The digital tip jar

jon-nyc

20% has been my default for decades.

kluurs

I tip well - and make sure I tip for takeout - as it takes as much time to prepare the takeout as to put a plate on the table. There's a little middle eastern restaurant near my house - and when the takeout meals were only $10, I still tipped $3. The folks at the restaurant always take exceptionally good care of me.

In my job, I went to some very fine restaurants and spent thousands of dollars. At times, it seemed a little weird to pay hundreds of dollars in tips, but we did. Of course, now there's typically an 18-20% assured "service fee" for huge expenses - and then there's an option to go higher - which seems crazy. If a particular server seemed exceptionally helpful, I'd typically give cash to separate him/her from the herd.

I did that once a wedding - at a time in my life when money was especially dear (around 1977). There was a long table with distant family members on one half and friends on the couple on the other half. The food was brought to the family side - and they shared all the food amongst themselves and gave the empty plates/bowls to the friend group. This went on for quite a while. Finally, their plates were overflowing, and they weren't able to stuff anymore food onto them. Just as they were going to hand the half full bowl to one of our group, it was dropped on the floor. I thought a fight might break out. I got up, walked in back where the servers were, handed the head server a $50 and said -"make sure our side gets some food." All of sudden, food appeared by multiple servers to our side of the table.

One thing I think is good to do - I bring donuts to the local post office during the holidays. It feels good to let them know they're appreciated. I regret I didn't do something similar for the local police department after the BLM protest in our town.

Copper

If you need the money raise your prices.

If you are depending on the kindness of strangers, you might be disappointed.

xenon

My one weird tipping situation is when I go back to my old neighborhood. It’s almost majority Indian. Indians, on average, tip poorly. I tip well - especially considering my old hood is in Canada and I tip by higher American standards.

Now - wait staff in Canada often give me bare minimum service. Rational thing to do, odds are they’re right.

Puts me in a weird spot. Do I tip to prove them wrong, or validate their stereotype by tipping poorly…

Aqua Letifer

@Copper said in The digital tip jar:

If you need the money raise your prices.

If you are depending on the kindness of strangers, you might be disappointed.

I never was when I worked for tips. Although sure, maybe that wouldn't be the case with you.

Aqua Letifer

@xenon said in The digital tip jar:

My one weird tipping situation is when I go back to my old neighborhood. It’s almost majority Indian. Indians, on average, tip poorly. I tip well - especially considering my old hood is in Canada and I tip by higher American standards.

Now - wait staff in Canada often give me bare minimum service. Rational thing to do, odds are they’re right.

Puts me in a weird spot. Do I tip to prove them wrong, or validate their stereotype by tipping poorly…

There's a vibe put out that even half-decent wait staff can easily pick up on. If they see you appreciating what they're trying to do and you make that obvious, see if they don't respond to it. I bet some will.

If they don't, hey, fuck 'em.

Mik

As I’ve said many times, I love to give a big tip 25-35%. It means I had great food and service, what I came in for. On the other hand, I’m not hesitant to leave any other amount I think is justified, from 0 to 20%. It really depends on the server. Do the minimum? Get the minimum.

But you have to be fair, and consider the circumstances the server is working in. Don’t blame them for things beyond their control.

Mik

Oh, also? If you just drink water, be sure to tip as if you had a soft drink or tea. They still have to do the same work.

LuFins Dad

@Mik said in The digital tip jar:

Oh, also? If you just drink water, be sure to tip as if you had a soft drink or tea. They still have to do the same work.

And if I had a beer? Still the same work…

I don’t mind tipping, I do mind how the goalposts keep moving. I also mind the sneaky new service charges with tip then added on top… I also don’t care for the shift in attitude from tips being gratefully accepted to tips being resentfully expected.

George K · "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

@Mik said in The digital tip jar:

Do the minimum? Get the minimum.

What, in your opinion, is the minimum?

Bring menu (sometimes), take order, deliver food, deliver check. That about it?

Mik

It’s like porn. I know it when I see it. Minimum is more an attitude than an action.

And I agree with you on the shifting goalposts. For instance, if I have to stand in line to order my food? No tip, or small (10%) if it was good service for the environment. To go? I agree with Kluurs. They have to do nearly as much as for tableside service so I tip there but more inclined to b 15%.