Tipping

[Music Lover]

I also have decided to have a standard 10% tip in Canada, as wait staff there earn $11/hr or more, vs here in US in many States where it's $3.xx/hr

The minimum wage applies to everyone in Canada, but from what I've read that's not always the case in the US. That might partly explain some of the complaints that Canadians don't tip very well....many of us may not know that some servers are paid so little.

Minimum wage here is $11.15. Add in some tips with only a portion of them being declared as income and a lot of servers do quite well.

 

[Milton]

From a conversation with our friends daughter who has been working restaurants for the past 3 or 4 years now. The expectation is 20% with 25% being considered good, and that is on total including tax!

Well, we all have dreams.

They can expect whatever they want; doesn't mean I am going to pay it. I generally tip 10%, unless the service or meal has been poor (then 0%, obviously). Or if the meal includes expensive extras (e.g., over-priced wine) that have nothing to do with service, I will tip a flat $10.

I've never heard of anyone including tax in a tip calculation.

I don’t know what’s allowed in Canada, but self serve gasoline is still not allowed in NJ and OR (except motorcycles).

Featherbedding, pure and simple.

A similar law used to apply in Nova Scotia, but to the best of my knowledge was abolished in the 90's. I haven't heard of any other provinces with such bizarre legislation.

 

[Big_Hitter]

There's no need to...the price at the self serve and full serve pumps is the same.

does every station have full service ?

 

[Music Lover]

does every station have full service ?

Most of them do. I normally only go to one company as they pay an equity share annually that ranges from 6% - 10% of purchases. They have full serve at all the stations I go to, although some of the larger ones will also have a few self serve pumps.

 

[CaptTom]

From a conversation with our friends daughter who has been working restaurants for the past 3 or 4 years now. The expectation is 20% with 25% being considered good, and that is on total including tax!

OK, this BS has to stop! I worked in food service when 10% was a decent tip, but all the servers were telling folks 15% was the new expectation.

I went along when it went to 20%. I know how hard life can be for some servers.

But don't give me any BS about inflation. Some of the hard-core data analysts on this site can chime in here, but my guess is that restaurant food prices have risen faster than inflation, so even at the same percentage, the tips have also been rising.

I don't tip on the tax. I notice some places don't total up the pre-tax amount, hoping you won't take the time to subtract it out. Others print tip options on the amount after tax. Fortunately, I learned how to add, subtract, multiply and divide in elementary school.

The one thing I will do, when figuring out my 20% customary tip, is to mentally include anything I didn't buy which would normally be part of the meal. I don't really like soda, so I'll add $2 for the drink I didn't get. If I'm not particularly hungry and order an unusually small portion, I'll calculate the tip as if I'd bought a proper meal.

I know there are costs to the server of accepting a tip via credit card. So when I do, I'll round up to cover those costs.

 

[Music Lover]

The one thing I will do, when figuring out my 20% customary tip, is to mentally include anything I didn't buy which would normally be part of the meal.

That's a new one for me...tipping on food items that you didn't even buy.

 

[Sunset]

That's a new one for me...tipping on food items that you didn't even buy.

Next we will hear, people stopping by the restaurant just to tip

 

[Music Lover]

Next we will hear, people stopping by the restaurant just to tip

Yeah...I felt guilty for eating at home, so I stopped by the local restaurant to apologize and tip the server. Then I went back the next day and tipped the other 2 servers just to cover the bases because I wasn't sure which section I would have been seated in...

 

[Danmar]

If tipping is that much of an issue and causes such angst, stay home to eat. Eating out should be enjoyable. Oh ya, get off my lawn.

 

[sengsational]

I saw a poll from Clark Howard whether there should be a law requiring pooling of tips.

To me, a law like that that looked like a government money grab, since pooling would require documentation, and documentation means less would go unreported.

For me, I'm tipping the server. She's the one that smiles or doesn't (or back to the OP, jiggles or doesn't lol!). Thus, if the tips are pooled, I'm tipping a bunch of people who I never see and would be more formulaic in the tip calculation.

