How do you tip?

HOW do you guys tip in the US? Do you go by food total or bill total? I know it's frowned upon in other countries, I'm not here to question or debate that.

No matter how you split it, pre or post tax, the "gratuity" is much higher than it should be! The 18%is higher even than what actual 20% should be!

Pretax should be $14.26, tax included (ripoff) should be $15.44. So why is the "20%" up to $18.25?! That's a 25.5% tip.

For me, I tip "15%" but round numbers. The bill is $72, so I take 10% (7.20 but round up to 8 then add 4) which ends up $12.

If they were exceptional, I just go off 20% which is $16 by my method, and round the total to the nearest dollar... but even that isn't their pretend 18%!! And technically my method is over 20% after rounding up. They're all just taking advantage of niceness and guilt for patrons having to tip everyone.

Edit: I fucked up being hung up on numbers, not realizing to the left was the explanation. 😅 OK, so just: how do y'all tip?

58 points · 73 comments · view on lemmy.world

73 Comments

avguser@lemmy.world · 42 pts · 4d (4 replies)

Suggested gratuity is calculated after taxes and before discounts.

If you add back in the comped appetizer, the math maths. Not saying I agree with the practice, but it's not fraud. They're suggesting you tip based off what you received not what you're paying per se.

valar@lemmy.ca · 20 pts · 4d (1 reply)

I agree with calculating tips before discounts, but calculating tips after taxes is bull. I'm not tipping the government.

SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 2d

Tipping culture is the reason I just avoid restaurants.

Fix your industry.

i_stole_ur_taco@lemmy.ca · 13 pts · 4d

That’s the right answer.

It seems weird in this context, but the normal case is if you’re paying with a gift card. If I had a $110 dinner and had a $100 gift card that was subtracted off the total, the expected tip would be off the $110, not just the $10 paid out of pocket.

roofuskit@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 4d

Calculating gratutiy before discounts and taxes is the cultural norm.

schildfrosch@feddit.org · 28 pts · 4d (1 reply)

that qr code isn't properly censored. qrs have redundancy and you need at most like 60% visible for most of them. pulled the number aut of my ass but it's definitely a thing.

Zarobi@aussie.zone · 8 pts · 3d

The centre is like the only part of the code you don't actually need lol. It's a vestigial part

vala@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 17 pts · 4d (3 replies)

When I was a kid it was 10%. 15% was a really good tip.

Then it was 15% standard. Then 20% standard. Then it started being 20% of the taxed total (~22% really).

Now I commonly see 20% of taxed as the minimum and 25% of taxed as the suggested.

I strongly prefer self service restaurants. I'm not interested in being served.

cageythree@lemmy.ml · 7 pts · 3d

I strongly prefer self service restaurants. I'm not interested in being served.

Meanwhile I have been asked to tip (with 15/20/25% buttons) on a burger king self order terminal in Germany lol

chunes@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2d
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swelter_spark@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 3d

I still do 15%, not including taxes or fees. I thought my bf was being extremely generous doing 20%.

NorthWestWind@lemmy.zip · 17 pts · 4d (1 reply)

Tip? Laughs in Asian

Hawk@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 3d

Tip? Laughs in European

DankDingleberry@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 4d (8 replies)

wow. suggested tip in the US syart with 18%. i could NOT afford to eat out in the us

toynbee@piefed.social · 4 pts · 3d

You think we can?

ArgumentativeMonotheist@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 4d (6 replies)

You could, you would just have to tolerate the side-eyeing. 🤷‍♂️

jmill@lemmy.zip · 0 pts · 4d (5 replies)

Well, tolerate the side eye and be willing to screw over someone trying to pay their bills. Whether tipping should be the standard practice (it shouldn't) is a separate issue. The general expected practice is that you will tip, and tips are effectively a server's whole wage. It's not an easy or pleasant job. Going to a sit down restaurant with the intention not to tip, to make someone work for you basically for free, just makes you an asshole. Until we get rid of tipped minimum wage.

