Tipping

[coctailer]

I was a waiter some years back and know what they have to put up with. Unless the service completely sucks I generally start my tipping at 25% and work my way up from there for good service. It is not uncommon for me to tip 40% on small tabs. I have always said, "If you can't afford the tip then you don't need to be eating out."

Good on you.

When you go back the the restaurant, surely you receive "special treatment"

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

Good on you.

When you go back the the restaurant, surely you receive "special treatment"

I was at Red Robin one time and was feeling extra jovial that day. The server brought me my tab (eating by myself) and it came to $10. I left her an extra $10 as a tip. The service was extremely good, she was very friendly, the food was great, etc. I figured that I made her day by doing that. I even left her a note to let her know that I noticed how well she was doing with service. The next time I went back to the restaurant I was sat in her section and the service was very prompt. Great experience.

 

[cbzdel]

They get paid from tips.

Not at all like "everyone else"

What does that mean? They get paid min wage in WA, their tips are extra.. So in WA they do get paid like everyone else.

 

[ZachS]

What does that mean? They get paid min wage in WA, their tips are extra.. So in WA they do get paid like everyone else.

The only other people in WA who make minimum wage are people who do stuff like "in home care" - i.e. wipe butts for a living. Even fast food workers usually make a buck or two more than the minimum.

 

[coctailer]

What does that mean? They get paid min wage in WA, their tips are extra.. So in WA they do get paid like everyone else.

I have never been a waiter in WA.

I know in Oregon, a worker at McDonalds may take home $6 per hour after taxes.

A waiter will take home $2.62 per hour after taxes.

This is based on both making the EXACT SAME MINIMUM WAGE.

Do you see now that it is not like "everyone else"?

 

[scharmon]

My grand pappy told me long ago to respect people untill they do somthing to lose that respect. I do the same with tipping while dinning out. I always plan on leaving a 20% tip depending on our dinning experience.

 

[cbzdel]

I don't think they are lesser than you. You think different it seems.

Where have a said they are less then me, all i have done is ask why people tip the way they do.

Again I say, I tip well because thats what socitey does.. all i ask is why?

I am getting pms from several people saying I am an *** because I think I am better than a waiter. Where have i said that? I just questioned WHY they make so much that is all..

I talked to my buddy last night who used to work at outback streak house and asked him if his job was hard.. His exact words were "if you can kiss *** anyone could do it" according to him all you have to do is be nice to the jerk costumers and you make a ton of money. He quit doing it only because he moved and it was to far of a drive for him... I dont think he is better than me, **** I thought I had wasted a ton of money on college him when I found out he was making 60k a year! Though it is not something I would want to do my whole life.

 

[isher]

All -

More than you probably ever wanted to know,

But just to even out the playing field here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tip_(gratuity)

In the USA my median is 20%, and it will run

North or South of that, depending on quality of service.


isher

 

[DERGLOCKINMEISTER]

I was a bartender years ago and I lived on my tips . That being said , I knew that the level of service was directly connected to the amount of tip I would receive . If I intended to make an above average living , then it seemed obvious that I should expect to provide above average service . Several pages ago someone said that he could fake his way through a service job , but I assure you that they are a number of skills needed to do those jobs that you aren't aware of , I always took pride in my skill , was helpful and friendly to my customers , and I was usually rewarded with above average tips . If I screwed up , or was rude to someone , then it came as no surprise that I would receive little or no tip .

 

[timbernet]

The only places I don't tip are those where I am not being served... like Subway, Great Harvest Bread, and sometimes Starbucks. I don't feel like a tip is justified for fast food. Now, I do tip at Starbucks when I get the barista I like (the cute, sweet, nice barista) --- but all rest of the time I don't tip there.


I typically do 20% tip, sometimes more, sometimes less, but typically 20%. My favorite place to have a sit down meal is The RAM in Clackamas -- even with their buy-one-get-one specials we would tip like we each bought one. Last week I didn't have enough cash on me to do my typical $2 tip for a $9 burger, so I tipped $1 -- I came in on Thursday and asked for that waitress to come over and I gave her $2. But, I get extremely good service from them. A- coming in at least twice a month, B- not being a jerk to them, and C- tipping them --- they are very nice to me!

 

[STNOSU]

For me, I almost always tip and it rare that I dont and in those occasions its because the service was pretty bad. I have worked in service for years so that my be part of it, I know whats expected and I also understand when the back of the house is getting slammed. But if the things in your control like drinks etc are done poorly then it starts to affect their tips. At the min. I do 10% but usually more.

The wife, my son (4yrs old) and myself went to Claim Jumpers at Bridgeport a lil while ago and it was one train wreck after another. The section they sat us in made us the last table for the night for the waitress. She made it known that it was the case. We didnt even get our appetizers and she tried to charge us. She came up with the ticket as we got our entrees and handed me the check, then she proceeded to ask for payment so she could leave. She then got an attitude when I tipped 10% only even though she didnt deserve it.

