Tipping Fatigue

[StillAWarrior]

This 22% service charge is applied to all dine-in guest checks and is retained entirely by the house. Revenue from this service charge is used to pay operating expenses, including labor...50% of the service charge provides additional hourly earnings directly to hourly staff: Front-of-house staff earn an additional $10–$30/hour, and back-of-house staff earn an additional $8–$20/hour....

So...50% of this service charge -- which is retained by entirely by the house -- does not go to the staff? Is that what they're saying? If so, just raise the prices. I don't like the idea of hiding operating expenses - which should be reflected in prices - in a "service charge".

[wadesworld]

Since back of house staff (cooks etc.) often receive part of their wages from tip pooling, and they still had to work equally hard for my meal, I usually do, but it is generally a bit less 10-15%.

That's where I land.  Usually 15% unless it was an unexpectedly long time for the food to be ready, or I had to wait because the estimated time was a lot longer.  Then 10%.

[MU82]

So...50% of this service charge -- which is retained by entirely by the house -- does not go to the staff? Is that what they're saying? If so, just raise the prices. I don't like the idea of hiding operating expenses - which should be reflected in prices - in a "service charge".

If you continue to read, I believe they are saying that at least a chunk of the other 50% goes toward benefits and toward higher salaries for non-servers. The rest, I assume, is for additional profits for the restaurant.

But yes, the whole thing is squirrelly. And it's not just this restaurant group with such a policy.

Going out to eat at decent to nice restaurants has gotten pricey everywhere, and even moreso in major cities. Of course, we all have a choice - just eat at home. Which my wife and I do most of the time. But we do like going out, and we have the money to do it, so we know before we walk in the restaurant door that we're gonna pay big bucks.

So it's not a matter of "we can't afford" giving tips above and beyond the high menu prices to support higher wages and the mandatory surcharges; if we couldn't afford it, we'd stop going out altogether. It's a matter of principle, a matter of "when is the tipping culture all getting to be too much?"

[StillAWarrior]

I agree with those who say that the tipping culture is out of hand.

I have always been a pretty good tipper. I waited tables for a while when younger, so I genuinely appreciate service and always tip. Unless something goes really wrong, I tip a bit over 20%. I mentally round up the dollar amount on the bill, roughly calculate 20% of that rounded number, and then just round again to the next dollar (e.g., $63.79 bill would be rounded to $64, 20% is $12.80, so I'll tip   at least $13 - and maybe round up to $14 or $15 or more for really good service). That's just a convenient way for me to calculate the tip without having to involve pennies in the math but still make sure I'm north of 20%. I'm sympathetic to servers, so they have to be pretty aggressively bad to get less than 20% from me.

I don't tip in traditional fast food restaurants (e.g., Arby's, Taco Bell, etc.). I usually don't tip in fast casual restaurants (e.g., Chipotle), but I will make an exception for really good service. I usually tip a buck or two in coffee or ice cream shops. I'm not honestly sure why I draw the line there -- probably has something to do with the fact that a couple of my kids worked at an ice cream shop. I typically also will tip a dollar or two for take out if they've bagged it up and dropped in napkins, plastic ware, etc. (although I rarely order take-out).

I have an ongoing [dad] joke with my kids whenever a cashier turns the screen around and says, "It's going to ask you a couple of questions." I usually ask whoever I'm with, "Oh...I wonder if it's going to be the tip question again. It is!" I hate those screens. I still feel guilty when I say "no tip".

I find the current trend of restaurants adding "service fees" that they specifically state are not going to servers to be extremely annoying and cowardly. If I'm at your restaurant, you're going to prepare my food and serve it to me. That's the service; the menu price should reflect that service. I'll gladly provide a separate "service fee" to your employee in the form of a tip. The restaurant owners need to have the balls to price their food appropriately - don't give me artificially low price on the menu and then try to cover your costs with a bogus "service fee".

[Jay Bee]

What are you cheapskates doing for DoorDash tips?

[MU82]

I find the current trend of restaurants adding "service fees" that they specifically state are not going to servers to be extremely annoying and cowardly. If I'm at your restaurant, you're going to prepare my food and serve it to me. That's the service; the menu price should reflect that service. I'll gladly provide a separate "service fee" to your employee in the form of a tip. The restaurant owners need to have the balls to price their food appropriately - don't give me artificially low price on the menu and then try to cover your costs with a bogus "service fee".

Yup yup yup.

