Tipping is this fair ?

[Kit83]

Actually this is something that's been getting debated more and more... Some seems like some people prefer getting tipped and some want to earn it because they make better money that way.
Some believe earning tips makes for improved service.

But until that is figured out... You should do what is customary in that country.
If you must cap the tip... At least be reasonable. $25 on a $350 is not reasonable to most. I would atleast tip $10 per person ($40 in your case) at signature meals and $5 per person at table service locations ($20 in your case) and $2 per person at buffets...

Sounds reasonable to me thanks

 

[flynnibus]

Would it not be better for the staff if they were paid fully and not having to rely on people like me (or you) ? when business is low they would still get to pay their bills . Experienced staff would command greater money like other industries. Guests would not be subsidising the restaurants wage bill and it would reflect in real menu prices .

As for not being able to pay the % tip, its not a question of money, more, do I think 20% is a fair tip on a large bill I don't but I do think they deserve good pay .

Now you're taking it to the philosophical discussion instead of your simple trip planning question...

 

[flynnibus]

Actually this is something that's been getting debated more and more... Some seems like some people prefer getting tipped and some want to earn it because they make better money that way.
Some believe earning tips makes for improved service..

Tips at their core are incentives... The problem becomes when they become decoupled from performance and people act like it is owed to them regardless of performance. The thing with incentive pay is you have to accept the risk if you want the upside.

Tips can be good because in a sense its profit sharing for the employees. The better the biz does (with their inputs) the better they get paid.

But somethings just don't scale well.

I tip based on reasonable amounts... That works up and down. At my weekly bar my bill for a diner and drink is usually only about $12. But I usually tip them about 5 because my plate is one of the cheaper ones and they usually serve me about 2 times. I add anonother 1-2 for each beer they bring me too

 

[Minthorne]

I wonder - if one follows this logic - on the other side of this if one went to a inexpensive restaurant and had amazing service on a $75 bill would they tip $20- $25 or just the 20%?

 

[HRHPrincessAriel]

I wonder - if one follows this logic - on the other side of this if one went to a inexpensive restaurant and had amazing service on a $75 bill would they tip $20- $25 or just the 20%?

I've tipped much more when we have fantastic wait staff regardless of the "quality" of restaurant. Once gave a luby's employee a $35 tip off the two adults and kiddo when we had to eat there on Thansgiving due to unforeseen reasons. She was awesome.

 

[abeachchick]

I think you're cheap, and you should just stay in your own country.

You did ask for our opinions

Just exercising free speech.

 

[loriloughs]

Although it is customary to leave a 15-20% tip on the entire bill here in the U.S., it is not disrespectful to not tip on alcohol. We always do because we are in fact being served regardless of the item. We ate at the Flying Fish Cafe in September and the bill would have been $350.00 had we not had the dining plan! It still cost us $90.00 because of appys and wine. Our server was fantastic, was extremely attentive, and poured our wine refills for us. One of the best servers I have ever had. I felt he deserved that 20% on what the entire bill would have been! Perhaps you could back the alcohol and tax out of the bill and tip 20% on food only. Just a thought.

 

[BrianV]

Although it is customary to leave a 15-20% tip on the entire bill here in the U.S., it is not disrespectful to not tip on alcohol. We always do because we are in fact being served regardless of the item. We ate at the Flying Fish Cafe in September and the bill would have been $350.00 had we not had the dining plan! It still cost us $90.00 because of appys and wine. Our server was fantastic, was extremely attentive, and poured our wine refills for us. One of the best servers I have ever had. I felt he deserved that 20% on what the entire bill would have been! Perhaps you could back the alcohol and tax out of the bill and tip 20% on food only. Just a thought.

I was always taught not to tip on tax! After all, tax varies from state to state. In MA where I live, it changes over time too, from 5 to 6.25 % recently. Do others tip on tax?

 

[Minthorne]

I don't think about the tip much - with TiW you don't get a choice - it's 18% tacked on (pre tax BTW @BrianV ) unless you want to make a stink. Usually I find 18% in more expensive spots to be reasonable(ish) - apparently the folks with TiW feel so too. If the server sparkles then I'll add more on.

 

[PMC0849]

Please at the very least tip 15%. I know it is not the system you are used to, and you don't like it, and yes, it doesn't necessarily make sense, but that is the way it is. It would be nice if these places paid their staff more, and tipping wasn't needed, but that fact is, they do not. By not tipping, the only person you are hurting is that employee, who maybe counts on that 15-20% tip to pay off student loans, or to feed their child. All these tips are pooled as well, shared among the front of house staff, taxed, and added to the employees paycheck, so it's not like they get to walk out the door with a few hundred bucks in tips in a given night. So please, at the very least, if you refuse to tip 18-20% just tip 15%.