I know for me I made more money being a driver versus a server, I lived on my tips and I would have to be reminded to pick up my check. To me my check was a bonus I got every couple of weeks. It helped that I knew it was a numbers game and if I got stiffed I would make it up with another order. I always remembered what houses tipped good and I would make sure to treat them good. My lil brothers girl works at Steelhead in Eugene and during the weekend shes been averaging 300-400 a night.

In Oregon at least now you get paid by the hour which isnt below min. wage but you do get taxed on tips that you claim. At the same time I have never met a server or driver besides one over the course of the years that actually claimed what they made in tips.

Bartenders get screwed sometimes if they have to put the tips in a communal jar and everyone gets the split at the night, with bar backs and bouncers getting a cut. Not true for all but it can be a drag, but if you dont have to deal with that then its good money. I always tip my bartender everytime and the more drinks I get at a time the higher the tip is. Bartenders usually remember and its nice not having to wait forever to get your drinks when you want another round. I do miss working in Eugene sometimes since I was getting comp'd at alot of bars and various restaurants from meeting a lot of other people in service.

 

[raftman]

Here's what's always made me wonder about tipping. If one pays with a debit card, usually there is a space for how much you are to tip, and the total with the amount you tip. However, it seems weird to me, because in that case, I am pretty much assured that the money doesn't go directly to the server. So I often feel inclined to leave a cash tip on the table as well, at least if the service was good.

What exactly is the right way to approach this?

 

[Gunner3456]

Here's what's always made me wonder about tipping. If one pays with a debit card, usually there is a space for how much you are to tip, and the total with the amount you tip. However, it seems weird to me, because in that case, I am pretty much assured that the money doesn't go directly to the server. So I often feel inclined to leave a cash tip on the table as well, at least if the service was good.

What exactly is the right way to approach this?

My wife and I are often eating out for business purposes so we put it all on the card to get a receipt. In my wife's case she gets employer reimbursement, and in my case it's for tax deduction purposes.

If it's just personal, we will always leave the tip in cash if paying with a card.

We round up from 20%. In other words, a $90 check gets a $20 tip.

I can remember just once leaving no tip, but everything was horrible.

$.02

 

[cbzdel]

Here's what's always made me wonder about tipping. If one pays with a debit card, usually there is a space for how much you are to tip, and the total with the amount you tip. However, it seems weird to me, because in that case, I am pretty much assured that the money doesn't go directly to the server. So I often feel inclined to leave a cash tip on the table as well, at least if the service was good.

What exactly is the right way to approach this?

i heard that tips on credit cards, you get taxed twice plus reduced by the credit card company. I dont know how true it is but it makes since.

-credit card company charges the establishment a percentage to run the card
-that percentage is reduced from the tip before giving it to the waiter
-the waiter pays tax on the tip
-the establishment pays tax on the tip because it originally when in as profit for the company

any input?

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

i heard that tips on credit cards, you get taxed twice plus reduced by the credit card company. I dont know how true it is but it makes since.

That is absolutely true. To make matters even worse, some places like banquet halls will take X-percentage off for the "house cut." At a resort that I won't name but located 30 minutes south of Bend to the right, they take 50% off the top for the house cut on all banquet gratuity.

 

[Natty Bumpo]

The usual 15 minimum up to 20-25% depending. For exceptional service...more, sometimes lots more. I appreciate anyone who busts butt to do their job well. If I feel I cannot afford to go out, it is cheaper simply not to go out rather than trying to stiff the server.

I don't tip at fast food or drive ups or take-outs. Only at sit-downs, where the server actually works for me. Sometimes at Starbucks, but it is typically small change.

 

[gtivan]

i heard that tips on credit cards, you get taxed twice plus reduced by the credit card company. I dont know how true it is but it makes since.

-credit card company charges the establishment a percentage to run the card
-that percentage is reduced from the tip before giving it to the waiter
-the waiter pays tax on the tip
-the establishment pays tax on the tip because it originally when in as profit for the company

any input?

The establishment only pays tax on profit. While the money is recorded as revenue, there is a corresponfing expense (money going to the waiter). So they actually pay nothing.

 

[Rapid1]

let's put this in perspective...servers, and other restaurant, bar, casino, etc. personnel aren't the only ones receiving tips.

I had a guy that did LOF's to perfection. he would deliver the car to the customer in better condition than he got it and told them exactly what he did and yada yada...the moral to this story is that he made more money with his tips than I paid him. you take care of people and they take care of you.

personally, I usually tip in cash, to the person I want to tip. if they share it or not, pay taxes on it or not, matters not to me...good service is good service and the ones that provide it, get it. others just complain about it and the system they chose to work in.

I can just see it now...SEIU signs up thousands of servers state wide...lol