Tip Poll

[elevatorman]

If you have good service at a restaurant what do you tip? I know it depends on a lot of things. But on average, what amount?

[conn8757]

Remember - don't tip on the tax portion.

[dfn8tly]

Remember - don't tip on the tax portion.

On a $40 check tipping on tax might cost you .50 Be careful not to spend that all in one place.

Are you one of these people who divides a group check into each person's share down to the penny?

I have much better things to do with my life.

[chuckster]

Tip on the total bill, it's easier to calculate. As dfn8tly says what's the issue with another 50 cents to 1 dollar for the server.:beer3:

[zcaveman]

I am betweren 18-20%. Depends on the rounding.

[graciegirl]

20% ALWAYS. But really see the need of it as my college age granddaughter is telling me tales of her summer job at Max and Ermas. She really appreciates her tips.

[emilyjean]

normal 15% to 20%, but all depends upon the service provided

[Russ_Boston]

20% rounded (up) to the next dollar. Or sometimes the nearest $5 if I don't have any singles.

I find I go out to eat a little bit less than before since I use cash only now.

[LKBP33]

They always remember a bad tipper. If you want good service always tip 20%. They will remember you every time you walk in. They make below minimum wage because of the tips. If you are at a crowded bar tip more and you won't have to fight for another drink. Always works.

[ajbrown]

I like to tip good service well, e.g., 20+ percent. I also pay attention to happy hour discounts. As an example if after golf the table tab is $20 for drinks at Mallory at happy hour (50% off drinks), I make the tip based on $40.:beer3:

[bkcunningham1]

I have to keep a tight reign on my husband who wants to tip way more than 20 percent for good service. He always leaves at least 20 percent for average service. Honestly, more times than not, have very good wait staff. Maybe it's our attitude and my husband's friendliness. I'd love a tip from Gracie on how to look so beautiful. Love the new photo friend.

[dillywho]

I tip extra if they ask for my ID when they return with my card and ticket. When they ask, I know that they actually looked at the card.

[bkcunningham1]

dillywho, you must be like us and have "check ID" written on the signature part of your debit or credit cards.

[memason]

The best service I ever received was in Japan, which was UNBELIEVABLE. I suspect you get the same sort of service at Sakura. You embarrass Japanese people, if you try to tip them. In Germany, a normal tip is rounding up the bill to the next full denomination of currency.

In my life, I have worked jobs in the restaurant industry. When I first started, I received a normal salary and tips were a bonus for me. Later, some employers would make everyone pool the tips and everyone got an equal share and the employer reduced the salary by the same amount. In the end, there was no incentive for me to provide good service, since the net result was the same. Go figure....

[aln]

Yeah I generally tip 20%.
Now to go off the "beaten thread" - HOW MUCH DO YOU TIP AT THE BAR HUTS? :beer3:
Generally, I go $1 per drink unless I have guests and we take a little more of the bartenders time - I may go a little extra.

[gingin410]

We learned on a trip about 3 summers ago that a tip paid on a credit card can result for the waiter/waitress due to card fee the business pays and passes on to the wait-staff. Some businesses not only make the wait-staff cover that fee, but may even take pay less keeping some of the tip for themselves for various reasons.

So, we usually pay about 20%...in CASH...if the service has been good. And, we'll pay a little extra when it's a place we frequent and know our waiter and our waiter knows us.

[salpal]

If the server is an older person (50 plus) as I am, I generally tip more than 20 percent. They are not working that tough job because they want to. Guess it is partly guilt and partly counting my blessings.

[Pturner]

20+. I round the bill up to the next dollar and tip 20% of that.

[Regor]

Some one isn't telling the truth around here. I talk to lots of waiters and waitress's and they all say that Villagers are horrible tippers!

[dillywho]

dillywho, you must be like us and have "check ID" written on the signature part of your debit or credit cards.

I sure do. FYI The post office will not accept a card that simply says "See ID". You can put that on it, but it has to be signed as well, and they will ask for ID.

[dillywho]

Some one isn't telling the truth around here. I talk to lots of waiters and waitress's and they all say that Villagers are horrible tippers!

I don't know where they work, but I have not witnessed Villagers being bad tippers. I know I'm not a bad tipper, but I'm sure not going to tip $5 on an $8 check, either.

[bkcunningham1]

Well, I suppose the 13 members of this forum who posted comments on this poll and about 100 of the poll takers are good tippers. How many residents are there in TV? Regor, if we all had dinner at your friend's place of employment, your friend would feel rich after a night of good tippers.

[OpusX1]

For poor service I will leave 10%, for average service 15% plus $1 plus round up to the nearest dollar. 20% plus for good service and 25% plus for superior service. I generally leave around 18% for most of the Village restaurants but we have on occasion left plus 25% for some great service.

[Grill Meister]

Unless the service is below par, I will tip 20% and round up to the next highest dollar. If the service is below par, I will leave at least 15%....the serve staff works for tips and I appreciate their efforts even when it ain't great.

[jazzy48]

We leave at least 20%. We have several restaurants where we're "regulars" and the wait staff knows us (we eat out entirely too often). Our favorite servers at those places get between 25-30%.

[nkrifats]

20% unless the service is really bad.

[dominick]

I was behind a guy in the line at Dunkin Donuts yesterday. A real Mr. Personality. He kidded around with the clerk and anyone else who would bother, made her laugh, etc. Had a huge order, picked out 2 doz donuts and 8 coffees and other drinks of varied kinds, sugar, milk, etc. It took her the better part of 10 minutes to wait on him.
He paid the clerk, received about $4.80 in change, gave her a big smile, said thanks, and went on his happy way without leaving a tip. Guess he thought it was the clerk's honor and priviledge just to have been in his presence. CHEAPO!!!

[cats12470]

I agree about the happy hour thing.... tip on the "free" drinks too... most servers are very nice.... I could not do what they do....

[jebartle]

This is a hoot, and if you know my husband you will understand...
He was a waiter when he was in school ,at a high-end pizza joint, a group of BIG baseball players orders, as is custom, he serves the first piece on each customers plate, misses the plate, ends up on the BIGGEST guys LAP, my husband lets out an expletive, picks up the piece from his lap, returns it to the platter, spins the platter and
says "Bet you can't guess which piece fell"....Fortunately everyone laughed and he received a BIG tip....As a side note: He always leaves a big tip, if you ever had to wait tables, you know it is a tough job...Another side note:
NEVER return anything, they do some pretty dispicable things...Enough said:a040:

[memason]

For poor service I will leave 10%, for average service 15% plus $1 plus round up to the nearest dollar. 20% plus for good service and 25% plus for superior service. I generally leave around 18% for most of the Village restaurants but we have on occasion left plus 25% for some great service.

Sorry Opus, I'm not picking on you.... Why in the world would you leave anything for poor service?

What is a tip for anyway? Who should you tip? ...your hairdresser, waitress, waiter, hostess ??, guy who washs your car, the guy who drys it, the guy sacking your groceries.... My problem is, it never ends!

