Suggested tip amounts on restaurant bill
#91
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
By the way, most young people tip on the total after tax, so regrettably that might become (if it is not already) expected. Certainly in Manhattan or in Silicon Valley, 15% pretax is an insult, just because few people in those locales tip so little. In sleepy middle America, 15% pretax is adequate.
#92
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
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If the suggestions are wildly incongruous with what people actually tip, the restaurant's intention is to exploit a cognitive bias and guilt customers into overtipping. It works and turns your admirable $6 into an insult from the server's perspective. Of course you have no reason to be ashamed, but the server will find you cheap, because many other people succumb to the unethical psychological trick.
By the way, most young people tip on the total after tax, so regrettably that might become (if it is not already) expected. Certainly in Manhattan or in Silicon Valley, 15% pretax is an insult, just because few people in those locales tip so little. In sleepy middle America, 15% pretax is adequate.
By the way, most young people tip on the total after tax, so regrettably that might become (if it is not already) expected. Certainly in Manhattan or in Silicon Valley, 15% pretax is an insult, just because few people in those locales tip so little. In sleepy middle America, 15% pretax is adequate.
In this situation my threshold of tipping simply rises a notch. If the person has been friendly and better than average I'd probably shrug and tip. If not then I may not Tips aren't really as automatic an entitlement here. I don't really feel any guilt about it as I do not feel a sense of obligation except for better rather than standard level of service. In many parts of Europe tipping is far from automatic particularly where service is automatically added.
#93
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If the suggestions are wildly incongruous with what people actually tip, the restaurant's intention is to exploit a cognitive bias and guilt customers into overtipping. It works and turns your admirable $6 into an insult from the server's perspective. Of course you have no reason to be ashamed, but the server will find you cheap, because many other people succumb to the unethical psychological trick.
#94
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Join Date: Jun 2006
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25%
and including tax - wonder if restaurant gets that portion
i recall discussion of this (giving tip calculations on receipts) on FT
and including tax - wonder if restaurant gets that portion
i recall discussion of this (giving tip calculations on receipts) on FT
#95
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I remember reading a study published specifically about the effect of this with suggested tips displayed on taxi cab screens. The study found, unsurprisingly, that programming the suggested percentages somewhat higher (say, 15-20-25% instead of 10-15-18%) resulted in greatly increased tips but getting too aggressive with the percentages suggested (e.g., 20-25-30%) did not.
#96
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,784
I would have tipped $6 also, if the suggested tip lines were not there. So I guess they are working because after seeing them I would have tipped $7!
#97
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It's pretty much different than how most other civilized places do it, and the reason why you sometimes hit the mandatory tip/service charge at some restaurants heavy with foreign tourists. I do kind of wish it was done in another way, but a lot of restaurant employees do like it because they feel like they're more in control of their own destiny- do your job well and provide great service, and you actually are likely to get a higher tip and all.
#98
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 810
This seems to be a common thing in LA, and it's effing annoying. I honestly tip lower when I see it - it just preys on the fact that humans like to follow the path of least resistance. I see this nearly every time I dine out in LA, whether I eat in or take out.
#99
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i was kind of surprised when i first saw this. but maybe its the colonial/imperial history? in terms of ridiculous tipping in asia, 3rd world, former colonies, etc.
#100
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
Get this: my waiter tonight wrote a checkmark by the tipping suggestions. Not sure what to make of it.
FWIW, I tipped $3.
FWIW, I tipped $3.
#101
Join Date: Feb 2011
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I might consider leaving $14 cash in that situation
#102
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#103
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My employer's check printouts include 15 18 and 20 percent suggested amounts. I like when places do it so it gives me a baseline to make my calculations easier. I used to start at 20 percent, but since working the in the restaurant industry, particularly as a server who makes federal tipped minimum wage (2.13/hour), I have been tipping starting at 25 percent. Occasionally I've left 50-70 percent in cases where there has been great service, and rarely up to 100 percent.
#104
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My employer's check printouts include 15 18 and 20 percent suggested amounts. I like when places do it so it gives me a baseline to make my calculations easier. I used to start at 20 percent, but since working the in the restaurant industry, particularly as a server who makes federal tipped minimum wage (2.13/hour), I have been tipping starting at 25 percent. Occasionally I've left 50-70 percent in cases where there has been great service, and rarely up to 100 percent.
One annoyance about the suggested amounts is there's no consistency about whether they do pre-tax or post-tax. Of course, there's no particular consistency about whether people want to use the pre-tax or post-tax amount, and on small bills, the difference is rarely enough to matter, but as prices go up, the likelihood that it will make a difference does as well.
#105
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as well as 'guilting' people for not tipping 'enough' - so people emphasize that they do tip enough / tip 'generously' / respect workers / etc