NationStates Jolt Archive

Do you tip your waiter/waitress when paying for a bill? If so, how much?

uh 20% is pretty much the standard for gratuity

Only when I lean too far out of the canoe.
/rimshot

uh 20% is pretty much the standard for gratuity

I've always heard 15%.

Hmm, of course i tip, i usually tip 15%, i thought that was right... sometimes if they are cool i give them 20%

Almost never.

I tip 20%, or a minimum of $2, if the bill is less than $10. (Believe it or not, that still happens at my local diner...)

If service is bad, I take off 5% for each really bad instance.
IE: Forgot the appetizer? -5%. Don't show up for 20-30 minutes at a stretch? -5%, etc... cumulatively... resulting in (VERY RARELY): for REALLY horrible service... $0.25.

I always tip! Usually 20-25% unless they're really bad they earn themselves 15%. I'm a heavy tipper, once I accidentally tipped over 40%! But he was good (and it was cheap, ~$10), so I didn't mind. :D

I don't believe in tipping.

Generally 15-20%. More if it was superb, less if it ... wasn't. And if it was really horrible, I have on a few occasions left a nickel or a quarter on the table as a tip. You know, just to show them I intended to tip poorly because they were an asshat. But it really has to be them. If they're really busy or someone else screws up, I'll still tip the waiter.

I don't know anyone who doesn't tip at restaurants, actually.

15-20 if it's standard. Up to 30 if it's good. Less if it's bad. If it's horrible I drop a nickle in a glass of water and turn the water upside-down (can be done). Even if they don't want the nickel they have to get the glass off the table

I'm a server.
So, yes, I tip.

I don't tip because society says I have to. All right, if someone deserves a tip, if they really put forth an effort, I'll give them something a little something extra. But this tipping automatically, it's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned, they're just doing their job.

I always tip. But it depends where I go. 15% as a rule, but if I'm at some small cafe and the bill is only $20 or something I'll chip in a bit more.

Do you tip your waiter/waitress when paying for a bill? If so, how much?



No I do not tip. Then again, I am only 13 years old, so it's hardly expected of me.

Always: 10% if service was below expectations, 15% if it was excellent, and 20% if it was really over the top.

I forgot to tip the pizza girl one time. Give me a break, I was like 9.

I always tip. But it depends where I go. 15% as a rule, but if I'm at some small cafe and the bill is only $20 or something I'll chip in a bit more.
Same. I once went to a Swiss Challet (or something like that) in downtown Toronto and someone screwed up, and I ended up tipping like 35% of my bill, but I let them keep it. :D The little old lady who was our server was like "thanks!" and I said "no problem, you seem nice!" It was a good time. :D

Not much. Only $20.00


Actually if they're female they get $20.

If they're male they 25 cents.

I said in the other thread with this same topic that I almost never tip unless I know the person on a personal level

Yes. 15% is standard, and in my neck of the woods we pretty much tip 30% if the service is good (it pays to be a server in the gay neighbourhoods here).

Wow ... deja vu ....

Anyway, yes, I tip ... I tip generously. I've paid my dues in the weeds ... I know what's what.

Do you tip your waiter/waitress when paying for a bill? If so, how much?


What? 20% is given for stellar service, usually we just give 15%, but 10% is standard for crappy service.

I find this whole 'tipping' activity quite curious. Coming from a country (Australia) where it is hardly the norm to tip I simply cannot understand why you would still give someone, as other posters have suggested on this thread, around 10% extra for poor service.
I understand that tipping is, essentially, a way of having your wait staff directly rewarded for better service - but doesn't it defeat the purpose to reward them for poor service? During my travels in the States I have often encountered wait staff who seem annoyed that I have not tipped them after their service has been appalling.

In Australia 'tipping' usually only takes the form of rounding up the account to the nearest dollar, and in my experience most only do it so that they can avoid having a pile of coins in change.

I usually only tip when drunk. Enough booze and I'll eventually tip over.

Ugh. Bad even for me.

Seriously though, the easy 20% rule that needs no calculator:

BILL = $47.85

Take the decimal and shift it one place to the left. Drop or round the last digit (I choose to round):

= $4.79

That's 10%. Double it for 20% and you're done:

TIP = $9.58

If service is truly above and beyond, I'll add an amount to make it both higher and round, according to the value I've given the service. Let's say the waiter was not only professional, jovial and got all my oddball references, but also noticed that we'd been talking about, say, crab on the way to the table and steered us toward the best selection of that type on the menu and was absolutely spot-on. I might round something like this:

$9.58 + ass-kicking waiter bonus of $2.42...

TIP = $12.00

It works in reverse for shoddy service. Say the waiter mistakes my mother for a man and calls her "sir" even after one correction. Well...we go back to 10%. Any further egregious transgressions -- and I mean you've gotta really do more than just have a bad day...having been a server, I know anyone can just have a run of crappy luck -- reduces the round.

$4.79 - every other course in my lap penalty of $2.79...

TIP = $2.00

However, unless the experience is among the worst in my dining history, I'll never stiff a server. Solidarity and all that. I have done it, but I can count the times on a 30-year wood shop teacher's saw hand.

It's common practice where I am to provide a 15% gratuity on top of the cost of the meal after Provincial and Federal tax (which combined equals 15%).

So, suppose lunch costs $10.00 - After tax, that comes to $11.50. The tip should then be roughly $1.75, for a total of $13.25. A good servitor might get the remaining $1.75 change from the five and ten I'd be paying with. A less-than-stellar job and I'll take my change with me.

One thing most people seem to be forgetting is that the waiters/waitresses wages are dependant on tips. They make around like $2.50/hr (minimum wage is lower for tipped based professions). So to not tip someone is a real slap in the face.

Now I normally tip 15%, 20% for outstanding. But if the service sucks I have been known to be an ass and leave less then 10% (But it really has to suck).

I find this whole 'tipping' activity quite curious. Coming from a country (Australia) where it is hardly the norm to tip I simply cannot understand why you would still give someone, as other posters have suggested on this thread, around 10% extra for poor service.
I understand that tipping is, essentially, a way of having your wait staff directly rewarded for better service - but doesn't it defeat the purpose to reward them for poor service? During my travels in the States I have often encountered wait staff who seem annoyed that I have not tipped them after their service has been appalling.

In Australia 'tipping' usually only takes the form of rounding up the account to the nearest dollar, and in my experience most only do it so that they can avoid having a pile of coins in change.

Could that be because waiters in Australia make minimum wage or better? The vast majority of waitstaff in the US make less than minimum wage as a paid salary and depend on tips to shore up the salary shortfall. This is because they're supposed to report tips as wages to the IRS. I think that's horseshit, personally, but that's the way it's been for a long time.

Generally I do not. I am 19 and I nearly have never dined in a restaurant on my own and drinking in bars/restaurants is really expensive enough (well in fact restaurants do not earn much through the food, but quite a lot through the drinks). Nevertheless sometimes I give some cents (which would be something like 5%-10% after one or 2 drinks and I do so only in bars, not in discos.)

I always round things off... with more depending on the service, though I must admit, I've never really had bad service.

Could that be because waiters in Australia make minimum wage or better? The vast majority of waitstaff in the US make less than minimum wage as a paid salary and depend on tips to shore up the salary shortfall. This is because they're supposed to report tips as wages to the IRS. I think that's horseshit, personally, but that's the way it's been for a long time.

Yes I have some friends who are working as waiters/waitresses and they survive just fine without tips. Why is it in the US that tipping has become so engrained that a waiter has to rely on tips to make a living?

Yes I have some friends who are working as waiters/waitresses and they survive just fine without tips. Why is it in the US that tipping has become so engrained that a waiter has to rely on tips to make a living?

Did you not read my post? You've got it the wrong way 'round. Tipping is necessary because waiters don't make minimum. As far as I know, it's always been that way -- admittedly, I've never been interested in the history of waitering to dig any deeper than my own experiences and those of people I know.

Why should I pay someone extra for doing their job right?

If the service is outstanding they get around 10%, but for poor or average service they get nothing.

To get 20% its much easier just to round off the original number then divide it by 5, then you just guestimate the change. $47.85 rounds to 45, divide by 5 to get 9, since 47 is roughly halfway between 45 and 50, add $.50; tip is $9.50. We tip because servers are probably getting paid absurdly low, and a few dollars from you and everyone else makes their life much easier.... Does anyone know how the whole bus boy system works, do they recieve a cut from the server's tip or what?

Up to a bill for 20 Euro:
.00 - .60 round upt to the next Euro
.60 - .99 round up plus 50 Cent
If service was outstanding add another Euro

Then for each additional 20 Euro bill add another Euro.

The better the restaurant the less I tipp, unless the service is really outstanding (which it mostly isn't), I much prefer to complement the chef, because they do the hard work and get very little recognition from the customers.

And yes, we have minimum wage for waiters and waiters at good restaurants are paid much more than that because good waiters are hard to find.

You've got it the wrong way 'round. Tipping is necessary because waiters don't make minimum. As far as I know, it's always been that way -- admittedly, I've never been interested in the history of waitering to dig any deeper than my own experiences and those of people I know.

As you referred to, I meant whenever tipping originated. I think in the US tipping really has become too engrained. I remember from my time in Italy that it was probably the finest system - tipping wasn't the norm but it also wasn't outside the norm. Good service was rewarded, and frequently so, but the wait staff were hardly dependent upon it.

I don't tip, it's not very common where I live but I've been doing some work experiance as a waitress... and tipping would be much appreciated :D

I don't tip, it's not very common where I live but I've been doing some work experiance as a waitress... and tipping would be much appreciated :D


Anyone ever slip you a twenty and pat you on the backside while you were waitressing? Like in the movies.

Anyone ever slip you a twenty and pat you on the backside while you were waitressing? Like in the movies.

No, no they did not. If they did I'd tell one of the waiters to take over that table for me

It's amusing. You can tell who has never had a $3.11 an hour service job.

I tip 40%-50%, unless the service is horrible.

Only if it's really good. I'm 17, being fair, so I can't really afford it all the time.

No, no they did not. If they did I'd tell one of the waiters to take over that table for me

And you've stopped waitressing now?

And you've stopped waitressing now?

I only have one more Work Experience and that's at the Port Power fundraising night...

I only have one more Work Experience and that's at the Port Power fundraising night...

Well, since I hate football, I suppose it's too late then.

Only if it's really good. I'm 17, being fair, so I can't really afford it all the time.


Then you cant afford to eat out.


People who dont tip pretty much suck ass.

Tipping is not only the right thing to do, its morally mandatory.
I deliver pizzas, and although I do earn minimum wage as well, anyone who has to try and live on that amount, knows it nearly impossible.

Lets put some ground rules down...

1. As stated above, if you go into a restaruant, and cant afford to tip, you have no business in a resturaunt where tipping is customary, ie; service is given. Rememeber, your paying for service beyond that of taking your order, and delivering your food.

2. With pizza, or any other food that is delivered:
You are paying me (for example), to bring you something that you were too lazy to come and get yourself.
Gas aint cheap, and drivers use a lot of it.
Your tipping me to insure I bring your food, hot, fresh, and in a timley manner...BECUASE YOUR FAT ASS WAS TOO LAZY TO GO AND GET IT.
If Im late...I dont expect anything.

