what is your restaurant tipping philosophy? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

DESS · 03-01-2009, 03:40 PM

Nothing controversial here guys. lol

This is the way I see it. The server is paid by the restaurant to take my order, give it to the kitchen and bring it to my table when it's ready. If my drink is empty, they should fill that up as well. As far as I'm concerned that's the minimum they can do for a 0% tip. In practice, servers in Calgary are almost always better than that base level as I give a 0% tip maybe once or twice a year and I eat out at least once a week.

Okay, so they are starting at 0% for the lowest level of service. If they are pleasant and efficient, it's instantly at 10%. If they smile and refill my drink before it's empty - boom - they're at 15%.

To get 20%, I like to see them genuinely enjoying the time they spend with my table. I'm not asking for a lot of their time, just quality time when I have it. The other way to get 20% with me is if I can see they are very busy but they are doing a good job of serving everybody.

What about you guys...does a server have to earn their tip?

Bagor · 03-01-2009, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DESS

What about you guys...does a server have to earn their tip?

Of course they do and they earn every penny of it. Only people that I can think of that work harder are teachers.

Ford Prefect · 03-01-2009, 03:43 PM

That's pretty much consistent with my tipping scale. The only thing I do different is that I don't give 0% tips. If they are that bad I give them 25 cents just to make sure they get the message. If I give nothing I figure they might think I just forgot to tip them. Leaving a quarter makes a clearer statement.

metallicat · 03-01-2009, 03:45 PM

I start at 15% and work my way up. I don't think I've ever not tipped a waiter/waitress. The fact that you do so once or twice a year, IS controversial DESS.

DESS · 03-01-2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

That's pretty much consistent with my tipping scale. The only thing I do different is that I don't give 0% tips. If they are that bad I give them 25 cents just to make sure they get the message. If I give nothing I figure they might think I just forgot to tip them. Leaving a quarter makes a clearer statement.

That's a good point. I'm going to do that from now on.

burnin_vernon · 03-01-2009, 03:46 PM

Unless they are just plain rude or unbelievably bad without being apologetic, 10% is pretty much automatic for me. I think I've left less (or nothing) maybe three times in my life. 15%-20% is the norm.

Coach · 03-01-2009, 03:47 PM

everyone starts at 20% and they can blow it if they want. I sometimes tip quite a lot just for sake of not having a bunch of change, but for the most part I think I'm pretty fair

Coach · 03-01-2009, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DESS

That's a good point. I'm going to do that from now on.

Ya one time me and some friends at were at a bar and we were getting piss poor service. The waitress probably came to our table twice throughout the 2 1/2 hours we were there and eventually we just went to the bar for our drinks. We finished with a bill about $120 and just emptied our pocket change for the tip.....turned out to be $0.85

Yeah_Baby · 03-01-2009, 03:50 PM

15% unless its horrid service, as being a Student can't really afford to tip like a baller.

burnin_vernon · 03-01-2009, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattyC

Ya one time me and some friends at were at a bar and we were getting piss poor service. The waitress probably came to our table twice throughout the 2 1/2 hours we were there and eventually we just went to the bar for our drinks. We finished with a bill about $120 and just emptied our pocket change for the tip.....turned out to be $0.85

I've been in situations with similar service but it's not always the server's fault. When someone calls in sick or if they are insanely busy, it happens. But all the server has to do is acknowledge/explain the poor service or get a manager to visit your table, and they are back in the good-tip books.

Calgaryborn · 03-01-2009, 03:58 PM

At least 15% even if the service is poor. If I don't like the service I just won't come back. For good service or if the meal wasn't too expensive I tend to tip at a higher percentage.

Coach · 03-01-2009, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burnin_vernon

I've been in situations with similar service but it's not always the server's fault. When someone calls in sick or if they are insanely busy, it happens. But all the server has to do is acknowledge/explain the poor service or get a manager to visit your table, and they are back in the good-tip books.

I should have added that this was on a sunday night and there were about 15 other people there

DESS · 03-01-2009, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgaryborn

At least 15% even if the service is poor. If I don't like the service I just won't come back. For good service or if the meal wasn't too expensive I tend to tip at a higher percentage.

Tipping 15% for bad service...that's weird to me. What's a tip for if not an incentive to provide good service?

Ford Prefect · 03-01-2009, 04:06 PM

One time the food and service at a greasy spoon I was in was so bad I took the mustard bottle and wrote on a chair seat "Your food sucks." I thought that was a good tip.

On the other end of the spectrum, I think the most I've ever tipped was $100, US no less. That was for a bartender in Mexico who served me the under the counter rum and tequila all the time rather than the above the counter swill. That tip was well deserved, just like the mustard tip.

GirlySports · 03-01-2009, 04:12 PM

GST X 3

A $100 bill has $5 GST so I tip $15 for a $105 meal... does that make sense?
If I have loose change I'll give more.

Coach · 03-01-2009, 04:13 PM

^^^ which is 15% since gst is 5%. 5% gst makes it so much easier to figure out tips

GirlySports · 03-01-2009, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattyC

^^^ which is 15% since gst is 5%. 5% gst makes it so much easier to figure out tips

I used to do GST X 2 when it was 7%

alltherage · 03-01-2009, 04:22 PM

I always seem to tip heavy no matter what. I guess I contribute to ruining it for everyone.

I'm going to start a new regime for myself. 5% if you are absolutely abysmal, 10% for crappy-ish, 15% for normal, and 20% if you are sexy. I mean good.

Does anyone else find themselves tipping extra for hotter waitresses? I know it's totally shallow and ridiculous, and I'm not even single, but something about some cutie serving me is just so awesome.

DESS · 03-01-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alltherage

I always seem to tip heavy no matter what. I guess I contribute to ruining it for everyone.

I'm going to start a new regime for myself. 5% if you are absolutely abysmal, 10% for crappy-ish, 15% for normal, and 20% if you are sexy. I mean good.

Does anyone else find themselves tipping extra for hotter waitresses? I know it's totally shallow and ridiculous, and I'm not even single, but something about some cutie serving me is just so awesome.

Absolutely. Even more if they touch me.

BBQorMILDEW · 03-01-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alltherage

I always seem to tip heavy no matter what. I guess I contribute to ruining it for everyone.

I'm going to start a new regime for myself. 5% if you are absolutely abysmal, 10% for crappy-ish, 15% for normal, and 20% if you are sexy. I mean good.

Does anyone else find themselves tipping extra for hotter waitresses? I know it's totally shallow and ridiculous, and I'm not even single, but something about some cutie serving me is just so awesome.

I was just about to say this before you did.. I almost always tip more if the girl has a nice rack or smile and gives my table the time of day.. I guess i am hoping that one day i will see that waitress out and about and she will remember who i am and come up and talk to me..

Dreaming i guess.....