Tip % options at the debit/credit card machine

Last Updated:
Oct 27th, 2019 1:54 pm

Tags:

SCORE
+6
6
0

Reply to ThreadReply

Search this thread

Search this thread

Oct 21st, 2019 8:39 am

EndlessRide [OP]: Jr. Member; Oct 25, 2018; 128 posts; 140 upvotes; Kelowna

Oct 21st, 2019 8:39 am

Tip % options at the debit/credit card machine

At restaurants, I'm now used to seeing 3 options for tips:

1 - 15%
2 - 18%
3 - 20%

Just the other day, a restaurant I went to added a new option: 24%

Keeping in mind that the machine calculates this percentage on the total *including* HST (so it works out to about 25% in BC, or 27% in Ontario), who is actually paying that much in tips?

38 replies

Oct 21st, 2019 8:47 am

deltatux: Sr. Member; Feb 28, 2014; 973 posts; 1158 upvotes

Oct 21st, 2019 8:47 am

There's usually a custom option that let's you put in how much you're willing to tip. Most people don't out of convenience but it's there.

I've seen machines have their lowest at 18%, so a high of 24% isn't too surprising.

+1

Oct 21st, 2019 9:41 am

FarmerHarv: Deal Addict; May 31, 2018; 1145 posts; 2878 upvotes

Oct 21st, 2019 9:41 am

22% seems quite common now on the machines I've seen. There has been much discussion about tipping over the last few years, and it seems to be just like everything else...regardless of the fundamentals, everyone simply expects it to keep going up over time.

I still habitually tip 20% for excellent service, 15% for everything else, but then we dine out rarely enough that a few percent doesn't really matter in the end. For people that are in restaurants 3 or more times a week the tip expenditure must really add up.

+2

Oct 21st, 2019 10:02 am

camzie: Deal Addict; Nov 26, 2003; 1286 posts; 355 upvotes

Oct 21st, 2019 10:02 am

Common trickery for people who are lazy, afraid of "appearing cheap", or who are not good at math.

Regardless of the percent amount you choose, the tip should be based on the PRE-TAX food total. Personally I choose not to tip on alcohol, unless I've been given helpful direction from the waiter or sommelier on selecting an appropriate bottle of wine for the meal, in which case its obviously merited.

+3

Oct 21st, 2019 10:36 am

FunkMasterPhil: Jr. Member; Jun 14, 2011; 145 posts; 267 upvotes

Oct 21st, 2019 10:36 am

camzie wrote: ↑ Common trickery for people who are lazy, afraid of "appearing cheap", or who are not good at math.

Regardless of the percent amount you choose, the tip should be based on the PRE-TAX food total. Personally I choose not to tip on alcohol, unless I've been given helpful direction from the waiter or sommelier on selecting an appropriate bottle of wine for the meal, in which case its obviously merited.

A convenient FYI on tipping..

If people have a tendency to tip the standard 15% at restaurants, it's just shy of 14% (POST-TAX) for it to equate to 15% tip (PRE-TAX).

You may have the feeling of being cheap when you punch in 14%, but this will save you from having to calculate the 15% PRE-TAX amount in front of your server.

+3

Oct 21st, 2019 12:24 pm

kenchau66: Member; Dec 28, 2010; 340 posts; 199 upvotes

Oct 21st, 2019 12:24 pm

bodybuilders against tipping crew

why tip when you can use those savings to purchase more creatine?

mysticalinfluence wrote: ↑Brah do you make 100K year too and wear Canada Goose? You might not be fat but your fattest douche bag on RFD.

kenchau66 wrote: ↑you mean "you're"

+4

Oct 21st, 2019 1:29 pm

robsaw: Deal Addict; May 16, 2017; 2454 posts; 3230 upvotes

Oct 21st, 2019 1:29 pm

Great social-engineering by the food services industry. Off-load wages onto the customers without them realizing it.

