Random poll for all (NSAIFR)

howleyshell

1.  How much do you tip at restaurants?   (ie:  a percentage of the bill?)

2.  Have you ever worked in the restaurant industry before?

 

 

samk213

1.  How much do you tip at restaurants?   (ie:  a percentage of the bill?) Always at least 20%, but usually closer to 25-30%

2.  Have you ever worked in the restaurant industry before?  No.

schmoodle

1.  How much do you tip at restaurants?   (ie:  a percentage of the bill?) Before Toodle, 20%, sometimes rounded up a dollar or so to get to a round number (i.e. no change). Now that we have him with us and he's a mess and we're usually rushing them, more like 25-30% depending on how good and accommodating they are.

2.  Have you ever worked in the restaurant industry before? No.

ETA: I give less (10-15%) for truly terrible/rude service but even then hesitate. We left 12% once after a waitress was rude, inattentive (refilled my dad's coffee 3 times but didn't even glance at DH's, likely (incorrectly) assuming my dad and not us were paying, and essentially expressed annoyance/distaste for my sister being autistic (she was 9, kept standing up and walking around the table but wasn't being loud or disruptive and the waitress made a snide comment, and when my stepmom explained that my sister had autism, she replied along the lines of "I don't care what she has, she needs to stay out of the aisles."). After we left though, she followed us out and was irate and said she did the best she could, then started crying. Eesh...not even worth it.

meechrobi

howleyshell:

1.  How much do you tip at restaurants?   (ie:  a percentage of the bill?) almost always at least 20%. Only less if the SERVICE was bad. If the food was bad- I dont take that out on the waitstaff.

2.  Have you ever worked in the restaurant industry before? Yes- waitressed and bartended in college. Waitressed after college (in addition to my FT job) to help pay for our wedding. I would waitress to this day- if I had time. I LOVE it!

 

 

RoxBride

20 percent.  More if I am some place like Denny's or whatever, where they are working so hard for so little.

Nope.

PhillySue

1. The majority of the time we leave 20%.  Sometime more (with excellent service)  but never less

2. The summer before I started college I worked as a hostess

Cassian

1. At least 20%. Usually more.

2. Yes, but I believe tips need to be earned, they are not a right.

madhatter2003

20% if it's just me and DH, more if the kids are with us and they have to cater to our 8 billion demands.

Yes, DH was a waiter, I worked a variety of positions.

oct11bride03

1.  How much do you tip at restaurants?   (ie:  a percentage of the bill?)

Always 20%, unless the service was absolutely horrendous. Then I might do 15-18%,  but it's rare. If the service is amazing I'll do 25-30%.

2.  Have you ever worked in the restaurant industry before?

Nope.

ladychicago

1. At least 20%...usually rounded up. More for extraordinary service. 2. Nope. But DH did in high school for a bit.

krissyh21

I am a waitress/bartender so I am usually a generous tipper (30% or more) unless service sucks, and by sucks I mean that the restaurant is dead slow and the waitress is chatting it up with her co workers while I am waving my arms to get her attention.

PeachyKate

1. If I sign for the check I give at least 20%, DH always gives more.  2.  I didn't, but DH did.

kittylove

I tend to tip around 20% more if DS has made a mess.

No

sixres

1.  20% almost every time.  Unless the service was poor, than a little less.

2. Yes, but only for a year when I was 16.

kme930

1. 15-20+%, depending on quality of service, but usually 20+%.

2. Sort of. I worked at a Ben & Jerry's and lived for the $1.50 that was my share of the tip jar at the end of the night!

 

As an aside, DH worked at a nice restaurant as a waiter. Contrary to what I would have thought, it sometimes makes him less likely to tip well. He has very high expectations and understands the job, and so he tips really well when someone does the job really well, and he has a really tough time giving 15% (does so under protest at my request) when the waitstaff is not so good.

leslies75

1.  How much do you tip at restaurants?   (ie:  a percentage of the bill?)

Always tip 20%, unless there's something seriously wrong with the waiter/waitress service. 

2.  Have you ever worked in the restaurant industry before?

No.

CardsfanSM

20-30%. Both DH and I have waited tables/bartended, etc. There were a few years when we paid our bills on tips alone.

