Tipping at a restaurant where the food is expensive, but the service is just normal

[Ava]

Honestly, I think tipping by percentage is one of the stupidest traditions our society has. That T-rex waitress has no business making twice what your other server makes if they do the same exact job with the same level of service. It makes no sense whatsoever. That applebees waitress has to tip out coworkers too.

It's unfair to penalize your server because you don't agree with the tipping traditions in the US. Servers have to claim a certain percentage of their SALES on their income taxes; they also have a very small hourly wage so they depend on tips for the majority of their income. Whether you think this is right or not, it is what it is.

Also, I'd hazard a guess that a server at a place like T-Rex DOES need to work harder than a server at your local Applebees. T-Rex is probably always busier than a local place, and expectations are higher. People expect to have fun at a theme restaurant (especially in a vacation destination like WDW), and servers are often expected to entertain as well as serve - quiz guests with themed trivia, tell jokes, etc etc. Just from my personal experience, I feel like theme restaurants require more work of the staff than your average casual dining restaurant.

 

[mistysue]

The reasons you are stating are exactly part of why tipping a % bothers me so much. Servers there work harder because they are always busy. As in, they have more tables to tip them. A place like Applebees they might have 8 tables through the whole night and work the same hours as the server at T-rex who had 16 total. So if your applebees person made $10/table they just make $80. The server at T-rex, getting $20/table just got paid $320 for the same shift. If tipping were more a flat rate, they would get $150 for the shift- twice the pay for twice the tables. Even if hourly wage is only $3/hour- that is way more than most professionals make. The same people who tip more because they feel bad for their server who makes barely anything...

I wish tipping was included. There is no way restaurants would be paying their servers as much as they can make from tips. They would probably make $8/hour so the "per table" cost would be something like $3-$4 averaged over a day. So taking my family out goes up $4, but I don't have to leave a $10 tip and I save $6.

Many servers (especially in my experience younger girls for some reason) don't realize how much they are actually making. If you leave work with $100 in your pocket 5 nights/week and spend most of it going out that night, you feel broke all the time without noticing that you made $500. When I worked in a mall I was amazed at the girls working with my boyfriend who would spend most of their money before they even got out of the mall then report fewer tips because they never had any cash left. These girls were easily making a couple hundred dollars per week that they weren't reporting! This was a Johnny Rockets with a bunch of teens making $20+/hour on their weeknights after school. After the kinds of work I have seen people stuck with, i am just not going to feel bad for a server with a job like that.

It's unfair to penalize your server because you don't agree with the tipping traditions in the US. Servers have to claim a certain percentage of their SALES on their income taxes; they also have a very small hourly wage so they depend on tips for the majority of their income. Whether you think this is right or not, it is what it is.

Also, I'd hazard a guess that a server at a place like T-Rex DOES need to work harder than a server at your local Applebees. T-Rex is probably always busier than a local place, and expectations are higher. People expect to have fun at a theme restaurant (especially in a vacation destination like WDW), and servers are often expected to entertain as well as serve - quiz guests with themed trivia, tell jokes, etc etc. Just from my personal experience, I feel like theme restaurants require more work of the staff than your average casual dining restaurant.

 

[eliza61]

I wish tipping was included. There is no way restaurants would be paying their servers as much as they can make from tips. They would probably make $8/hour so the "per table" cost would be something like $3-$4 averaged over a day. So taking my family out goes up $4, but I don't have to leave a $10 tip and I save $6.

.

It's a catch 22. Some people feel that when the tip is included servers tend to sit on their laurels so to speak. That was one of the complaints when tips were included in the ddp (I complained also). I got very bad service at a few restaurants and had to call the manager over, whereas if I had paid oop I could have voiced my complaint in the most effective way MONEY.

 

[TJA]

See now to me you are doing both. You are looking at the QUALITY of service to decide on the tip percentage and that percentage is based on the COST of the meal.

You are indeed right -- we are doing both. I guess the point I was trying to make is that we don't strictly tip on a percentage based on the cost of our meal. We use a % scale based on the level of service.

As a side note, we will definitely try Jiko again because we loved the food. A table near us had the same server issues as we did -- I should not have said "very poor service" but more that it was poor service compared to what we expected and also compared to what we received at CG. I realize it isn't the norm for Jiko and am sure we'll have great service next time!

 

[NHdisneylover]

You are indeed right -- we are doing both. I guess the point I was trying to make is that we don't strictly tip on a percentage based on the cost of our meal. We use a % scale based on the level of service.

As a side note, we will definitely try Jiko again because we loved the food. A table near us had the same server issues as we did -- I should not have said "very poor service" but more that it was poor service compared to what we expected and also compared to what we received at CG. I realize it isn't the norm for Jiko and am sure we'll have great service next time!

