Originally Posted by
supatight80
I don't go to the USA. But in many areas of the world, the restaurant bill also has service charge added, usually 10 - 15%. Do you guys have the too?
And do you give tips on top of the S.C. already added to the bill?
Some restaurants will add a gratuity if it's more than 6-8 people in the party. The bill will clearly state this, and I believe it's also usually printed in the menu.
For people from non-tip countries, it's not so much that waiters are paid little by the restaurant, but that food prices are quite a bit cheaper because of tipping. It's not the worst system, as it does generally lead to better wait service. It certainly leads to lower menu prices.
For me, anywhere in the US, I generally tip 20% on the pre-tax amount. If you tip with the tax, then 15-18% is fine. Taxes are not a service charge but a tax from the state and/or local governments. It's variable even within a given state, with most towns and cities having a meals tax on top of state sales taxes.