 

[Kit83]

I think you're cheap, and you should just stay in your own country.

You did ask for our opinions

Just exercising free speech.

I'm sorry you feel this way Hope when I do visit the USA I find the kind friendly people I always have in the past !

 

[loriloughs]

I was always taught not to tip on tax! After all, tax varies from state to state. In MA where I live, it changes over time too, from 5 to 6.25 % recently. Do others tip on tax?

I am sure most people back the tax out. We have 7% tax in NJ so that can add up! Thanks for your comment!

 

[Tink28]

As another Brit I admit that tipping 18-20% doesn't come naturally to me, in the UK it tends to be 10-15% at most so paying more seems like such a lot of money to me. But I know in the US some wages like in catering are low so I adjust my tips in line with that and always tip more than I would at home. I am just not used to tipping so much but I still do it and find service way better in the US

 

[tahqa]

Although it is customary to leave a 15-20% tip on the entire bill here in the U.S., it is not disrespectful to not tip on alcohol. We always do because we are in fact being served regardless of the item. We ate at the Flying Fish Cafe in September and the bill would have been $350.00 had we not had the dining plan! It still cost us $90.00 because of appys and wine. Our server was fantastic, was extremely attentive, and poured our wine refills for us. One of the best servers I have ever had. I felt he deserved that 20% on what the entire bill would have been! Perhaps you could back the alcohol and tax out of the bill and tip 20% on food only. Just a thought.

One thing to keep in mind, if you choose not to tip on the entire bill, is that some of the participant restaurants at WDW have heinous tip-out policies. I can name at least one where servers have to tip-out the bartenders, sommeliers, bus boys and server assistants on a percentage of sales, not a percentage of tips received. There are times where the servers make no tips, and sometimes very little pay, because of this policy.

 

[HRHPrincessAriel]

I am sure most people back the tax out. We have 7% tax in NJ so that can add up! Thanks for your comment!

In my TX city its 8.25 I typically double and add a few bucks

 

[kels650]

Thanks for your comments they in my experience are what the majority of people feel .

As you say servers are not paid a living wage in their basic but you must agree with tips even at a level I think is fair, they make more than a decent take home pay .

Paying a % of the wine I could never agree to if I spend $50 on wine its the same work as a $200 bottle (there is no extra knowledge required )

Staff in Europe live on their basic, tips are not expected and mostly not declared .

A four cover bill at at signature restaurant with wine may cost around $350, tip would be around $70 I wish I could make that per table for an evenings work on top of basic. So I think my $15 to $25 is more than fair for less than two hours work not forgetting the server would be getting the same from other tables. I don't think in my case its about being able to pay that amount of tip, its that 15 to 20 % is too much on large bills .

I think you not dining at at signature restaurant because of the tipping norm is a pity I'm sure that's not what any staff or management would want . I do respect your selflessness but I would rather enjoy my meal and pay what I consider to be a more than fair tip .

It is not my intention to pick on or upset you or anyone else and I do value your comments and the above are just my opinion's

These tips do not all go to the server. You then (as the server) have to tip out your bus boy/girl, and the bartender a % of your tips. That is why, if the service is standard or greater, 18%-20% of the total bill is expected. It is fairly presumptuous of you to assume they get to keep all that, or that they are consistently tipped that much. Your view on tipping alone proves they do not make the take home you are suggesting because you are unfortunately not the only one that seems to not understand the way servers are paid and what their true take-home is. Also, keep in mind on vacation most people tip on their credit cards which means the servers MUST claim those tips as there is a record of the amount given. I agree with the above posters, if you plan on spending that much and can not tip accordingly you should not dine there. Dine within your means.

 

[kels650]

To answer some of your points my intention was not to troll, I did think it would be a contentious issue but my question was sincere . I may have been safer bringing up politics or religion

I have tried to understand everyone's point and do get what you say I just don't think it makes any sense to me, it appears to be mostly based on tradition and emotion . I would rather the staff were rewarded in their basic pay and then reward good service on top of the bill . If restaurant prices go up then so be it. It will make no difference to your pockets as you won't need to pay the non mandatory %(tip) .