3. "TIP" is really an acronym, anyone realize that?
It stands for "To Insure Prompt Service"
Only arrogant bastards expect to be waited on hand and foot, and when someone does this for you, why is so hard for you to give that person, who does this for a living, a bit of cash for thier trouble?

Like it or not, Money talks, as they say, and bullshit walks.
People in the service industry have very good memories when they are treated badly by asshole customers.
When you tip us, the next time we deal with you, our attiudes say "Hey, its Mr. John Doe! Thats the guy who left me five bucks last time, hes cool!"
We go out of our way to make sure Mr. Doe is well taken care of.

Thats how the system works.

I, and some of my friends look like the kind of customers that dont tip, (Long hair, tattoos, piercings etc) and sometimes, we get looks from the server that say "Oh crap..these guys arent gonna leave me shit."
Then we leave them a small pile of money, cause we all currently work, or have at one time, worked in the service industry.
The next time we go in there, people fight over who gets our table, and we get pampered, cause they remember us.

Tipping is not customary in this part of the World but Yank Toursists still do it. ;)

Almost never.

I don't believe in tipping.

If they're male they 25 cents.

I almost never tip unless I know the person on a personal level

Why should I pay someone extra for doing their job right?
...
for poor or average service they get nothing.




As a waiter, I think you should all read this (http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/03.14.96/waitprsn-9611.html) article for some insight into the people you don't tip. Your waiter/waitress is there to serve you, but they still deserve your respect and manners. In my line of work, I've dealt with alcoholics, drug users, the mentally unstable, and worse. I've wiped old, senile man drool off of tables, and smiled at the parents who let thier kids run around and squirt ketchup on to tables as 'fun'. People try to intimidate me, lie to me, screw me over.

Your waiter/waitress is a person too. They're serving in a line of work that often just plain sucks. They deserve better than the treatment you're giving them.

Here are some highlights from the article Serves You Right (http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/03.14.96/waitprsn-9611.html) at Metroactive.com, bolds by me:


"What a customer should know," says Stella, "is that it's a bigger situation than just them going out to dinner. They don't have a lot of responsibility, except to open their eyes and see that there's one human being taking care of 15 or 20 human beings."

When a waitress dislikes a customer, she'll generally make herself scarce, and then go talk about them in the bus station. "I try to back out and not simmer and seethe," Stella says. "I don't want to take on the agony of their being served."

In extreme cases, a waiter or waitress might plot revenge. I have never done this--and most of the servers I query have not. But Hector admits that when a diner made him mad, rather than sulk or confront, he resorted to "insipid" methods of recourse. He would delay food, or sabotage food. How so? "Well, by rubbing food products on your body," he explains. "You can spit into food. If it's in salad dressing or soup, they can't see it. Or you can put chocolate Ex-Lax in desserts. You know what works good? Visine. If you drink Visine it makes you shit for days." I'm stunned. "The funny thing is when you spit in their coffee and they ask for a refill." Hector laughs, then pauses and adds, "Look, I only did this once in a blue moon, and just if they deserved it."

...I had done my best, I had smiled an ingratiating smile, and finally, my God-given sense of human decency was worn too thin by impolite demands and I was done smiling at this customer for the evening, for to do so would be to fly in the face of natural law. The boss at the cafe knows there is a time for smiling and a time for letting that table pay and get out.

I know that sometimes the bread comes out cold. The wine can go bad. The service can be slow. But more often than not, the service is sincere and warm, the coffee is hot, and the portobello mushrooms are tender and tasty. And if the customers are nice, the waitresses will be, too.


You've already made it known that you don't tip your waiter/waitress. How well do you treat them? Would I want you in my restaurant?

the last tip i left was written on apiece of paper and read like this "dont eat yellow snow!", i got up and walked out and the look on the waitresess face was priceless when walking past the window, i thought she was going to come outside and kick my ass!!! :D good memories...

the last tip i left was written on apiece of paper and read like this "dont eat yellow snow!", i got up and walked out and the look on the waitresess face was priceless when walking past the window, i thought she was going to come outside and kick my ass!!! :D good memories...

Oh, yes! That was absolutely hilarious! You, good sir, have a wit that will astound the ages!


On a more serious note, I simply must inquire, does one become more accepting of the taste of human bodily fluids as they consume more of it on a regular basis, or is it just a matter of ignoring the sometimes vibrant flavour of human spit?

It's amusing. You can tell who has never had a $3.11 an hour service job.

I tip 40%-50%, unless the service is horrible.
If I tipped 40-50 % I wouldn't be able to afford eating out. Good thing then that here tips are just an added bonus.

And I did work once for 1,25 pounds/hour (= $ 2.17) Ok that was 16 years ago, but still it was an extremely low wage off which I had to live. And as I was serving at a food store and not at a restaurant I didn't get any tips. When I used to work in a pub I didn't get any tips either, but regulars did buy me drinks sometimes, which is appreciated.

Anyway, it is not possible to compare the customs in different countries. When I'm in the US I tip more, but it really bugs me, because
a) I'd like to know beforehand what something costs and not an unpleasant surprise because state tax is added plus I have to give a 10% tip.
b) It is really the job of the restaurant owner to pay his people.
c) It is very hard to really not give a tip if the service was lousy, because you know that the people are dependent on it. Then again perhaps it is good, because they might make a mental connection between having left the food at the service hatch until it was lukewarm and them not getting tipped.

As a waiter, I think you should all read this (http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/03.14.96/waitprsn-9611.html) article for some insight into the people you don't tip. Your waiter/waitress is there to serve you, but they still deserve your respect and manners. In my line of work, I've dealt with alcoholics, drug users, the mentally unstable, and worse. I've wiped old, senile man drool off of tables, and smiled at the parents who let thier kids run around and squirt ketchup on to tables as 'fun'. People try to intimidate me, lie to me, screw me over.

Your waiter/waitress is a person too. They're serving in a line of work that often just plain sucks. They deserve better than the treatment you're giving them.

Here are some highlights from the article Serves You Right (http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/03.14.96/waitprsn-9611.html) at Metroactive.com, bolds by me:



You've already made it known that you don't tip your waiter/waitress. How well do you treat them? Would I want you in my restaurant?
And, to offer the counterpoint to this, from someone else in the foodservice industry no less--ahem:

So we're supposed to tip because servers can spit in food or otherwise sabotage it? Sounds like a pretty flimsy reason to me; if I happened to be the manager at this restaurant I'd fire anyone caught doing this on the spot, their reasons be damned. The only reason I tip, really, as far as restaurants are concerned, is because I work in one and I know it sucks . However, I agree implicitly with Mr. Pink's defense of not tipping in the opening scene of [i]Reservoir Dogs.

In Britain it's really starting to get like the States, it didn't used to be. Now some places even include a "service charge" of 10% in the bill, which I think is shocking. Restaurants and cafes should include the staff's wages (a fair wage) in the price of their goods.

If a "service charge" isn't included I tend not to tip unless the waiter/waitress went above and beyond and really looked after me. No other industry expects the customer to pay extra for the service they should be getting anyway. Why should the dining industry?

Besides, do the waiting staff really do extra work or do their jobs better than the kitchen staff? Or the bar staff? They don't get a tip. The way I see it is they are one part of getting my meal to me, aside from having to be customer-facing and dealing with complaints it's just another job. I've only ever worked in customer service and have never expected a tip, I'm doing my job and I get paid fairly for it. I wouldn't work for someone who didn't pay fairly.

In Britain it's really starting to get like the States, it didn't used to be. Now some places even include a "service charge" of 10% in the bill, which I think is shocking. Restaurants and cafes should include the staff's wages (a fair wage) in the price of their goods.

If a "service charge" isn't included I tend not to tip unless the waiter/waitress went above and beyond and really looked after me. No other industry expects the customer to pay extra for the service they should be getting anyway. Why should the dining industry?
It's not really the dining industry, it's the Service Industry in general. Over here, it's customary to tip bartenders, barbers, cabbies, couriers, and various other professions not directly linked with dining. It's kind of fucked up since in most places, the government taxes the tips as if it were any other source of income, which in my opinion sort of defeats the whole purpose of tipping in the first place.

Besides, do the waiting staff really do extra work or do their jobs better than the kitchen staff? Or the bar staff? They don't get a tip. The way I see it is they are one part of getting my meal to me, aside from having to be customer-facing and dealing with complaints it's just another job. I've only ever worked in customer service and have never expected a tip, I'm doing my job and I get paid fairly for it. I wouldn't work for someone who didn't pay fairly.
The reason tipping is given so much credance is because most chain owners only pay their servers $2-3 on paper and count on tips to bump their serving staff up to a reasonable wage; in a lot of places you can pull in $9-10 an hour waiting tables.

The restaurant I work at does tip sharing; we throw all the tips for two weeks in a jar then split it up amongst the staff based on how many hours we work; but we never get much since people are actually encouraged not to tip at our restaurant, mainly because we pay our servers $8 an hour, most places don't do that. The problem with this policy is, once the people up front start realizing they can make more than $9 an hour at someplace as simple as Applebee's, they quit and go somewhere else; we have a very high turnover rate for servers. Philosophically, I prefer letting the servers keep their tips as opposed to spreading them out, since it breeds an additional motivation to keep things in order. Tipsharing is starting to fuck our restaurant's front of house up pretty bad.

If you don't tip at all and you live in the United States, you are an asshole. End of story. I don't even work in the food-service industy, and just hearing the stories of my friends about how much they get paid and for what makes me realize they deserve it.

As for the actual logistics, I never tip because I'm frightened of what they might do. I agree that sabotaging food is completely unacceptable, no matter the situation, and furthermore, I'm always polite to anyone giving me service so I feel like I'm not in danger to begin with. However, I do tip because it IS a good way to reward good service. Accepting that 15% is standard, one can adjust the tip appropriately.

If you're from a foreign country, I can understand why such behavior may seem curious, but it's a tradition. I'd be willing to bet you folks have some odd customs in your country as well- so don't be so damn judgemental. :P

I have a question for those of you who sat "I only tip if the service is exceptional."

What qualifies as "Exceptional service"?

Ive done it all in restaruants, so heres what I would do, and you tell me if you consider this tip worthy.

1. The "Host" usually seats you, and gives you menus.

2. I come by and bring some ice water, and placemats, or silverware, if needed, and take your drink order, (if you want something stronger than water)

3. After returning with the drinks....I then ask if you are ready to order. If so, I take the order.

4. If an appetizer was ordered, I bring it out.

5. When ready...I bring the meals, and refill any drinks, or water.

6. Soon thereafter, I return to your table, and check to see if the food was prepared properly etc...make sure everything is as it should be.

7. Return one last time to check if anyone wants any dessert, and leave the bill.

Between 6&7, there may be one additional drink check, but it would be a quick one, as to not dusturb the guests during thier meal.

Thats pretty much it.

Is this what you would call "exceptional"?

If you don't tip at all and you live in the United States, you are an asshole. End of story.

You.....

Offically "Rock".

I do not know if anyone has addressed this yet but.....in the US waiter/waitresses get paid less than minimum wage due to the fact they are expected to get tips. At least that is the way it used to be. So when you don't tip you are essentially not paying part of the salary of the waiting staff. Many businesses now have the gratuity directly attached to your bill, possibly due to people not tipping regularly, thus the staff gets paid adequately.


