1. Yes, tips are based on the pre tax amount.
2. Why do people forget that tips until about 20 years ago were 10% then they started saying 15%, then 18% and now 20% or MORE? It is like this your cost are 100%, labor is 18%, food cost is 28%, utilities 20% etc. and not to scale. Now they tell you that the percentage for labor, food and utilities is going up. Where does the increase come from? There is no such thing as going over the 100%, someone has to pay it. My point is that percentages should NOT increase. Prices on everything is continually going up so the dollar amount associated with that percentage is also going up.
3. Why have so many forgot what "TIPS" means. The letters stand for something you know. "To Improve Personal Service". That is personal service, you are paid according to that service. You don't provide, you don't deserve. (PERIOD)
4. Yes, I would like to know the names and locations of those restaurants too. I will definetly not be visiting and will pass the word, so please get them to me as well. Of course, I highly doubt that a true business man in the service industry would have that kind of an attitude. And I am sure that a business person with that attitude would not be successful. My suspicions are that it could be that the writer might just be a waiter

+1 ! ^

Folks are free to leave whatever they want of course.
But 15% on the pre tax amount is still the standard tip for normal/standard service.
The service lobby( ) can try to promote a higher average than that-but it will never fly with me-and anyone else who does not buy into their propaganda.

With that said-I do tip more if the service is great and less if the service is poor.

I have also"stiffed" a server for outrageously poor service(it has to be really horrid for this to happen-and it has happned)and I have walked out of restaurants after/before placing an order if something is teriibly amiss(this has happned perhaps twice after placing an order-many times after not acknowladged in a respectable amount of time after being seated.

Many restaurant choices out there.And many folks working in the service industry probably should not be.The true gems should be rewarded generously.

$0.25 tips are much more effective than no tip, especially if you have the waiter get you change so that you can leave a quarter.

The reality is that the waiter is making TONS of CASH even if you factor in the occasional Zero Dollar tip. Waitstaff must take the good with the bad, and 'stiffing' is a reality.

Many people will be surprised to see the statistics. As a waiter, *a friend of mine* made about $100 per day in wages, about $65 after tax. In the high season *he* made a minimum (meaning NEVER LESS THAN) $300 tips per day, with $525 daily tips being *his* peak. This number is after sharing (lots of) *his* tips with the host and those helping *him* with *his* duties. This TIP income is virtually untaxed. I'll let you figure out why.

In a work year, *he* would have an average 100 day busy season, meaning $6500 of after tax wages and a Minimum of $30,000 of after tax tips, an average of $400/day with the remaining 270 days of the year off, if *he* so desired.

You can sing a sob story for the 'poor waiter', but I'm not buying it.

Bad service deserves little or no tip.

PS I was a waiter for 20 years, until recently.

my arguement is for the little more down to earth places...i know a nightclub, in a casino, where the bartenders are bringin home 1200 a night. i dont think they care if they get stiffed. the waiter at ruby tuesdays or dennys is not bringin home 500 a night. the tax arguement is just stupid. if a bill is 100 bucks and you have to tip on 106 is that really such a big deal? takes ya longer to figure it out then just throw a bill down.

Chris,

What do you mean when you say you "pay out for food"? I know you have to give some of your tip for the bartender but did not know about others.

I agree 100%. In Australia we only tip what we feel reflects the value and standard of service of the meal. Tipping is not expected. If I am not happy with the meal or standard of service I simply do not tip.If this happens in a country like the US where tipping is expected, I will ask for the Manager and explain my position.

I've left a one-cent tip twice in my life, for actively belligerent service which did not improve after the manager was called over.

Have a few regular restaurants/bars I've been going to for quite a number of years.
With them, I'll do 15 to 20% PLUS 25% of whatever I'm comp'ed.
Tends to work out well, and manager knows (eventually).

When you get to a place and your drink is ready for you might be somewhat in a rut though.

Nope:
http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/tip.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tip#Etymology

I've never had belligerent service which did not improve after the manager was called over - if the service is bad enough that I've got to involve the manager mid-meal, I'm going to ask for a new server or for an early check.

We're still waiting for the names of your restaurants.

4444 - If you feel that way about your servers, YOU SHOULD PAY THEM BETTER IN THE FIRST PLACE and not blame customers who don't give better tips because of poor service. But since it WOULD cost you something, I am sure you won't pony up.

But then, tipping is NOT required is it? You crossed the line by implying that you want to take non-tippers into the alley. I spent many years working as a dishwasher, my only means of income, and I feel for the working poor, but I am not obligated to give them money just because you are too cheap to pay adequate wages. I have no intention of systematically giving 18%+ tips because of tip creep, and if you don't like it, yeah, please, take me into the alley so you can beat the s**t out of me. Let's see how your excuses fly in court and you not only go to jail, but will lose everything. If I knew what restaurants you had a stake in, I would never enter the establishments. You are not the one doing me a favor by letting me eat at your restaurant, it is my choice and I do so at my pleasure. There are so many restaurants, do you really think that I HAVE to eat at yours?

Also, who are you to say that if people are poor they should stay home? I guess we should just lock the poor up so people like you won't get worked up that they are not throwing enough money at you. If I ever left a bad tip (cannot think of a time I have), it would mean that I have no intention of coming back because of poor service.

if you took the time to read all my posts you would have seen that i stated i pay all my employees more than they would make anywhere else. more than enough to make a living. instead of typing in bold letters take the time to read the whole thread. i dont need your business and for all that say they would stay away... i laugh. you people kiss the a*s of us athletes and always have. not my fault....

yea i'll post them on a public forum. lol.