America - Tipping

[Cortoon]

Make sure to read your bill (check) carefully when you're eating/drinking out, as some places add a tip to it, but still leave a line for you to add a tip (i.e., one over and above the one they already added to your bill). 

That happened me a couple of weekends 4 adults and 3 kids bill came down and we were getting together a tip in cash when noticed 10% had been put on the bill

That makes it handier. It means you don't have to bother adding any on.

[johnnycool]

So you want a tip eh? Wipe from front to back 

[Puckoon]

I'm heading over soon. Do you have to tip?

Yes, it's a societal norm. It's gotten a little out of hand for sure, don't feel that you need to tip at a kiosk service place unless you're actually watching someone create your deli sandwich or the like. Starbucks, no. Dunkin Donuts, no. Subway, maybe a buck for a sandwich.

Sit down restaurants, yes. 15-20% is the norm. If you're indulging in expensive alcohol or wine, you can always factor that into how much you leave. If I order a $50 bottle of wine, I am not tipping 20% on that as well as my meal.

If you're at a bar, paying as you go - $1 a drink generally. If you're running a tab, again 15-20%.

If you're getting your hair cut, yes.

Nevermind.

Most servers can spot a European coming a mile away and may adjust their expectations accordingly - but in the true service industry, their tips are how they make their living. Most restaurants and bars pay the minimum they can (as low as $2 an hour until the recent minimum wage service laws passed), so the tip culture is what allows people in those jobs to make their wage.

[Champion The Wonder Horse]

First night we landed in NYC, a few years ago, the two of us went for a burger. Bill came to about $16. Handed over a $50 bill. The nice waiter asked if we wanted change.

[dec]

but in the true service industry, their tips are how they make their living. Most restaurants and bars pay the minimum they can (as low as $2 an hour until the recent minimum wage service laws passed)

That's the important point, the amount wait staff are paid is really low, tips are what turn it into a slightly better than crap wage. If they were paid a decent salary instead of tips the amount would just get rolled into the menu prices.

[whitey]

If you hustle and work in a high end location you can make big bucks bartending/waitressing

A friend of mine lives in Maine and on a really good night his 19 year old daughter is pulling down $4-500 cash

She'll easily bank $10K this summer working 4 nights a week for about 2 months

[Jell 0 Biafra]

Making the big assumption that that level of tip income stays level for 12 months of the year, that amounts to $60K annually.   Crazy good money for a 19yo, presumably living with parents, and without kids of her own. 

For a family,different matter.  It would be a very good second income, but if that was the sole family income, I wouldn't call it big bucks, given living expenses in the northeastern US.  If it was the sole family income, you wouldn't be with the arse out of your trousers, but you wouldn't be rolling in it either.

TLDR: Waiting/waitressing in a primo location is great for single young folk with no bills to pay.  Far less so for  people with families to feed.

[whitey]

Making the big assumption that that level of tip income stays level for 12 months of the year, that amounts to $60K annually.   Crazy good money for a 19yo, presumably living with parents, and without kids of her own. 

For a family,different matter.  It would be a very good second income, but if that was the sole family income, I wouldn't call it big bucks, given living expenses in the northeastern US.  If it was the sole family income, you wouldn't be with the arse out of your trousers, but you wouldn't be rolling in it either.

TLDR: Waiting/waitressing in a primo location is great for single young folk with no bills to pay.  Far less so for  people with families to feed.

It all depends

In our town there's everything from a greasy spoon diner to a higher end bistro

The girls in the bistro (who are married stay at home moms) easily pull down $50-60k a year working Fri-Sunday.

Not bad scratch for working 15 hours a week (most of it tax free)

[thebuzz]

I don't mind tipping for a proper service but the expectation of a tip at the self service petrol station is the biggest joke of all.

[Never beat the deeler]

but in the true service industry, their tips are how they make their living. Most restaurants and bars pay the minimum they can (as low as $2 an hour until the recent minimum wage service laws passed)

That's the important point, the amount wait staff are paid is really low, tips are what turn it into a slightly better than crap wage. If they were paid a decent salary instead of tips the amount would just get rolled into the menu prices.

You say that like it's a bad thing. Surely better for all involved, including businesses, servers and customers if actual costs are known, someone making a decent wage isn't dependant on what version of 'societal norm' you are adhering to on a given day of the week!

[Jell 0 Biafra]

I don't mind tipping for a proper service but the expectation of a tip at the self service petrol station is the biggest joke of all.

Yeah, I'd be surprised if anyone did that. Just a "let's see if we can get something out of this" exercise.

The point about proper service is well taken. I standard do 20%, and most servers are very good anyway (as you would expect when their wage is based on keeping the customer happy).  But there was one time at a well known  coffee shop in New Orleans where a waitress was exceptionally rude to us. After considering no tip, I left her 10 cents in change, to make a point.

[tyrone08]

but in the true service industry, their tips are how they make their living. Most restaurants and bars pay the minimum they can (as low as $2 an hour until the recent minimum wage service laws passed)

That's the important point, the amount wait staff are paid is really low, tips are what turn it into a slightly better than crap wage. If they were paid a decent salary instead of tips the amount would just get rolled into the menu prices.

Not really though as in europe the prices include a fair wage for the staff however the prices are still often cheaper than US. US is built on greed, employers make a fortune and want customers to pay their staff for them

[tyroneman]

Main issue with tipping nowdays in the US is the increasing lack of good service, while still in full expectance of a 20% tip.

Efficiency, helpfulness and courtesy, the x3 essentials should determine the tip level, not just being alive.


 

[NAG1]

It is becoming a decreasingly appealing place to visit by the year anyway and this nonsense is just another layer of crap to have to put up with.

[gallsman]

Main issue with tipping nowdays in the US is the increasing lack of good service, while still in full expectance of a 20% tip.

Efficiency, helpfulness and courtesy, the x3 essentials should determine the tip level, not just being alive.
 

Last time I was in NYC was Christmas 2016 and one day we were eating in a sandwich shop in Brooklyn. Order, pay, iPad flip around to select your gratuity (probably got 20%) and it was a collect at the counter job.

After about 20 mins when we were close to finishing up, girl who'd taken the order called out "when you guys are done you can just drop your trays back to the counter". My now wife, who never gets riled up, told me that in no uncertain circumstances was I to even consider lifting the tray.

I hate tipping culture but I've no bother with it in the States where it's accepted as the societal normal in hospitality and is by and large known and understood enough for travellers to factor a tip into the true cost of a meal. However, I refuse to tip where the service role has been automated. The petrol pump shown previously is a disgrace. Who receives that gratuity like?!

The "discretionary service charge" that is increasingly common at home also pisses me off. This used to be something that would be added to parties of 8 or 10 or more and it would be flagged on the menu. Used to be 10% but has been going up the last few years. It has crept in more and more where it can just show up on your bill unadvised. Servers/wait staff are also trained to bring the bill and card machine at the same time, subtly pressuring you into just getting it over with rather than allow you time to check a bill. If I see a service charge on a bill, I'll always ask the service staff if they get that or it goes to the house. If it goes to the house I'll ask them to take it off and tip cash or on the card.