Do you always tip well?

[cougartrace]

If you are on the DDP which includes the tip, do you tip extra?

 

[mom2my3kids]

This is the first year on the plan for us, but if service is good I will tip extra. But I don't think people should be made to feel that have to.

 

[spooky1]

I can not understand how some of you are saying even if service is horrible that you will still leave a ~15% tip.

IMO people who reward bad service by leaving tips, are to an extent, assuring that service will be bad in the future as well. The server knows how hard they have to work to make X amount of money; if they know they can provide crappy service and still get paid they wont work as hard to provide quality service.

A 'GOOD' waitress/waiter can make a bundle of cash if they are willing to put in the effort - specially in a busy city/restaurant - like those at WDW. Don't reward them for doing a bad job; leaving 0% when its deserved might actually result in them working harder at the next table. Further, if servers are consistently providing bad service; the tip #s over time might assist management in making important staff decisions.

Possibly I am just an evil person, but I cant see how rewarding bad service is helping any one.

 

[dfherrera]

I agree with many here that the tip is directly proportional to the effort the server puts into their job. We always tip 20% for what I consider good service. Great service (usually including catering to my child) ups the ante. This includes their attitude and ability to make our meal enjoyable. If the food is subpar but the wait staff is doing a good job, I tip well and tell the manager the food was not up to spec but their staff is great. If the food is perfect but the wait staff is less than desireable, it negativly effects the tip and my comment to the manager. I can't stress enough how important it is to provide good service. I and my wife both supported ourselves through school as wait staff at various places and you can always improve a customers experiance (even with subpar food) if you do a good job. The flip side is that if you do not care you will ruin that perfect fillet or lobster and drive the customer away.

The only thing I disagree with is leaving nothing. I remember from my experiance that a penny tip or some "loose change" annoyed servers much more than nothing did. It helped drive the point home that they were the reason you did not enjoy your experiance.

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

I typically tip 20%. If the server is not very attentive, I'll leave 15%.

I've never had a really bad experience, like some of those mentioned in this thread, so I'm not sure what I'd do in those cases. I'd probably leave $1 for some of these horror stories.

 

[bradkay60]

I tip 15% for what I would consider adequate service. I was a waiter in a previous life, so I know that a server's salary is really in tips. However, 15% isn't guaranteed just because I sat at the server's table. They have to provide service. I will go higher if the service goes beyond "just what was expected". I don't punish the server if the kitchen screws up, or I had to wait for a table. That's not within the servers control. I will reduce the tip if I don't think he/she/they were really trying, i.e. got my order wrong, wasn't around for most of the meal, or if, in some other way, they made my meal experience less than satisfying.

 

[Luv4Disney]

We are generally very good tippers. The standard is 20% for us. Unless of course, the service is very terrible. Even then we still leave 15% or a little less. I'd feel too guilty not leaving anything at all.

 

[WillCAD]

We are generally very good tippers. The standard is 20% for us. Unless of course, the service is very terrible. Even then we still leave 15% or a little less. I'd feel too guilty not leaving anything at all.

A tip is a type of payment for service, over and above the payment for the food itself.

You should never feel guilty about not paying for something you didn't get.

 

[jiminyfan]

WE are very good tippers usually 20% for most meals. Exceptional service deserves more, poor service deserves less to none.

We also have tipped over 200%. Why you ask? If you get excellent service in a place where the bill will not be high due to great food prices, no alcohol to drive up the final cost - why not help the person out who is a great server?

It is a touchy subject as just becuase proces are inflated one is expected to leave a percentage. For elderly like my parents on a very limited income to be expected to add another 15-20 % to a higher price meal is not a good thing.

Alcohol is also needs to be considered. We love wine with our meals, but a 50% and up mark up on the price of the bottle can really drive up a total bill and thus the tip as well on a straight percentage.

I like to look at the service on its own and tip the person accordingly for their performance taking everything into account. I still usually go with the 20% plus unless I feel that something along the line is amiss.

DavE

 

[wayneg]

I come from Yorkshire in UK, we are known for not parting with our money in this area, a bit like the Scottish . After 14 years of visiting Florida I have learned how to tip. Now always around 15-20% but if I get bad Service then no way will I leave anything, that server should not be in that job, happened to me once, she was coughing, sneezing, slow and totally ignoring us, could not have been worse, she got nothing.
Until 14 years ago I had never tipped for a meal in my life, its just not done around here, or it wasn't, after 15 visits to US I now tip a little here.
When we have been to Florida with friends and relatives it is very difficult to get them to tip, My uncle will not at all, his attitude is if they dont want to bring the food then get someone else that does, its not his problem.
friends we have been with twice will tip but only $1 per person. Problem is it looks bad on us then.
They just dont get a meal in US is half the price here because service is not included. They think its just a cheap meal.

 

[raidermatt]

I can not understand how some of you are saying even if service is horrible that you will still leave a ~15% tip.

The key is if you tip more for better service. If you do, then you ARE rewarding service according to the quality.

 

[TaylorsDad]

I am a server and I tip very well, and I seem to give a server the benefit of the doubt. For instance if they are not right on the drinks, I always tell my kids to take the lid off their drinks and sit them to the end of the table that way the server can see they need a refill. And don't always assume the server forgot to put your order in if their was a mistake with the kitchen. There have been numerous times our cooks have lost the ticket and we have to tell our customers why it has taken so long. But I always get the ticket taken care of or a big discount. Anyway there was once in the past few years I did not tip and it was bad. I even felt bad for not tipping but I was so mad and the server did not even care. We went to Daytona beach and went to the pier to eat dinner at crabby joes. Our server came over to us took our drinks order, brought us a tiny glass of stale pop. She took our order and we never seen her again. Someone else brought our food out, we had to go to the bar to get a refill on our stale pop. I even had to go to the bar for ketchup etc, so when we left (had to go to the bar again to pay), I explained that I was a server back home and why she was not getting a tip. The lady's mouth dropped and said I am sorry.. No need we will never go back there, the food and service sucked.