I dont see automatic gratuity added so much, only some places reserving the right to charge an automatic gratuity for groups lager than 7 people.
Too often large groups of college age or younger kids come in to many places, and dont order anything but fries and soda, and sit for hours..and then not tip.

If you're from a foreign country, I can understand why such behavior may seem curious, but it's a tradition. I'd be willing to bet you folks have some odd customs in your country as well- so don't be so damn judgemental. :P
I guess most foreigners tip in the US, because it says in every guide book that you should. Depending on the guide books it's normally 10%-15%.

I have a question for those of you who sat "I only tip if the service is exceptional."

What qualifies as "Exceptional service"?
It's not so much what is done, than how it is done:
How quickly does the waiter notice you?
How friendly is he/she towards you?
How does he/she react to special requests (e.g. changes to the menu items)
How much patience does he/she have, when you can't make up your mind, need help, ...?
How quickly is the food served (is it left at the hatch, how warm is it)
How does he/she deal with complaints?
...

In Melbourne (Australia) minimum (FT) wage is $467.40 per week or $12.30 per hour. If the staff are casual there is a by law bonus of 15%. Saturday and work between 8pm and midnight is supposed to get another 15%, depending on the industry (not so sure if this one applies to service industry. Sunday and Midnight -6am gets 30% loading, stacking (so if you are on minimum wage, casual sunday after midnight you should be on 23.91 per hour.) This is slightly different if you are not 18 yet. It is possible to get a job in australia from the age of 14 and 9 months, and their minimum wage is something like $8 per hour including the casual loading. This increases every year until you are 18.

Because of this it is not customary to tip in australia, with the exception of the top 5 star resturants where it is more common, but generally only done with corporate meals in my experience. Tipping is almost never done for anything except meals, including delivered food.

Furthermore to the person regarding the pizza delivery here, and i thought in the US, there is a surcharge (around 80% of a single pizza cost) for delivery, i assume that half of that goes straight to the delivery person.

It's not so much what is done, than how it is done:
How quickly does the waiter notice you?
How friendly is he/she towards you?
How does he/she react to special requests (e.g. changes to the menu items)
How much patience does he/she have, when you can't make up your mind, need help, ...?
How quickly is the food served (is it left at the hatch, how warm is it)
How does he/she deal with complaints?
...


So, using your earlier post as criteria, on an average visit to a restaruant, wherein you leave satisfied with your experience, but perhaps not overly elated....you leave nothing?

I dont see automatic gratuity added so much, only some places reserving the right to charge an automatic gratuity for groups lager than 7 people.
Too often large groups of college age or younger kids come in to many places, and dont order anything but fries and soda, and sit for hours..and then not tip.

Conversely, I used to deliver pizzas in a college town, and on Thursday and Friday nights, it would not be uncommon to get a $20 bill for an $11 order and be told to keep the change. A lot of college kids realize that you're bringing their drunk ass food at 2am, and appreciate it.

As Steve Buscemi said in Resevoir Dogs: I don't tip waitresses, unless they've been extra-nice or did anything out of the ordinary. i'm not gonna tip her for doing her job!

So we're supposed to tip because servers can spit in food or otherwise sabotage it? Sounds like a pretty flimsy reason to me; if I happened to be the manager at this restaurant I'd fire anyone caught doing this on the spot, their reasons be damned.
.....
However, I agree implicitly with Mr. Pink's defense of not tipping in the opening scene of Reservoir Dogs.

Well, yes, I suppose it is pretty flimsy if sabotage is the response to a non-tip. Often though, non-tipping is only a final stage in a client's poor treatment of a waiter/waitress. I'll clairify.

I've never spat in anyone's food - although there have been times when I've been severely tempted to. Tempted not by a lack of tipping, but by stupid, dickish behaviour. Thing is, most of the people who don't really treat thier waitresses/waiters with respect are the same ones who don't tip, or "don't believe" in the concept of tipping. That's not to say that everyone who doesn't tip treats thier waiter/waitress badly, but obviously, if they're treating me badly, they aren't going to leave me a tip. There's alot of overlap between the two groups of people, with some belonging to one and others to both. For me, it's disrespect that makes me want to sabotage thier food, not really the lack of a tip, but again, alot of overlap there. Dicks are non-tippers, but not all non-tippers are dicks - yet alot are.

Since I've had some time to cool off, so to speak, I'd just like to clairify my position on sabotaging food:

If you treat your waiter/waitress badly, then they may sabotage your meal. I believe this to be morally acceptable in a general sense. If you do not tip your waiter/waitress, then they may also sabotage your meal the next time you eat. I do not believe this to be morally acceptable, in a general sense.


It just gets me angry when people treat waiters/waitresses like myself badly. Rudeness, intimidation, a lack of respect, etc. People don't seem to realize that I could severely fuck thier shit up, but don't. People think they can treat someone like dirt, and then that person - who handles thier food behind the scenes outside of thier view - won't do anything but keep on smiling.

Some people are extremely stupid. They abandon all of the conventions of civil society, yet expect those serving them to maintain them.

I know I've run a bit off into a seperate area here, but the two are very linked together. Not tipping can just indicate that one cannot afford to tip, but often, it instead is simply the continuation of one's poor attitude and treatment towards waiters/waitresses.

That being said, I do believe that tipping should occur, as some rely on tip-based income for thier basic needs.

I really hope I'm making sense. It's been a long night for me, and I tend to ramble and then realize that I didn't make any sense in the morning...




Now, since that's out of my system, what was Mr. Pink's defense in Reservoir Dogs? I've been meaning to get around to seeing that, but never really found the time.

Furthermore to the person regarding the pizza delivery here, and i thought in the US, there is a surcharge (around 80% of a single pizza cost) for delivery, i assume that half of that goes straight to the delivery person.

That is false.

I can tell you this becuase I have worked for all of the Big Corporate pizza chains.
Papa Johns.
Domino's
Pizza Hut.

None of them even charge for delivery.

Smaller chains, or locally owned pizza businesses sometimes do, (Hungry Howies) usually around $1.50.
Most of the time the driver gets a bit of it.
Also, since delivery is such extreme wear and tear (another reason you should tip) the store will usually give a small amount per mile driven.
This usually adds up to a couple dollars a day.
It doesnt even cover the amount of gas used.

It doesnt raise the price of your pizza.

So, when you order from a national pizza chain, usually, the store doesnt charge for delivery.
But often they enforce a certain amount for delivering.
Like, you have to order at least 7 dollars worth of food.

If I tipped 40-50 % I wouldn't be able to afford eating out. Good thing then that here tips are just an added bonus.

And I did work once for 1,25 pounds/hour (= $ 2.17) Ok that was 16 years ago, but still it was an extremely low wage off which I had to live. And as I was serving at a food store and not at a restaurant I didn't get any tips. When I used to work in a pub I didn't get any tips either, but regulars did buy me drinks sometimes, which is appreciated.

Anyway, it is not possible to compare the customs in different countries. When I'm in the US I tip more, but it really bugs me, because
a) I'd like to know beforehand what something costs and not an unpleasant surprise because state tax is added plus I have to give a 10% tip.
b) It is really the job of the restaurant owner to pay his people.
c) It is very hard to really not give a tip if the service was lousy, because you know that the people are dependent on it. Then again perhaps it is good, because they might make a mental connection between having left the food at the service hatch until it was lukewarm and them not getting tipped.

Well I don't reasonably expect other people to tip 40%-50%. I just do so myself because I've had several jobs that rely on tipping and I know how often people don't tip.

As to your points:

a: There aren't very many places in this country where the advertised price is the price you'll end up paying. If you get pissed because of sales tax and tips added on to your bill, you really ought to not eat out.

b: The government allows restaurant owners special exceptions to pay below minimum wage because of the assumption of tips. I don't know why, but tipping IS assumed in the US and servers are given a lower wage as a result. If a server doesn't get any tips, they take home $20 for an 8 hour shift.

c: While I do like to tip exceptionally well, I never feel under any obligation to tip if the service is terrible, and neither should you. Just because they are dependent on tips does not mean they should inherently count on them. They should earn them, just like any one else would earn their wage. If they do a poor job, they should be paid less.

Conversely, I used to deliver pizzas in a college town, and on Thursday and Friday nights, it would not be uncommon to get a $20 bill for an $11 order and be told to keep the change. A lot of college kids realize that you're bringing their drunk ass food at 2am, and appreciate it.


I agree totally.

Waiting on college kids in restaraunts can suck...but delivering pizzas to them..can be some of the best tippers of the night.

If there wasnt a surchage added i would expect the pizzas to generally all be more expensive and probably still not tip, however as i actually talk to people when i see them it would only take two or three delieveries to find out the situation as you say it is, and from then on would tip, also i am more likely to tip if i am a regular purveyor of the companies product. However to define that here the maximum i would tip would be to the note change point (ie if something was costing $7 or $9.50 i would hand over a $10 and not expect change (we have $1 and $2 coins if you didnt know.))

I tip 10-15% if they've done a reasonable job (i.e everything thats expected from them), 15-30% if they've gone out of their way to do something, or been extra nice to me. If they're grumpy and the service is shite, they get nothing. Seems fair enough to me.

Oh yeah, and at bars and pubs I always make sure I either tip a couple of pounds when I buy a drink at least once if i've been there a while or let them keep my change from every drink (e.g. i'm drinking something that costs £1.90, they get 10p per drink). As someone who used to work in a bar, I appriciate how shitty the pay is and how hard you work when its busy. If everyone just tipped a penny a drink i'd make £5 in a night easy, it makes the job alot easier to live with.

As Steve Buscemi said in Resevoir Dogs: I don't tip waitresses, unless they've been extra-nice or did anything out of the ordinary. i'm not gonna tip her for doing her job!

She gets payed less because the government assumes clients are going to tip her. One should either tip her or get the government to up her minimum pay.

Normal people get payed fully for fully doing thier jobs. Lazy people get payed fully for partially doing thier jobs.

Why should waiters/waitresses only get payed partially for fully doing thier job?

If there wasnt a surchage added i would expect the pizzas to generally all be more expensive and probably still not tip, however as i actually talk to people when i see them it would only take two or three delieveries to find out the situation as you say it is, and from then on would tip, also i am more likely to tip if i am a regular purveyor of the companies product. However to define that here the maximum i would tip would be to the note change point (ie if something was costing $7 or $9.50 i would hand over a $10 and not expect change (we have $1 and $2 coins if you didnt know.))

Well, like it has been said, the tipping phenomenon seems to be a solely American thing. It seems that waiters and delivery people and other servers in Europe and Australia actually get paid a standard wage and are not paid artificially low based on the assumption of tips. Considering that, it's more acceptable to not tip unless the service is exemplary.

If there is already a fixed gratuity (and I don't know how it works elsewhere, but where I live, this must be printed on the menu and bill) then I leave nothing extra unless the service was fantastic.

If there is not a fixed gratuity, and the service was acceptable, I most often leave 15%, which is the standard...

If the service was good, I leave 20% (or more, if it was fabulous).

