I always tip waitstaff, having been a waitress myself, I know they appreciate it. Even if they’re lousy, I’ll throw them %15, I mean, it’s a tough gig and I can understand an off night. But if they’re friendly and accommodating I’ll give them much better. (I’m talking regular ol’ restaurants like Chili’s, nothing fancy shmancy)

I’d say it depends on cultural norms. In Japan, tipping simply isn’t done. In America, it is. So I wouldn’t tip in one country while I would tip in the other.

So even if servers were getting paid a decent wage in the U.S., it would be wise to tip, lest your next restaurant visit involve much spit in your food. Cultural norms are just that powerful.

I’m balking at this new 20% standard (yes, the cost of living is going up, but so is the cost of restaurant meals), which is interesting because I approve of tipping big voluntarily. I think I just don’t like the “gimmee money, you scrooge” attitude I’m seeing these days.

If things keep going in this direction, restaurants will stop paying servers entirely, forcing customers to tip at 40% or something.

Having worked in the food business for a time, I would say no, they do not deserve a tip unless they earn it. While their minimum wage position accounts for much of the work they do with the business (cleaning stations, loading stuff and other back-of-the-house crap they put up with), they don’t work that hard to serve us. Furthermore, it isn’t a linear scale. Why the hell would I pay out more money just because they did the same task (bring me my food) to my table all at once? If anything, I would tip the cooking staff that puts up with a lot more crap and does a lot more of the work in getting me my food. I know, worked in the back! Truth is, I pay on a per-plate scale. If I order one thing, they get anywhere from $1 to $2, period. Thus, if there are four of us, they can only expect me to give a shit to pay $6. It doesn’t matter if for four people 15% comes out to $12. They didn’t work any harder to do the job. Nor do they work any harder than the person that brings me my food at a place where 15% comes out to $6. That difference in price is an artifact of the business and their pricing. If it comes down to the quality of food and its preparation, then why am I tipping for the extra cost to the server? They contribute nothing to that. I should then be tipping the cooks and the management for their crafty choices and delicate hand involved in my food preparation and atmosphere. Fuck the server, they are the most worthless part of the business. Fact of the matter is, I’ll forgo the tip money and get the food myself! 

@dangerOp - i understand that you are paying for a service, but to not tip at all? how rude! waitstaff service fluctuates at any given time because of the state of the restaurant. when it’s busy, you may get lousy service, by no fault of your waiter.

and waitstaff are human, they have emotions and sometimes they may be having a bad day. your not tipping them, will only make that worse, and contribute to the bad service because the waiter is now unhappy that they aren’t making money.

i think your views on tipping are ignorant. show some compassion, this is their job, and as with any job, there will be days that work is a challenge and productivity may not be at its best.

@dangerOp -  i feel i am a compassionate person. i also work to serve customers, and try to give my best service to everyone i help.

also, bad days vary widely. sometimes you have to go into work, even on your worst days. death, impending foreclosure, severe family illness, or a chronic bad situation can cloud even the sunniest of dispositions.

i disagree with your “rewarding the server” attitude, your withholding a tip from someone who makes roughly $2.50 an hour seems like quite the power trip to me.

but i suppose we’ll have to agree to disagree.

I don’t tip because society says I have to. All right, if someone deserves a tip, if they really put forth an effort, I’ll give them something a little something extra. But this tipping automatically, it’s for the birds. As far as I’m concerned, they’re just doing their job. 

@NikBv - you love it.

@NikBv - who are you referring to?

@NikBv - Thurman did have wonky toes. 

I’m sure he’d love to film them.

You can always get in front.

In this part of the world servers are paid the same minimum wage as anywhere else. It’s good manners to tip but there’s no set amount, unless specified on your bill. Some places will simply have a tip jar. I’ve only had to tip a substantial amount when it’s a meal with a group. If on my own I might leave a Euro or any change I have left.

I’m not saying it’s impossible, I’m just saying I don’t want to do it. Kind of like quitting my caffeine habit. 

yeah, i tip depending on much i like the service, but not because i think that the poor server doesn’t make enough money, anyway.  i just never think of that part of it.  you’re too cerebral!  this should be about the fooooood.

ryc: i honestly can’t imagine you having that as a problem.  please teach me your ways.  go.

I once heard a story about a guy that would put money out on the table and tell the server that if something was wrong each time something was wrong he would take a bill off.  By the end of the night what was left was the servers to keep.  If he had to wait for his drink to be refilled etc.  he would take a bill off.  Not sure how much he’d leave at the beginning but he always managed to get good service.
I personally always tip unless I am given horrible service.  Then I leave nothing.  I usually leave 15 percent.  But I also rarely eat out at restraunts and when I do I want good service, very good service and when I don’t get it I tend to get disappointed.
Last week I ate with a friend at a restraunt and Had 3 people waiting on us.  It wasn’t busy.  Our waitress came by twice.  The one time we needed stuff we weren’t given and I had to hunt someone down.  Another time was when a guy beside our waitress came with our food.  Our food was wrong and he got to take part back and correct it.  We left no tip because of all this but If I were to say any of them should get the tip it would be the guy that took our plates back and corrected them.  We never saw a manager.