My experience has been that the actual amount of those included gratuities that the server actually gets is a lot less. Oftentimes these tips are pooled and split. On group functions where I am the host, I ALWAYS, ALWAYS give a supplemental cash tip to the staff.

For example, at my club, I've thrown several parties ranging from 10 to 60 people. I give a supplemental cash tip to all the servers and car valets that park cars for me and my guests. Generally in the $50 range. So on a big event the cash tips are several hundred bucks. Yes, I am considered overly generous, but I also note that the level of service I get at any place I frequent regularly has been very, very high. Also, I can afford it. I'm sure I would not be throwing these parties or going to places that require tipping as much if I could not afford it. I consider the tip to be a full part of the expense and plan accordingly. If I can afford the meal, but not a generous tip, then I don't go.

Also, per the other conversation on this thread, my minimum cash tip in most situations (not counting starbucks and the like), for things like bellman, waiters, car valets is $5. So I carry a bunch of $5 bills around for tipping.

WaiterRant is a GREAT blog. One of my favorites! His book is also REALLY good.

Sorry, I didn't look through the whole thread but who out there tips the drivers of the buses to the rental car locations? I have never tipped but recently noticed that one or two others did.

Q: How do you get the small change/notes for tips?

When travelling, the ATM's will not give small notes and you usually need more tip money than you get back from spending. It's like constant struggle to optimize the use of cash to get the "right size" of money back.

At home I spend less than 50e a month in cash, everything is through a few debit/credit cards, even a few euro purchases. Most of the time I don't have any cash in my wallet.

The Stained Apron is another good one, although it does seem to be a bit one-sided.

what the flipping hell? 20% tip to a taxi driver....tipping the shuttle bus drivers...then housekeeping....JUST SAY NO.
Really, this just is annoying. I only tip hotel staff who help me with my bags and restaurants where menus explicitly state that service is not included in the bill. Everyone else gets a rounding-up to the nearest convenient sum.

I had a taxi driver that refused to give me change...he decided he wanted to determine his own tip...I got my change back and gave it to the next driver that wasn't rude

Oh if only...

I was at a wedding the other week where all of the staff was prohibited from accepting tips. It was so refreshing to be at a place where everyone you met (other than guests) did not have their hand out.

Please don't lament about the poor wait staff there. They received plenty from the newlyweds.

I'll throw out a topic here (and mods feel free to correct me if needed): What about Applebees to Go or Outback Curbside? There are people that do wait on people here, albeit, they just ask for payment and people get the food and they are done. I was at an Applebees once and when I crossed out the tip line, the person waiting on me flinched, but obviously was not visibly upset. I have not made up my mind on this type of service yet but could see them getting a tip, probably except for the Olive Garden where you need to go into the restaurant to get your food.

I usually tip 10% on takeout from any non-fast food place.

Generally (although it may differ at some restaurants), the take out service at a sit down restaurant is assigned to a member of the normal waitstaff. This means someone who normally waits on tables collects the food from the kitchen, puts everything in a bag, gets the utensils in the bag, etc... and does this for the take outs during all or part of his/her shift. Since this take time, oftentimes this "normally a table waiter/waittress" is given a much smaller section of tables (fewer tables = less tips/money for their shift) or no tables at all for part of their shift.

This is part of the reason why I always tip on take out from places that are primarily or normally sit down restaurants.

Every few weeks/months I get a stack of small bills from my bank and put them in various envelopes marked "tip money" that go in my office, home and briefcase. I replenish my money clip with these small bills from these envelopes as I can. Also, I always buy water at the airport before a flight, but after security. I usually pay for said water with a $20 bill so I have change/small bills in my pocket.