If the service was horrendous, I leave no tip, but I speak to the manager too so it's clear that there was a problem with the service and that I am not a cheapskate. I like to think that that may improve the waiter/waitress' skills so that next time they do better -- or that if there are enough complaints, the restaurant will get rid of them.

I tip 10-15% if they've done a reasonable job (i.e everything thats expected from them), 15-30% if they've gone out of their way to do something, or been extra nice to me. If they're grumpy and the service is shite, they get nothing. Seems fair enough to me.

Bit of advice: It's never a good idea to just not tip if the service is horrendous. Then the waiter or whatever just thinks you're a cheapskate. Make sure to leave a really low tip (they say a quarter is customary). That way you show that you thought out the tip and you make a statement about the service. The waiter probably won't change any, but at least he/she realizes that you were unhappy with your service as opposed to just an ass.

So, using your earlier post as criteria, on an average visit to a restaruant, wherein you leave satisfied with your experience, but perhaps not overly elated....you leave nothing?
An example:
Dinner for two at the local pizza place: 1 salad, 1 pizza, one pasta, 2 deserts, 1 wine, two beer comes up to about 32.2 Euro.
For normal service I would tip 1.8 Euro.

Another example:
Lunch round the corner from the office:
Meal & soft drink come to 6.5 Euro
I tip 50 Cent (as does everyone else who has the set meal)

If there wasnt a surchage added i would expect the pizzas to generally all be more expensive and probably still not tip, however as i actually talk to people when i see them it would only take two or three delieveries to find out the situation as you say it is, and from then on would tip, also i am more likely to tip if i am a regular purveyor of the companies product. However to define that here the maximum i would tip would be to the note change point (ie if something was costing $7 or $9.50 i would hand over a $10 and not expect change (we have $1 and $2 coins if you didnt know.))


Well, I would say that the average order is about 15-20 dollars.
Using that...2 bucks is a solid, but not extravagant tip.

While 1.50 isnt much, for a ten dollar order, its better than nothing.

But to tell you the truth....if say, your food came to 9.69 and you handed me a ten, and told me to keep it...I would probably give you back your lousy 21 cents, and quietly leave.

Getting stiffed is better than being insulted.

i guess another partial difference is that i expect to be quoted a full price, where as in the US people expect the price of the goods only it seems. I have no issue with a known surcharge but will cross off a listed gratuity (it means no tip, no matter how good the service was it goes.)

I found it the most annoying thing of all when i visited the US to try and buy something (say at $99, and get to the counter and be quoted $120 say, all taxes and other charges should be included in the item price, regardless of their source IMO.

I'm acctually from Denmark, where waiters/waitresses arent dependant on tips, yet still they complain for not getting tipped. Tipping is a reward for doing yuor job well, therefore i dont believe in tipping for average services provided, if they do their job well, i shall reward them well, but if they just do their job, they shouldnt expect me to reward them.
FIND A JOB NOT RELYING ON ALMS

An example:
Dinner for two at the local pizza place: 1 salad, 1 pizza, one pasta, 2 deserts, 1 wine, two beer comes up to about 32.2 Euro.
For normal service I would tip 1.8 Euro.

Another example:
Lunch round the corner from the office:
Meal & soft drink come to 6.5 Euro
I tip 50 Cent (as does everyone else who has the set meal)


Well, if thats an example of the way you tip..your'e not evil, just a bit of a skinflint.

That is false.

I can tell you this becuase I have worked for all of the Big Corporate pizza chains.
Papa Johns.
Domino's
Pizza Hut.

None of them even charge for delivery.

Smaller chains, or locally owned pizza businesses sometimes do, (Hungry Howies) usually around $1.50.
Most of the time the driver gets a bit of it.
Also, since delivery is such extreme wear and tear (another reason you should tip) the store will usually give a small amount per mile driven.
This usually adds up to a couple dollars a day.
It doesnt even cover the amount of gas used.

It doesnt raise the price of your pizza.

So, when you order from a national pizza chain, usually, the store doesnt charge for delivery.
But often they enforce a certain amount for delivering.
Like, you have to order at least 7 dollars worth of food.

Seconded. I've never worked for a big chain, but I drove for three different sole propietors. I don't know of *any* in my area that surcharge for delivery.

As a driver, I never expected much, but 10% or at least $1 was fine. (This was is 1989-1994). Back then, I got $5/hr ($0.30 over minimum) plus tips. On an average Friday night, I made about $13-17 per hour. That's not all that much, but gas was $1.03/gal and I did my own oil changes... :)
Also, most drivers don't work more than about 20 hours per week, given the "prime delivery times". Not too many people order pizzas on Mondays, for example. On Mondays, I was lucky to make $5-7/hr.

Given the cost of gas these days, I tip about $3 on a $20 order, unless it's like an hour late...

I'm acctually from Denmark, where waiters/waitresses arent dependant on tips, yet still they complain for not getting tipped. Tipping is a reward for doing yuor job well, therefore i dont believe in tipping for average services provided, if they do their job well, i shall reward them well, but if they just do their job, they shouldnt expect me to reward them.
FIND A JOB NOT RELYING ON ALMS

Then you'll have no waiters or pizza delivery boys or bartenders or valets or a hundred other jobs that are dependent on tips. Face it. If you want someone else to wait on you because you're too lazy to do it yourself, don't be surprised that you have to pay extra. If you don't want to tip your waiter, go get your own food out of the kitchen.

Seconded. I've never worked for a big chain, but I drove for three different sole propietors. I don't know of *any* in my area that surcharge for delivery.

As a driver, I never expected much, but 10% or at least $1 was fine. (This was is 1989-1994). Back then, I got $5/hr ($0.30 over minimum) plus tips. On an average Friday night, I made about $13-17 per hour. That's not all that much, but gas was $1.03/gal and I did my own oil changes... :)
Also, most drivers don't work more than about 20 hours per week, given the "prime delivery times". Not too many people order pizzas on Mondays, for example. On Mondays, I was lucky to make $5-7/hr.

Given the cost of gas these days, I tip about $3 on a $20 order, unless it's like an hour late...

$5.00 an hour is nice. Where'd you make that in 1989? I didn't make that in 2004.

Seconded.
Given the cost of gas these days, I tip about $3 on a $20 order, unless it's like an hour late...


and every time, the driver gets in his/her car, thinking highly of you, and will remember you next time.

Then you'll have no waiters or pizza delivery boys or bartenders or valets or a hundred other jobs that are dependent on tips. Face it. If you want someone else to wait on you because you're too lazy to do it yourself, don't be surprised that you have to pay extra. If you don't want to tip your waiter, go get your own food out of the kitchen.

why should i? delivery is part of the job description, some places even hire deliverers seperately! its not an extra-ordinary luxury, its simply part of what they get paid for!

Well, if thats an example of the way you tip..your'e not evil, just a bit of a skinflint.

Agreed. Getting coins for a tip, no matter how small the bill, is just insulting.

humm... well i had pizza tonight (damn you talking about it. :-) )the driveer guy said that most people will waive the change at less that 50c but expect it at more, and then he will wave charges under 10c (ie at 20.10c he will ask for 20). He said that he would generally end up $2-$3 over, making it easier to balance at the end of the night. Furthermore it seems that this way they get more orders to their store than the competitors and it is policy for them to do so (small family store) Also they give free pizza to (good) regulars it seems, so tonight has been good all round i think :-)

The question is of course now, do i tip officially after talking to him (he said they dont expect actual tips) with the aim of free future pizza or do i just continue as is? :-)

why should i? delivery is part of the job description, some places even hire deliverers seperately! its not an extra-ordinary luxury, its simply part of what they get paid for!

Well, in the US at least, they get paid less than minimum wage because it's expected that they'll be tipped.

FIND A JOB NOT RELYING ON ALMS

Easier said than done. At least they're not on the dole.

$5.00 an hour is nice. Where'd you make that in 1989? I didn't make that in 2004.

:confused: Connecticut. Minimum was $4.70 back then... how on earth are you not making that now?!?

Depends where I am. Here it's not very often necessary to tip, service charges are included.

We do this thread like once a month, huh?

I always tip. Sitting in a restaurant, at least 15%, 20% if the service is good, the wait person is friendly or goes out of there way- often more.

For delivery- At least $10.00. If I order something to be delivered, its worth that for me NOT to go get it myself.

You have to consider that you will patronize these places again in the future, I like to have a good rapport with those preparing and feeding my family.

Agreed. Getting coins for a tip, no matter how small the bill, is just insulting.


Well..I did once spell out "This is your tip" in quarters.

It came to 8.75

I thought it was funny.......

well thats a bit odd, innit? why dont they raise it to minimum-wage and let tipping be something you have to work for?
in my view, the "the more you work, the more you get paid"-system is the most logical, and most reasonable...

:confused: Connecticut. Minimum was $4.70 back then... how on earth are you not making that now?!?

We got paid even lower because of the tips we got. Delivering pizzas in a college town gets you good tips. I could take home $200-$300 in tips on a good Thursday or Friday night.

I don't tip because tipping isn't customary here. It might have something to do with the fact that the people serving you are actually getting paid to serve you.

I work at a pizza place making min wage (NZ9.50 an hour cos I'm 19, which is about US$6.49) as well as an extra $2 untaxed per delivery which covers 'business expense', ie car costs. Unless you're stupid enough to do your deliveries in a huge gas guzzler, this is enough to cover your gas, repairs etc. When petrol prices started sky rocketing, the pizza place put my pay up to cover it and put the delivery price up slightly so the money went straight to me.

Sometimes I get tipped, sometimes not. I don't expect it and I don't get angry when it doesn't happen. Why should I? I'm already being paid to do this job, and they're already paying for thier food. Usually if I do get tipped, it's $0.50 or something when they tell me to 'keep the change'. Occasionally I'll get tiped a $2 coin or something, and even more rarely, more.

Another thing I don't understand is when I heard someone telling me that dominoes in the US didn't pay their drivers if they were late on a delivery. Someone earlier in the thread said that they 'didn't deserve to be tipped if they were late'. I know from experience that 99.5% of times I'm late on a delivery, the pizza was late from the moment they began making it, so if I was being punished via my pay from that happening, I would be rather fucked off...

:confused: Connecticut. Minimum was $4.70 back then... how on earth are you not making that now?!?

Some small businesses are not required to pay the federal minimum wage.
I have earned 4.75 when the MW was at 5.15.

Agreed. Getting coins for a tip, no matter how small the bill, is just insulting.


Well i hope then for the the sake of the service industry they dont do what we did and replace the $1 (and $2) notes with coins... If i spend less than $10 at a cafe there is no way in hell, no matter how good the service is that they would ever get a $5 tip.

well thats a bit odd, innit? why dont they raise it to minimum-wage and let tipping be something you have to work for?
in my view, the "the more you work, the more you get paid"-system is the most logical, and most reasonable...

Then how doesn't tipping make sense? The more the waiter works to make you happy, the more you pay them. You've already expressed that you don't tip, so what does it matter if tipping was "something you have to work for"? A waiter could bust their ass making you happy and you're still going to stiff them. What's the incentive to give you anything more than the bare minimum effort?

I don't tip because tipping isn't customary here. It might have something to do with the fact that the people serving you are actually getting paid to serve you.

