Tipping Rules

[Milefest]

Does anyone here tip the amount on the bill before tax? Or do you calculate the tip inclusive of the tax?

 

[anat0l]

Does anyone here tip the amount on the bill before tax? Or do you calculate the tip inclusive of the tax?

The custom dictates that you nominally calculate the tip on the total price inclusive of taxes.

 

[DC3]

The custom dictates that you nominally calculate the tip on the total price inclusive of taxes.

..... and here's me thinking that I've been doing the right thing all these years, and tipping based on the price, less the government/state taxes. I've always deducted the taxes before calculating the tip.

 

[Quickstatus]

The only rule you need to know about tipping is apart from forced gratuities, tipping is up to the individual.

The irony of forced tipping the "Land of the Free".

Tipping the government?. No thanks.

 

[Deleted member]

When I go to a country where the social convention is tipping, I tip.

Even if it isn't against the law, there's no point in being overly hostile socially, unless you are prepared to put up with that flak.

You still have the right to a penny or no tip if the service was horribly unacceptable.

I don't like tipping, especially when I can't guarantee that my tip is going wholly to the server, and even then it befuddles me how they have to share the tip with kitchen staff etc, so it seems those staff aren't getting paid "enough" either. It's also pretty confusing.

That linked article seems to prescribe a stiffer / higher set of tipping rules that I'm used to, e.g. except for New York, I was used to 15% base everywhere. So now it is 20% everywhere - really? - or then again this is the Washington Post, so...

Counter staff at fast food and the like never got tipped. There was a tipping jar, but I thought that was more an excuse for people to get rid of shrapnel they didn't necessarily want. That jar got shared with everyone.

I have to admit that when I'm in the USA, I feel uncomfortable because I forget who to tip and how much to tip. It doesn't matter how many sets of rules I read. Then, I feel bad if I stiffed someone, and it's not got to do with that person not getting paid enough or whatever. How much someone is getting paid never comes into consideration when tipping.


Anyway, this isn't the first thread on this kind of thing. Definitely isn't the first article on the topic, either. In fact, one could viably argue that both are being done to the death.

Tipping in Japan is actually seen as offensive

 

[drron]

I certainly only tip on the before taxes total.Adding the tax is not a service for me.

 

[dajop]

I certainly only tip on the before taxes total.Adding the tax is not a service for me.

Yep agree.

Back in 2003 when I asked the EA for our department for "tipping 101" on my first visit to head office , in the Midwest, I was advised about 15% of the pre tax amount(ie of the menu price) and to keep it simple just double the tax - which was 8% in that state.

I've noticed that over the years 15 has morphed to 20 and many apply to post tax amount. Where will it all end? 25%, 30%.? I sense it's become a bit of a p#ssing contest - who gives the most impressive tip.


I've also noticed printed on some bills they calculate amounts for you (15, 18, 20). Some calculate on pretax and some post tax. So anything but clear what is the practice.

 

[chelzmalee]

Yep agree.

Back in 2003 when I asked the EA for our department for "tipping 101" on my first visit to head office , in the Midwest, I was advised about 15% of the pre tax amount(ie of the menu price) and to keep it simple just double the tax - which was 8% in that state.

I've noticed that over the years 15 has morphed to 20 and many apply to post tax amount. Where will it all end? 25%, 30%.? I sense it's become a bit of a p#ssing contest - who gives the most impressive tip.


I've also noticed printed on some bills they calculate amounts for you (15, 18, 20). Some calculate on pretax and some post tax. So anything but clear what is the practice.

Yep, my rule used to be 20% for exceptional service, 15% for good and 10% for ordinary.

Now, it's 20% minimum tip. And I've always applied it to the pre-tax amount.

Heading to NYC soon, and it's expected there that absolute minimum is 20% - 30% is preferred - WTF. I agree with the premise of tipping and have been known to tip 50%, but it's just getting greedy now - I'll choose the percentage on my terms thanks.

 

[OZDUCK]

In Canada every time I paid via the CC remote terminal the machine gave me an option for at least 3 levels of percentage tip or a set amount. Being lazy I normally just pressed one of the percentage options - I assume that it was after tax but am now not sure. It did get tiresome to remember that almost every menu price had to be adjusted up by 30% to give a true price for the meal.

My trouble was with porters etc trying to work out how much to give. I must admit no-one ever said anything about the amount, or otherwise, of a tip.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Given my wine bill usually always more than the food bill, in regards to tipping, when in the UK and I'm charged £100+ for a bottle of £20 Chardonnay, for example, I refuse too pay the 18% service charge on the wine. The meal, OK, but when they are making a 3-400% markup on the wine, the server has not added any service to the price by unscrewing the cap.

