Tipping

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I started a thread about ethics over in the politics section, but it partially devolved into a discussion of tipping etiquette. Since I've been a tipped employee for the last 4 years or so, I know a thing or two about this subject. Since my degree in gunsmithing hasn't make me rich yet, I pay the bills by delivering food part time. I make decent money for the hours, and it's a good job for me, since I'm fairly unsupervised and get to spend a lot of time outside the store. However, a lot of people seem fairly clueless about appropriate tipping, I thought I'd start a little thread about it over here.

Basic food service tipping guidelines:

Sit down service:
Indifferent service 10-12%
Decent/average service 15-18%
Good/enthusiastic service 18-20%+

If the difference between an okay tip and a great tip is only a buck or two, just give it to them, if you can make someone's day for a buck, why not? Also, tip a bit extra if you have screaming children, obnoxious older relatives, or other factors that are making the waiter's job harder. You'll be much more welcome to come back.

Delivery service: 15%, or no less than two dollars, anything less than two will be taken as an insult.
The price of one gallon of gas is also a good rule of thumb, or $2 + 10%.
Whatever you do, don't say "keep the change" when you just gave a 20 on a $19.78 order. Your pizza will go on the bottom of the stack next time, and spend the trip to your house under the A/C vent...

If late, tip the driver and call the store, if you are nice about it they will usually either send you a fresh hot pizza, or give you a free pizza next time. Late orders are almost never caused by the driver, but by kitchen snafus or management under scheduling.

The delivery charge being tacked on by some stores never goes to the driver, and is not meant to be their tip. This is a huge pet peeve with us, especially with gas what it is.

I could go on at length about some of the zany things that drivers deal with, but anyone who doesn't tip drivers should check out the other online board I post on, Tip the Pizza Guy. Most of the site is informational, for the customer ignorant of what we go through. The real fun is in the discussion board though, that's where people really go off on their idiot customers. You can find out what happens when you antagonize people who not only prepare your food, but know your name, address, phone number, credit card number...

I'll add more as people post, I got some friends who are hair cutters and other tipped positions, that even I don't know what's appropriate for. ($5 min for a haircut seems reasonable)

I don't tip, unless it's like $24 and I only have $25 well I won't care.

God I am happy I dont have to tip in Australia.

No so used to his "tipping" thing, but sounds a little weird to me. If I pay someone to do a job, then I`m not gonna pay them again for the same job.

They get what they get. If a barber cuts my hair, he gets the price he wants. Why waste time on this pay-twice b*****. (these are only my personal feelings towards this subjekt, no disrespect or harm ment on my part in any way.) If someone does a good job for me, we agree on a price and are done. No more no less. I do not expect any tips to be given to me, no matter what I work with. In fact, I wouldn`t take it. Wouldn`t seem right to me.

To clarify, I'm talking about the US here. If you're in a foreign country, you're still tipping, except that the cost of the service (the tip) is already built in to the base price. Here, you have the option to pay more or less depending upon how satisfactory the service was, something I value. Some Third World countries, you have to tip all the bureaucrats and police etc, other wise you won't get anything done, and might be arrested! Makes American style tipping look pretty good by comparison.

Is it like America has a low minnimum wage level, is it a problem with Government controls.

Strange how different small things can be from country to country, when I read this:

"The price of one gallon of gas is also a good rule of thumb, or $2 + 10%.
Whatever you do, don't say "keep the change" when you just gave a 20 on a $19.78 order. Your pizza will go on the bottom of the stack next time, and spend the trip to your house under the A/C vent..."

I just think ok.......? why all the hasssel..?. Simplify. And to others its completly normal and logical interesting with the differences.

why cant it be simple.

I don't believe in tipping. *

* Nod to Reservoir Dogs.

When I first read the title of this thread, I had some seconds of hmmm...hmmmm??
what the....?

Because, "Tipping" is the name of the betting-thing the goverment runs here

"Norsk Tipping" to be exact.

Alternatives avatar reminds me of the movie 'Zoolander'

Is there a place to look up what the standard tip is for different professions? I know how it works in restaurants, but in most other situations (like the one you mentioned, haircuts) I have no clue.

I work a tipping job too. Personally, I don't expect tips at the end of the day but my other co-workers do so I get. I rarely ever tip myself when I eat out.

I work a tipping job too. Personally, I don't expect tips at the end of the day but my other co-workers do so I get. I rarely ever tip myself when I eat out.