Archive through March 01, 2003
TV ClubHouse: Archives: 2003 March:
Tipping:
Archive through March 01, 2003
Crazydog | Friday, February 28, 2003 - 02:55 pm     What do you all consider acceptable? I've always tipped 20% on the dollar amount on the bill. My girlfriend insists that the tip should be 15% on the pre-tax amount and refuses to allow us to pay any more. I usually feel a little embarrassed, especially if we are in a decent place. 15 to 20% is apparently supposed to be standard, though. I know that the waiters, busboys etc. get paid partly out of tips but I kind of think it is an unusual phenomenon since the tip you pay does not go to your particular waiter, but is put into a pool and divided equally. So you're not really rewarding your own server for good service. In Europe people don't tip much, if at all. Why can't the restaurants here pay the servers a bit more and simply raise the prices slightly? I just don't like being made to feel like I HAVE to pay extra, and that I will get dirty looks from the servers if they feel I don't tip enough. On another note, why do we have to tip cab drivers? They've already raised the rates recently here in Chicago within the last two years or so, and sometimes I feel like the meters are "extra loose" as to charging you for time spent standing still at red lights. Usually I will round up to the next whole dollar if the cents are 50 cents or less. One recent cab experience involved me telling the guy where to go, him spending the entire time on the cell phone to his friend (which is supposedly illegal according to their posted rules), missing a turn, driving me all over the place in the worst possible way, and then getting pissed when I gave him a 30 cent tip. |
Crazydog | Friday, February 28, 2003 - 03:03 pm     While I'm ranting about cab drivers.... I hate the way they will all honk at you to try and get your fare, especially if you are wearing a business suit. Yesterday I left my office and was waiting for my ride to pick me up. I had no less than five cabs pull up right in front of me and honk. |
Grannyg | Friday, February 28, 2003 - 04:06 pm     When my daughter and son waited tables during high school and college, they were paid $2.15 an hour. The rest of the money they made was on tips. They had to tip the bartender, bus boys and hostesses 10% of their take. Those 3 split the 10% but this was from every waiter/waitress. AND they worked their butts off. So I always tip 20% of the total bill because most of the time your person doesn't get to keep all of the tip. If the waiter/waitress is not very good then I leave 15%. A lot of people would only tip a dollar and some nights after working for 8 to 10 hours, they only brought home 25 or 30 dollars. Some places in the sunny south put what 20% of the bill is and 15% of the bill so you don't have to count on your fingers and toes to figure out how much. That way if you want to leave less then you kinda know how much that is too. |
Mygetaway | Friday, February 28, 2003 - 04:47 pm     I think the going rate is supposed to be 20%. I guess I tip on the total bill. If the service or food isn't good I will only tip 15% or so, but I feel extremely guilty. This last time I actually wrote on the separate bill (not the one they run through the machine) and told them exactly why I didn't leave 20%. (Food was poor and service was lousy.) My son is bussing/dishroom at Sizzler's right now, and the waitresses tip them out. Some nights he has $8 or so, others he has up to $20. He said some of the girls are better with sharing than the others. I have a little cheat chart that fits in my wallet that tells me the exact amount to leave, but usally I just figure 10% and then double that. |
Twiggyish | Friday, February 28, 2003 - 06:04 pm     I think it depends on the service. If they're good, I'll leave the 20% (sometimes more). |
Heyltslori | Friday, February 28, 2003 - 06:12 pm     What do ya'll give your pizza delivery guy? |
Reiki | Friday, February 28, 2003 - 06:33 pm     I usually tip 20% because its easier to figure. Move the decimal point and double. I at least tip 16% because if you live in an area with 8% sales tax like I do, you just double the tax. My pizza delivery guy I tip very very well, because I want my pizza hot and with the right toppings. |
Kaili | Friday, February 28, 2003 - 07:30 pm     I do 20% about. It's never exact because I don't want to deal with change- I round up to the next dollar. I usually pay for the meal with a check card or credit and I bring cash for a tip. I don't know about percentage for pizza- usually I add about $4 to the cost (then again I only order one pizza at a time). Anyway, if the service is really good or there was a problem with my food I leave extra when they are nice about it. If my bill is small- like I just go out and get something little- it's always a minimum $2 tip. I think 15% used to be standard, but I think it's considered kind of low now. And I have never waitressed before (thank god- I could not do it!!!!) but I think it's rude when people leave like a few pennies or a quarter. I know this isn't food- but what about for haircuts? |
Bastable | Friday, February 28, 2003 - 08:38 pm     I leave 20% because it's tough to make ends meet these days. |
Fabnsab | Friday, February 28, 2003 - 09:05 pm     As a former server and general manager of a fine dining restaurant, I will tell you that 20% is the new standard.My servers average 22%. They tip out 4% of their sales to bussers and food runners so they walk with 16% if they average 20%. Keep in mind that servers have to pay taxes on their tips. $2.13 an hour doesn't cover it. None of my servers receive a paycheck. Europeans do pay their servers more but they also add service charges in alot of countries so you don't even realize you are tipping. The whole "doubling the tax" trick doesn't always work because in one county here, the tax is only 5.5% which is an 11% tip. I am sorry but if adults cannot figure out a simple percentage like 20%, thats sad. Serving is an extremely hard job, both physically and mentally. If the kitchen messes up, you pay the price no matter how flawless your service is. Most customers who have coupons or gift certificates only tip on the new remaining amount, yet the servers have to tip out for the full amount and pay taxes on it. Also, I feel it is more important to tip well in diners and dives than it is in fine restaurants. People will stick to the percentage rule and if your bill is $10, they'll leave $2 even though that diner server probably worked twice as hard for you than a fine dining server, without the bussers and food runner to help. They get change all day. I go to a hot dog joint all the time and leave a $5 no matter what. You would be surprised how that will make somes day. Tips are not only servers means of support, it is a pride thing with them. It is instantaneous feedback on your performance. I will tip 15% for bad service and I will let the server know why, but for great service, I will drop 30% and also let them know why. Tipping is a very passionate issue with me, can you tell? |
