tipping in restaurants or elsewhere

Category: Let's talk

Post 1 by hi5 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Tuesday, 21-Feb-2012 8:28:14

gratuity. Something extra for the great service. How do you guys feel? Recently had a long discussion with someone on two differing points of view concerning the subject. As usual I like to consider the less popular/less accepted side of things, and will join in with the conversation so as not to influence the direction so soon. Also anyone who might work in a field where they might be on the recieving end of tips please I'd love to hear from everyone.

Post 2 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Tuesday, 21-Feb-2012 12:24:38

My mother worked in a bar for 26 years; tips kept food on the table. I hate doing it, but it's part of society and I accept that. I tip based on service. I prefer to tip the actual server rather than the establishment however. I think places where employers divide the tips, or take most of the tips for themselves are highly unethical.

Post 3 by margorp (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Tuesday, 21-Feb-2012 13:10:10

I will give tip as long as the person serving me isn't rude or just rediculous. I understand that tips are the only way they really get paid but I'm sick of feeling guilted into doing it. If I feel the survice is shitty I will give less of a tip or even none at all. I think it is wrong to have some damn percentage tacked on to my bill.

Post 4 by Sword of Sapphire (Whether you agree with my opinion or not, you're still gonna read it!) on Tuesday, 21-Feb-2012 13:16:34

I always tip the server, and it is most definitely based on their service. I expect the server to be polite, write down the correct order, check on my table at least three or four times, along with some other things. I don't like it when the server is given money to pay the bill and decides to keep the leftover change. Yes, that has happened to a group of friends I was with. We all got our change back and tipped the bitch a buck.

I also generously tip the pizza delivery guy. He does God's work, so he most definitely deserves it.

Post 5 by hi5 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Tuesday, 21-Feb-2012 19:03:48

Why should we feel like we have to tip them for doing their job? Shouldn't that responsibility rest on the shoulders of the employers?

Post 6 by GreenTurtle (Music is life. Love. Vitality.) on Tuesday, 21-Feb-2012 21:18:17

I think it's a courtesy. You kno it's a shitty job with shitty pay, and if they're providing good service despite that, I definitely think they deserve a tip. I'm not saying there aren't waiters and waitresses that enjoy their job, but it's also one of the more stressful jobs as well.

Post 7 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Tuesday, 21-Feb-2012 21:28:18

If you're going to a nice restaurant, count on the extra 20% when you're deciding what to get. Then if service is average give the 15% but the individual server can't help the work environment they're in.

Post 8 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Wednesday, 22-Feb-2012 12:32:30

I agree with those who say it's based on service. After all if I go to a restaurant and the waiter or waitress is rude why should they expect to get anymore from me? I've been to quite a few restaurants like that. Granted if I were to go to the same restaurant and get the same server I would tip them if they were politer than on the last visit.

Post 9 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Wednesday, 22-Feb-2012 13:56:04

I agree completley. People have bad days sometimes. ANd customers can be extremely rude, too. Neither is necessarily an excuse for treating someone bad, but it does make it understandable.

Post 10 by margorp (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Wednesday, 22-Feb-2012 14:39:42

Yes, however people actually expect it. Survice with a smile is long gone. They want their tip and that's that. I hate it.

Post 11 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Wednesday, 22-Feb-2012 14:42:43

Some people are like that, yes. It's very frustrating. My wife believes in tipping everyone no matter what; I personally do not.

Post 12 by margorp (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Wednesday, 22-Feb-2012 14:51:29

tip was once seen as rewarding. If you don't earn the reward, you won't get it.

Post 13 by OceanDream (An Ocean of Thoughts) on Wednesday, 22-Feb-2012 16:20:53

and that's what it should be. I've even been to places where the tip is included, yes, included with your bill, and you have to pay that, or you haven't paid your bill and you're short changing the place.

Post 14 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Wednesday, 22-Feb-2012 17:05:27

That's wierd. Still the worst are restoraunts which do not allow their servers to keep the majority of their tips.

Post 15 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Wednesday, 22-Feb-2012 18:05:09

If it were a so-called reward, the servers would be getting a base pay that was worth something first. And if they did, there'd be belly-aching about the prices to go out.
This is going out, after all, which is a luxury. It's not like it's either the cheap deli or the grocery store. Usually, at least around our house, it's rather a planned event, so planning to tip is just part of the game. You're not asked to tip at the local deli or the grocery store.

