Restaurant bill suggested tips: 18, 20, or 25% WTF?!

[Hitch]

I actually tip 5 coin silver sets to staff that are exceptional to educate them about money

That's a great idea. I rarely eat out, but when I do it's local mom and pop restaurants where the people know my name. I always tip well, at least 20%. Going out to eat is a treat for me, and tipping well, the service and food is worth it. When the owner of the restaurant comes out to talk and ask about a meal, that says a lot. I like supporting businesses like that.

[midnight rambler]

I have a small handful of brunch places i frequent because i dont cook and i have my little one in tow.

Im as gracious as i can be and the staff is super helpful.

I actually tip 5 coin silver sets to staff that are exceptional to educate them about money

You tipped me a couple of fucking worn old (silver) quarters?? What the Hell am I supposed to do with a lousy $0.50 you fucking cheapskate??

[AndreaGail]

My pet peeve is how there is a tip line on every receipt now even if you order a sandwich or coffee to go. I can't believe the amount of times I've seen people get suckered into leaving a buck or two to what amounts to a 25% tip because they feel guilty leaving that line blank

[AndreaGail]

I was visiting Europe for a bout a week and a half and eating out sure is easier over there. almost all restaurants have heir menu in post tax prices, are shown in amounts ending in 20, 50, or 00 and a 1 euro tip is plenty as long as you aren't at a 3-4 star restaurant and even there 10% is plenty. In many cases my meals ended up being cheaper than had I gots a similar meal here

[Camp Bassfish]

The best restaurant gig is the one where the 18% tip is discreetly added to the bill. So you had 2 drinks, 2 entrees and a bottle of wine? $80 + a 16.40 tip and the bill arrives with a nice big $96.40 circled on it. You, the big spender, add another $15 or $20 tip. So the server got $35 for cracking a bottle of wine and laying down 2 plates.

I made this mistake in NYC last Thanksgiving.... (added 20% to a bill that already had 18% added). The waiter noticed what I had done and caught up with me as I was almost out the door. He pointed out my error and showed me how he had crossed off the additional tip and was only running the bill for the original amount stated on the bill. That act of rare honesty earned him an additional $10 in hand. A cheap lesson learned.

[palani]

I usually leave 15% of the food on the plate. Helps the waistline and if they are hungry ... well, you get the idea.

This works out really well at buffets.

[PatColo]

^ if they run the auto-tip racket; there shouldn't ALSO be a blank tip line on the bill/CC voucher. Nothing but a calculated trip wire.

"Oh but what if customers WANT to add ADDITIONAL tip money, but they don't have cash?!" No no no, all parties would acknowledge that's not 90% of customers' intent when they put something on that blank line, most esp when that amount they add happens to be 15% plus, probably compounding the already auto-tipped portion of the subtotal-- IE a tip on the tip!

[PatColo]

There's a little Mex restaurant near where I'm currently camping. Maybe 5 tables, order at the counter... IE most peeps get their food to go. So they've got the CCard swiper at the counter as a payment option, if not cash. There's an LCD touch screen pointed at the customer to complete the details, and even to "sign" at the end.

After okaying the amount + tax, it takes you through the "add tip?" screen. Rather than providing a number pad to key in your desired tip, the options are conveniently pre-selected for you... There's a "No tip" button, and the remaining 4 buttons begin with 15%, then I think 18, 20, & 25%.

Mind you, this is a pick your grub from the big wall mounted menu, order/pay at the counter then stand & wait ~5 mins place; not a sit down & be "waited on" through the duration of your meal restaurant. Those who eat there too, still order at the counter... and 'ideally' they gather up their paper/plastic/tin foil garbage at the end & drop in the trash can by the door.

Also mind you, you select your tip % amount at the beginning, step #1 of the whole transaction, when you haven't received any "service" or even food, to assess how generously you might tip. So if you've already tipped 15-25%, then you stand waiting 10-15m, and/or they F up your order somehow (like 'forgetting' the guac as they did my order yesterday!? )... you're SOL.

Naturally there's also the cash tip jar at the counter!

[crimethink]

There's a little Mex restaurant near where I'm currently camping. Maybe 5 tables, order at the counter... IE most peeps get their food to go. So they've got the CCard swiper at the counter as a payment option, if not cash. There's an LCD touch screen pointed at the customer to complete the details, and even to "sign" at the end.

After okaying the amount + tax, it takes you through the "add tip?" screen. Rather than providing a number pad to key in your desired tip, the options are conveniently pre-selected for you... There's a "No tip" button, and the remaining 4 buttons begin with 15%, then I think 18, 20, & 25%.

Mind you, this is a pick your grub from the big wall mounted menu, order/pay at the counter then stand & wait ~5 mins place; not a sit down & be "waited on" through the duration of your meal restaurant. Those who eat there too, still order at the counter... and 'ideally' they gather up their paper/plastic/tin foil garbage at the end & drop in the trash can by the door.

Also mind you, you select your tip % amount at the beginning, step #1 of the whole transaction, when you haven't received any "service" or even food, to assess how generously you might tip. So if you've already tipped 15-25%, then you stand waiting 10-15m, and/or they F up your order somehow (like 'forgetting' the guac as they did my order yesterday!? )... you're SOL.

Naturally there's also the cash tip jar at the counter!

"Mandatory" tip = no tip. This "tip required" BS is an example of the entitlement mentality across the political spectrum.

And if I serve as the waiter, I surely leave no tip.

If I encounter a moneychanger machine like that, I'll tell them to run it manually, or pay cash.

[PatColo]

"Mandatory" tip = no tip. This "tip required" BS is an example of the entitlement mentality across the political spectrum.

And if I serve as the waiter, I surely leave no tip.

If I encounter a moneychanger machine like that, I'll tell them to run it manually, or pay cash.

it's not mandatory; recall this part:

After okaying the amount + tax, it takes you through the "add tip?" screen. Rather than providing a number pad to key in your desired tip, the options are conveniently pre-selected for you... There's a "No tip" button, and the remaining 4 buttons begin with 15%, then I think 18, 20, & 25%.

What's 'offensive' about it, in my humble & increasingly 'old fashioned' opinion, is you must navigate through this "add tip?" screen at all... with options beginning with a conscious in-your-face "No Tip coz I'm a stingy & uncaring joowannabe" choice, then remaining choices beginning at 15% through 25%... rather than a number pad where I can 'toss in a buck', or just round the total up to the next round $ amount (IE $9.62 becomes $10.00) !!

& again, this is all BEFORE you've received any food or service to judge! It used to be said that "TIPS" stood for, To Insure Proper Service... knowhatamean?