Tipping suggestion on receipt

[LSUmiss]

She's 16 and 3 of her friends also work there.

What can I say? She's a very shy kid, and waiting tables has really made her work at opening up and talking to strangers, so in that aspect it's been good.

We've added up tips and wages since she started, and she's averaged just shy of $11 an hour, above minimum wage.

That still doesn't mean it's ok to tip extremely low when you do receive good service though, does it?

ETA: I still stand by my statement that *most* patrons can throw down a few extra bucks to tip well if they can afford to go out to eat. We have (an archaic) system in this country. Eat counter service places if you don't want to follow the system.

Exactly & she’d make well below the minimum wage if everyone was cheap instead of just a few ppl sometimes.

 

[Skywalker]

Yes, I'm certain that the tipping culture in this country (started generations ago) is the reason behind the entitlement attitude now.

Great

 

[LSUmiss]

Sorry I know you quoted Ronandannette, but I will still give my two cents. I think that you, as her mom, have no way of knowing if a customer has or has not received good service. That is up to each customer to decide. And tipping is still discretionary so if someone chooses to tip extremely low, well, that is their money and that is the chance you take by working in a tipped position. I have no doubt that if your daughter is a good server, the few low tippers are more than made up for by the people who feel obligated to tip 25% or something.

To me, this "expected" tipping for the bare minimum was the vanguard of entitlement culture. If I give you cash and you are not happy with the amount of cash I have given you, please feel free to return my cash to me.

I think it came about more b/c of large parties & it’s why those parties are usually charged automatic gratuity.

 

[ReneeA]

I think it came about more b/c of large parties & it’s why those parties are usually charged automatic gratuity.

I think so too. I've been out with large parties before where everyone wants to throw down a couple bucks for their meal and several drinks -because they've had several drinks and lost track- and pretty soon you have an 8% tip with good service.

 

[LSUmiss]

I think so too. I've been out with large parties before where everyone wants to throw down a couple bucks for their meal and several drinks -because they've had several drinks and lost track- and pretty soon you have an 8% tip with good service.

That most likely took up a lot of the servers time too.

 

[ronandannette]

She's 16 and 3 of her friends also work there.

What can I say? She's a very shy kid, and waiting tables has really made her work at opening up and talking to strangers, so in that aspect it's been good.
We've added up tips and wages since she started, and she's averaged just shy of $11 an hour, above minimum wage.
That still doesn't mean it's ok to tip extremely low when you do receive good service though, does it?
ETA: I still stand by my statement that *most* patrons can throw down a few extra bucks to tip well if they can afford to go out to eat. We have (an archaic) system in this country. Eat counter service places if you don't want to follow the system.

At least we both agree the system is ridiculous.

 

[ReneeA]

At least we both agree the system is ridiculous.

I totally agree, but until it's corrected, I'd rather tip appropriately.

 

[disneychrista]

I totally agree, but until it's corrected, I'd rather tip appropriately.

But what is an appropriate tip? Is it blindly tipping 20% ?

 

[ReneeA]

But what is an appropriate tip? Is it blindly tipping 20% ?

I'll just say this:

I personally feel better tipping a minimum of 20% for good service.

If you want to tip less than 15%, that's on you. Do what you want.

 

[ronandannette]

I'll just say this:

I personally feel better tipping a minimum of 20% for good service.

If you want to tip less than 15%, that's on you. Do what you want.

You've described the situation in your area. How much do you feel those of us who patronize restaurants in areas where minimum wage is $15/hour should be tipping?

 

[ReneeA]

You've described the situation in your area. How much do you feel those of us who patronize restaurants in areas where minimum wage is $15/hour should be tipping?

I would perhaps adjust if I knew that. Knowing that my area pays $3.50 an hour, I will tip at least 20% for good service. Given that 98% of my meals out in any given year are in Michigan, that's what I base my tip on.

What about you? Do you adjust if you're in a locale that you know pays as little as $2.12 an hour?

 

[ronandannette]

I would perhaps adjust if I knew that. Knowing that my area pays $3.50 an hour, I will tip at least 20% for good service. Given that 98% of my meals out in any given year are in Michigan, that's what I base my tip on.

What about you? Do you adjust if you're in a locale that you know pays as little as $2.12 an hour?