I guess I'm a bad person, but I would never consider tipping a person in a donuts shop, no matter how long I used their time...that's what they're there for and the last time i looked, they were called employees and should be paid a fair salary by their employer...

do you tip the counter person at Panera's ? How about Starbucks ? SHould I tip my Sales Rep, when I'm there in May???

Sorry for the rant...I'm just really confused by some of the comments . . ..

[zcaveman]

Sorry Opus, I'm not picking on you.... Why in the world would you leave anything for poor service?

What is a tip for anyway? Who should you tip? ...your hairdresser, waitress, waiter, hostess ??, guy who washs your car, the guy who drys it, the guy sacking your groceries.... My problem is, it never ends!

I guess I'm a bad person, but I would never consider tipping a person in a donuts shop, no matter how long I used their time...that's what they're there for and the last time i looked, they were called employees and should be paid a fair salary by their employer...

do you tip the counter person at Panera's ? How about Starbucks ? SHould I tip my Sales Rep, when I'm there in May???

Sorry for the rant...I'm just really confused by some of the comments . . ..


Thanks to that post I have a question about tipping. When they replaced my carpet and vinyl I tipped both of the workers $5. When the guy does the annual A/C maintenance I tip him $5. When the guy washes the house, I tip him $5. Ditto the cart repair guy on the at home tuneups, etc. The cleaning ladies get $2 a visit.

The wife always tipped the hair dresser when she went to one. When I was a kid, I was always given an extra quarter to give to the barber. I have been cutting my own hair since 1970 so I have no idea what the tip would be now.

The yard guy and the paper deliverers get $20 at Christmas.

Is this out of the ordinary?


BTW: When I go down for a pizza or Chinese takeout, I usually put something in the tip jar.

[swrinfla]

I was slow to adopt a more-than-15-percent attitude. But, as time goes on, the 15% I was brought up to expect seems inadequate.

Many of you will know that most, if not all, cruise lines now charge an automatic "gratuity" fee, per cruising guest per day. After my initial objection to this policy, I was persuaded that many of those who participated in providing my comfort did not receive their proportion of what they should! Should I wish to donate to a specific worker's personal bank account, there was nothing to stop me!

Now, I hear that many corporate entities (that is, The Boss) demand that individual tips be turned in to be pooled.

I do NOT think this is fair. Most often, we tip based on what our individual waiter/waitress has done for us, personally. The less-than-capable server on the other side of the dining room doesn't really deserve any part of my money!

Ah, well, I'm pretty removed from the 21st Century actuality, so why should I care?

SWR
:beer3:

[devyn0204]

Tip should be 20% I am a server and I have to tell you we make less than minimum wage, it is hard to work in the villages out of season there have been a lot of weeks i have worked long hours to come home with less than a hundred dollars for a whole week. I don't think a lot of people know how to tip, and we have to tip the bartender, the hostess, the busser and the food runner. We work really hard and 20% for good service is good I dont think people realize we have to tip people out too we have had people come in and run up a high beverage tab then we have to tip bartender for the drinks she made us and not get a tip so we lose money taking some tables.

[K9-Lovers]

Some one isn't telling the truth around here. I talk to lots of waiters and waitress's and they all say that Villagers are horrible tippers!

Do those particular waiters/waitresses give good service? If not, maybe that's why they don't receive good tips. :shrug:

[chuckinca]

i was always given an extra quarter to give to the barber. I have been cutting my own hair since 1970 so i have no idea what the tip would be now.


$5



.

[beartrack]

I have spent my entire adult life in the restaurant business. Over the years restaurant owners have used tipping to exploit their employees. Oh it started off innocently enough but has become a way for owners to not give the hardest workers in the business a fair shake. Servers get no overtime pay or healthcare or vacation time or sick pay or pension or 401K or any other benefit that would be normal on most other jobs. And to add insult to injury, even if they are lucky enough to work in a place that is busy and they make good tips, the owners say, "Hey you have to pool your tip money with all the other servers" that simply means that the best server in the place is penalized for being the best, and bringing in good money, and the bad server is rewarded for being the worst. Heard enough yet? Well there's more. After the pooled tips are shared equally, all servers have to tip other employees for helping them. Like the bartender, the bus people, the expediter and others. All of these people are being paid less then minimum wage, because of tipping, so that the owners can make more money.

I could go on forever on this subject but, I'm sure that I am boring some of you to death. please accept my appology for this rant. It just galls me when someone says, "I didn't get good service, so I didn't leave a tip" It has been my experience, that when the service is poor, it is almost always the fault of management. Did they hire enough people? Do they expect too much from the people they did hire? And finally, did they take the time to train these people properly?

I know that nothing can be done to change this situation as it has been going on this way for years and the owners would say "If I have to pay higher wages and benefits, I'll have to go out of business". I would hope that everyone that reads this, would be just a little more generous when tipping but, more importantly, the next time a server comes to your table, remember some of the things that you have read here and treat her/him with more dignity and the respect that they earn and deserve.

Thanks

[Lou Card]

Great information for everyone to read and follow. I use a 20% rule, but a minimum of $5. Yes that means a $9 meal comes to $14 with the tip. Just think about how a server makes a trip to get your drink order, then one to deliver the drink and get your food order, then to deliver your food, then to check on you to see that everything is all right, then to bring your check and in many cases to take your payment and return with that. Remember that we all go to restaurants to sit and enjoy the meal, otherwise, we would go to fast food places all the time. Right or wrong, as the customer, we are responsible for the salary of the wait staff.

If you don't like the service, tell the manager, but a tip is rent, food, car payment, utilities, child care, medical etc. etc. etc. for many waiters.

[redwitch]

My first job was as a server at Denny's. I then "moved up" to a small family restaurant in Southern California when I went to college. From there, it was at a bar as soon as I could figure out how to get a driver's license saying I was 21 (pretty easy back then). Serving food was HARD work! I still remember it and even some of my customers.

My daughter served for about a year at Applebee's in TV. She's looking for a job now and will probably end up serving again.

While some Villagers are good tippers, many aren't. Some still think 10% is a good tip. Some feel that it is up to the owner/company to pay a decent salary so they don't tip at all. (Guess that teaches the owner a lesson, all right.)

If it is bad service, I don't tip or leave a nominal amount to let them know the lack of tip was deliberate. If the service is okay, 20%. If better, usually 25-30%. If I am eating alone, I mentally double the price of my tab and tip accordingly. It's not the server's fault there is only one person at a table for 2 or 4. If my friends and I are taking an exceptionally long time, I will always add to the tip since the server is losing money.

I do ask if the tips are pooled or if they have to tip out other staffers. If the answer is yes, I ask if it is possible to give the server a tip that is not pooled if there is a pooled tip left as well. I've actually asked for the manager and told him I am giving my server an additional tip that is NOT part of any pool -- the pool didn't serve me and the extra work my server did for me as greatly appreciated. (Please note -- additional tip is the key word. The pool gets 15%, my server gets an additional $1-5. Not much, but a little.) One manager told me I couldn't do that. I replied that if I found out the tip that I had personally handed to the server and said was specifically for that server alone was then put into a pool, I would call the police for theft. I think pooling is an obscenity. Ditto a server having to pay part of the salary if co-workers. Restaurateurs who follow these policies should be hung from very high rafters by their absolute shortest hairs.

