Question on 'tipping' when YOU eat out?

[wovenwonder]

Just wondering if you tip by the recommended percentages or do you use a method of your own?

I usually tip around the recommended amount of 15% [on average] BUT I have to admit that I have a REAL problem with this. When we go out to a nice [expensive] place to eat -- we simply order a meal [not appetizer, drinks, desserts, etc]. The same as we order in a local family resturant. So why should I tip the server $15 for a $100 dinner and another server $3 for a $20 dinner when they both work as hard? We spend about the same amount of time in both places -- and they each require the same amount of work - which isn't much -- we are not high maintenance customers. [I would have actually left apx $10 for the $100 meal and $4 or $5 for the $20 meal.]

Does anyone else understand my 'logic'? And if not -- can you explain to me why I might want to think differently?

 

[Michelle]

I generally tip 20%, unless the service did not warrant it, and then I tip 15%.

I just base it on the total bill, and yes it is more expensive when the meal is more expensive, but that doesn't bother me.

 

[preshi]

I usually tip more than twice the tax... which here is 8.25% I try to always leave more than 20% when service is good and if it's bad I tip accordingly.

 

[SuiteDisney]

wovenwonder, I've been saying the same thing myself for quite a while now. It just doesn't seem fair to the waitresses who work at diners.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I tip a certain percentage. I agree it's a strange way to do it. Why should I tip based on the total of the bill? When the restaurant raises prices, I'll be paying more $$$ in a tip but not receiving more service. My oldest sister was a waitress in diners in NJ for 18 years. She actually left an office job to go back to it because she made MORE money waitressing! Since she was in the business, she was always a GREAT tipper. One thing she told me was that when we "linger," staying a longer amount of time, we should tip them more. You're taking up their table when they could be making tips off other customers that would sit there. I agree with that and do it.

 

[DVC-Don]

15% to 20% depending on the service.

 

[Serena]

10 - 30 % depending on service.

 

[jx3smom]

When we are at a sit down restaurant we tip at least 20% unless the service is poor.

 

[gina2000]

I always tip 20%.

In a nicer restaurant, the tables do not turn over nearly as often as in a more casual place. Most expensive restaurants plan for a table to turn over only twice during the course of an evening. The opportunity to make money solely rests on good service and good tipping from a limited amount of customers. A waitperson may serve twice to three times as many people in a more casual restaurant with lower prices. That person makes his/her income on volume.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

15 and that's after paying 14% in taxes on the meal.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Always at least 20%, but usually more. Remember at a lot of restaurants (especially the higher priced ones) the waitstaff must split tips with bartenders and anyone else that helps out with serving, sometimes even the bus people as well.

 

[shortbun]

I was just going to explain that-Crazyme5kids-the
expensive restaurants share tips with the bus boys,
bartenders and hosts. Some of the less expensive
ones do the same thing. Hey, tip what you want but
if you're a bad tipper and a repeat customer, the
service will go down hill fast. As far as the folks who
work in diners and cheaper restaurants-they could
try to get jobs in better spots...that's what my
friends and I did when we were servers. We talked
to other servers and went for jobs at the higher
tipping places. Friday's was always a great place
to eat because of the fast kitchen and therefore
the table turnover.

 

[supercarrie]

Usually 15-20%, except when we eat at the restaurants my brother and sis-in-law work at...then we usually tip at least 50% of the bill while sitting in their station...

 

[snoopy]

Usually 20%. We rarely eat out, but when do, its usually fine dining and the service almost always warrants at least 20%.

I was a bartender/waitress throughout college. My tips paid for my college and grad school, so I have a certain soft spot for wait staff.

 

[Boots]

We tip close to 15-20% but if we have lousy service we don't tip as much. The better the service the better the tip!

 

[Blondie]

We're 15-20% tippers too, in fact, I carry around one of those little handy tipping guides (looks like a credit card) with the amounts to make sure it's correct! I secretly take a peek at it while it stays in my purse!

 

[ead79]

We tip 15-20% of the bill, depending on service. We always round up when figuring the tip though. If I receive excellent service, I sometimes tip 25% (that's usually at WDW, LOL!).

 

[tnkrbell]

We usually tip 20% Unless the service is horrible then I tip much less!!
If its at Disney and its a buffet I tip about 10% (since the server doesnt do anything except bring your drinks and your check!)

 

[CBRorBust]

If I have a good waitress, I'll lay $10 on the table if not more. Depending on if you impress me (keep my glass full and my table clean.) Regardless if our bill is $15 or $50

If your a bad waitress, I'll leave double the tax and add a dollar or two at the most!

But one of the KEY factors on how much I tip you is when you bring me the check. If I'm still eating and you bring me the bill, I can promise you that you'll get double the tax and not a penny more!

 

[CBRorBust]

I forgot to add something. I asked my brother why he didn't tip more than 15% once and he replied,

"hey I didn't tell them to take a job for $2/hour"