How much would you tip a waiter or waitress?

1. 68

   bayouladyposted 13 years ago

   Where I live (Louisiana,USA) The going rate is 15%, but if I get rudeness I only tip 10%. Here in north Louisiana, we even tip the "Sonic Drive In" carhops (a dollar extra)that bring out our burger order. This started about 5 years ago, but I only found out about it 3 years ago. I don't like it, but since we are regulars, I do.

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2. 0

   Contriceposted 13 years ago

   Depends on the service, usually 15%

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3. 60

   spraytaskposted 13 years ago

   20% and more.  It's a hard job.

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4. 71

   SteveoMcposted 13 years ago

   Washington state's 2010 minimum wage is $8.55 per hour, the highest in the nation.   State law does not allow an exception for tipped earnings.   This means that all wait staff earn at least minimum wage.   I have several young friends who are wait staff and they all make the minimum or higher.   
   
   So here they make $8.55 per hour plus tips.   Now you cannot live on that.   If you expect your servers to make a living and support a family, raise kids, look nice for you, be pleasant, etc., then you should want to help them out. 
   
   I myself am a stingy tipper, but I want the people who wait on me to have a decent income.   I insist on leaving at least double the sales tax, which here is 8.2%.   On a hundred dollar dinner, that is $16.40.   That would be the absolute minimum.   
   
   Fortunately my wife is a much more generous tipper and I always take her along.   She always throws in something extra for the tip, making it more like 25%.   
   
   My friends generally make with tips around double the minimum, which is enough to make it on.   But for a hardworking pleasant person, the wage is still in the $30,000 to $40,000 range.  I do know at least one who makes more like $12 per hour plus tips.     
   
   These people deserve our support and it should be theirs despite the circumstances.   Occasionally, there is very bad service, in those circumstances, I will not let my wife throw in her extra.   Although I will hear about it.

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   1. 59

      GurlShonnyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      You say this as if we owe them something for working in an environment that they themselves chose to work in. I too can be a stingy tipper because I believe that good, hard work just pays off.
      
      Even though the economy is bad right now and to get any job is a blessing, nobody can make a person choose a job to wait on tables. So there for if they provide good service then they get a good tip. Some waiters or waitreses are lucky if they get a tip at all.

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5. 63

   ns1209posted 13 years ago

   In the UK while tipping is expected waiters/tresses actually make the minimum wage plus tips.  I normally leave about 10% but some people leave none! 
   
   I think you should give a small tip however it sounds a bit different in the U.S.A as if tips are depended on but it also sounds like the service is generally better their!

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6. 0

   Rookie70posted 13 years ago

   I tip generously. I believe great service is automatically rewarded $7 to $8, and if the food was also good, add an extra $3.

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7. 59

   lyjoposted 13 years ago

   Usually,20%, however, if they are amazing, but not obnoxious, we've been known to leave 25-30%,they deserve to know how well they did...it is very hard work.

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8. 60

   katiem2posted 13 years ago

   I feel it's important to tip the person who's waiting on you... I mean that's a treat.
   
   I tip 20% depending on the service, if great I tip more.

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9. 59

   Writerxink!posted 13 years ago

   I tip over and above the 15% it hard work and take a special kind of a person with a upbeat personality to interact with volume of people on a daily basis.

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10. 53

    The Smiling Manposted 13 years ago

    I've waited myself before, so I understand how difficul it can be. 20% or more

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11. 82

    timorousposted 13 years ago

    If she's got extreme attitude problems, and provides horrible service..just tip her until she's about to fall over.

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    1. 80

       Canklefishposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Really? She? Do you not tip waiters at all?

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       1. 64

          Mishaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Deleted
          1. 0

             klarawieckposted 13 years agoin reply to this

             Deleted
             1. 64

                Mishaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                LOL Talking to yourself Klara?

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                1. 0

                   klarawieckposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                   You are such a gent! You took it back?
                   No, I'm not talking to myself. In my case when that happens, it's a ghost.