I also agree that tips should not be added to the credit card. You'd be surprised how often the server never sees that tip at all -- it is pocketed by the manager, who is also woefully underpaid (but still makes a lot more than the servers).

It does seem that TOTVers tip higher than most Villagers. I think what it really is that our parents' generation rarely tipped and, if they did, it was 10%. Baby boomers are more willing to tip 15-20% and most TOTVers are baby boomers.

[Larryandlinda]

If you have good service at a restaurant what do you tip? I know it depends on a lot of things. But on average, what amount?

especially on credit cards we round up from our normal 18-20% to an even dollar amount to make it easier to malculate billc

when someone tries to get AR about that 'every penny thing' we whip out whatever it takes to avoid that awkward time- and energy-wasting activity .

a dollar might hardly buy the gas to get out of the parking lot!

puh-leeze

L&L

[Larryandlinda]

Redwitch quote:
I also agree that tips should not be added to the credit card. You'd be surprised how often the server never sees that tip at all -- it is pocketed by the manager, who is also woefully underpaid (but still makes a lot more than the servers).


whoa! we had no idea!
when the server takes back the signed receipt indicating the added tip they can see the amount

seems like a savvy and deserving waitron would keep at least a rough mental tab on these and seek a fair remuneration.

There is an ongoing move to reform the tipping/tax situation which can be a cash cow for many 'lowly' wait staffers - many who are grinning all the way to the bank - most of which are piggy banks that the IRS never sees.

We are generous tippers but the tax thing and now this credit card tab thing are cause for concern

The tax dodge is also a huge cash cow for the resturanteurs, no?

L&L

[Larryandlinda]

If the server is an older person (50 plus) as I am, I generally tip more than 20 percent. They are not working that tough job because they want to. Guess it is partly guilt and partly counting my blessings.

Our kids and younger employees use '50-plus' and older person in the same phrase from time to time and we raise the brows!!

in this forum 50-and -better or 50-plus can easily mean 'younger person'

We digress.
Back to the tipping....
A fist job for one of us was as a professional dish machine operator at 16.
It and busboy were lowly, even at the stead $1.25 minimum in 1966.
The dishroom was just nasty - smelly, wet shoes, and those chemicals we fed the machine would certainly be considered hazardous today by OSHA.

At least the buspeople got to see the light of day and living people.

It was huge and really appreciated when the waiters and waitresses would throw us some change they would share with their tips - we were overwhelmed. They got very little - this was a lunch room at a large department store and we remember the norm being 10 percent on a good day.

Oh, one day I learned the dish job was not as bad as it could have been...my best friend acted up and talked back to a superior and was demoted to the incinerator - yes, most trash for the entire store was burned - this was not a desirable position even when it was not 100 and humid in a DC summer.

L&L

[redwitch]

Redwitch quote:
I also agree that tips should not be added to the credit card. You'd be surprised how often the server never sees that tip at all -- it is pocketed by the manager, who is also woefully underpaid (but still makes a lot more than the servers).


whoa! we had no idea!
when the server takes back the signed receipt indicating the added tip they can see the amount

seems like a savvy and deserving waitron would keep at least a rough mental tab on these and seek a fair remuneration.

There is an ongoing move to reform the tipping/tax situation which can be a cash cow for many 'lowly' wait staffers - many who are grinning all the way to the bank - most of which are piggy banks that the IRS never sees.

We are generous tippers but the tax thing and now this credit card tab thing are cause for concern

The tax dodge is also a huge cash cow for the resturanteurs, no?

L&L

Some restaurants have the policy that customers take the check to the cashier directly. Frequently, a server doesn't have time to open a paybook to see what the tip is (and, technically, they shouldn't since it implies they expect a tip). It's also pretty common for the customer to leave the slip/paybook on the table and someone other than the server will take it to the cashier. So, it's really not hard for the server to never see the tip amount.

As to the tax issue, barring really high end restaurants, it really doesn't make all that much difference. The IRS now takes a set percentage (I believe 15-18%) regardless of what is actually tipped. So, if a customer tips 10%, the server loses an additional 5% of the tip; if 20%, the server gains 5%. Not a lot of difference. The restaurant is the one that calculates what the server earned for tips. So, it is not difficult for the restaurant to do the calculations in such a manner that the credit card fee is also included in taxable income for the server.

Another scam restaurants use is charging the server for a meal whether a meal is eaten or not (with no discounts -- even customers get coupons, but not servers).

Servers really do get cheated a lot. Sadly, more than they even realize. Remember, most severs are uneducated and unskilled. They don't have anything else to fall back on unless they're going to college and this is how they're paying for tuition, etc. The other real exception is the high-end restaurants. Servers there can make over $75,000 a year between tips and salary, but we're talking the tab is $150+/person -- not a TV type restaurant.

[Russ_Boston]

I also agree that tips should not be added to the credit card. You'd be surprised how often the server never sees that tip at all -- it is pocketed by the manager, who is also woefully underpaid (but still makes a lot more than the servers).

Red - wouldn't that be theft also? When Linda was a server they had to reconcile all electronic payments. In other words the hostess/manager would run the payment through and leave a copy of the receipt along with any tip in a section for her to pick up. Even if it was a 'no tip' the receipt would be there to indicate such.

I would think that the server would know what's coming if they collect the card or would at least ask to see all receipts for card paying customers if they pay at the cashier.

[redwitch]

Red - wouldn't that be theft also? When Linda was a server they had to reconcile all electronic payments. In other words the hostess/manager would run the payment through and leave a copy of the receipt along with any tip in a section for her to pick up. Even if it was a 'no tip' the receipt would be there to indicate such.

I would think that the server would know what's coming if they collect the card or would at least ask to see all receipts for card paying customers if they pay at the cashier.

It's supposed to be that way but electronics has changed it a lot. Used to be, everyone had their individual book w/numbered sheets so that you could tally your stuff. Now, it is done by the cash register and, usually, the manager. It is not uncommon for the server to never see the total tally slips any longer -- credit card tips are included in the paychecks minus appropriate taxes. Also, the tipout to co-workers goes out of the daily tips (which means the cash tips). Mind you, theft of credit card tips is not that common but does happen. What is common is for part of the credit card fee the restaurant is charged be deducted from the tip. So, if someone uses Amex where the fee is 20% of the total bill (sans tax), 20% of the tip is deducted.

Another common event is either the busboy or another customer to take the tip directly off the table. I actually caught a woman taking her husband's tip, as well the tip left by their friends. I stopped her at the door and demanded she put the tips back or I would have told her husband and friends.

Most good servers happily give their busboys and hostess some part of their tips. Dishwashers used to make a full minimum wage as opposed to half-wage for servers. I believe that has changed since the tipout is now required rather than voluntary.

