What's the usual tip to give at restaurants in the US?

[z31maniac]

or be more realistic with your expectations seeing that the restaurant might be busy or perhaps the server thinks that refilling your coffee 8 times is absurd.

I think that's the biggest problem.

People have outrageous expectations of what "service" they should get at a restaurant.

"If you make a mistake, I'm docking your pay." Coming from someone who works in a job where if you make a mistake you likely won't even get a reprimand and definitely not a dock in pay.

[mcr_driver]

Facts != bleeding heart argument. Don't confuse the two.

Facts do not equal a bleeding heart argument. Facts are only meant to suede an opinion on an argument one way or the other.

Your argument is basically because they have to share their money and because their base wage is not a lot due to the demands of the company they elected to work for we should tip them extra so everyone gets a fair amount of money to live on. That is ridiculous...

Again take this logic out of context to your own personal job. If you went to your job with this train of thought you'd be laughed at. Effective change comes from effective means and resolve. If servers don't like the current pay set up they should elect a sort of change. But servers pray on people like you who tip just to tip and as a result they know they don't have to give proper or exceptional service to receive adequate compensation. You're all effectively ruining the market by doing this. Again refer to my fake orgasm analogy. It's also why american motor companies tanked from the 80's to the 2000's, they got lazy and expected to receive xyz value's. Once american companies started losing a lot of money to foreign competition they got their act together and are they now barely on par with the competition. Now apply this analogy to servers.

Perhaps you expect less of servers and I expect more, I feel that if I can do the job properly so can you. I've waited several tables at once and was rewarded well for it, why? Because of my work ethic, did I get stiffed off course but did that phase me no. Again, why, because I did not count on that generosity coming in and merely kept striving to deliver exceptional service that I would have wanted to receive.

[agent]

Facts != bleeding heart argument.

Facts do not equal a bleeding heart argument.

That's exactly what I said.

Not once have I argued that they should be tipped extra simply because of the profession they chose.

If servers don't like the current pay set up they should elect a sort of change.

As maniac said earlier, this is a great idea if you like paying $34 for chicken pasta and $6 for a coke. The TGI Friday's bill for you and the missus goes from $35 to $50.

I tip well because I've been there and done that in every capacity from bus boy to Maitre'D. I pay it forward, because I'm a firm believer in karma. I'm not saying everyone should tip like I do. What I am saying is that the people who are regularly tipping 10% should probably not be dining in full service establishments.

But servers prey on people like you who tip just to tip and as a result they know they don't have to give proper or exceptional service to receive adequate compensation.

Quite the contrary. I get exceptional service at the places I frequent because they know I'm not cheap.

american motor companies...analogy

Oh boy... now that's a reach.

[e30lov]

You guys DO realize if you suddenly quadruple the servers hourly rate, there is going to be a corresponding increase in the price of the food and drinks..........right?

So would you rather the money goes to the restaurant owner, or the people busting their ass to give you a good experience......I'm going with the servers/bartenders.

Tipping is part of the price of going out to eat, if you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to go out to eat or for drinks.

Well, I would much rather pay the extra couple bucks tword the restaurant then support some of the waiters/waitresses I've had over the years...

[mcr_driver]

That's exactly what I said.

Not once have I argued that they should be tipped extra simply because of the profession they chose.

As maniac said earlier, this is a great idea if you like paying $34 for chicken pasta and $6 for a coke. The TGI Friday's bill for you and the missus goes from $35 to $50.

I tip well because I've been there and done that in every capacity from bus boy to Maitre'D. I pay it forward, because I'm a firm believer in karma. I'm not saying everyone should tip like I do. What I am saying is that the people who are regularly tipping 10% should probably not be dining in full service establishments.

Quite the contrary. I get exceptional service at the places I frequent because they know I'm not cheap.

Oh boy... now that's a reach.

Tipping by definition is extra so you have been arguing that point since the beginning.

!= means what exactly on a side note.

