Do you tip? How do you decide the amount?

@dloveli (4366)
United States
August 21, 2010 6:38am CST
In this time of financial hardship there are some people that depend on tips to supplement there income. For instance, waitress get paid $3-$4 hourly plus tips. My question is do you tip? Be honest. NO ONE will attack you. Its understandable if you dont considering the price of the meal and the way that finances are going these days. ME? There have been times I havent tipped. That was when I was really struggling. To be honest I never really went to many restaurants if I couldnt afford to tip. Since then I have had a job waitressing so I now know how important a tip really is. So to the waitress that I didnt tip, I apologize. Now a days I try to tip no matter how bad they are. I just dont tip as much. I understand there is tipping etiquette. I dont think that works for me. I feel that If there good I am generous. If they're not, well then they get much less. I dont think that I should have to generously reward bad service. Now I know there are waitress and waiters out there that bust their ASSets if you will. Those are the ones that deserve the big tips. I also dont think the 15-20% is enough. Now that I am older and understand the importance of tipping, I dont go out unless I can afford to tip. I hate when I go out with a bunch of people and a few of them try to avoid a tip. I make them feel guilty. I dont care what if it was them? They wouldnt want it to be dont to them right? What's your view on tipping? How do you base the amount? Waiters and waitresses have one of the most difficult jobs around. DL
3 people like this
23 responses
@jennyze (7029)
• Indonesia
22 Aug 10
Yes. I tip. But it depends on the waiter/ waitress attitude. I know they have a difficult job, but if they do not perform the job of servicing other people well then they should not choose the job. So, if I don't like their attitude, I do not tip.
1 person likes this
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
22 Aug 10
I agree with you Jenny. Sometimes even though they know they are relying on tips they dont do their job correctly. Ive seen some who have a bad attitude from the start.Oh well they'll learn when they dont have enough cash to pay the bills. Its no one's fault but their own. Thanks Jen. dl
@jennyze (7029)
• Indonesia
22 Aug 10
Yes, I agree with you. When people choosing a job, even if it is forced on them due to difficult situation, still they have to perform the job well. It is what I call being responsible. Sorry, I often exaggerate..
@celticeagle (157572)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Aug 10
If I have extra money I don't mind tipping. I tip when I am empressed by the service. If not, I don't. I eat out alot because I am alone. I see alot of waiters and waitresses and very few impress me. If they do they deserve a tip. I feel that alot of people are just out to get their eight hours in and go home and I refuse to feed their mentality. If they are there to do a good job I can tell and will tip accordingly.
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
22 Aug 10
Listen Celtic. I hope you dont think Im downing people who cant tip. Im not! I have been there. I try to go places that didnt allow tipping. Not having a car at the time made that sometimes difficult. I understand completely. My thing is Ive seen people who go out of their way to make waitstaff's job twice as hard and then leave nothing. That's just plain mean. I have told the waitress look I cant afford to leave a tip but call me I have a jewelry company and I would love to give you a little something. I left my card. I know see them and they are wearing the piece I made. To me that was the best I could do. They knew and understood. If you cant tip dont worry about it.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (157572)
• Boise, Idaho
23 Aug 10
I just feel like a tip should be earned just like anything else. If they don't do a good job I don't tip. This actually came about when a restaurant I frequent started taking money out of my account as a tip and I didn't okay it. I fought it and I do not tip unless I get good service. It is just the way it is. And after having someone take money out of my account when it wasn't warranted I really flipped.
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
22 Aug 10
I tip 15% of on average 20% for really excellence service I have also been known to tip 0% if the person looks at me like a creature from the black magoon or assume that anyone that is able bodied is picking up the bill because i have no money I knew that waitresses work hard but if you treat me badly i'm not going to give you extra money obviously
1 person likes this
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
22 Aug 10
Hey Crip you are a great role model for people who need help with tipping. You know exactly what to do and when to do it. That's all it takes. No one is saying that you have to give exactly 10 or 15 % but its nice if you're able to. Thanks for the response. Happy MyLotting dl
@sublime03 (2339)
• Philippines
22 Aug 10
For me, it really depends. If the waiters are nice enough and are very much eager to help then no question i will tip them. But if they aren't nice enough, i do not tip because tipping is to show how thankful you are to them. Tipping is to show them how you appreciate them and not just for the sake of giving them money. I worked hard to have money and thus i show kindness to others if they do deserve it.
