Has tipping gotten out of hand?

[look 171]

Went to a place tonight with family in Pasadena where we do most of our eating, shopping and etc. Its one of those places where the food must be ordered through the QR code that was placed on the table, no paper or any any type of menu. They bring the food when its ready. We get out own water, napkins, sauce, and plastic forks and knives. I follow the direction and pay for our food through my phone. When done, it asked for 18, 23 and 28 % tip. What the fook, man. I did all the work, I even have to get my own water. This is way before we had any service and they want a tip? Its a weird situation when the waitress or can I even call her that came and maybe she noticed no tip? Maybe she stuck her finger in our food?

[Gogar]

Yes . The only thing that annoys me more is the idea that I want to go out to a restaurant and not need to have the frickin phone on the table or in my hand, and now they've got me messing with my phone the entire time.

[red 928]

Tipping?
What's that?

Seriously,
I usually tip the customary amount at a restaurant,
assuming I received good service.
But that's it. No other tipping anywhere.
Too many places think they can ask for a tip.

During a recent trip back to the continent,
I saw a tip jar on the shelf at a drive-thru window at
a well-known burger franchise.
LOL right.

Here's your tip: stay in school, get a good education,
apply yourself so you don't have to work at a fast food dive
past the age of 18.
And stay off drugs.
Keep the change

[Bill Douglas]

[Heel n Toe]

I usually tip the customary amount at a restaurant,
assuming I received good service.
But that's it. No other tipping anywhere.
Too many places think they can ask for a tip.

We went to a new-ish "trendy" barbeque restaurant in town last week that had us stand at the register looking at the menu placards they had handed us, then place our order, then pay.

I had already "tapped" my card and a window pops up with three different levels of tips. What? Before we even sit down?

I wish I had asked the guy, "When have you ever been asked to give a tip BEFORE you get service?"

I went with it and selected the lowest option. I think it may have been 10% but I don't even remember because I was busy making sure I didn't say something I'd regret.

Our meals were good enough... about a 7 on a 10 point scale, but they'll never see us again.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Customary to tip down your way? When we were travelling in Asia, it was so nice to not have to think about that but we usually leave something similar to 5-7 US when the service was excellence. It also depended on the place.

[KNS]

Tipping has gotten absurd.

I was recently at Firehouse Subs - just wanted sandwich. While paying with a credit card I was prompted to select which tip amount to choose (before the sandwich has been made and given to me which is standard now). After that I was asked if I'd like to give an extra donation to some Fireman's fund. The icing on the cake was a tip jar at the register. That was the last time I'll be eating at Firehouse Subs.

Last month I was in Spain on vacation, as many know tipping is not unheard of in Europe but not the norm. It's often difficult to tip even if you wanted to. Taxi cabs, if you're paying by CC, have no option for a tip. It was very refreshing from the tipping extremes taking over here in the US.

[flatbutt]

How about tipping for takeout? I find that absurd.

[scottmandue]

Hey, gotta pay off those student loans somehow!

[Cairo94507]

I agree, tipping is completely out of control. Aside from the homeless (useless) kids standing outside begging for money, the tip jar on the counter and the "round-up" question, "help the kids" question, they have the forced selection of 15%, 20% and 25% on the CC machine. These workers are now making $18-$22 per hour and then asking for a lot more per order. I am sick of it and now only tip for the people who really earn it. I am tired of paying $25 for a hamburger and fries.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by Cairo94507

I agree, tipping is completely out of control. Aside from the homeless (useless) kids standing outside begging for money, the tip jar on the counter and the "round-up" question, "help the kids" question, they have the forced selection of 15%, 20% and 25% on the CC machine. These workers are now making $18-$22 per hour and then asking for a lot more per order. I am sick of it and now only tip for the people who really earn it. I am tired of paying $25 for a hamburger and fries.