As to tipping on something I didn't buy, I do it all of the time. When the beers are usually $6, and they usually get about $1 tip, I still tip $1 when the beer at that place is on special and is only $3. This is a place where the servers know a lot about the beer, and willingly bring samples, so there is some service that's worth paying for.

My biggest tip gripe that I have to add to all of the often started tip threads is the expensive restaurant with the snooty wait staff that act like they're doing you a huge favor by serving you. Then they think that they need $15 for taking your order and stopping-by the table three times.

 

[exnavynuke]

I used to tip 20% all the time. Now, I tip based on cost. The higher priced the restaurant is, the lower percentage a tip is given.

The waiter taking my order for steak and lobster, bringing my meal to me, and keeping my drinks filled didn't do anything to earn anymore than the waiter doing the same for enchiladas. As such, I see no reason to pay them more just because our society is still enamored with tipping?

 

[CardsFan]

I used to tip 20% all the time. Now, I tip based on cost. The higher priced the restaurant is, the lower percentage a tip is given.

+1

And the lower priced the restaurant is, the higher percentage tip is..

I have lunch every week with a few buddies. It is at a local corner bar (actually the name IS "The Corner Bar"). Yesterday my tip was 33%, but my tab was only $11.25 for 3 beers, a cheeseburger and fries.

 

[RobbieB]

I include the tax when I tip, and go 20% of the total rounded up to the next even dollar. At the least.

I guess it's worth it because I always get sterling service.

 

[joejetski]

Even when paying with a CC I still tip the waiter/waitress in cash.

Um....as you should....why would it be any different?

 

[joejetski]

I include the tax when I tip, and go 20% of the total rounded up to the next even dollar. At the least.

I guess it's worth it because I always get sterling service.

I always tip on the subtotal....in some places, the taxes can get pretty big for large families. If you dine out often, it adds up over a year.

 

[exnavynuke]

Um....as you should....why would it be any different?

I pay and tip with my credit card... I can't recall the last time I left cash as a tip. Probably in my 20's at a bar or something.

 

[DEC-1982]

I was shocked when I read the post about 20%-25% tips. I wonder whether more and more tips incentivizes the owner to pay less and less (till they reach the minimum limit).

 

[urn2bfree]

All this paying people as a percentage of some bill total -realtor commissions, financial advisors charging a percent of AUM, servers, lawyers shares of civil judgements - rub me the wrong way. And it all seems to make less and less sense with some of the inflation in some of these areas. (realtors!)
Here is a crazy idea- get paid for the work you do -period. Spend a certain amount of time and effort and be paid for that...not based on what others do- but on what YOU contribute. If I order the cheapest entree on the menu and the guy at the next table orders the most expensive item, why should the server earn a different amount of money from each table? If my fixer upper house will sell for $1,000,000 but if I fix it up to turn key beautiful and now it sells for $2,000,000, why does the realtor get paid twice the money?

I can hear the first objections-
1) "that's the way it has always been done!"
That is a description, not a reason. Mentioning this as a reason is usually a sure sign there isn't one. If something actually has a legitimate rationale, tradition never is mentioned.
2) "If you don't like it, (eat at home/don't use a realtor/be your own lawyer, etc)” Again, resorting to this sort of "love it or leave it" defense is proof of the absence of legitimacy. If there were good reasons, this never comes up. If these practices flourished in a truly, free market, their dominance might be legit - but those who benefit from the status quo strive to prevent any changes.

 

[mpeirce]

I don’t know what’s allowed in Canada, but self serve gasoline is still not allowed in NJ and OR (except motorcycles). I know because I always fill up in PA when I’m going east to avoid full serve in NJ...

Huh, I do the exact same thing. I always avoid NJ gas stations.

As to tips. I always try to tip a little more than I think I should.

 

[CaptTom]

Huh, I do the exact same thing. I always avoid NJ gas stations.

