Why does the tipping in restaurants keep going up and up?

[glarius]

This is something that has bugged me for a long time, so here goes, Hope I can make it clear....It has to do with tipping in a restaurant....I don't get why the % of the tip has gone steadily up through the years....Here's what I mean:
Many years ago the accepted tip was 10% of the bill, then it went up to 15% and now it's 20%...It seems to me this is a scam of sorts....Here's why:....When it was 10%, the same meal would cost much less than at present....The tip will automatically be higher today because 10% of a higher cost will result in a higher tip. What is this deal of upping the % through the years?....Are we going to keep on going till we are tipping 100%?...:shrug:

P.S...I realize some people work their way through college on what they earn as waiters...Perhaps something should be done so that the owners who hire them are compelled to pay them a living wage and not depend on the paying customers to make up the difference.

[dolo amber]

1. ...

:popcorn:

[Goldom]

2. You can be sure

that if some law was passed to make waiters be payed enough to not have to have tipping (not likely with this government), that the restaurant owners would just increase the prices of the food to make up for it.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

4. Yeah.

I dub thee king of stating the obvious. :eyes:
Duckie

[Swede]

5. You mean like every other business in existence?

I can live with that.

[Goldom]

7. I said it because

the first post sounded like it thought that if they were just payed more it would fix everything without people having to pay anymore.

[Swede]

9. Your right of course.

Maybe restaurants aren't like other businesses?

[sir_captain]

3. There's this thing called inflation

and workers who receive tips are usually not paid even minimum wage.

Is it really that big a deal? Tips have been in the 15-20% range as long as I can remember, and I have exactly zero problem with that.

[benddem]

13. agree

I've been tipping for at least 40 years and the 15-20% is the same amt as always in the US. Maybe in Canada it is different.

[jpgray]

6. If good service tips weren't at 20%, owners would have to pay servers more

To make the same profits with the increased cost of wages, the pricing of food would go up astronomically. With the present system, -you- control what sort of wage the server gets through your tips. A bad server who gets zip or < 10% really feels the pain because that is where his/her money is made. With your proposed system, you'd be paying through the nose for food and tips wouldn't be a big enough deal for you to have any control over the server's wages at all.

[miss_kitty]

8. Wow! as a former wait person in Seattle

I had no idea Canadians tipped.

:hide:

[Swede]

12. Your right miss-kitty.

With universal health care and a minimum wage of $8 an hour,we are tight with out tips.

[glarius]

14. With that attitude "wait person"....I'm not surprised they didn't tip you!

Have a nice day!

[miss_kitty]

23. actually I had no idea if someone I was waiting on was Canadian

until they'd whip out a Canadian $2 bill (the same as about $1.60US) and leave it as a tip on a forty dollar tab. Sorry. I did not start out with an 'attitude'

you might want to check yours, BTW. You seem somewhat defensive. :hi:

[glarius]

24. Didn't I tell you to "have a nice day?"

Your sarcasm came across quite clearly but oh...well....I repeat..."have a nice day.".....:hi:

[miss_kitty]

28. in a passive-aggressive way which is really a thinly veiled criticism

I'm joking too. don't worry. It's an internet message board. I truly am not upset! :7

BTW, I stole the subject line from Colin Mochrie as Anthony St George on This hour has 22 Minutes: An Apology to Americans
http://www.colinmochrie.com/work/22min_Apology.html
Probably one of the best piecs evah!

[glarius]

29. Okay.....all is forgiven!

I guess I didn't realize there was such a difference in the minimum wage here and in the U.S....I was just struck by the upping of per centage through the years as not being reasonable....I always tip fairly and think everyone should.....:toast:

[miss_kitty]

31. Agriculture and restaurants are often exempt from minimum wage

requirments, and waitstaff are charged a tax rate on the amount they sell at a percentage based on the type of restaurant the work at. And if someone signs a tip on to a charge card, that is traceable, so it is wise to declare all sign on tips.

Here's the kicker-Waitstaff have to tip their bussers, the bartender, the host, the kitchenstaff, on money they are paying taxes on. It is not deductable.
If they don't tip their backup staff, you may wind up with dirty silverware or spotty glassware, bad drinks or slow kitchen service.

So that tip goes a long way to grease the wheels of the guy after you having the same excellent dining experience you just had, just as the people who tipped before you ensured your good service.

I always leave my tips in cash.

:D

[Madrone]

16. LOL

This is sad, but true. I've heard - from Canadians - that it's generally more of a geographical thing in Canada though.


-Just another former wait person from the other side of the country - Michigan.

[miss_kitty]

25. When we were goofing on each other we'd wish for a convention

of female Canadian doctors to sit in their station. 3 groups that would, no matter what, usually stiff or undertip, not only me, but some of the finest waitstaff in a good restaurant, no matter how good the service. And they'd run your ass off too.