I work at a pizza place making min wage (NZ9.50 an hour cos I'm 19, which is about US$6.49) as well as an extra $2 untaxed per delivery which covers 'business expense', ie car costs. Unless you're stupid enough to do your deliveries in a huge gas guzzler, this is enough to cover your gas, repairs etc. When petrol prices started sky rocketing, the pizza place put my pay up to cover it and put the delivery price up slightly so the money went straight to me.

Sometimes I get tipped, sometimes not. I don't expect it and I don't get angry when it doesn't happen. Why should I? I'm already being paid to do this job, and they're already paying for thier food. Usually if I do get tipped, it's $0.50 or something when they tell me to 'keep the change'. Occasionally I'll get tiped a $2 coin or something, and even more rarely, more.

Another thing I don't understand is when I heard someone telling me that dominoes in the US didn't pay their drivers if they were late on a delivery. Someone earlier in the thread said that they 'didn't deserve to be tipped if they were late'. I know from experience that 99.5% of times I'm late on a delivery, the pizza was late from the moment they began making it, so if I was being punished via my pay from that happening, I would be rather fucked off...

It's the same scenario that you describe here. People are paid a decent, acceptable and appropriate amount for their job. Service charges are included, so tipping is largely not necessary. The only people I really do tip are luggage people in hotels, if they take the baggage to the room... but even that's not strictly speaking necessary I believe.

Well i hope then for the the sake of the service industry they dont do what we did and replace the $1 (and $2) notes with coins... If i spend less than $10 at a cafe there is no way in hell, no matter how good the service is that they would ever get a $5 tip.

Well, $1 and $2 coins would be different, I suppose. I was speaking more of getting a handful of change.

I don't tip because tipping isn't customary here. It might have something to do with the fact that the people serving you are actually getting paid to serve you.

I work at a pizza place making min wage (NZ9.50 an hour cos I'm 19, which is about US$6.49) as well as an extra $2 untaxed per delivery which covers 'business expense', ie car costs. Unless you're stupid enough to do your deliveries in a huge gas guzzler, this is enough to cover your gas, repairs etc. When petrol prices started sky rocketing, the pizza place put my pay up to cover it and put the delivery price up slightly so the money went straight to me.

Sometimes I get tipped, sometimes not. I don't expect it and I don't get angry when it doesn't happen. Why should I? I'm already being paid to do this job, and they're already paying for thier food. Usually if I do get tipped, it's $0.50 or something when they tell me to 'keep the change'. Occasionally I'll get tiped a $2 coin or something, and even more rarely, more.

Another thing I don't understand is when I heard someone telling me that dominoes in the US didn't pay their drivers if they were late on a delivery. Someone earlier in the thread said that they 'didn't deserve to be tipped if they were late'. I know from experience that 99.5% of times I'm late on a delivery, the pizza was late from the moment they began making it, so if I was being punished via my pay from that happening, I would be rather fucked off...


Well, I happen to work at Domino's now.
They pay me no matter what.
I imagine that if I were constantly late, I wouldnt have a job for very long, but, I have never heard of anyone being refused pay.
In fact..Im nearly positive it would be illegal.

Then how doesn't tipping make sense? The more the waiter works to make you happy, the more you pay them. You've already expressed that you don't tip, so what does it matter if tipping was "something you have to work for"? A waiter could bust their ass making you happy and you're still going to stiff them. What's the incentive to give you anything more than the bare minimum effort?

i never said i didnt tip, i said i wouldnt tip if they just provided ordinary service.

Well, I happen to work at Domino's now.
They pay me no matter what.
I imagine that if I were constantly late, I wouldnt have a job for very long, but, I have never heard of anyone being refused pay.
In fact..Im nearly positive it would be illegal.

I had heard of the delivery people getting charged when the store had to give out free pizza coupons because of late deliveries, but those were usually the fault of the driver. Never was I ever charged for a free pizza coupon when I had to make a late delivery because we were so backlogged with orders.

Well i hope then for the the sake of the service industry they dont do what we did and replace the $1 (and $2) notes with coins... If i spend less than $10 at a cafe there is no way in hell, no matter how good the service is that they would ever get a $5 tip.


Well thats okay...leaving a five for a ten dollar meal is a bit much (although I often tip this way).
However, when someone buys me a meal, I often insist on getting the tip, and I usually leave a really good tip, becuase my meal was free.

We got paid even lower because of the tips we got. Delivering pizzas in a college town gets you good tips. I could take home $200-$300 in tips on a good Thursday or Friday night.

Ah! Big difference then. This was in a semi-suburban area with lots of businesses and homes, no schools above high school...

Well, I happen to work at Domino's now.
They pay me no matter what.
I imagine that if I were constantly late, I wouldnt have a job for very long, but, I have never heard of anyone being refused pay.
In fact..Im nearly positive it would be illegal.

The person telling me the story said reckoned that they stoped doing that because the obvious solution when you're due in the next suburb in 3 minutes and you're about to lose your pay, is to absolutely gun it to make it on time.

Still... How many times have you been late and it's been your fault?

I had heard of the delivery people getting charged when the store had to give out free pizza coupons because of late deliveries, but those were usually the fault of the driver. Never was I ever charged for a free pizza coupon when I had to make a late delivery because we were so backlogged with orders.


same here.

In fact, some people, when they see how busy your store is, and you arrive later than they expected, give more generously, in sympathy.

Well, if thats an example of the way you tip..your'e not evil, just a bit of a skinflint.
Agreed. Getting coins for a tip, no matter how small the bill, is just insulting.
Sorry, that's just your US perspective. Over here it's a normal tip. It's not overly generous, but not a skintflint tip either.
When in the US or Mexico, I tip 15%.

Ah! Big difference then. This was in a semi-suburban area with lots of businesses and homes, no schools above high school...

The best part of delivering in a college town like Durham were the non-monetary tips. ;)

I should possibly point out that there are surcharges from almost everywhere for delivery these days. Pizza hutt started by trying to disguise it as a 'special discount for pick-ups' but they don't bother anymore. They're always flat surcharges though so if you order fk all then its more expensive. Doesn't stop people from ordering small pizza's delivered though.

Do you tip your waiter/waitress when paying for a bill? If so, how much?

Nah...whada they do

I should possibly point out that there are surcharges from almost everywhere for delivery these days. Pizza hutt started by trying to disguise it as a 'special discount for pick-ups' but they don't bother anymore. They're always flat surcharges though so if you order fk all then its more expensive. Doesn't stop people from ordering small pizza's delivered though.

For the most part that money goes to the suits and not the delivery people, though. It's just another way for the people on top of the company to rake in a little more dough.

The person telling me the story said reckoned that they stoped doing that because the obvious solution when you're due in the next suburb in 3 minutes and you're about to lose your pay, is to absolutely gun it to make it on time.

Still... How many times have you been late and it's been your fault?


Oh..I think I know what your friend was talking about.

Domino's used to have the "30 minutes or its free" policy.
They didnt refuse to pay the drivers if they were late, but the store would lose money.
Thus, apparently, a store manager couldnt keep a driver who was consistantly late.
So becuase the drivers were hurrying, in order to not get in trouble, they were driving too fast, and getting into accidents.

They dont have that policy anymore.
Sometimes, you just cant help being longer than 30 minutes.

As for me, your question depends on your definition of "Late" and wether or not I believed it my fault.

But honestly...rarely.
I know my area very well, and never get lost.
But more importantly, the sooner I get back to the store, from a customers house...the sooner I take another run.
So its in my own best interests to be expediant.

The best part of delivering in a college town like Durham were the non-monetary tips. ;)


It happened like this:

College Girl #1, pays for pizza and says :"Yah, were kinda broke right now, and we dont have any money for a tip..so..


*boobs*

Me: "Were good."

I leave.

For the most part that money goes to the suits and not the delivery people, though. It's just another way for the people on top of the company to rake in a little more dough.


Pun intended?

All the time. Between 10% and 12.5%

For the most part that money goes to the suits and not the delivery people, though. It's just another way for the people on top of the company to rake in a little more dough.

I get $2 per delivery of the $4 delivery fee, although it used to be $1.50 out of $3.50, so when it went up the money went directly to me. I work for a franchise as well so the extra money goes to the 23 year old owner who has never worn a suit in his life...

Judean Public People
if your name is referring to Monty Python: Life Of Brian, then its "Judean People's Front" (just a quick side note :D )

It happened like this:

College Girl #1, pays for pizza and says :"Yah, were kinda broke right now, and we dont have any money for a tip..so..


*boobs*

Me: "Were good."

I leave.

I can do SO much better than that. :D

Pun intended?

Of course.

Only when I'm in the US. No one tips here in Ireland (only american tourists!) as there is a service charge on most bills and ppl get paid E7.60/hour

I get $2 per delivery of the $4 delivery fee, although it used to be $1.50 out of $3.50, so when it went up the money went directly to me. I work for a franchise as well so the extra money goes to the 23 year old owner who has never worn a suit in his life...

Well then you Kiwis have a much better system than us, because I never saw a dime of any of the delivery surcharges.

Judean Public People
if your name is referring to Monty Python: Life Of Brian, then its "Judean People's Front" (just a quick side note :D )


Oh feeeck oofff!

Judean Peoples Front!

Were the Peoples Front of Judea!

I can do SO much better than that. :D

wooow, you're are SOOO kool, can i be you? whaddya say we replace the statue of liberty with a sculpture of you? and maybe we can make the french replace Mona Lisa with a picture of you! and we can make great campaigns with t-shirts and small hats and foam-fingers! and maybe we can get the greeks to dedicate the olympics to you, instead of Zeus! plus, im sure the Pope will convert once he hears about you! :D :D :D

wooow, you're are SOOO kool, can i be you? whaddya say we replace the statue of liberty with a sculpture of you? and maybe we can make the french replace Mona Lisa with a picture of you! and we can make great campaigns with t-shirts and small hats and foam-fingers! and maybe we can get the greeks to dedicate the olympics to you, instead of Zeus! plus, im sure the Pope will convert once he hears about you! :D :D :D


I fart upon you.

Oh feeeck oofff!

Judean Peoples Front!

Were the Peoples Front of Judea!

LOL!!! i love Monty, even though its like 40years old its still some of the most humorous television/movies ever made.

I deliver pizzas.

Evidently.

Lets put some ground rules down...

1. As stated above, if you go into a restaruant, and cant afford to tip, you have no business in a resturaunt where tipping is customary, ie; service is given. Rememeber, your paying for service beyond that of taking your order, and delivering your food.

Well, I'm not paying for MY "custom", I'm paying for my food which factors into it the "value-added", non-existent as it may be. In case you don't getit, its MY custom that you desire and invite at the prices you display - which factors in YOUR custom. That's right - you take my order, I take my food. And we go our separate ways.

2. With pizza, or any other food that is delivered:
You are paying me (for example), to bring you something that you were too lazy to come and get yourself.
Gas aint cheap, and drivers use a lot of it.
Your tipping me to insure I bring your food, hot, fresh, and in a timley manner...BECUASE YOUR FAT ASS WAS TOO LAZY TO GO AND GET IT.
If Im late...I dont expect anything.

