Tipping

[Ansalem]

Originally Posted by Jan-Poo

I live in a country with no tipping culture. But I always wondered how does it work. I expect you rarely have the exact amount of money to pay the bill and the tip. Usually when I go to a restaurant I just give the waiter the money without saying anything and he comes back with the change.
However in the U.S. the tip is at the client's discretion, so when you pay do you actually tell the waiter the amount of money he must keep as a tip?

Well, a lot of people pay with credit or debit cards these days, in which case there's an extra line on the receipt to fill in a tip amount before you sign. In the case of paper money, you give the waiter the cash and they'll bring you back the change, usually in small bills such as $5 and $1 bills. You leave the amount that you wish to tip on the table and then leave. You can also give the waiter more cash than would be necessary for the bill itself and ask for change in order to have the proper amount for a tip.

[Daniel E.]

I rarely eat out, and when I do, it's in one of those "come and get it yourself" kinda places.

As for tipping in places where it is expected from the costumers...... I sometimes do it, I sometimes don't. I never bother wondering about the correct % involved that's for sure.

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by Ansalem

Well, a lot of people pay with credit or debit cards these days, in which case there's an extra line on the receipt to fill in a tip amount before you sign. In the case of paper money, you give the waiter the cash and they'll bring you back the change, usually in small bills such as $5 and $1 bills. You leave the amount that you wish to tip on the table and then leave. You can also give the waiter more cash than would be necessary for the bill itself and ask for change in order to have the proper amount for a tip.

I try to leave a cash tip even if I'm paying debit/credit... that line on the paper is just a taxable/trackable thing (I believe taxes can even be deducted from the paycheck for it). Whatever - I prefer giving the waiter cash as they're little bugs in the big scheme of taxation. That leaves the option up to them.

[Ansalem]

Originally Posted by Vexx

I try to leave a cash tip even if I'm paying debit/credit... that line on the paper is just a taxable/trackable thing (I believe taxes can even be deducted from the paycheck for it). Whatever - I prefer giving the waiter cash as they're little bugs in the big scheme of taxation. That leaves the option up to them.

So you're saying you always tip cash so they can choose to not report the tips as income?

[Zu Ra]

I usually tip 15-20% of my bill, I knew friends who were into catering and they had the nasty habit of spitting into food/beverages when the customer was rude . So after hearing about that I make it a point to be nice and tip . Most of my food though is take out then in-house

[DragoZERO]

Originally Posted by Vexx

I try to leave a cash tip even if I'm paying debit/credit... that line on the paper is just a taxable/trackable thing (I believe taxes can even be deducted from the paycheck for it). Whatever - I prefer giving the waiter cash as they're little bugs in the big scheme of taxation. That leaves the option up to them.

Not to mention the staff would prefer cash a hundred times over too. I don't know how they go about getting a tip that was included in a charge though. It's probably a pain in the ass depending on the establishment I bet.

[Kyuusai]

Originally Posted by Vexx

I try to leave a cash tip even if I'm paying debit/credit... that line on the paper is just a taxable/trackable thing (I believe taxes can even be deducted from the paycheck for it). Whatever - I prefer giving the waiter cash as they're little bugs in the big scheme of taxation. That leaves the option up to them.

(Reply since the rep button hasn't cooled off from ages past.)

*click* I don't know WHY that factoid about that being trackable never occurred to me before. I believe it is time to start adjusting my habits to keep enough tip-appropriate bills on me rather than relying on that.

[FateAnomaly]

You mean waiters earn enough to be taxed? Now i know exactly how low paying my job is.

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by FateAnomaly

You mean waiters earn enough to be taxed? Now i know exactly how low paying my job is.

Its more like the IRS withholds everything that moves and its your job to file a return to get it back. The piddling scale cash economy ruins their sleep at night... all those waiters and strippers and cab drivers getting by with a few untracked extra dollars (meanwhile the fat cats happily avoid paying taxes on millions and millions with shell games).

[Mystique]

Originally Posted by Zu Ra

I usually tip 15-20% of my bill, I knew friends who were into catering and they had the nasty habit of spitting into food/beverages when the customer was rude . So after hearing about that I make it a point to be nice and tip . Most of my food though is take out then in-house

See, that's the thing then.

