synthetic sunrise said:
i don't believe in tipping for adequate service only. i am paying for a service, and i should get that service for what i pay. if that price isn't good enough, they should ask for more in the first place. tipping is just a poor excuse for employers to get away with paying their staff less, and this practice should be made illegal.
tips should be for exceptional service only. but as long as employers are skimping people, i'll have to calculate how much i ACTUALLY owe, and pay that.
I almost agree with you there. The waitstaff has a job to do and do well. But, it is a cultural norm to be tipped in America. Almost everyone tips. (At least normal people) My rule of thumb is:
A.) If my order is only a Coke or water and I'm eating with others I leave $1.00 even. (<--the situation when cheapos would let it ride on their friends tips and hope everyone didn't notice that they didn't throw down for a tip)
B.) if the waiter/ress does their job just acceptably (Such as does just enough to not get stiffed... I have like this odd sense for that behavior) then i leave 10 percent, rounded to the nearest dollar. ( i never leave any change smaller than quarters thats just rude and weighs their apron/smock down.
C.) If they do not hover and annoy me, and are just really accomodating and polite, make sure I get those magic refills that i love, you know the ones that appear in mid-conversation and you only realize that they're there after like 3 minutes, then I leave 25 to 30 percent rounded to the nearest dollar.
D.) If they are rude, act like they don't care and deserve a tip just for showing up for work that day, just not personable/ customer service oriented
at all, or do not make every reasonable attempt to make my order right, then i leave a big fat nothing. No dollar no quarter just stiffed completely.
If they aren't enthusiastic about their job, or at least
very good at pretending to be, then find a new occupation. Learn to type, answer phones, whatever else will pay the bills. Just don;t expect a fat tip when all you did was bring the plates and drinks and leave the check on the table when I'm halfway through my salad.