How much do YOU tip?

[Papa Deuce]

For me it TOTALLY depends on the service. I have left as much as 35% for EXCEPTIONAL service. I have also left .02, with a note describing my displeasure with the service and a recommendation ( the note ) that maybe the server has chosen a poor career path, when provided with really poor service.

I worked as a waiter in college. I was a good, but not great, waiter. I know how hard servers work. I know that they aren't the ones who incorrectly prepare food. But they are the ones who serve the occasionally incorrectly prepared food.

On average, I tip 20%. I figure that a lot of servers give a good effort. And even a mediocre effort gets about 12%.

I NEVER tip ZERO; if I did that then maybe the server might think that I just forgot the tip instaed of realizing that they provided poor service.

 

[1stNoel]

I tip at least 20% and more if warranted. If the waiter has been bad they'll get 8.25%, which is our sales tax here. That way I've put as much effort into figuring their tip as they put into their service.

 

[lulubelle]

Usually 15%. Unless the service was really good, then 20%. Or, if the service was poor, 10%. I just can not leave less than that knowing that the tips are what they live off of. Their paychecks do not cover too many bills.

 

[IloveDMB]

Watch out, this could be a hot topic!

As a server, I almost always tip 20% or more. I sometimes tip less if the service is bad. But the person has to be really bad for me to tip under 20%. I've left as much as 50% but the service was good and he was a very good friend.

One thing I've never quite gotten down is how to tip at a buffet, because it is a different kind of service than a full service restaurant.

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

I usually just double the tax and round up. Our tax here is 8.25%. So they're getting 16.5% or more.

 

[SnowAngel]

I usually tip between 20%-25%. for ex 30-35 get $7. I try for 20% and round up.. lowest I've given is usually 10-15 % though dh got me to leave 5% once for oh my god bad service (no refill, never saw waitress except for asking for food and geeting food, going to counter to get bill, etc)

 

[Nutsy]

Nothing...............no tipping in Australia......well not compulsory anyway...if you feel like tipping, then tip, but in general, we don't tip anyone, ever.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

Well, it depends on how the service is. I generally tip 15% but sometimes it is more, sometimes less. I do tend to tip less at a buffet since I feel I am basically serving myself anyway. I probably tip about 10% there.

 

[HisEllyNelly]

It totally depends. It very rarely is less than 15%...it has to be really bad service. I had one woman who was just down right rude, and I left her 1.00. Most of the time the kids want to go to Applebees and they seem to have great servers who always remember my kids and the fact that dd likes to dip her french fries in blue cheese dressing. I always try to give extra when we go there.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I usually use 15% as a starting point and go from there. Great service, I'll usually go up to 20% or more. If I'm with a group and we have to ask the server to split the check, I'll definitely tip more then. Bad service, I'll tip less, but it's got to be really bad for me to go below 10%. At buffets, I think $1/person is good for whoever has been clearing dirty plates as they're finished and keeping the drinks filled.

Rarely have I left no tip. Once a co-worker and I were out of town on business and were eating dinner. Rainy night, dark out, very few people in the restaurant (probably more employees than customers, counting the kitchen people), and we STILL got crappy service. Co-worker wasn't going to leave a tip, but I left $1 for what was probably $30 combined.

Years ago a former girlfriend told me about something that happened to her -- she and some friends were eating out at a chain steakhouse (I don't remember which one, but I know it wasn't Outback) and got extremely bad service, to the point that they didn't leave a tip. Well, FGF forgot her prescription sunglasses and went back to get them. The greeter went to find the server, and came back to tell FGF that the server said she would return the glasses when she got her tip. Needless to say, FGF called for a manager, told about the poor service and what the server said, and got her glasses back. No word on what the server got.

Here's where the "hot topic" part comes into play -- I don't tip at counter service places (like sandwich shops or other fast food places) when they have the tip cups out. To me, tipping is for full-service places like Applebee's.

 

[skiwee1]

For good service 20%. Very good service gets more. Not so good gets less. Very bad gets nothing and I speak the the manager. It has to be very bad for me to do that. I tip the same whether it is a buffet or sit down.

 

[poohandwendy]

For me it TOTALLY depends on the service. I have left as much as 35% for EXCEPTIONAL service. I have also left .02, with a note describing my displeasure with the service and a recommendation ( the note ) that maybe the server has chosen a poor career path, when provided with really poor service.

I worked as a waiter in college. I was a good, but not great, waiter. I know how hard servers work. I know that they aren't the ones who incorrectly prepare food. But they are the ones who serve the occasionally incorrectly prepared food.

On average, I tip 20%. I figure that a lot of servers give a good effort. And even a mediocre effort gets about 12%.

I NEVER tip ZERO; if I did that then maybe the server might think that I just forgot the tip instaed of realizing that they provided poor service.

You pretty much described how I tip with one exception. I only tip 10-15% for buffet meals (where the server is only refilling drinks and bussing tables).

 

[crz4mm2]

15-20% usually. 20% only if it is really good service. I always tip too, even if service is pretty bad.

 

[Maleficent13]

I leave 20% always, unless the service is REALLY bad. There have only been a couple times that's happened, and even then I usually leave 15%. Around now, the holidays, my tips tend to increase. I usually throw in a dollar or two more than I normally would; I feel they deserve it for being in a service industry in December and putting up with all us wild people!

I have left a 50% tip twice in memory; the restaurants were casual places and the wait staffs were just exceptional.

 

[jeleebeene]

If services is excellent, I will leave over 20% - I never leave less than that unless service is just plain awful. I have only done that a couple of times - I use to waitress, so I know how hard they work and how little they get paid (unless the pay has increased). Good services = Good tip!!

 

[phillybeth]

I tip around 10-12% for buffets, 18-20% for full-service, based on the total bill with tax. Only twice in all my years have I ever not left a tip and those were extraordinary circumstances, with multiple visits to our table by the manager, etc. One time was at Steak and Ale, and the other was the Olive Garden.
I try not to punish the server for things that are the kitchen's fault, if something has gone wrong I will ask for the manager and let them handle it.
There are a few restaurants that we go to frequently and we know the waitstaff so we tip a little higher there. Prompt service, remembering requests (like extra lemon in my iced tea) and a friendly attitude are rewarded as well. One time at Red Robin the waitress was nice but ditzy, everything got messed up (some of it the kitchen's fault) but she was so sweet and apologetic and accomodating that not only did she get a full tip but we praised her to the manager for her grace under fire.

 

[jrydberg]

Depends... lower cost restaurants, I tend to tip better (20% or more) provided the service was good. Higher cost restaurants, I tip 15% for decent, 20% for great service.

 

[GeorgeG]

Normally at least 20%. More for really good service or at our regular restaurants where we're always well taken care of. Poor service gets less. I always round up and get annoyed with people who must figure everything out to the penny.

 

[Lisa F]

I tip a bit over 20% as generally we figure tip on the post tax amount. At buffets we still tip 15% as the only buffet we go to around here, the service is excellent... the second you put your fork down from your plate it's gone and the second your drink gets half empty, it's refilled and you never have to wait for a check. If service is mediocre I do 15% and 10% respectively. I like the idea of tipping sales tax (also 8.25%) if service is bad, but I can't even remember the last time I had service that bad. I think if someone frequently gets service bad enough to warrant a very low or no tip that might have to do more with themselves than their servers.

 

[lovetheparks]

Seems everyone is pretty much on the same page as I am with the tipping but there is something I am not sure about...

How do you tip (or do you tip?) when carrying out from a full-service place such as Chilis or Applebees that have people solely set up to handle the To-Go business?