Wow, I honestly thought tipping was so commonplace as to be non-controversial. Guess I was wrong!
It is definitely controversial. LOL You should see these threads on the budget boards. LOL
Not at
Disneyland. They all make at least $8/hr.
I do not tip a % because, in all honesty, the cost of my meal has very little to do with how much work the server has to do. How is my $20 steak more work than a $10 burger?
Yup, CA servers all make minimum wage, that doesn't mean they don't deserve a tip if they earn it tho. I always tip a % tho, I don't think a $20 steak is "worth" more but I still tip a %. Good point tho, I've never considered that.....
That said, I'll keep tipping a %
Wow! Lots of responses...thanks!
Here in BC I think 15-20% is standard...that's what we do anyway.
I was wondering if the tip amounts were listed on the receipt in DLR like they are in WDW. There would be the dollar amount for 18% of the bill and the dollar amount for 20% of the bill. I found that fantastically helpful. Do they do that in California too?
I hate calculating the tip at the table, it's nice to have that spelled out as a baseline and then I can leave what I feel is earned based on the service provided.
Thanks again all!
Again, just double the tax and add $1-5 depending on the place and the service and you'll be fine.
Jack,
I'm in complete agreement with you. Positive feedback can do absolute wonders. Same thing for negative... Nothings going to change if you dont speak up
Sometimes neither make a difference, I do give both kinds of feedback and have had good and bad responses.
From my experience in the service industry, the reason included tips on large parties was 18% instead of a more standard 15% was because the tip amount was based on the pre-tax price, where most people tip on the total including tax.
I don't tip on an after tax total, only a pre-tax total. Again, I use the tax most times to determine my tip amount.
But that's a good point, that most people tip on the total after tax, most people don't even think about that.
Being a food server a LONG time ago I know the importance of making tips. Notice I said MAKING. If you are not doing a good job at your work place would be be rewarded? A server only needs to bring a smile, a good additude, and proper service when they service my table. We are generous tippers. Now let me say if you forgot to leave your bad mood at the door, lose air -- as in sigh when I ask a question about the menu, forget to bring enough untesils, forget drinks, forget condiments, I am going to think it must be contagious and I am going to forget to give you a nice tip. I would still leave a minor tip with a note to manager on ticket explaining why I tipped what I did.
I would also like to state that should you get a steak that is not fired to the correct standard as what you requested -- that is in no way a reflection on the wait staff. I have been know to leave a nice size gift for our waiter. A server requesting a new steak well is like playing sussian roulette -- some chefs take that time to yell at the waiter. In this case the waiter is due over 20% in my book.
Anyway no flames--
To Jade you are a sweet heart and I know by reading your reviews you do tip at table service. I think the one poster may have just misread.
I remember when the IRS put the amount made at restaurant as the standard on what is paid via tips to the IRS. I think that amount is 10%. You can also keep track of what you make every night -- deducting the tips paid by waiter to bus, bartender, cook , ktichen staff and use that as your actual tips earned. Most use the stand amount as it is way less then even missing a tip on count of bad service or just forgetful patron. It averages out so a missed tip would not be a huge impact -nor would it take money out of their wallets. Remember no burning me at the stakes or steaks -- sorry couldn't help myself.
Definitely not a reflection on the wait staff, but you better believe I'm sending it back! If I ask for my meal cooked a certain way and it isn't done it's a reflection on the cook but I won't eat it if it isn't made the way I've requested. I don't eat raw hamburger and I while I like my steak pink inside if it's still bleeding it's going back. I always say I'm fine with the exact same steak just being heated up a bit more but I'm not going to pay for something I won't eat. If the cook is yelling at the wait staff for taking back my undercooked food the wait staff needs to take it up with management.
I tip 15% at breakfast and lunch, 20% for dinner.
Nope, this is backwards from what I've always been told. You tip more at breakfast because breakfast meals are cheaper than dinner, same for lunch. We don't take less time just because we are eating breakfast, we take about the same amount for all meals so we tip more for breakfast as it is always cheaper.
Easy as this: Double the pre-tax amount, and move the decimal. Round up to the nearest dollar. There is your tip. Absolutely appalled that someone would not leave a tip. Put yourself in the wait staff's shoes. They depend on that $ as part of their salary. We are all human, we have a bad day. They are trying their best. How do you know something devastating hasn't happened to your server prior to their shift and they still had to show up for work. They have bills, they have DLR they don't just show up and clock in. Parking off-site, waiting for a shuttle, go to wardrobe, etc. If you can't tip, go to counter service.
So I will be the first to say that stereotypes about who tips and who doesn't tip has led my DH to almost always tip 20% to make up for the Asians who don't tip well. Even if it's terrible service, he'll give at least 15% because he feels we have to prove that not all Asians are bad tippers. We're both Asian American, born and raised here, but I know Asian immigrants from other countries aren't used to tipping well or can be perceived to be low tippers. It may be changing now that more Asian immigrants with deep pockets are visiting the US, but we certainly feel sensitive to being judged based on appearances.
Add to that the fact that we have 2 young children (which I'm sure servers dread) and we doubly make sure that our girls are well-behaved, careful not to make a huge mess (I always ask for extra napkins so I can pick up the food that inevitably drops to the floor), and reasonably quiet.
Just my two cents. Servers work hard and excellent ones can make a meal much more pleasant and convenient. We try to go in assuming our server will be awesome and more often than not, we get great service.
My BFF is Asian, she is a very good tipper but she won't tip more then she feels is earned. Servers do work hard, that is to be commended and rewarded and we always go to a restaurant in a happy mood, we don't always get great service but usually we do.
When we get poor service we tell a manager, then we explain why we left a lesser tip than normal, if we continue to get bad service we never go back, again telling the manager. I won't do dine in at BWW anymore because we get the worst service ever there (down to having to ask 3 different people for our appetizer AFTER our food was delivered because our server simply disappeared, seriously, she took our order and then she was gone) so I will just do take out now, no need to tip then. I'm not going to give a tip that isn't earned but it takes a lot to get less than 15% out of us. Like ignoring us repeatedly, not bringing us refills, not bringing us silverware, bringing the wrong food or cold food......we understand being busy during a mealtime rush or a big game on TV or whatever, but simply ignored is not acceptable. Service has to be non-existent for me not to leave a tip. Which has only happened one time.
I do feel that people have mis-read Jade's post, I believe that her upcoming trip in October will be mostly CS and the only meal she will need to budget tips for is her meal at CCT.
Remember that she does have a learning disability that makes it difficult to get the right words out at times.
. Now I see where you were coming from. May I ask if that was the rule at your restaurant? I would hate to have gotten a bad bus staff or bartender as they would get paid as you said out of your pocket whether they did bad service or good. I liked the restaurant I worked at that had the bar waiters take those orders and deliver any bar orders. They kept any tip they got. I know it was not a perfect system so I did figure out the bar tab and tipped the bartender and bar wait staff the same % as I was tipped. Only fair as bar bill was added to total check from which I got my tip. 
)
Sorry!
