When did tipping go up to 20% as expected?

Question

I usually pay 15-20percent as regular, more if it was exceptional. I just found out from bitterwaitress that 20% is the expected rate? When exactly did servers' expectation go to 20% as the expected tipping rate?

Answer 1

Servers expect/want 20%, but in many cases 15% is fine.  I heard growing up that 10% for breakfast, and 15% for lunch/dinner, 20% for good service....now if you buy a lot of wine and liquor things get skewed (high prices and little service needed) and its a rough guess.

I put myself through college waiting tables and bartending so I usually tip 20% if I thought service was good.

Answer 2

In most restaurants, the server has to pay out a percentage of your bill (usually 5% of your bill) to the kitchen staff and bartender. So if you don't leave a tip, they have to pay out that percentage from their own pocket and thats just not fair to do to someone who tended to your every whim so diligently and pleasantly.

Answer 3

in restaurants we've always given 10% (roughly)...perhaps your servers are just hopeful?

Answer 4

I tip based on the SERVICE I get...never, ever, ever on percentages...

that is absurd... people can expect what they want... they need to earn their tip... the best service gets the best tip... the worse it is... either none, or little.

Answer 5

Jeez, I had no idea that it had went up to 20%.  I think that it makes sense these days just to stay home and eat that way you don't have to pay all the extra fees.  My philosophy is that if they were great and got my food out fast and hot, plus they were friendly and I didn't have to look around for them while I ate for other stuff, they will get a good tip.  If they were bad, I'll only leave a few dollars.  

Once I got service so bad, I didn't leave a tip at all and I left a note as to why.  Maybe that waitress was bitter because she changed the 10-15 percent rule and wasn't getting 20%? Or maybe at the place she works, the average waitress makes 20%?  

Answer 6

I use a range of 10 to 20 percent. 15 is average service. The way I see it the tip is earned. Poor service gets 10 and great service gets 20%. I also round it the the nearest buck for ease of computing.

However, if my family spends over a $100 on one meal and the server only gave average service then a $10 tip is enough as far as I'm concerned. I am not in the business of supporting them. I guess I am saying there is a limit to my generosity. Very bad service gets nothing and is very rare. If a waiter ever complained about my tipping they would never get another. Most never see the tip until I am gone anyway.

Answer 7

i only tip when the waitress  is good. if i have to tip i don't go to them restaurants so there

Answer 8

Tipping is a compliment. If the server sucked, they can't expect to get as much. I was in a restaurant once where my group was the only table the girl had, and she spent half her time talking to friends. After my water glass was empty for 15 minutes and I saw her sitting down talking, I filled it up myself. She got no tip.

Another time, I went to a restaurant and by chance my bf's crazy ex was my server. She had never met me but knew me from pictures and talked **** about me to all of our mutual friends. She was decent enough as a server but I didn't tip her just because I hated the way she treated me and my bf outside the restaurant.  

Answer 9

don't know. i leave $3.00 as my expected rate.

Answer 10

My tipping reflects the service and sometimes exceeds 20% if the service is good. I always leave  15% even when the service isn't the best. It isn't always the waiter or waitress that determines good service :)