Tipping is not a place in China!

[talisyn]

I don't object to tipping, but if I'm helping to make payroll then I want partnership rights

[mrmarklin]

And if you know what movie that "line" comes from then you're super cool.

But that's not the topic of this thread. My questions are: do you tip and how much?

In more depth..

• Do you tip based on quality of service? Or do you tip regardless of service quality?
• Do you just throw a couple bucks down? Or do you tip what's recommended (15%-20%)?
• What establishments and/or services do you feel should or should not be tipped?

My dad is a bit old fashioned. He believes a tip should be given to show gratuity for great service. My husband on the other hand is a tipper and a good one, although there have been times he's been unimpressed or unhappy, and tipped just a few dollars. I haven't really ever had to tip since when I eat out it's with hubby and he pays. But I always tip my hairstylist and nail tech. I have a friend though that does not tip at all. She struggles financially to begin with and so I can see where leaving a tip may just be too much. I'm not judging.

Here in the US many worker's compensation is very low, and they depend on tips to earn enough for the job to be worthwhile. There is a sort of unwritten contract here in the US especially in restaurants.

In a lot of European countries, service is included in the check at a restaurant, and tipping is only "rounding up" the check.

I understand that in some Asian countries tipping is not even on the radar screen for many services.

[talisyn]

It's a wonder to me why people will take jobs that are around $3.00/hr with the hope of tips. But then again you have people who work on sales commissions, too.

[Dravin]

It's a wonder to me why people will take jobs that are around $3.00/hr with the hope of tips. But then again you have people who work on sales commissions, too.

Because if you are good at it and working for the right establishment you can make a fairly decent, if unpredictable, wage. I'm not personable enough to try that trade off, but some people working on busy nights at the right restaurant can bring home $100 or more in tips. Not bad for an entry level job that requires no formal training or education.

As far as the $3.00/hour issue, in the US (IIRC) if one makes insufficient tips to bring your pay up to the minimum then your employer is obligated to compensate you so you are making minimum wage. Though I'm sure some employees are ignorant of that and some employers are shady when it comes to that obligation.

Edited January 7, 2011 by Dravin

[john doe]

It's a wonder to me why people will take jobs that are around $3.00/hr with the hope of tips. But then again you have people who work on sales commissions, too.

To add to what Dravin said, a good server in a midpriced restaurant waiting 4-6 tables efficiently can easily make over $20/hr. on average by my rough calculations. If I go to a steakhouse and the bill comes to $75 for my family and I tip 20%, that's a $15 tip. Multiply that by merely 4 tables with a turnaround time of an hour including cleanup between customers, and that's $60/hr. Even if the wait staff is splitting tips with cooks and bussers, it's a decent wage.

[Guest]

To add to what Dravin said, a good server in a midpriced restaurant waiting 4-6 tables efficiently can easily make over $20/hr. on average by my rough calculations. If I go to a steakhouse and the bill comes to $75 for my family and I tip 20%, that's a $15 tip. Multiply that by merely 4 tables with a turnaround time of an hour including cleanup between customers, and that's $60/hr. Even if the wait staff is splitting tips with cooks and bussers, it's a decent wage.

Not necessarily, because rarely, if not never, do you get an 8-hour shift of 4 tables per hour at a restaurant.