Author Topic: "I give God 10% ... why do you get 18"?  (Read 1643 times)

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Online Pandora

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"I give God 10% ... why do you get 18"?
« on: January 31, 2013, 01:06:23 PM »
St. Louis pastor Alois Bell is under fire after leaving a nasty note for her waiter at a local Applebee’s restaurant.

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The pastor was upset that a tip was included on her check – something the restaurant does for groups with over eight individuals.

The pastor now says she's sorry and the waitress who posted the receipt (who was not the server in question) is fired.

Servers will tell you that Black patrons are poor tippers; customers will tell you that bill totals very often contain the sales tax and ask why they are expected to tip based on that total.

A commenter at the link advised that the tipping scale is now:

15% for breakfast
20% for lunch
25% for dinner

 ::speechless::    I'm a good tipper, particularly when the service is good, but 25%?!  And I do know that the minimum wage for restaurant staff is very low and that tip pooling is often the rule.

What say y'all?



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Online IronDioPriest

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Re: "I give God 10% ... why do you get 18"?
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2013, 01:15:18 PM »
I used to be a bad tipper - starting at 0% and looking for every excuse to keep it there. Servers would have to earn their 15% by being exceptional. That was in my much younger days, when I was a brainwashed, selfish idiot.

Now I have to get pretty awful service to consider tipping less than 20%. I differentiate between mean servers, inept servers, and honest mistakes. Honest mistakes never get penalized. Bad attitude and ineptitude will get dinged for anywhere between a modest deduction off the 20% all the way down to 0% depending on how egregious the transgression. Great servers will get more than 20%, particularly at nicer restaurants.

A mandatory tip added to the bill for parties of 8 or more is industry standard across the board at any sit-down restaurant I've ever been to. Once you pass the restaurants threshold for a mandatory tip, it's part of the cost of the meal. To refuse to pay it is theft.
"A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high duties of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of self-preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation. To lose our country by a scrupulous adherence to written law, would be to lose the law itself, with life, liberty, property and all those who are enjoying them with us; thus absurdly sacrificing the end to the means."

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Offline Lisa in PA

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Re: "I give God 10% ... why do you get 18"?
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2013, 01:19:28 PM »
I'm afraid to eat out anymore.  We went to a Chinese restaurant that has been around forever.  It was lunchtime, and we were the only people in the place.  Our bill was $12.00 and I felt so bad for the waitress that I gave her $10.00.

I was not aware that the tipping rules had been changed.  Who changed it, I wonder?   ::whatgives::    

Offline LadyVirginia

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Re: "I give God 10% ... why do you get 18"?
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2013, 01:31:09 PM »
I can understand adding the tip for bills of large parties.  I've read many stories of large groups leaving nothing or next to nothing. 

If I keep a table for an extra leisurely meal I'll add extra because I know they need to turn tables to make any money.

I tip 20%. This is for average service.  I haven't had anything like exceptional service in years.

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I used to be a bad tipper - starting at 0% and looking for every excuse to keep it there. Servers would have to earn their 15% by being exceptional. That was in my much younger days, when I was a brainwashed, selfish idiot.
That was me because I
 grew up with a mother who counts the change out for a tip.  I've slipped extra onto the table after she's gotten up to leave.

 read this and you'll always tip!Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip--Confessions of a Cynical Waiter
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Offline Weisshaupt

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Re: "I give God 10% ... why do you get 18"?
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2013, 01:48:06 PM »
A mandatory tip added to the bill for parties of 8 or more is industry standard across the board at any sit-down restaurant I've ever been to. Once you pass the restaurants threshold for a mandatory tip, it's part of the cost of the meal. To refuse to pay it is theft.

Yep, I wouldn't be surprised at the mandatory tip. But I never pay one cent more. Once you decide what I am tipping, then that is all you get.  If you leave it to ME, then you will likely get more. 

