Anyone know how, why and when the “standard” tip at restaurants rose from 15% to 20%? Normal tips were 15% for most of my life. Then it seems the norm in NYC rose to 20%, and suddenly it was expected everywhere. Is it because servers’ base wages weren’t increasing at the same rate as other employees? I for one would love to have the compensation of servers factored into the cost of my meal, just as the cost of employee compensation is factored into every other retail establishment’s prices. It’s a pain to have to figure a tip–and heaven help you when you’re splitting a bill and everyone has a different idea of what tip is appropriate. When I look at prices on a menu, I never really think that they are actually 15% or 20% higher than they appear due to the need to tip (30%? Hilarious!), and that means I’m probably not making the wisest decisions. It’s a dumb custom and bravo to Meyers for taking a stand.
As for servers who grouse about poor tippers–well, every job has its pluses and minuses, and no one is forced into involuntary servitude as a server. If poor tips mean you feel you aren’t adequately compensated, find another job. Actually, the issue of customers who tip at varying rates would be solved if tipping were eliminated, so servers should be pushing the hardest for this change.
As for tip jars for employees who AREN’T making server wages–don’t get me started. There are a few employees at a few spots who know me, greet me warmly, and often have my standard order waiting for me by the time I get to the front of the line. They get tipped. As for everyone else, no, I won’t throw my change in your tip jar unless you can explain why I shouldn’t keep my own my money instead of giving it to you just because you work at a counter. I guarantee that the woman who rings up my order at the supermarket or the guy brings me four pairs of shoes to try on works just as hard as you do and makes just as lousy wages as you do, but they don’t get my change, so why should you?
We went to an awesome restaurant this weekend. The service was beyond terrific. The bill was not very much. We tipped 25%. This was a high end Italian restaurant…but some how our bill for a complete dinner for four was only $112. The server was amazing. So was the food. It was worth that total with tip to eat at this place.
One thing I never do…I do not put money in tip jars at coffee shops, and ice cream places…or any other carry out place. But I tip waitstaff well.
I’d also like to know the answer to that. Does anyone really think the efoort of bringing the food to your table is worth 20% of the meal? Compared to the effort of buying fresh ingredients, coming up with a menu, cooking, setting up?
Yes, I think it’s worth 20% at some places. I don’t have to serve myself. And at a good place, they fill my water and coffee/tea, allow me ample time between courses, provide good explanations of the entrees, and generally make my dining out experience more pleasurable.
If I don’t want to tip…I go to Panera or some place like that. There are plenty of eat out places that don’t require tipping. Plenty.
At upscale restaurants, I am very willing to pay for the excellent service.
As I said earlier I like to tip. Most of the people doing the serving could use the few extra dollars and it really is not much of a burden to me.
I see people subtract out the tax and only tip on the food cost at 15%. That is not for me. I like 20% of the bill including the tax. It really is not much money at most places.
I really like to see the happiness you can see with young servers when you give them a generous tip. You can tell it is appreciated.
I saw a waitress cry with joy when a friend of mine picked up the tab for about 30 people and when he paid the bill he gave the waitress the same amount of the bill as a tip. It meant a lot to her.
Wow, H & I must have missed the memo–we tip the standard 15% on most of our sit down meals and don’t throw money in the tip jar most of the time. When we have more than the minimum number, we are charged the standrd 18% or whatever “service fee” and don’t give any additional tip.
A healthy employed person shouldn’t be getting gifts of 100s or even 1000s of dollars from a perfect stranger, after serving a meal, even it makes them cry with joy.
Well, working in a field that allows for tips (hospitality & restaurants) allows for these intermittent huge (and non-existent) tips, so that’s all part of the way things happen in the US. I’m sure public figures have to agonize about the “right” amount of tip to give when they go out anywhere.
I will continue to give generous tips when our society continues to use tips to conpensate employees. However, I would prefer to have the change so that every employee has a decent standard of living and benefits provided by the employer. I don’t see why we cannot pay the restaurant servers as the same as we pay the grocery checkers, the fast food workers, the factory cleaners,…
One of my kids waits tables at a very upscale restaurant. Bills per table are routinely $200 for two or three people. Because of the nature of the restaurant, the waitstaff provides the “information experience” at the place…explaining every single item that is served…and by the way…this is expected by patrons of this particular place as the food items are quite unique and vary from day to day.
Last time I was there, I left a $50 tip on my $190 bill because the service was so amazing, and the waitperson so knowledgeable about the offerings. And no…my own kid was not waiting on me.
The living wage argument is ridiculous. Too many variations in circumstances. Minimum wage was never intended to be a long term permanent wage. Pretending all jobs are worth an inflated x will disenfranchise the population working their way up. Anyone check into the company where the owner decided all employees should earn 70k? Employees are disgruntled, they’re losing accounts and the business is in danger of going under.
If we insist on this living wage for restaurant workers the fast food establishments will replace employees with self check out kiosks.
Perhaps the real issue is the disintegration of the nuclear family where two adults can share the responsibility of raising children and making money.
It is not about “living wage” - it is about getting away with the system where folks like BB or thumper pay more for the same service than Joe the tip evader gets. It is about charging the real prices and not the pretend “name your price”
Is the serving task at an upscale restaurant intrinsically 10X more complex than it is at a diner-- w the server at an upscale restaurant getting 20% of a $200 check, and the server at a dinner getting 20% of a $20 check?
Maybe not 10x more complex, but it is more complex. I’d also argue that the turnover of customers at the diner is a lot faster resulting in more covers per shift.
I hate that tipping 20%+ is considered a de facto obligation of the patron and view it as way for restaurants to get away with paying their workers subminimum wage. I tip 20%+ even when I get subpar service because I know that I pretty much “have” to do so. I’d much rather pay that 20% outright in increased cost.
I do not think tipping is an obligation. That said I like tipping. I also generally always tip 20% of the bill inclusive of the tax. If the service is not what I want I do not frequent the place again.
I have no problem with tipping well for wait service. It always feels weird to me to have a tip jar for counter service lie coffee though where there are no variables. The person makes the drink or puts the scone in the bag and hands it to me. I feel like that service should just be rolled into the price of the item.
My kids aren’t married. This just doesn’t apply to everyone. Not sure I understand your point.
Just traveled. Tipped the shuttle driver $1 per bag on each end of the trip. Tipped at all the restaurants. Tipped the housekeeping staff at the hotel.