Then it's like you walk with the need to tip just to get good service or in hope that they're nice to you and that your food stays safe.
What if a customer is a jerk or is just fussy (which to you = "rude"), gets their food messed with but leaves a big ass tip at the end?
Then what, the waiter/waitress is an ass then, no?

Sounds to me like total disregard of professionalism no matter how crummy the resturant or how annoying the customer, that's what working for the public is about 9 times outta 10.

@ Americans:
Speaking of resturants, technically Maccy D's is considered as one (agreed, a fast food one and you pay before you eat).
So family places or general eats like... uh I forgot some of the places we went to, but Pizza Hut, Hard Rock Cafe or some cafe and so on.
(Although at HRC I tipped the guy cause he was awesome, the thing being, i couldn't help but wonder if he was being awesome for the money or a bigger 'tip' or if that was truly his character and professionalism with the job).

But are there generally known resturants/fast food places where you sit down to eat and pay at the end where you don't need to tip?

[Gin]

Originally Posted by Mystique

But are there generally known resturants/fast food places where you sit down to eat and pay at the end where you don't need to tip?

You don't tip in fast food restaurants.
There are some higher end restaurants that tell customers not to tip because they pay their staff over minimum wage. But those are usually really expensive places.

[ganbaru]

Originally Posted by Gin

You don't tip in fast food restaurants.
There are some higher end restaurants that tell customers not to tip because they pay their staff over minimum wage. But those are usually really expensive places.

It's not always because they pay the staff over the minimum wage, sometime it's because the tip (AKA the service) is includes on the price. But you can still tip on those kind of place.

[Nosauz]

Honestly in America tipping has gotten to an absurd point, tipping was usually meant as a thank you for execellent service but now adays your expected to tip, and if you don't your the jackass, even if your waiter/waitress probably only refilled you water once in the two hours you were at the resturaunt or didn't even give you the utencils you were looking for. Tipping is meant to incentivize service quality but in America you can bet your ass that its more of person sticking their hand out.

[Wervy]

Originally Posted by Nosauz

Honestly in America tipping has gotten to an absurd point, tipping was usually meant as a thank you for execellent service but now adays your expected to tip, and if you don't your the jackass, even if your waiter/waitress probably only refilled you water once in the two hours you were at the resturaunt or didn't even give you the utencils you were looking for. Tipping is meant to incentivize service quality but in America you can bet your ass that its more of person sticking their hand out.

Exactly, people thinking tipping is a right not a reward. I cant remeber the last time I tipped a waiter, mostly because I take out alot, because these days frankly service in most places sucks. And when I order out and end up having the delivery guy arrive a half hour late or a taxi driver brings it why should I tip?

[DragoZERO]

Originally Posted by Wervy

Exactly, people thinking tipping is a right not a reward. I cant remeber the last time I tipped a waiter, mostly because I take out alot, because these days frankly service in most places sucks. And when I order out and end up having the delivery guy arrive a half hour late or a taxi driver brings it why should I tip?

If they don't follow through on their promise then they don't deserve a tip. But if they did do their job, they should get something.

[synaesthetic]

The only reason tipping is expected in America is because the business expects the tips to make up a significant portion of their income, and thus they pay less accordingly.

If that wasn't the case, it would be more exclusive/a reward for exceptional service.

Edit: And I don't care if it's expected or not, if the service sucks, I won't tip and I probably won't come back, either.

[Cinocard]

The only reason tipping is expected in America is because the business expects the tips to make up a significant portion of their income, and thus they pay less accordingly.

Many restaurants nowadays pay fairly high for their waiters/waitresses. And what about family business, when kids works for their family? If you don't tip, you still are a jackass.

[Irkalla]

Tipping is not really a custom here where I live, so I don't usually tip unless eating in a very fancy restaurant which offers great service.(ie doesn't judge me by age and offers me equal service as someone older and richer looking would get) When I go abroad, it's either already included on the bill or I follow the common courtesy which is around 10-15%. I sometimes tip hot waiters too though

[synaesthetic]

Originally Posted by Cinocard

Many restaurants nowadays pay fairly high for their waiters/waitresses. And what about family business, when kids works for their family? If you don't tip, you still are a jackass.

What bizarro world do you live in?

Restaurant employees get paid jack shit. I used to work in the business.

[Gin]

Originally Posted by Cinocard

Many restaurants nowadays pay fairly high for their waiters/waitresses.

I have no idea where you heard that, but its definitely not true.