Tipping (gated, cost, money)

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by kasiem

when I worked at sonic (2000-2003) I got paid 8.25/hr + tips. NOT 2 something an hour, but this was at the ones in Georgetown, I'm not sure about the ones in Austin. Anyhow, the carhops are very appreciative of the tips, every quarter, penny, and nickel counts. I used to go home with a route 44 cup full to the brim every night full of change, so it made it a great part-time job...

Did you wear roller skates? Did the girls in roller skates get better tips? Just curious. I usually tipped them better with skates, in recognition of the extra effort.

Steve

[Mike78613]

I usually give around 10-15%. If they don't refill my h2o or come-by and check up they be lucky if they get cr*p.

[jdevelop2]

Originally Posted by senormatt

I thought 20% was the new standard at restaurants. (No I've never been a waiter). I think under 18% and servers are disappointed, especially if they did their job.

Not sure where "the new standard" would come from. Why would the proportion increase just because some people decided it should? 15% rises proportionally with the cost of food.

No, standard is 15%.

[RevMen]

My wife and I both worked in restaurants during college and I'm sure it influenced the way we treat wait staff. We tip 20% as a general rule, unless the server was mean or incompetent, in which case we go down to 10%. People that really take care of us get more, and if someone is clearly being given difficulty by the kitchen, we'll probably give them a little extra, knowing that most everyone else is probably tipping less.

[JayBrown80]

Originally Posted by RevMen

My wife and I both worked in restaurants during college and I'm sure it influenced the way we treat wait staff. We tip 20% as a general rule, unless the server was mean or incompetent, in which case we go down to 10%. People that really take care of us get more, and if someone is clearly being given difficulty by the kitchen, we'll probably give them a little extra, knowing that most everyone else is probably tipping less.

If someone is mean or incompetent, you still give them a tip?

[G Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by jdevelop2

Not sure where "the new standard" would come from. Why would the proportion increase just because some people decided it should? 15% rises proportionally with the cost of food.

No, standard is 15%.

I agree completely. As the price of eating out goes up, the amount of tip will naturally go up, even as the percentage stays the same. I remember when the "new standard" changed from 10% to 15%. To be honest, we grumbled about it at the time, but did comply. But 20% starts to get high enough (for me) that it would discourage eating out. And I have never seen any justification for why 20% should be the new standard. I know the wait people work hard for their money, but so do I.

[XLadylawX]

Originally Posted by JayBrown80

If someone is mean or incompetent, you still give them a tip?

I don't know about mean but as to incompetent, yes, I still tip. The federal government presumes that the server is tipped at least 8% and they will pay payroll taxes on that 8% whether they are tipped or not. I would never expect ANY server to pay for the privilege of serving me.

I used to hate getting stiffed when I was a server because not only was I not compensated for my labor, it also cost ME money to serve them.

[kasiem]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

Did you wear roller skates? Did the girls in roller skates get better tips? Just curious. I usually tipped them better with skates, in recognition of the extra effort.

Steve

Not only did we get better tips, but also got a .50/hour raise It was soo much FUN!

One time we had a HORRIBLY RUDE lady wait on us at the Chili's in RR, only brought us drinks and our food and very rudely at that and never came back to fill my water, etc.. When the bill came we paid cash and left the change for her. On our way out, the lady came running out throwing our change at us!! We are big tippers of 30% if you're good, but sheesh throwing our money at us on our way out?!?! She got fired after that one- crazy!

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by G Grasshopper

I agree completely. As the price of eating out goes up, the amount of tip will naturally go up, even as the percentage stays the same. I remember when the "new standard" changed from 10% to 15%. To be honest, we grumbled about it at the time, but did comply. But 20% starts to get high enough (for me) that it would discourage eating out. And I have never seen any justification for why 20% should be the new standard. I know the wait people work hard for their money, but so do I.

I just try to choose restaurants where 20% of the bill is small enough that I'm not going to even think twice. That way everyone is happy!

Luckily Austin isn't one of those places where all restaurants are expensive...

[austin-steve]

Forgot to mention that I often park myself in a restaurant such as Green Mesquite for an hour or two between appointments some days, mooching free WiFi while I work on my laptop. If my lunch tab is $6 I'll leave a tip of $3 for keeping my ice tea filled and hogging the table. If it's real busy and tables are filled, I leave so a new customer can take the table, but normally I do my WiFi squatting mid mornings or mid afternoons off-peak, so I think I'm considered a welcome tab.

Some days, in a place like Panera Bread, I feel embarrassed at all the WiFi moochers. I get my $1.50 coffee and leave a $2 tip and become one of the laptop drones, asking myself a) if this is really who and what I wanted to be when I grew up, and b) how can they be making any money off these people?

But WiFi squatting is just so convenient and it saves a ton of driving when I can remain in an area of town and still be productive.

Steve