Yahoo Article Asks: Are You Tipping Correctly?

Sent in from Wildcat Waitress:

Via Yahoo:

While most of us agree that 20 percent (or close to it) is the standard amount to leave on a restaurant check, other tipping-related matters leave us scratching our heads. To settle these debates once and for all, Steve Dublanica, former server and author of the blog Waiter Rant and recent book Keep the Change: A Clueless Tipper's Quest to Become the Guru of the Gratuity, weighs in on some hot-button issues.

1. SHOULD YOU TIP ON THE TAX?

On one hand: There's no reason to tip on the tax. The restaurant doesn't get to keep tax money. When gratuity is automatically included on a check for a large party, it's added pretax.

On the other: When most servers total their sales at the end of the night, they include the tax in the amount. This "cash-out" amount determines how much they tip out to busboys, runners, and other staff members. By not tipping on tax, you're stiffing them out of their fair share.

Steve's verdict: "I like it when you do, but you don't have to tip on the tax."

2. WHAT IS THE CORRECT AMOUNT TO TIP ON DRINKS?

On one hand: Twenty percent is way too much - it's just a drink! The standard in most bars is $1 for each beverage or 10 percent, which generally adds up to $1. Bartenders are tipped out by other members of the staff, so they are walking away with plenty of money.

On the other: Bartenders do more work than servers because they're the ones actually making the drinks, not the server. They deserve the full 20 percent.

Steve's verdict: "[At the bar] you should leave 15 to 20 percent of the total cost of that drink, which may seem kind of ridiculous. But think of it this way: At the table, you're paying 15 to 20 percent. Why does the bartender not get that money, but the waiter - who doesn't make those drinks - does?"

3. DO YOU ALWAYS TIP YOUR BARISTA?

On one hand: Yes. They're skilled workers and deserve tips just as much as other food-service employees.

On the other: Baristas make a decent hourly wage, unlike servers, and they don't work for tips. Besides, what's the point of tipping them if they don't see you put the money in the jar?

Steve's verdict: "I learned when I worked as a barista that if you get a cup of coffee and give us the change from buying that cup, we're really grateful. But I've seen people order one of these frothy iced milk latte-type chemistry experiments - which can be more complicated to prepare than a martini - and then not tip. For baristas who make you one of these, tip a dollar."

See also: 13 Things Your Barista Won't Tell You

4. WHEN, IF EVER, IS IT ACCEPTABLE TO LEAVE A BAD TIP?

On one hand: Never. Even if your server really, really screws up, the tip money is being distributed to multiple employees of the restaurant. If you're unhappy with your server, it's not fair to penalize the busboy, bartender, food runners, and other employees who depend on this money to make their living.

On the other: It's OK to leave a bad tip if you receive bad service. It's your right as a customer, and it will send a message of displeasure to the restaurant.

Steve's verdict: "I don't suggest stiffing servers on the tip, because you are punishing all the other people connected

via shine.yahoo.com

Comments

[S.F.]

BULLSHIT!!!!!

When did 20% become standard and a tip is a bonus for good service. Poor service means no tip.

[Samantha]

I'm from the UK and it always shocks me that I am told I should tip. I don't mind it when the service I receive is good but it's more as an act of good will rather than me being required to do it. Since workers here are at least paid minimum wage (£6.04 or $9.30) I don't see why I have to pay them any extra for, frankly, just doing their job.

[LaserSpawn]

i tip if and only if you do a good job. if you fuck up and give me shit service, you're damn lucky i dont ask for a doggie bag, take a dump in it and leave it at the table as your tip.

also, last i heard was standard tip was 10% - 15%.

[angie]

@samantha, restaurant workers here in the US are NOT paid minimum wage, it's like 2.13 an hour here in indiana for servers because they are expected to make up the rest through tips. So if you stiff someone a tip, you guarantee they won't be taking home a paycheck basically. All the rest of you sound like fucking entitled morons, if you cant afford to tip DON'T GO OUT. Poor college student here and I NEVER tip less than 20% ESPECIALLY at local places. It's the right thing to do, particularly if your server has been exceedingly good.

[angie]

Maybe it came into being when uh i don't know, inflation and greedy corporations had to lower a server's wage? Fuck you, maybe if you were polite to begin with you wouldn't have to worry about that now would you?

[TechChewToy]

I use 15% as my standard. 20% is for excellent service, 25% for super-amazing-holycrapyyou'reawesome.

And I have refused to give a tip and left a note when the server has been exceptionally rude, gotten everything wrong, and never once returned to my table to refill my drink.

I'm really big on you get what you deserve. Exceptional customer service=exceptional tip. If you're a jerk, you get zero.

[LaserSpawn]

@angie
maybe if they did what they were supposed to, they'd earn the tip. you're supposed to earn your tips. you aren't entitled to them. basically you're the pot calling the kettle black with your calling people "entitled".

[mick waukee]

I was always told that it should be at least 15%. For you new school "app" people, that's your bill times 0.15.
One does NOT tip on tax, as that's pretty much a tip to what could be a VERY useless governor in your state.
When I get my ratty-assed hair, cut, I go to the independent place, where they charge me $7.50. I just give them a ten-spot, and say "thank you".
Keeping in mind that a lot of styling places now utilize databases.......

[Caper]

@angie It seems as if you feel that servers are entitled to a tip. I do realise that in the US servers are paid a low wage but that is no excuse for poor service.

I can totally sympathize with having a bad day and being a little frazzled - and if the food is slow, I won't place the blame on the waiter because I realise it's the kitchen doing the cooking. If waitstaff is new, I set my standards for tipping a bit lower because I realise there's so much to learn .