In the US, if the price of the wine is fair, which it often is, then I'll pay the tip. If it's more than 200% markup then the tips is based on the food only, less tax, less wine.

In Italy, Spain and other places in Europe, tipping a % is not expected, unless they think you are an American. It really annoys me when Americans take their tipping cough to Europe and pervert the local culture for everyone else.

 

[JohnK]

In Italy, Spain and other places in Europe, tipping a % is not expected, unless they think you are an American. It really annoys me when Americans take their tipping cough to Europe and pervert the local culture for everyone else.

Just Europe?

In Thailand the locals generally leave loose change as a tip if they are happy with the service. The Americans have left an expectation that all westerners must tip.

 

[AisleSeat]

Just back from the US after not being there for a while and remembering to tip was a slap in the face.
I have my rules when I'm there even if it annoys the missus (who is American).

Restaurants: 15-18%. Not low enough to cause server outrage, but harder to calculate though. I do get grief about not doing 20%. Whenever I've been out with friends in LOTFAP who have worked in the service industry, they ALWAYS tip 20% or more. I think its a solidarity thing.
Bars: If you pour a beer or make a coughtail, you get a tip ($1 per drink). If you open a can/bottle, you get nothing, unless its a round with a variety of drinks.
Hotels: No set %age. Always tip housekeeping (I do it on the first or second day if staying for a week, and then leave a little something at the end) That worked wonders in Mexico. Bellboy who brings bags to the room gets one too.
Cabs: 12-15%. And that depends if they help with luggage or not and/or make an effort to get around traffic.

 

[cove]

In California we just double the tax on a restaurant bill.

 

[GarrettM]

Just back from the US after not being there for a while and remembering to tip was a slap in the face.
I have my rules when I'm there even if it annoys the missus (who is American).

Restaurants: 15-18%. Not low enough to cause server outrage, but harder to calculate though. I do get grief about not doing 20%. Whenever I've been out with friends in LOTFAP who have worked in the service industry, they ALWAYS tip 20% or more. I think its a solidarity thing.
Bars: If you pour a beer or make a coughtail, you get a tip ($1 per drink). If you open a can/bottle, you get nothing, unless its a round with a variety of drinks.
Hotels: No set %age. Always tip housekeeping (I do it on the first or second day if staying for a week, and then leave a little something at the end) That worked wonders in Mexico. Bellboy who brings bags to the room gets one too.
Cabs: 12-15%. And that depends if they help with luggage or not and/or make an effort to get around traffic.

I may struggle when I eventually visit the US. I just don't carry cash in any real quantity.
Mind you it must be easier to keep a stack of dollar bills than dollar coins. Lighter on the hip pocket.

 

[cove]

We have been credit carding our restaurant meals. The taxes in California vary but not by much. If the tax is 8.75% then doubling it makes 17.5% which is ok.

 

[Quickstatus]

Id rather do cash for tips. I get crisp new notes from Auspost foreign currency service. I use them for tips in the USA. Just one of my weird quirks

 

[Denali]

Id rather do cash for tips. I get crisp new notes from Auspost foreign currency service. I use them for tips in the USA. Just one of my weird quirks

I prefer to tip cash because I still dont understand how staff get credit card tips from the employer.

Min 20+% but we've tipped as much as 100% once because the meal was so cheap but the night so much fun.

Took the Hilton LAX shuttle last week and hubbys arm was out of service so no help with the luggage. Shuttle lady was superwoman, moving our bags up and down the bus with a smile and "no problem". Gave her $20 (which I would have spent on a taxi).

The tipping that annoys me sometimes is the hotel bag guy. I tipped the guy who took our bags from the car to the lobby but then another guy brought them to the room so another tip required. Thats annoying.

 

[Quickstatus]

then they take forever to bring the bags up to the room dven after several calls.

I try to beat the hotel bag guy to my bags by getting out of my ride as soon as it stops and get hold of the bags myself.

 

[AisleSeat]

I may struggle when I eventually visit the US. I just don't carry cash in any real quantity.
Mind you it must be easier to keep a stack of dollar bills than dollar coins. Lighter on the hip pocket.

I don't know know if they're still around (they were 7-8 years ago), but US$1 coins were a thing, and yeah a stack of those were heavy!

 

[AisleSeat]

Id rather do cash for tips. I get crisp new notes from Auspost foreign currency service. I use them for tips in the USA. Just one of my weird quirks

This instructable will enhance that crisp note quirk (except with $1 notes instead of $2 notes): $2 Bill Pad