Again you're argument is on a smaller scale mine is on a much larger scale based on the principles of the entire market versus a local community. So waht if TGIF's costs 50$ instead of 35$. One of two things will happen. Either A you'll pay more or B you'll stop going causing the market to shift due to a lack of customers. If you stop going you'll either A cook at home or B go some place else again effectively changing to market. Not a good or bad thing it is just how the market shifts. Karma is one thing the quality of one's job performance is another.

The issue is we both have a different opinion of how much to tip for different levels of service. I agree for exceptional service a tip is warrented however I disagree for mediocre service a tip being warranted.

That's hilarious to say just because you tip well you get better service. While for some places that may be the rule it hardly applies across the board as you make it seem.

Why is it if a person tips ONLY a meager 10% they should not be dining out? What is your basis of reasoning? They can afford the food why can't they eat there? Because of an elitist point of view that if you can't pay "extra" you shouldn't be eating out?

How is my american auto industry a reach? Again, looking at the bigger picture versus local economy.

In anycase if you want to continue the debacle leave it to PM's ultimately we'll all tip how we decide. If OP feels for his market tipping at 10% is adequate as opposed to 20%.

[ButtJuice]

Coming from a server's perspective, your tip is what gives me the incentive to give you great service. That means I'm filling your bread basket and refilling your drinks as many times as you need me to.

I remember all of the usuals, especially the ones who give shitty tips. I'll spend my precious time serving other tables over the one who is going to stiff me after I work my ass off to please their needs.

I tip people everywhere I go, I'll even leave a buck in the Starbucks tip jar when I only ask for a water.

[fporro]

I frequent same places as usually only like a dish or two from their particular menus, so as a rule of thumb $ 10 minimum for up to a $ 50 bill or $ 20 for up to $ 100 bill.

It works out very well, at times it's one drink and a meal, at other's just a drink, yet always same tip., outcome seems to be always same, "Hey Franky" with hug as I walk in from whole female staff whom I greet by their names and same as I leave., hand shake for the guys.

I've notice that I do get free drinks or extra pours or taste of this or that,
meal always arrive with goodies like sliced avocado instead of guacamole, items always cooked to my specs, my own stock of vinegar and oilve oil are never molested, etc., even get flaming chocolate cake, it's a riot as they light it up as it's making it's way down the stairs, oh the smell of crisp chocolate and cognac makes everyone go YUM YUM !

One of the female cooks likes me to eat her ...

[Thizzelle]

what's that

[RUFFLZ]

One of the female cooks likes me to eat her ...

dem hawaiians is thirsty dough!

[fporro]

what's that

A cosmo and rear most two of a set of 6 dbilas itb's, with e36 variable rate tps.

moar pics here ...

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/album.php?albumid=7363

[z31maniac]

Well, I would much rather pay the extra couple bucks tword the restaurant then support some of the waiters/waitresses I've had over the years...

And what do you think will happen to the service if the have NO incentive to go "above and beyond"?

[Turf1600]

IMO a lack of generosity is one of the first signs of being a bad person. Needless to say, this thread irritates me.

[agent]

Tipping by definition is extra so you have been arguing that point since the beginning.

The industry standard in the US is 15% for adequate service (which is the OP's question). As a server, receiving a 15% tip is the customer saying "you did an adequate job." More or less is a reflection on the level of service given. See below...

!= means what exactly on a side note.

!= is database query language for "does not equal."

I agree for exceptional service a tip is warrented however I disagree for mediocre service a tip being warranted.

The tip you leave is how you communicate your level of satisfaction to your server. If service was poor, 5%. If service was mediocre, 10%. If service was adequate, 15% (the standard in the USA). If service was good, 20% and up. Stiffing a server doesn't tell them they gave poor service; it simply says "I was never taught the correct and proper etiquette for dining out."

That's hilarious to say just because you tip well you get better service. While for some places that may be the rule it hardly applies across the board as you make it seem.

It's true. It's karma. It works. I have no doubt other people who tip well would agree; example from Frank below.

Why is it if a person tips ONLY a meager 10% they should not be dining out? What is your basis of reasoning? They can afford the food why can't they eat there? Because of an elitist point of view that if you can't pay "extra" you shouldn't be eating out?

