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Tipping on top of pre-added service charges (e.g. larger parties, etc) - Page 2

post #16 of 27
3/9/09 at 4:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChicagoRon View Post
That said, if I am given a pre-determined 18%, I rarely add anything unless the server went WAY out of the way. In a more expensive restaurant, that hurts the server twice.. once because I probably would have tipped on the full total, rather than the before-tax amount, and second because I would have done 20%.

There's nothing wrong with this, and you're not really hurting the server - for everyone who would have tipped 20% on a large tab, there's someone who would have tipped 10%. Groups where everyone pitches in are the worst - it tends to allow people to cheap out because they're semi-anonymous.

Taking the standard 18% is simply logical - the server is probably helping himself more often than not.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarmac View Post
Why would you reward the establishment for instituting a mandatory tip? I never add extra.
Tips do not reward the establishment, they reward the server/staff. It's criminal for the restaurant/bar to take a cut of tips.
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post #17 of 27
3/9/09 at 4:03pm
Quote:
Just wondering if people in the service industry have feedback on this scenario. If this was about average/above/below the standard tips.
I tip, on average 25-30%. Karma thing. In a scenario where a grat has been added on, it goes two ways. If the server points out the grat, I tip more to my usual percentage. If the server doesn't - hoping for a double grat (trust me, we lived for those some nights) - then I leave it at the standard 18%.
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post #18 of 27
3/9/09 at 4:16pm
As someone who has worked in the industry it is always nice when somebody throws in an extra 50$, but if the tip is already added, don't feel bad about not tipping over. We won't curse you under our breath for being cheap and spit in your food or anything like that.
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post #19 of 27
3/10/09 at 6:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Milhouse View Post
I usually stop buying from places that have delivery charges that don't go to the driver. I have asked on several occasions "does the delivery charge count as the driver's tip" and when they say "no", I've cancelled my order. It irritates me.

Speaking as a delivery driver. People ask me this question usually when they are trying to feel better about not leaving a tip. What you should know about most "fine dining" delivery drivers,which means anything other than like pizza hut, is that the drivers dont make an hourly wage. They rely completely on the delivery charge and tips to pay for their wages and gas and everything else.

I understand when someone only leaves a 2 or 3 dollar tip, but I do have customers that always leave 10 bucks or at least 10 percent of the order and they are always the classiest people.
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post #20 of 27
3/10/09 at 8:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Milhouse View Post
When they choose the tip amount, they get to be satisfied with their choice.

+1

Quote:
Originally Posted by NorCal View Post
As someone who has worked in the industry it is always nice when somebody throws in an extra 50$, but if the tip is already added, don't feel bad about not tipping over. We won't curse you under our breath for being cheap and spit in your food or anything like that.

+1
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post #21 of 27
3/10/09 at 10:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bsides View Post
Speaking as a delivery driver. People ask me this question usually when they are trying to feel better about not leaving a tip. What you should know about most "fine dining" delivery drivers,which means anything other than like pizza hut, is that the drivers dont make an hourly wage. They rely completely on the delivery charge and tips to pay for their wages and gas and everything else.

I understand when someone only leaves a 2 or 3 dollar tip, but I do have customers that always leave 10 bucks or at least 10 percent of the order and they are always the classiest people.

I guess I should be more specific. When gas was going through the roof, a lot of places starting adding delivery charges (pizza places). So, I order 20 or 30 bucks of pizza, and they say there is a 2.50 delivery charge. Ok, that is about 10 percent, so does it go to the driver? They usually answered no. Well, if they are going to take a charge and not use it for the actual delivery expense, I don't like to do business with them. I think it was taking advantage of the situation dishonestly. Rather than call it a delivery charge, just raise the prices like any other business does.

A few places were up front and said tips just weren't covering the driving expense anymore because of the gas prices, and thus they added the delivery charge. Fair enough, and I gave them my business.

Delivery drivers usually always get 10% from me, unless I call for delivery in horrible weather. I tip heavily for that.
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post #22 of 27
3/11/09 at 1:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Milhouse View Post
I guess I should be more specific. When gas was going through the roof, a lot of places starting adding delivery charges (pizza places). So, I order 20 or 30 bucks of pizza, and they say there is a 2.50 delivery charge. Ok, that is about 10 percent, so does it go to the driver? They usually answered no. Well, if they are going to take a charge and not use it for the actual delivery expense, I don't like to do business with them. I think it was taking advantage of the situation dishonestly. Rather than call it a delivery charge, just raise the prices like any other business does.

A few places were up front and said tips just weren't covering the driving expense anymore because of the gas prices, and thus they added the delivery charge. Fair enough, and I gave them my business.

Delivery drivers usually always get 10% from me, unless I call for delivery in horrible weather. I tip heavily for that.

You are a gentleman then and we appreciate it. Pretty much every restaurant has delivery charges now because they can hire a driver as an independent contractor, not pay taxes, and don't take a loss if there's no deliveries. Consequently when the economy slows and people aren't ordering out as much, we really get hurt. So we appreciate the people who do go out of their way to be cool to the delivery guys. Everybody gotta eat!
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post #23 of 27
3/11/09 at 4:18pm
I find it very presumptious when a gratuity is added on to a bill, no matter what the situation is. So, no, I definitely do not add anything extra if it's already been added on. I realize what tipping has become - essentially a requirement as it generally makes up a large part of a server's income - but I still think of what the original intent of a tip was - to reward good service. I feel it should be my decision to determine just how good the service was.
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post #24 of 27
3/12/09 at 5:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bsides View Post
Speaking as a delivery driver. People ask me this question usually when they are trying to feel better about not leaving a tip. What you should know about most "fine dining" delivery drivers,which means anything other than like pizza hut, is that the drivers dont make an hourly wage. They rely completely on the delivery charge and tips to pay for their wages and gas and everything else.

I understand when someone only leaves a 2 or 3 dollar tip, but I do have customers that always leave 10 bucks or at least 10 percent of the order and they are always the classiest people.

I used to deliver pizza for a large chain and we got minimum wage, so $5.25, plus tips, plus $0.75 per delivery (gas was $1.30 per gallon at the time).
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post #25 of 27
3/12/09 at 5:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maharlika View Post
The concept of pre-added service charge is nothing new. They have been doing it in Europe for a while. When I'm in Paris or Rome, I have to remind myself that yes, the tip is already included in the bill. My friends have to remind me all the time, you don't need to tip because it's already included.

As I feel it should be. Serving staff should give 100% effort, 100% of the time, and their managers should be confident that they will. If they don't, they should find a new career.
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post #26 of 27
3/12/09 at 6:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maharlika View Post
The concept of pre-added service charge is nothing new. They have been doing it in Europe for a while. When I'm in Paris or Rome, I have to remind myself that yes, the tip is already included in the bill. My friends have to remind me all the time, you don't need to tip because it's already included.

See the problem is these fuckwits in the UK. Yes, they pay staff a normal wage, but recently they have also started adding what they call an "optional service charge of 12.5%". Now based on the wording, you would think that this 12.5% went to the staff, but its frequently not the case. Instead its a way for owners to pad their pockets.

If I remember I try to ask who gets the service, and if its not the waiter I ask it be removed and give a cash tip instead.

K
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post #27 of 27
3/13/09 at 12:09am
I hosted a dinner a few nights ago for a dozen people. The food and service were as expected. An 18% tip was added to the bill so I didn't feel a need to add more.
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