Cocodapuf@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 3d (1 reply)

This comment is 100% correct and anyone voting it down should seriously try to reframe their thinking.

You don't have to like the situation, I don't like the situation... but if you don't tip at least 15% you are underpaying a server and meaningfully impacting their life.

Servers should be paid more by their actual employers and it's ethically wrong that establishments are allowed to underpay their employees just so they can offload that cost to the customer and deceptively list a lower price on their menu. That said, this is the current situation in the US, that cost is offloaded, effectively making restaurant customers the primary source of income for restaurant servers. They are effectively your employees now, so please, don't underpay your employees.

Candice_the_elephant@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 3d

Morally you need to tip because of an immoral system. Capitalism at its finest.

ArgumentativeMonotheist@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 4d

We're all trying to pay bills, and I also work in the service industry. Such is life, I'm not gonna be a baby/asshole and demand someone to pay extra (because they're not underpaying or stealing, gratuity is basically charity and you're meant to be competent at your job regardless) because of the inequalities of my fucked up so-called society. If you get uppity because someone doesn't want to waste even more money on a night out just for free, sure, but I don't think this very emotional take is valid, and it's acceptable only in the US.

And, btw, the only intention anyone has by going to a restaurant is eating in exchange for money, the prices are there and I pay the price. Anything else (from complimenting you on your nice shoes to paying your medical bills because you're very nice) cannot be reasonably expected.

Leviathan@fedinsfw.app · 1 pts · 2d (1 reply)

They don't work for me, they work for the restaurant owner who is offloading their salary onto me under guise of a "tip". Fucking leeches feeding off our working class and you act like we're the problem for questioning this predatory system.

jmill@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 2d

I never said don't question it, I said it shouldn't be that way! But it is that way right now, and we are responsible for how our actions affect others, even in an unfair system.

I agree with everything you're saying, but you going to the restaurant and not tipping hurts the server, not the owner. They spend time and effort for basically nothing in return, and even if you disagree with the system in place you are still using it to get cheaper food (because resteraunt costs are subsidized by tips to staff) at the expense of someone who in most cases can't afford it.

It you want to hurt the owner in the short term, don't go.

Eventually of course this means less serving jobs, again hurting the server.

So the best option is getting rid of tipped minimum wage. Easier said than done, but it's the only real way to fix this.

victorz@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 4d

Nothing at all. Not in our culture. Our waiters make a decent living, I suppose.

MagicShel@lemmy.zip · 10 pts · 4d (3 replies)

I disagree with tipping on tax, but agree with tipping on discounts. I baseline 20% and adjust up or down based on quality of service, while paying attention to how overworked the staff is.

I once sat at a hibachi table with strangers who were super demanding and then complained about the service and refused to tip so I added their tip to my bill (without saying anything because I didn't want to start an argument with them).

Waitstaff get fucked coming and going. If they do their share of the work, it's not their fault if the kitchen fucked up. I generally just add the cost of the comped item to the tip rather than 20%.

Candice_the_elephant@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3d (2 replies)

I agree with paying service staff a livable wage and not having a whole class of people dependent on the generosity of random strangers. You're basically making beggars of workers, it's pretty fucked up.

MagicShel@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 3d (1 reply)

The system is what it is. I'm not going to fix it by not paying tips. The fix for this is political.

Candice_the_elephant@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3d

Agreed. But it bears repeating every time tipping is mentioned.

Kolanaki@pawb.social · 10 pts · 4d (1 reply)

I had to do a double take because I thought you got charged $14 for fucking water.

elephantium@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 4d

I'm sure it was served in a really sexy glass.

Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 4d (6 replies)

So, the reason the math is off, is because they calculated the percentages before discounts.

