Restaurant tipping

Would you be more likely to go to this type of restaurant vs one with the current tipping setup?

  • Yes

    Votes: 25 37.9%
  • No

    Votes: 41 62.1%

  • Total voters
    66

dmclone

Well-Known Member
Oct 20, 2006
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I'm not sure when the standard went from 15% to 20%, but I still do 15%. It seems like it went up about the same time that dining prices rose, which makes no sense.
 
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KidSilverhair

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Dec 18, 2010
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Rapids of the Cedar
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If you were having a $60 steak then the burger is at least 15 to $17. Hahaha. I get your point, but waiters and waitresses know they are in a numbers game. Sometimes there's a big winner and not so big winner. Think about the guy that orders 1 $15 cocktail and the table next to them orders a $400 bottle of wine.

Im old enough to remember the custom for tipping on cocktails or beers was $1 a drink, not a percentage. The restaurant profit margins on alcohol are so astoundingly high tipping a percentage on top of that is akin to robbery.

But, alas, times have changed, 15% is no longer the standard tip for good service (even though as the cost of the meal rises over time so would the value of a 15% tip, no, that’s just fake math, 20% or 22% must be the “standard” now because 15% is just insulting or something) and by god you better include those drinks in your calculation. Tax and “service charge,” too, at least according to some places.

The real dilemma in this whole situation is states allowing a “tipped wage” tier for some jobs, so they don’t actually even get minimum wage from their employer, the difference must be made up from tips. That’s ridiculous. Unfortunately, the real opponents of paying a solid wage/eliminating tips are the servers, because they know they’re actually making more money under this tipping system - and even states that don’t have the “tipped wage” system and pay the servers a reasonable wage still expect you to tip.

I specifically tip on the pre-tax amount on my check - I'm not including sales tax or credit card fees or service charges, why on earth would I tip on those? Once in a while I might break out the alcohol charges and do $1 a drink on those, but I admit I don’t do it very often. Then I figure 20% in my head, because it’s easy, and round from there.
 
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BCClone

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Not exactly sure.
I dislike the handheld card readers where they linger over you. I like to always have my totals be to a dollar amount. awkward to do that math while they are standing there.
 
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Nolaeer

Well-Known Member
Nov 24, 2012
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What!??? It isn't 10 percent? Even the church only requires a 10 percent tithe.
 

Cyclones_R_GR8

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Feb 10, 2007
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I dislike the handheld card readers where they linger over you. I like to always have my totals be to a dollar amount. awkward to do that math while they are standing there.
Last week I was at a place that had a QR code on the check so I could just pay with my phone. The suggested tip was less than I would have tipped so they got the suggested amount. That covered the small service fee for the service that performed the transaction
 
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CyCoug

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Sep 19, 2021
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Ok, didn’t know about that as I haven’t been to one in years since I no longer live in the Midwest anymore.
Culver’s has expanded to more than just midwestern states for which I’m grateful. While they don’t accept tips, my tip is that I usually just get a kids meal. It’s the right size burger, drink, and scoop of frozen custard at the end.
 

Clonedogg

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Sep 4, 2009
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"Don’t eat yellow snow"


There's your tip
When I delivered pizzas, way back, I would sometimes hear that 3 times a night. Gets hard to fake a chuckle after a while. After a while I just started saying, "oh ya third time I've gotten that tip tonight, thanks". It was my way of saying, you're (it's) not that clever.
 
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SCNCY

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Sep 11, 2009
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Culver’s has expanded to more than just midwestern states for which I’m grateful. While they don’t accept tips, my tip is that I usually just get a kids meal. It’s the right size burger, drink, and scoop of frozen custard at the end.

Still waiting for them to come to the northeast :(.
 

Clonehomer

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
26,500
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Last week I was at a place that had a QR code on the check so I could just pay with my phone. The suggested tip was less than I would have tipped so they got the suggested amount. That covered the small service fee for the service that performed the transaction

Best is places like Texas Roadhouse that have the reader at your table. Don’t even have to wait for the bill. Just waiting for the day that casual sit down restaurants have online ordering. I really don’t need someone to take my order. The only interaction we should have is to deliver food and fill drinks. Save the waiter for fine dining and let’s drop the tip charade at places that don’t need it.
 