I try hard to give the server the tip directly and make sure the tip is going to the server -- not the restaurant, not co-workers, not the Feds. It is a hard, miserable job that can be made extremely difficult with bad managers and rude customers.

(If y'all can't tell, this is a big issue to me. It was before my daughter became a server and became even bigger after when I saw some of things that occur today when it comes to tipping.)

[swrinfla]

I have just re-read this entire post, because I thought I'd voted and commented but couldn't remember when.

I am now extremely distressed that I've not 1) tipped enough, 2) made sure the tip was collected by the server, 3) understood that the tip added to the credit card bill might never make it to the server! I am frankly appalled at how shabbily the really hardworking servers are treated!

Seems to me they should be paid the minimum wage, to begin with, then should be able to pocket the cash tips earned. Dishwashers and others not having contact with the customers should be compensated with a higher basic salary.

I will have to seriously rethink my overall tipping policies, which I'm afraid have been pretty miserly! :)

SWR
:beer3:

[paulandjean]

regarding dunkin donuts, I never tip those kind of stores. Would you tip at burger king,KFC, and the gas station.

[redwitch]

I've tipped at Dunkin' Donuts, BK, etc., but it was for truly exceptional service. Otherwise, I don't. I know they only get minimum wage there, but, sadly, that is their skill set. Servers at restaurants, on the other hand, do not get minimum wage.

And SWR, you're right -- it would be nice if servers would get the minimum wage and tips would rightfully get to them. Hostesses, expediters (they check the plates before servers take them to customers to ensure it is the proper order, etc.), busboys, dishwashers, those working takeout (takeout customers rarely tip even though it is more work to bag the food than it is to bring it to the table) should get more than minimum wage. But, that's not the way it is. And restaurants would go out of business if they had to pay fair wages -- they can only raise prices so much before diners would go elsewhere or stay at home. What needs to change is the law that alllows restaurants to pay less than minimum wage so that it would be universal.

BTW, Crispers does pay more than minimum wage and, unless you hand the tip directly to your food deliverer and specifically state this is a tip for that server, all tips go into a tip jar for the United Way.

[beartrack]

There really is no correct answer to the posts in this thread. It is very sad but true, none the less. Redwitch says the laws should be changed to insure that servers and all other restaurant employee's get paid the minimum wage but, then she goes on to say that if the owners were forced to pay a fair wage they would have to raise prices to a level that most of their patrons could ill afford. They would soon be out of business. Of course red is a good person and means well but, what is the answer. As a restaurantuer I have been searching for that answer for more years then I care to admit in public. I firmly believe that there is no answer. In my quest for a fair resolution to this matter, I got lots of opinions, especially from people that were never in the business. Those opinions that I got from folks like me that worked in the trade and then risked all to have their own place, gave me the same answer. There is no answer.

[bkcunningham1]

As a restaurantuer I have been searching for that answer for more years then I care to admit in public. I firmly believe that there is no answer. In my quest for a fair resolution to this matter, I got lots of opinions, especially from people that were never in the business. Those opinions that I got from folks like me that worked in the trade and then risked all to have their own place, gave me the same answer. There is no answer.

I'm curious about something. Forgive me for hi-jacking the thread, but what would you pay someone working for you if there wasn't a minimum wage? I just wonder if you've ever thought about the answer to that question.

[Boomer]

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BTW, Crispers does pay more than minimum wage and, unless you hand the tip directly to your food deliverer and specifically state this is a tip for that server, all tips go into a tip jar for the United Way.

Seriously? Seriously?? Ser-eee-us-leeeee??? Ya gotta be kiddin' me!!!

So who is getting the tax write-off for the charitable contribution.

Norma Rae Boomer

[beartrack]

I'm curious about something. Forgive me for hi-jacking the thread, but what would you pay someone working for you if there wasn't a minimum wage? I just wonder if you've ever thought about the answer to that question.

I have no idea what you are talking about or what your question has to do with this discussion. But to answer your query anyway. Thanks to tipping I did not have to pay the minimum wage, even though I always did. As a matter of fact, if the tipping exceded the minium wage, I was not obligated to pay any wages at all. So to answer your question: No, I never thought about it. Why would I ?

:shrug:

[redwitch]

One thing to remember is that if you ask a GOOD server if they would be willing to give up tipping for a better-than-minimum wage, the majority will say no. If they are in an area where the average tip is 18%, they have regular customers, they get all of their tips even though they're still tipping out other staff, they're ahead of the game. A good server in a decent restaurant making decent tips usually makes $10-15/hr.

The problems are in areas like TV where the average tip is anything but 18% and where the work is actually seasonal rather than steady year-round.

As to the solution. There isn't an easy answer but if all restaurants were required to pay the minimum wage, then all restaurants would be raising their rates accordingly rather than just the restauranteur who wanted to be fair to employees. You might lose some customers, but it won't be to the competition. At the very least, servers should not be required to subsidize their co-employees. Those not receiving tips should be paid at least a minimum wage. Tips should not be pooled -- if you do a lousy job, there's no reason you should be rewarded at the expense of your co-worker who hustles to keep customers happy.

[thistrucksforyou]

I do tip well, but I have always wondered where it started that the customer has to subsidise the help to get them to do there job....Why not tip the truck driver or mail person, brick layer ,contractor, realtor, we all want good service from these people to ,,,RIGHT ?

just a thought :)

[otherbruddaDarrell]

Don't forget the guy that hauls that 160lb liquid oxygen vessel up the stairs so that you can breathe.

[redwitch]

Once upon a time, TIP meant To Insure Prompt Service and was given prior to service. Over time, it was discovered that tipping in advance was an exercise in stupidity. So, if you wanted good service, you let the server know you would tip after if you were happy (and if you didn't, you weren't surprised if your horse lost a shoe or your carriage a wheel).

In the 40s and 50s and part of the 60s, tips were not expected but highly appreciated. They were only given for exceptional service. Then, it became a thing of keeping up with the Joneses, who probably had a child working as a server; the guy impressing his date; and so on. Tips became SOP. The owners saw this and started paying servers less. Minimum wage laws were created in the 1930s. By the 1950s, minimum wage laws had exceptions for those tipped -- namely gaming dealers and food servers. As time has progressed, diners are expected to help pay the wages for servers and the servers are expected to help pay for the non-wait, non-managerial staff. If the diners boycott tipping, the only ones hurt are the ones you're trying to help. If the servers speak up and try to not tip out or not pay for credit card fees, they lose their jobs. It is not a pretty business when you think about it.

[nonseniorresident]

Remember - don't tip on the tax portion.

Tip on the total amount. The servers have to tip out on this portion (to bussers, hostess, and bar) as well as pay taxes.

