Tipping, how do you guys tip your servers when you go out to eat?

[GtoRA2]

Tipping, how do you guys tip your servers when you go out to eat?


Now for me it has always been 15% for average service.

Average is they get the order mostly right, and they show up enough that I rarely need a refill on a drink.


Bad service can get anywhere from a penny and a nasty note to 10% for just a server who is marginal.

Bad service is getting the orders wrong, not refilling drinks as needed. The server being rude etc.


If I get great service, I leave 20 to 50% depending on how good it was and how good the food was.

Good service is never having to even think about a refill, they just come do it. Even half full gets a new drink. Getting the order right is a must, the food has to be hot when it comezs, and they have to be nice, but not to talky.



Now I know people who insist 20% should be given for average service, and that not getting refills on time or getting an order wrong is not reason to give them less then 20% and good should be like 30%

Oddly enough these are all people who had been waiters at one time.

Well I am sorry if you suck at the job, you are not getting what I consider a good tip. If you REALLY suck not only are you getting way less then ten, I may have a talk with your manager.

Am I behind the times here?

[mora]

I never tip, and no one ever expects it. The price is in the menu and thats that.

In the US I've given from 5% to 15%. A bit more on a few occasions.

[GtoRA2]

yeah well that's not how it works here.

The servers dont get paid much so they live on the tips. Thats why they should strive to be good.


So few are.

[indy007]

If service was good, I tip whatever the tax was rounded up to the nearest dollar.

If the service was outstanding, I tip double the tax rounded up.

If the bartender is really hot, I'll tip same as outstanding + a dollar or 2 more.

If the service sucked, I'll tip 1 penny. Shows that you remember to leave a tip, but their service needs some serious improvement.

[mora]

I don't have a problem with the system, even though it's a bit inconvenient for someone who isn't used to it. It however doesn't work as good as one would expect.

[mora]

How do you tip in a bar? 1$ for each drink?

[lasersailor184]

Yeah, 15% is pretty much standard, though I usually leave around 20 to make things easier.  I can go up or down depending on service and how much money I have.

[mauser]

Standard 15% most of the time for me.  More if they do a really good job.  I don't have the gumption to give less than 15% if they sucked a little, and I haven't had REALLY bad service just yet.  But I agree on giving bad servers the hint to shape up.  

Sidestory - I went to Japan twice earlier this year for work.  My supervisor and I did our homework and found out tipping is not required and in fact discouraged (it can be taken as an insult there).  During the first trip, one of the members in our group tipped at every meal wherever we ate.  Back at home here, he was accustomed to being treated well and giving big tips.  But over there, the server would always chase after us to give him back his money.  After some persuasion (none of us spoke Japanese well, and none of them spoke much English), they usually just took it but the rest of us remembered how awkward that was.  During the second trip with a different group we decided not to tip at all and didn't have to deal with the awkward situations.

[Suave]

Depends on how attracted I am to the waitress. If she's a looker I tip a lot, if she doesn't pique my intrests I tip little.

My theory is that tipping the hottie more will encourage her to stay in this low paying dead end job, thus making her more accessible to schmoes like you and I.

And the meager tips may encourage the not so physically gifted waitress to pursue financial independance and more rewarding vocations.

What can I say, I'm a naturalist.

[indy007]

Originally posted by mora
How do you tip in a bar? 1$ for each drink?

Depends on how many drinks. If it's 1 or 2 drinks, $1 in their jar. If I'm gathering up an arm full for my table, I'll throw in $3 or $4. Also depends on 2 other important factors: how strong the mixed drinks are & is the bartender rude or not.

[Eagler]

20% usually

it's gotta be very bad service to drop to 10 or 15

[GtoRA2]

Originally posted by Eagler
20% usually

it's gotta be very bad service to drop to 10 or 15

You ever been a waiter Eagler?

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by mora
How do you tip in a bar? 1$ for each drink?

I base it on how long I was at the bar based on my experience being on the OTHER side of the bar serving...usually a $1 or $2 for one or two cocktails/beers if I'm there before dinner.

If I'm camping out for 3 hours for a ballgame on TV, I'll usually leave $5-$10 for the bartender, as that is what he could have potentially made off the stool I'm occupying during that time. If dinner is invovled at the bar (or more than 2 appetizers) I'll go the normal 15%-25% of the check based on the service(assuming its between normal and excellent service)

[Wotan]

Tipping? I agree with Mr. Pink...

[FUNKED1]

One thing I hate is when people tip a percentage of the tax.  It's ****ing tax.  No way am I tipping on that.  Tip on the subtotal.