I don't tip

I worked in the service industry for years when I was younger, and most people have no idea how important tips are, regardless of how much. That being said, here are some etiquette things regarding tips

1. Don't leave a tip with any denomination less than 25 cents. Pennies, nickles and dimes are incredibly annoying. Servers go home with a huge heavy pocket full of change they have to convert somewhere
2. If the service was just basic, nothing out of the ordinary, tip what you normally tip. Be it 10%, 15% or 20% (15-20 is becoming standard in Canada, but I would only give 20 if it was GOOD service, 15 for adequate, 10 for... brought me my food, wasn't an asshole)
3. If you happen to be tipping low, follow #1 at least but just leave it on the table. Giving a shitty tip personally to a waiter will be embarassing for both of you. Their face will tell it all
4. If you had exceptional service, make it a point to do what was posted earlier, get the attention of your server, or even go to the bar/kitchen/server-area and ask "Is Kelly there?" or whoever, then personally give them the tip and point out specific things that made your visit so enjoyable.

Almost all the time servers have shitty days. Customers are more inclined to gripe and complain about every single little thing and blame it all on the server when in reality, the cook/kitchen screws up. The bartender screws up, someone else screws up. You're shooting the messenger. Don't get me wrong, when I go out to a restaurant I expect to get everything I asked for exactly the way I asked for it because that is their job, and everyone should have those expectations. It's just that servers get way more negative feedback and attitude than praise. One kind guesture or nice word will make their entire night

Waitresses are called servers, as are waiters.

5. for any tips, you should get a bill with some sort of folder-book thing - put the tip inside there. Most times, leave the tip on the table but not close to the edge of the table or highly visible. People steal tips all the time if they're easy to walk by and snatch. E.g. if you tip $10, put the 10 dollar bill under a cup in the middle of the table

hand tip to waiter/cook personally.

if i can get away with it, i wont tip
but other than that, few dollars on the table will do imo

why do people not tip? It can't be because they can't afford it otherwise they wouldn't eat out. Tip 10%~ if service was average, see it as a fee to just eat out. 15-20%+ if it was good, or they did something special. Don't just not tip, it's a dick move. Lots of waiters depend on tips for a living. And tip especially more if you made a mess or brought messy kids. I was never a server myself, but it's just common decency, and I've worked around them before.

Giving the tip personally to the server/waiter is better since they'll remember you more.
Otherwise leave on table/write on card.

This post was edited by Wamuu on Dec 29 2011 01:02am

i add my tip on the credit card payment with minimum of 15%.
It will be more depend of the quality of the service

just lay cash on the table. nn to hand it directly to the waiter.

the instance when you saw the "janitor" (buss boy?) take it and put it in a jar was probably normal. a lot of places take all the tips from a shift and put them in a big pot - then split them up to everyone % based. i.e. waiters get the most, hostess gets some, buss boys get the least %.
if you want to give the waiter a bit extra it IS acceptable to slip them a few extra bucks personally in addition to whats on the table (only if you know the place does this, otherwise LOL?!?)
i don't think they were stealing it. rofl....


oh, as for amount - where i live the sales tax is 9.25%, so i will usually just double the tax and leave that for a tip.

This post was edited by et3rnal on Jan 5 2012 07:38pm