1SEIACLONE

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Jun 2, 2024
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Ames Iowa
When I delivered pizzas, way back, I would sometimes hear that 3 times a night. Gets hard to fake a chuckle after a while. After a while I just started saying, "oh ya third time I've gotten that tip tonight, thanks". It was my way of saying, you're (it's) not that clever.
That would suck, but you actually perform a "service" by bringing a person food, and should get a tip for it. But why should I tip someone that is just handling me food at a fast food shop. They did not prepare it, and really did nothing but ring up the order. I do not mind rounding up, the grocery store in Bloomfield was very good about supporting local causes, After prom, the local little league or Girl Scouts, I had no problem rounding up for things like that. But now places want a donation, instead of going from $14.35 to $15.00. It's gotten out of hand, and needs to stop.
 

NWICY

Well-Known Member
Sep 2, 2012
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I’m sure they would certainly go for the tips. But is that better for the consumer though? With restaurant prices what they are today, 20% ends up a crazy high hourly rate when you figure in several tables per hour. Restaurant prices have gone up probably 30% over the past couple years. So should the tip also have increased by that much?
I was at a brew pub last summer they called your name for the food and pick it up at the window. I tipped 10% and thought that was too much. I did tip a buck a beer like I usually do though.
 

CyDude16

Well-Known Member
Oct 2, 2008
22,422
11,663
113
Heads in the sky
There appears to be a chance that tips will be tax free. This would affect your poll.

If u ask a waiter in a metropolitan area, which i have over the years, they have always wanted smaller wage and keep their own tips. They share their tips with bus help, generally on a predetermined formula.

If u ask a Starbucks employee, my gut would be they would take a higher wage.

Per a restaurant (pizza) owner in Austin, Tx last month, he is paying dishwashers and bus help $20/hr. In West Texas and the Rio Gande Valley, the hourly wages are in the $12/hrs. range.

The no taxes on tips is only for cash tips. Which are widely underreported anyways. The legislation finally differentiates cash and non cash tips.
 

CyDude16

Well-Known Member
Oct 2, 2008
22,422
11,663
113
Heads in the sky
Im old enough to remember the custom for tipping on cocktails or beers was $1 a drink, not a percentage. The restaurant profit margins on alcohol are so astoundingly high tipping a percentage on top of that is akin to robbery.

But, alas, times have changed, 15% is no longer the standard tip for good service (even though as the cost of the meal rises over time so would the value of a 15% tip, no, that’s just fake math, 20% or 22% must be the “standard” now because 15% is just insulting or something) and by god you better include those drinks in your calculation. Tax and “service charge,” too, at least according to some places.

The real dilemma in this whole situation is states allowing a “tipped wage” tier for some jobs, so they don’t actually even get minimum wage from their employer, the difference must be made up from tips. That’s ridiculous. Unfortunately, the real opponents of paying a solid wage/eliminating tips are the servers, because they know they’re actually making more money under this tipping system - and even states that don’t have the “tipped wage” system and pay the servers a reasonable wage still expect you to tip.

I specifically tip on the pre-tax amount on my check - I'm not including sales tax or credit card fees or service charges, why on earth would I tip on those? Once in a while I might break out the alcohol charges and do $1 a drink on those, but I admit I don’t do it very often. Then I figure 20% in my head, because it’s easy, and round from there.

Actually the push back is far more from the owners not the servers or staff.
 

Cyched

CF Influencer
May 8, 2009
38,148
65,863
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Colorado
The no taxes on tips is only for cash tips. Which are widely underreported anyways. The legislation finally differentiates cash and non cash tips.

Does it? The IRS includes card charges in their definition of cash tips.


Tips include:

  • Cash tips received directly from customers.
  • Tips from customers who leave a tip through electronic settlement or payment. This includes a credit card, debit card, gift card or any other electronic payment method.
 

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