But if the waitress/waiter is rude and gives awful service I wouldn't have an ounce of sympathy. I'm not going to tip someone who doesn't deserve it.

[Marna]

I usually use 10% is a baseline for simply accedptable service. Better service gets more--worse less. I can only remember NOT leaving a tip once--and that was for abysmal service. It may hurt the backup staff, but they have only the waitress to blame for that one. Oh, and just so you know, in CA servers make state minimum wage (I think something over $8 an hour--they are not exempt from the minimum wage laws).

[Madrias]

My general philosophy is when I walk in, I set my baseline at 18%. You do good, I raise that percentage (keep drinks in my glass and that percentage goes very fast in the good direction). You leave me sitting at the table for 30 minutes with no drink and my food arrives cold, that percentage goes down.

Do I leave no tip? No. That might lead to a bad server thinking I just forgot it. I leave 4 pennies if I'm going to leave the "You did a terrible job" tip.

For the record, I've only ever done the 4 penny thing twice, and both times I felt it was justified (the first time, I sat at the table for an hour after being seated (wasn't busy) and my food arrived cold and the glass was only filled with soda once. The second time, Dad and I ordered a simple meal and we had to send it back 4 times because someone kept putting pickles on Dad's burger (ordered plain, stressed heavily that it be plain).

On the flip-side, we've given some good tips to those who do everything possible to be good servers. (one time, we gave a full 100% tip to someone in a Pizza Hut because they did very well with keeping drinks topped up, checked on us a couple times, and brought us a box for our spare pizza)

[Racket_Man]

As a former server/current pizza delivery driver I have and do live off of tips.

unfortuneately in the US the wage structure is such for tipped/tip credit employees that tips are a HUGE part of our wages, esp. delivery drivers. we get paid well below minimum wage, get barely compensated for our gas and have to pay out of our own pockets repairs and maintenance, insurance, wear and tear, depreciation, etc.

Oh and about the inflation thing. you want to know how MANY times I get the line "Oh I have just barely enough money to pay for the food. Sorry I just do not have the money for a TIP.". well idiot then you should NOT order out then should you.

If a server/wait person gives me shitty service, you darn right I will leave a small tip PLUS I will speak with the manager on duty about the situation. I willnot get snotty nor yell but will calmly inform the mnager of my concerns and the reason(s) for my actions. at that point I know it is not the fault of the "others" who get tipped out but maybe consistant low tips are a REAL sign of "something is not right here" and the problem needs to be addressed.

Yes I understand that people can and do have an occasional bad day but if it is consistant time after time something is wrong.

[Book Baby]

In Oregon, servers get paid at least minimum wage: currently $8.80. Then they get tips on top of this. At least in Oregon, wait staff gets good dough!

[Samantha]

@LaserSpawn
I understand how it's different in the US to the UK. I tip regardless of whether the server gets paid minimum wage or not but I don't like that this article tells me I should always tip no matter the quality of service I receive. They don't need the tips here to survive so if the service I receive is poor then I won't feel I am being a horrible person by failing to tip

[Govy bitch]

I generally tip 20% for decent service. I work at human services, and many of our customers work as waitstaff. They work their asses off, and deserve to be compensated. If the service is exceptional, I tip 25-30%. I tip this way for waitstaff and bartenders. Most of them work really hard and get the short end of the stick. I'm grateful for everything I have and will always try to think of the person serving me.

[Jenyfur]

Minnesota pays at least minimum wage to wait staff too. The last time I checked that was $7.25 but it might have gone up by now.

I'll start my tipping at 15% though it go up very quickly if you are making sure that I have a full drink and are refilling endless appetizers to my liking. :P

[TychaBrahe]

The one time I did not leave a tip because the service was *that* horrible, I walked over to the greeter, explained exactly what was wrong, and gave her $10 with instructions to give it to our busboy, because he had been prompt and had kept our soda glasses filled and had gotten us the extra napkins/salsa/hot sauce when we couldn't find our server.

[Music Girl]

Just about the only time I ever go out to eat is with the boyfriend (and he normally pays), but even if the service is completely terrible, he at least leaves some sort of a tip.

Of course, he also ALWAYS asks to speak to a manager at the end of our meal, and tells the manager if the food/service/etc was good or bad. That way, if the server sucked ass, he'll still get a small tip, but his boss will know he needs to stop slacking off.

[March Creature]

I base it strongly on the service. Keep in mind that I usually eat at the same diner with the same workers who I know have been there forever- chances are they make good money, but they're nice to me. Usually the check comes out to about 25 and I leave $5.
Although the other night I only got a snack there, check came out to $11 and I left a $20- $9 tip. I was just in a good mood.

Compare that to "Bison Mild Wings", where the waitress, who was probably around my age(19), seemed much more interested in chatting with her friends who were at the next table. I normally wouldn't care, but she was loud and sounded rude even for joking with friends. And I had to ask for water 3 times..the bartender got all the tip money that night.

[The Last Archimedean]

I used to work as a busboy in a restaurant.

Restaurant staff work very hard and take a lot of unneeded guff from the 5% of lousy customers who give the rest a bad name.

I always leave at least 20%. They deserve it, even if the service wasn't particularly good.

[Tenille]

At first I got really confused by the 20%. Up here in Canada the standard is 13%, but then when I read the wage thing it made sense. Here (or at least in my province) the minimun wage always applies to everything, so a 13% tip plus $9+ an hour (depends on province, I think its 10.25 here now) is more then enough. I think I've only tipped 20% twice in my life, and the last time was to a poor bartender who had been working 12 hours and still worked his butt off trying to keep everyone happy.