Tipping in United States.?

Question

I am going to the US this summer, and I was wondering if tipping was "mandatory" over there. Where I come from its not common to tip at all, unless the service is extraordinarily good.

I also heard the tip was supposed to be somewhere between 15 and 20 %, this can't possibly be right? If it is that high, what will happen if I don't tip that high? Will the police be called in, or will we just be given a bad look?

What if the waiter/waitress is very impolite and not doing their job properly, will they still expect tip, and will they be mad if they don't get it?

Regards from someone who is fundamentally opposed to adding extra incentives for someone to do their job properly. Thats what they are giving regular wages for.

Answer 1

If a waiter/waitress is very impolite, I'd get the manager involved.  No excuse for that!  Anyway, my sister's mother-in-law is a VERY good waitress and her description of a good tip is to take the tax, double it and add a dollar.   Have fun!

Answer 2

Whether or not tipping seems crazy to you or not, you need to acknowledge that you are entering a different country with different customs... and tipping is customary.  

Although nothing worse than a "bad look" will happen, it is really rude to not tip in America, because of the many aforementioned reasons.  With the exception of California, where servers must earn minimum wage (and get tips in addition), most states pay significantly less.  I live in North Carolina and earned 2.13 per hour as a server and 3.50 per hour as a bartender.  This covers taxes, if that.

Anyway, you are going to do what you are going to do, but don't ask a question to which you don't want the answer.  Indeed, regular wages are the incentive for doing a good job, but servers don't receive regular wages (again, with the exception of California) and the tipping is the incentive for your good service.  

As you plan to tip accordingly to your feelings, I'm sure your server will give you service in accordance with your presented attitude.  I wouldn't repeat restaurants on my visit if I were you.  We have VERY good memories, especially of those who insult us with bad tips.

Answer 3

Unfortunately here in the US, servers aren't paid well at all.  Average hourly wage for a server in my area is about $3 - $4 an hour.  They depend on the tips to make their living.  

I usually tip 20%, but I used to be a server and appreciate how tough a job it is.  If my server is exceptional, I will tip more.  If the server isn't attentive, then I tip 15%, which is pretty much standard.  No, police won't be called.  Yes, you may get a dirty look.  If your server is impolite, you can tip less or in an exceptionally bad situation, complain to management.

I agree with your last statement.  However, servers aren't given a decent wage to start with.

Enjoy your visit!

Answer 4

Waiters make below minimum wage hourly in the US.  When I waited I made $2.63 per hour, but that was 7 years ago.  The point is waiters live off of their tips so yes it is considered mandatory to tip in the US.  Some restaurants will add the gratuity to the total of the bill, most do not however it is expected that you do tip so keep that in mind when ordering to make certain you have enough money.  I don't know if police can be called if you don't tip but I have seen owners of establishments and waiters alike accuse a customer of theft when they don't leave a tip.

I customarily leave 20%.  If the waitor is rude I may only leave 5%-10%.  Only once in my entire life have I never tipped and that was a bartender under extreme circumstance.

So keep in mind, waitors and bar tneders are NOT getting "regular" wages and the system is set up that you tip them so that they may survive.  That is the nature of dinning out in the US.

FOREIGHN TOURISTS ALWAYS TIP BADLY!!  ANYONE WHO WAS A WAITER KNOWS WHAT MEAN!!  IT IS SO RUDE!!  WHEN I TRAVEL I TRY MY BEST TO ABSORB AND PRACTICE THE LOCAL CUSTOMS!!  DON'T BE "THAT GUY"!!  WE ALL JUST TOLD YOU TO TIP 15%-20% SO TIP THAT OR DON'T EAT OUT OR BETTER STILL STAY HOME!!

Answer 5

When I go to a restaurant, I usually tip 15% (more if the service was better, less is the service was bad), but it is never less than 10%.  I HATE when I go places with my friends and they don't leave a tip because it is embarassing to me even though I left a tip!  Just get over it and leave a tip...or don't go out to eat, just buy and make your own food.

Answer 6

If your server gives you a good service and you tip ten percent means you are a cheapskate.

