Tipping in The United States

[Ace Nova]

Pretty much this.

People sometimes ask "why American's eat so much fast food?" and this debate IS part of that equation. Sometimes I plain don't want to spend the extra 15~20 bucks it costs to eat out, so we end up at Taco Bell or one of the others. You don't have to participate in tipping if you go to places where you don't have to.

Same type of thought goes into Buffet style resturants (or at least they do imo). I'm not going to tip more than 2~3 bucks at Chinese Buffet or a Old Country Buffet. Those workers really just take your plates or sometimes bring more soda or pop (like we call it in MI). So why would I tip those workers more than 10%? Which I bet many poeple feel the same way, so it really depends on the type of resturant. But yes, if you go to a sit down and order type of place, then yes tip 15~20%.

I still tip around 10% - 15% for buffets...(depends on how good they are at refilling drinks)....busing/cleaning tables is the worst part of the job....it can get pretty nasty.

[Iron MikeyJ]

Pretty much this.

People sometimes ask "why American's eat so much fast food?" and this debate IS part of that equation. Sometimes I plain don't want to spend the extra 15~20 bucks it costs to eat out, so we end up at Taco Bell or one of the others. You don't have to participate in tipping if you go to places where you don't have to.

Same type of thought goes into Buffet style resturants (or at least they do imo). I'm not going to tip more than 2~3 bucks at Chinese Buffet or a Old Country Buffet. Those workers really just take your plates or sometimes bring more soda or pop (like we call it in MI). So why would I tip those workers more than 10%? Which I bet many poeple feel the same way, so it really depends on the type of resturant. But yes, if you go to a sit down and order type of place, then yes tip 15~20%.

I still tip around 10% - 15% for buffets...(depends on how good they are at refilling drinks)....busing/cleaning tables is the worst part of the job....it can get pretty nasty.

My wife usually insists we tip at least 5 bucks. But when i was single, buck or two was it. I was pretty firm about that, because I am the one getting my food. You don't tip the bus boys at other resturants 15%, so why am I going to do it here?

What do you guys think about these places (like Buffalo Wild Wings) where they add the gratuity to the actual bill if you have more than 5 (I think) people in you party? It pisses me off tbh...

Edited June 27, 2014 by Mike420

[Ace Nova]

What do you guys think about these places (like Buffalo Wild Wings) where they add the gratuity to the actual bill if you have more than 5 (I think) people in you party? It pisses me off tbh...

here?

Yeah, they do that down here in Orlando all-the-time. Servers/Managers try to protect themselves from people that don't understand tipping policies.

It's funny because many European Restaurants do the same thing...they just call it "Cover Charge" instead of gratuity....and that extra income is what pays their servers.

I

[Ace Nova]

What about at a nice hotel?

Maids?

Barman?

Valet?

Anything else?

I made it thru 5 pages without seeing this mentioned:

You'll discover in the states that restaurant food and beverages are taxed. You do NOT tip on the total amount of the bill, you tip only on the cost of food and beverage. In other words, the amount prior to sales tax being added.

Anybody who handles your bags should be tipped. Curbside pickup at the airport? Tip 'em. The airport shuttle guy who takes your bag upon boarding the shuttle and hands it to you upon departure? Tip 'em.

Planning to hit a casino? If you are playing a table game, every time you win you should tip the croupier or dealer. On roulette for instance you should tip one chip for each chip wagered on a winning number. If you win a slot jackpot big enough for a hand pay, when they come back with your cash tip them a twenty.

Renting a car and need to gas up at a full-serve station? Give the gas jockey an extra buck.

Getting a haircut? $2 tip will do.

And for those people who don't like giving a tip on restaurant food, I have one word for you: TAKEOUT

That is the reason why tips cannot be eliminated by building it into the menu prices, you can't charge more for eat-in food than you do for takeout.

You've got the right idea...except...

If you tip every time you win a hand of Black Jack, you'll be broke within an hour. BJ dealers only expect to get tipped if you win a lot....my cousin is a BJ dealer... Poker is different...any time you win a pot, you should tip at least $1...more for bigger pots.

