Tiping a server?

Question

On average what do you tip your server? I want real $$$ people!

Answer 1

For oustanding service I generally tip 25%, for ok service I tip 15% and for terrible/awful/rude service I tip 10%. I was a server and know how rough it is so I ALWAYS tip something. I usually take the total and figure out 20% and add $2 if they were great.

Answer 2

I dont live in the states...so we dont usually tip and most places have service charge. However...if the service is exceptionally good then i think anything between 5-10% is good

Answer 3

if sevice is realy good then 5-7 but if its slow 2-3

Answer 4

You didn't specify where you are.  Believe it or not, the United States is NOT the only country that uses the '$' to denote their local currency - Argentina for one does it also. In Argentina $5 is five pesos; U$S5 is 5 dollars.

You also didn't specify a total check amount, and a tip is ALWAYS a percentage of the check.

In the United States 15% of the total check is the minimum for good service and 20%+ is for exceptional service. Less than that hasn't been used by polite restaurant-goers in the USA for about 50 years.

Anyone who thinks waiters don't remember very good - or very bad - tips hasn't eaten out very much. I have - and they remember!!!

To all of you who'd stiff the waiter for bad service: did it occur to you that you'd get a lot more accomplished if you spoke to management? In addition to the problem actually being addressed (and a possible misunderstanding straightened out) management will usually discount your meal in some way - even waive the tab altogether. Whatever the waiter might think, management DOES want you back, and they'll work hard to address your concerns.

Think about it . . .

Answer 5

in the us it is customary to tip 15% for ok service  18% for good/ great service

20-25% for excellent service

Answer 6

The US standard is 18%. Servers generally make $2.65 an hour, so they are counting on tips to survive. True, their job is an option... but understand that their sales will show  that they brought in X amount of money in a night, and the US government will expect them to claim at least 18% of that. So if you tip a flat amount regardless of the amount on your tab, or if you don't tip at all - the server could be paying the government money to have waited on you!!

Also, note that slow service oftentimes has nothing to do with the server... it is the cooks who make, at least, minimum wage. Don't penalize the servers for it.

Answer 7

Wow, nearly all of the answers so far make me want to cry!

10% is a horrible tip, and will just p**s your server off.  Trust me, a server never forgets a face, and they are the one handling your food.  Always leave at least 15% unless something goes wrong.  Remember, food coming out slow is not usually the server's fault - they cannot control the speed at which the kitchen cooks their food.  The restaurant being busy, music being too loud or smoke wafting over from the bar are all also not the server's fault.

Try and always leave at least 20%.  It means an extra dollar or few for you but could really make someone's night.

And all of you that say you leave anywhere from $1-$5 - s***w you!!  If you're going to leave a dollar, don't leave anything at all.

Answer 8

I carry a tip card with me, which I found at a Hallmark store. Whatever the total, I tip about 10-15 percent of that amount.

If you want a number then I'd have to say anywhere from one to five dollars, could be less or more -- but most likely the former.

Answer 9

Average for me is $1-$5, depending on whether service was good or not and how much I spent.

Answer 10

I tip 10% if they are a good server, more than that if they are really good!!$$

Answer 11

depends on the place and quality of service...

Dennys: $0-10

casual restaurant: $5-25

Answer 12

Depends on where you go.  At least 20%.  If not I would not expect the service to be good.  You will ALWAYS get what you pay for-especially where service is concerned.  Like anybody they believe their time to be valuable.  If they are just poor servers I still tip well.  But if they are rude or out of line, I leave just enough to let them know my appreciation.

Answer 13

it depends if there lazy or not

Answer 14

I tip 10 to 15%  allways unless the watress or waiter is rude then it is one penny.

Answer 15

It is always better to tip based on a percentage of the total spent. Personally, I tip 30%. I know that most people would never tip that high. I do so because I worked as a server, and I know that there are a lot of people who tip less than 15%, or don't even tip at all. I made $2.00 an hour; I know I choose to serve, but it doesn't change to fact that servers work their butt off to make a living.

The government automatically takes out a certain percentage of the total sales in taxes, so if you don't tip then the server is paying the government to serve you.

Even if service is slow, most of the time, it is not the server's fault. The kitchen might be running slow, or another table might be holding them up. It isn't fair to penalize them for something that isn't their fault.

Answer 16

tip the cook , they are the one that did the hard work and cooked the meal.

Answer 17

If i go to dinner with my boyfriend, and the service is good, then about $7 - $10 bucks...

if its really crummy, I dont like to tip, but my boyfriend makes me... its normally like 4-5 bucks then

Answer 18

15% for great service.

That means $.15 for every dollar you spent on the meal.