1 person likes this
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
22 Aug 10
I do see what you're getting at. But I dont think that tipping should be a control issue. I see so many people trying to get over because they are holding the upper hand. If all see things the way you do than fine. Sadly that isnt the case. I cant imagine what its gonna be like with the next generation. If we dont teach our children proper etiquette, tipping will become a thing from the past. That will be a nightmare for the people in the service industry. Let us hope Im being overly dramatic. Happy MyLotting dl
• Boston, Massachusetts
22 Aug 10
Hi Dloveli, I can say that i am quite generous in giving tips. i abide by what is appropriate in giving tips like the 10-15% of the total amount. but of course i check the bill if there's service charge already then i will not give a tip. It feels good giving extra amount for the service rendered that you enjoy. For a brief moment you feel so special for the kind of treatment given to you. Though the tip is not enough to thank them for such gesture but at least it's a simple token that we can give to them of course plus the smile and than
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
22 Aug 10
Hello Ms. Francisco, You seem to understand my point. Be careful though because when people find out you're generous they may try to take advantage of you. We DONT want that. Unfortunately there are people that would love to take your money undeserved. Im glad to read that you look over the bill to make sure you havent tipped twice. Be careful my friend! Unfortunately people are always as nice as you. The world is definitely a better place with people like you in it. Happy MyLotting my friend. dl
• Boston, Massachusetts
22 Aug 10
[i][/i]for my last line....i mean thank yousssss!!!
1 person likes this
@Cutie18f (9551)
• Philippines
22 Aug 10
Only very, very occasionally for extraordinary service. For instance, when I have my manicure and pedicure and the attendant doing the task does the work very well, I would always leave her a tip of around 20 to 25% of the service fee. However, if the attendant doesn't do her work well, no tip.
1 person likes this
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
22 Aug 10
You know cutie I dont know if nail techs get a lower wage due to tips. I dont think so. I think they either get a percentage of the profits plus tips or they may rent the space. Its the same as a hair stylist. So not tipping them is your choice. Although I think everyone deserves a tip as long as they werent rude or disrespectful. If they do a bad job, you have the option to have them fix it. So that's not really a reason for me not to tip. We each have our own rules for tipping. As I always say to each their own. I just try to imagine myself in that position. I dont think I would like the fact that you're not happy with my work. I would want the opportunity to fix it. Maybe try telling them and see what they say. You should be able to be happy with the job you're paying for. Good Luck. Happy MyLotting dl
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
21 Aug 10
I have been a waitress. A tip is always at least 10% regardless. More if they are good. When we go to Sonic, hubby even tips the car hop. I will say that I am also the person who will fill out the customer service cards if they have them, and sometimes the online surveys. I am more likely to fill it out if the service is especially good.
1 person likes this
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
21 Aug 10
Leave it to your Gert to have the perfect answer! I like that you at least give the 10%. Its not that I dont like the whole percentage thing. I think its a great guideline to go by. It makes me so mad when you see someone run up a $100 bill and the waitstaff has ran circles for them and then they leave $5. What? Its like a slap in the face. If only people would think! Thanks Gert. dl
• India
22 Aug 10
I tip depending on my finances, my mood and the eatery. As you said, when the finances are bad, I don’t tip though I do feel bad about it…I just pay at the counter and sort of run out before the waiter gives me the ‘look’…and then when I’m just in a bad mood and am preoccupied with something so I don’t really bother with anything else, I just eat, pay and walk out. And then there are eateries where nobody pays…it’s a way with our traditional eateries…these are really small places where people with little money go to eat for cheap but good traditional food, there’s no tipping involved here. However, when I do tip, I always make it a point to pay in small change so that the waiter can keep the change.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Aug 10
We've cut down on the amount that we go out because of financial hardships in our family. However, there is not a time that I go to a restaurant that has full service and I don't tip. I will tip as much as I possibly can. If the service is really bad, however, my tip isn't really that generous. I will tip closer to 10% for poor service and much more for excellent service. I know that these people are making less than minimum wage and they deserve more than what they are paid in my opinion.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
21 Aug 10
Some people see tipping as an obligation. i tip according to the quality of service i receieved. Tipping is not something to be owed. It is something to be earned. if i feel i had good service, i will reflect this in my tip. If i didn't get good service, there may be little or no tip at all.