No need to tip the gas guy unless they clean your windows, imo

I always tip at least $4 for a haircut, sometimes $5. $2 is just being cheap.....

[Dazey]

Just do not bother. You are English man. Remember, that dick waiting for a tip probably chucked your tea in the sea.

That's more of an urban legend than anything. I've worked at several restaurants in my life and I've never witnessed anyone ever doing anything to the food. Slow service maybe....if you piss them off....but messing with food is rare. (Although it could happen if you really piss someone off).

Think about it, KK.

I really haven't witnessed anyone messing with food....although I must admit, I have heard stories. Ironically, the worst story I heard was from a guy that worked at a very popular national pizza chain.... (It had nothing to do with service or tipping) He was a manager and had to fire one of his employees because he caught him pleasuring himself with the dough. True story.

Think about it a little more.

biggest tip i gave was 100$

Back in the day (yeah, I'm getting old)....we ran up a $1200 tab at a club when I took my sales force out...and I tipped well over $300....that waitress was happy, to say the least.

Come to think of it, I used to do really well.....ugh....what happened.....

[wasted]

I don't tip. I don't believe in it.

It's nice to meet people with common interests.

I didn't tip a NYC cabbie. He pulled a gun on me in Chinatown. Now I realise its not against the law.

Edited June 28, 2014 by wasted

[Redhead74]

That is the reason why tips cannot be eliminated by building it into the menu prices, you can't charge more for eat-in food than you do for takeout.And for those people who don't like giving a tip on restaurant food, I have one word for you: TAKEOUT

Most places with takeout charge less for it over here.. They have special takeout menus or takeout prices right next to the standard price. No issue about it.

You sure they're not smaller portions? In North America they usually charge less for the same meal at lunchtime than at dinner time, because the lunch portions are smaller.

Yeah I'm sure. Portions are always small in fancy restaurants here and Chinese, Indian etc. portions are huge, on box or plate, never leaves me hungry. The price difference isn't necessarily huge though, about 30% off... but sometimes up to 50%.

Same here. Two different price lists based purely on the fact that you're not occupying a table and requiring service. It's good for restaurants too because it means they have a much wider customer base given the fact that they can usually only turn over the tables twice in an evening and have limited seating capacity.

[Patience 4 Axl]

What do you guys think about these places (like Buffalo Wild Wings) where they add the gratuity to the actual bill if you have more than 5 (I think) people in you party? It pisses me off tbh...

here?

Yeah, they do that down here in Orlando all-the-time. Servers/Managers try to protect themselves from people that don't understand tipping policies.

It's funny because many European Restaurants do the same thing...they just call it "Cover Charge" instead of gratuity....and that extra income is what pays their servers.

I've seen this often with parties of 8 or more, never as low as 5, but I think it's great. You just need to make sure you see it included on the bill, they don't usually bring it to your attention. I think it's typically 18% added, which I don't have a problem with at all. Obviously if there was some issue I'd bring it to the manager's attention, but I've yet to come across that scenario. In fact we'll usually throw in extra if service was extremely good. It's not easy to keep a larger group of people happy all at the same time.

[Iron MikeyJ]

It might have been parties of 7 or 8, I can't remember the exact number. It's been a while since I've been there. The main reason why it pisses me off is because when you are in a group that large, most people are paying individually anyways, or at least per couple. So just because we are all sitting together, we have to tip more? I think they are abusing the system. Besides if they make everyone tip 18% as individuals, then they are actually double dipping the pot to a certain degree. Maybe I'm being a bit of a cheap ass but I don't like to be told how much I need to tip. What if I refuse to pay the 18%? What if I say "I'm just paying for my food and only tipping 10%." I'm not breaking any laws, I am paying for the food I ate. But yet they would act like I'm being a criminal because I'm not paying what they want me to pay. I just feel like Buffalo Wild Wings and other establishments that do this are in fact abusing the custom. Because what if out waitress sucks fucking ass? What if I have to wait 10 mins or more between beers, my food is cold, no napkins, etc. But because 7 people are at my table I have to pay more? That's fucked up. It's not like we are having an anniversary dinner and invited the whole family, that's completly different. I'm talking about just an average Friday night out with a few friends...

