To those who live in or who have visited the United States.
Growing up in the 90’s, the “minimum acceptable” tip was 10%, average was 15%, and a good tip was 20%. These days, I just round to the nearest dollar and tip 20%, but I’ve heard these days it’s not unusual to tip up to 40%!
What do you usually do?
As a transplant I refuse the whole US tipping system and stick to the way of “rounding it up”. It often ends up around 10% of the bill but % tipping seems absolutely stupid as you are being punished for buying more. A few rare times I actually tipped 20% because the service was very good. Nobody tips me on my job and on average I make less than these people so I don’t see the logical connection of this whole stupid tipping culture
I always tip 20%, more for exceptional service. I’ve worked as a cook for about 15 years, at various places from dive bars to fine dining. At some places the servers and bartenders make insane money, often more than the chef who is usually on salary and not eligible for tips. But at a lot of places, the servers barely make ends meet and live not only check to check, but hand to mouth, week to week depending on the business. I never assume anyone is making bank so I tip well as a professional courtesy and to make up for people who don’t tip.
Increasingly these days, I’ve heard about and worked at places where the tips are split with the back of house crew, up to 40%. That ends up meaning that nearly 50% of our monthly pay is in tips, and that’s a blessing and a curse. Having PTO is basically worthless because missing out on the tips hurts so much.
Here in Seattle, they just raised the minimum wage to just over $20 an hour, and tips and benefits can’t be counted towards that. It’s a step in the right direction, but because capitalism is going to capitalism, it means that’s barely enough to live in the city with a single income source. So I still tip well regardless.
Most places in the country are not that fortunate, so I encourage everyone to tip their servers. If you think you’re going to force owners to pay people more by not tipping, you’re not only wrong, you’re actively making life harder for people who will likely never make as much as you if you work any sort of office job.
The system sucks, and needs to change. Some people can’t afford to tip generously, and that’s fine. But if you don’t tip out of principle, you’re just an asshole.
I do the same as you with a few exceptions:
Laugh at my old man’s jokes about the weather when we go out for our weekly breakfast? You get an extra buck or two
If I order water, an extra buck or so. It takes the same energy as bringing me a beer. Especially at night clubs.
Bring me back my change but didn’t break up that fiver? I’ll tip you exactly 18% and make you bring me back five singles
The bars empty, you’re not making squat in tips and you hang out and chat with me. Could be an extra five bucks or so
Give me a free beer? I’ll tip an extra five bucks
20%—I feel for tip-based workers, but I’m also not running charity nor am I in a financial place in life to be tipping much higher than that.
If 20% is not in the list I will enter 20%.
20% for excellent service.
It goes down from there. Yes zero tip is acceptable if the service sucked. If I ordered medium rare steak and I get well done steak. I normally won’t deduct that from the tip since that is a hard one for the server to see. But if it’s something they could have seen and didn’t fix, yeah I’m probably reducing the tip.
The tip is for service above and beyond, not a required part of the bill.
Nothing, I live in a country where it’s the employer’s responsibility to pay their staff a livable wage.
0, after reading the comments I realised you do not want my answer, since I live in the EU
Appologies. My presumption was civilized places don’t have such barbaric practices
😘
15-25% usually 20%. I have worked for tips so I get it.
My wife tipped 25% at an ice cream parlor last night. Which I thought was ridiculous considering he just pulled three pints out of a freezer behind him.
It’s too many places now.
20 standard
always 15% regardless of service. best or worst, i don’t care. im not going to judge anyone. i just want a meal and consider the 15% to be a convoluted tax for meals here in the US.
15% typically, more if it warrants it. Food keeps getting more expensive, so the percentage doesn’t have to go up.
Growing up, and even after working in foodservice, I was always told to tip at least 20% (almost) regardless of service.
There’s been maybe two times I didn’t tip 20% and the lower tip was definitely earned.
I don’t live in the US but I tip around 20%, sometimes more or less depending. Tbh I’m never sure what tipping etiquette is supposed to be here, but if it’s obvious how much the worker is getting (eg ride shares or food delivery where you can see the delivery fee), I tip them how much I think is reasonable to be paid for that job, which is usually quite a bit more than I’m charged for the service. And ofc not all of the initial charge goes to the worker anyway.
0%. We do not have a tipping culture, nor will I ever move in the direction of us having one.EDIT: I’m not in the U.S so my answer does not apply
Still a good answer 😆
In the USA: 20%. In Europe: 10%. If service is exceptional or bad, I adjust up or down.