[nonseniorresident]

I like to tip good service well, e.g., 20+ percent. I also pay attention to happy hour discounts. As an example if after golf the table tab is $20 for drinks at Mallory at happy hour (50% off drinks), I make the tip based on $40.:beer3:

:BigApplause:

Glad to see others have common sense. Also with coupons, gift cards, or other discounts - you saved money which is even more reason to tip on the ORIGINAL amount. The server shouldn't suffer because you got a deal. Same with if something was taken off the bill because you didn't like it, or it wasn't what you expected etc. That isn't the servers fault. They still have to tip out host/busser/bartenders and pay taxes based on the total amount regardless of your discount!

[nonseniorresident]

Sorry Opus, I'm not picking on you.... Why in the world would you leave anything for poor service?

What is a tip for anyway? Who should you tip? ...your hairdresser, waitress, waiter, hostess ??, guy who washs your car, the guy who drys it, the guy sacking your groceries.... My problem is, it never ends!

I guess I'm a bad person, but I would never consider tipping a person in a donuts shop, no matter how long I used their time...that's what they're there for and the last time i looked, they were called employees and should be paid a fair salary by their employer...

do you tip the counter person at Panera's ? How about Starbucks ? SHould I tip my Sales Rep, when I'm there in May???

Sorry for the rant...I'm just really confused by some of the comments . . ..

It's not so cut-and-dry. If the service was bad because the server was too busy, overwhelmed, or made mistakes, THEY ARE HUMAN. They won't expect 20% but if they are apologetic and still did the best they could then they had a rough night, still tip them 15% or even the full 20% if you are sympathetic and want to return for another go.

Now on the other hand - if the service was AWFUL (beyond poor) as in the server didn't even try, didn't care, and was flat out rude...that is when it is appropriate to tip 10% but honestly any less is just WRONG. Servers get paid almost HALF of minimum wage which disintegrates into NOTHING once they are taxed on the hourly wage as well as total sales AND they have to pay a percentage of their sales (regardless of amount of tips) to bartenders, bussers, and often hostess. So if you tip nothing, they are PAYING to work, LITERALLY. They cannot pay bills or make a living i.e. feed their kids, pay rent, gas, utilities, etc. You mentioned salary...they don't get one.

As far as Panera - no, there is no tip jar. Starbucks, a dollar or left over change is courteous but not expected. Sales rep...I know you are being facetious but they make commission, servers at restaurants DO NOT and rely on tips to survive.

[jblum315]

Always 20% and always in cash

[graciegirl]

It's not so cut-and-dry. If the service was bad because the server was too busy, overwhelmed, or made mistakes, THEY ARE HUMAN. They won't expect 20% but if they are apologetic and still did the best they could then they had a rough night, still tip them 15% or even the full 20% if you are sympathetic and want to return for another go.

Now on the other hand - if the service was AWFUL (beyond poor) as in the server didn't even try, didn't care, and was flat out rude...that is when it is appropriate to tip 10% but honestly any less is just WRONG. Servers get paid almost HALF of minimum wage which disintegrates into NOTHING once they are taxed on the hourly wage as well as total sales AND they have to pay a percentage of their sales (regardless of amount of tips) to bartenders, bussers, and often hostess. So if you tip nothing, they are PAYING to work, LITERALLY. They cannot pay bills or make a living i.e. feed their kids, pay rent, gas, utilities, etc. You mentioned salary...they don't get one.

As far as Panera - no, there is no tip jar. Starbucks, a dollar or left over change is courteous but not expected. Sales rep...I know you are being facetious but they make commission, servers at restaurants DO NOT and rely on tips to survive.

Just for your information. You know that you can add to the post that is already posted by hitting the edit sign at the bottom. You are new here and several of your posts are in succession so I thought that you may not be aware of that feature.

Are you a server? Just wondering about your choice of screen name on here...NON SENIOR RESIDENT? You are a LOT younger?

[OscarOlden]

20% almost always unless service is really good or really poor - then give or take 5% of that 20%.

[kentucky blue]

On a $40 check tipping on tax might cost you .50 Be careful not to spend that all in one place.

Are you one of these people who divides a group check into each person's share down to the penny?

I have much better things to do with my life.

20% and that includes the tax and 20% on any and all wines ordered.I try not to go to dinner with several couples at a time,since i hate the practice of dividing up the check and shouting across the table to join in the conversation.Dividing up the check is a pain in the a$$ for the server and for the couples.Whenever it does happen, on those rare occasions, i quietly ask the server for one check, give him my credit card and tell him to add 20%.It makes for a more enjoyable and less complicated evening for all.

[Mimivillager]

If we get really bad service, we will leave a penny just to let them know we did not forget but on the other hand, we will tip according to service if we have great service also. Usually 20%

[Golf-Tinker]

Suprisely, restaurant servers in The Villages typically will ask if separate checks are expected. Most Greater Boston restaurants would simply refuse to provide separate checks. We typically tip more than 20% to compensate for the "happy hour" drink cost reduction on the check.

[graciegirl]

The servers in TV, bless them, are the best we have ever encountered, anywhere. They know their business and work hard and are used to separate checks and carry out boxes. They smile at us and serve us sweetly.

[jimbo2012]

If we get really bad service, we will leave a penny just to let them know we did not forget

Now that's funny, great way to send a message, but hard to ever go back there:1rotfl:

[nonseniorresident]

If we get really bad service, we will leave a penny just to let them know we did not forget but on the other hand, we will tip according to service if we have great service also. Usually 20%

Now that's funny, great way to send a message, but hard to ever go back there:1rotfl:

That's condescending and cruel. Not hard to back there, downright dangerous. Don't mess with people handling your food.

[jimbo2012]

Not at all, would you rather get into an argument that the service sucked.

I never did it, but if the occasion arises I prefer to get the manager explain the problems and let them do their job and train the staff.

If they run a good biz you may even get comped for a return visit.

Now before you say that's bad because the wait staff may be fired, it would not be from my single problem with them.

[nonseniorresident]

Not at all, would you rather get into an argument that the service sucked.

I never did it, but if the occasion arises I prefer to get the manager explain the problems and let them do their job and train the staff.

If they run a good biz you may even get comped for a return visit.

Now before you say that's bad because the wait staff may be fired, it would not be from my single problem with them.

Well there's bad service and there's downright terrible rude servers who just don't care. Obviously I'm not going to punish a server if the restaurant overwhelmed them even if I took the hit. But even if they were really bad I don't think it's right to be condescending. Even so, you've got a lot of nerve returning.

[ilovetv]

If we get really bad service, we will leave a penny just to let them know we did not forget but on the other hand, we will tip according to service if we have great service also. Usually 20%

Leaving a penny is really mean and punitive to the server, when the problem might not be because of the server at all.

It could be that the server was not attentive to you because the boss had them assigned to a side private-party room besides the dining room.....or maybe another server did not show up for work and your server had to cover 2 sections! Any number of things can happen to cause your server to be unable to be attentive to you, and those things are to be handled by the boss who makes decisions about how many tables that server has to cover, how many servers to schedule on busy or slow days/nights/shifts....etc.

Sending a message with a penny does not communicate your point, and it says more about you than the server's job performance.