The Mr. Pink in me comes out in those situations, and I start saying things like "Tipping is for the birds, I don't believe in it."

[pestilence]

Back in the day (yeah, I'm getting old)....we ran up a $1200 tab at a club when I took my sales force out...and I tipped well over $300....that waitress was happy, to say the least.

Come to think of it, I used to do really well.....ugh....what happened.....

YOU didn't tip well, your business did ... thanks to expense reports, right?

I've worked at places where we and the VP would go out to adult entertainment establishments, tip 40% or more depending on how good the "service", and the VP would throw the entire bill on the corporate Amex card. The charge would come through under the establishment's alternate name, and the payment would sail through AP no problem.

pervert

[sweetness]

People who actually make a fuss about tipping don't realize how poorly it reflects on their character.

[Iron MikeyJ]

People who actually make a fuss about tipping don't realize how poorly it reflects on their character.

I wouldn't go that far man. Unless people out right refuse to tip. I just meant that I don't like these places that include it in the bill, like that's what I NEED to pay. That's not right either. As we have established in this thread, it is a custom. So places that included the tip in the bill ARE abusing the custom. IMO that's just as bad as when people out right refusing to tip. I personally have only never left a tip maybe once or twice in my life, and both times it was because the server was a complete douche or douchette. I had one waitress tell my wife and I that "maybe we should go to walmart and buy steaks and eat at home." Really??? Fuck you. If you don't like your job, get a different one. All because we asked if they had a small steak for a kid, cause she can't eat a $20 steak. We asked politely and that's what she said, fuck you bitch, no tip for you!!!

As far as places like Buffalo Wild Wings go, I understand that it's not easy waiting on bigger tables, but again that's your job. Life's a bitch sometimes, deal with it. But being made to tip a certain amount is not cool in my book. I pretty much always tip 15~20% anyways, so it's not like I'm going to stiff anyone. But to say "you must tip 18%" isn't cool, what if my server sucks? Than she deserves her 10% tip, not 18%.

[arnold layne]

I don't tip.

[Guest Len B'stard]

People who actually make a fuss about tipping don't realize how poorly it reflects on their character.

Fuck offfffffffff

[Ace Nova]

YOU didn't tip well, your business did ... thanks to expense reports, right?

I've worked at places where we and the VP would go out to adult entertainment establishments, tip 40% or more depending on how good the "service", and the VP would throw the entire bill on the corporate Amex card. The charge would come through under the establishment's alternate name, and the payment would sail through AP no problem.

Actually, that one particular time it was on me. No expense report.

There were other occasions when we would submit expense reports, etc...those bills came to over $2k at times....

(And no, it wasn't pretty getting chewed out by the owner on Monday morning.)

Edited June 28, 2014 by Kasanova King

[bran]

a rather famous football player went in a restaurant with 10 friends ran up a huge bill and only tipped my relative 5 dollars.

[Val22]

I usually give 15% but sometimes 20% if the waiter or waitress is super good.

My son is a waiter and I know how hard they work for little money per hour. They don't get minimum wage like all other jobs, so they depend on good tips.

I notice some people here in Dallas don't tip well, but I do. Since I am a native New Yorker, I know I'm a very good tipper.

[DieselDaisy]

In Japan in is a big social faux pas to tip. You just do not do it. (I have often agonised over the decision to tip Japanese restaurants in Britain.)

I must admit, I am too British to ever truly understand the ‘tipping culture’ (which is as prevalent in Spain and Italy as it is in the United

States). Nonetheless, I usually tip in Italian restaurants to a sum of around, 15-20%: if you buy a £40 meal, give them another tenner, maybe even £15 if it was outstanding. The good thing is, you tend to get priority service if you return, free aperitifs, coffees, etc. But I find the whole thing cheeky when you are paying a ‘service charge’ also.

[Guest Len B'stard]

In Japan in is a big social faux pas to tip. You just do not do it. (I have often agonised over the decision to tip Japanese restaurants in Britain.)