Carrie25

1.  How much do you tip at restaurants?   (ie:  a percentage of the bill?) At least 20%, depends on how much of a mess DS has made.  Less if the service was bad.2.  Have you ever worked in the restaurant industry before? Nope, always thought it would be fun but never did it

emiannie

1.)  20% for normal service, more like 30% if they're better than average.

2.)  Never worked in a restaurant.

somethingchangd

At least 20%.  More if I received good service.

Yes, I was a waitress in high school.  My mom also raised my brother and I (while in school full time) by bartending.

LucyPevensie

howleyshell:

1.  How much do you tip at restaurants?   (ie:  a percentage of the bill?)

Consistently 20 percent.  More around the holidays and if someone went OUT of their way to be extra helpful and pleasant. 

2.  Have you ever worked in the restaurant industry before?

Yes - hostessed in high school and waitressed in college.

 

 

sommerrayne

howleyshell:

1.  How much do you tip at restaurants?   (ie:  a percentage of the bill?) Its never set. For good service, you get 20%, for OUTSTANDING service you get more (usually whatever I can justify spending that isn't going to put us in the poor house - I've given a 100.00 tip on a 50.00 bill before). A tip in general is for going above and beyond. Not for taking my order with a humph, shoving my food in front of my face and never coming back. I drink A LOT of water, I usually request a pitcher/karafe of water and I'm usually told no but if you don't ever come back to refill my drink - that's crap.

2.  Have you ever worked in the restaurant industry before? Yes, for MANY years. This is where I come to my conclusion. I worked my a$$ off for years and while its not a meritocricy, I think it should be. We are socialized to think we "OWE" people a tip but there are a number of jobs in this country that are underpaid (UNDERpaid, not necessarily LOW wage) where no one waltzes into their cubicle and tips them when they do a stellar job. Furthermore, I believe that many waiters believe they're OWED a tip and are a$$hats regardless because "you owe me at least 20%". My husband has said, from the moment we met, "Well 20% is just the basics to help them cover taxes" which I think is the most ridiculous claim in the world. A) we live in a state without state income tax and  Is anyone "helping" us with OUR taxes?! NO! And my husband works for a company who willingly shares with the market that they pay ~20% less than market because of their benefit package (which we've just been informed about 3 months ago, will be totally going away in 2 years).

We live in an entitled society where hard work, courtesy, and diligence are not valued. Our kids are over-indulged to a fault and grow up not even being motivated by money (so why should they work harder!?!?!). Its really an epidemic that spans FAR beyond the "tipping" debate. 

 

 

alchris

I tip 20%, but if the food is cheap and the service is great, I've been known to tip 100+% more than once.  Servers in $$$ restaurants shouldn't get all the tips!

No, I have not.  I've always wanted to tip generously b/c I know I wouldn't want to do it myself!

laura&dan05

1.  How much do you tip at restaurants?   (ie:  a percentage of the bill?) 20-25% unless the service was really awful then I'd tip less.

2.  Have you ever worked in the restaurant industry before? no

Mouseygail

20%+  the math is easier

and I've never worked in the biz

jenber77

1. Usually 15%, sometimes 20% if the service was really good.

2. Yes, but only as a cook.

 

ETA: You've all said 20%+. I always thought 15% was the standard. Am I behind the times or all you all just very generous?

nolachick11

1) at the least 20%, more if excellent service

2) Yes and bartended.  Dh did also.

itsmevkb

1. A minimum of 20 with more if our kids make a mess.

2. No.

There have been times when I'm super tempted to tip less because the server doesn't bring me back good change.  If my bill is $20 and I give you $40 don't bring me back two $10s because then I don't have any money to give you a tip.  Bring me back a $10, a $5 and five singles so that I can leave you either $4, $5 or $6  for the tip.  I've never even waitressed and I know this so I wonder why all servers don't know this.

Kim777

1) At least 20%, but more if our kids leave a mess. I do generally try to clean up what I can, but if they are in meltdown mode and we have to go then we definitely leave more.

2) no

EMTTessie

1. Usually 20% but more if the service is outstanding. I will definately give a low tip though for really crap service, like others said, the tip is earned not an automatic.

2. No, but one of my closest friends from high school used to be a waitress, so I know that the job is hard.

Smudges*Mom

Typically between 18-20%, provided the service warrants it. I/we have only stiffed someone once. In addition to many other problems, the server delivered a hot pizza OVER my child's head.

