When did the tipping % increase?

[Benducci]

In our area, we still tip 15% & for good service 18% - why is it when we go to Disney, they assume tipping is 18 & 20%? What happened to 15%?

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Nothing happened to 15%...you can still tip that if you so choose unless you have your tip automatically added to your bill, then you will do what Disney things is the correct percentage..

I think different areas of the US tip differently, when I went to VA, the servers loved me as I tipped 20% but I come from MA where we tip that amount.

 

[Allison]

You could just reverse your question and someone from Orlando (or wherever) could say why do you assume 15% because it's 18% where we are from.

That's just the way it is.

 

[Muushka]

Speaking of the % of tips increasing, I have a question.
I can understand that certain areas tip more than 15%, but why do some people say that the tip% went up because the cost of living went up? The tip is based on food costs. I don't know about anyone else, but our food costs have gone way up.
My servers are not getting a cost of living raise! (unless they do a most excellent job)

 

[Threehearts]

About 10 years ago, 15% was the norm in the places where we ate out. We've been doing what almost everyone I know is doing- now tipping 20% for good(not excellent) waitstaff service. I suppose the usual tipping amount might vary with geographic area. Threehearts

 

[mom2my3kids]

I have been a server for 10 years and its been 15-20% for good service. 15% being the low end of the poll..

 

[NMW]

I think 15% is very low in most areas. I'm surprised that the OP is in NJ. People I know in NJ have tipped 20% for over 10 years-including us, before we relocated to PA. Everyone I know tips 20% here too.

 

[Disney8704]

Im in Delaware, and fars I know the norm is 15% for good service.

 

[RMulieri]

Out here in PA most of us tip between 18-20%. Usually I start my server at 20% and if they maintain a certain level of service they get the 20% .above and beyond may get them 25%.Anything less then desirable service and I start mentally deducting from 20%.Only once did I ever not leave a tip, and brought the mgr over to tell them why ( this was in NYC).As expensive as tipping can get, these service industry people( whether waiters,waitresses or hairdressers ) make their money in tips. I know it gets expensive , but if I expect people to wait on me then I pay for the service.Poor service is an entirely different entity, and my tips usually reflect that.

 

[choirfarm]

What we have always done is given 15 percent as a standard tip. If they are awful, they get 10. If they are REALLY good, they will get 20 and VERY occasionally more.

Christine

 

[caroline1851]

Who cares what others tip, tip what you think the service is worth. I tip 15% for good service, 20% for excellent.

 

[JLKennedy]

Actually, most NJ'ers tip 15%, seriously. The ones you know who do 20% were trying to impress you. I tip depending on where I'm eating (buffets get less off the bat, since they just bring refills and bus....which I tend to do anyway having 2 young children and not being able to stand "clutter or mess"). If we are sitting down ordering different courses, I start at 15%, depending on how well they meet our expectations, we increase, but never decrease. For instance, if they are packed to the gills, I would take into consideration that I didn't get that refill as quickly as I'd like; however, if they are stark empty and I have to wait 10 minutes for a refill, well, sorry, but that's gonna cost you.

 

[Darcy03231]

I live in southern NH and here the customary tip is 15%. I tend to tip around 18% as I used to waitress and know what hard work it is. If the server is truly outstanding I will tip 20-25%.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

Where I come from, people who are so worried about how much to tip probably can't afford the meal in the first place.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Who cares what others tip, tip what you think the service is worth.

Ah, if only there were a "post of the day" award. This is an EXCELLENT outlook!

 

[acourtwdw]

Nevermind

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

I always see "serving is a hard job!" It's nowhere near as hard as raising my three children!!!!


....and YES I've been there - done that and it was some of the easiest work ever! As long as you have a system and know what you're doing! I walked with $150-$350 a day and this was in the mid 90's! These Disney servers must be making a good $300-$500 per shift if they're getting 20% off those inflated prices!!! Seriously ~ not bad for a days work!

 

[Crisgw]

I tip 15-20% depending on service. RARELY over 20%.

 

[caroline1851]

If each waiter has 4 tables/per hour and only gets $10 per table, that would be $40/hr. plus whatever they get hourly. It's serving...not rocket science. That's good money for that kind of work. Heck, check out people at grocery stores have to work hard and they make....maybe $8 or $9/hr.

 

[mom2my3kids]

If each waiter has 4 tables/per hour and only gets $10 per table, that would be $40/hr. plus whatever they get hourly. It's serving...not rocket science. That's good money for that kind of work. Heck, check out people at grocery stores have to work hard and they make....maybe $8 or $9/hr.

That is at Disney in the real world we don't make anything close to 40.00 a hour. At Ihop I get 3 tables to rotate on and depending on turn over and how the tables tip I can make 8-12 dollars a hour on average. People will sit for hours drinking coffee, having meetings and tip on their bill not on how many hours they have taken your table. But I tell you one thing, when I get home I feel like I have been beaten with twenty bats and that is no lie. The thing with serving, you CAN make good money but depends on how good of a server you are. When you leave serving tables, its usually not to make more money its just to get out of the business there is only so much one can put up with.