Most pizza delivery plebians I've come across are too dim-witted to merit even a smile. I feel sorry for such human beings. They are born to serve and serve they will. Whether my fat is lazy or not, I'm paying for the pizza, not to feed some poor blokes starving family. Quite simply, I can afford it. You do it cause you can't afford the pizza price taken out of your wages. Its called quid pro quo.

3. "TIP" is really an acronym, anyone realize that?
It stands for "To Insure Prompt Service"
Only arrogant bastards expect to be waited on hand and foot, and when someone does this for you, why is so hard for you to give that person, who does this for a living, a bit of cash for thier trouble?

Am reminded of Shakespeare in the Tempest - "bawling, blasphemous incharitable cur". Maybe if the pizza boy were to do a little sing and dance...

Like it or not, Money talks, as they say, and bullshit walks.

Yep, the grass is always greener on the other side - suggest you walk the road less taken.

People in the service industry have very good memories when they are treated badly by asshole customers.

The feeling's mutual. Except the waiter continues to wait.

When you tip us, the next time we deal with you, our attiudes say "Hey, its Mr. John Doe! Thats the guy who left me five bucks last time, hes cool!"
We go out of our way to make sure Mr. Doe is well taken care of.

Thats how the system works.

What's all the mumbo-jumbo about earning a honest livin' and doing yer job...(properly). Burp!

THIS is how the system works.

I, and some of my friends look like the kind of customers that dont tip, (Long hair, tattoos, piercings etc) and sometimes, we get looks from the server that say "Oh crap..these guys arent gonna leave me shit."
Then we leave them a small pile of money, cause we all currently work, or have at one time, worked in the service industry.
The next time we go in there, people fight over who gets our table, and we get pampered, cause they remember us.

Can't imagine any customer competitors for such waiters' affections. In any event, I salute your dedication to public service and would gladly nominate you as Server-General of the United Nations.

Would be most interested though in hearing any semblance of argument in support of the suggestion that tipping is morally mandatory.

wooow, you're are SOOO kool, can i be you? whaddya say we replace the statue of liberty with a sculpture of you? and maybe we can make the french replace Mona Lisa with a picture of you! and we can make great campaigns with t-shirts and small hats and foam-fingers! and maybe we can get the greeks to dedicate the olympics to you, instead of Zeus! plus, im sure the Pope will convert once he hears about you! :D :D :D

Sounds good. Get working.

Well then you Kiwis have a much better system than us, because I never saw a dime of any of the delivery surcharges.

I get paid per hour and per delivery but as far as I know all the other pizza places (pizza hutt, dominoes etc) ONLY pay their drivers for deliveries meaning the rest of the time they sit around waiting (at least is my understanding) so they pretty much get paid with the delivery fee on each delivery they do. This can be good or bad depending on whether you can find a place with only a few drivers or not. Technically they're 'self employed' too.

Would be most interested though in hearing any semblance of argument in support of the suggestion that tipping is morally mandatory.

Servers are paid below minimum wage on the assumption that you are going to tip them. Don't want to tip them? Get your own fucking food. But don't be shocked when you get shit service when it gets known that you're a lousy tipper.

Servers are paid below minimum wage on the assumption that you are going to tip them. Don't want to tip them? Get your own fucking food. But don't be shocked when you get shit service when it gets known that you're a lousy tipper.

isn't the point of a minimum wage that it's, well, the minimum wage you can be paid? Aren't there laws and things surrounding that?

normally i'd give 10 to 12% for good service.
If there service is below expected standards i'll give less.

I've worked in the service industry (restaurants + hotels) for 9 years (from 13 to 22). So no, i won't simply tip someone for the sake of tipping.

I was very suprised when i went to New Orleans and the bartender served myself and 3 friends some drinks and we paid. It happened to be an exact amount, and she said "what about a tip???". Personally i could not help but laugh, she'd been miserable, unfriendly and just planted the 4 drinks infront of us . AND EXPECTED A TIP?!?!? not a chance.

Oh, and when i worked in london as a waiter, I got 65 pounds basic a week. The rest had to be earned on tips. And we made plenty. Why? good service, friendlyness and proffessionalism. We still had some asshole clients that gave nothing, but some people don't like to tip....

Whereas a place i go to locally here is spain, the bartender is friendly, chatty and efficient. so he gets a tip.

isn't the point of a minimum wage that it's, well, the minimum wage you can be paid? Aren't there laws and things surrounding that?

The government allows restaurants and bars and such to pay below minimum wage.

Most pizza delivery plebians I've come across are too dim-witted to merit even a smile. I feel sorry for such human beings. They are born to serve and serve they will. Whether my fat is lazy or not, I'm paying for the pizza, not to feed some poor blokes starving family. Quite simply, I can afford it. You do it cause you can't afford the pizza price taken out of your wages. Its called quid pro quo.

Whoo..deep breath...

Wow....are you ever an arrogant bastard.

Do I sound like a plebian to you?
Do I seem, remotely dim-witted to you?

I dont need you to feel anything for me, sorry or otherwise.
Frankly, Im not even sure people like you feel anything at all, except scorn.
I'd also like to add, that if you had noticed, nothing gets taken out of my wages except taxes, friend, so regardless of how long you have to wait to get your food, I lose nothing, except my time.

Also, as for morally mandatory, this of course, has the pre-requisite of need to have morals at all, given the inflammatory, and gargantuanly arrogant nature of that last post, Im not sure you qualify.

Servers are paid below minimum wage on the assumption that you are going to tip them. Don't want to tip them? Get your own fucking food. But don't be shocked when you get shit service when it gets known that you're a lousy tipper.

I think its pretty bad that the gov alows people to work for less then minimum wage on the assumption that other people will be paying more for their food then is listed on the menu.

Having said that, over here in holland i usually tip between 0% and 10% depending on service and quality of the food. When im in the US ill tip between 10% and 20%.

The government allows restaurants and bars and such to pay below minimum wage.

Ah, here the min wage is for everything, which might be why tipping isn't a thing.

Question: Is tipping a result of the exception made for restaurants and bars, or is the exeption the result of tipping?

The government allows restaurants and bars and such to pay below minimum wage.

Exactly what i do not get: Why do they do that? its completely DAFT! why force a job (that is generally occupied by to all sorts of students) to live on alms?
it makes no sense to me.

Ah, here the min wage is for everything, which might be why tipping isn't a thing.

Question: Is tipping a result of the exception made for restaurants and bars, or is the exeption the result of tipping?

I honestly have no idea. I've never cared to look it up. I'm sure it began with waiters and bartenders getting tips, and then restaurants and bars petitioning the government to be allowed to pay them less. But that's just assumption.

Exactly what i do not get: Why do they do that? its completely DAFT! why force a job (that is generally occupied by to all sorts of students) to live on alms?
it makes no sense to me.


Mainly becuase we've done it for centuries now, and theres no way to stop people from tipping, thus, becuase its income, they have to tax it as such.
So...in turn, they allow certain places to pay thier employees with tippable incomes lower than the minimum amount.

given the inflammatory...nature of that last post...

Sincerely, I apologise for my section you quoted. I was out of line and wrong.

The minimum wage argument is no good since even if the government did not fix the price, the market did. If people are willing to work at a price at a restaurant, they will. And that's it. Who fixes the price is irrelevant.

To "expect" or "customarily" make tipping a part and parcel of it all is plain extortion. There's nothing moral about it. Sure, its not a great pay, but it is a price reflective of exchange of labour. Why should it be artificially raised by the seller of such labour when buyers are unwilling?

Most pizza delivery plebians I've come across are too dim-witted to merit even a smile. I feel sorry for such human beings. They are born to serve and serve they will. Whether my fat is lazy or not, I'm paying for the pizza, not to feed some poor blokes starving family. Quite simply, I can afford it. You do it cause you can't afford the pizza price taken out of your wages. Its called quid pro quo.

Am reminded of Shakespeare in the Tempest - "bawling, blasphemous incharitable cur". Maybe if the pizza boy were to do a little sing and dance...


Are you the guy on 13 Blacks Hill that never tipped except for $0.50 on Christmas Eve? How'd the WD-40 taste? I'd been coating your plain cheese with that free topping after the 5th trip. :p

Sincerely, I apologise for my section you quoted. I was out of line and wrong.

The minimum wage argument is no good since even if the government did not fix the price, the market did. If people are willing to work at a price at a restaurant, they will. And that's it. Who fixes the price is irrelevant.

To "expect" or "customarily" make tipping a part and parcel of it all is plain extortion. There's nothing moral about it. Sure, its not a great pay, but it is a price reflective of exchange of labour. Why should it be artificially raised by the seller of such labour when buyers are unwilling?

The market has only set the price of wages for servers so low because of tipping. Without the tips, the price of wages for servers would go up, which would be reflected in the price of the food.

Sincerely, I apologise for my section you quoted. I was out of line and wrong.

The minimum wage argument is no good since even if the government did not fix the price, the market did. If people are willing to work at a price at a restaurant, they will. And that's it. Who fixes the price is irrelevant.

To "expect" or "customarily" make tipping a part and parcel of it all is plain extortion. There's nothing moral about it. Sure, its not a great pay, but it is a price reflective of exchange of labour. Why should it be artificially raised by the seller of such labour when buyers are unwilling?


It isnt artificially raised to the unwilling, as tipping is not legally mandatory, or you would certainly know it.
It IS however,morally required. (at least where I live)
It boils down to generosity.
Apparently, you have none.

A delivery person is bringing you goods, the price of wich, is set by his/her employer, and the driver has no say in how much you are charged.

The price of said merchandise, would not change, even if you went and picked it up yourself, so, thusly, you feel no obligation to compensate an idividual who is willing to provide you with something you arent willing to go and get for yourself?

To me, it says you have no conscience.

It isnt artificially raised to the unwilling, as tipping is not legally mandatory, or you would certainly know it.
It IS however,morally required. (at least where I live)
It boils down to generosity.
Apparently, you have none.

A delivery person is bringing you goods, the price of wich, is set by his/her employer, and the driver has no say in how much you are charged.

The price of said merchandise, would not change, even if you went and picked it up yourself, so, thusly, you feel no obligation to compensate an idividual who is willing to provide you with something you arent willing to go and get for yourself?

To me, it says you have no conscience.

Generally i do not pay pizza delivery people. But that's also because the companies raise the price for deliveries. +2€ normally. So in such a situation i would only tip if something more than just delivery. Say they deliver it to the door of my apartment instead of the building entrance. Or anything that makes it feel that they've done that bit more...

The market has only set the price of wages for servers so low because of tipping. Without the tips, the price of wages for servers would go up, which would be reflected in the price of the food.

It isnt artificially raised to the unwilling, as tipping is not legally mandatory, or you would certainly know it.
It IS however,morally required. (at least where I live)
It boils down to generosity.
Apparently, you have none.

A delivery person is bringing you goods, the price of wich, is set by his/her employer, and the driver has no say in how much you are charged.

The price of said merchandise, would not change, even if you went and picked it up yourself, so, thusly, you feel no obligation to compensate an idividual who is willing to provide you with something you arent willing to go and get for yourself?

To me, it says you have no conscience.

Its really not so melodramatic.

