Can you stand another tipping question?

[tiggerlover]

I know ther have been lots of posts over the years regarding tipping, but I wanted to see what was the norm these days. In the last 12 years I have lived in Italy for 8-1/2 years where tipping practices are very different. So, generally, how do you tip at restaurants? Do you go with the standard 15% for basic service, 20% for good service 25% or more for outstanding service? Do you tip on the total bill or do you tip on the total before tax? Just curious.

 

[gina2000]

I tip about 20% on the total bill (including tax). More if the service is outstanding.

I think you'd be best served if you follow responses from posters who live in your area. I'm from the NY metro area and I've discovered that there are regional differences in so many things. Tipping may be one of them.

 

[CEDmom]

I tip before tax and I'd say your % are about right. For 25% it would have to be exceptional service.

 

[ladydancer]

I tip exactly as you described but after tax is added. I guess I never realized I tip after taxes until you asked this question.dah

So I guess If I were in a state with higher taxes, the wait person would make more money in tips.

 

[mudnuri]

I dont tip depending on the bill, I tip depending on the service.

I've had bills total 100 bucks, and left 5 bucks, and had them total 30 bucks and left 20 bucks


My theory (and I was a waitress)..is that if a waitress is horrible, and you continue to give her 20-25% how does she know she's horrible?

I've been known to give quit a large tip- we went out with DH's family- there was 25 of us, kids, adults etc.. our waitress was WONDERFUL!

That waitress- got 200 bucks from us....she was so good, not only did we comment to the manager, I got the owners name/address and sent him a letter as well...(was a family restaurant, not a chain)..

she was so worth it!

Brandy

 

[CamColt]

We always tip on the total of the bill after tax. We usually give 20%...more(25%) for better service, less(15%) for not so good service. I dont think we have ever had really horrible service that warranted less then that.

 

[shortbun]

20% base then extra for great service
I tip before tax but never round down so if you're counting
the tax< I guess mine is more like 18 or 19%.

Welcome back btw, how's your son adjusting?

 

[Aimeedyan]

For basic service, we double the tax and add a bit more. Our tax rate is about 8%, so that works pretty good and doesn't cause too much headache in figuring it out =)

If we have great service, we add much more, and if it sucks, I usually let them know.

 

[RadioNate]

I tip 15% after tax for "average" sevice. No one usually gets less unless they were just terrible. I go up from the 15% depending on service. I usually stop at about 25% and the service has to be AMAZING for them to get that much.

The last person to get less than 15% from me took more than 20 minutes to even take our drink order, then dumped a tray of 5 drinks on my DH and 11/2 year old son. He completely soaked my child with coke, water and hot coffee and then just stood there...no apology or rush to get towels nothing....
When our food finally came the order was wrong!

The only reason we stayed for our food is that 1) the manager comped the meal after the drink incident and 2) the restaurant was across from an Old Navy and the manager gave us $20 to go buy my son new clothes. The waiter got nothing (I actually think he got fired, since by the time we left 4 of his tables had been comped meals) but the manager got a nice letter sent to his corporate HQ.

 

[Annette_VA]

Our standard is 20%. Crappy service, they'll get 10% or maybe less if it was really bad. Great service, dh has been known to tip 40%

 

[enagape]

I am new. I wanted to say thank you to those who tip well. My daughter is a waitress supporting two children on her own. She receives around $2.00 an hour. Tips are what she and the children live on. Thank you again from her mom

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

I usually tip around 20%, can be upwards of 30% for excellent service (I was out with friends last week, ended up tipping $11 on a $30 tab). However, if service is bad, I'll leave less. Had one instance where it took 20 minutes to get our drink order taken, and the drinks never got refilled, and then another 20 minute wait to find the waiter to give us the bill. He got a $2 tip on a $40 tab. (the 4 of us were REALLY frustrated by this ... usually we're not nearly this drastic)

 

[tiggerlover]

Originally posted by shortbun
Welcome back btw, how's your son adjusting?

He is doing well so far, he is really enjoying being in the US. He just finished a week of soccer camp and he absolutely LOVED it. Now we are looking forward to school in about two weeks and hopefully he will meet more kids (there are only two families with kids in our neighborhood.)


Thanks to everyone for your tipping advice. We generally leave 20%, if the service is just mediocre we leave 15% and there have been times (only once or twice) where we only left 10% because the service was so horrible. But then on the flip side we have had a few servers that went above and beyond and were just terrific and we have left substantial tips. I truly understand that servers work mainly for tips, but if they want a good one, I feel they need to give great service and then I am happy to tip accordingly.

 

[ladydancer]

As posted earlier I tip well. With that being said after reading some of the later post something came to mind. I have tipped exactly 1 cent, twice in my life. To me this is a form of making a statement! I feel as though I'm pretty easy to please and I do feel for the wait person and all the crap they have to put up with from customers. As I have several wait persons as close friends and hear the stories they tell.

Both times it was the worst service and attitude I had ever experienced. The last time is the one most clear in my mind.

We came in to the rest. and was seated. We have been to this rest. many times. The was one of our favorites. We got this person I had never seen before. People had come in after us and she went to there table first. I know she saw us sitting there because she looked right at me at one point. She went over to the other table took there drink order and there food order. Then went to fill there drink order and give there food order to the cook. We still are just sitting there.

When she does come over she takes our order. Of course she doesn't write anything down. When she brings our food, I realized something was missing. So I ask her for it. When she came back I noticed she hadn't brought our silverware or napkins. When she came back, hubby notice something was missing on his order.

Finally, after all the things that were wrong were HER fault, I needed to ask for something I had actually forgot. Keep in mind I was very pleasant when reminding her that we had ordered these things. When I called her over to ask for some dipping sauce...she say's "WHAT DO YOU WANT, NOW"!?