Tipping/Gratuity on Restaurant tab - FIL tipped 11-12%!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is possible he was tipping on pre tax total (which is appropriate and correct). Also, there are differing opinions re: tipping on cost of alcohol, especially if it is a more expensive bottle of wine. Your FIL probably wasn't that out of line, or out of line at all. The 18-20% tipping "standard" didn't come into play until the last few years when everyone had loads of money to throw around - and never caught on in many parts of the country. I'd be curious what current tipping averages are now that the economy is in the toilet.

While the pre-tax tipping standard may be "correct", I think it is an excellent way to identify real cheapskates. Say the tax on a restaurant meal is 10%. On a $100 dinner, the tax is $10, and the tip on the tax (if you're tipping 20%) is $2. So if you're paying a $1000 tab, the tip on the tax is $20.

Look at the number on the bottom line, move the decimal point one place to the left, multiply by 2, and adjust as necessary based on very good or very bad service.

Congratulations on being such a generous tipper. That doesn't mean you're right, nor does it mean that people who tip correctly are cheapskates. But your post sure does mean you're judgmental!

That's fair - although I'm not sure when "judgmental" became the worst insult around . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Study shows blacks tip less -- but they may have good reason
By Jane Engle, Times Staff Writer|March 26, 2006
"THAT waitress sized us up in two seconds. We're black, and black people don't tip," says Anthony, a character complaining about restaurant service in a scene from "Crash," winner of this year's best-picture Oscar.

That's not just Hollywood talking, a Cornell University associate professor says: Research indicates that African Americans, on average, leave smaller tips for servers than whites do and that they're more likely to leave nothing.

ok, that make me less dense?

Well I suppose that inspite of the boxes checked as Black/African-American, I must be a White person. Oh Dear, I guess I had better conform to the master's stereotypes and stop tipping the way I do (15-20% after tax). This DCUrban Moms forum contains a hateful, hateful group of people. I have been following this forum for three months and always some one raises their ugly head and make their bigotry known. If it is not the Jews, its the Blacks, if it is not the Blacks it is the Catholics, if not the Catholics the Latinos. Oh, and how could I forget about the "two many Asians" in the school. When I became a parent, this group was recommended to obtain some supposed valuable inforation, NOT. It is full of angry, bitter women who feel empowered when denigrating others. Yikes. WTF.

[Anonymous]

The norm in DC is 20% pre-tax, wine included. I have noticed (with my father, for one) that older people seem to tip less, probably because they are still assuming the old 10-15% standard from back in the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Well I suppose that inspite of the boxes checked as Black/African-American, I must be a White person. Oh Dear, I guess I had better conform to the master's stereotypes and stop tipping the way I do (15-20% after tax). This DCUrban Moms forum contains a hateful, hateful group of people. I have been following this forum for three months and always some one raises their ugly head and make their bigotry known. If it is not the Jews, its the Blacks, if it is not the Blacks it is the Catholics, if not the Catholics the Latinos. Oh, and how could I forget about the "two many Asians" in the school. When I became a parent, this group was recommended to obtain some supposed valuable inforation, NOT. It is full of angry, bitter women who feel empowered when denigrating others. Yikes. WTF.

I'm veering wildly off-topic here, but I really think you misunderstand this forum. It's not that there are lots and lots of hateful people here. It's just an incredibly honest group, expressing things that I think are prevalent throughout society. True, it's not always great to see the masks (and gloves) totally off, but I'd rather know than be deluded. I also find it comforting that most people I interact with in "real life" are able to hide the parts of themselves they show here. I like it here because I see, with some glaring exceptions, honest exchanges, not prettied up for social acceptability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The norm in DC is 20% pre-tax, wine included. I have noticed (with my father, for one) that older people seem to tip less, probably because they are still assuming the old 10-15% standard from back in the day.

Absolutely wrong. Twenty percent after the tax for good service. Fifteen if bad service.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The norm in DC is 20% pre-tax, wine included. I have noticed (with my father, for one) that older people seem to tip less, probably because they are still assuming the old 10-15% standard from back in the day.

Absolutely wrong. Twenty percent after the tax for good service. Fifteen if bad service.

Ha. PP here again. You are not wrong - I am instead! It is before tax - and somehow I've never known that even back in my old college waitressing days or in my business account lunch days. Sorry!

[Anonymous]

I have been following this forum for three months and always some one raises their ugly head and make their bigotry known. If it is not the Jews, its the Blacks, if it is not the Blacks it is the Catholics, if not the Catholics the Latinos. Oh, and how could I forget about the "two many Asians" in the school. When I became a parent, this group was recommended to obtain some supposed valuable inforation, NOT. It is full of angry, bitter women who feel empowered when denigrating others. Yikes. WTF.

Yup...unfortunately I've been ensnared for 3+ years.

[Anonymous]

restaurants should just make 18% gratuity part of the check. had that in miami last month, made things easier for everyone.

[Anonymous]

by the way, who are the two asians in the schools that she is talking about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:by the way, who are the two asians in the schools that she is talking about?

Flippant

"Too" "Too" "Too" "Too" Do you get it now!

Go to the archives and read the comments about the W high schools in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

When did 20% become the norm? And 15% for BAD service? Really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When did 20% become the norm? And 15% for BAD service? Really?

20% is easy to throw around when you're dining on expense accounts and have money coming out of your ears. For a certain group it may be "standard". It is not standard for everyone by any means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Study shows blacks tip less -- but they may have good reason
By Jane Engle, Times Staff Writer|March 26, 2006
"THAT waitress sized us up in two seconds. We're black, and black people don't tip," says Anthony, a character complaining about restaurant service in a scene from "Crash," winner of this year's best-picture Oscar.

That's not just Hollywood talking, a Cornell University associate professor says: Research indicates that African Americans, on average, leave smaller tips for servers than whites do and that they're more likely to leave nothing.

ok, that make me less dense?

Please don't believe every study you read and don't make general statements like this.

[Anonymous]

as for me, I don't belive EVERY study I read but I consider the source and check out the methodology. And if I am making generalizations, I will try to be clear that it is based on my personal observations. Not really a big deal.

I'm more interested in the WHY than the WHAT. Find it interesting. I read in the Post about about a server who waited on LeBron James a year or two back at some nice restaurant in DC. Check was crazy high, in the thousands, and I think he left $100 - which was less than 3%. Taking race completely out of the equation, why would he do that? Did he not know any better? Obviously the money wasnt a factor. Could LeBron be the OP's father in law?

[Anonymous]

I learned to be a very generous tipper from DH. We tip 20% on full price of meal, tax included, and you really have to screw up to get any less than that, and even then we would still tip more than 15%.

I was a waitress once, so I know how much it is appreciated and needed.

We are not rich my any means, but we don't go out to dinner much so it's not a big deal. I'm not generous in every way but try to be a great tipper - it's hard to be on your feet serving food to people and many people do it while putting themselves through school or as a second job.

In the back of my mind I guess I just think, circumstances could always change and that could be me, or my kid in 25 years.