Tipping: What's your policy?

[Nick]

How much do you leave, what are your guidelines.

Do you tip pre-tax or post-tax?

I'll let some people post up then I"ll give my take (having been a bartender in college for four years!)

 

[Edd]

About 20% for a full boat of meal/drinks.

For just beers right at the bar definitely a buck when I get a beer. That can change when I get more or sometimes I flake and just give a buck for a round.

 

[deadheadskier]

20% on top of check total including tax for average service. I'll tip the same for bad service if I can tell it's not the servers fault. I'm paying the server, not the slow cook in the kitchen.

25% for great service
North of that for exceptional service and a memorable evening

15% on pretax total if the service is bad and the server is to blame.

An exception would be Breakfast. If my wife and I have breakfast at a diner and the check total comes to $20? The server usually gets $10 for good service because I know he or she has worked just as hard serving me as someone who serves me dinner at night for 4+ times the money. Not the servers fault that the value of the food is so much less than dinner food when they're working just as hard.

but, I'm biased. I've worked in Food and Beverage all my life, from being a waiter, bartender, restaurant manager, catering manager, now restaurant supplier. I know how tough the business is at all levels from management down to the bus boy. So I take care of them often in ways I rationally can't really afford to do.

 

[snoseek]

I'm at pretty much the same tipping idea as deadhead. Been in the industry from the bottom up for 25 years. A little extra does a ton off good for the good service. I got a 500 dollar tip for doing a job from the back a couple weeks ago, that was fucking HUGE for me and I will remember these people in September when they are back. I tip regular bartenders extra good....

 

[andyzee]

Typically 15-20% depending on service. Mediocre, 15, good 20. I have had instance where the service has been so bad, I left 2 cent. Some folks will call that cheap, I say I'm paying good money in a restaurant, I expect good service. That doesn't mean waiting on me hand and foot. I have had instance where we waited 15-20 minutes before someone even came and then gotten dirty plates and snotty service. Sorry, that doesn't deserve a tip

 

[deadheadskier]

. I have had instance where the service has been so bad, I left 2 cent. Some folks will call that cheap,

nope, not cheap

just bad character

 

[andyzee]

nope, not cheap

just bad character

Why, a tip is a gratuity for good service, not an entitlement someone deserves regardless of the service you get. What I had mentioned is not common, only happened maybe twice in my life, I'm 54. If someone served you food and spit in it before they served you, do you feel it would be bad character to leave 2 cents? Not saying that's what happened, just trying to make a point.

 

[2knees]

somehow, this pic fits somewhere....

 

[Nick]

I've only had service so bad that I didn't tip a single time. I think I waited literally 50 minutes for the server, and an hour for the food. I almost just left the restaurant in the middle of it. The real reason though was the waitress was just an ass, totally unsympathetic and could care less about the wait in any capacity.

I think it was a Chili's or something.

 

[snoseek]

Why, a tip is a gratuity for good service, not an entitlement someone deserves regardless of the service you get. What I had mentioned is not common, only happened maybe twice in my life, I'm 54. If someone served you food and spit in it before they served you, do you feel it would be bad character to leave 2 cents? Not saying that's what happened, just trying to make a point.

Dude I run the back so honestly I could care less but......

You would be better off just leaving if you you saw truly bad service coming. I hope you at least explained to the server or bartender why you left a two cent tip, enlighten them. Two pennys on a spoon is done in cowardly and shameless fashion at least 95% of the time.

I've had a crazy week and a few beers so don't take anything I say too seriously hahah:flame:

 

[andyzee]

I've only had service so bad that I didn't tip a single time. I think I waited literally 50 minutes for the server, and an hour for the food. I almost just left the restaurant in the middle of it. The real reason though was the waitress was just an ass, totally unsympathetic and could care less about the wait in any capacity.

I think it was a Chili's or something.

Well, that's exactly what I'm talking about.. Typically, as stated, I will leave between 15 and 20%. At times have left a bit more, but not often. And for 20%, I don't expect people jumping like crazy around me. Just decent, friendly, prompt service. I don't think that's asking too much if you're paying $60-$100+ for dinner for two. If a waiter/waitress, is slow, none caring, bad attitude, that will typically result in 15% just cause I realize they are people, they are making less than me, I wouldn't want to be doing the job, and hey, they may just be having a bad day.

 

[riverc0il]

20% pretax for me is standard. I'll round up or down a buck or two if I thought service was somewhat above or below expectation. 25% pretax for exceptional service. 15% for unsatisfactory service. If I feel I was truly wronged bad terrible service with no excuse, I have occasionally dipped down to 10%. I don't feel too great about a 10% tip and I'll only do that if I feel the server really screwed us with terrible service.