Post 16 by LittleSneezer (The Zone-BBS is my prison, but I like it here.) on Wednesday, 22-Feb-2012 18:40:32

My father does some occasional bartending, so I know tips are very important. I usually tip about 20 percent if the service is good. If the service is fair or poor, the tip will reflect that, but if the server does his or her job well and is courteous, I am sure to give a good tip.

Post 17 by DevilishAnthony (Just go on and agree with me. You know you want to.) on Wednesday, 22-Feb-2012 20:45:55

Sorry, but if I go to a restaurant and the table is dirty, waiter is totally rude, brings me the wrong order, doesn't check on my table and generally doesn't seem to give a shit, then I hope that particular waiter doesn't give a shit if I leave a woefully small tip.
If the service is good, hell yes, I'll tip!

Post 18 by hi5 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Wednesday, 22-Feb-2012 21:10:56

It seems like most of us tip out of pitty or curtacy. Its a crappy job and they don't get paid much so we have to. How come this kind of concern seems to only be for people in certain professions? ervers, cab drivers, housekeepers in hotels? Or the delivery guy/lady. For God sake all they did was bring you food, which is what they were hired to do. If they don't like it, they can take it to their boss or work towards finding a better job. How many of us here tips the janitor or housekeeper anywhere else? At least whenever we have the privilage to see those noble souls who keep our grocery stores work places clean? What about the trash collector? I know I really wouldn't appreciate that job if I had it. Day after day though, someone's smelly thingsare disposed with no thanks or respect. Do I hear someone out there saying, "but they get paid real well." Exactly. So what's the difference between any of those and a bar tender? Now charity. I'd rather feel like I did a really good job at something and therefore deserved what I earned than having someone give it to me and go, "Poor bastard. Here's a few bucks. Take your kids for some ice cream." Just seems insulting to me.

Post 19 by margorp (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Wednesday, 22-Feb-2012 23:35:54

I don't tip for that reason. As I said, it is a reward. Sadly, people come to all but guilt you into tipping.

Post 20 by VeloMonAmore (Generic Zoner) on Thursday, 23-Feb-2012 9:57:55

What about food delivery places? i'm not talkng about chinese or pizza.
There is this place in town that will go to a set list of restaurants and pick food up for you and deliver it to you.
the catch is it has to be over $10. no problem. and then there is the taxes, understandable, and then an aditional $6.59 for service charge or something
the guy gets to my door with food at this point and asks me if i wanna add a tip to my already high bill.
I really really didn't want to but he was nice and stuff and i felt guilty so yeah i gave him a 4 $ tip.
Maybe if i knew how much this guy was making for doing this it would influence the ability they have to guilt me in to tipping.
i wish they'd just include the tip in to your overall bill so you would know roughly how much and it would be a less guilt inducing process.

Post 21 by CrazyMusician (If I don't post to your topic, it's cuz I don't give a rip about it!) on Thursday, 23-Feb-2012 11:55:55

I do tip as a direct reflection of the service. I realize that very few wait-staff are doing this as a career, but as a way to pay the bills, make ends meet while in school, etc. If service is crappy, my tip is less or none (if the service is horrific), but if the tip is good, I am generous.

My husband is more generous with delivery drivers than I am, but I am more generous with tips in restaurants. It balances out. With delivery drivers, though, most of them have to pay for their own gas and some here have to use their own vehicles. I do a little research and check which companies make delivery drivers do that and tip more accordingly - why should the driver have to take a hit for work-related expenses?

Post 22 by margorp (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Thursday, 23-Feb-2012 13:52:32

I do tip taxi drivers well and I do it every time I take one. The reason for this is because they get me from point a to point b in one piece.

Post 23 by Dave_H (the boringest guy you'll ever know) on Thursday, 23-Feb-2012 17:41:46

If there's a fixed "gratuity", stuck onto the bill, it' a miss-nomer for a 20% price hike. The tip should go directly to the server as a reward. By 'server', I include cabbie, pizza deliverer, hotel housekeeping folk, barber, and a few others. I think who gets tipped is a matter of custom, and probably varies by country, and maybe, by USA region.