That doesn't really answer the question. I'm not sure I've ever been in a place that pays like that. I've never been to Michigan; most of my US land vacations are spent in California. And how would I, or any visitor, know what the pay structure is in any given place? Not something I generally add into my trip-planning research - do you? I think it's a grand idea to have a sign (in big letters) posted on the door of a restaurant stating "We don't pay our staff - so you'll have to."

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I would perhaps adjust if I knew that. Knowing that my area pays $3.50 an hour, I will tip at least 20% for good service. Given that 98% of my meals out in any given year are in Michigan, that's what I base my tip on.

What about you? Do you adjust if you're in a locale that you know pays as little as $2.12 an hour?

Since people talk about variances in area here's the DOT information by U.S. State: https://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm

Most people present a simplified overview but really it's not.

Also in reality very few people are going to adjust their tipping habits based on state by state nor do I think it's something people even think to look at. They just normally keep their same tipping behaviors IME.

 

[ReneeA]

That doesn't really answer the question. I'm not sure I've ever been in a place that pays like that. I've never been to Michigan; most of my US land vacations are spent in California. And how would I, or any visitor, know what the pay structure is in any given place? Not something I generally add into my trip-planning research - do you? I think it's a grand idea to have a sign (in big letters) posted on the door of a restaurant stating "We don't pay our staff - so you'll have to."

You are correct, I probably wouldn't know (just like you) and continue to tip at least 20%, because that's what we do.

I agree with the sign, because most of the states do not pay even close to minimum wage.

 

[mrodgers]

The problem with tipping is, waitstaff is working and getting paid by the patrons at that moment. If I am at a restaurant for an hour and the waitstaff also has 3 other tables during that hour and busts their butt 100% of that hour, their time is split up between all 4 tables, thus working for me for 15 minutes max. Thus, whatever tip I leave for the 15 minutes of service by 4 and that is the hourly wage I have paid for the service. I tip $10, I paid the waitstaff $40/hour. Multiply by the 4 tables at the same example tip and they made $160/hour for the time they worked for those 4 tables of patrons.

When I am driving home from work, or sitting on my couch surfing the net or watching Youtube, or out mowing the grass, the waitstaff is not working for me. They are working for me when I am in the establishment sitting at a table being covered by said waitstaff.

With the expectations constantly rising with the percentage along with the rising cost of eating in a restaurant, I'm looking at almost a full day working to pay for an hour with my family at a restaurant.

 

[sam_gordon]

If you adjust for inflation and cost of living, that’s still really low.

But there are plenty of non-tipped positions making that much. Should the person who checks you out at Target or the grocery store get tipped because they're only making minimum wage? #downwith tips

Eat counter service places if you don't want to follow the system.

Find a true minimum wage job if you don't want to rely on tips for your wage.

 

[mjkacmom]

But there are plenty of non-tipped positions making that much. Should the person who checks you out at Target or the grocery store get tipped because they're only making minimum wage? #downwith tips


Find a true minimum wage job if you don't want to rely on tips for your wage.

I’ve been a cashier and a waitress (and worked in an office environment and student taught special education while getting my masters). Waitressing was the hardest.

 

[ronandannette]

But there are plenty of non-tipped positions making that much. Should the person who checks you out at Target or the grocery store get tipped because they're only making minimum wage? #downwith tips

Find a true minimum wage job if you don't want to rely on tips for your wage.

I said the same thing upthread and a poster who has a server in the family admitted that even with the bad tippers, the pay works out to more than minimum. The complaints, it would seem, are based on an ever-escalating expectation of how much more it should be. And I find it laughable when it’s suggested that people who can’t or won’t tip 20/25/30% should just stay home. I’m sure the proprietors of restaurants would strongly disagree.

 

[sam_gordon]

I’ve been a cashier and a waitress (and worked in an office environment and student taught special education while getting my masters). Waitressing was the hardest.

OK, what's your point? I never said waitressing was easy. The bottom line is if you don't like the pay of a job or what you have to do or the hours or management or coworkers or how you earn your pay to find another job. What would you tell someone who said "my job is hard and I don't get paid enough"? Wouldn't the answer be "look for another job"?

 

[leebee]

I think that as laws change, bringing waitstaff wages into line with "livable wages," tipping customs will change. I know I tip based on the amount of work required and the quality of the service. I am not divulging what I tip (no need for cheers/jeers at this point), but I base my tip at a lower percentage at buffets where the server is simply refilling drinks, higher for a server who is bringing multiple courses. Tip goes up or down, depending on the quality of the service.