The Canadian food services industry has made huge marketing efforts in the last few years to increase the socially acceptable "standard" tip value up from 10% in the last couple of decades.

A lot easier to get the public to accept higher tips than it is to lobby the government to increase the minimum wage.

+10

Oct 21st, 2019 1:59 pm

WetCoastGuy: Deal Addict; Dec 24, 2007; 1698 posts; 2157 upvotes; BC

Oct 21st, 2019 1:59 pm

Wow...who is behind this increasing tip% creep from 15% to 24%. I can understand this from the American point of view since their minimum wage in many states for workers who work in jobs that earn tips hasn't changed for decades at $2/hour, so padding tips to make a living wage is necessary. But in Canada, the minimum wage applies to everyone so to tip a person 24% of the bill, forget it. I haven't changed by tipping policy since the minimum wage started rising, and have kept it at 12-15%. That's it. Call me cheap if you want to but being realistic. In the US, that is a different story and I will tip the 18%.

Read this about the hard truth about tipping and you'll change your mind about paying outrageous tips... $100,000 a year waitress isn't a myth. It's time to stop this tip nonsense.

My son works at a retail chain and services customers as much as any other restaurant server and all he gets is a "customer appreciation" card for a job well done. Why do servers get any more for just doing their job? Don't serve your customer well, get fired...you don't need tips to encourage proper service. The Europeans and Japanese don't have a tip culture and you get just as good a service.

Last edited by WetCoastGuy on Oct 21st, 2019 2:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.

+12

Oct 21st, 2019 2:05 pm

User455957: Deal Addict; Nov 8, 2017; 1556 posts; 888 upvotes

Oct 21st, 2019 2:05 pm

I'll tip 5% for deliveries or pick up.
10 for everyone else . Minimum wage is almost 14$ in bc.

Oct 23rd, 2019 9:02 am

Khichdi: Member; Aug 1, 2014; 303 posts; 239 upvotes

Oct 23rd, 2019 9:02 am

Unfortunately a lot of restaurants use tips as an excuse to keep base wages low for their employees.

+1

Oct 23rd, 2019 11:51 am

robsaw: Deal Addict; May 16, 2017; 2454 posts; 3230 upvotes

Oct 23rd, 2019 11:51 am

Khichdi wrote: ↑ Unfortunately a lot of restaurants use tips as an excuse to keep base wages low for their employees.

Which is precisely why the industry actively promotes ever increasing tip rates (along with the travel/tourism industry).

+1

Oct 23rd, 2019 11:53 am

Ticco: Deal Addict; Jun 21, 2008; 2973 posts; 410 upvotes; Toronto

Oct 23rd, 2019 11:53 am

Quick question - are the tips they get from machines paid out to them in unreported cash?

Or is that more the norm for bartenders at cash bars?

+1

Oct 23rd, 2019 1:24 pm

zeddy: Deal Addict; Jun 12, 2008; 1525 posts; 1069 upvotes; Ripley

Oct 23rd, 2019 1:24 pm

WetCoastGuy wrote: ↑ But in Canada, the minimum wage applies to everyone so to tip a person 24% of the bill, forget it.

Liquor servers minimum wage in Ontario is $12.20 per hour. This applies to anyone who serves alcohol as part of their job. Regular minimum wage is $14.00.

Oct 23rd, 2019 1:31 pm

F3el96: Sr. Member; Jul 3, 2019; 856 posts; 461 upvotes

Oct 23rd, 2019 1:31 pm

Don’t get fooled by the machine. That’s all I’m gonna say.

+2

Oct 23rd, 2019 1:33 pm

WetCoastGuy: Deal Addict; Dec 24, 2007; 1698 posts; 2157 upvotes; BC

Oct 23rd, 2019 1:33 pm

Khichdi wrote: ↑ Unfortunately a lot of restaurants use tips as an excuse to keep base wages low for their employees.

