What are the Rules on Tipping???

[alanbrenton]

How much (as a percentage of the food bill before taxes) should be given?

To:
-really lousy servers
-decent servers
-good servers

Are there industry expectations? I just noticed that some Asian restaurants usually have fast and efficient service but the servers aren't really warm and hospitable (I guess because they have to work harder at these places because of the faster customer turnover).

I usually leave a little over 10% of the food bill before taxes...

[gilboman]

How much (as a percentage of the food bill before taxes) should be given?

To:
-really lousy servers
-decent servers
-good servers

Are there industry expectations? I just noticed that some Asian restaurants usually have fast and efficient service but the servers aren't really warm and hospitable (I guess because they have to work harder at these places because of the faster customer turnover).

I usually leave a little over 10% of the food bill before taxes...

it depends on what you mean by really lousy? i mean if they forget stuff i ask for because they are busy and seem aplogetic if i remind them about it, it doesn't decrease their tip. but if they have a bad attitude and/or treat me rudely, only then will i classify as being really lousy. then i leave 0-5%

decent as in do everything and bring me everything i asked and friendly..i leave a little more than 15% more before tax.

great service it's 20%.

the rule of thumb is for decent/good it's 15% before tax everywhere. in ontario its easy since it's just GST+PST which is calculated for you on ur bill so u just tip the tax amount.

i also realize that even if the food is no good, if the service was good, it doesnt affect the tip since the servers aren't cooking/preparing the food.

[Supershyguy]

if the service is really bad. leave a penny there to proof a point.

its not that you forgot to tip. but its that you decided to tip only 1 cent because of the bad service (saw this on a show about tipping) lol

[charliebrown]

Cash or credit card?

regardless of the amount, wanted to know whether the server prefers

a) cash tip (which is what i would prefer if i was the server)
b) added onto credit card invoice

c) round up credit card invoice to nearest dollar, then tip 10-15% cash
(have also done this just to make my visa statement end up in round numbers)

[buy.A.gift]

the idea of tips doesn't make sense
i mean, we spoil them, we really do.
they already have their own salary, and still ask for more?
one time my dad didn't give tips becos the service is suck, and the waitress told my dad dont go yet, you have to pay tips.
i don't like this idea at all.
15% food tax + 10% service ... too heavy for me, at least

[Princess Buttercup]

the idea of tips doesn't make sense
i mean, we spoil them, we really do.
they already have their own salary, and still ask for more?
one time my dad didn't give tips becos the service is suck, and the waitress told my dad dont go yet, you have to pay tips.
i don't like this idea at all.
15% food tax + 10% service ... too heavy for me, at least

I hope your dad only gave a penny,

if there is a service fee on the bill that is the tip some places now do this over here it is the norm in Europe.

If no service fee,
bad service nothing
normal service 10%
extra ordinary service 15%

[gilboman]

15% food tax + 10% service ... too heavy for me, at least

then don't eat out.

[Yaowsers]

the idea of tips doesn't make sense
i mean, we spoil them, we really do.
they already have their own salary, and still ask for more?
one time my dad didn't give tips becos the service is suck, and the waitress told my dad dont go yet, you have to pay tips.
i don't like this idea at all.
15% food tax + 10% service ... too heavy for me, at least

That's why people like you should eat at home.

[keanefan]

yes- waitress/waiter seem to expect 15% and more.

but at a Chinese restaurant, 10% would probably be acceptable.
If you can afford to be generous- you can give more.

Chinese restaurants appreciate that you came to visit them- no doubt.

[llbeanburrito]

Be generous - give as much as you can - unless your server is Gilboman, in which case you should leave a penny.

[Decius]

My rules are very simple. Crap service = 0%. Service at Expectations = 10% - 15%. Above Expectations = 20%.

[john widow]

How do you calculate 20% of a bill that comes to like 154.58 in your mind? Do you bring a calculator?
One time when going out we tipped and then the host made us tip more. They shouldn't do that and we won't come back.

[Sajjad]

How do you calculate 20% of a bill that comes to like 154.58 in your mind? Do you bring a calculator?
One time when going out we tipped and then the host made us tip more. They shouldn't do that and we won't come back.

significant digits
Let's be generous and that's $160, multiply by 20% (think of it has 16 x 2 = 32).
So tip 32 dollars, give or take.
However, that's probably the cost of one plate; so don't tip that much.

[wetsnot]

How do you calculate 20% of a bill that comes to like 154.58 in your mind? Do you bring a calculator?
One time when going out we tipped and then the host made us tip more. They shouldn't do that and we won't come back.

you can calculate 10% yes?
10% of 154.58 is 15.458

20% is double 10%, so...
20% of 154.58 is 15.458+15.458=30.92

[jraja]

depends on service for me, 0% if crappy service, 10-15% standard service, and 20% for excellent service.