Would it not be better for the staff if they were paid fully and not having to rely on people like me (or you) ? when business is low they would still get to pay their bills . Experienced staff would command greater money like other industries. Guests would not be subsidising the restaurants wage bill and it would reflect in real menu prices .

As for not being able to pay the % tip, its not a question of money, more, do I think 20% is a fair tip on a large bill I don't but I do think they deserve good pay .

I have read some restaurants in New York are trying out an included service charge I wonder how that's working out .

I just want to remind some these are just my thoughts I not trying to change your world just exercising free speech .

While it would be nice for their base pay to be increased and tips to be a true reward - you tipping far less than standard is only going to be harmful to their income, esp keeping in mind they have to tip out others at the end of the shift. Giving a poor tip based off your logic is not going to change the way they are paid. Maybe you should keep that in mind. Also, just because you do not like the way tipping is done at this time, does not mean whoever is unfortunate enough to be stuck with your table should suffer. If you do not agree with how tipping is done at WDW or anywhere else for that matter, and plan to tip so poorly, you should not eat out. There are a lot of things that are done wrong, poorly, or a$$ backwards in this country, but until there is policy changing the base pay of servers, either play the game or don't waste the servers time and energy, because there are plenty of people willing to pay them what they earned. (I am obviously excluding those servers that provide bad service because there are always a few, I am speaking for those that truly work hard for their money)

 

[xdan0920]

I was always taught not to tip on tax! After all, tax varies from state to state. In MA where I live, it changes over time too, from 5 to 6.25 % recently. Do others tip on tax?

I do, but I have friends that don't. I look at it like this. Tax is 7%. Even if my bill is $200, that's $14, that's like $3 extra tip at 20%. I don't care about that 3 enough to nickel and dime my server.

I'm sorry you feel this way Hope when I do visit the USA I find the kind friendly people I always have in the past !

Then reward those friendly folks with your "fair" 10% tip. Cheerio mate!

 

[Hakunamatata]

I'm sorry you feel this way Hope when I do visit the USA I find the kind friendly people I always have in the past !

Depending on when you visit you may interact more with foreign visitors. Keep that in mind.

 

[MichWolv]

I don't really want to reopen this controversial topic but I would like to know what you think of how we plan to tip at WDW . I'am happy to tip the normal amounts for bags valet parking bar staff etc but when it comes to tipping in restaurants I have come up with this for a family of four eating (3 course) at a signature restaurant.

We will gave between 15 and 25 dollars depending on service, top end if they exceed our expected level of service bottom if its a normal level . If service is poor too slow rude etc we will not pay any tip and will make a formal complaint after first taking the matter up with the waiter .

We will not pay any extra for wine service unless they show expertise and then not a % (I've worked in the wine trade for 30 years ) but then only around $10 regardless of the wine cost . Wine sales in restaurants are a massive profit earner so we will not pay a % on already very inflated prices .

This is based on a 3 course meal for 4 with wine, cheaper meals we will pay 15 to 20 % of the food cost less tax and wine but that % will not exceed the 15 to 25 $ its no more work to serve more expensive food .

Florida minimum tipped wage is $4.91 assuming each waiter is tipped 15 $ per table and they serve 3 tables per hour for 6 hours inc lunch and dinner on a 8 hour day they should earn around $310 a day five days a week 48 weeks a year not bad even after tax .

It's all much easier here in europe service is always included. I often add to the bill if service is very good but I have also had the service charge removed if it was poor. I'not suggesting the USA should change its not for me to say .

I know this is a controversial subject for many especially for those who do the waiting on but just wanted to know your opinions and not offend anyone .

If you'll forgive some bluntness here. $25 would be a reasonable tip on a bill of around $140 for good service. 4 at a signature restaurant eating 3 course meals will generate a bill far in excess of that. I think you already knew, before writing this, that your plan would result in tips at signature restaurants well below what the norm would be in the US. Therefore, you are asking whether we think it is OK for you to plan to pay an amount below the normal price for service. No, I don't think that's OK.

I hate the fact that servers in the US are not paid the full value of their services by their employer, who would then, of course, increase the prices of food to cover those costs. For whatever silly reason, that isn't how it works here. I think it should change (and may be doing so, very slowly, as a few restaurants have adopted a "no tipping" policy), but that's not the point of your question. The good news is that you get to decide how much to pay for service. And you seem to be saying that, to you, service isn't worth what it is to most everybody else here. You can do that because of the system here. But it does, as @abeachchick stated, make you sound cheap.