[Skatastrophy]

I like tipping. It allows me to lord my wealth over others, making the eyes of the working poor water in appreciation of my generosity.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

What are you cheapskates doing for DoorDash tips?

I only eat food that I've obtained myself. This includes whale heads, raccoon penises, and an occasional bear cub carcass.

[Scoop Snoop]

What are you cheapskates doing for DoorDash tips?

I grab the food out of their hands just as soon as I open the door and then slam it shut in their faces. lock the door and turn off the porch light. If they start to pound on the door and complain about no tip, I turn on my sprinkler system that is strategically placed to soak them if they stick around. If that doesn't work, I sic my pit bulls on them. After that, they are looking straight down the business end of my shotgun.

[Uncle Rico]

It's getting completely ridiculous.  So if you go to a kiosk or snack stand at an airport, where there's a 100% surcharge on everything, we're also supposed to tip 18-25%?  Just get rid of this nonsense. 

It's only a few pennies

[MuggsyB]

I always tipped carryout pre-covid at 10-12%.

I generally agree with JWags.  I'm not fatigued by restaurants or bars, it's buying toothpaste or what have you. 

[MuggsyB]

I only eat food that I've obtained myself. This includes whale heads, raccoon penises, and an occasional bear cub carcass.

You should be banned. 

[JWags85]

The funny thing about service charges are that they came, in my opinion, from "No Tipping" land in Europe.  It was basically the universal sign that it was a tourist trap sort of restaurant where they knew they could slap a charge onto bills cause Americans were used to extra fees on the bill and just milk additional profit from each check.

If restaurants want to go to a mandatory service fee each check that is spread to all staff, additional tip to that is optional, I'm ok with that.  But the nebulous service charge thats added in addition to tip and tax?  Nah, screw that.

And again, I'm sympathetic to restaurant owners cause its a BRUTAL business.  Outside of restaurant groups and some established places that churn out cash, I know its incredibly touch and go, but just be honest and straight up.  The check doesn't need to become even more convoluted.  Uber Eats/DoorDash/GrubHub has that more than covered.

[Shaka Shart]

I always tipped carryout pre-covid at 10-12%.

I generally agree with JWags.  I'm not fatigued by restaurants or bars, it's buying toothpaste or what have you. 

Why would you ever tip for what can be described as a dentist appointment

[MuggsyB]

Why would you ever tip for what can be described as a dentist appointment

You've never tipped for carry-out?

Dentists get paid very well and have a specialized skill. 

[TSmith34, Inc.]

You've never tipped for carry-out?

Dentists get paid very well and have a specialized skill. 

Is being scared of cities* a specialized skill now?




*non-white people

[MuggsyB]

Is being scared of cities* a specialized skill now?




*non-white people

Dentists can make a fortune.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Dentists can make a fortune.

Especially when their dad gifts it to them.

[MUBurrow]

What are you cheapskates doing for DoorDash tips?

I go like 20-25%. Meal delivery services feel kinda like any other delivery back in the day, which was always tip-dependent, so it's easy to tip well. Plus with the money I save drinking my own hootch, I still come out way ahead vs eating in.

Tho I will say, making you tip before the food is delivered is some real gunpoint ish.

[MuggsyB]

Especially when their dad gifts it to them.

They still have to be skilled.  I don't get the dentist obsession in this thread. 

[Jay Bee]

Tho I will say, making you tip before the food is delivered is some real gunpoint ish.

Agree - I wonder what % of people add an additional tip AFTER delivery? Gotta be like 0.2% aina? Maybe I'll ax AI.

[Uncle Rico]

Dentists can make a fortune.

Usually through fraud and they have a lot of fraudsters in their ranks.

[CreightonWarrior]

I only eat food that I've obtained myself. This includes whale heads, raccoon penises, and an occasional bear cub carcass.

I'd recommend manatee if you haven't had the opportunity. They were specifically created by god to be consumed.

[Badgerhater]

No tip for takeout or counter service.

I now tip 15 percent generally instead of 20 because of no taxes on tips.  Everyone should pay taxes.

I tip a higher percentage at less expensive places and my regular places.  30 percent vs 15 percent.

[Scoop Snoop]

I'd recommend manatee if you haven't had the opportunity. They were specifically created by god to be consumed.

I wish I could eat manatee, but my cardiologist wants me to try to stay with the "Healthy Heart" diet, and manatee has such a high fat content that I have to abstain from it. There are a number of Healthy Heart diet lists out there and I have been trying to find one that includes ice cream, but so far? No luck at all.