This



I know a waitress. A really dumb one. Ie flunked out of a RN program. She makes at least 200$ a night in tips with the average around 300$.... that is cash taken home after the shift.

Her pops just got back from Germany and complained how he felt bad that he couldn't tip (outside of trinkgeld). He's a budlight sales guy, so their days are numbered anyways.

[Arizona_928]

I carry 2 dollar bills in my wallet just for tipping.

Since haircuts cost 20+ dollars now, credit card fees added to the bills, ect. They do not get used often.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by look 171

Went to a place tonight with family in Pasadena where we do most of our eating, shopping and etc. Its one of those places where the food must be ordered through the QR code that was placed on the table, no paper or any any type of menu. They bring the food when its ready. We get out own water, napkins, sauce, and plastic forks and knives. I follow the direction and pay for our food through my phone. When done, it asked for 18, 23 and 28 % tip. What the fook, man. I did all the work, I even have to get my own water. This is way before we had any service and they want a tip? Its a weird situation when the waitress or can I even call her that came and maybe she noticed no tip? Maybe she stuck her finger in our food?

I assume/hope there was a "custom" option as well. I tended bar for about 5 years. We did have a full kitchen, and there were tables and waitresses so the amount of food service that I had to do was minimal. Still, my hourly rate varied from ~$2/hr up to about $4.5/hr depending upon the job and location. I relied on tips, so I generally tip well.

I've never run into a situation like that, but that's crazy. How expensive is the food and or what would you expect a total bill to be? And some folks will pay with a credit card but tip with cash.

I'd be curious to talk to mgmt about the whole situation.

If I eat someplace and the total bill is $20, but I got really good service, drinks always full, wait staff with a nice disposition, speedy, checked on a couple of times, I might tip $10. If we go eat for $60 and get minimum service, not bad, but not good either, they would probably also get $10. If the bill was $60 and we got really good service, then the tip might be $15.

But starting the tip scale at 18% where the only waiting is to bring the food to the table seems crazy. Or did anyone stop by the table to ask how things were? It didn't sound like there was any of that or drink refills or anything other than just dropping off the food.

[fanaudical]

Tipping is completely out of hand around here. One other thing I've noticed is that the math for the tipping percentage doesn't add up (some are 3-5% above the stated percentage...). I've stopped visiting places that ask for tip for no service.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

How about tipping for takeout? I find that absurd.

It depends. Someone has to pack all that stuff up. And, at least when I was in the biz, the person ringing up the order gets taxed on 8% of that revenue, whether they get tipped or not.

[Scott Douglas]

We ordered pizza the other night from BJ's. To go.
Already $$ for a pizza and they wanted min of 18% for tip, or custom, I tipped $7 and felt that was generous for having to go get it.
I now know why we don't eat out much any more. We did make it last for dinner the next day too.

[Zeke]

If people knew what service was I'd tip. They don't, I don't and I don't eat much food I don't prepare myself. I'm going the grocery store today. Should I tip the checker?

[Superman]

In Europe, tipping is not a thing. Not expected at all. Considered weird if you tip more than a dollar or two. And the workweek is France is 36 hours. Totally un-American.

[Jeff Higgins]

I refuse to tip anyone before I get served and can evaluate the quality of service.

I refuse to tip anywhere that I have to do most of the work.

Here is a cute little trick I've noticed and have since begun to look for when dining out at restaurants that are the kind where we would normally expect to tip. I've only seen this when dining as a group when we split the bill, like when out on a group ride or drive.

The first receipt comes with the automatic gratuity already included. It's expressed as a line item along with the food and beverages. Most people don't even notice, which is what the establishment is probably counting on. Then we give the waiter our credit card, he takes it and rings it up, and the receipt we get the second time does not show the line items, including not showing the tip we just paid. Yet it still has a line above the signature line where we can add a tip. Bastards.

[john70t]

Pay cash at restaurants to not get involved in CC disputes.
Odd receipts? Walk out and never return.