See that free appetizer on there? It was part of your total when they did the math. Which seems less shady when you remember the tip goes to your server, who did the same amount of work, no matter how much of a discount you received.

unitedwithme@lemmy.today · 6 pts · 4d

OK that makes a bit more sense. How did I miss that on the left of the suggested amounts? 😅

lemmylump@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 4d (4 replies)

This assumes the restaurant let's servers keep their tips.

You be surprised how many restaurants fuck over servers and take their tips.

Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 4d

I probably would be. But I don't understand the reasoning behind "There's a slight chance that someone might steal this money, so I probably shouldn't even try to give it to them."

Should we stop paying out pensions because retirees are often targeted by phone scammers?

deft@lemmy.wtf · 2 pts · 2d

I work in the industry. It definitely might happen in places but no it doesn't.

You wouldn't keep your servers and bartenders they genuinely wouldn't make enough to work there or even the gas to get to work.

You'd essentially blacklist yourself. Once other restaurants find out they'll pilfer your people and many owners go to other restaurants with the thought in the back of their head of pilfering workers. It's not the intent but all it takes is "hey how do you enjoy it here? I own ____ come check it out sometime we'd love to have someone like you" happens all the time.

Your biggest risk is that it's also illegal as fuck and very very easy to prove.

Majority of places do not fuck with server's tips.

KombatWombat@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2d

I am sure it happens but it is illegal for restaurant owners or managers to take even a portion of servers' tips.

pishadoot@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 2d

Source?

blackbrook@mander.xyz · 9 pts · 4d

That tipping should be on the before tax total has long been standard practice. If that practice is breaking down it's because people are ignorant and POS systems are manipulative.

I would always tip on the total before any discount. If given a freebie, like say the bartender gave me a free drink, I tip as if the freebie were on the bill.

Aphos@lemmy.zip · 8 pts · 4d (10 replies)

Dont Tip

Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world · -17 pts · 4d (9 replies)

Remember kids, when you don't tip, it makes you just another one of the owning class that withholds wages from honest workers!

Candice_the_elephant@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3d (2 replies)

Choose one, ethically support underpaid staff or ethically reject an immoral capitalist compensation system.

Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 3d (1 reply)

Ethically rejecting the system means not participating in it at all, not taking advantage of the parts you like and refusing the part that costs more money.

Candice_the_elephant@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3d

Not arguing that!

vala@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 4d

Lol k

Bluegrass_Addict@lemmy.ca · 0 pts · 4d (4 replies)
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Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 4d (2 replies)

Of course, this only applies in the US where servers make half of minimum wage+tips.

In that moment, they are working for you, and knowing that they don't make an hourly living wage and saying someone else should pay them is the same as Walmart telling it's employees they should apply for assistance if they can't afford groceries. "Want more money? Talk to the government about it!"

I'll sign anything that would change the system! I think it sucks too! But when you FORCE the server to join your protest by working for YOU for FREE, you're not changing the system, you're not doing them any favors, you're being a cheap ass and trying to justify it. Can't afford the tip? Order take out.

KombatWombat@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2d (1 reply)

I've had this argument with people on lemmy many times. People recognize tipping is a bad system, and use that as an excuse to abandon the people who are unfortunately dependent on it. As if the system will change by stiffing the workers with essentially no power.

Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2d

Right?! It's like if you don't agree with overseas sweatshops, would your plan to fight the system involve going into the factory and punching every sweat shop worker in the face?

"They won't try to change the system if we continue to support it by not making them suffer a little bit!"

elephantium@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 4d
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yermaw@sh.itjust.works · 8 pts · 4d (1 reply)

Cant help with reality here. Not in USA.

In UK I just round it up to the nearest note with the phrase "keep the change pal". I look like a fairly generous guy if the change is 4.90. I look like a condescending prick if the change is 0.10.

At that point though im out the door so I dont have to deal with gratitude or the ol' stinkeye

hakunawazo@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 4d

northendtrooper@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 3d

I only tip when I'm at a sit down restaurant. And I tip the same, 15 unless they were expectional.

DempstersBox@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 3d

I don't.