Maris | Friday, February 28, 2003 - 09:09 pm     I usually tip more in the winter. In the winter and bad weather I give my pizza guy 3.50. In good weather I give him a little less. My supermarket delivery guy, if I spent over 100 I give him $5 otherwise I give him 3.0 I think what you tip is a personal thing and dont understand why someone would get their nose out of joint for you tipping an extra 5%. On a $150 meal that is a difference of opinion of $8.00. Remember waiters generally earn minimum wage and depend on their tips. So the question is how much impact will it have on your life to give him the extra 5%. If your girlfriend is going to be upset about you being generous, I would think about that one. |
Deedee | Friday, February 28, 2003 - 11:00 pm     How about your hairdresser? How much is the right tip? If your hairdresser is the owner, do you still tip the same amount? This one really bothers me and I have never found a good rule for this one. |
Cyn | Saturday, March 01, 2003 - 12:04 am     I don't have a set limit on tipping. My Dad says that I tip way too much. I tip more if the weather is bad. I tip normal if the service is bad. I just figure everybody has a bad day once in awhile. I tip the person who cuts my hair double the charge of the haircut, but that's only $10. They just trim the edges every other month. I tip the grocery bagger at least a dollar - even for a loaf of bread. I tip the mailman and the super for the New Year. and cabs at least a dollar. I am lucky "these days". |
Trulyscrumtious | Saturday, March 01, 2003 - 12:44 am     Hang on a sec...you tip 10 dollars on a 5 dollar hair cut, making it a total of 15 bucks? |
Cyn | Saturday, March 01, 2003 - 12:49 am     no 10 for the trim and 10 for the tip - the person who does it is great - and they don't make that much money - and it's the least I can do - she's a single Mom with a kid - and a nice person. |
Trulyscrumtious | Saturday, March 01, 2003 - 12:59 am     Damn, where do you live, lol. I'm a single mom with a license in hair.  |
Fruitbat | Saturday, March 01, 2003 - 04:07 am     I tip 20% on the total bill in a restaurant. I used to cut hair and received a wide range of tips. There is no set rule on this one. |
Kstme | Saturday, March 01, 2003 - 07:08 am     Living in a "tip" town has it's own set of rules. Do you tip the Main Cashier Person (you should!)? Do you tip your coctail server? You're dealer? The hotel people? By the time you're finished tipping, you're broke! The general rule "here" is...the more money a person makes, the less likely they are to tip. It's a sad FACT! Thekid had a fairly famous person at her Bac cage the other night. He was very nice but didn't tip on a rather large payout. Whereas, she's had someone who's cashing out $5 and will leave $1. Go figure! I usually tip 20% or more on meals. I tip at least a dollar on drinks while gambling. I tip my hairdresser $5. I don't order pizza. I do tip the cashier's cage a minimum of $1. |
Squaredsc | Saturday, March 01, 2003 - 08:00 am     i tip 20% in a resteraunt if the service is good and by good i mean the waiter/waitress is friendly and doesn't forget us. if not then the standard 15%. i tip my hairdresser/nail tech a standard $5.00. now when my hairdresser had a shampoo girl i would also tip the shampoo girl $2.00. it does get expensive though. when i stayed in a hotel in colorado, i can't remember what i tipped the maid. we were there a week, i think it was btw $20 and $30, but whatever it was i tipped what my mom told me to, lol, cause i had now clue. |
Spygirl | Saturday, March 01, 2003 - 08:56 am     Tipping the maid in a hotel?? Oh man. Now I feel horrible! |
Fanny | Saturday, March 01, 2003 - 08:58 am     Jeez, Square! I'd always heard a couple bucks a night for hotel maids! Now I'm feeling horrible, too. |
Hermione69 | Saturday, March 01, 2003 - 09:29 am     I usually tip 20-25% in a restaurant or for delivery. Even with bad service, although if it is bad service, it will be closer to 20% then 25%. Like Cyn said, anyone can have a bad day. Besides, it's not going to break my bank if I leave an extra couple bucks more than the standard. They are doing me a service, and working a job that I would never want to work and I appreciate that. For a straight hair cut (cost $10-15), I usually tip $5. I don't get anything else done at the hairdressers. I never take taxis so don't have to worry about that. I didn't know that about the hotel maids, either. Oops. Learn something new every day. |
Heyltslori | Saturday, March 01, 2003 - 10:35 am     For three back-breaking months during college I worked as a hotel maid. These people work HARD and appreciate any kind of tip that you can leave. It's a hard job that rarely gets acknowledged...and even a couple bucks can really brighten a housekeepers day. Thanks for bringing it up Square!! |
Spygirl | Saturday, March 01, 2003 - 10:49 am     How does one go about tipping the maid in a hotel? Do you leave it in the room? If so, how do they know it is for them and not accidentally left behind? Do you give it to the desk and ask them? Good information -- thanks in advance! |
Squaredsc | Saturday, March 01, 2003 - 10:53 am     uh oh so i over tipped? well thats ok cause i didn't pay for the room, lol, it was a business trip. spy i put it in an envelope and wrote maid on the front. i hope that they got it. |
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