But 25% for dinner?  No. I tip  about 20% for decent service. Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.  If service is bad, I tend to round down so you get less than 20%. Service is good, I round up.  If you do something rude or horrible, I don't tip at all. However,  I do remember when 10% was the norm.

Online ToddF

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Re: "I give God 10% ... why do you get 18"?
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2013, 02:18:34 PM »
25%?  Never done that yet.  I hit 20% the first time at a Japanese place where the chef gives you and 7 others the personalized service at the table, complete with fire.  Pure showmanship but hey, it was all good.

15% is my usual.

Offline Glock32

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Re: "I give God 10% ... why do you get 18"?
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2013, 02:22:07 PM »
I usually tip 20% or slightly more since I always leave whole dollar amounts.  I've never differentiated between lunch and dinner, where does that supposed distinction come from?  And 25%?  Why does the amount of "standard" tip always keep creeping up?  I remember when it was common knowledge to be 15%, then more like 20%, and now 25%?  The price of the food is a reflection of the variable value of the dollar, so why can't the percentage remain static?

Here's one that chaps my ass: pizza delivery that adds a delivery fee, but then claims the delivery fee does not go to the driver. Now it wouldn't surprise me if that is true and that the driver gets none of it, but then why are they trying to pawn it off on the customer as a special delivery surcharge? What is it about a delivery that would require a surcharge if not the driver and his vehicle?  I usually tip pizza delivery guys anywhere from 3-5 dollars, but it does irk me that the bill has already tacked on $2 with a disclaimer that the driver gets none of it.

Another question on tip etiquette, what do you do for takeout when you pick it up yourself?  I am far less inclined to tip on something that involved no table service or delivery, but I still feel like a cheapskate if I don't throw in a buck.
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Online ToddF

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Re: "I give God 10% ... why do you get 18"?
« Reply #7 on: January 31, 2013, 02:24:48 PM »
Don't tell me you have to tip for takeout?!  I never have.

And when did it go to 20%?  I seriously never got that memo.

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Re: "I give God 10% ... why do you get 18"?
« Reply #8 on: January 31, 2013, 02:37:35 PM »
Another question on tip etiquette, what do you do for takeout when you pick it up yourself?  I am far less inclined to tip on something that involved no table service or delivery, but I still feel like a cheapskate if I don't throw in a buck.

I don't tip unless I'm waited on. I'm hard pressed to think of an exception to that. The debit card receipts that you sign upon pickup (say, at the Asian takeout place) have a line for adding a tip, and I always make sure to put a line through it and reiterate the total amount as the final line item. If you're just checking me out, not even serving me a drink or checking on a table, to me that negates the need for a gratuity.
"A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high duties of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of self-preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation. To lose our country by a scrupulous adherence to written law, would be to lose the law itself, with life, liberty, property and all those who are enjoying them with us; thus absurdly sacrificing the end to the means."

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Online Pandora

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Re: "I give God 10% ... why do you get 18"?
« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2013, 02:38:42 PM »
Don't tell me you have to tip for takeout?!  I never have.

And when did it go to 20%?  I seriously never got that memo.

I *think* it went to 20% when the IRS required that wait staff pay taxes on a base amount of tips -- whether or not it was real -- and were expected to then voluntarily claim and pay on the rest.  IIRC, and don't quote me.

Call it a form of wealth redistribution.
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Online Pandora

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Re: "I give God 10% ... why do you get 18"?
« Reply #10 on: January 31, 2013, 02:44:51 PM »
I usually tip 20% or slightly more since I always leave whole dollar amounts.  I've never differentiated between lunch and dinner, where does that supposed distinction come from?  And 25%?  Why does the amount of "standard" tip always keep creeping up?  I remember when it was common knowledge to be 15%, then more like 20%, and now 25%?  The price of the food is a reflection of the variable value of the dollar, so why can't the percentage remain static?

I just round up the bill to the whole dollar and calculate from there.