I must admit, I am too British to ever truly understand the ‘tipping culture’ (which is as prevalent in Spain and Italy as it is in the United

States). Nonetheless, I usually tip in Italian restaurants to a sum of around, 15-20%: if you buy a £40 meal, give them another tenner, maybe even £15 if it was outstanding. The good thing is, you tend to get priority service if you return, free aperitifs, coffees, etc. But I find the whole thing cheeky when you are paying a ‘service charge’ also.

A fuckin' tenner, you'll be lucky Why do you (not you personally) have to make life so fuckin' complicated, just tell me how much shit costs and I'll give you money for that shit, simple right? Why this invisible variable fuckin' standard that can go up and down based on how big you want people to think your willy is, 'ooh look, he bunged me 50 quid, I'll serve him really good next time!', what about the fucking poor working class twat like you who can only afford a fiver, are you gonna have a fuckin' wank on his lasagne or something? A way that well off people can get their balls stroked and aspirational middle class twats can feel like they're Oscar Wilde for the evening.

[DieselDaisy]

In Japan in is a big social faux pas to tip. You just do not do it. (I have often agonised over the decision to tip Japanese restaurants in Britain.)

I must admit, I am too British to ever truly understand the ‘tipping culture’ (which is as prevalent in Spain and Italy as it is in the United

States). Nonetheless, I usually tip in Italian restaurants to a sum of around, 15-20%: if you buy a £40 meal, give them another tenner, maybe even £15 if it was outstanding. The good thing is, you tend to get priority service if you return, free aperitifs, coffees, etc. But I find the whole thing cheeky when you are paying a ‘service charge’ also.

A fuckin' tenner, you'll be lucky Why do you (not you personally) have to make life so fuckin' complicated, just tell me how much shit costs and I'll give you money for that shit, simple right? Why this invisible variable fuckin' standard that can go up and down based on how big you want people to think your willy is, 'ooh look, he bunged me 50 quid, I'll serve him really good next time!', what about the fucking poor working class twat like you who can only afford a fiver, are you gonna have a fuckin' wank on his lasagne or something? A way that well off people can get their balls stroked and aspirational middle class twats can feel like they're Oscar Wilde for the evening.

I completely agree, but I do not want to look like the 'stingey British cunt who does not tip.'

[DieselDaisy]

'Going Dutch' as it is called.

[Iron MikeyJ]

The main reason why it pisses me off is because when you are in a group that large, most people are paying individually anyways, or at least per couple. So just because we are all sitting together, we have to tip more?

In North America people in large groups may pay individually, but not with separate bills. It's usually one bill for all, with the individual payments pooled together before being handed to the server.

When you have a large group with only one person paying, that's a lot of potential tip money that can be lost if the one payer stiffs the server with little or no tip. So I believe the mandatory 18% is justified, and it's right in the middle of the typical 15-20% range that the majority of people always tip.

Thanks for the info, I live in Michigan

[Patience 4 Axl]

As far as places like Buffalo Wild Wings go, I understand that it's not easy waiting on bigger tables, but again that's your job. Life's a bitch sometimes, deal with it. But being made to tip a certain amount is not cool in my book. I pretty much always tip 15~20% anyways, so it's not like I'm going to stiff anyone. But to say "you must tip 18%" isn't cool, what if my server sucks? Than she deserves her 10% tip, not 18%.

You're taking it as a personal insult and I have no idea why. It's not like this policy is enacted just for you. They're trying to protect their employees, not ruin your meal. Majority of the patrons I usually see in Buffalo are groups of high school and college kids. Notorious for not knowing how to tip, if they tip at all. And the waiters/waitresses are usually just as young. They all look like students, trying to earn a little cash for school. I have no problem throwing them a few extra bucks for decent service. They need it more than I do.

It's cheap eats, not a swanky French bistro. $8 and change for a wrap, less than a buck a wing, $6 for a beer, free refills on soda. Honestly, how much is the total tip, even in a large group? I've only once went out with another couple who actually went thru the check line by line and broke it down almost to the penny. I never went out to dinner with them again. I'm not going to bitch about owing less because I only had 2 beers and someone else had 3. That's just fuckin petty. If you don't think the service deserved the 18% call the manager over and tell them why. Problem solved.

