Tips or gratuity, how do I pay it in the states?

Question

I come from Europe so things over the pond are a little bit different. I'd like to know how do you tipp with the credit card? I believe it is normal to leave about 15 - 20%, right? But it always gets a little bit weird with plastic money, I think I have to write the Tip amount with a pen and than they bring me an additional receipt to confirm it or something like that. One time I paid cash, and I didn't write anything on the receipt so when I paid the waitress looked at me pretty strange! But I did left the tip on the table when I left... Please help

Answer 1

There's two ways to tip with a credit card.

1.  Include the tip on the paper copy so that at the end of the shift, the wait staff will enter the amended amount into their totals.  Make sure you signify with the $ sign right before the number.  

2.  You can also leave NO tip on the credit card copy.  You'll be given a check with the total, the amount you're being taxed (it differs from state to state usually about 2 to 8% on food) and then a total for the amount owed and the tip added together. THEN there will be a blank line for tip and one for total beneath that.  Just draw a dash or write 0.00 where it says tip, and then fill in the calculated amount total for the final sum.

When you're tipping be sure to tip on the original amount owed.  NOT the original amount plus tax.  E.G.  If you have a meal that costs $15.45, with 8% sales tax (which would equal 1.24) you only tip on the amount of $15.45 [at 20% this would be 3.09].  Then simply add it all together... $19.78

Answer 2

If you are paying the tip on the credit card, there is a place to put tip. Then you sign it, and she takes it. They bring you 2 copies so you can take one home. To prevent the waitress from thinking you jilted her, instead of writing 0 on the tip line, write cash, that way she will know you left money on the table.

Answer 3

It's been said that tips should be 15% but in reality that is low for a tip, unless you get pretty bad service.  Most people, that is people who have manners, leave between 18 to 20% depending on how fancy the resterant is and how good the service is.  When paying with a credit card most waitstaff expect to see the tip on the credit card, which has always surprised me.  I've been a waitress myself and always appreciated it when I received my tip in cash, it meant that I got the money immediately and also it was never reported.  So, I don't know why a waitperson would look at you strange, unless they didn't see the cash on the table. It's up to you as to how you want to leave the tip, you are the customer, and the customer is always right.

Answer 4

Just stick to the 15% (cash or credit card) unless you have a large group and the wait person really takes care of you then you should tip 20%.