Answer 7

Yes, it is expected.  10 to 20%.  Most give at least 15.

It is right, and you will see why going out to eat gets expensive!

10% - bad service

20% - excellent service

You have to remember, most waiters and waitresses only make $2 to $5 an hour.

Answer 8

Everything everyone is saying is true.  If you want to save money and not tip, there is always fast food joints or you can tip a few dollars a get takeout.  Same quality meal, your just not being served.

Answer 9

Being a server, this is a little irritating to hear.  As others have said, we are not given "regular wages", we make somewhere in the neighborhood of $4 an hour.  Regardless of whether or not you agree with this practice, this is how it is done in the US.  If you take issue with this, do not come here - or take it up with our government, PLEASE do not take it out on your server.  They are just trying to make an honest living, and trust me, we work VERY hard for it.

What I am gathering from your answer is that no matter how good of a job I do in serving your table, the best I can hope for is 10%?  That is frustrating, to say the least.  No, it's not "mandatory", but it is definitely appreciated, and is the best way to show your server that you enjoyed your meal, and the services they provided you.  If you leave 10%, you are telling that server that they did not do their job properly, and they will be left wondering what happened.  (and telling them that they were great, the food was yummy, etc. and leaving a 10% tip is contradictory to us).  

We are also require to claim all of our tips, and are taxed on all of the money we make, just like other professions.  Additionally, in some restaurants, including the one I work in, we "tip out" other people in the restaurant a portion of our sales, so if I do not get tipped on a table, I actually LOSE money.  For instance, if your bill was $50, I have to tip out 1% of that to the host and 1% to the bartender, so if you don't tip me I just LOST a dollar, not to mention what I could have made at that table if someone who actually tipped had sat there instead.

In the US, an "average" tip is usually about 15-18% (it has increased in the last few years as the cost of living has become so much higher), and a tip for a GREAT server should be at least 20%.  When I dine out, I usually start at about 20% and adjust up or down accordingly, based on the level of service I received.  

I really hope you reconsider your decision, on behalf of servers everywhere. (Also, they remember things VERY well, so if you tip very poorly, don't think about going back there again, unless you want them to tell all their server friends how poor of a tip you left them, which will likely result in your service being equally as poor.  And please don't take that statement the wrong way.  It works the other way too - if you tip very well and go back, you will likely receive very good service, thats just the nature of the "tipping beast", so to speak).

Answer 10

The waitresses and waiters here in the U.S. make LESS then the minimum wage, they have to declare part of their tips to make it so they make $7.15 an hour. I do not tip bad service, dirty tables, long waits, being ignored, etc. etc. I tip according to how my server was. If she/he was attentive, got my order right, checked back with me, all in a timely fashion, I leave a good tip. I do not take away from them for lousey food as they don't make it. gratuity is not included in the bill as it is in Canada

Answer 11

Tipping is never mandatory, but it's certainly expected whenever you go to a restaurant and there's a waiter/waitress.

Yes, the normal tip wage is 15-20%. 15% is the standard, but if your service was good, you can tip higher toward the 20% or even higher if your service was somehow spectacular. No, the police won't get you if you don't tip, but you'll be viewed as a very stingy and impolite person by the wait staff to say the least.

This is because in the US, the waiters/waitresses often don't even make the minimum wage (which was something around $5 an hour last I checked). They don't make "regular wages" so you shouldn't be opposed to the concept of tipping here. Usually, they make only $1-2 an hour and depend on tips for the rest of their income.

If they're impolite and not doing their job properly, I would consider dropping the tip down to 10% perhaps but I would only consider leaving no tip if the service was inexcusably bad.

As far as other places to tip, I'd suggest going here: http://people.howstuffworks.com/tipping3...

Answer 12

I always tip 20% unless the service was horrible.  Also, always leave cash tips instead of using your credit card because the govt taxes electronic cash tips.

Answer 13

Waitress do not make minium wage they only make about half of it(3.00).  Not only that but they are taxed on there tips wether they get them or not.  So u should always try to tip them something so they can aleast cover the tip tax.