I agree with you DavidScuba......it's an undervalued profession. I'm particular with tipping, simply because I was a server. I expect good service for the price I pay, and tip 15% as a rule, more if earned.

jmz668 said:ShyGuyCalif said:I disagree with this outright. I dont like people (waiters in this forum) or articles like this telling me what percent of tip I should give someone.
Then eat at home. This society expects a certain amount of tip, and if you don't meet it then you're ripping the server off.

We had these people come in and spend over $250 on dinner, didnt leave a tip. The manager caught up to them as they were leaving to ask if anything was wrong with the service, they said no...everything was perfect, its just that they didnt "believe" in tipping. The manager told them McDonalds is right down the road.

If your not going to tip, we dont want your business.

BillRHIT said:Multiply Flo by the millions of diners and restaurants in the country..... and yes... I am!

Every dollar Flo doesn't pay taxes on costs me more in taxes, since a higher tax rate is needed to cover the unreported income.What are you talking about? The the IRS collects taxes on tip money. Doesn't matter if you get it in cash or not. They assume a certain % of tips.

Ross29 said:jmz668 said:ShyGuyCalif said:I disagree with this outright. I dont like people (waiters in this forum) or articles like this telling me what percent of tip I should give someone.
Then eat at home. This society expects a certain amount of tip, and if you don't meet it then you're ripping the server off.

We had these people come in and spend over $250 on dinner, didnt leave a tip. The manager caught up to them as they were leaving to ask if anything was wrong with the service, they said no...everything was perfect, its just that they didnt "believe" in tipping. The manager told them McDonalds is right down the road.

If your not going to tip, we dont want your business.

Bear in mind, German's don't tip- it's not customary in their country. My mother uses an expression for them "short arms, long pockets". Sux to be their server tho.

For the people who DON'T tip: please keep in mind that the waitress/waiter still had to tip out the the bartender, and other help staff- so if you stiff them, they are LOSING wages. My best advice is to bring it up nicely with the manager on duty, and hope they correct the problem-whether that is the server, or the kitchen at fault. It's unfair to punish the servers for something they have no control over.

Ross29 said:germanpope said:what about when you take the food out? should you leave any tip ... or should it be always zero?

Yes, you should (and everyone I have dealt with does). If you are taking a server away from their tables to package your food and bring it to you yes. However, if its like a pizza joint that does take out, then its your call.I never tip for take-out. Never even saw a way to do so. I stand at the counter, order my chinese food and then pay them the total. On the other hand, when I order $10 worth of food to be delivered, I always tip $5.00 and wind up paying 50% on the tip.

ShyGuyCalif said:I disagree with this outright. I dont like people (waiters in this forum) or articles like this telling me what percent of tip I should give someone.

As per my thumb rule, tip is ONLY given if the person meets or exceeds the level of service promised. If the service is outright excellent then I mightconsider giving 15% or 20%.... but I dont go by automatic 15%-20% calculators. Yes! I generally do not give 18-20% tips. There are times when I do not give any tip.

I do not want to sound mean, but I do not care if some waiters are not paid well by their restaurants. I have my financial goals and my extravagant tip is not going to make anyone rich. As a consumer I need to get the best for my money. There is lots of competition in the food business and there are lots of restaurants who strive to get my business.Well, you are not going to like this...
If you live in this country and you don't tip a waitress because she did not "exceed" your level of expectations, you are a cheap SOB and really shouldn't be dining out but should instead, be preparing your own food. "Looking out for #1" and maximizing your cash-flow, by stiffing those who serve you is wrong. They WORK FOR TIPS. Don't think that just because there are plenty of restaurants who are vying for your business that this somehow justifies screwing the servers. I can't even imagine how that thought process makes sense to you, but believe me... its wrong-headed and you don't belong in a restaurant.

DavidScubadiver said:Ross29 said:germanpope said:what about when you take the food out? should you leave any tip ... or should it be always zero?On the other hand, when I order $10 worth of food to be delivered, I always tip $5.00 and wind up paying 50% on the tip.

Delivery is another story......those poor drivers have to pay for gas out of their own pockets, and you know how expensive that is.... I always tip at least$5.00 for delivery, sometimes $7 or $8 depending on my order. That is one dangerous job too- they deal with all kinds of weirdos

bharatiya said:So even if the service is bad, you should tip? You are right, the server WORKS for tips, so he should 'WORK' to get that tip. I am not going to a restaurant because I want to donate some money to charity.Taking your order, being polite, and delivering your food is the work they are supposed to do. If you demand more than that to pay a tip you are demanding too much and should not dine out. If they do more than that, you can, but are not required, to tip more than what you should be tipping for the standard service. Minimum of 15% in my opinion. I've never tipped that little, but if you are tipping less you don't belong in a busy restaurant as you are interfering with the servers' right to make a living.

ShyGuyCalif said:As per my thumb rule, tip is ONLY given if the person meets or exceeds the level of service promised. If the service is outright excellent then I mightconsider giving 15% or 20%.... but I dont go by automatic 15%-20% calculators. Yes! I generally do not give 18-20% tips. There are times when I do not give any tip.

I do not want to sound mean, but I do not care if some waiters are not paid well by their restaurants. I have my financial goals and my extravagant tip is not going to make anyone rich. As a consumer I need to get the best for my money. There is lots of competition in the food business and there are lots of restaurants who strive to get my business.What the hell, did you just watch Reservoir Dogs or something? Just remember, Mr. Pink gets it in the end.

My wife is Korean and when she first came to this country she never tipped or when she did it was a very small amount. Since that time she has worked as a waitress in a couple of different restaurants (works at a Chinese Buffet place now). Now whenever we go out to eat she tips more than I would.

I know people might not agree, but it would be nice if people who went to Buffet places would leave a tip. I am not saying as much as a regular full service restaurant but if the service was good what is the big deal leaving a .50 or 1.00 tip.