Minimum wage laws have raised base wages for everyone so this is nothing but blatant attempt to pull a fast one on ignorant consumers by importing a policy that is more appropriate in the US than in Canada. Also that percentage increase from 18% to 24% is not just a 6% increase but a 6%/18% increase or 33% increase so it is ridiculously out of hand. That $100,000 server is not a myth in lots of high end restaurants.

Easiest way to calculate a tip if not using the machine calculation: double the GST $ amount for 10% or triple it for 15% or take the middle between 10% and 15% for 12%

+1

Oct 23rd, 2019 3:41 pm

User455957: Deal Addict; Nov 8, 2017; 1556 posts; 888 upvotes

Oct 23rd, 2019 3:41 pm

WetCoastGuy wrote: ↑ Wow...who is behind this increasing tip% creep from 15% to 24%. I can understand this from the American point of view since their minimum wage in many states for workers who work in jobs that earn tips hasn't changed for decades at $2/hour, so padding tips to make a living wage is necessary. But in Canada, the minimum wage applies to everyone so to tip a person 24% of the bill, forget it. I haven't changed by tipping policy since the minimum wage started rising, and have kept it at 12-15%. That's it. Call me cheap if you want to but being realistic. In the US, that is a different story and I will tip the 18%.

Read this about the hard truth about tipping and you'll change your mind about paying outrageous tips... $100,000 a year waitress isn't a myth. It's time to stop this tip nonsense.

My son works at a retail chain and services customers as much as any other restaurant server and all he gets is a "customer appreciation" card for a job well done. Why do servers get any more for just doing their job? Don't serve your customer well, get fired...you don't need tips to encourage proper service. The Europeans and Japanese don't have a tip culture and you get just as good a service.

good servers in Europe make 40-50k just from their wage

As the minimum wage has creeped up in BC , my tip amount has gone down

Oct 23rd, 2019 7:55 pm

hhuggles: Jr. Member; Jun 6, 2018; 101 posts; 48 upvotes

Oct 23rd, 2019 7:55 pm

In Scotland, one does not tip at all unless the service is like royalty. They actually give you a weird look should you try.
So far it looks like I AM the cheapest tipper. My standard tip is 10% of the subtotal. Easy calculation.
It is rare to receive service worthy of more.
Now with that said, I knew someone who paid her whole tuition for nursing college from tips. She treated the regulars like family. People always returned for the kindness. Probably why some would tip a $100 on a $20 meal.

+2

Oct 24th, 2019 10:34 am

elpaso: Deal Addict; Aug 15, 2009; 2594 posts; 2182 upvotes; Montreal

Oct 24th, 2019 10:34 am

Even fast food have implemented tipping. I will never tip a fast food, EVER.

I always hit the custom and enter my own tip. Usually 15% or lower or zero.

Call me cheap.

+4

Oct 24th, 2019 2:17 pm

georvu: Deal Fanatic; Feb 4, 2015; 8901 posts; 5171 upvotes; Canada, Eh!!

Oct 24th, 2019 2:17 pm

In Ontario or Quebec I just tip the tax amount if service ok... else adjust down or up depending on quality of service

2022: BOC raised 8 times and MCAP raised its prime next day.
2017 to 2018: BOC raised rates 5 times and MCAP raised its prime next day each time.
2020: BOC dropped rates 3 times and MCAP waited to drop its prime to include all 3 drops.

Oct 24th, 2019 2:21 pm

deltatux: Sr. Member; Feb 28, 2014; 973 posts; 1158 upvotes

Oct 24th, 2019 2:21 pm

elpaso wrote: ↑ Even fast food have implemented tipping. I will never tip a fast food, EVER.

I always hit the custom and enter my own tip. Usually 15% or lower or zero.

Call me cheap.

Which fast food chain asked you to tip? I have never seen that one before... What service did they actually provide that can be tippable? Making the food and handing you the bag is not something that's considered tippable...

+1

Reply to Thread

Top

Thread Information

There is currently 1 user viewing this thread. (0 members and 1 guest)