Tipping in restaurants

[AKLBeauty]

With the economy the way it is this day in time, I think servers should be prepared to have a cut in wages too. My company cut half our workforce and forced a 25% wage cut on the remaining staff.

When I go out to eat these days, I'm much more frugal. I used to try and leave 20% tip for the servers, but now I'm leaving 15% for great service and 10% for average.

The way I see it, the restaurant would rather this happen, than me quit patronizing them altogether. I just can't believe it when I see people claiming to tip 25 - 50% (maybe this is just Disboard bs, lol). I think there are a lot more 15% tippers than just me. I would hope the servers would be thankful for the 15%, but after reading the other thread, I'm not so sure.

I didn't want to muddle the other tipping thread, so I thought I would start my own.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

They have had cuts in their earnings, because less people are eating out, and when they do they are ordering less food (forgoing appetizers, etc), so servers don't really need people to cut down on their tip percentages, too.

We've been tipping better since the economy tanked, because we know their earnings have probably taken a bigger hit than our have.

 

[mickeyfan1]

If I can afford to go out to eat, I can afford to tip at least 20% for standard service. I am lucky, our personal economy has not been hit at all by the recession. If yours has and you can still go out to eat, why would you decide that your server, who is doing nothing less than he did before the economy tanked get less for that same service? You not going hurts the restaurant and may impact the server by cutting hours or being made redundant, but cutting the tip because of the economy? I wouldn't do it. But if you feel that is the only way you can afford to eat out, that is your decision.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

My theory is, if you can't afford the tip, then you can't afford the meal.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

My theory is, if you can't afford the tip, then you can't afford the meal.

Best rule out of all the rules ever imo.

Tip is solely based on service, not what the customer's salary is.

And I don't make a lot of money... at all. I'm a student and I don't work full time but I have always been a great tipper! Perhaps it's my attitude toward the employees... or sheer dumb luck... because quite frankly, I rarely get anyone who isn't great and those great and amazing servers will always get well above 20%...

Best one of my recent WDW trip: Ashley from The Wave, she was outstanding!

 

[N.Bailey]

If I didn't have enough to leave a decent tip, I wouldn't be eating out.

I only over tip when I receive exceptional service or when I know the person who is waiting on us. Otherwise, I'm in the 20ish range (give or take).

 

[ajk912]

Don't forgot that the servers are probably already taking a paycut. Due to the economy, people are more apt to order the $8 burger or the 2 for $20 combo instead of getting themselves a $20 steak. So instead of a $50 bill for a couple, we are probably looking at $20 or so for a couple. So ALREADY, on many tables the tip dropped from $10 to $4 and you want to drop it even more? Trust me, servers have had their paycut.

 

[gm]

We are in a tough situation too due to economy but I do what I have always done which is that I tip based on service. Always have and always will. If we receive great service, I tip 20% or more. If service was lacking which has happened a few times or more, I tip 0 to 15% depending on how bad it was. If the service was really really bad, I do not leave a tip and i make sure to write it on the receipt so the server can see the reasons. It happened once though.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Agreeing with the majority (so far): if I can't afford (my standard) tip, I can't afford to dine out.

 

[bicker]

Yup, the effect of the economy is felt by restaurant servers by how many more empty tables they have in the dining room.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Many have gone from soda to water too, for a couple, that is another $5 reduction on the bill. My wife and I do the 2 for 20 often, the bill comes to $21 and we give $25 and keep the change.

 

[bicker]

Good point.

We're ordering fewer appetizers, less expensive entrees, etc. The down economy is having a major impact on how much money we spent at restaurants, and so since gratuities are a percentage of that, our servers are getting less money as income from our patronage.

 

[Funwith4kids]

Many have gone from soda to water too, for a couple, that is another $5 reduction on the bill. My wife and I do the 2 for 20 often, the bill comes to $21 and we give $25 and keep the change.

we noticed the meal specials (e.g. 2 for 20) have tried to make it affordable to eat out in these tough times, but they raised the cost of drinks to make up for part of it.

 

[aprilgail2]

My theory is, if you can't afford the tip, then you can't afford the meal.

If I didn't have enough to leave a decent tip, I wouldn't be eating out.

I only over tip when I receive exceptional service or when I know the person who is waiting on us. Otherwise, I'm in the 20ish range (give or take).

 

[Acklander]

I was talking to a friend who is a waitress, and yes - she's already taken quite the pay cut. Between prices down on the menu/people not ordering drinks/wine but instead water with lemon, less tables, and people not being as generous on the tips - there have been a couple of nights where all her tips goes to pay the babysitter - so she ended up working for free.
It's tough all over, and she's trying to hang in until times get better, but if you can't afford to tip - you can't afford to go out.

 

[happygirl]

We don't go out to eat if I can't afford to leave at least 15% tip

 

[MIGrandma]

I stopped waitressing just before the economy got so bad, so I didn't experience the restaurant being less busy, people tipping less, etc.

Now that I'm not working we go out to eat less often. When I was working we went out to eat between 2-5 times per week. Now? Maybe twice a month. So because we are eating out way less often, we still tip 15-20%, sometimes more for awesome service.

I agree with those who have said, if you can't afford the tip you can't afford to eat out.

 

[curious3069]

I agree with that to a point, but 20% of $0.00 is still $0.00. I'm not a waitress/waiter, but I'd rather have 15% of something than 20% of nothing.

15% would be my cutoff point, however. I don't think I would feel right about tipping less than that and would just stay home if I couldn't do that.

 

[Inigo]

When did the standard tipping amount change? Didn't it use to be a standard 10% tip a long time ago, then it went to 15%? I remember 15% was the standard for great service when I was in college in the 80s, but now it seems some think 20% should be standard for any service, no matter how bad.

How long until 25% or 30% will be considered standard?

 

[paintnolish]

If you can't afford to tip, don't eat in a sit-down restaurant. 15% is for avergae- they got your food to you. 20% is for above average- got special requests, anticipated needs, knowledgeable, friendly, etc.