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                2. 0

                   klarawieckposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                   Talking to yourself Misha?

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    2. 82

       timorousposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Really..you people.  It was just a simple joke.  Get over it!
       
       Yes I do tip appropriately, when I do go out.

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12. 80

    Canklefishposted 13 years ago

    Tipping starts at 20% and goes up or down from there. We no longer live in the stone ages...
    
    and anybody who wants to dine out should have to work in the restaurant business for at least a year, so that they know just what the profession entails!

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13. 0

    klarawieckposted 13 years ago

    18 to 20%

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14. 64

    Mishaposted 13 years ago

    LOL, I just don't like it when waiters tell me what I should do (or writers for that matter), so I posted first - but then thought that this will likely bring a fight up - which I am not in the mood. So I backed off
    
    Oh well, since you quoted it, there is no way back for me now

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15. 58

    TheBrandonposted 13 years ago

    I tip 20% or more unless it's just awful service.

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16. 59

    sim0n30posted 13 years ago

    its a bit different in Ireland, we tend to tip 10%, but i think waitresses basic wage is more here.

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17. 40

    ashleyyoungposted 13 years ago

    I used to work as a waitress and oftentimes, I receive about 15 to 20% as tip, that's why I follow this rule. Now, I'm willing to give more for a very good service.

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18. 58

    rawfoodbooksposted 13 years ago

    Wow I thought 10% was common, but I see many people tip up to 20 or 25% that's amazing! I allways tip based on the quality of the food and the service.

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19. 59

    MichelleArakakiposted 13 years ago

    I normally tip 20% or more especially if it's good service and if the server is nice and friendly.

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20. 60

    mathereseposted 13 years ago

    I think 10percent is ok that if i am happy with their service

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21. 85

    psycheskinnerposted 13 years ago

    Keep in mind that not everyone here is in America where wait staff are paid less than a reasonable living wage on the understanding the will be tipped.  In most placed tipping is not necessary because a full appropriate salary is paid to them by their employer.

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22. 59

    GurlShonnyposted 13 years ago

    The percentage of a tip that I believe that is required for a party of 6 or more is anywhere from 12% to 18%.
    
    However if it is just myself or my husband and I, then that all depends on how good of service that we received of course. My husband is a really good tipper & will tip rather he recieves good service or not. He will tip a small amount if the service was not so good & will tip a large amount if the service was excellent. I on the other hand will make a waiter or waitress work for their tip because I believe that it is only fair that they do. When I go to work I don't get a raise for inadequent work so why should I give a tip to someone who is not providing me with that very same service?

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23. 61

    CYBERSUPEposted 13 years ago

    usually between 15 and 20 percent.

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24. 61

    CYBERSUPEposted 13 years ago

    usually between 15 and 20 percent.

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25. 60

    Urb Farm and Beeposted 13 years ago

    It depends on:
    
    1) How good the service was, and I mean service, not the food. It's not the wait's fault if the food sucks.
    
    2) If I plan to be a regular there. I've gotten some nice surprises from being a regular and being nice.
    
    3) How much of a pain our table was. If the waiter went out of their way to accomodate, I reward them.
    
    I usually tip 20% for good service.

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26. 75

    Kangaroo_Jaseposted 13 years ago

    So, how does this tipping work? Who do you tip and how often? I'm Australian, and have never visited the States, so I'm rather ignorant on this.
    
    In Australia, tipping after eating at a restaurant has always been a voluntary decision by patrons. We also rarely, if ever, tip for any other type of service.

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27. 68

    Kotoriposted 13 years ago

    In the U.S. it is standard to tip 15%-20% for decent service at a restaurant.  Waiters in Illinois make less than the standard minimum wage (I think it's up to $4.10/hr), and rely on tips to pay their bills. I used to tip less well for bad service, but then a manager to whom I complained gave me very good advice. She said if you want to get the point across, don't tip at all; otherwise you'll come off as a bad tipper and nothing more.
    
