Tipping in LA (Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Brentwood: buying, calculated, taxi cab)

[DariusOCR]

Hey guys,

What's the policy on tipping in Los Angeles? As I've mentioned previously, I'm coming from Europe. We do tip, but not as much as people in US, I believe. It's just not common.

I also want to ask your personal opinion, what about people who are on a low budget? Students or artists, who can barely afford to pay for the food or that taxi cab. Will they be murdered if they don't tip?

I personally worked as a waiter, bartender and various server jobs in the past. I have never looked down upon people who didn't tip me, because you don't know what their situation might be; somehow it never bothered me. But I get the impression that in the States, you either tip or you're just an a-hole. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[yby1]

Here in the US, dine-in restaurants pay their wait staff a lower wage because they receive tips. The tip is part of your pay, it is not "in addtion" to your pay.

[Parker501]

Yes ppl. tip here. I've never not tipped a server.
I find LA actually tips well (ie. high) compared to other places; 20% of the final bill; but 10% at least if you're on a tight budget.

[DariusOCR]

Originally Posted by yby1

Here in the US, dine-in restaurants pay their wait staff a lower wage because they receive tips. The tip is part of your pay, it is not "in addtion" to your pay.

It's fine then. I'm a guest in this state so I'll live by the rules. I'm just still trying to understand what the rules actually are, and obviously battle the things that my mind (being from a different culture) labels as illogical.

You said it was "part of the pay", but if I do not tip, technically there's nothing they can do, because it's not what I am billed for? Because in reality it's still A TIP, not a PAYMENT. Whereas if I don't pay for what I ate, that's a different case. So it's not really "part of the pay", it's just a common thing that everybody is accustomed to; it's about being, what, polite and generous?

I understand tipping in restaurants and similar eateries, but where else do Los Angeles residents tip? Do you tip, for example, after getting a Subway sandwich? Do you tip a barber? It's a little confusing who deserves a tip, and who doesn't.

Thanks for being patient with a stupid European!

[PDF]

Originally Posted by DariusOCR

It's fine then. I'm a guest in this state so I'll live by the rules. I'm just still trying to understand what the rules actually are, and obviously battle the things that my mind (being from a different culture) labels as illogical.

So if it's part of the pay, but I do not tip, technically there's nothing they can do, because it's not what I am billed for? Because in reality it's still A TIP, not a PAYMENT. Whereas if I don't pay for what I ate, that's a different case.

I understand tipping in restaurants and similar eateries, but where else do Los Angeles residents tip? Do you tip, for example, after getting a Subway sandwich? Do you tip a barber? It's a little confusing who deserves a tip, and who doesn't.

Thanks for being patient with a stupid European!

Of course you aren't required to tip, but it's expected that you do so. Here in America we only tip when we are receiving actual service. For example, you would only tip when you are eating at a restaurant and have an actual server. Buying something like a sandwich from a deli, we do not tip for that.

[disgruntled la native]

Well you have to tip here or don't bother going there twice. You may be confronted on the spot.

Service industry people in LA are very entitled in their attitudes. Unlike other states, everyone makes minimum wage $8 an hour (so waiters and bartenders arent paid like 50 cents an hour and depend 100% on their tips). Don't bother arguing that they make NOTHING like in other states without tips. They are making at least as much as your friendly micky dees cashier, or dishwasher.

You would think 15% on a restaurant bill or $1 on a drink at a bar is enough... but what I see is entitlement entitlement. 15% doesn't cut it. They prefer 25-35% to make it worth their time. $3-5 a drink is also what they expect.

Then the subways, the take out fast casual places, they expect tips too if you want decent service. $1-3 usually per $10-15.

Haircut, yep, they want 20% tip.If you want them to crack a smile, try a 50% tip.

Cab drivers? They want 50-100% tip. That's why I user Uber and lyft now where tip is calculated.

Of course I tend to hang out in the westside, but the service people in the westside are very bitter, angry, tip hungry, and ungrateful. Maybe because they assume their customers are rich, and indeed I see a lot of soccer moms with amex platinums and blacks leaving a $10 tip on a $12 sandwich...

Take a trip to Montana Avenue or downtown Brentwood to get the worst greedy attitudes from service industry people... followed by any aspiring Okie actor/esses in West Hollywood or gentrified Hollywood

[HyperionGap]

those numbers seem high...

[yby1]

Originally Posted by DariusOCR

It's fine then. I'm a guest in this state so I'll live by the rules. I'm just still trying to understand what the rules actually are, and obviously battle the things that my mind (being from a different culture) labels as illogical.

You said it was "part of the pay", but if I do not tip, technically there's nothing they can do, because it's not what I am billed for? Because in reality it's still A TIP, not a PAYMENT. Whereas if I don't pay for what I ate, that's a different case. So it's not really "part of the pay", it's just a common thing that everybody is accustomed to; it's about being, what, polite and generous?

I understand tipping in restaurants and similar eateries, but where else do Los Angeles residents tip? Do you tip, for example, after getting a Subway sandwich? Do you tip a barber? It's a little confusing who deserves a tip, and who doesn't.

Thanks for being patient with a stupid European!

It's not about being generous. I wish it was! In some states, a waiter can make as little as $2.50 per hour. I think in LA, it's $8 per hour, which is the state minimum wage. In LA, that is not really a living wage.

We tip for service here - so barbers, manicurists, dine-in wait staff, valets, car wash attendants get tipped.
We don't tip for fast food unless you have the food delivered to your door (service).

[yby1]

Originally Posted by disgruntled la native

Well you have to tip here or don't bother going there twice. You may be confronted on the spot.

Service industry people in LA are very entitled in their attitudes. Unlike other states, everyone makes minimum wage $8 an hour (so waiters and bartenders arent paid like 50 cents an hour and depend 100% on their tips). Don't bother arguing that they make NOTHING like in other states without tips. They are making at least as much as your friendly micky dees cashier, or dishwasher.

You would think 15% on a restaurant bill or $1 on a drink at a bar is enough... but what I see is entitlement entitlement. 15% doesn't cut it. They prefer 25-35% to make it worth their time. $3-5 a drink is also what they expect.

Then the subways, the take out fast casual places, they expect tips too if you want decent service. $1-3 usually per $10-15.

Haircut, yep, they want 20% tip.If you want them to crack a smile, try a 50% tip.

Cab drivers? They want 50-100% tip. That's why I user Uber and lyft now where tip is calculated.

Of course I tend to hang out in the westside, but the service people in the westside are very bitter, angry, tip hungry, and ungrateful. Maybe because they assume their customers are rich, and indeed I see a lot of soccer moms with amex platinums and blacks leaving a $10 tip on a $12 sandwich...

Take a trip to Montana Avenue or downtown Brentwood to get the worst greedy attitudes from service industry people... followed by any aspiring Okie actor/esses in West Hollywood or gentrified Hollywood

Bitter much? lol.

I don't work in the service industry, but I'm glad I'm not so bitter about it.

I'm not a soccer mom with Amex Black either. Just a gal that lives in the hood. Maybe *that's* why I live in the hood though, so I can afford to pay out tips.

[Parker501]

Yes, hairdressers should be tipped but again like 20% if you don't normally go there.
I give $1-2/drink at the bar and still get good service.
$5 tip for a cab ride (assuming its not crazy long) is about as high as I go because they are sort of jerks and don't really give good service - I also use Lyft because the ppl. are more pleasant and its more affordable.
Never tip for fast food or subway or anything. Seriously if you're eating somewhere and there is a person serving you at least leave 10%. They'll still think you're cheap but at least not an a**hole