what is your restaurant tipping philosophy? - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

RedHot25 · 03-01-2009, 04:28 PM

We once gave a 2 cent tip - it was absolutely putrid (and I always tip, usually too much my friends tell me). Absolutely putrid. the 2cents was all I had in my pocket change wise at the time...

What about tipping for delivery - especially when there is a "delivery charge" already included in your order?

DESS · 03-01-2009, 04:37 PM

You have to tip delivery guys good. They know where you live man!

Rathji · 03-01-2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedHot25

We once gave a 2 cent tip - it was absolutely putrid (and I always tip, usually too much my friends tell me). Absolutely putrid. the 2cents was all I had in my pocket change wise at the time...

What about tipping for delivery - especially when there is a "delivery charge" already included in your order?

I never tip if there is a delivery charge, except possibly to round it up to the next buck.

Calgaryborn · 03-01-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DESS

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

I see a tip as being part of their wages. There are lots of things that can contribute to bad service which the waiter/waitress has little control over. Aso they are human and are intitled to bad days. At the level of income most of them make I don't feel comfortable punishing them for not living up to my expectations. If I don't like the food or the service I don't come back. It is the manager's responsibiity to hire and train decent help and control food quality.

RedHot25 · 03-01-2009, 05:23 PM

Re: delivery charge. Well I just had an instance actually with a delivery charge. I asked the driver, he said it goes to head office (I ordered from a big chain), not even to the local store (or driver by extension). So who knows, but I tipped him anyway. SO I either did get him an actual tip, or he got a crazy good tip.

Now, as to the customer service relating to the chain on this particular order, well.....that's another story.

TheDragon · 03-01-2009, 05:59 PM

I used to work with a lady who had a part time gig at a fancy-shmancy restaurant downtown. She told me that in their eye, 15% is enough to cover the so-called "Was satisfied enough with the food and service - met the bare minimum," category, and 20% was considered the "Liked the service and the food - met expections or exceeded them," type of category. At least, that's what you're telling them with how much you tip. 10% is basically like saying "Everything was awful."

In related content, my boss at that time used to drop a good 25-40% for a tip for our "patio meetings," and he would get the VIP treatment pretty much from that moment on. Free drinks, always a table ready, etc. They definitely remember.

Deegee · 03-01-2009, 06:02 PM

I always thought that tips were earned and not something you "deserved to get".

If the service is trash then you don't get a tip.

Maritime Q-Scout · 03-01-2009, 09:03 PM

My philosophy on tipping:

I tip for good service

I tip if I know the server personally

I tip if you're hot

Man those nights at the bar where I was friends with my hot waitress who always served me first. Those were expensive nights!

For the most part, I try and tip 15% rounded up to the next easy dollar value. For example, if 15% is like 3.45, I'll round it up to $4 or $5. I tend to leave $5 for anything under $30 but above $16 or so. Otherwise $2-3 based on service and how I subjectively feel at the time.

I have left $10 tips for relatively small bills based on stellar service. The server would have been very prompt, personable, and made me laugh. All around add to the enjoyment and atmosphere of my meal/evening/etc.

Rathji · 03-01-2009, 09:41 PM

(bra cup size, converted to a number a = 1, b =2 etc ) X (amount of bare breast shown in square inches) = tip %

When I was single, hot or flirty waitresses always got an extra 5-10% just for showing up. Sure it isn't right, but sometimes one head does more thinking than the other one.

Ice · 03-01-2009, 09:55 PM

I'm a big tipper, because I'm a picky eater and if the waiter/waitress ensures that everything I don't like isn't on my plate, I want him/her to know I appreciate it. Once they get to know me, they don't find me to be as much of a nuisance because they know they'll be tipped accordingly.

I've also been known to overtip when sitting next to jerks who leave a crappy tip. I think waitressing looks like a job I would never want. Its hard work and you rely on the somewhat arbitrary judgement of your performace by strangers as part of your income.

Otto-matic · 03-01-2009, 10:36 PM

15%-25%,

Depending on service and my personal experience at said restaurant, it could go up to 25% or if I get served like tonight's flames game then it starts to go down to 5-10%

J pold · 03-01-2009, 10:42 PM

Girl+Ugly+Friendly+Good service=15%

Girl+Hot+Flirts with me+OK Service=20%

Guy+Bad Service=10%

Guy+Good Service=15%

Resolute 14 · 03-01-2009, 10:55 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.

I've left a 1 cent tip before. Yes, the service was that bad.

Usually, I tip about 17-20%, especially if I am expensing it back to work.

Clarkey · 03-01-2009, 11:03 PM

If it's average service then I double the GST. If it's good I'll give 15%. It's always under 20%.

NHL009 · 03-01-2009, 11:03 PM

I always tip 15%-20% no matter what. They bust their a$$es.

Otto-matic · 03-01-2009, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rathji

I never tip if there is a delivery charge, except possibly to round it up to the next buck.

I always feel bad not tipping delivery though then I plop in another 10% tip. Why did my parents raise me as a nice guy!

mykalberta · 03-01-2009, 11:08 PM

0-30ish% depending on alot of factors, but mostly in this order...

Server Mood, Server promptness, Quality of Food, Price of Food, Server Looks

I never tip delivery because I never get anythin deliever, I always pickup mostly because I always need soemthing else, dessert, pop, booze, whatever.

Oil Stain · 03-01-2009, 11:09 PM

I tip on the 10%-15% scale up to about $50. Over that I usually just leave $5 up to $80 or $90.

If I'm at an upscale restaraunt and spend $150+ I'll tip $10 up to $20, but never more. I don't see why I should tip an exorbitant amount just because my entree is expensive. It's not like the server has to do anymore work just because the ingredients are costly.

I tend to tip gas jockeys a few bucks. They actually appreciate it rather then expect it.

Coach · 03-01-2009, 11:17 PM

I don't understand the minus on the tip if the food is bad. Its not the servers fault if the food is bad, it's the chefs or your choice in restaurants

Thor · 03-01-2009, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DESS

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

Maybe its cause I have had so many close friends who have worked or still do in the industry. Tipping is automatic for me at 15% and I go up to 20-30% for really good service.

Its just people in that industry have bad days, and most of the places I go to regularly so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, maybe they have a bad night.

If I find repeated bad service from a particular server/bartender I'll talk to the manager.

But in my experience if I get mediocre service one night, the next time that same server takes care of me they redeem themselves.

I can't recall a time where I've had brutal service, so I don't know exactly what I'd do in such a situation, probably talk to the manager on the spot.