Since I waited tables and I understand how much they (don't) make, I usually leave 20%. If the service is just horrible, then I'll leave 10% (basically enough to cover the waiter's bar and bus tip out).
What about you?
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Usually 20%. Today I tipped 50% cause my daughter made a nice little mess for our server. I probably should have tipped more. Lol
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20%.
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Usually 15% if service is just ok. 20% for good/great service!
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I typically do 20%. I don't add extra if they say tip is included(usually 15%) unless service was outstanding.
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15-20%. If service is bad, then it's closer to 10%.
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20% for normal okay service, 25-30% for great service (we've gone up to 50% for extraordinary service). 10-15% for bad service...DH usually does that one so I never know for sure.
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Typically 20%. If we use a gift certificate we usually tip more.
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Always 20%. If they are good, they get more.
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Always 20%. More if the bill is really small (like 50 cents or a buck for just a drink) or if its really large (meaning there was a lot of work to do). I only ever tip less if the service is REALLY terrible. Sub-par food is not your server's fault (90% of the time) so I never tip less based on that.
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At least 20%
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I'm still in the service industry, so always 20% or more! Most issues are not the servers fault, so I'm pretty forgiving, but if I'm getting spectacularly poor service, I'll tip no less than 10% so they at least cover their tip out to bar, bussers, food runners. I hate the fact that servers pay out of pocket to wait on customers who don't tip!
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20%
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At least 20%.
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Always at least 20%. If the waiter was great, I'll go over 20%. If the service seriously sucks, approx 10-15%.
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20%, if ds made a mess like dropping puffs all over the floors, then a lot more and a little apology note.
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I feel cheap! I always do around 18%. I'm going to up it to 20 after seeing this thread.
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At least 20%, DH serves on Saturday's so he makes sure to tip how he would want to be tipped.
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15% typically, more if the waiter was really friendly. Rarely less unless the waiter was really rude. I thought 15% was the norm? But it looks like everyone else is doing 20.
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20%
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Almost always 20%. If the service isn't great we do 15%.
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Usually 20%. More or less depending on how great the service was.
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always at least 20% on tax. a little more for "above and beyond" service.
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20% unless the waiter is rude or exceptional.
I always tip more if I'm somewhere like Denny's or Waffle House. I don't feel like 20% on a $7 or $10 is enough for what the waiters do at places like that.
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20%. much more if the kids were loud/messy.
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20%
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Rarely less than 20%
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@mediagirl: good point! I do tip more if the bill is really low.
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20%
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@MrsRoo: I didn't know that waiters had to pay out. Can you explain how that works? Does it work like that at most restaurants? How does it get split up? Just curious.
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20% unless they are awful!
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@MrsRoo: What does 'tip out' mean? And what are bussers and food runners? I used to wait tables in England for a little bit, but I think that system might be a bit different....
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@katsupgirl: Servers have to tip the support staff at restaurants based on their total sales of the night. It's typically about 3% in my area, but not sure if it changes in other states. So if there is a bill for a table that is $100 and the server gets no tip on it, too bad, they still have to tip out the bartenders/bussers/food runners/hostesses, etc on that $100. So the server paid at least 3% of that $100 to other people, regardless of the fact that they didn't actually make any money from that table.
It's not a lot of money, I know. But it can add up and it's frustrating working for an hour serving a table that takes a negative hit on your wages for the night.
I've worked in the food service industry for the last 10 years at several different bars/restaurants/ and chains, and its like that at all of them.
This is really long, I hope it makes sense!
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20% usually a min 10-15 for bad service. For REALLY bad service we had once left a penny on the table to make a point. She was HORRIFIC.
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20% because I don't like math. The restaurant food tax here is 10%, so I just double it. If we're somewhere cheap (like Mexican, where we can both eat for $10), I'll tip more that 20%.
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Typically 20% for good service, 10-15% for poor service, and 25+% for great service.
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@MrsRoo: Got it! Thanks for explaining. It totally makes sense.
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10% is the norm over here.
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@chopsuey119: As a former server, I can say that was probably greatly appreciated! Just a nice gesture like that can make someone's day !
@mamabear57: Same!As for me, in the US 20% or over. Here in Switzerland, tipping is not really common, although I think it may be becoming more common. The servers here must make at least minimum wage, which is something like 25 bucks an hour! Definitely different from my 2.13 an hour I was making! (0.00 paychecks...) So if it's just DH and I, we'll typically leave at least 5 Swiss Francs.
Because the servers here really don't work for tips, they have no motivation to be nice to you, and/or give you good service. (Very ironic considering how many "hospitality" schools they have here.) So if we get great service somewhere, we'll typically tip more to show our appreciation.
I think everyone should be a server at least once in their life!
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20%
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45 comments