The spoken word is the way to communicate a problem.....to the boss/manager who makes decisions about the conditions under which the server is working.

[nonseniorresident]

Leaving a penny is really mean and punitive to the server, when the problem might not be because of the server at all.

It could be that the server was not attentive to you because the boss had them assigned to a side private-party room besides the dining room.....or maybe another server did not show up for work and your server had to cover 2 sections! Any number of things can happen to cause your server to be unable to be attentive to you, and those things are to be handled by the boss who makes decisions about how many tables that server has to cover, how many servers to schedule on busy or slow days/nights/shifts....etc.

Sending a message with a penny does not communicate your point, and it says more about you than the server's job performance.

The spoken word is the way to communicate a problem.....to the boss/manager who makes decisions about the conditions under which the server is working.

:BigApplause:

Good to see someone else with common sense and basic knowledge of how to treat other human beings!

[graciegirl]

Not at all, would you rather get into an argument that the service sucked.

I never did it, but if the occasion arises I prefer to get the manager explain the problems and let them do their job and train the staff.

If they run a good biz you may even get comped for a return visit.

Now before you say that's bad because the wait staff may be fired, it would not be from my single problem with them.

Wait until you move here and you will see that there isn't a problem with servers doing their jobs, for the most part.

The servers here deserve the courtesy that most of them afford us, a bunch of snarly and tight old people sometimes. I say that overwhelmingly, they are better at their jobs than any I have encountered before, anywhere.

[tmn113]

I am in the restaurant business and have been for over 20 years. I am not a senior citizen but I can give you a tip. Noone wants to work. We have to work for different reasons, family, bills etc... You should tip on service not age.

[cappyjon431]

For the most part the servers I have encountered in TV have been excellent so I usually end up tipping 20%, rounding up to the next dollar.

My general rule is:
20%+ for good service
15% for average service
10% for below average service.

I say this is a general rule because occasionally what appears on the surface to be "bad" service is actually not the server's fault but the fault of the kitchen staff and in those cases I try to be understanding and tip 15-20%.

I also always try to tip in cash because I don't want taxes to be deducted from my server's tips and I want to make sure they have access to ALL of the tip I have left behind.

I also try to always make sure that I hand the tip to the server or I will actually wait around and see them pick it up. Many years ago I went on a blind date with a girl who took a $5 tip off the table and replaced it with a $1 bill (needless to say I never dated her again!). Ever since then I have been very careful to insure that I see that the server actually gets the tip. It is way too easy for other customers or busboys to pick up the tip and rip off the server.

[Bill32]

I like to tip good service well, e.g., 20+ percent. I also pay attention to happy hour discounts. As an example if after golf the table tab is $20 for drinks at Mallory at happy hour (50% off drinks), I make the tip based on $40.:beer3:

Very good point that people miss

[Deerfly]

The best tippers are people who at some point in their lives worked for tips.

[ilovetv]

The best tippers are people who at some point in their lives worked for tips.

Not exactly so. Some former tipped workers may have been lazy or uncaring and felt/feel "entitled" to a full tip regardless of their past job performance.

I'd say that the best tippers are people who take into account that tipped minimum wage is $4.65/hr in Florida, not full minimum wage, and they have to make enough to have money to take home and pay the rent after buying gas, groceries, kids' school supplies, daycare costs, etc. on the way home.

[jimbo2012]

tipped minimum wage is $4.65/hr in Florida, not full minimum wage,

That is incorrect they must make minimum even if no one walks in the door.

[ilovetv]

That is incorrect they must make minimum even if no one walks in the door.

No, in most restaurant situations, the employee's tips earned are claimed to fill in between the Tipped Minimum Wage the employer actually pays them ($4.65), and regular Minimum wage ($7.67).

"Employers of tipped employees, who meet eligibility requirements for the tip credit under the FLSA, may count tips actually received as wages under the Florida minimum wage. However, the employer must pay tipped employees a direct wage. The direct wage is calculated as equal to the minimum wage ($7.67) minus the 2003 tip credit ($3.02), or a direct hourly wage of $4.65 as of January 1, 2012."

If nobody walks in the door, then the employer does have to bring Tipped Minimum up to Regular Minimum. And if nobody walks in the door on a regular basis, they won't be doing that very long.

http://www.floridajobs.org/minimumwage/Announcement-FL_MinWage2012.pdf

U.S. Department of Labor - Wage & Hour Divisions (WHD) - Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm)

[jimbo2012]

Ok, I stand corrected.

[Carl in Tampa]

.

20% rounded up to the next whole dollar.

I have dual motivations for being "generous" when tipping.

1. When the server is an older person I am thankful that my late wife would never have been required to work as a server if I had passed away first. I feel compassion for those who must do this work for low wages and tips.

2. I have friends who are younger who are serving now and I know how hard they work and how little they receive in tips, particularly from "older" customers.

In addition, the Bible admonishes Christians to be generous.
I Timothy 6:18


.

[paulandjean]

25% here

[eweissenbach]

15% for barely adequate service; 20% rounded up for good service; 25% for stellar service.

[katski]

Let's do a bit of meal compared to tip. At The Villages, the percentage of people who order a drink is slim to none! The Village drink is an ice water with lemon.....come on people the server still had to go and get that drink for you! The chicken was dry.....so we take it out on the server? Next time you don't like the food call the Manager on duty....this had nothing to do with your server. People we are getting way to tight on our tipping. Do you realize that your servers in The Villages only make between $4.00 and $4.75 an hour plus tips. If you can't afford at least a 15% tip maybe you should stay home with a pitcher of ice water with lemon and a can of spaghettio's..........

[graciegirl]

Let's do a bit of meal compared to tip. At The Villages, the percentage of people who order a drink is slim to none! The Village drink is an ice water with lemon.....come on people the server still had to go and get that drink for you! The chicken was dry.....so we take it out on the server? Next time you don't like the food call the Manager on duty....this had nothing to do with your server. People we are getting way to tight on our tipping. Do you realize that your servers in The Villages only make between $4.00 and $4.75 an hour plus tips. If you can't afford at least a 15% tip maybe you should stay home with a pitcher of ice water with lemon and a can of spaghettio's..........

There are many of us who drink water and tip fairly.

[wendyquat]

I'm with you old coach Ed! Mostly 20% but varies with service. We usually get good or very good service and that should be rewarded as the server is making an effort. Even with poor service we leave at least 15%. Anyone can have a bad day!

[ugotme]

Have to put my 20% in (okay that was bad!).
Probably 98% of the times - 20% on the whole bill, 1%-15% if service is bad and 1%-25% if exceptional!

Please note that I said "service" not food !

We have a family "birthday dinner" almost once a month at the same place. Bill usually runs about $300 or so. they take GREAT care of us and we, in turn, take GREAT care of them.

