To tip... Or not to tip???

Question

Do you tip? Do you feel you always have to tip?

Answer 1

Ceratinly NOT!

Why should I subsidise poor wages?

Answer 2

I don't know why but we have gotten away from the meaning of what a tip is.  A tip(s) is To Insure Proper Service aka t.i.p.s. What used to be done and should be is that you ask the waitress or waiter to break a $5, $10, $20, etc. into ones.  The money is to be laid out prior to the meal and shown almost as "bait" to insure proper service.  If you are not satisfied durring the course of the meal, you begin to take $1 at a time to reflect that.  You are not however supposed to replace dollars if the service picks up, that is their job.  Unfortunately, businesses have circumvented the minimum wage laws stating that the minimal wage they provide(usually $2.50-$3.00 is compensated with the tips that they make to average minimum wage or more.

Answer 3

If you are eating somewhere where a server is taking care of you then YES! I'm saying this not just because I'm a waitress but because a lot of people do not realize we only make about $2.33 an hour which is not even minimum wage, we are suppose to get the rest of our money from tips. There is nothing worse then taking care of a table, maybe going out of your way to do extra special things for them and then seeing they left you hardly a fair tip. It makes servers feel like they just wasted their time. We are there to make a living and when we make hardly enough money that night to cover the cost of gas for driving to work it is really upsetting. Now the question is what is a fair tip? 20% of the bill is generally what is expected by servers, but 15% is okay. Don't be one of those tables that thinks $5 is a fair tip regardless of the bill, it's actually rather S****y if your bill is over $30. Granted I get that there are bad servers out there and they deserve to be tipped poorly for a bad job, but if you have a nice server, that takes care of you, tip them. Also if you recieve bad food don't take it out on the server, they didn't cook it. Keep in mind too, don't go out and spend $100 on a dinner and then not be able to have money left to tip make sure you can leave a decent tip for the service and food you get servers work hard! Okay so bottom line TIP servers its how we make a living.

Answer 4

I usually tip 18-20%, and my "regular" servers recognize me, remember what I like a generally treat me well.  If one of them had an off day, I'd recognize it as such and not nuke them.  Gotta invest in relationships.  If it continued to decline, though, I'd reduce the tip.

If I'm not a regular and they don't have a good track record with me, I have no problem with dropping or eliminating the tip.  They get taxed on 8% whether you tip or not, so if I go below that it's 'cause they were so awful I think a fine is in order :)

Answer 5

yes....the only reason not to tip is if you need to call a manager for horrible performance by your wait staff....where they should then correct the problem or get you a new waiter, whom you tip....15% is standard, 20% for great service.

waiters make 2.13 per hour PLUS TIPS...if you don't tip them, they make far less than minimum wage...plus they rarely receive any benefits--healthcare, dental, vision, 401K, etc....your tip is what makes them balance out to minimum wage.

Answer 6

Okay, a lot of good points here, but one thing hasn't been mentioned, and it's one of the most important things to do: Communicate!  Here's what I mean:

People have repeatedly said that tipping is supposed to reflect your satisfaction with the service.  But servers won't necessarily know why you tipped well or poorly, because some people are stingy, and some are generous (we've seen some of both in these answers).  If the waitress gets a 20% tip, is that because she did a good job, or just because the guy was taking a girl on a date and wanted to impress her?

So here's what I do.  If I get decent service, I'll tip 10-15%.  (15% is standard, but for service that had nothing particularly good about it, I don't feel bad tipping only 10%.)  If I felt that the server did something I disliked, and it was their fault - bringing the check really soon, even though it isn't crowded, for example - I'll tip below 10%.  Then I'll write a polite, friendly note and leave it in the check with my tip.  "Thanks for the service.  I'd appreciate it next time if you would wait for us to ask for the check before bringing it."

Of course, if the server does something really well, the same applies.  I'll tip above 20%, and leave a note thanking them for doing whatever it was.

Y'see, people say money talks, and maybe it does.  But it sure doesn't speak very clearly.  If you leave a small tip, the waitress might just think you're cheap, and next time you come, there's no way you'll get good service.  If you leave a polite note, though, there's a possibility you'll get an improvement next time.  And you definitely will if you leave a good tip with a note thanking them for something good.

One last suggestion: If you plan on being a regular customer, you should probably tip a little better than you would otherwise, because it'll get you better service when they recognize you.  And DEFINITELY be good about leaving friendly notes in this case.

Answer 7

i don't quite understand you meant to tip for what kind of services. salon, waiter/waitress, taxi driver, labor, massagers or others ? i do tip for some type of services because it is a kind of hold in respect. if i have received a good service, i would like to tip, but there are some services that we don't need to tip at all even though we do receive their good services. so i don't feel i always have to tip. just depend !

Answer 8

NO such thing as have to tip. Tipping is for good service, simple.

Answer 9

sometimes you do and sometimes you don't

Answer 10

you have to tip if they do bad job 15-18%.

if they do good job 20% to double the bill.

a tip is your way of rating the service and a way for them to remember you.

no one ever forgets me after i have been somewere i love to tip.

Answer 11

I have three rules for tipping: 1 - A greeting with a smile, 2 - Good timeous service, 3 - Remembering to bring the items i don’t get billed for, like a glass of water.

I always tip so it depends on how many of the 3 rules you neglected, get all 3 and you get a great tip. Get only 2 and its the  standard 10%, get only 1 and its a poor tip. Don’t get a single rule and you really shouldn’t be in the service industry!