Quote
Here's one that chaps my ass: pizza delivery that adds a delivery fee, but then claims the delivery fee does not go to the driver. Now it wouldn't surprise me if that is true and that the driver gets none of it, but then why are they trying to pawn it off on the customer as a special delivery surcharge? What is it about a delivery that would require a surcharge if not the driver and his vehicle?  I usually tip pizza delivery guys anywhere from 3-5 dollars, but it does irk me that the bill has already tacked on $2 with a disclaimer that the driver gets none of it.

Another question on tip etiquette, what do you do for takeout when you pick it up yourself?  I am far less inclined to tip on something that involved no table service or delivery, but I still feel like a cheapskate if I don't throw in a buck.

Are the pizza places paying the delivery drivers an hourly wage?  If so, maybe that's it; they're recouping some of their hiring costs.

When we had a decent pizza place around here, I'd tip the delivery guy really well because hot pizza right to my front door.  It's a wonderful thing.
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Offline LadyVirginia

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Re: "I give God 10% ... why do you get 18"?
« Reply #11 on: January 31, 2013, 03:03:19 PM »
I had a gift card for nicer restaurant near our home.  Since it was a high-end place and the gift card was for only $10 I got a nice salad to go.  The woman handed me the bill in a leather folder like you get at table service. That had never happened to me before--usually they ring you up and you fork over the money. I didn't know if she expected a tip for getting my salad from the kitchen but I didn't give her a tip.


I don't go to buffet restaurants often but when I have I hand a tip to the poor woman who has to clean up the tables. 
 
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Offline Dan

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Re: "I give God 10% ... why do you get 18"?
« Reply #12 on: January 31, 2013, 03:04:14 PM »
Take out I do the same as IDP w a card, but if cash, I'll toss the change in.
But 25% for dinner!?!? That's news to me. I'll go that high if its an outstanding experience all around, but as the norm? A little much.
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Re: "I give God 10% ... why do you get 18"?
« Reply #13 on: January 31, 2013, 04:51:06 PM »

I didn't get the memo on 20% either.

The percentage concept is that as inflation
occurs and the price of food goes up thus the
old 10 percent would increase the amount of
money collected by the server.  There is no logic
to increased percentage other than we are wealthier
now than when the accepted tip was 10% or 15%.

My 10% CDs went to 6% CDs and are now 1.0237% and
I'm expected to tip 20%?
 

Offline Libertas

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Re: "I give God 10% ... why do you get 18"?
« Reply #14 on: February 01, 2013, 07:28:18 AM »
Ditto what Weisshaupt said.
We are now where The Founders were when they faced despotism.

Offline Dan

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Re: "I give God 10% ... why do you get 18"?
« Reply #15 on: February 01, 2013, 08:34:52 AM »
Maybe we should invest in waitress's, CO!
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Offline Predator Don

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Re: "I give God 10% ... why do you get 18"?
« Reply #16 on: February 01, 2013, 10:46:25 AM »
The added tip for large groups is happened for years. Large groups usually demand more staff.When searching for group service, ask the manager what's the restaurant policy. Many times you will have more than one server and the percentage is divided. In those cases, I try to have the same person wait on me and my family and if service is good, ill make sure he/she gets a little extra.

If we have a large group and only one server, the percentage charged is enough. One server cannot accommodate, to my satisfaction, groups larger than 10.
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Offline BigAlSouth

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Re: "I give God 10% ... why do you get 18"?
« Reply #17 on: February 02, 2013, 10:10:26 AM »
As an adult and the father of waitresses and waiters, I have always been a good tipper. What chafes my butt is when we go out, have a great time (Adult beverages consumed) and leave a good tip. THEN, when our faculties are more, how do you say, "alert", we find that in addition to our generous 20% tip, the fine print on the bill says that parties greater than six include an automatic 18% gratuity. Dang it. We tipped 38% once! It's all good though, the waitress warned us that we were getting a bit rowdy and the management was considering asking us to leave. (It was the Beach. We never behave that way in the Big City . . .)
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