I am glad you are willing to give Jiko another try

So, you (as would I and most people I believe) would tip more actual money for "good" service if your bill was $100 than you would if your bill was $50, right? This is the expected norm in the US so I try to factor it in when choosing where to dine rather than undertipping.
The OP is saying that is wrong and you should tip the same amount of money at either (which BTW, I do in Germany where that is the norm--the tip is based more on how many people you have at your table than on what the bill comes to. it is also much smaller--I can't help it I over tip a bit here; somehow tipping over the norm seems better than under).

 

[Chelley00]

DH and I ran into this discussion this weekend. We went out of town for our anniversary and stayed at an expensive resort. That night we ate in their signature restaurant. Our service was pretty lukewarm. She was pretty unfriendly (not mean, just not happy) service was slow on refills, checking on food etc. It was very disappointing, especially for the ridiculous amount of money we paid to eat there. She also forgot the cake that the hostess said we would get for our anniversary, and when we asked, said she'd be back. Came back with the bill and no cake.

Then last night on the way home we went to Olive Garden (we had giftcards) The server there was beyond excellent! She was so sweet, refilled glasses before it even got close to empty, brought fresh breadsticks etc.

The difference in the 20% tip was $25 less for the much better server at Olive Garden based on total bill. I was so disappointed expecting better service at the nicer restaurant. (and no, we didn't leave 20%.....we barely left 15% and that's only because we had multiple courses and a bar order)

 

[LilyWDW]

You choose the restaurant you want to go to. I would assume you would have an idea of the cost of the food there and what your bill might be.

If you can not afford to tip on that bill, then you should go somewhere else that is less expensive. If you can not afford the tip, then you can not afford the restaurant.

15% is norm, though I usually do 20% personally (unless I feel the service doesn't warrant it).

 

[gina2000]

I'm always confused by the "less expensive/more expensive" rationale with tipping. Most expensive establishments serve far less patrons and turn tables over at a significantly slower rate than a mid/lower priced establishment. An expensive restaurant's waitstaff may have half as many tables, twice as many courses, and greater expertise in the chosen profession. You just don't waltz into an expensive restaurant and gain employment with no experience.

My big complaint about WDW restaurants is the "captive audience" factor. Their prices are high relative to the food quality and creativity. When people suggest that WDW prices are comparable to ballgame prices, 6 Flags, etc., I only somewhat agree. Most people go to a ballgame or 6 Flags for a one day experience. Many go to WDW for multiple days. It gets tiring looking at overpriced/underwhelming food day after day.

 

[Inigo]

If you really really like your server and you want to show them how much you appreciate their service, leave 15% of your tip in cash and put 3-5% on your CC that way they only have to claim the CC amount on their taxes. If you pay all in cash they need to claim the average tip for that check on their income taxes (in our state anyway).

And that would be tax fraud on the part of the server. The law says they are to claim ALL of their tips.

 

[DOOM1001]

Respectfully, since everybody knows tipping by percentage is the norm in table service restaurants, by patronizing such restaurants and especially by knowing the cost range of the food in a given restaurant, one tacitly agrees to pay the percentage tip based on the prices THAT venue charges.

Normal/average/typical/whatever you want to call it tip for a restaurant server is 15% - and that tip is usually shared with (tipped out to) other workers in the restaurant as well. Your $5 tip on a $25 check? Some goes to the busperson, some goes to the bartender, some may go to the host/ess. YOUR server doesn't necessarily get to keep the whole $5 to supplement her/his $3.15 hourly wage.

That's another thing,with a server getting paid only $3-$4 an hour they're still not necessarily even getting that much,it's based on an equation of how much they claim in tips combined with the hours they worked.It's very possible a server could work two weeks and get a paycheck for $0, others might only be getting $50-$100 for two weeks worth of work.

 

[cbg1027]

In general, the more expensive the food is, the slower tables turn around. When the tables turn slower, the server does not get to sell as many dishes.
So theoretically, this is why you tip on percentage of the total cost of the food. Higher cost of food = more time you're at the table.

In most cases, I think this rings true.

I have worked at Smokey Bones, which was a casual family BBQ/Sports Bar chain, and Steak N Shake. I averaged the same in tips per hour.
At Smokey Bones, the food was more expensive, but I served fewer people per hour. At Steak N Shake, the food was a lot cheaper, but I had a lot more tables in an hour than I did at Smokey Bones.

No, I don't think the TREX server was working any harder than someone at Applebee's, but it's Disney - everything is more expensive so I don't compare it to the outside world. More expensive tips just go along with it to me. I know what they're going through, so 20% is my standard tip. If you're a bad server, then I go less, for great service I tip more.

Bottom line, it's your money and you can do with it as you see fit.

 

[Maleficent27]

That's another thing,with a server getting paid only $3-$4 an hour they're still not necessarily even getting that much,it's based on an equation of how much they claim in tips combined with the hours they worked.It's very possible a server could work two weeks and get a paycheck for $0, others might only be getting $50-$100 for two weeks worth of work.