*Why I don't wait tables anymore, and haven't for nearly 25 years*

[delen]

10. Don't hold your breath

for restaurant owners to start paying a "living" wage or any benefits (medical, vacation time etc.) anytime soon. Even if they did they'd raise menu prices more than you're paying now + tip.

[Reverend_Smitty]

11. I've heard that in many European countries

you are not supposed to tip because it is already figured in with the bill. Is dining out much more expensive over there? Just curious

[tjwmason]

33. Quite a few U.K. restaurants add an optional 10% for large parties

The number of times that I've filled out the little tip section at the bottom of my credit-card bill only to have it ignored and the smaller ammount charged - which is a nuisance as I find it much easier to bump the little chit up to the nearest appropriate round-figure than rifle through my pockets and wallet for change.

[lildreamer316]

15. You would never ask this

if you had EVER worked for tips. Not a slam; just an observation.
I am a firm believer that everyone should be REQUIRED to take a job of this sort sometime in their life.
In most states (here in US) a waitress is paid (GET THIS)$2.13/hr. (because of the tips)
You read that right.
Now, new laws may have just changed this; but I don't believe so.
Please. If you begrudge the poor waitstaff the money; please go somewhere where it is figured into the bill.
This is the LAST thing to be complaining about. Geez.

Disqualifier: IF the waistaff is the crappiest you have ever encountered; feel free to not tip at all. I am all for someone doing their job well and DESERVING the tip.

On edit: reading your response to the wait person above shows that you obviously consider yourself above said ppl. Very elitest and class concious. How lovely of you. Do you have ANY idea what waitresses and men go through? Obviously not. Do not speak of what you do not know.

[ret5hd]

17. i apologize to EVERYONE about this situation...it is MY fault...

I am sorry. It is all my fault.

You see, i consistently overtip because i am relatively well paid, and i feel that the waitstaff of the world deserve more than they get...so in effect, i have raised their level of expectation.

Again, i am sorry...but i won't change. ;)

[I Have A Dream]

30. I'm the same way. However, I always have a lot of special things..

that I request, so, if I don't want them to wince every time I walk in the door, I'd better tip well. Given that I tip well, they don't mind accommodating me. (Also, I'm always very nice to them, which, if I understand correctly, is not the norm.)

By the way, I have been a server. It's a really difficult job, and it takes real talent to be a great server.

[Mr.Green93]

18. If restaurants would cut the size of food portions

they would have more money for staff and patrons would have a healthier meal.

[mike_c]

19. i'm certainly happy to tip in the 20% to 25% range...

...and on less expensive orders I often tip higher. I figure $3.00 is an absolutely minimum bottom line tip if someone has waited on me, so I'll leave a $3 tip for a $2.50 slice of pie and cup of coffee. Wait persons are selling their TIME, for god's sake, and it's worth a hell of a lot more than the 50 cents that a 20 percent tip would represent. Most of the restaurants where I eat are small and locally owned. The owners aren't getting rich and neither are the staff. They provide me with a service that I value, and I don't mind paying them for it.

[ret5hd]

20. here here (nt)

[Swede]

Minimum wage here is $8 an hour.

Not sure what it is where you live.

[greatauntoftriplets]

22. Minimum wage in the US varies state by state.

But it is nowhere near $8 per hour. And, in most states, waitstaff is exempt from minimum wage. They depend on tips to make a living.

[mike_c]

27. that's right-- wait staff RARELY make minimum wage...

...or even come close. This is one of the issues dear to the hearts of the hotel/restaurant/service industry lobby, and one of the most blatant relics of exploitative servitude in America. EVERYONE should be aware that when someone provides them service at a restaurant, they're usually working for wages that are WAY below the poverty level, and doing it graciously and with a smile.

[Missy M]

21. I have tipped 20% for so many years I can't remember doing...

otherwise. It has never bothered me. I appreciate good service and know what a difficult job table waiting can be.

[gmoney]

26. I'm proud of you all...

Nowhere in this discussion did anyone use the term "waitressing" or worse, "waitering" to describe waiting tables.

A grateful nation thanks you.

That is all...

[WCGreen]

32. I use to wait on tables......

I expected 15%, appreicated any more.....

Why I do when tipping is start at 20% and then work down if they screwomething up. I also tip 10% on alcohol. And I don't tip on Tax....

So if you get good service and your bill is around $100.00 but 20 of that is for drinks, and 7 is for tax, I would tip as such....

Food 100-20-7 = 14.60
Booze 20 = 2.00

Total Tip 16.60

[durutti]

34. Work their way through college?

What about people who are trying to feed their kids?

[LaurenG]

35. Here try his if you have a minute

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/games/thewaitress.html

[MrSlayer]

36. I almost always overtip.

If you only get 15% from me your service was shit. I believe in overtipping.