Tipping in the U.S. (to buy, college, minimum wage)

[alienred]

I admit that I don't know the exact amount of tip (Service Charge) added to bills in the UK because it is part of life to just pay the bill when you get it. People no longer check the details.

Also, I don't go to the UK much now. It used to be every year, but the last time I was in The UK, last November, I didn't check the bill. I just payed it.

It seems that you have to be a Rocket Scientist to calculate the tip in the U.S. which is just to much. Having the tip (Service Charge) automatically added to the bill before you get it at a standard rate is much better for everyone.

As a Brit, I don't tip, at least not in the UK. Those of you who went to the UK and tipped, well it was your choice. And the places you went were in the tourist, or nearby, areas. As a Brit, even if I went to those areas, I wouldn't tip. It is not in Brits nature to tip.

If you tried to actually put the tip into the hand of the Sever they will refuse, mostly. Leaving it with the bill makes it difficult for Brits to hand it back. That would be rude. Try to put it in their hand next time then see what happens.

Paying a dollar for a barman to serve you a drink at the bar is ridiculous. Are you crazy? Serving you at your table is understandable. But then it's not the barman, it's a server.

In the UK the premise is that the person is being paid to do a job. So why do I have to give them more money to do the job they are being paid to do?

I might as well do it myself.

[Sorcerer68]

15% for adequate service, 20% for really good service. If I run them around or have pain in the butt family members with me, I leave more. If you're at a bar and the cocktail waitress brings you drinks, tip them. Same with bartenders. If you sit down at at any restaurant and someone waits on you, this applies even if you sit at a counter. Take-out orders for something really simple don't require a tip but it's nice to give them something, if they have to do a little work packaging something more than basic stuff, I'm more generous. If you dine with a larger party, usually 5 or 6, sometimes 8 or more, they will usually include gratuity. If they are exceptional, I sometimes leave more.

Some "don't believe in tipping" and this is cruel since food servers are taxed on the food they sell you. It's also rude and for them I suggest Mc Donald's. They also have excellent memories and share freely with each other about who "stiffed" them. Treat anyone very well who handles your food. Treat your servers well and you'll be surprised how well your meals will go.

[BeenAroundTheBlock]

Originally Posted by Sorcerer68

15% for adequate service, 20% for really good service. If I run them around or have pain in the butt family members with me, I leave more. If you're at a bar and the cocktail waitress brings you drinks, tip them. Same with bartenders. If you sit down at at any restaurant and someone waits on you, this applies even if you sit at a counter. Take-out orders for something really simple don't require a tip but it's nice to give them something, if they have to do a little work packaging something more than basic stuff, I'm more generous. If you dine with a larger party, usually 5 or 6, sometimes 8 or more, they will usually include gratuity. If they are exceptional, I sometimes leave more.

Some "don't believe in tipping" and this is cruel since food servers are taxed on the food they sell you. It's also rude and for them I suggest Mc Donald's. They also have excellent memories and share freely with each other about who "stiffed" them. Treat anyone very well who handles your food. Treat your servers well and you'll be surprised how well your meals will go.

Couldn't have said it better. I have two daughters who provide excellent service at their upscale restaurant here in Orlando. They always complain about the Brits not tipping and in some cases having walked out on their bill. Most of the servers now have that let down feeling once a Brit is seated in their station because they know they don't tip. Why go out of your way to provide exceptional service? I know tipping is not a given but if a Brit knows first hand that a tip is included in their bill back home, and do not see any tip listed on their receipt here in the US, wouldn't you think they would have the common sense to include a tip? I think some of them think they are "getting away" with a freebee or something.

We always tip at least 20% when we go out.

[jerrycat]

dear me us Brits sound really cheap. I tip for good service always,i do check the bill to see if the tip is added if it is well no i don't. In the US i tip 15% unless the service is bad/ food awful( not happened here yet).To me it is rude not to tip, if you cannot afford to tip stay in!

[johnrex62]

Originally Posted by greggd

15% is the minimum anyone should tip a waiter/waitress.

I love flat statements like these. If I were your server and you saw me spit in your drink glass, would I still get my mandatory 15%?

Originally Posted by greggd

I believe they tax based on the assumption that they will collect a certain % in tips.

That is almost true. IRS calculates the average tipping of geographic locations and restaurant types and compares that to the reported tips on the return. If they are too far out of synch for too many returns, they can flag it for audit. This makes sense, because a good server will receive at least close to average tips, or they will cease being a server. If they have been serving for 10 years and always report significantly fewer tips than is average then they probably being fraudulent on their tax returns. In those cases the IRS will impose taxes and penalties based on an assumed income and it is up to the server to prove they did not receive that money.

Originally Posted by greggd

If anyone cant afford to leave adequate compensation, they should stay at home and serve themselves.

I agree in principal that if you cannot pay for service, you should not partake of it. I am unable to reconcile the "adequate compensation" with your earlier 15% minimum statement.

Let me start with my belief that nobody deserves a paycheck for breathing and taking up space. As they move from that position to being a person that contributes to the enterprise they are associated with they should be compensated according to their contribution. Work more/harder equates to better pay.

In the food service industry it is nice to have a support level to help new workers survive until they get good and to even out the slow periods, but it is not intended to be their income. It is only a crutch to get started, your income is commission for what you sell, at that is not the food, it is your service. I view the tip component of the server's income as the performance based component of the pay structure.

For my own approach, I anticipate tipping between 15-20% for standard, good service and 10-15% for standard lackluster service. I feel the server that has fills my water glass everytime it gets low deserves more than the server who lets me sit without anything to drink for several minutes.