[KellBelle]

I always tip atleast 10 percent even if the service is bad but normally I tip 30 percent. Most people don't realize that servers have to give some of that tip to the bar, bus, expo, etc. I am a server in the villages and the place that I work, 5 percent of your sales are automatically taken out of your checkout for other employees. So even if I do get 20 percent, in reality I am only getting to keep 15 percent. So if I am not topped I am paying tip wait on the table for up to an hour. I have never given bad service to anyone but some people just don't tip! Most belong to a certain group which is bad but true! When I go out I almost always get bad service. I still tip! Servers think I won't tip because I am young with a small child and in most cases that is generally true but I am a big topper. Minimum 5 bucks even if my check is only 10 bucks.

[CaptJohn]

I once sat with a lady having coffee and pie for way over an hour. The waitress was great about refilling the coffee, etc. (that was the only woman who could outdrink me in coffee!). When I went to pay my tip on the credit card, it was over twice the cost of the food and she had to get the manager to specially approve the tip charge since it looked suspicious and the cash register wouldn't accept it. I realized we were taking up time when she could have waited on others at our booth so wanted to overcompensate her to make up for others that probably had shortchanged her. Hopefully, it made her day! :laugh:

[jblum315]

Always 20%, and always in cash

[meatthevillages]

That is incorrect they must make minimum even if no one walks in the door.

No, that is correct, $4.69/hr. if they have no tables at all for the night, then manager must redo there clock in to a min wage job. My son works hospitality some nights where he works, he gets no orders, no drink, just entertains and brings samples for guest as they wait.

PS, not all waiters/servers/bartenders are uneducated, as my son has 2 college deg and in this economy, cant find a job in those fields

[ugotme]

Almost always 20% of the TOTAL bill including tax.

[CFrance]

20%, unless waiter does something really rude, which has rarely happened. A little more if it's a friend's child or a regular server we see often and know by name.

[Trayderjoe]

I always start at 20% and the server will determine if it ends up being less. While I recognize that everyone has a bad day, if the service is bad, I adjust the tip accordingly or speak to the manager. Note: I do make it a point to always speak to the manager if I have good service. I know that the servers appreciate the tips, but if they deserve a pat on the back, I want to make sure that they get one.

[SALYBOW]

Because I am not able to eat much food I usually tip more than 20% because I know servers depend on their tips. They also work hard. I always get good service so maybe this is a good idea...who knows?

[CFrance]

Because I am not able to eat much food I usually tip more than 20% because I know servers depend on their tips. They also work hard. I always get good service so maybe this is a good idea...who knows?

Metaphorically speaking, this is a good rule to live by, Salybow: Eat less and tip more!

[elevatorman]

////

[Suzi]

normal 15% to 20%, but all depends upon the service provided


I agree. And its not JUST the service but also ATTITUDE. That means a great deal to me. A smile and eye contact may mean the difference between between 20% or more.

[BBQMan]

20% rounded up to the next $5 (a $21 check including tax gets a $5 tip) Minimum tip with good service $5.

[california dreamer]

I read a study that was done on tipping. It found that when a server was tipped irradicaly, first a big tip, and then next time a small tip, the server ended up providing better, more attentive service to the patron. In other words, forced the server to pay attention to service. I thought of my own waitressing days, and found this to be true. If I knew the patron was a good tipper, I provided the same usual service, knowing to expect a good tip. (ok! I was 20 yrs old!) But if there is an unknown factor there, then the service might be stepped up a bit, just part of human nature for reward system, and the practical amount of time allowed for each table.
My husband is very good tipper, good thing, as I am more critical of service!

[lindyjoe1944]

That's great you tip off the $40 and not the $20. Some people who use the coupons tip off of the discounted price, now that's being a "real cheapskate"!!!

[Golfingnut]

We use the card for the bill and hand the wait person 20 to 25% in cash.

[Mikiem]

People need to remember wait staff earn sub minimum wage and rely on tips for their real wages.

[Challenger]

my most common tip is 20% , however I will do less if service is below a reasonable standard(subjective, but we all know poor service when we experience it). IMO overtipping is charity not a reward for services. Not all charities are worthy of support nor are all wait staff. Rewarding bad service just exacerbates the problem for other patrons and is an insult to those who work hard to serve us.

[LoriLind]

Just tip...and say please and thank you for pete's sake...leave your attitudes at home...and enjoy! Simple as that.:spoken:

[TomOB]

Tip well. I was young once and tips helped me through college and when my family was young...before I got a career. You become remembered and get really good service if you tip well.

[TrudyM]

I tip by the effort expended not as a percentage. If I go to a budget resturant for breakfast say and the Bill is $25.00 and I got a coffee refill and the server wasn't rude I'll leave about 6 dollars.
But if like today we go to brunch at a better resturant and the Bill is $45.00 and I didn't get my coffee without asking twice and the server is rude No way is that guy getting more than the gal in the hash joint. $45.00 plus our tax of 10% brings it to $49.50 so 20% would be $9.90- His other three tables had 4 people each so in one hour his tips would be at $69.30 that is not starving pay by any streach and he just wasn't worth it. I mean it wasn't like he was doing Teppanyaki or anything the jerk didn't even bring me coffee. I left $5 and should have left a penny.
But If we pay by charge we also add odd cents to the tip so that the total bill will come up to the ending number my husband and I have picked for the month that way we can spot a bogus charge on our bill. In the $25.00 dollar example the bill would be $27.50 with tax and we would have made the tip $6.25 so that the bill ended in .75 as that is our number for the month. Since we have started doing this I have caught about 4 bogus charges from resturants a year mostly from when we are on vacation and someone double swipes our card.

Told you I was wierd

[meatthevillages]

I tip by the effort expended not as a percentage. If I go to a budget resturant for breakfast say and the Bill is $25.00 and I got a coffee refill and the server wasn't rude I'll leave about 6 dollars.
But if like today we go to brunch at a better resturant and the Bill is $45.00 and I didn't get my coffee without asking twice and the server is rude No way is that guy getting more than the gal in the hash joint. $45.00 plus our tax of 10% brings it to $49.50 so 20% would be $9.90- His other three tables had 4 people each so in one hour his tips would be at $69.30 that is not starving pay by any streach and he just wasn't worth it. I mean it wasn't like he was doing Teppanyaki or anything the jerk didn't even bring me coffee. I left $5 and should have left a penny.
But If we pay by charge we also add odd cents to the tip so that the total bill will come up to the ending number my husband and I have picked for the month that way we can spot a bogus charge on our bill. In the $25.00 dollar example the bill would be $27.50 with tax and we would have made the tip $6.25 so that the bill ended in .75 as that is our number for the month. Since we have started doing this I have caught about 4 bogus charges from resturants a year mostly from when we are on vacation and someone double swipes our card.

Told you I was wierd


If your getting charged 10% tax on food, then you need to call the state, as the sales tax is 6-7%. Once again, they are human, they forget thing, get busy. Dont forget too that they are cleaning in the back, running other peoples food, getting ice and so on.

