15% or 20% for tip?
Jul 27, 2010 | 10:06 pm
#16
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: UA 1P, AA, Hilton Honors
Posts: 1,166
I find myself overtipping at breakfast. Breakfasts are usually cheap and servers have to be quick (I order eggs and they get cold fast - and cold eggs are terrible): in addition, they make multiple trips to my table to refill coffee. Fifteen or 20% just isn't that much so I leave more.
I generally don't think about that.
Jul 29, 2010 | 3:25 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Marriott or Hilton hot tub with a big drink <glub> Beverage: To-Go Bag DYKWIA:SSSS /rolleyes ☈ Date Night:Costco
Programs: Sea Shell Lounge Platinum, TSA Pre✓ Refusnik Diamond, PWP Gold, FT subset of the subset
Posts: 12,523
Jul 29, 2010 | 10:24 pm
#21
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: AS-GoldMVP,Hilton, Hyatt, Hertz
Posts: 915
I do 20%. I think 15% is too low now. Since a restaurant will automatically charge you 18% on a larger party, I will do anywhere from 18 - 20%, but mostly 20%........more if the service is really good and I can see they are being rushed off their feet.
Jul 29, 2010 | 11:01 pm
#22
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: So. Cal
Programs: ALL
Posts: 115
I do 20% before tax, so it's a hybrid of 20% the 15% after tax.
Also, any person who has ever worked in the service industry (I have not) will always err on the side of you should leave the most possible (20% after tax).
Also, any person who has ever worked in the service industry (I have not) will always err on the side of you should leave the most possible (20% after tax).
Jul 30, 2010 | 3:47 pm
#24
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: TAS
Programs: A3*G, UA 1K
Posts: 9,244
While I think tips should be included in the price of the meal, and anything over is for good service, while American cultural norms and my ideals are not in agrement, I tip 15-18%, depending on the situation.
Jul 30, 2010 | 6:02 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)
Posts: 19,784
That said, I don't think 15% before tax is in anyway a "low" tip - I tip 20% because I'm feeling generous (or higher if the service was really that good) and would not figure that merely tipping 15% would work as any kind of a message.
Jan 3, 2011 | 9:19 pm
#28
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Denver & San Francisco
Programs: Amex Platinum
Posts: 91
Excellent point of views.. I have never even thought of tipping before tax, but I'm sure people have many good reasons.
Anyways, I tend to be all over the place when it comes to tipping. Average, I tip around 18% as many restaurants that I go to usually are great in terms of food, as well as service.
I also have this tendency to just round up the numbers... For example, if the total is at $20.98, I would tip $4.02 so that the bill comes to exact $25.00
maybe I am the only person who does this...
Anyways, I tend to be all over the place when it comes to tipping. Average, I tip around 18% as many restaurants that I go to usually are great in terms of food, as well as service.
I also have this tendency to just round up the numbers... For example, if the total is at $20.98, I would tip $4.02 so that the bill comes to exact $25.00
maybe I am the only person who does this...
Jan 3, 2011 | 9:27 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 788
When I used to tip I would tip O% for terrible service, 5% for poor service, 10% for average service, 15% for good service, and 20% for excellent service above and beyond the call of duty. On average it would work out to 15%. I strongly feel that if you are going to tip, you should let the tip serve its purpose of providing feedback to your server, rewarding or withholding a reward when appropriate. I don't understand this custom of blindly tipping a set percentage regardless of the quality of service.
