Tip Criteria

[Mach]

What makes you decide to give your maximum tip percent to a waitress/waiter?

We're out for chicken wings and beer tonight....my treat

Interesting thing about our waitress tonight was she talked football with us. Not X's and O's strategy on a chalk board. Not because she said she liked Jacksonville uniform colors over Atlanta's, but because she said, "her favorite team was Cincinnati Bengals even though they suck this year." So, I asked why do you support such a crappy team? We're expecting to hear it's because black and orange are her favorite colors which match her tabi-cat colors. She said, "because Bengals are Daddy's favorite team and we always watch them play regardless of how poorly they do"

Four guys at our table did a collective AAhhwwwwww...cool!!

20% tip!!!

[f1-cobra]

First, I always tip 20% all the time no matter what. It's just how I am.

Second, the Bengals are also my team because it was the closest to where I grew up. What was her name, maybe I know her.

[PURIST]

Tip is not such a big culture here in Australia, so I found it awkward when I had to give tips during visits to US.

[Sailqueen]

First, I always tip 20% all the time no matter what. It's just how I am.

Cobra................I'm the same way.


The service people here in Florida make something like $2 per hour in salary so their tips are really their income. Many places here automatically add a 15%-18% gratuity to your bill so they don't get shafted on their tip. The down-side to that is people like Cobra and I would likely give more if they did not add it in......but the up-side is they get a tip from visitors who are not used to the system here.

Maybe it is a stupid system, but it is what it is.

[guesswho's back]

Over here a 10-12% tip is the norm. Waiters in most places have decent salary. If you'd give 20% they will look at you all weird

[Rus-Evo]

Tipping is a cultural practice I LOATHE!!!! I am so glad they do not have it in NZ.

If a service worker doesn't get paid enough then they should increase the price of the meal and then charge you that. I wouldn't mind that at all.

As a NZ person I expect the best service FOR FREE, every time. Just as I give of my best for customers for free & wouldn't think of doing it any other way.

Overseas its a different culture........ I am even unsure how to tip, when to tip...... who to tip. So how do you do it?

[PURIST]

Tipping is a cultural practice I LOATHE!!!! I am so glad they do not have it in NZ.

If a service worker doesn't get paid enough then they should increase the price of the meal and then charge you that. I wouldn't mind that at all.

As a NZ person I expect the best service FOR FREE, every time. Just as I give of my best for customers for free & wouldn't think of doing it any other way.

Overseas its a different culture........ I am even unsure how to tip, when to tip...... who to tip. So how do you do it?

Yeah, I guess we are in similar cultures, Rus.

[Schumacat]

I agree with Rus.
If I am paying for the meal, I expect to be served properly regardless if I am tipping the waiter properly or not. I wonder how this thing started. Afterall, we don't expect a customer to pay additional tips for a service in any other industry.

[RaySinKa]

To get a good tip from me, all my server has to do is;

Make me smile at least once

I always tip but don't eat in places that add a fixed amount to the bill as part of the house rules.

I have a few good stories about tipping, when I have time I'll write them up.

Ray

[Rus-Evo]

So how does one tip in a British Cafe Ray?

[RaySinKa]

So how does one tip in a British Cafe Ray?

For one off visits 15% or more for extra good service or if we want a link this to the Law of Attraction thread

In Starbucks I will throw odd change into the tip box but usual buy the staff presents;

Each gets a chocolate egg at Easter.
On Red Cup day (the start of Starbucks Christmas) they get a big tin of chocolates to share.
Just before Christmas Day, a bottle of wine each.

Ray

[Rus-Evo]

But HOW do you tip? Leave coins on the table? Just pay extra (how do they know how much change to give back).......do you talk very slowly and say THIS IS YOUR TIP?

How does one actuate the disgustingly horrid custom known as tipping (or as I call it "dont spit in my food please bribery")?

[Mach]

In Toronto, just leave cash on table or add tip portion to credit card slip. then total up bill and sign.
The CHIP credit card electronic payment hand held devices have function to add either $amount or any percent desired.

I'm usually 10%

I've left $0.00 when waitress is obviously not serving our table properly.

[RaySinKa]

In Toronto, just leave cash on table or add tip portion to credit card slip. then total up bill and sign.
The CHIP credit card electronic payment hand held devices have function to add either $amount or any percent desired.

I'm usually 10%

I've left $0.00 when waitress is obviously not serving our table properly.

Agreed

Ray

[RaySinKa]

On one trip to the USA I was in the town of Bishop CA.

Feeling hungry but very busy with planning I stopped off at a Chinese restaurant for food and space to chat with my wife. Once seated in an empty restaurant the pretty little Chinese waitress delivered the menu.

I was sidetracked by talking and the route map planning so when she returned and asked if I was read to order I requested a few more minutes. Rather rudely we returned to talking and planning, ignoring the menu!

In due course the waitress returned and I requested five more minutes.

Time passed and the waitress returned and I requested more time.

At this point a little frustration showed through on the waitress. Waving her order pad in the air, she asked if we had a problem with the menu and then said, “Ask me if you want, ask me anything.”

Without really thinking I responded, “Who was the fifth president of the USA?”

As a reflex action she whacked me around the head with the order pad and realising what she had done burst into tears and ran back to the kitchen. I suspect she could see the court case coming and her job going

I could hear the row from the kitchen and then the manager/owner appeared and came to the table full of apologies and telling me he would replace the waitress!

I told him to forget it and it was my fault and I had been very rude and that she should come and take our order in ten minutes.