That's been covered by numerous people already, including me, again, above.

How is my american auto industry a reach? Again, looking at the bigger picture versus local economy.

How many restaurant chains have been bailed out by the government (using taxpayer dollars)?

I frequent [the] same places...

It works out very well, at times it's one drink and a meal, at other's just a drink, yet always same tip., outcome seems to be always same, "Hey Franky" with hug as I walk in from whole female staff whom I greet by their names and same as I leave., hand shake for the guys.

I've notice that I do get free drinks or extra pours or taste of this or that,
meal always arrive with goodies like sliced avocado instead of guacamole, items always cooked to my specs, my own stock of vinegar and oilve oil are never molested, etc., even get flaming chocolate cake, it's a riot as they light it up as it's making it's way down the stairs, oh the smell of crisp chocolate and cognac makes everyone go YUM YUM !

Another fine example of what I'm talking about.

[evandael]

today i got a haircut and tipped the woman. on a $45 dollar cut i gave her a $12 tip.. or it might have been $31, i'm not sure if one of the ones was a twenty.

either way, i'm sure she'll remember me the next time i go in there, and not as the cheap bastard who didn't tip.

[mcr_driver]

The industry standard in the US is 15% for adequate service (which is the OP's question). As a server, receiving a 15% tip is the customer saying "you did an adequate job." More or less is a reflection on the level of service given. See below...

!= is database query language for "does not equal."

The tip you leave is how you communicate your level of satisfaction to your server. If service was poor, 5%. If service was mediocre, 10%. If service was adequate, 15% (the standard in the USA). If service was good, 20% and up. Stiffing a server doesn't tell them they gave poor service; it simply says "I was never taught the correct and proper etiquette for dining out."

It's true. It's karma. It works. I have no doubt other people who tip well would agree; example from Frank below.

That's been covered by numerous people already, including me, again, above.

How many restaurant chains have been bailed out by the government (using taxpayer dollars)?

Another fine example of what I'm talking about.

Lets stop basing things on your opinion as we can both clearly and definitively tell ours are on opposite ends.

Since you posted facts link me to facts showing 15% is the national average, and of what year were these studies done? pre or post recession?

Thanks for the fun fact on database, the furtherest I went in programming was C++ and HTML.

That is the basis of tipping; the better the tip, the better a job the server did. However again you are basing your opinion on an argument that is not a baseline across the board. Servers may or may not take a poor tip in the manner in which you've described. It also begs to note that certain cultures have very different levels of service and as result have very different expectations.

You're I was never taught how to properly tip quote is slanderous at best and again has no real basis of logic.

Not all automotive manufacturers used bailout money, Ford didn't but you clearly are reaching for the wrong part of my analogy.

Obviously I am a local to certain restaurants and they know me by name, not for being a notorious bad tipper as I'm no doubtedly assume you think so. I've always tipped fair and as I frequent an establishment more often I get to know the management and staff as well and have actually had some interesting interactions because of my tipping. Some servers respect it and I've seen them rise to the occasion, and have been rewarded well. Others have shown how lazy they really are and management took notice of that as well.

Fun story I go to this hole in the wall asian restaurant where their idea of service is hi, food, bill, bye. You'd all clearly assume this is just poor service but it's more along the lines of their cultural dynamic as a lot of those sort of restaurants are like that in the area (obviously predominantly asian neighborhood and has been for a significant period of time.) After going there a few times (was living in the area at the time) and getting dirty looks for not being asian I started chatting it up with the servers and manager. The servers joke with me when I come in and I get great service not because of how I tip but because of how I am with them. Money doesn't equate to mutual respect. I'm like that at quite a few local restaurants actually. I talk to people not give them money.

Perhaps the restaurants you frequent or your approach while courtious may not be the same as mine and as a result tipping nets you better results then an actual conversation. Granted I nor they always have the time to get to know one another but I do have pleasant interactions even if it's just a casual encounter and I still receive what some would consider to be good service. As a result I tip appropriately.