Interesting. When travelling 84W from NY to PA, I (and lots of others) always take the Port Jervis exit, then cross into Montague, NJ to buy gas. It's cheaper than almost anywhere else in NY or PA.

It also happens to be about one tank of gas away from NH, which in turn is usually cheaper than ME or MA.

On a boat, going up the Hudson, fuel is always cheaper on the NJ side, at least until Kingston, NY. Liberty Landing is probably one of the busiest fuel stops on the east coast. There are a couple of small municipal or state marinas along the Palisades that are even cheaper if you use gas instead of diesel.

 

[Midpack]

I was shocked when I read the post about 20%-25% tips. I wonder whether more and more tips incentivizes the owner to pay less and less (till they reach the minimum limit).

I am in favor of maintaining restaurant tipping as is (with a few caveats) I was a server in college and did very well. Too hard to calculate is a lame excuse IMO especially today with a smartphone calculator, if you can’t figure it out I am sure the server would be happy to add whatever % you request...

But I guess I’m out of step, I tip 18% on the total bill for good service (I’ve read it’s supposed to be on the total without tax/fees, which would be less), 20%-25% or more for great, and usually 15% for subpar service. A server or kitchen would have to go out of their way bad to get less, and I’d be sharing my concerns with the management then and there. If I’m going to tip less, they should know why, otherwise they’ll assume I’m ignorant or cheap.

As others have noted, if restaurant prices increase with or above COL (and they seem to), that serves as inflation protection for servers for the most part - an increase in tip % shouldn’t be necessary.

 

[Senator]

I know of two restaurants that went to a no-tipping model. Both went back to tipping within a year.

It's another idea that's just not ready for prime time yet.

You can do your own implementation. Just don't tip. You do not have to wait for prime time.

 

[pb4uski]

Assuming that service has been good, I usually start with 20% of the pre-tax total (before any discounts for coupons, gift cards, etc.) add that to the total including tax and round down to the nearest dollar... on my credit card for my convenience.

If service has been poor or great I may bump it down or up a bit.

 

[Amethyst]

Listing real estate agents will have you believe that the "other" agents won't work as hard and won't show your house as much, unless they get paid the commission they think they deserve (which in our area is being aggressively pushed to 7%). This is, in my eyes, an extortionary threat to not do as good a job for you, and then blame it on the "other" agents. The real estate industry's attitude is to shrug shoulders and tell you to go somewhere else if you don't like it.

All this paying people as a percentage of some bill total -realtor commissions, financial advisors charging a percent of AUM, servers, lawyers shares of civil judgements - rub me the wrong way. And it all seems to make less and less sense with some of the inflation in some of these areas. (realtors!)
Here is a crazy idea- get paid for the work you do -period. Spend a certain amount of time and effort and be paid for that...not based on what others do- but on what YOU contribute. If I order the cheapest entree on the menu and the guy at the next table orders the most expensive item, why should the server earn a different amount of money from each table? If my fixer upper house will sell for $1,000,000 but if I fix it up to turn key beautiful and now it sells for $2,000,000, why does the realtor get paid twice the money?

I can hear the first objections-
1) "that's the way it has always been done!"
That is a description, not a reason. Mentioning this as a reason is usually a sure sign there isn't one. If something actually has a legitimate rationale, tradition never is mentioned.
2) "If you don't like it, (eat at home/don't use a realtor/be your own lawyer, etc)” Again, resorting to this sort of "love it or leave it" defense is proof of the absence of legitimacy. If there were good reasons, this never comes up. If these practices flourished in a truly, free market, their dominance might be legit - but those who benefit from the status quo strive to prevent any changes.

 

[Scuba]

I have no problem with tipping 20-25% of the total bill for good service. Good servers work hard, depend on tips to pay their bills, and add to our enjoyment of a dining experience. I think 15% is ok for mediocre service, less if service is really awful. I've never been a fan of tipping only on the pre-tax amount. Seems a bit cheap to me. YMMV