Post 24 by Dave_H (the boringest guy you'll ever know) on Thursday, 23-Feb-2012 17:50:20

I remember my parents giving holiday gifts to the mailman, school bus driver, and, maybe a few others, either as a reward for good service, or to promote good service in future.

Post 25 by margorp (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Thursday, 23-Feb-2012 23:18:27

As it should be.

Post 26 by VeloMonAmore (Generic Zoner) on Monday, 27-Feb-2012 16:11:53

is there a generic standard tipthat will satisfy? delivery guy or waiter?
is it 4 dollars? 5? 6?

Post 27 by Dave_H (the boringest guy you'll ever know) on Monday, 27-Feb-2012 16:27:01

I'd suggest, it's 15% of your order. Tipping $5 on a $100 dinner tab would be an insult!

Post 28 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Monday, 27-Feb-2012 20:42:54

Wow. If the day ever comes when I'm actually able to spend a hundred bucks on dinner out, that'll be the day I'm rich.

Post 29 by margorp (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Tuesday, 28-Feb-2012 12:51:58

I could do it but I never would.

Post 30 by CrazyMusician (If I don't post to your topic, it's cuz I don't give a rip about it!) on Tuesday, 28-Feb-2012 15:44:35

LOL I do such things on frivolous occasions such as anniversary/birthdays, but we don't have kids yet... so we can splurge

Post 31 by Dave_H (the boringest guy you'll ever know) on Wednesday, 29-Feb-2012 0:14:09

A $100 dinner tab is not the norm for the hubby and me, but we celebrated his 50th birthday last weekend. His mom and sister were with us, and the tab was somewhere over $100; it don't take much; lol.

Post 32 by little foot (Zone BBS is my Life) on Wednesday, 29-Feb-2012 17:37:20

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Post 33 by hi5 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Friday, 02-Mar-2012 7:25:20

Does anyone tip the mail person? The the greeter at walmart? your paratransit driver? babysitter? cable technition? Public school teacher? Casheer? Anyone and everyone who makes our lives easier doing something we ourselves would rather not do ourselves, thus also making it a "convenience?" At the end of the day, how much money would you have left in your pocket if you tipped them all? I brought up this topic while a couple of my family members and I were sitting in the livingroom and I heard an interesting point. They said, "when I was making $6 an hour, nobody tipped me." this person now has a fabulous job and didn't once bitch about the little bit they were being paid for the job of taking care of adults with multiple mental imparements for families who didn't give a damn about them. "Can't be bothered with this retard. Put her in a home." How convenient. cmon people. Only some fortunates get these types of nice extras while the rest of people, who might be doing worse jobs with similar pay and crappy benefits don't get a damn thing.

Post 34 by margorp (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Friday, 02-Mar-2012 12:30:48

To answer your question, no. I don't think I should be guilted into tipping everyone I meet. If I gave a dollar to everyone who said, "welcome to shopright" I'd be broke.

Post 35 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Friday, 02-Mar-2012 18:10:36

Post 33, that is kind of a straw man argument sort of question.
The post man and the schoolteacher and whoever else are unionized and do not expect tips, whereas those who get tips are paid less and the tips are assumed to compensate for that.
And if they were paid adequately and your bill were higher as a consequence, there would be another kind of complaining on the boards, because then they would be getting paid no matter what.
Maybe you haven't been in that situation, or haven't wondered where your next meal is coming from, but I know many people who have really been there. Changes your perspective a little bit.

Post 36 by hi5 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Friday, 02-Mar-2012 21:39:28

I know working middle class tax payers who don't agree with it for the simple fact that they had to work their way to where they are now and don't feel like shelling this extra out just because the boss of the survers don't feel like supervising them to make sure they're doing a job well enough and paying them accordingly. Those types are called cheap inconsiderate or tacky by others who don't have any idea what it took someone to get where they are. In other words if its your money, and you worked for it and deserve it then I don't think its cool for everyone to look at you and go, "How dare you not tip that poor, poor server." they might have access to the same opertunities you took advantage of. They know the nature of the job. Who knows? The person being served might have been right there or are in that very situation and still not interested in parting with their hard earned money. I've actually had servers and delivery persons refuse my tips for a similar reason. "Poor blind schmuk. I can't rob the blind." While I was thinking, "Poor delivery boy, I can't rob this kid."

Post 37 by margorp (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Wednesday, 07-Mar-2012 22:52:30

Well said.