Answer 12

Working in restaurants that keeps you on your feet 8-10 hours a shift, you handle food, get cursed out from rude customers, even if it is not your fault (steak too done or tough), you make sure water is on the table, their meal is on the table in a timely manner, he/she checks on the customers during their meal and customers still thinks that you don' t deserve a 15-20% tip. Yes, please give this person a tip because he/she deserves one. Tip only if they deserve a tip and most do.

Answer 13

Yes most definately.  Because if you dont tip then the person that served you has to pay for you to eat there because a server tips out on all the food that she rings it - generally 3-5%.  Tip your server well!  15% is alright.

On a side note.. 2.13 an hour is minimum wage? What the heck.  Minimum wage is 8 here!

Answer 14

of course I do.  I used to wait tables, and unless service is abominable, and I can assure myself that it is the waitperson's fault, I always tip at least 20%.  If the service is really bad, I tip about 10%, and if it's middling and I'm feeling cheap, I tip about 15%.

That is, at a sit-down restaurant.  

At coffee shops, I almost always tip a dollar for a cup of coffee, (plus the change, sometimes).  And only occasionally for other counter service, almost never for take-out.

Answer 15

Tipping is a gift, not a right.  Most servers make close to minimum wage, so they do appreciate the generosity of clients.  I generally tip about 15% for normal service, 20 for good service, and none if the service was really rotten.  A lot depends on the server, their cordiality, their helpfulness.  If they take care of you, you can enjoy the meal.  So there you have my idea.

Answer 16

i always tip but i base it on the service i recieved, not the standard rules. give me good service and i'll tip more than average. bad service, i'll hand you a penny just to make my point.

Answer 17

I don't tip because i don't have it. My rich friends tip usually 10 to 15%, and i dont know why they do it.

Answer 18

I always tip because I'm a server... my friends and family say I over tip. It's a servers job to serve and they usually get paid minimum wage to do their job, and that's where the tipping comes in. On the same note, they shouldn't just expect it and should work for their tip. If you have horrible service, don't tip as high as you would if you got exceptional service.

Answer 19

Coming from a server, I ALWAYS tip.  Sure, it stands for To Insure Prompt Service, and that isn't always the case; however, there are many factors in a restaurant that the average diner does not always see.  I know I've always done my best to provide the best service, since paying for my college education depended on it.  However, you can't help it if you are actually trying to do your job, and unforseen accidents happen here and there.  Be courteous; always tip at least 15%.

Answer 20

Yes, I tip. And I feel that you should always tip. It should vary on the service, but there should be no reason that you cannot leave at least a dollar.

If you do not want to tip, do not go to places where tipping is customary. Afterwards, you can make your own food, serve yourself, get up for your drinks, clean up the mess, and then wash your own dishes.

Answer 21

My rule is the following---if you can't afford to tip, then don't go to a resturant where you sit down and be served.

Answer 22

My rule is I only tip if I'm going out to a sat down dinner, not down the street to the donut hut for donuts and coffee.

If I know they are only work for tips and only making $2.15 a hour then yes I say tip and only tip if you get good service and food 15% to 20% is good start and if you like to leave more then that's fine too.  But I don't think you should feel in anyway to tip someone that’s making 7.00 to 8.00 an hour for doing his or her job!

We here in the USA go over board thinking someone should tip you for doing your job.

I love the signs that say going to college please tip, I have a tip for you get a 2nd job. And their making 7.00 to 8.00 an hour, don’t get it so that why my money stays in my pocket.

Answer 23

I always tip at places where they bring me lots of food and serve me good at restaurants. But in some places, I don't tip.

Answer 24

Absolutely. Wait staff are poorly treated by customers. They are paid LOWER than minimum wage. I try to remember that my servers and waiters are human beings with lives to live. They probably have kids.

I always tip 20% if the service is decent to fantastic. Anyone who is rude to me still gets a tip. To me, it is an insult to only tip 10%.

Answer 25

naww if you got $ to space yes but if you cant then whatcha guanna do.

Answer 26

I tip better than my husband, I usually tip 12% -15%. 15 if the service was great. 12 if it was normal. If we had the kids with us, and the service was normal and they made a mess, I might tip more. If the service was bad, no refills when needed forgot item, got items wrong, etc.... It wil be 8-10, then there are the bad day, where they got items wrong, forgot something, didn't refill, we had to ask for our check.. finished out food, and waited, and waited for our waiter to happen by to ask for the check, then waited to give them the credit card, then they disappear for ten more minuits before we can sign it adding a soloid 30 minuits to our dine time after the meal ... they will get 5%....

Answer 27

I always and recommend tipping.  This goes back to the "Golden Rule"- "do to others as you would to yourself".  If you were a waitress, wouldn't you appreciate a small gesture of gratitude (aka a tip)?  It is out of courtesy and respect for their service.

Answer 28

In australia you never tip i dont get this tipping ****..... like everytime someone does something for you... stupid

Answer 29

If service is good , absolutely. I've only had one situation in my entire life where it was so bad that I didn't and that was because it took forever to get our order taken and she never came by for drink refills...she was bad.

Answer 30

I agree with the guy who said you dont "have" to give a tip but when i was a bartender i did "live" off the tips. but i also gave great service and always got good tips.

Answer 31

if you feel they deserve it