Being a server perhaps you or someone else with a similar carreer can answer a question for me. When paying for a meal in which payment is in the form of a credit card I always write down zero for tip but leave cash for the appropriate percentage. Is this way preferrable to noting amount on receipt. I was once told this way the server can choose how much to turn in for his or her tips for the night. Do you have a preference?

 

[MissionMouse]

...I always thought the gratuity left should be equal to the service one receives, for otherwise the employee and mgt will not likely know improvement is needed. Just wanted to know what everyone else thinks.

The purpose of low service wage positions that are dependent on tips to make an acceptable wage are two fold.
1) Motivate the employee to provide good service, since in essence great service in the long run equates to higher tips/earnings;
2) Allow the customer to provide feedback to the employee in regard to their performance, since management is unable to monitor each employee on a continuing basis, per each customer. Indirectly, tips become a tool to motivate poor performers to find another job.

Tipping regardless of performance is not in the best interest of the customer.

 

[MissionMouse]

.. Is this way preferrable to noting amount on receipt. I was once told this way the server can choose how much to turn in for his or her tips for the night. Do you have a preference?

I believe noting a tip on a credit card requires the establishment to document the earnings of the employee within their W-2, but if you leave cash they will estimate the tip at what use to be average out to a lower amount than what most people leave.

 

[jennifer6800]

I have worked in restaurants for years. As a server, greeter, and manager. We tip 20% for GOOD service. But I have been known to leave 30-40% for exceptional service. Most servers I know think they have done a poor job in the guests eyes if they don't get 20%.

Having said that we go the other way too, and have had forced tips removed and tipped very little. I would rather leave something to prove a point.

Please remember that an extra dollar means very little to you, but lets the server know you appreciated their hard work.

 

[TaylorsDad]

Note this is not an eatery at WDW. On my way home from work, I stopped by a family style restraunt. This was some of the worst service I have ever received.
After being shown to my table, I waited ten minutes for my drink. I then placed my order. 15 minutes later server came back by to take my order. I said you already did 15 minutes ago, she said oh ok what was it you wanted again. I told her once again and asked for a drink refill. Glass had been empty for 5 min.
Server came back out about 10 min later with drinks -for the table next to mine. There were 4 young men there and she spent an excessive time just flirting, so after a few minutes I go up to the bar and ask for a refill. I was asked who my server was and I said the lady there by my table talking to the other guys. The guy at the bar applogized laughing since there were four of them she probably could expect a better tip. Well, needless to say she had to have gotten a better tip, because I said cancel my meal ,paid for my drink and left. Had I waited I surely would not have left the standard 15% perhaps not even anything. I should also add the establishment was not even close to full and seemed to have plenty of staff.
Do you guys find this quality of service more typical when dinning alone because I find that the service I receive is almost always better when my wife and child are with me.

 

[mom2my3kids]

Being a server perhaps you or someone else with a similar carreer can answer a question for me. When paying for a meal in which payment is in the form of a credit card I always write down zero for tip but leave cash for the appropriate percentage. Is this way preferrable to noting amount on receipt. I was once told this way the server can choose how much to turn in for his or her tips for the night. Do you have a preference?

You know where I work it really does not matter one way or the other, We have to claim our tips at the end of the night. We have a print out so we can tell how much credit cards tips we have.

 

[Alisha's mom Sarah]

Note this is not an eatery at WDW. On my way home from work, I stopped by a family style restraunt. This was some of the worst service I have ever received.
After being shown to my table, I waited ten minutes for my drink. I then placed my order. 15 minutes later server came back by to take my order. I said you already did 15 minutes ago, she said oh ok what was it you wanted again. I told her once again and asked for a drink refill. Glass had been empty for 5 min.
Server came back out about 10 min later with drinks -for the table next to mine. There were 4 young men there and she spent an excessive time just flirting, so after a few minutes I go up to the bar and ask for a refill. I was asked who my server was and I said the lady there by my table talking to the other guys. The guy at the bar applogized laughing since there were four of them she probably could expect a better tip. Well, needless to say she had to have gotten a better tip, because I said cancel my meal ,paid for my drink and left. Had I waited I surely would not have left the standard 15% perhaps not even anything. I should also add the establishment was not even close to full and seemed to have plenty of staff.
Do you guys find this quality of service more typical when dinning alone because I find that the service I receive is almost always better when my wife and child are with me.

I can't believe you actually had to pay for your drink. With that kind of service it should have been free. I usually tip 15-20% depending on service. I will leave less if service isn't great and the restaurant is not busy. I feel it's not the servers fault if they are overworked with too many tables..

 

[lilianddomsmom]

my dh and i always tip very good even if the service isn't all that good. we have both worked in a resturant before and know that all it takes is one rude customer to ruin your night so i try to give them a break but if they don't take care of us at all than we just leave the 15 percent

 

[Tinkerboy00]

If service is good or even great I tip between 15-20%. I usually do 20%

If its awful...and I have to wait for drink refills, or flag them down when I need something...then they get 10% or less.

I think your brother's comment about how the server depends on tips just goes to prove that they should earn a good tip then. Why award bad service with a good tip, just because that is how they make their earnings???