The issue is, do I have a "right" to tip or a "duty". Conversely, do you have a "right" to receive a tip or a "privilege". I believe, given that the employment relationship is not between the buyer and the delivery person, I have total discretion in whether to tip. Otherwise, post a sign saying its mandatory (or include "service" in the bill). I could then exercise my choice whether to dine in said establishment or not.

Quite honestly, its tough that delivery personnel have no say in price setting. But its not a new problem given the history of the Trade Union movement. However, even where pizzas price remain unchanged regardless of delivery or self-service, I would think delivery costs are factored in across the board - in case of delivered pizzas the pizza company recoups delivery costs; in case of self-service, it makes a windfall gain. Which further strengthens why the problem of increasing the delivery person's share of the pie should reside in the relationship between the delivery person and his/her employer. Not with the customer who really has nothing to do with the choice of employment of the individual who is the delivery person.

At the moment I am still too young to pay for my own restaurant fees..but when I do I will always remember to tip (not sure about standard courtesy in the U.K) If you're too cold hearted to tip a waiter just think of your initial payment a deposit and your tip as the final payment. I don't see why anyone thinks it's fine in the US to allow Service Industry employees to be paid below the minimum wage and then swagger around saying; "harhar, my job is better than yours!!"

Does your money fetch you your gin and tonic every night?

well if you purchased a fridge from... *A large department store* and they had a free delivery policy would you tip the guy with the truck who brought it out to you?

If I had the chance, yes.

well if you purchased a fridge from... *A large department store* and they had a free delivery policy would you tip the guy with the truck who brought it out to you?

Yes, so long as he brought it into the house for me and such.

Well, it really depends. In some cultures, it isn't the norm to tip and you normally only do so in extraordinary circumstances. In the U.S., the standard minimum tip is usually 15 percent, though you can sometimes go lower in the event of bad service.

I usually try to be fairly generous when it comes to tipping servers because my mother used to work as one when she moved to Maine and I lived with her during my high school years. Usually, if I'm only tipping you 15% to the penny, I'm sending you a message that you did something I didn't like. I would only not tip if I got poor service AND poor attitude.

When I say generous, I usually give at least 20 percent, and frequently more than that. Bear in mind that servers will remember who gives good tips and who doesn't.

why? here the issue is not one of lazyness about going and getting the product, but more of an ability to correctly and safely transport a bulky and heavy (and expensive) item, for which the person driving is properly trained, exclusively employed for and definantly earns more than minimum wage (at least here, cause it is expensive and difficult to get the licence required to drive commerical trucks) Furthermore he doesnt actually take payment for the product. Another similar question - would you tip a UPS/FedEx delivery? if so, would you tip the postie?

why? here the issue is not one of lazyness about going and getting the product, but more of an ability to correctly and safely transport a bulky and heavy (and expensive) item, for which the person driving is properly trained, exclusively employed for and definantly earns more than minimum wage (at least here, cause it is expensive and difficult to get the licence required to drive commerical trucks) Furthermore he doesnt actually take payment for the product. Another similar question - would you tip a UPS/FedEx delivery? if so, would you tip the postie?

If the UPS/FedEx guy brought it into my house and set it up for me, sure. I can't really think of an instance where one would tip the postman.

isnt it the same thing though? just one is a federal and the other a private employee?

well if you purchased a fridge from... *A large department store* and they had a free delivery policy would you tip the guy with the truck who brought it out to you?

Yes. That's US custom as well. The average tip is usually about $25/delivery. (So, if it's one person, s/he gets $25. If it's 2, they split it.) It's also customary to tip one's movers, usually $40-$50 each.

isnt it the same thing though? just one is a federal and the other a private employee?

I'm not going to tip the delivery guy if he just drives the truck to my house and drops my refrigerator off in my driveway. Nor am I going to tip the FedEx guy for bringing a shoebox to my front door. And I'm not going to tip the postman for reaching out his window and sticking envelopes in my mailbox. But if they do something that is deserving of extra, then they will get extra.

Another similar question - would you tip a UPS/FedEx delivery? if so, would you tip the postie?

UPS and FedEx people are rarely tipped; if the object is large, bulky or heavy or if they carried it a larger distance than would be expected in most deliveries, people tip them.

It is illegal to tip a member of the US Postal Service. As civil servants, they are not to receive tips because tips can be considered "bribes." (Or at least I believe that is the justification.) At Christmas time, many people bake cookies for , or give small gifts to, their postal carriers.

That last is something i can understand - at christmas time we always give 2-3 slabs of beer to the garbage guys, it encourages them to take our garbage every time :-)

(To note our garbage is removed in 240lt (errr 60 gallon i think) wheelie bins that are hydralically lifted into the truck and emptied. At least once every two months our bin exceeds 500kgs (1/2 a ton) of weight and pops the safety switches on their trucks :-) (This would be because we put concrete and other such things it it :-) ))

Yes. That's US custom as well. The average tip is usually about $25/delivery. (So, if it's one person, s/he gets $25. If it's 2, they split it.) It's also customary to tip one's movers, usually $40-$50 each.
Again different here, the delivery surcharge would be in that region so I would not tip them extra. Especially since they only deliver to the door and not inside!
Would you tip the electrician who connects your electric oven? I wouldn't because aditionally to his hourly rate (even though it only takes 10 minutes) he charges me 1/2 hour extra for driving to my house (15 minutes drive). So he gets 1 1/2 hours pay for 40 minutes work including driving to and from me. No tip for him.

I'll have extensive wiring done in a couple of weeks. It'll take about 2 working days. I won't tip but will provide beverages.

Would you tip the electrician who connects your electric oven?

Generally we don't tip electricians, plumbers, cable installers etc... It's common courtesy to offer them beverages while they are working, and food if they work for you throughout the time period during which a meal would fall, ie... lunch if they are at your home the entire time between 11AM and 1:30PM.

(This is usually done for movers, too. On our last move, the movers accepted beverages and tips, but not meals. One even took the window air conditioning unit that we no longer needed. That was fine with us because otherwise we were going to leave it for the next tenant of our house. I think we made that guy's day when we offered it to them. "Does anyone need a window air conditioning unit? We can't use it at our new home and won't have anywhere to store it.")

Do you tip your waiter/waitress when paying for a bill? If so, how much?
I tip 10-20%, however much will come out to an even dollar amount.

I've worked as a server for quite awhile, and tips are really how you make any money at all. At $2.55 per hour it makes it hardly worth it without getting tips.

I work at a resturant, where getting out of there for under $20 (even ordering a "cheap" lunch item) just isn't going to happen. People complain all the time about the prices, as if they're not right next to what they're ordering....and often because of the amount of the ticket I get crappy tips.

As a female waitress I've noticed that women tip worse then men, and tend to be more demanding. Elderly women are the worst. Snapping fingers, complaining about food, reordering dishes, and of course making a general mess of the table. Elderly women tend to ask for more and tip less.

The thing about tipping 15%-20% is that I normally get more when people don't follow that guide. A common ticket is around $80-$85 so if they tipped even 20% I would be getting between 16.00-17.00, but am more likely to get $20-$30 :).

I've worked as a server for quite awhile, and tips are really how you make any money at all. At $2.55 per hour it makes it hardly worth it without getting tips.

I work at a resturant, where getting out of there for under $20 (even ordering a "cheap" lunch item) just isn't going to happen. People complain all the time about the prices, as if they're not right next to what they're ordering....and often because of the amount of the ticket I get crappy tips.

As a female waitress I've noticed that women tip worse then men, and tend to be more demanding. Elderly women are the worst. Snapping fingers, complaining about food, reordering dishes, and of course making a general mess of the table. Elderly women tend to ask for more and tip less.

The thing about tipping 15%-20% is that I normally get more when people don't follow that guide. A common ticket is around $80-$85 so if they tipped even 20% I would be getting between 16.00-17.00, but am more likely to get $20-$30 :).

Heh. As a male delivery boy, I've noticed that women tip better than men, and tend to be less demanding. :D I wonder why there's such a difference....

I do agree; the elderly are the worst. They demand 100% of your attention and often don't tip whatsoever.

I just double the tax...

Heh. As a male delivery boy, I've noticed that women tip better than men, and tend to be less demanding. :D I wonder why there's such a difference....

I do agree; the elderly are the worst. They demand 100% of your attention and often don't tip whatsoever.

Haha, so many times I'm telling off some little old lady in my head, and then get to the table with the biggest smile on my face, "What can I do for you, ma'am?"

Most of the time they want to-go boxes as well, for EVERYTHING. To-go for their water/beverage, food, salad, bread, dessert. They complain about never having enough food, but never eat all of it???? Its confusing. I don't mind giving people to-go boxes, they paid for the food they should be able to take it, but some will ask for "more salad" "extra bread" "more coffee" without wanting me to add anything to their bill.

EDIT: Also, why aren't you on AIM? Get on now!

Haha, so many times I'm telling off some little old lady in my head, and then get to the table with the biggest smile on my face, "What can I do for you, ma'am?"

Most of the time they want to-go boxes as well, for EVERYTHING. To-go for their water/beverage, food, salad, bread, dessert. They complain about never having enough food, but never eat all of it???? Its confusing. I don't mind giving people to-go boxes, they paid for the food they should be able to take it, but some will ask for "more salad" "extra bread" "more coffee" without wanting me to add anything to their bill.

EDIT: Also, why aren't you on AIM? Get on now!

Little old ladies are great to have. Little old ladies are nice and sweet and try to tip you way more than you can afford, and you can see the look in the eyes of the people with her, saying "she can't afford this, what is she doing?" It's the mean old maids that suck. Their food is never right, and they want everything but the kitchen sink for free.

AIM's not working for me; hasn't for the past four or five days. MSN is all I have, unfortunately.

uh 20% is pretty much the standard for gratuity

It's actually 15% but the best way to figure it out is know your sales tax. In NYS it is like 8.50 or 8.375 so basically I just double that and walla! It's easy that way.

Little old ladies are great to have. Little old ladies are nice and sweet and try to tip you way more than you can afford, and you can see the look in the eyes of the people with her, saying "she can't afford this, what is she doing?" It's the mean old maids that suck. Their food is never right, and they want everything but the kitchen sink for free.

AIM's not working for me; hasn't for the past four or five days. MSN is all I have, unfortunately.

Well I know a lot of elderly women are on fixed incomes, but that still doesn't mean they need to be a pain when they know they'll be tipping poorly, if at all.

The debate over the amount or "morality" of tipping is a personal one -- much like a server or delivery person's service is personal.

MY beef with tipping is how widespread it has become. Suddenly, we're now supposed to tip the BARBER/HAIRDRESER. They didn't deliver anything to me (in fact, I came to them), and they're charging me $20 for 30 minutes' work. Yes, of course, hairstyling is a fairly specialized skill that takes practice and at least some education. But they've just made $40 an HOUR! I'm a teacher with a master's degree, and my salary doesn't come CLOSE to that! Then they want to sell me something that's "only available at the salon" -- and why? Because if they tried to charge that much for shampoo at a supermarket, it'd never sell.

There's a tip jar ar Baskin-Robbins ice cream and Starbucks, too. Like hell -- again, I came to THEM. Shit, if they'd let me, I'd scoop my own damn ice cream.