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
21 Aug 10
I do agree with you Sender. But if that is the way to look at it, I dont understand why they dont give them a larger hourly wage. It is an obligation if they're only getting $2-3 an hour. Only we really dont have much of a choice. If we dont tip, they dont eat. Literally. If you think about it, its really unfair to the consumer. Those with a conscience. I feel bad knowing they dont even make minimum wage. I know its not my problem but its not the right thing to do. What a conundrum. thanks sender dl
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
23 Aug 10
It really depends on the service offered. If the people at hand get what is needed to be a lot of the time, then I tend to leave a very generous tip. It depends on the quality however and after all, I should not reward them for poor behavior. There are just sometimes where a good tip is needed, to give the people working a bit of a pat on a back for a job well done. Sometimes if the person serving the food was helfpul, but the food was not, I might still give a decent tip. After all, the person serving the food and giving good service cannot really control the quality of what they are bringing. You just wonder how well they are getting paid a lot of the time. Of course, the point is moot as I do not go out to eat as much as I used to. Still when I do, it is on a case by case basis.
@RobtheRock (2433)
• United States
21 Aug 10
I don't dine out practically at all. Sometimes one of my relatives suggests dining out and they pay the bill. They also pay the neccessary tip. Some of my wealthier relatives over tip. Therefore, when I go out and if I have any money, I usually add a dollar or two above what my relatives tip.
• United States
21 Aug 10
I might add, one reason I add more is because as you said, the waiters and waitresses work very hard. And some people don't tip. I worked as a bus boy at Cedar Point. I vividly remember this one table. The waitress worked very hard and hustled her butt off to give them great service. These were all young adults at the table and when they left, you'd think little children had a party there. It was disgusting!!! They left the waitress one penny! If it were left to me, I would have put a foot where the sun doesn't shine and had them walking funny.
@nangisha (3496)
• Indonesia
27 Aug 10
Hi Dlovely!. Its not common in my country to give a tip to waiters. So if we eat at certain restaurant and the food and the service good we usually say to the waiters to keep the exchange from the money we give to him. They usually already paid at decent amount and there a restaurant who encourage not to give tip.
• Philippines
22 Aug 10
i tip in restaurant.. decent amount for me to tip is at least can augment their taxi fair (minimum fare). I also tip in massage spa, 25%... i also tip in salons 25% also...
1 person likes this
• India
22 Aug 10
I tip depending on my finances, my mood and the eatery. As you said, when the finances are bad, I don’t tip though I do feel bad about it…I just pay at the counter and sort of run out before the waiter gives me the ‘look’…and then when I’m just in a bad mood and am preoccupied with something so I don’t really bother with anything else, I just eat, pay and walk out. And then there are eateries where nobody pays…it’s a way with our traditional eateries…these are really small places where people with little money go to eat for cheap but good traditional food, there’s no tipping involved here. However, when I do tip, I always make it a point to pay in small change so that the waiter can keep the change.
• United States
21 Aug 10
I almost always follow the 15% to 20% rule to give more than that the service has to be really exceptional. When I get bad service I very pointedly tip 5 cents or even one cent and I do this because if I do not tip at all the person thinks I have forgotten so I want to make sure they know I thought their service was lousy.
• United States
22 Aug 10
It is very hard to be a waitress when so many customers are so demanding and I've seen it personally. When I go out to eat which isn't often I usually tip 20%. I heard that usually you should tip 15% but I always tip 20% becaue I know how hard they work.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
21 Aug 10
I tip according to the service I get, and how much money I have that day. The most I tip is 20% and I don't often have that much available.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
21 Aug 10
We do not do tipping as a general rule here in Australia, although some places have tip jars on the counter where you pay. I think the wages are generally higher in these service industries so there is no need to tip. When I visited the USA, I knew about the tipping custom that you have there, but I still did not feel comfortable tipping most times as it was a foreign practice to me. Once I realised that the meals and drinks are a lot cheaper in the USA to back home and I had been there a while I got into the tipping routine. We used to have a local bar that we frequented quite regularly and we often got free food while we were drinking there so we got quite good at tipping. We then got better service too! I do not remember how we came about deciding how much to tip each time. I think we asked the advice of our American friends at first and then just went with whatever we felt after that. I really cannot remember.
@chinoxads (255)
• United States
21 Aug 10
Hello, Sometimes i tip, that's depend on how the service was, here in Dominican Republic (10%) the tip is included, and is up to you if you want to tip. Sometimes the service is very, that i don't.