Why don't some people know how to tip when they eat out?

Question

I bartend and wait tables, and generally tips are between 20%-30%. Some people leave less than 10% with thesame service. Don't people know that tipping, although optional, is part of the dining experience and should be accounted for?

Answer 1

I think the simple answer to the simple question is that lots of diners don't know how abysmally the waiting staff get paid so they don't KNOW what would be a fair tip. And percentages vary between countries; UK about 10%, USA about 20% expected.

Answer 2

Who says so? I think the dining experience is better the less the cost. My job does not pay me tips. If a restaurant advertises a $14.99 steak it should mean just that $14.99. Since when did the optional tip become 2%-30%. It used to be 10% then 15% next it will where the meal = the tip +15%.

Also please note even the usual tip is based on the before tax amount.

Maybe the customer can only afford to eat out without paying a tip. Do you tip your doctor, your nurse, your accountant, your tax collector, your pest control person, your gardener, the dog catcher, your home builder, your lawyer, your trash collector etc. If you said no to any of these you are a hypocrite.

Answer 3

I agree with the previous answer, I tip based on service, I usually start at 20% though because I have had family in the resturant industry and know how hard those waitresses have to work. You would have to really suck for me to tip less and I will certainly tip more for exceptional service.

Answer 4

With the economy, people don't have enough money, or they don't have extra.

Answer 5

Actually the proper way to give a tip is at the beginning of the service to lay it down on the table as tips are abbreviated to mean To Insure Proper Service

Answer 6

Because some body's mother or wife served them their food while growing up and they don't respect servers.It all goes back to their childhood experiences.

Answer 7

Only in America!! A tip is a gesture that should only be given from happy customer. They pay for the meal - which is materials etc purchased by the chef. they also add on abit to be able to pay ur hourly wage. People do know how to tip and it is their choice. Maybe u shud change careers.

Do u tip? ha

Answer 8

Due to the economy, people may not have the money to tip more than 10%, but on average your suppose to tip like 15%. Tips are optional, it I got to a restaurant, and my server sucks really badly, I wont tip at all, if the server was alright and not the best, I will give him or her like 10%, If he or she was average 15%, and really really good like 17%-20% all depends on how much money I have available to cover the bills.

Answer 9

you answered your own question, tips for the most part are optional unless you are dining in an upscale place that automatically adds your tip to the bill

Answer 10

Lynda B got it on the nose. T.I.P.S. To Insure Proper Service. We tip very well. If you can afford a meal out, you can afford a couple dollars for the server. They don't get paid a lot in salary. But!! We went to a new restaurant 2 weeks ago, my friends and I. The waitress came and took our orders. An hour later, we are noticing people seated after us, eating! And hour and a half, and we got the manager. Well! The waitress put a table's orders ahead of us because she knew them, but she never did turn in our orders! Then, when we got the food, my Shrimp poboy hardly had any shrimp. The waitress did not get a penny. And we will never go there again. All we got for compensation was free dessert.  So, good service, good tip. Sometimes we give 30 to 40%!

Answer 11

The key word is OPTIONAL.  Some people feel that that your employer should be paying your salary instead of them.  Which I have to say, is a pretty logical concept.

Answer 12

Maybe they felt that the prices were expensive enough without leaving a tip?

I am not tight with money but if I think I have had poor service or feel under pressure to tip then I do not tip. Tips have to be deserved and not expected!

Answer 13

I am a former bartender and waitress and the service has to be REALLY bad for me not to tip at least 20%.  I find that people who have never worked for tips do not understand that tips provide peoples livelihood.  Some people are just cheap and will never tip above a certain percentage, and others short tip not realizing it.  Just keep the smile and hope for a couple great tables to make up for the lack of tipping from the cheap ones!