Like the appliance deliverers or plumbers or movers, I think a tip is justified in the case of anything beyond the service you paid for -- you pay for the product and the installation. I bought my queen-size bed in 2000, and they charged at $35 delivery fee. I was a little put off, but not too upset, figuring that this goes to the guys who are coming to pick up my old mattress and set up the new one. Fair enough. But when the delivery center called and tried to tell me when the van was going to arrive, I got pissed. I paid for the bed and the delivery charge -- I work(ed, at the time) 8 to 5, and I'm not going to hang around in a two-hour period at your behest. If you can't deliver after 5pm, you're bloody well coming on Saturday. And don't get me started on the cable guy.

Like the appliance deliverers or plumbers or movers, I think a tip is justified in the case of anything beyond the service you paid for -- you pay for the product and the installation. I bought my queen-size bed in 2000, and they charged at $35 delivery fee. I was a little put off, but not too upset, figuring that this goes to the guys who are coming to pick up my old mattress and set up the new one. Fair enough.

But that fee doesn't. It goes to the company; called a delivery fee one would assume that it goes to the delivery person but it doesn't. That's why US custom generally tips the delivery person.

Well, like it has been said, the tipping phenomenon seems to be a solely American thing. It seems that waiters and delivery people and other servers in Europe and Australia actually get paid a standard wage and are not paid artificially low based on the assumption of tips. Considering that, it's more acceptable to not tip unless the service is exemplary.
I actually had no idea that it wasn't customary in other countries to tip.

As a part-time waitress in Canada I can tell you that tipping is accepted to the extent that we are paid below minimum wage with the expectation that tips will make up the difference (yes, the theory is all tips earned will be reported to the government as income). I love working as a server, and with tips, I make as much money as friends in different sectors.

If people in Canada and the States are hesitant about tipping the expected 15%, think of it this way. Because of tips, your servers are paid (about) 15% less than the going wage. Therefore the restaurant can price their menu lower.

If no one tipped, servers would have to be paid at least minimum wage, that increase in cost (imposed on the restaurant) would be reflected on higher menu prices for you, the customer. Either way you’ll end up paying the same, as a tip or as part of the bill.

I personally think the European/Australian system mentioned here seems more reasonable. One only tips if the service is exceptional. But tipping is so ingrained in the Canadian and American system it is a foundation of workers incomes, leaving no gratuity just isn’t acceptable.

I tip based on level of service from my waiter/waitress. If they are rude or super slow I will tip around 10%. If it's really bad sometimnes less.

On the same tolken if they treat me real well I will go over the 20%.

I don't believe in an expected ammount for a tip. That would be like working commission & expecting to get minimum commission for not making goal.

I also take into consideration the cook staff. if the kitchen is slow as hell but my waiter/waitress is honest upfront & apologetic I will give her a good tip. it's not her fault.

Ha HA $3 weve got Minimum wage Baby Minimum F**KEN WAGE!!!
$10 W00T!!!1!! :rolleyes:

Ha HA $3 weve got Minimum wage Baby Minimum F**KEN WAGE!!!
$10 W00T!!!1!! :rolleyes:

..........

Crazy

I always tip, because minimun wage for tipped employees in the US is $2.13. If you don't believe in tipping, I don't believe in washing my hands before I prepare your food. Really, think about it. I am in charge of something that you are going to ingest. The fate of your intestines is literally in my hands. Even if you don't eat at my particular establishment, the only real way to avoid me is to never ever ever eat out, because I am everywhere.

..........

Crazy
What Moi???? :eek: :(

yeah your (probably) right. :)

or Minimum wage?

or $10

I always tip, because minimun wage for tipped employees in the US is $2.13. If you don't believe in tipping, I don't believe in washing my hands before I prepare your food. Really, think about it. I am in charge of something that you are going to ingest. The fate of your intestines is literally in my hands. Even if you don't eat at my particular establishment, the only real way to avoid me is to never ever ever eat out, because I am everywhere.

So what fucked up place do you work at where you cook my food after I pay for it?

Do you tip your waiter/waitress when paying for a bill? If so, how much?

Yes, unless the food and/or service is extremely poor, and I never plan on going back there again.

My usual tips are:

10% Service and food passable, but barely
15% Food good, but service not so good
20% Good service, food tolerable
Over 20% Great food and service. I've tipped as much as 50% if I was really impressed! Also, if the bill is small (like most breakfasts), I'll tip more simply because 20% of $12 isn't much.

Well ive got to go and rake in more Money than minimum wage!
*No not on the Streets thats Kanabia* :p

If you are in America and you don't tip you are basically scum. No excuses. You are asking someone to do a demanding job for free. If you are too broke to tip eat at home or go to McDonalds.

I'm sorry if this has already been asked/answered, but when I used to waitress, we noticed that Australians NEVER tipped. Why is this? Is this common, or just an isolated group?

...we noticed that Australians NEVER tipped. Why is this? Is this common, or just an isolated group?

I'd guess it is because tipping is not a custom in Australia. Rarely does an Australian server receive a tip because they are already paid a reasonable wage; they don't depend on tips for income. Australian tips are rare, usually given only for outstanding service, and even then are often only the change needed to round up to the next dollar or five dollars.

I've never been to Australia, but I know in Europe waiters are paid a percentage of the check rather than getting tips, so Europeans are generally not in the habit of tipping. I go to a pub up the street from me where a lot of Brits hang out and they actually have signs instructing them to tip.

the lack of tipping explains the generally crappy service you get in European bars and restaurants, not to mention the generally high prices.

I always tip, because minimun wage for tipped employees in the US is $2.13. If you don't believe in tipping, I don't believe in washing my hands before I prepare your food. Really, think about it. I am in charge of something that you are going to ingest. The fate of your intestines is literally in my hands. Even if you don't eat at my particular establishment, the only real way to avoid me is to never ever ever eat out, because I am everywhere.
Oh, but the waitstaff usually has to clean up after me. Mess with me & I make sure the head gets sprayed from head to toe with the mess you put im my stomache & I won't flush.

:eek:

Botswombata']Oh, but the waitstaff usually has to clean up after me. Mess with me & I make sure the head gets sprayed from head to toe with the mess you put im my stomache & I won't flush.

Admit it, you'll do that anyway, scum.

As a waiter, I think you should all read this (http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/03.14.96/waitprsn-9611.html) article for some insight into the people you don't tip. Your waiter/waitress is there to serve you, but they still deserve your respect and manners. In my line of work, I've dealt with alcoholics, drug users, the mentally unstable, and worse. I've wiped old, senile man drool off of tables, and smiled at the parents who let thier kids run around and squirt ketchup on to tables as 'fun'. People try to intimidate me, lie to me, screw me over.

Your waiter/waitress is a person too. They're serving in a line of work that often just plain sucks. They deserve better than the treatment you're giving them.

Here are some highlights from the article Serves You Right (http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/03.14.96/waitprsn-9611.html) at Metroactive.com, bolds by me:



You've already made it known that you don't tip your waiter/waitress. How well do you treat them? Would I want you in my restaurant?
hey, I leave tips. $20 for the females, 25 cents for the males.

the lack of tipping explains the generally crappy service you get in European bars and restaurants, not to mention the generally high prices.
How's that for stereotyping :headbang:
Let me tell you that here in Germany it is generally a lot cheaper to go out and eat then when I was in the US and the service in pubs and restaurants is on avarage at least as friendly.

Actually, come to think of it, I spent altogether 4 1/2 months in the US (twice over a month in Pittsburgh, 2 weeks in Cincinnati, the rest travelling) and experienced crappy service relatively often (as you do when you eat out most days) - from moody to unfriendly to downright rude. I also experienced very friendly staff, very helpful and accommodating. All in all it was normal, most good, some bad some awful, but I had expected better.
The on average friendliest waiting staff I experienced during a month in Australia. Not one rude waiter! Oz at No1. and Bali a very close second!

Rudeness can be found anywhere. Personally if i get bad service that is especially neglectful ((if they arent busy or other mitigating circumstances)) I wont leave a tip. But these servers only get...2.75 an hour...WHo the HELL can live off that? I think some civility should take place before a tip is expected but come on sometimes someone can have an off day -the food service industry is EXTREMELY stressful..customers ((not all -many are very kind)) can be ASSHOLES and you have to smile and take it. I have had to deal with drunks, hot heads and morons (I worked in fast food but I feel for the waiters and waitresses)) and treat them better than they did me.. IVe been waiting 20 MINUTES!!! ..not really not even 5.. even then we upsized his order just for being an asshole. Now with optional tipping jars..come on if you dont want to ..then dont! but if they are extra nice and go out of their way on something maybe a dollar or two here and there might make their day a little nicer. They arent being paid well either.

I don't tip because society says I have to. All right, if someone deserves a tip, if they really put forth an effort, I'll give them something a little something extra. But this tipping automatically, it's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned, they're just doing their job.

For which some of them are making $2.30 an hour because their employer expects them to make the rest on tips.

In Melbourne (Australia) minimum (FT) wage is $467.40 per week or $12.30 per hour.

:eek:

Can someone who's less lazy than me convert that into US dollars? Here the minimum wage is less th $6.00 and hour!

I don't tip because tipping isn't customary here. It might have something to do with the fact that the people serving you are actually getting paid to serve you.

I work at a pizza place making min wage (NZ9.50 an hour cos I'm 19, which is about US$6.49)

Damn! Why the hell won't America get with the program? That's about a dollar over our minimum wage!

Heh. As a male delivery boy,

I'm sure that were you a female delivery boy you would have noticed the reverse.

For which some of them are making $2.30 an hour because their employer expects them to make the rest on tips.
Not a thing wrong with that. A lot of employers subsidize tips up to the minimum wage as a courtesy to the wait-staff. On the other hand, when a waiter/waitress brings in a daily haul of $100 or more, they don't have to share it. Risk and reward.

Moral? Tip those waiters and waitresses when they are good and tell them when they aren't. Don't just sneak out because you're cheap.

I don't believe in tipping.


Then you shouldn't go out. Stay at home and make all of your own meals and drinks.

I'm sorry if this has already been asked/answered, but when I used to waitress, we noticed that Australians NEVER tipped. Why is this? Is this common, or just an isolated group?
Yep tipping is Unnecassary here but all the North-Western Hemisphere Tourists still do it! :cool:

Damn! Why the hell won't America get with the program? That's about a dollar over our minimum wage!

The min wage would have been the same a few years ago when the exchange rate was about US$0.47 to the NZ dollar rather than the almost US$0.70 that it is now..

I once tipped 200%, but he deserved it.

I, as a bartender, always tip, and quite generously as well. Your tip doesn't always goto just the server... it goes to the busboy, the cook, and the hostess.

Damn! Why the hell won't America get with the program? That's about a dollar over our minimum wage!
Because youd also have to stop using Gallons and every single one of your Nuts and Threads would have to be converted to Metric and you would not understand that mm is easier to measure stuff with.
*Though Imperial is kind of handy with Machining if it is simple sizes 3/4 etc.

:eek:

Can someone who's less lazy than me convert that into US dollars? Here the minimum wage is less th $6.00 and hour!


At the current rate it comes to:
9.33240 USD per hour FT
354.625 USD per week FT
18.1405 USD per hour at top loading minimum wage (Casual, sunday after midnight)