People who don't deserve tips...

[ET-Taylor]

For people who don't deserve them say to them im going to give you a tip "Look both ways before crossing the road" its a classic

[pshizz]

My high school sweetheart was a waitress in a nice restaurant in our hometown. She would work a random night, and then usually come see me right after work.

I still think your jealous about your past girlfriends making more money than you. By no means is it a womens world. Women still face many hardships in the corporate workplace, that most people will ever know about. I am in highschool and I am a male, and i do work at a restaurant...in fact im working in 4 hours. I make great tips, and certainly do not think that sex comes into play at all.

[nike_golf]

I still think your jealous about your past girlfriends making more money than you. By no means is it a womens world. Women still face many hardships in the corporate workplace, that most people will ever know about. I am in highschool and I am a male, and i do work at a restaurant...in fact im working in 4 hours. I make great tips, and certainly do not think that sex comes into play at all.

You don't think sex comes into play regarding tips and being a waitress?

Woah. Maybe you're too young to realize it now, but trust me, it does. And no, today, I'm not jealous that my 17 year old gf was making more money than I was when I was the same age. At the time? Yeah. But why would I be today? It was just an example of the role that an attractive female can play in tipping.

[pshizz]

You don't think sex comes into play regarding tips and being a waitress?

I generally agree that sex might come into play when tipping. When i read your orignal comment, it sounded like you though women had it better in everything, which is not the case.

[Three Putt]

If the service is terrible (the server) I give 5 to 10%....and never go back.

If it's ok I give 15%

if it's good it's 20% or more....no matter how slow the food comes out, as long as the server is nice and makes a good effort and a small explanation.... I don't blame them. Being in the service industry myself (contractor).

[sean_miller]

If the service is terrible (the server) I give 5 to 10%....and never go back.

I never tip a percentage - I tip an amount. A waitress bringing out $40 entrees isn't working any harder than the one who's serving $6 grilled cheese sandwiches. I'd likely tip the same dollar amount either way. I'm also more likely to tip well for great food and mediocre service than I am when it's the other way around.

When I get my hair cut, I go to a cheaper place, find someone who really knows what she's doing and tip her well. If she moves to another place, my business follows. Speaking of haircuts, you guys wanna have your collective jaws drop? Pick up any women's magazine that lists standard gratuity rates for hair salons - you'll probably sh** yourselves. Plus they have a flunky for every conceivable task. By the time all is said and done, a simple haircut is often over $150. How can the shop rates for cutting hair be 2 x higher than a certified auto mechanic? Now that's BS! I convinced my wife to at least try my gal for a haircut - luckily she really likes their work too, so now the whole family goes and we spend about $70 including tips. Redneck I know, but $150? Come on!

[Three Putt]

I never tip a percentage - I tip an amount. A waitress bringing out $40 entrees isn't working any harder than the one who's serving $6 grilled cheese sandwiches. I'd likely tip the same dollar amount either way. I'm also more likely to tip well for great food and mediocre service than I am when it's the other way around.

I rarely go out to $40 entrees, I can cook better at home mostly.

I do see your point though.

[iacas]

I never tip a percentage - I tip an amount. A waitress bringing out $40 entrees isn't working any harder than the one who's serving $6 grilled cheese sandwiches.

That's not entirely true. The level of service in general at a place that HAS $40 entrees is usually vastly different than the one that has a $6 grilled cheese on the menu. The $40 place might have a wine menu, specials, etc. etc.

[wolverine_man]

That's not entirely true. The level of service in general at a place that HAS $40 entrees is usually vastly different than the one that has a $6 grilled cheese on the menu. The $40 place might have a wine menu, specials, etc. etc.

I 100 percent agree. It's no accident that the best service I have had came from more expensive restaurants (E.g. Sparks - NYC; Tribute - Farmington Hills) . Though, I have also had lousy service at mid-priced restaurants where I gave next to no tip at all. I do admit, however, that when the bill hovers around or north of $200 that $40 tip can sometimes be tough to swallow.

But if the service is great, it's not that much of an issue.

[LeftyTrevor]

Originally Posted by sean_miller
I never tip a percentage - I tip an amount. A waitress bringing out $40 entrees isn't working any harder than the one who's serving $6 grilled cheese sandwiches. I'd likely tip the same dollar amount either way. I'm also more likely to tip well for great food and mediocre service than I am when it's the other way around.