I have never worked in the service industry, but I have respect for those who do. Its a lot of details to keep straight & I couldn't do it!

browneyedgrl4282

1.  How much do you tip at restaurants?   (ie:  a percentage of the bill?)

at 20%, only time i did not give 20% was when the waitress was awful! She messed up every single thing i ordered and on top of it she spilled an entire glass of ice tea all over me. This was right before going to see a show and i was wet for a while! The girl was just ditzy i guess and very clumsy  because she knocked over other stuff that same night

2.  Have you ever worked in the restaurant industry before? No! I would be the waitress who dumbs entire pitcher of water on that jerk customers lap for being rude!

vandelay

1.  How much do you tip at restaurants?   (ie:  a percentage of the bill?) -- At least 20% (usually a little more b/c we round up); more for good service.

2.  Have you ever worked in the restaurant industry before? No

ETA -- Oh wait, I forgot about my stints as hostesses in Ryan's Steakhouse and Shoney's in high school.  (Yep -- Shoney's).  I didn't get tipped in that position, though.

 

mechanicsgirl

Depends on the service.  If it is particularly good (i.e. you acknowledge my children, let us know if the food is going to take a little longer, check on us relatively frequently, etc), I tip above 25%.  If it's so/so, I tip appx 20%.  If it's terrible or the waiter/waitress does one or more of the things that really really drive me insane, I don't tip. 

ETA:  Yes, I've worked in the restaurant industry.

epphd

1. 20% on full bill including drinks, unless we order a very expensive bottle of wine.  We don't tip 20% on that portion, but on, say, $20 of it.

2. No, but DH has.

JillRock96

My standard is 20%, but if the service is very good (or we're out with the kids, which is rare these days!), I give 25%.  If the service is terrible (not the food, but the service), I might go down to 15%, but that's rare. 

I worked at an Italian restaurant throughout high school as the hostess and taking orders for carry out/delivery.  I never received tips, though.

togo

1.  How much do you tip at restaurants?   (ie:  a percentage of the bill?) 20% if they are good, 15% if they suck really really bad, like if they don't even deserve a tip bad.

2.  Have you ever worked in the restaurant industry before? yes

BoilerSuz

1) 20% for okay service much more for great service. We always ask for the manager for well above and beyond service!  As a rule we also seriously consider the time involved ie- 3hrs spent watching a game or a lingering dinner. DS has a habit of being the last to leave after game watching to be sure others have left enough. 

2) No but I have worked in a service industry.

 

We once spent a NYE meal at a very highend restaurant.  The meal/ service was bluntly put horrible even more so when the pricetag was considered.   (previously had had many great meals there)  We said nothing as did the other members of group but I went back the nextday after making an appointment with the manager.  He was so horrified he refunded our entire tips and most of the meal then gave giftcards for the remaining amount - almost $1k for 3 couples. The comment of the evening after already bad service direct at me, in the middle of horrible rounds of IF treatments  sitting between two very pregnant friends "I think we can see who hasn't been getting busy!"

desabean

Almost always 20% (but of the total bill, not the weird rule about before tax, etc.)  When in doubt, I always round up.  With Garrison I usually leave a little more though (or if we were a particularly needy table or otherwise got great service I will up it).

I went to one day of training at Chili's and never went back.

Yellow_Daisy

1. 20% for good service, more for great service and less for poor service.  The tax on tips is roughly 8%, maybe a little more since I haven't waited tables in a while.  If the service is really bad I give them 10% knowing full well they more than likely have to tip out the bar, host, food runner and busser.  I don't think tips should be expected even though most servers feel entitled to them.  I also don't think restaurants should be supplementing wages of their bartenders, hosts, bussers and food runners with tips that are calculated off a % of servers total sales, not how much money the server actually made.

2. Yes, my first job was as a hostess, then bookkeeper, then server.  I put myself threw college working the breakfast shift at one restaurant and dinner shift at another.  I have no problem tipping poorly or speaking to a manager when the service is subpar.

jmkatz

1. At least 20%.  Never less, and almost always more.

2.  Yes.  I was a waitress and bartender all through college, and actually met my husband when he was the GM of the restaurant I worked at.