Like DHS, I'll often not penalize the server if things are going wrong out of their control. In a matter of fact, I'll often tip higher than average if the server is having a bad night because of things out of their control but they are still working hard and trying to compensate as best they can for problems. I don't tip more at breakfast though because breakfast prices are pretty much on par with lunch/pub prices usually.

 

[Cannonball]

...

 

[deadheadskier]

Dude I run the back so honestly I could care less but......

You would be better off just leaving if you you saw truly bad service coming. I hope you at least explained to the server or bartender why you left a two cent tip, enlighten them. Two pennys on a spoon is done in cowardly and shameless fashion at least 95% of the time.

this.

and it's not always the server's fault. The hostess might be a moron and sat the server 6 tables at once. The kitchen might be understaffed, so the food is coming out slow. The hostess, typically an hourly paid position who is getting paid no matter what happens, can often ruin the flow and service at a restaurant more than a bad server can.

If the server truly has a bad attitude, take it up with the manager. If I was running the place, I'd take that server off the table and find another person who would better serve you or I'd serve you myself.

If you've exhausted all means of giving the establishment the chance to make things right, whether that's getting you a new server, taking 50% off the bill or even comping your meal if it's been truly awful and the restaurant has done none of those things? Then leave and don't leave a tip at all. I've actually done this once for truly the most horrendous dining experience in my life. But, don't leave two cents. Sorry, not cheap, bad character.

 

[andyzee]

Dude I run the back so honestly I could care less but......

You would be better off just leaving if you you saw truly bad service coming. I hope you at least explained to the server or bartender why you left a two cent tip, enlighten them. Two pennys on a spoon is done in cowardly and shameless fashion at least 95% of the time.

I've had a crazy week and a few beers so don't take anything I say too seriously hahah:flame:

I have left when I saw bad service coming, or no service. However, sometimes you don't realize the service will be bad that quick. Explain to server? Do they explain to you why they are giving you crappy service, keep in mind, I'm not talking subpar, I'm talking crap. Is it a customers responsibility to explain anything to a waiter or waitress, if you believe so and are in the business, I suggest you get out.

 

[HD333]

20% usually rounded up for good service. Places we are regulars at and are familiar with the waitstaff 25% is my norm.
Very rarely do I go below 20% unless service was terrible and then the standard 15% applies sometimes rounded down, it won't be a surprise to the server as they would have been told how we felt.
The wife says I over tip, especially if the waitress or bartender is cute.

 

[wa-loaf]

I'm a 20%+ tipper most of the time. I've spent enough time working in restaurants I can usually tell if I'm getting bad service or if the kitchen is screwing things up. But I can also be more critical of wait service at times because I know what they should be doing. Really bad service gets 10-15%. I don't think I've ever stiffed anyone.

 

[gmcunni]

i'd suspect that a waiter/waitress under delivering on service knows that its going on and little or no tip, while pissing them off, isn't a shocker to them.

personally i've never done that (no tip). i think on a rare occasion (like andy, 1 or 2 times in my life) i've left 10% for what i felt at the time was the crappiest service ever. if things are out of the their control (backed up kitchen etc) they should be keeping me (the customer) updated rather then simply ignoring me.

generally i shoot for 20% of total bill (cuz it is easy math). i take a point or two off for bad service (not same as above/crap service) i'll add a point or 2 for extreme niceness or cuteness ;-)

this past weekend at a place (not fancy) i actually had one of the best waitresses in recent memory. she was very friendly, chatty in an polite way. brought things out before we asked for them (refills + stuff) and was just plain nice. she was young and new on the job (when we asked about a dish she didn't lie but rather said, i'm new here and haven't tried those but other people . . . .) but her personality made up for her lack of experience. she got bonus $$ and as we left we made sure to tell the manager that we thought Ashely did a great job.

 

[snoseek]

I have left when I saw bad service coming, or no service. However, sometimes you don't realize the service will be bad that quick. Explain to server? Do they explain to you why they are giving you crappy service, keep in mind, I'm not talking subpar, I'm talking crap. Is it a customers responsibility to explain anything to a waiter or waitress, if you believe so and are in the business, I suggest you get out.

Not the customers responsibility, just good character:razz:

I honestly eat out rarely, so the odds of getting bad service are pretty low. I find the whole experience of eating out exhausting and overall a pain in the ass. I'll cook my own fish thank you very much:beer:

 

[Black Phantom]

I tip well.

Amazing how a discussion about tipping turns into a question of one's character. Can't make this stuff up.

I usually never put change in a tip jar. Especially at take out places.