TIPS AT RESTAURANTS

[ProfessorProfessorson]

Even if service isn't really great, I would still tip. People who don't tip AT ALL even if service was bad is an a$$hole.  They make next to jack shit and rely on tips.  People get this idea that they still make minimum wage, but it's not true.  What if that was your job, and you really were trying, but the group at the table didn't think you were deserving of any tip at all?

If service was bad, why would you want to tip, to reward people for not doing a decent job? If someone does a shity job, they should be complained about, not rewarded.

[TheClash603]

I have worked various pizza delivery and restaurant jobs in my life, so I have empathy for people in those jobs.  The result is i typically over tip.

However, as someone who has done these jobs well, I do not tolerate it when someone does the job poorly.  In that instance I will tip around 10% and I usually talk to the waitress and say why I was displeased with the service.  If I was able to put full effort in when I did those jobs, others should too.

[SMF]

It all depends on how my service was.

If i finish my drink and im waiting 20 mins for a refill that tips gonna be small.
Or If im at an seafood restaurant and i get ayce crab legs and wait 5 mins or more inbetween buckets, Tip going to be small.

But if you give me great service and i dont have to ask for anything. Refills food etc then i will leave anywhere from $25 and up.

Dennys, Bob Big Boy kind of places i will leave $20 if service was awesome. But i aways will leave $5 even if the service was below par.

High End places i leave $50 if service was great. I dont follow the tip chart at all. If i see the place is packed and you still manage to give me great service i think that deserves a great tip.

[guyjin]

Almost always. If the waitstaff has really wronged me or someone in my party, however, I'm not above not leaving one.

I also don't tip in situations where I think it's baloney to do so (fast food or coffeshop that just sticks a tip jar on the counter but gives the same service as any other fast food or coffeshop.)

[bartre]

I almost always tip, provided the service was at least okay.
i can count on one had the times where i've stiffed, but those have been rare, and justified in my opinion.
otherwise, i tip close to 20%, more if the service was good (pretty much like SMF here)

a buddy of mine used to not tip at all, period.
the irony is that now he's a waiter, and gets fuming mad when someone stiffs him (karma)

[soop]

I generally tip pretty well, unless someone screws up big time - but that's happened like twice.

The situation in the UK is different, as our waiters get a minimum wage, but when you pay by card, it sometimes asks you to pay a 10% tip.  And a lot of the time, the restaurant then takes this money to pay the waiting staffs wages.  So I always decline and pay cash - that way they get it as a bonus.

Also, you're not expected to tip in fast food places or for takeout - only really sit-down restaurants, though people sometimes tip in bars and pubs.

The weird thing is though that most of the places I go I end up being friends with most of the people there, and you do know how much some shit affects them.  One girl at my favorite restaurant was saying that people sometimes stiff them on their entire bill, which means it then comes out of their pocket.  So sometimes they work an entire day just to break even, and that's shit.

Yesterday I was walking home a friend of mine that works in my local (pub) and it started pissing it down with rain, so I gave her my hoodie.  That's better than a tip.

[SamIAm]

Back in America, I tip at restaurants and for certain services, and it's usually at or above 20%. However, one thing I refuse to do is tip a bartender for pouring me a pint. A complicated mix drink would be something else (if I drank mixed drinks), but for someone to earn a dollar or whatever from 20 seconds worth of work, it better be an incredible 20 seconds. Picking up a glass and pulling a lever is not incredible. Taking a cap off a bottle and handing it to me is even less impressive.

I mean, if I get many drinks and food, I'll tip, but for one or two drinks only? Gimme a break.

[meka]

 In Australia this doesn't happen, we tip the Government enough with taxes.

[kazekirifx]

Sorry if I'm screwing up the results of your highly scientifical poll. I voted "no" just cause I live in Japan. Don't remember what I used to do in my home country.

In my opinion, tipping is one of the worst customs in existence. Top service should be expected from anyone being paid to serve you. At least that's what I've come to expect here in the land of service. Tipping began as a way for wealthy people to give an extra reward to people in the service industry, and was gradually bastardized into something that's expected every time, completely eliminating the original point of tipping.

If I ran the world I would outlaw tipping, raise prices where necessary, and have the employers raise salaries accordingly.

[Tatsujin]

Tipping in Japan usually is included in the price (10%). But knows the devil how the employees will get to that money exactly, since most of 'em are underpayed anyway..lol.

[kazekirifx]

Tipping in Japan usually is included in the price (10%).

Do you mean what they call "Service-ryou"? I don't think there is any set percentage like 10%, and it only appears on the bill at certain establishments. I think employees are generally only paid the amount of their wages in the end, so it's really not the same as tipping.

You could argue that the amount you end up paying comes out about the same with or without the tipping custom, but I still prefer the system in Japan because you know exactly how much you will be paying up front, don't need to calculate anything on your own, don't ever need to leave cash on the table, etc.

[SamIAm]

I basically agree with kazekirifx.

One thing I like about being in a country with no tipping is that the staff at places I visit don't judge me by how much I tip. I'm the kind of guy who has a few favorite places I go to all the time, so this is important to me. I much prefer being judged by my behavior alone.

[Tatsujin]

Tipping in Japan usually is included in the price (10%).

Do you mean what they call "Service-ryou"? I don't think there is any set percentage like 10%, and it only appears on the bill at certain establishments. I think employees are generally only paid the amount of their wages in the end, so it's really not the same as tipping.

right, and what I said. It isn't transparent of how much they will get in the end, or how much of their already minimum salary is based on that general service-fee.

Also 10% is more of a hotel/restaurant thing, some of em also declare it in english, so that it would be clear to not tip the staff.

so in the end, yes, it is no tipping as we know it from the western, simply because there is no tipping here.

[kazekirifx]

It isn't transparent of how much they will get in the end, or how much of their already minimum salary is based on that general service-fee.

Yes, and I would argue it doesn't really matter either. The employee knows how much their salary is, has agreed to it, and doesn't expect anything beyond that. To the customer, the fee is just another part of the bill they have to pay, and is often not even listed separately on a bill. In almost every scenario the customer is clearly informed the total amount they will have to pay up front, and the customer has already agreed to that amount. So everyone is satisfied and we don't have to think about it. The hotel can use it to pay executive bonuses for all I care.

[Tatsujin]

yeah. everybody is satisfied, but the 980yen/hr employee :oops: