Can someone please explain to me?

[backpacker]

When I was growing up, the standard was 10%. In my early adulthood, while working in the industry the standard was 15%. Today, it appears to be 18%.

With inflation and current prices being significantly higher, it seems logical to me that the gratuity would increase just with the "%" being the key factor. So why does the "%" have to increase also?

I think you can blame the restaurant associations. They have systematically pushed for a higher and higher tip percentage. I can think of two reason: 1) If waiters make more in tips, the restaurants can get away with a smaller base hourly wage; 2) Being a waiter has gone from being a fairly low paid position, to one that people can make a good income. I find it bizarre that waiting on tables pays better than being a teacher, police officer, etc. I know it's not easy work, but I think the expectation of tipping has gotten a little out of hand.

What I find ridiculous is that just about everywhere you go there is a tip jar, including ice cream shops and some fast food restaurants. People act like you should give the teenage kid who is making minimum wage (or more) a tip for putting ice cream on a cone.

The economic slowdown will probably result in people reducing their tips. That of course is in combination with people eating out less, so the waiters are really going to be feeling the pain. I also hope it kills some non-traditional tip jars being put out.

PS - I do tip according to service. On Valentines Day I thought the service was good (not great) and I tipped 20%. I know the wait staff currently replies on that type of tipping.

 

[martin6]

Here, I use to tip 15%, I just assumed you tipped what the general sales and provincial sales tax was. So now that the GST has gone down, together its 13%, so for some reason I tip 13%...haha. Makes life easier when looking at the bill. But I'd say most of the time servers and bartenders are making $8.75+ an hour anyways, like everyone else in Ontario...and will go up again next year.

Tip only if you want to, not because you have to. When I use to bartend I was making $9 an hour, i didnt expect tips, but was thankful when I got them

Hopefully if you come to St. Augustine, FL, you'll remember that I make $5 less per hour than you did.

 

[JOHN B]

I always leave 20%. If it's really bad service, I usually leave 15%. I never stiff a waiter/waitress, even if it's lousy service, because I might get them again the NEXT time I'm in the restaurant......

 

[DeMan06]

Well, from what I've read (though i can't verify it myself) The minimum wage in the U.S. has went up many times in the past 30 years (something like 10) where as the minimum wage for waiters has only went up twice.

Legally the restaurant has to make sure the waiter makes enough to earn the actual minimum wage, but they get to count the tips in that.

So like recently the minimum wage increased from 5.25 last year to 7.25 by the summer of this year (I believe). That's greater than a 25% increase. However, food prices and whatnot have not gone up at the same rate; thus if waiters and waitreses are paid the same base salary and make the same tip percentage as last year their difference between minimum wage and actual wage will have narrowed. While this may not be a problem yet, if this happens a couple more times then the waiter/waitress will no longer be making minimum wage, thus their base wage has to increase or the tip % has to increase.

This is all speculation but it makes sense. Also while the restaurants don't force you to tip a certain amount (except in some instances like large parties) they will influence your tip. If they put on the menu that standard gratuity is 18%, or even that "for parties of 6 or more 18% gratuity will be added" then most people will think "hmm, I guess 18% is the standard amount I should tip"

Also when talking about tips it's worth considering the country a person is from. As has been said in this thread already some countries have a lower minimum wage for servers (IE US) while others have the same minimum wage. The whole "idea" of tipping is to insure the server makes atleast minimum wage when all is said and done (while providing an incentive for the server to do a better job and thus make a higher wage).

 

[BabiGayPimp]

I believe in tipping 20%, unless there's some pressing reason not to do so. I have the utmost resepect and appreciation for our over-worked and under-appreciated servers. Besides, some of those guys are cute!

 

[gmoney]

I honestly think it's bullshit there is any sort of tipping system. I tip and well I might add, but I think it's and bunch of bull that I am making up for what your company doesn't want to pay you.

This was exactly my father's argument! Especially with the buffets.

"Why should I have to underwrite the establishment's operating costs!"

He has no problem in tipping for service, but like 'Backpacker' said, those tip jars and solicitation for tips in the unconventional way are just insulting.

 

[Fucker29]

We usually tip but we don't follow any percentage standard at all. We leave a few coins as tip (usually around 0,60€) and if we REALLY liked the service we tip a bit higher, around 1€ usually.
In most restaurants I've been to, if a waiter receives 0,60€ from each costumer he serves (even assuming by a pretty low number...say, 8 costumers a day), by the end of the month he's gathered around 110€...wich is HUGE, at least in Portugal considering that represents 25% of the national minimum wage.

 

[Fucker29]

I honestly think it's bullshit there is any sort of tipping system. I tip and well I might add, but I think it's and bunch of bull that I am making up for what your company doesn't want to pay you.

I work in a job where I make the wage and I do service people as well, in a different manner, but I don't get tipped for it, nor do I expect it because it's part of my job. There is something wrong there.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[gmoney]

Nice replies from all you guys.

I'm still waiting for someone to explain the percentage thing to me. Why do we have the increase? Is it inflation and nothing more, or what?

 

[Jory]

I hate it when they add the tip to your bill

 

[metta]

I normally tip at least 20%. Most of their wages come from tips and it is a tough job.

 

[giorgiobaby]

gmoney, we both live in the same state, servers and bartenders make a minimum of 2.15 per hour. When we were younger(we need not discusss how long ago), it was 10%, then 15%..it is still 15% standard. When you go to nice establishments they usually do expect at least 17-18% because of the type of bar/rest. If this helps? To keep in the good graces of your server, if you would feel more at ease about tipping,just give the standard to your server or if you feel that you have received excellent service, leave more. The all you can eat buffets, you only leave a minimal tip because of the drinks refill and removal of plates and such, also the servers in buffet establishments do receive an actual wage instead of a servers wage.

 

[biguy732]

I generally leave 20% - however, if the service is now what I expect it to be for the establishment that I am at, that % goes down.