Sorry guys, not sure how to do the blue quote thing yet but tipping an amount is not the way to go. While the two may work just as hard, the waiter/waitress is taxed on the amount of the ticket gratuity regardless if you pay a tip or not. Here in ca I believe its 8% so if its a $100 tab and you leave nothing he/she still gets taxed for $8 whether you pay or not.

[kfowler]

Haven't read all the responses but I worked for many years as a bus boy and waiter while in high school and college. I consider myself to be a pretty good tipper (20%) for decent service. I don't mind tipping bartenders but I do have an issue with buying a $5 beer and then tipping him $1 for opening the cap off. Not a lot of effort there to get 20%.

I do tip my barber $3. I don't want to piss her off.

I do agree about other services not tipping including coffee houses. I do tip the car wash guys. They'll give you an extra scrub down.

A buddy of mine is moving and he asked if he should tip the movers. I said hell no. Offer them bottled water if you want but certainly not a tip.

[kfowler]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Wow, that sucks. That's not how it worked in FL. You declared your tips every week and it was taxed on that. Of course many people declared much lower until the IRS audited the place. Many waiters had to fork up some big time money. I was 17 at the time and interviewed by the IRS. That was interesting.

[jamo]

I never tip a percentage - I tip an amount. A waitress bringing out $40 entrees isn't working any harder than the one who's serving $6 grilled cheese sandwiches. I'd likely tip the same dollar amount either way. I'm also more likely to tip well for great food and mediocre service than I am when it's the other way around.

That's a fine priniciple if you were to start the world over tomorrow, but waiters/ waitresses get paid based on percentage, so they should get tipped on percentage.

[sean_miller]

Sorry guys, not sure how to do the blue quote thing yet but tipping an amount is not the way to go. While the two may work just as hard, the waiter/waitress is taxed on the amount of the ticket gratuity regardless if you pay a tip or not. Here in ca I believe its 8% so if its a $100 tab and you leave nothing he/she still gets taxed for $8 whether you pay or not.

The meal (the food) is always the most important. I don't care about the wine list because I know how to use a corkscrew, but a meal that's beyond my culinary skills is always more special to me. That's why I said I tip based more on the food than the service - it's not likely you'll get great food and bad service, since it's the same people doing the hiring. I can only think of one restaurant where I became a regular based as much on the service as the food (Sorrentos in the "little Italy" section of Edmonton) but I do remember not returning to several restaurants with good food because of their terrible service (e.g. Sorrentinos - their other restaurant - near the UofA) . Anyway, my comments on the $ amount v. a percentage are basically that when I'm at a diner, I don't limit my tip amount to a percentage like I would at a more expensive place. People need a reminder that those people working in diners and small places give good service too In the past 20 years, I can probably count on one hand (and still have fingers left over) the number of times I haven't tipped. If the service is so poor that someone "deserves" absolutely no tip, then you should speak with the manager. Why? Often tips are shared between the server, the hostess and most importantly the kitchen staff. The rest of the tipees should be aware of why they're getting shafted - crapola service.

[wolverine_man]

Frankly, my opinion of a restaurant is based at least 60 percent upon the service. I have had amazing food at restaurants where the service was poor and not only did the waiter get an insultingly low tip, but I never went back. I can cook my own great meals at home. I go out to eat for the service and ambiance.

[kfowler]

A little off topic but related to tipping. My wife and I were at Buffalo Wild Wings a couple of years ago. They had just opened up and had a lot of very young staff. The young girl came over to take our drink order and I said we're ready to go ahead and place our meal order as well. She said "Your not eligible to place your order yet because the table next to you hasn't ordered yet." My wife and I were floored. The five top next to us was still waiting on another person and were obviously in no hurry. I was like what the hell does the other table have to do with us! I can't say I've ever been told that was ineligible to order. The rest of the service was bad as well.

That was one of the few times I've left no tip.

[wolverine_man]

Buffalo Wild Wings is a whole 'nother can of worms. I seriously dislike that place and I have a hard time leaving that big of a tip to a waitress who simply drops the silverware and plates in the trash bin. Only sit- -down restaurant that I can think of that does not use real plates and silverware. What a horrible concept.

[Chief Broom]

I do tip the car wash guys. They'll give you an extra scrub down.

And there you have it. Tipping is an incentive to the service people who work for you to go above and beyond normal expectations. Want to be treated like everybody else, get pushed aside when someone more important (tips better) comes along, get put on hold indefinitely, then by all means don't tip (or be a lousy tipper).