I have always tipped well/generously for above average service going back over the last 45 years or so. 20% to 30%. was the norm. But below average service never got more than exactly 15%.

However, demanding/expecting 20% or more for average or below service is not reasonable. Yes, I know about the cost of living, we all do. However, 15 years ago If I spent $100.00 on a lunch date, a 15% tip was $15.00 for average or below service. Now I spend $150.00 for the same lunch and a 15% tip is $22.50 for average or below service. In and out of the restaurant in less than an hour and the server is working 4 or 5 other tables during that time.

As I said, I have no problem tipping generously for good service but if you are just going through the motion, so am I.

I leave 15%-25% depending on service, and I always base my calculation before taxes.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
If you can't afford that, don't eat out.

Yes.
Some people don’t like being told that, but often they’re the ones who complain about being on a limited income or tight budget otherwise. If that’s the case, then don’t eat out. I like eating out for a variety of reasons, but if I had to, I could feed myself just as fully for far less money—and did so for much of my life. Unless you’re stuck in a hotel far from home, if you’re eating out it’s an elective behavior; want to really save money? Don’t do it. Even the premade meal items found in most supermarkets are much less than eating at a sit down restaurant.

“But the 15% I give them is more than 15% that they wouldn’t get if I weren’t there.” Not necessarily. Keep in mind that at many restaurants servers rotate customers, and getting stuck with a small tipper means they didn’t get the larger tip that someone else would have left but went to another server.

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Originally posted by NavyGuy:

quote:

Originally posted by sigarms229:

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We are making some spending reductions

No offense but if I were in your shoes I would reduce the amount of times that I'm going out rather than reduce a server's tip.

My tip starts at 20% and goes up or down depending on service. Wife and I went out tonight to our favorite local family restaurant the I left 30%. Our server knows us as regulars and always does an awesome job.

On the other hand, staying at home net result is zero tip.

Excepting that you are taking up a table when someone else could be sitting there and tipping appropriately.

For a pickup order...~5% rounded up to the nearest whole dollar. UNLESS I've special ordered something or asked for extra of something...then I tip more. I typically add a 5 or 10 dollar bill in cash when I get there if it looks correct and was on time.

For delivery...I start with 15%, don't want spit in my food. IF the order shows up correct and on-time, then I add another 10-15% in cash to the delivery driver. Never less than $10.

In a restaurant, if a server waits on us (different from a buffet or order window) my minimum is 10%. That's for bad service. If the service is just acceptable...then 20%. If it is exceptional (which is extremely rare in Alaska) then I have been known to tip near 50%. I dropped a hundred dollar bill a few times which was closer to 90%, but something in my heart said to do it, so I did.

If I can't afford to be generous, then I order take-out or buy some easy-to-make on the fly from a grocery store.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
It's never been about affording the tip.
It's always about the quality of service.

Thank you.

My tips vary from 15% to 30%. And sorry to say, it seems the majority of the time in recent years, it is 15%. Why? The quality of service has declined, and there has been plenty of talk on this subject in this forum.

When a server seats us promptly according to our reservation or verbal promise, when they have all of the necessary utensils, napkins, etc on the table, when they have menus in hand, they are courteous, they are prompt with the ordering process, bringing us aps, salad, entree, etc in a timely manner, when they don't talk my ear off with their personal problems- then they get 20-25% for good service. I'll give up 30% if we really notice exceptional service, if the dining experience was seamless.

The problem is that nowadays, we rarely get that level of good, basic service. Usually something is amiss, something is late, missing, etc. A recent dinner to celebrate our anniversary, after being seated, the server took longer than we liked to get our drink and appetizer order, the appetizer was late (came with the salads), she came by way too often to ask if everything is fine (interrupting our conversation numerous times), and we had to flag her down for the bill. 15% is all she got, and it a really nice place and wasn't too busy.


For take out, I'll usually tip 15%. Bars- 15-20%.

I'm similar. 15% is baseline. Service has to be pretty bad to get less than 15% - in those cases I will usually never return unless I believe it to be a one-off event. Similarly for seamless service - 25-30%.

Agree w/ takeout as well. Bars have always been confusing for me. 15-20% for opening a bottle of beer or pouring a pint seems much. Perhaps for cocktails and more than one. But pouring a pint or shot seems trivial. What do bartenders really expect for this because I'm largely assuming that the price of the beer or shot has it built in. When a shot is $10 and the bottle is $25 (at the store), a tip is expected?

My baseline for a sit down place is 20%.

It can drop down as low as 10%, the IIRS is taxing them on 11-12%, and has gone as high as 50% when they are really helpful in ordering and attentive.

At my regular Chinese places, when I order take-out, I'll usually tip 10% and round up to an even amount...$35, $40, $45. They recognize my voice when I call in and usually know what I mean if i fumble my order...plus the helpings are usually generous

You buy $450 of Chinese take out? Wow. That’s like my annual budget. I take out once every month or two - $30 tops. Must be nice.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
You buy $450 of Chinese take out? Wow. That’s like my annual budget. I take out once every month or two - $30 tops. Must be nice.

You misunderstood him. he said 10% plus rounded up to an even amount, so let's say he paid $31.00 for the meal, plus 10% is $34.10 and he rounds up to $35.00 and so on.

I do the exact same thing regardless of what percentage I tip which is why I understood it immediately.

10% tip then round the total up to the next $5 multiple. Got it.

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Originally posted by Warhorse:
I leave 15%-25% depending on service, and I always base my calculation before taxes.

Same here.

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Originally posted by SSgt USMC/Vet:

quote:

Originally posted by Warhorse:
I leave 15%-25% depending on service, and I always base my calculation before taxes.

Same here.

POW!!

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Originally posted by jhe888:

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
Since when did 20 per cent become the rule?
Always thought 15 was standard.

Tenish years. Maybe a little more.

I tip 20%. It is part of the price of a sit down meal. If you can't afford that, don't eat out. You can cut your expenses, but don't cut the waiter's income.

I get that but as I posted before, staying at home is zero tip for someone. I'm sure restaurants aren't encouraging patrons to stay home.

I tend to leave at least 20% for any service that isn’t terrible because I worked in the industry when I was younger.

But I think 15% is still an acceptable starting point.

20% of the total bill is just easier for me and then I often round up when using a card, I ain't got no sense and so can't really deal with cents either.

You only get one chance to make a first impression.

Just like you roll the dice while eating out,
The employees roll the dice with every customer the seat.

Three different shifts may provide three levels of service and meal quality.

All we can do is be the best customers that they will have that day.

Demanding behavior is frowned upon

In Reilly’s Luck (Louis La’mour book) Reilly is a world traveling proffessional gambler.

When he was teaching young Will the rules of life he said “always tip well” you never know when you may be down on your luck and need a favor.

I tip extremely well (unless it’s awful service) and it’s always benefited me. Especially on the road.

When I’m home I frequent the same places and you can be assured my family and I get the rockstar treatment.

To answer the OP, 25% would be normal- starting point.

Another start at $ 20% vote here, if normal service.

Well, I sometimes struggle with this issue. I'm of an advanced age (old) and remember when 10% was considered a BIG tip and men did not tip their barbers (what women did with their hairdressers was a whole different thing).

I am at a stage where I don't go out much, but I have food ordered in. Most places suggest a tip beyond the delivery charge. Sit-down places I go also suggest tip levels, which get paid from the card. (I don't carry much loose cash.) I seldom tip at all when using a self-serve line, unless I receive additional service after I've seated myself.

A handy tip in computing the tip here in Texas was to just double the sales tax figure.

flashguy