Not exactly. They are paid that $3.15 regardless, and if they didn't receive enough in tips during a shift to bring them up to the federal minimum wage (or state if that state's min. is higher), the restaurant would have to pay the difference. The paycheck for $0 comes into play because the restaurant, like any other employer, automatically deducts for taxes/Soc. Sec. and sometimes health insurance and/or retirement if it's a better place. But at that point, it's money the server HAS earned that is going back out to pay expenses (taxes, premiums, etc.).

In general, we tip between 15-18% for a casual Olive Garden-type place and 18-20% for a nicer place where more staff is coming to your table.

 

[Friendly Frog]

We are in the group that tips 20% and do not eat anywhere more expensive than Applebee's due to costs.

One thing that has always bugged me, being old I remember when a normal tip was 10%/15%. Why did it increase to 20%? It can't be cost of living because menu prices have risen, when menu prices rise then the % amount should not need to increase as well. (15% of a 1.00 burger vs. 15% of a 5.00 burger.)

 

[fakereadhed]

I would like to get rid of tipping. It really just keeps employers from offering fair wages and IMO it wouldn't be any difference in quality of servers. The people giving their best sevice are the type of folks that would do that anyway. Menu prices would not go up- the tip would be included. 20% is 20% either way you slice it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The server at T-rex, getting $20/table just got paid $320 for the same shift. If tipping were more a flat rate, they would get $150 for the shift-

It shouldn't be any customer's concern HOW much any employee, anywhere, earns, unless that employee is directly, well, employed by the person concerned with the employee's wages.

Diners who feel it's 'unfair' that the T-Rex server gets more money in tips - keeping in mind that this person with sixteen parties works more and harder than the Applebee's server with eight parties in the same time frame - should simply dine at places where the servers, if any, don't rely on tips.

These girls were easily making a couple hundred dollars per week that they weren't reporting!

Good for them. I guess they weren't aware that Johnny Rockets reports their actual checks to the IRS, and that the IRS calculates their tip earnings as a percentage of those checks, and that it's illegal to underreport one's earnings to the IRS...

 

[kaytieeldr]

Menu prices would not go up

On what information or calculations do you base this?
Which restaurant chains or owners do you expect to willingly give up revenue to pay their servers at least minimum wage?
Which servers do you think will willingly continue to tote heavy trays and open themselves to being treated like someone's personal slave for minimum wage?
Who's going to supplement the earnings of the employees the servers used to tip-out - the runners who bring food to the tables, the buspersons who clear the tables...?

 

[leebee]

Slightly OT... when I was a waitress, we made $2 an hour. Waitresses now make $3.15 an hour? WOW!!! So the average waitstaff pay has risen $1.15 an hour in THIRTY YEARS?? Jeez Louise!

 

[MarilIncredible]

One thing that has always bugged me, being old I remember when a normal tip was 10%/15%. Why did it increase to 20%? It can't be cost of living because menu prices have risen, when menu prices rise then the % amount should not need to increase as well. (15% of a 1.00 burger vs. 15% of a 5.00 burger.)

Waitstaff unilaterally gave themselves a raise?

 

[DOOM1001]

On what information or calculations do you base this?
Which restaurant chains or owners do you expect to willingly give up revenue to pay their servers at least minimum wage?
Which servers do you think will willingly continue to tote heavy trays and open themselves to being treated like someone's personal slave for minimum wage?
Who's going to supplement the earnings of the employees the servers used to tip-out - the runners who bring food to the tables, the buspersons who clear the tables...?

I agree that if tipping was eliminated the quality of service and servers would drop so much you wouldn't want to go out to eat again.Unless you've worked at a busy major restaurant you have no idea just how hard the job is,and 90% of the people in these restaurants wouldn't do the job for anything less than $12-$15 an hour.Also with the amount of servers,bussers and food runners working in one restaurant the restaurant just couldn't support paying anywhere near that.

 

[fakereadhed]

On what information or calculations do you base this?
Which restaurant chains or owners do you expect to willingly give up revenue to pay their servers at least minimum wage?
Which servers do you think will willingly continue to tote heavy trays and open themselves to being treated like someone's personal slave for minimum wage?
Who's going to supplement the earnings of the employees the servers used to tip-out - the runners who bring food to the tables, the buspersons who clear the tables...?

I won't cite sources, since I was giving my opinion not a thesis, but I will explain what I meant by the 20% comment.

If the restaurant adds 20% to everything on the menu the prices would be the same as an included tip. If servers are happy to get 20% average tips how would that be not enough to pay them minimum wage or more based on the original menu prices? They would be making the same amount. If they divide that 20% with other staff, surely the employer could do the same.

Customers that treat you like slaves would still do so, but they can be the worst tippers anyway.