Proper tip amount at restaurants?

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What is a proper tip amount at restaurants?

  • 10%

  • 12.5%

  • 15%

  • 17.5%

  • 20%


Results are only viewable after voting.

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
76
Or this.

scion-tc-body-kits.jpg
 

xanis

Lifer
Sep 11, 2005
17,571
8
0
you've seen a picture of it? please, enlighten me with a link?


once you've seen a picture of it, then you can judge smartass.

Weren't you the douchebag who put HIDs in his stock reflector assemblies? No need to see a picture, 'nuff said.
 

JoeBleed

Golden Member
Jun 27, 2000
1,408
30
91
If you were at least coherent you'd realize you can lower the tip amount at checkout if you desire.

You don't tip based on you feel $5 or $2 is ok. It's based on percent of food cost.

If you think $2 is the norm then do not order more than $13 in food.

If you brake it down into % i probably over tip. My meals usually don't go over $6 - $11.

The one places i went to that did the mandatory tip on the check thing told me it was required and there was no way to change it. They could have lying though. It has been a while, but i think they did point out a sign about the tip on the check near the register, but i don't remember now. I do look for those signs now and have found one here and there when traveling. Never around home though. I leave when i see it.

Edit: oh, the first place i ran into the mandatory tip was on a trip with friends. they wanted to eat at an expensive place. I was stuck going with them. I already didn't like the food prices and to be hit with the mandatory tip.... So it exceeded my usual food bill by about 4 times. And to me, i don't remember the food or service being that good. I think it was a hard rock cafe somewhere in NY city.
 
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Jeffg010

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2008
3,435
1
0
I did not read through all of the post but most people don't know the law.
http://www.dol.gov/wb/faq26.htm

"Question: Is it legal for waiters and waitresses to be paid below the minimum wage?

Answer: According to the Fair Labor Standards Act, tipped employees are individuals engaged in occupations in which they customarily and regularly receive more than $30 a month in tips. The employer may consider tips as part of wages, but the employer must pay at least $2.13 an hour in direct wages.

An employer may credit a portion of a tipped employee's tips against the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009. An employer must pay at least $2.13 per hour. However, if an employee's tips combined with the employer's wage of $2.13 per hour do not equal the hourly minimum wage, the employer is required to make up the difference.

The employer who elects to use the tip credit provision must inform the employee in advance and must be able to show that the employee receives at least the applicable minimum wage (see above) when direct wages and the tip credit allowance are combined. If an employee's tips combined with the employer's direct wages of at least $2.13 an hour do not equal the minimum hourly wage, the employer must make up the difference. Also, employees must retain all of their tips, except to the extent that they participate in a valid tip pooling or sharing arrangement. "
 

Springs1

Junior Member
Jan 11, 2011
8
0
0
but the check should be delivered shortly before the entrees are finished.

100, MILLION PERCENT DISAGREE!! There are plenty of times me and my husband order dessert or even bar drinks *AFTER* a dessert.

OPEN YOUR MOUTH IF YOU WANT YOUR CHECK THAT FAST WITHOUT DESSERT, **ASK*** FOR THAT!! OPEN YOUR MOUTH!!

If you want the check and know for a fact you definitely don't want dessert or anything else, why not ask for the check to get it BEFORE you get your food even?

I am serious, if you are that much in a rush, you should consider not acting like " I know servers aren't mind readers" as you said, well they can't read your mind that you won't be getting a dessert or coffee or a bar drink.

While I COMPLETELY AGREE a million percent once I want the check, we definitely shouldn't wait longer than 5 minutes to get the check and shouldn't wait 5 minutes or more to ring it up either.

The check should NOT EVER be delivered without the customer's PERMISSION!! The customer is paying the server, so it's not up to the SERVER to decide when the customers are ready to leave. If you want your check right after your entrée speak up!! Ask for this.