Order taken food, food eaten I called for the check/bill. The waitress arrived with the bill, including another apology.

I paid and left a reasonable tip but as we were leaving and I filed the receipt for my expenses did I notice that on the back was written;

James Monroe, the 5th President.

I fell about laughing before going back in to find her and pass her another $20 tip. I summoned the manager and told him very seriously that I would be returning and that I would be very displeased if she was not there to serve me, as IMO a whack around the head was exactly what I deserved for my rudeness.

Ray

[PURIST]

Thanks for sharing that story. That rather sounds like a scene from a movie.

Seriously, though, did you do that intentionally to see what kind of response she would give?

[RaySinKa]

Thanks for sharing that story. That rather sounds like a scene from a movie.

Seriously, though, did you do that intentionally to see what kind of response she would give?

No. It 's just my bad sense of humour cutting through when I don't concentrate.

I was rudely ignoring her polite and trying to be helpful requests because I was selfishly engrossed with my own thoughts.

I think I should have told her that I had things to do and I would call her when I was ready to order.

The whack was the perfect treatment for me and in those pre-Internet days she or they must have done some work to get the answer to my trival question.

Ray

[Rus-Evo]

I have always hated the concept of tipping...... day before yesterday was the first time Ive done it.........confusing!!!!

[Rus-Evo]

I hope the waitress wasn't traumatized too much!!

[RaySinKa]

I hope the waitress wasn't traumatized too much!!

I think the $20 note was a great pacifier

Ray

[Mach]

On one trip to the USA I was in the town of Bishop CA.

Feeling hungry but very busy with planning I stopped off at a Chinese restaurant for food and space to chat with my wife. Once seated in an empty restaurant the pretty little Chinese waitress delivered the menu.

I was sidetracked by talking and the route map planning so when she returned and asked if I was read to order I requested a few more minutes. Rather rudely we returned to talking and planning, ignoring the menu!

In due course the waitress returned and I requested five more minutes.

Time passed and the waitress returned and I requested more time.

At this point a little frustration showed through on the waitress. Waving her order pad in the air, she asked if we had a problem with the menu and then said, “Ask me if you want, ask me anything.”

Without really thinking I responded, “Who was the fifth president of the USA?”

As a reflex action she whacked me around the head with the order pad and realising what she had done burst into tears and ran back to the kitchen. I suspect she could see the court case coming and her job going

I could hear the row from the kitchen and then the manager/owner appeared and came to the table full of apologies and telling me he would replace the waitress!

I told him to forget it and it was my fault and I had been very rude and that she should come and take our order in ten minutes.

Order taken food, food eaten I called for the check/bill. The waitress arrived with the bill, including another apology.

I paid and left a reasonable tip but as we were leaving and I filed the receipt for my expenses did I notice that on the back was written;

James Monroe, the 5th President.

I fell about laughing before going back in to find her and pass her another $20 tip. I summoned the manager and told him very seriously that I would be returning and that I would be very displeased if she was not there to serve me, as IMO a whack around the head was exactly what I deserved for my rudeness.

Ray

Good thing it was her order pad being wacked around your head and not the kitchen wok...Ooohhhh and secondly, your wife is obviously a saint for putting up with you

[RaySinKa]

On one trip to the USA I was in the town of Bishop CA.

Feeling hungry but very busy with planning I stopped off at a Chinese restaurant for food and space to chat with my wife. Once seated in an empty restaurant the pretty little Chinese waitress delivered the menu.

I was sidetracked by talking and the route map planning so when she returned and asked if I was read to order I requested a few more minutes. Rather rudely we returned to talking and planning, ignoring the menu!

In due course the waitress returned and I requested five more minutes.

Time passed and the waitress returned and I requested more time.

At this point a little frustration showed through on the waitress. Waving her order pad in the air, she asked if we had a problem with the menu and then said, “Ask me if you want, ask me anything.”

Without really thinking I responded, “Who was the fifth president of the USA?”

As a reflex action she whacked me around the head with the order pad and realising what she had done burst into tears and ran back to the kitchen. I suspect she could see the court case coming and her job going

I could hear the row from the kitchen and then the manager/owner appeared and came to the table full of apologies and telling me he would replace the waitress!

I told him to forget it and it was my fault and I had been very rude and that she should come and take our order in ten minutes.

Order taken food, food eaten I called for the check/bill. The waitress arrived with the bill, including another apology.

I paid and left a reasonable tip but as we were leaving and I filed the receipt for my expenses did I notice that on the back was written;

James Monroe, the 5th President.

I fell about laughing before going back in to find her and pass her another $20 tip. I summoned the manager and told him very seriously that I would be returning and that I would be very displeased if she was not there to serve me, as IMO a whack around the head was exactly what I deserved for my rudeness.

Ray

Good thing it was her order pad being wacked around your head and not the kitchen wok...Ooohhhh and secondly, your wife is obviously a saint for putting up with you

Or the kitchen Cleaver!!!!!

She didn't!!!!! She left 10 years ago, life has never been better

Ray

[PURIST]

Thanks for sharing that story. That rather sounds like a scene from a movie.

Seriously, though, did you do that intentionally to see what kind of response she would give?

No. It 's just my bad sense of humour cutting through when I don't concentrate.

I was rudely ignoring her polite and trying to be helpful requests because I was selfishly engrossed with my own thoughts.

I think I should have told her that I had things to do and I would call her when I was ready to order.

The whack was the perfect treatment for me and in those pre-Internet days she or they must have done some work to get the answer to my trival question.

Ray

Hey, man. This just confirms you are a nice guy.