I was thinking about this today and thought I would bring it here. I usually tip 15% and if the service is not that great - then 10%. I can only remember not tipping at all once - and the service was god awful. It was at a place on Sanibel Island in Florida and the wait staff treated the visitors just awful. Awful is the only word I can think of! Grrr I still get mad thinking about it. Breathe Abby! Anyway, the waiters there treated the locales great but the visitors not so much. So no tip! But again on usual about 15%. And since I am a waitress as well I know that the majority of them are working hard and counting on those tips. But they have to be earned - they are given not expected! Unless on a party of 8 or more. But I am always a friendly-you don't have to ask for a refill or your check-because it is always there kind of server.

So what about you all?
How much do you usually tip?

Well in the UK, tipping isn't as common as in the US. In the UK your are only really expected to 'tip' in the better restaurants you go to. I tend to tip a lot of the time. I tend to go for about 10%.

No one tips in Australia... except for American tourists The restaurants love them because of it

So yeah, I've never really had to tip and I kinda resent the whole idea. From watching my Mum, she gives 10% or less if the service is poor.

I can understand resenting it. The reason Americans are used to it is because in our country, people in service jobs are paid less than the minimum wage the majority of the time. Employers do that because they figure it means the waitstaff will work harder knowing that their higher income depends on whether they get good tips or not.

I tip 15% the majority of the time. 10% if they really aren't that good but 20% if they are really freindly and attentive.

I usually tip at least 20%. Having been a server when that was the way I had to make my living I really feel for the servers. If I have a really superior server I will give around 30%. I only give 10% if the service is really lousy. My husband tips pretty good as well, even though he never served, but he understands how it is after living on my tip money for six months!

15-20% for me.

Ohh, hey thanks for the explanation! That makes sense.

I don't do a percentage. I just give flat rates. If there are 5 of us eating, then a 5'er will be left on the table. I don't tip bad waitresses. That doesn't include waitresses waiting on what seems like 100 tables. This DOES include ones that don't bring us a menu, water or anything for over 15 minutes and it's dead in the restaurant (like today )

I usually tip at least 20%. My friends work in restaurants and I know how bad people tip most of the time. I also know that I could have to do that kind of work at some point in the future, so it's just good karma. Even if the service is really bad, I tip 15%.

While I feel for people working in the service industry (hey, I did it myself for 3 years with a starting hourly wage of $5.45 AU & remember we don't get tips), I would never tip if the service was lousy! To me, a tip represents a thank you for the good service, the smile, the friendliness etc.. if a server fails to provide what the job calls for, why should they get a 15 or 20% tip?

I agree with that. I mean I think everyone should work for one night in a busy restaurant just to see how it is. But as well though, I usually 10% for really bad service just because sometimes enough is enough.



That is a valid point, but I think alot of people tend to go to the same restaurants a lot of times. And they tend to tip some even if the service is bad because they know they will be returning there. I know I think that way sometime.

if the service is good, i am a very generous tipper.

there is a dinner theater in a larger city close by us. we have been there several times. it's sooooooooo much fun!! if you have never been to one, here's how it works. everyone is seated & orders, you watch a musical (really impressive considering i really don't like musicals all that much..must be because of the 'live' aspect), and everyone is served (soup, salad, entree, then desert...very good food, btw) all at once during the intermission!!!! that's like 300 people!!!! and get it cleared up & desert orders taken before the play starts again....all this in an hour!!! it's mad crazy, everyone running around, the place is crowded and noisy, you share your table with other patrons....it's very exciting!! the wait staff pull it off beautifully, like a chorgraphed dance! never missing a beat, never neglecting you, never getting your order wrong!

so, i let the bar waiter keep the change for my drinks (at least $1 or more with each order), $10 to the cutest kid (think justin from QAF) that kept us in water & bread, and $20 to our waiter. THEY WERE AMAZING!!! i don't know what is more fun, watching the play/musical or watching the wait staff!!! LOL

alienmom- just curious- is the players in the musical are they your wait staff as well?
We have a dinner theatre here where I live too and have been there several times- it is so fun- the players are the wait staff too!!! and they also get the audience involved- like singing to or sitting on the lap of someone in the audience. They did that to my brother once and he turned so red.

Back on topic: I usually tip 15-20% and more if the service is really good.

no, jan the wait staff aren't on the stage too. well, i imagine some of the staff probably are struggling actors and are in other plays/musicals, but not at the same time they are working the floor. at one show we went to, the cast came in the audience and 'included' some of the them.

Thanks alienmom- the staff at this Dinner Theatre take the orders before the show starts including drinks- they then serve it during a break, go back on stage and continue performing while you are eating, take another quick break, clear the dishes and serve dessert- sometimes singing as they do it and while you are eating your dessert they go back on stage and perform. It is a really really enjoyable evening- it usually lasts about 2.5-3 hrs.

I think that over here, the tip is already in the price you pay for your food. Yet we still tip.... pretty strange.

I'm not sure how much I tip, not really a % of the price, just one or a few euros.

We don't tip here in the UK. I only tip my hairdresser because she's a good friend and because their wage is awful. Although in Malta we were tipping everyday, at one point this place we visited they wanted a 'small' donation and the smallest we had was a 50 Euro Note because we had no change and the rest of our money was all in 50 Euro notes, so she handed it over - Should have seen my face

Lately, I think really good service in restaurants have disappeared. That's why I usually order takeout.

Same here, 10% for bad service, 15% on average service, and 20%+ for people who really did well. I only really give 20%+ to my regular waitress/waiters that remember my orders and put in that effort to appreciate me as a regular customer.

Usually 20% but if service is bad I only tip them 10%

-If I'm feeling generous and the service is good they'll get 30% or more

Here in Australia, we don't tip. I guess you guys in the US do only because the waiters do not earn a good wage, which is said. They should not have to rely on tips to put food on the table.

yea i'm in college, so i tip okay. im on a tight budget. i usually tip 10% or more if i had really good service