I usually give 15% but sometimes 20% if the waiter or waitress is super good.

My son is a waiter and I know how hard they work for little money per hour. They don't get minimum wage like all other jobs, so they depend on good tips.

I notice some people here in Dallas don't tip well, but I do. Since I am a native New Yorker, I know I'm a very good tipper.

Yeah, I wouldn't brag about being a "very good tipper" if I'm typically only giving 15%.

[Dazey]

In Japan in is a big social faux pas to tip. You just do not do it. (I have often agonised over the decision to tip Japanese restaurants in Britain.)

I must admit, I am too British to ever truly understand the tipping culture (which is as prevalent in Spain and Italy as it is in the United

States). Nonetheless, I usually tip in Italian restaurants to a sum of around, 15-20%: if you buy a £40 meal, give them another tenner, maybe even £15 if it was outstanding. The good thing is, you tend to get priority service if you return, free aperitifs, coffees, etc. But I find the whole thing cheeky when you are paying a service charge also.

A fuckin' tenner, you'll be lucky Why do you (not you personally) have to make life so fuckin' complicated, just tell me how much shit costs and I'll give you money for that shit, simple right? Why this invisible variable fuckin' standard that can go up and down based on how big you want people to think your willy is, 'ooh look, he bunged me 50 quid, I'll serve him really good next time!', what about the fucking poor working class twat like you who can only afford a fiver, are you gonna have a fuckin' wank on his lasagne or something? A way that well off people can get their balls stroked and aspirational middle class twats can feel like they're Oscar Wilde for the evening.

I completely agree, but I do not want to look like the 'stingey British cunt who does not tip.'

Too late.

[Iron MikeyJ]

As far as places like Buffalo Wild Wings go, I understand that it's not easy waiting on bigger tables, but again that's your job. Life's a bitch sometimes, deal with it. But being made to tip a certain amount is not cool in my book. I pretty much always tip 15~20% anyways, so it's not like I'm going to stiff anyone. But to say "you must tip 18%" isn't cool, what if my server sucks? Than she deserves her 10% tip, not 18%.

You're taking it as a personal insult and I have no idea why. It's not like this policy is enacted just for you. They're trying to protect their employees, not ruin your meal. Majority of the patrons I usually see in Buffalo are groups of high school and college kids. Notorious for not knowing how to tip, if they tip at all. And the waiters/waitresses are usually just as young. They all look like students, trying to earn a little cash for school. I have no problem throwing them a few extra bucks for decent service. They need it more than I do.

It's cheap eats, not a swanky French bistro. $8 and change for a wrap, less than a buck a wing, $6 for a beer, free refills on soda. Honestly, how much is the total tip, even in a large group? I've only once went out with another couple who actually went thru the check line by line and broke it down almost to the penny. I never went out to dinner with them again. I'm not going to bitch about owing less because I only had 2 beers and someone else had 3. That's just fuckin petty. If you don't think the service deserved the 18% call the manager over and tell them why. Problem solved.

Well for one, I'm just voicing my frustration with that policy, it's hardly something that I take as a "personal insult". It's really not that big of a deal. But truth be told, that resturant is very over priced. I have went there and had my bill hit $100 by myself very quickly. You order a fancy drink, a beer or 3, and 20 or so chicken wings and next thing you know you owe them an arm and a leg. That's the biggest reason why I don't go there often. I love their chicken wings, but damn are they over priced. I would never call them "cheap eats". But if you order a sandwhich, or wrap perhaps it's not too bad. But when I go to a specialty resturant, I order what they are famous for, so yes it takes a lot of chicken wings to get the job done, and I'm sorry but their wings are not cheap. Like I said, 20~30 chicken wings I can easily put down when I'm hungry. So yes that's 30 bucks just for me, then like I said their drinks are not cheap either. So by the time you get to the tip, 80~100 bucks is very realistic. That is not a cheap meal at all imo. That's not the server's fault, so I don't take it out on them. I always tip oppropriatly. I just don't like their "policy". I'm allowed to voice my frustrations....