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Tipping in Restaurants

reenee
reenee
I have started to scrutinize the checks in restaurants better than in the past in regards to the tax. The Diners in New York are starting to get cheap too with the crackers, bread and extras. And I notice they sometimes fudge on the tax. It is common here to double the tax as a tip. I always do that, but in my favor now. If the tax is $2.36. I leave four dollars. I just double the dollar portion. If I am charging the meal, I leave the tip in cash, this way the wait person does not have to declare it. The owner does not have to include that as income for the employee. Its better for the waitstaff. Though, I have curtailed my eating out quite a bit. I don't want to stiff anyone, cause folks need their tips to live on. But if the restaurants have no customers, than there are no tips at all. I don't think you should be given extra for doing your job. Some waitstaff are better than others, like any other employee.

If things keep getting so much higher, we should do what they do in Europe. Let the owner pay the waitstaff and incdlude it in the bill. Some high end restaurants do that anyway. Tipping is a big American institution. Just my opinion.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I THINK BUSINESSES LIKE THE TIPPING METHOD, THAT WAY THE WAITERS R FORCED 2 GIVE A GOOD SERVICE...& WE AS THE TIPPERS SHOULD NOT FEEL GUILTY IF WE DON'T LEAVE A GOOD TIP.
I HV A TIP SCALE FROM $1-$5 DEPENDING ON THE ATTITUDE & QUALITY OF SERVICE. SIMPLE...EXCELLENT SERVICE GETS A WHOLE $5
deleted_user
deleted_user
The bad thing about tipping is that it has become mandatory. A tip used to mean "to insure promptness" and wasn't just given out to every Tom Dick, and Mary who waited tables. Now, a lot of restaurants figure tips into the wait staff's salary, so that they only make like $3.00 an hour, plus tips. And then there are the places where everyone has to share their tips equally among all of the wait staff. There doesn't really seem to be a way out of it, aside from restaurants refusing to take tips, but it's not like that would ever happen because they don't have to pay the employees as much when the customer helps to pay them.
deleted_user
deleted_user
We always tip well, on the rare occasion that we go out. My husband and I have both lived off tips before and want to be considerate of others who are doing the same. Restaurant work can be tough!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I tip well..........many in the restaurants make nothing and depend on their tips to survive.....
NOW, that being said, I also tip according to service....the better the service, the better the tip...am very generous with extra service...
I also tip my stylist and my manicurist/peridcurist, and most times, I can squeeze in an appointment when I need it.....

IF I don't get good service, I will get up and go to someone to ask for something.......like good service, and when I want it, I want it.....
deleted_user
deleted_user
I always tip 20%. I figure if I can afford to eat out, then I should be willing to pay for the service. I don't tip 20% if the service was poor, but they really have to be neglectful for me to rate the service s poor. I'm for sure not the only table in the restaurant and I am fair about what service I expect from the wait staff.
Anyway, I have a question about "take out" orders. Do the waiters expect a tip like at Applebees where they bring it out to your car? Or where you order maybe 4 dinners and come inside to get it, like at Bennigans? I never know what to do with that.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I am a good tipper if my server was good. 15-20%. Technically you are suppose to tip on the bill pre tax but we normally don't calculate it that way, however it is perfectly correct to do so. Like Bama said, many people live off tips so good friendly service should be amply rewarded.
thinksRAstinks
thinksRAstinks
I tip well for good service 20-25% and 15% for any kind of service. My son is a server in a restaurant and he doesn't even make $3 per hr. The tips have to be shared with the runners and the bus boys.
I find the restaurants, hair stylist, shampoo girl, nail salon people where I frequent do an extra special job for me always- probably because I show my appreciation with my tip.
My elderly mother said recently I didn't tip the guy who delivered my chair because that should be in the delivery charge. (Is it his fault?)
thinksRAstinks
thinksRAstinks
On another note- these "tip jars" irritate me! Because you hand me a bagel or an ice cream cone or a donut and take my cash I need to put money in a jar?
deleted_user
deleted_user
I guess if you look at somethings from another's point of view--tipping is a courtesy. The tip jars don't especially mean that you have to calculate a percentage. I usually just drop the non paper change into the tip jar. My feeling is that at least these people are working and not sitting home making the nation pay for their lack of income. I don't mean to offend anyone on disability. I'm on it myself, but I once worked and had worked from the time I was 12 years old. I just feel that if you HAVE to have that bagel and that coffee, then you should just figure you are going to "round up" to the nearest dollar for that tip jar.
thinksRAstinks
thinksRAstinks
No gravelady I mean no disrespect but I do not agree with the rounding up- the price is what's on the menu board. These people are getting a regular hourly wage (unlike servers) to cashier or food handle- should McDonald's put tip jars up too? We are now expected to "pay" for what is just part of someone's normal job they are being paid for. If the store owners are paying less then they should for these jobs- shame on them- put the price on the menu board and pay your employees properly!