[meatthevillages]

I always tip atleast 10 percent even if the service is bad but normally I tip 30 percent. Most people don't realize that servers have to give some of that tip to the bar, bus, expo, etc. I am a server in the villages and the place that I work, 5 percent of your sales are automatically taken out of your checkout for other employees. So even if I do get 20 percent, in reality I am only getting to keep 15 percent. So if I am not topped I am paying tip wait on the table for up to an hour. I have never given bad service to anyone but some people just don't tip! Most belong to a certain group which is bad but true! When I go out I almost always get bad service. I still tip! Servers think I won't tip because I am young with a small child and in most cases that is generally true but I am a big topper. Minimum 5 bucks even if my check is only 10 bucks.


Dont forget the the government taxes you on 18% . So if you got 15% minus 3-5% for bus, bar, thats 10%, now, you got 15% tip, you stil pay 8% more on money you didnt get, because the government assumes you got 18%.

[Russ_Boston]

Dont forget the the government taxes you on 18% . So if you got 15% minus 3-5% for bus, bar, thats 10%, now, you got 15% tip, you stil pay 8% more on money you didnt get, because the government assumes you got 18%.


When did this happen? Could you provide some link so I could research that? Wasn't that way when my wife was a server for many years.

Also - Do all restaurants have to report exact sales figures per server? Is it completely automated even at mom and pop operations? Seems like that would be a daunting task considering how many servers end up running for other tables etc.

Note: I know that waiters are SUPPOSED to report full figures to the IRS but you seem to be indicating the restaurant produces exact sales figures for each server and I don't think that fully happens.

[Parker]

I don't think waiters should even have to report their tips to the IRS. And I think restaurants should be required to pay minimum wage like all other businesses. And as for pooling tips, no way! Good waiters should end up with more money at the end of their shift, and bad waiters should be motivated to improve their service if they want better money for themselves. For the record, I tip about 20%, depending.

[graciegirl]

I don't think waiters should even have to report their tips to the IRS. And I think restaurants should be required to pay minimum wage like all other businesses. And as for pooling tips, no way! Good waiters should end up with more money at the end of their shift, and bad waiters should be motivated to improve their service if they want better money for themselves. For the record, I tip about 20%, depending.

NO pooling tips. I agree. More money for those who work and deserve it and put up with a lot of selfish mean people.



And if any of you who are servers in any of the restaurants are reading this thread, there are many of us who are grateful for your good hard work and patience. We respect you mightily for long hours on your feet and proud that you take care of yourselves and your families like many of us have done over the years.

I hope that you know that many of us appreciate you and try to tip you fairly.

[gemorc]

I didn't read the entire eleven pages of this thread, but here is my opinion. Doesn't my amenities fees cover all my tipping?

[CFrance]

Honestly... maybe we just don't go out to eat as much as everyone else, but we've never had bad service from any waitstaff around here, ever.

Plus... I was at a club dinner the other night on the patio of Arnold Palmer CC. There were about 130 women there. We were there for a celebration, but everyone was responsible for buying her own dinner & drinks separately. The service was phenomenal--fast & efficient. Checks came promptly after you asked for them. I was amazed at their organization. Gratuity was included in the bill, but service was so well performed it deserved a more of top of that. These people were very professional.

[tommy steam]

There really is no correct answer to the posts in this thread. It is very sad but true, none the less. Redwitch says the laws should be changed to insure that servers and all other restaurant employee's get paid the minimum wage but, then she goes on to say that if the owners were forced to pay a fair wage they would have to raise prices to a level that most of their patrons could ill afford. They would soon be out of business. Of course red is a good person and means well but, what is the answer. As a restaurantuer I have been searching for that answer for more years then I care to admit in public. I firmly believe that there is no answer. In my quest for a fair resolution to this matter, I got lots of opinions, especially from people that were never in the business. Those opinions that I got from folks like me that worked in the trade and then risked all to have their own place, gave me the same answer. There is no answer.
In 2007 I went to Australia for a month long visit. They pay the servers in restaurants a very good wage , they are considered having a profession. I did not notice the food prices being too much higher than places I ate at in NYC.
This was in Sidney .

[CFrance]

The cost of living in Australia is so darn high that the minimum wage there of $15/hr only seems high to us. Australia is an incredibly expensive place to live. As of 2013, Sydney is the third most expensive place to live in the world; Melbourne is fifth. Paris is 8th; No American city even makes the top 20.

Our son & wife live & work there. We have visited. The prices are astounding.

[floridagirl94]

I didn't read the entire eleven pages of this thread, but here is my opinion. Doesn't my amenities fees cover all my tipping?

So in addition to the beautiful pools and rec centers that are available to you, no greens fees on executive golf courses, entertainment on all of the squares 7 times a week, beautifully landscaped entrances, and many other perks of the Villages lifestyle that your $150/month amenities fees cover, you think gratuities should also be included??

[Russ_Boston]

So in addition to the beautiful pools and rec centers that are available to you, no greens fees on executive golf courses, entertainment on all of the squares 7 times a week, beautifully landscaped entrances, and many other perks of the Villages lifestyle that your $150/month amenities fees cover, you think gratuities should also be included??


Facetious | What is the Definition of Facetious? | Dictionary.com (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/facetious)

[graciegirl]

So in addition to the beautiful pools and rec centers that are available to you, no greens fees on executive golf courses, entertainment on all of the squares 7 times a week, beautifully landscaped entrances, and many other perks of the Villages lifestyle that your $150/month amenities fees cover, you think gratuities should also be included??


Gemorc is pulling on our collective leg. He is a nice fellow. VERY nice. Bit ornery.

[CFrance]

So in addition to the beautiful pools and rec centers that are available to you, no greens fees on executive golf courses, entertainment on all of the squares 7 times a week, beautifully landscaped entrances, and many other perks of the Villages lifestyle that your $150/month amenities fees cover, you think gratuities should also be included??

Facetious | What is the Definition of Facetious? | Dictionary.com (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/facetious)

:a20::a20::BigApplause:

[gemorc]

Are we having fun yet?

[ztech]

For an average lunch or inexpensive dinner for two, our bill is usually $30 to $40 and we regularly tip $10 (25% to 33%). The server is appreciative and remembers us... After a couple visits, we've noticed that the hostess sometimes seats us within her favorite servers area. Many times the server remembers and greets us by name. The additional $2 to $4 tip makes everyone happier and doesn't impact our wallet much.

[Mack184]

I have a sort of "all or nothing" feeling about tipping. I have never subscribed that a tip is part of the cost of a meal. It is a reward for good service. If you are attentive, keep up with the drinks and make sure that the salad, soup & entree doesn't all arrive at the same time I almost always leave 20-30%. If they are really doing their job..they're working hard and deserve it.

If they just go thru the motions but nothing is screwed up I'll leave 15%.

BUT..If they go away, don't keep up with the drinks and don't time out the courses..they'll get no reward from me. I have no problem stiffing a server if they provide poor service.

[AriaGrandparents2013]

My wife and I tend to always return to several of our favorite restaurants as we are creatures of habit.......accordingly we tip generously and generally find that the server remembers us and shows their appreciation on our future visits. Appreciation is generally shown through attentiveness, bring our drinks to table before we even order, etc.