A good example also, if you want a glass of water, unless you are in a fine dining restaurant, chances are there aren't water boys/girls that are just going to bring water to you that aren't your server, so in general most servers don't just bring water. You should be ORDERING what you want or ASKING for what you want. If you want lemon, ask for it, don't assume.

We have had a few times at least where we asked for a box and they brought the check without even offering a dessert, because servers assume you are full instead of that we are saving the food for leftovers so we CAN have room for dessert. Also, they don't think about after dinner drinks or coffee either that we could have ordered.

One of the worst offenses is bringing the check by and then disappearing for a half hour. You just brought my check... wtf do you think I'm doing at the table right now??? Nothing.
One time, my husband and I waited 17 minutes for the check to be brought and rung up, which obviously we left nothing. Keeping me hostage once I do want the check is not cool, but it's also not cool either to have it so early that they are making a decision that's NOT THEIRS to make by bringing the check too soon.

A couple of other times at least we waited 10 minutes to get the check rung up. We stiffed those people. They should be coming back and not holding you hostage. It's also to their ADVANTAGE so they can get more customers to have us gone faster. The servers don't think about that it was OUR TURN 8 minutes ago(2 minutes to look at the bill at least).

I don't like the assumptions. It's not my server's place to make decisions about anything in my dining experience. If I want to go earlier than normal, I will ask for the check with my food, NOT after I finished. If I don't know if I want a dessert, I may and even have asked for the check saying we may get something else, we don't know yet, but you can bring the check in case. This way, if you want to add to it, they can, but if you want to go, you can pay. I only do that sort of thing if I am in a hurry. Usually, 99% of the time, I am not, so I rather take my time.

It just really bugs me when a server brings you the check without our consent, because to me, it tells me "I'm ready for you to leave" type of thing to rush you and it also is a CONTROL issue that they think they have a RIGHT to tell you what *THEY* want in the service **YOU*** are PAYING *THEM* for.
 
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Springs1

Junior Member
Jan 11, 2011
8
0
0
A server is ENTITLED to 15% for basic service.

NO, they aren't "ENTITLED" to a PENNY, it's EARNED!!

Also basic service at almost any place most of us eat regularly ($15 and less per entree) is about having to ask at times for something. The poor dude/chick probably has 20-30 tables to cover.
You must have never had bad service, have you? They usually don't have 20-30 tables. It's usually 5-10 if that, maybe less if it's not busy.

As you go up in scale that 15%
15% at an upscale place food excellent service, are you crazy? 25% for excellent service at an upscale restaurant is more like it.

"buys you refills before you ask,"

They should be asking you and shouldn't be refilling my glass without asking. Especially, wine, I can't stand a server refilling my wine without permission.

your bread basket/salad bowl never empty, etc.
They should be asking you if you want more, not just bringing it, because you may not want anymore. Especially, after the 2nd refill, I don't want a 3rd refill of bread most of the time. Then I wouldn't be able to eat much of my meal or appetizer.
 

bfdd

Lifer
Feb 3, 2007
13,312
1
0
what ever the fuck i feel like giving them

and I stand by it. I'm a rather generous tipper, but I by no means feel these people are entitled to a tip. It's part of the job and they have to earn it. They start at ZERO dollars tip and work up from there based on service.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
and I stand by it. I'm a rather generous tipper, but I by no means feel these people are entitled to a tip. It's part of the job and they have to earn it. They start at ZERO dollars tip and work up from there based on service.

Did you quote yourself because no one reacted the first time?

Fortunately the gov'ment sends you the same amount of food stamps each month without you having to earn anything.
 

erikistired

Diamond Member
Sep 27, 2000
9,739
0
0
and I stand by it. I'm a rather generous tipper, but I by no means feel these people are entitled to a tip. It's part of the job and they have to earn it. They start at ZERO dollars tip and work up from there based on service.

finally, we can agree on something.


it's not me.

Fortunately the gov'ment sends you the same amount of food stamps each month without you having to earn anything.

yes, making a server earn their tip means the person is poor. so much fail in you, i know it's hard earning those tips every night, but why so serious?
 
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