If I get bad service, ie.. no water refills despite asking, repeated long wait times for taking order or bringing requests to table when no other cause can be seen for the delay (I cut slack when I see them hustling other tables that are demanding), servers disapearing on break and not having someone cover, etc...I feel inclined to reduce the tip according to the level of service reduction. I do not do this without complaining to the server about the level of service first however, unless the server never reappears to receive the complaint.

If I get attitude from the server or the management regarding the tip, I do not return to the establishment. I am the customer and I expert at least adequate service in exchange for my money. If a server or restaurant believe s I exist to provide them with income, then I do not care to exist for them. I believe they exist in order to provide me with an experience and if they do so they are paid, if they do not they should be penalized for their failure.

I do not believe in paying for crap and being forced to smile while I do so. I likewise believe that if I get value I must pay in like kind.

[greggd]

Originally Posted by johnrex62

I love flat statements like these. If I were your server and you saw me spit in your drink glass, would I still get my mandatory 15%?

I do not believe in paying for crap and being forced to smile while I do so. I likewise believe that if I get value I must pay in like kind.

Ok, hotshot.. I should have added in when decent service is provided. Of course if the service is poor or the server spits in your drink, you dont tip or you walk out.

There are quite a few people out there that believe in the "buck per head tip".
or 10% no matter what over a certain amount. Those are the individuals I was addressing.

[rockx]

See it is not that hard....the US tipping system sucks IMO.


Taxi/Limo Drivers: A $2 to $3 tip is usually satisfactory; more if he helps you with your bags and/or takes special steps to get you to your destination on time.

Porters: A standard tip for airport and train porters is $1 per bag; more if your luggage is very heavy.

Hotel Bellman: Again, $1 per bag is standard. Tip when he shows you to your room and again if he assists you upon checkout. Tip more if he provides any additional service. Note: A $5 tip upon arrival can usually guarantee you special attention should you require it.

Doorman: Typically, a $1 tip for hailing a taxi is appropriate. However, you may want to tip more for special service, such as carrying your bags or shielding you with an umbrella.

Concierge: Tip for special services such as making restaurant or theater reservations, arranging sightseeing tours, etc. The amount of the tip is generally dependent on the type and complexity of service(s) provided—$2 to $10 is a standard range. You may elect to tip for each service, or in one sum upon departure. If you want to ensure special treatment from the concierge, you might consider a $10–$20 tip upon arrival.

Hotel Maid: Maids are often forgotten about when it comes to tipping because they typically do their work when you are not around. For stays of more than one night, $1 per night is standard. The tip should be left in the hotel room in a marked envelope.

Parking Attendants: Tip $1 to $2 when your car is delivered.

Waiters: 15–20% of your pre-tax check is considered standard. The same applies for room service waiters. Some restaurants will automatically add a 15% gratuity to your bill, especially for large parties—look for it before tipping. If the 15% is added, you need only tip up to another 5% for superlative service.

Cloakroom Attendants: If there is a charge for the service, a tip is not necessary. However, if there is no charge, or extra care is taken with your coat and/or bags, a $1 to $2 tip is appropriate.

Tour Guides/Charter Bus Drivers: If a tip is not automatically included, tip $1 for a half-day tour, $2 for full-day tour, and anywhere from $5 to $10 for a week-long tour. Tip a private guide more.

[decafdave]

Originally Posted by kettlepot

To give you some practical rules, if you go to a counter to either order or pick up your food, generally you don't tip. This would apply to most coffee shops, sandwich places, any place where you, the customer, have to move your butt out of your chair to get what you need.

For regular sit-down restaurants the general rule is 15%, though I've seen and heard stories of people tipping substantially less when they felt the service was subpar.

As for servers making less than the minimum wage, I'm not so sure about that. I know that in the past that was true, but recent revisions (past 20 years) to the minimum wage law may have changed that. And even if it hasn't, servers at any mid-to-higher priced restaurant are making substantial amounts of money above minimum wage with the inclusion of tips. This rule on minimum wage for servers may vary on a state by state basis.

And if you REALLY wanted to rake in the money, when they used to have curbside luggage check-in at airports, some Skycaps were making 100k a year at major airports because of the tips.

Well, allow me to be the one to educate you. I was a server recently and the hourly wage is 2.13 and it is the same for all servers I know (it might be different in Cali). So basically we depend on tips to survive. Are you one of those cheap *#$@! that don't tip? If you don't want to tip don't go to a restaurant. It might come as a shock to alot of people but being a server isnt easy. Alot of people say "its a job I could do so why tip?". You tend to only notice us when we interact with you but we could have 8 other tables all sending us on errands-add this to bussing tables, running food to other sections, doing side work like silverware, and keeping everything straight in your mind takes a very good multitasker.

I complement the op for trying to figure this out because so many foreigners come in, are even nice to us, but then leave nothing. Because we are taxed for the amount of food we sell it can work out that we are actually paying to serve.

I'm not saying that if the service is terrible and the server is rude you have to tip- in that case leave what you want and speak to the manager. If the service is acceptable leave 15% as a general rule but if its great (and this is completely up to you, you can leave 20%+. Please, be the foriegner that tips well, we will love you for that.

[Hungry For Cheese]

Originally Posted by greggd

15% is the minimum anyone should tip a waiter/waitress.

I believe they tax based on the assumption that they will collect a certain % in tips.

If anyone cant afford to leave adequate compensation, they should stay at home and serve themselves.

If anyone can't afford to live because they do not make enough money they should look for new work. Or get a degree or something they can use to make more. Just because someone makes 500k a year doesnt mean they have to pay 15% or more to put food on the table for the waiter/waitress.
The wealthier person worked hard for their money.

[Tom Lennox 70]

Some restaurants automatically add a tip if you have a certain number of people or if the bill exceeds a certain but you can still add in addition to that if the service was very good....or if your waitress was pretty