    For very exceptional service, I tip up to 30%.

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28. 64

    philzgrillposted 13 years ago

    I go with 15% for normal service, 20% if they are exceptional at their job.  I agree, a very thankless job and people can be very rude and some other words I can't say.

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29. 80

    PDXBuysposted 13 years ago

    I was taught to tip 15% of the before tax total.  I round up or down slightly for quality of service.  If I have to stand at a counter to order or if I bus my own dishes I do not tip anything.  I do not tip based on the "attractiveness" of the server.  I think that is terribly unfair.  I tip based on the speed and friendliness of the server.  If anything, I might tip a super-attractive (female) server less just assuming she already has an unfair advantage.  Sorry gals...

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30. 88

    mistyhorizon2003posted 13 years ago

    Interesting, here in the UK the normal tipping rate in a restaurant is between 10-12.5%, perhaps the basic wage is higher, but for sure we still judge on the service before we tip, and get mildly annoyed if the bill states that the 'tip is already included' inferring we have to pay it, regardless of whether the service was good or bad.

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31. 78

    brimancandyposted 13 years ago

    For me, it depends on what I am having. It also depends on where I am eating, and how good the service was.
    
    If I am just going to sit and have a cup of coffee, I usually don't tip, unless the waiter or waitress is very friendly, and checks to see if I need a refill often. But, if that person ignores me, and never offers a refill, I don't tip them.
    
    But, I usually tip around 15%. I have had some really good service at various places, so I would give 20%. I had a really great waiter at the Olive Garden, real cute too. Gave him a decent tip.
    
    But, there was a restaurant that I went to, where the waitress was a total bitch. I left her a dime and two pennies for a tip. I also had a guy at that same place that was rude, so I didn't tip him either. But, I have also had good service there. If it wasn't for the excellent food, I wouldn't eat there at all.
    
    But, I think the best service I have ever had was at Disney World. The worst was at Six Flags Great America. This cafe was serving people $12.00 cheeseburger meals, with no meat!!! I asked the waiter what the hell was going on. And the guy at the counter says, sorry we ran out of meat.
    
    I reported the six flags thing to security, and they came and shut the place down and bitched the counter people out. How do you serve hamburger meals to people with no meat!! We got our fries and drinks for free, and they gave us a complete refund, along with 8 other people who complained. That's just plain stupidity.

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    1. 80

       PDXBuysposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       "We ran out of meat." That was a funny story!  Thank you.  Meatless hamburger...  I went to a McDonald's one time and they were very busy.  I was served a hamburger without a bottom bun!  They fixed the problem and apologized.

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32. 63

    Mama Sezposted 13 years ago

    It's 10-20% depending on the service.  If service charge is included in the bill then I don't give a tip anymore.

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33. 61

    Kimberly Venegasposted 13 years ago

    I might be a little biassed as I'm a waitress. I tip between 20%-30% and so should everybody else .

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34. 50

    techtposted 12 years ago

    F*&K the tipping SH*T. There is no tip in Europe.
    Prices should include it and the restaurant owners should pay their employes accordingly and don't rely on customers to pay them.

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35. 68

    Anamika Sposted 12 years ago

    Mostly 20% of the Bill Amount. But there have been times when I have given only 10% because I did not like their service... Also there have been times when I paid 50% or more because I am extremely happy with the service. So it all depends on how I am being treated.

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36. 60

    Wmod514posted 12 years ago

    Good call Anamika...I don't think people realize that the wait staff also has to tip out bussers, bartenders and even kitchen staff in some places, so "stiffing" actually costs the water/waitress money to wait on you !! With that being said, 10% for unsatisfactory service and 20+ for good service is a good guideline.

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37. 60

    Wmod514posted 12 years ago

    What I mean by the tipout is wait staff is "charged" a percentage of their overall sales by the employer to distribute to the bussers, bartenders and kitchen staff and a $2.55/hour wage. So try not to "stiff" people...

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