decent people by putting them in this dilemma.

My experience has been if I go to a good place I get good service so I tip the normal amount, cash in hand to the server, it ususally works out.

Indeed, unfortunately this is a pretty common occurrence. It is intended to "weed out" the weak servers. Unfortunately in mid-to-low end restaurants the service staff is often there as a last resort, not as a career choice. Thus they often can't quit and pursue a more stable source of income.

 

[zeroturbulence]

Not tipping a server equates to stealing, because she gave you her services and you did not pay her.

Do you tip flight attendants when you fly?

 

[kayem77]

I try to always tip, however, if the the server was rude for no excuse at all, my tip is not going to be very generous. I'd prefer to give a more generous tip to a waiter/waitress that deserves it.

 

[kayem77]

My thoughts are that the service industries have destroyed the whole thing.
It is disgraceful the way they are treated as legitimate earnings given by an employer, they aren't.

AGREE! Tips aren't a constant income for employees, industries shouldn't put their responsibilty to pay on the client's shoulders.

 

[Oncefallen]

The origins of tipping goes quite a way back. Originally the tip was given prior to serving To Insure Promptness. I almost always tip at greater than the customary 15% but I base it on the quality of service. Exceptional service gets a better tip, bad service/attitude get little or no tip.

 

[Stuey]

laaawwwlll tipping.

 

[NarrowRoadDisciple]

15% is my standard tip. If excellent service, then i raise it appropriately. If horrible service, I still give at min 5% - 10%

In California, tips are collective. The employer has to account for tips in order for the state to get its cut. However it's all pooled together and then divided equally. It makes it much harder to reward great service =/

 

[zeroturbulence]

I avoid restaurants that have waiters.

Mostly because I can't afford them

 

[Ugly]

Not tipping a server equates to stealing, because she gave you her services and you did not pay her.

Not true, these people get paid a set wage per hour, just like any other job. Do you tip the cashier in a store? Do you tip the airline pilot? With that mentality you'd have to tip everyone who serves you in any manner.

I usually leave the same tip regardless of price. I might leave a little extra for exceptional service or no tip if its bad enough. I don't find it important enough to spend time calculating the 'correct' amount. Just slap a couple bills down and i'm happy with my decision.

 

[Maddog]

I just pay what the bill says. But if I'm part of a group, we often just each put a note in, and forget about the change; I'm not one of those people who get out their notepad and pencil and work out to the penny what they owe (though I have no criticism for those that do).

 

[Maddog]

By the way, what makes waitressing so special? There aren't many other jobs where your wage is regularly topped up by the customer. I'm on minimum wage in a a petrol station and it would never even cross the customers' minds to pay me anything on top of what they owe (the only exception being Sir Jimmy Savile who has given me a quid in the past, but he is quite eccentric).

 

[Matthew]

By the way, what makes waitressing so special? There aren't many other jobs where your wage is regularly topped up by the customer. I'm on minimum wage in a a petrol station and it would never even cross the customers' minds to pay me anything on top of what they owe

Perhaps you should force the curve, cough rather loudly and give a look of disdain the next time someone pays only what they owe be prepared for some colourful language.

But it's a fair point, tipping is an oddity, within restaurant style food service it seems to be an absolute must yet in many other comparable service industiries it is not even considered.

 

[evelina]

i like to tip at restaurants gas-station and ect : because it makes the ppl smile i like smiling ppl
if i would have a bad service sometimes i tip them too maybe they will serve me next time better (if they remember me )
but its always up to u if u tip or not .... its not a have to ...( i dont like tip ppl if they ask for it )

 

[tjogs]

I feel little outsider of you guys because here people don't tip at all. Actually (specially with females) tipping can be here understood even sexual proposal (case sensitive though) ok I understand that there are countries and cultures that uses tipping and understand there it's purpose. Just... wanted to say how thigns go here.