is a 20 percent tip your baseline or the highest possible achievement?

[Anonymous]

Sent too quickly: I wish that tips would be included in the menu prices. Why aren't they? Seems like it would be win-win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am talking about in a restaurant setting. Is 20 percent where a waiter starts out and you go up from there (IE: a 20 percent tip = normal/average service) or is a 20 percent tip reserved for the best waiters (IE: not standard and you usually give 15 or whatever). If service is very poor how far below 20 percent are you will to go? I tend to think 20 percent is the average and give more if warranted. Even if service is horrible I feel I can't give below 10.

20% seems to be standard these days, so that's what I give for good, but not stellar service.

Because the standard used to be 15%, I don't give that for bad service in case the server just thinks I'm old and living in the past. I give 10% to make it clear I'm tipping intentionally low.

If service is so bad that I don't want leave a tip at all, then I'll talk to the manager so they know I'm not just stiffing them. Some people I know leave a quarter for the same reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I give 20% when I feel the service was good. Average gets 18%. Crappy gets 15%. I was a waiter all through college so I don't ever go too low. I guess it would have to be really horrible to get less. Sometimes I will give more than 20% if it is truly exceptional.

+1 but i will add that in some instances, tipping 20% is just easier. As in, I had a $15 meal at a so so restaurant, tiping 20% ($3) is just easier. no real math involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish that tips would be included in the menu prices.

I don't. Tips are voluntary, and should reflact an acknowledgement of a job well done.

I think the exemption to minimum wage for restaurant workers should be outlawed

[Anonymous]

15% standard

20% very very excellent

Piss me off, you get NOTHING

[Anonymous]

I give 15% for average service. That was always the "standard" as I grew up (I'm 40). Not sure when or why it supposedly moved to 20%.

I do go higher for better than average service, but I also wonder if it matters since they often seem to pool all tips.

[Anonymous]

15% is cheap

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you tip on pre or post tax?

Post. Not tipping on tax is cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15% is cheap

Really? Why? Example - last night, moderate priced restaurant, my wife, daughter, and I, $60 tab - $10 tip. We were sitting for less than an hour. What does the waitress have - four tables at a time (I don't know)? That's a $40 an hour job tax free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15% is cheap

Really? Why? Example - last night, moderate priced restaurant, my wife, daughter, and I, $60 tab - $10 tip. We were sitting for less than an hour. What does the waitress have - four tables at a time (I don't know)? That's a $40 an hour job tax free.

Tips are NOT tax-free.

[Anonymous]

I tip on the pre-tax amount.

[Anonymous]

Generally 20 percent--higher is reserved for truly outstanding service, when the server went above and beyond. 15 percent for service that was really just adequate. I've left nothing once--when the server actually forgot about my table and I was -this close- to walking out without paying the bill because I couldn't find anyone to even give me my check.

I tip on the pre-tax total.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you tip on pre or post tax?

Post. Not tipping on tax is cheap.

And this is what I do not understand. Why do you tip on the tax? Do you also tip on a bottle of wine? JA because I am baffled by all this tipping.

I am 50. I remember when the tip was 10%. I guess by the time I am in retirement, the minimum tip will be 40%, if not half the bill. I was at Jaleo's the other day and the suggested tip started at 20%. On the bill the suggested tips were 20, 25 and 30%. I guess they keep moving the tip goal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15% is cheap

Really? Why? Example - last night, moderate priced restaurant, my wife, daughter, and I, $60 tab - $10 tip. We were sitting for less than an hour. What does the waitress have - four tables at a time (I don't know)? That's a $40 an hour job tax free.

Tips are NOT tax-free.

If you tip in cash like I do it can become tax-free.

[Anonymous]

Highest possible achievement.

I am all in favor of doing away with tips altogether, and raising wages.