Tipping is bullshit and employers need to pay their employees. Literally based in slavery.

Furthermore, taxes should be included on the fucking price tag.

LemmyFeed@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 6 pts · 3d

I never use percentage based tips, costs for everything are so inflated. I just pick a dollar amount out of my ass that I feel matches my service experience that also agrees with my wallet (when I'm flush I'll tip more). It's all a scam and I hate to participate but I feel bad for low paid workers.

GreenKnight23@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 4d

I tip depending on what I can afford and level of service.

one time a pizza guy delivered my pizza, seemed really chill and was way early (delivered like 10 minutes after I ordered it). I only had $100 bills so I tipped him $100 on a $25 pizza.

another time my food was four hours late. I was already in bed at that time. they got zero tip. left my pizza on my front door where raccoons tore it apart and I had to hose pizza sauce off my steps and door the next morning.

Soulinyx@piefed.world · 4 pts · 4d

I don't tip. Like, look, I would be blessed if I even go out to dine somewhere. I would just be demanding your workplace to pay you more. I shouldn't have to cover that tab.

Cocodapuf@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 3d

20% of the bill (before tax).

In some states the tax may even be 10%, in these states it can be easy to calculate the tip by simply doubling the tax amount.

And then if I'm leaving a cash tip, I may round that resulting number up, so if it happens to be something like say 59.46, just make it $60.

clifmo@programming.dev · 4 pts · 2d

Round the subtotal. Divide by 10. Multiply by 2. Smile, say thank you, and get on with it.

Someonelol@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 2d (1 reply)

WTF? I was taught tipping was calculated before tax. This is just giving even more money out on top of the ridiculous 18% minimum suggested amount.

unitedwithme@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 2d

Right! They don't make the tax, the gov does, so that's nothing to do with service, but of course they're going to guilt people into giving more.

agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 4d

"Suggested gratuity is calculated after tax and before discounts", right there on the check.

There's a $13.99 discount on the bill for the free chicken wings. Add that in, and the value of the food you got was a bit over $91, the calculated percentages are correct for that number.

Malyca@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 4d

I just do 20 for easy math

Treczoks@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3d

Tip depending on the service provided. That is the most important aspect. As I don't know how your service was, I can't provide an answer.

Abyssian@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 4d

I order everything to-go. Cheaper, and I can eat in the comfort of my own home without anyone judging me for slopping it all in a bucket or pushing me to taking one last bite and exploding.

Krusty@quokk.au · 2 pts · 4d (1 reply)

Oh. I'll tip if they give me free stuff. That's about it.

9488fcea02a9@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 4d

First time i visited italy, i ended up tipping at a lot of places (even though tipping is not a thing there), because they kept giving me free drinks... at the end of my meal, i'd ask about an amaro, and they'd bring me like 3 bottles and tell me about how their grandpa used to drink this amaro every night and lived until 100 or whatever... so i'd try 3 different amaro for free.... and order one i like.... of course i'll tip 5€ or whatever....

Arts251@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 4d

71.35 + 13.99 = 85.34 x 0.15 (for good service) = 12.80

if paying cash round up or down to the nearest dollar.

Bluegrass_Addict@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 4d

I tip $0.

no ifs ands or buts. zero. null. talk to your boss if you need more money, or quit. not my problem.

tigermountain@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 3d

I tip on the bill total and if everything was okay I'd leave a $16 tip for this. If the service was really good I'd leave $20.

pineapplelover@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 4d

Sometimes I write down 15% if I go sit down (extremely rare)

deacon@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 4d

25-30. I start at 25% because it’s easier for me to math in my head. I feel gross calculating how good I thought my service was or how much I think the staff deserve.

But I’m later in my life and doing okay for now. In other times, I’ve just done the math and dealt with feeling gross.

wieson@feddit.org · 0 pts · 3d

"Make it 80"

ozymandias117@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 3d

20% pre-tax total is the norm in the US.

They're adding extra on top there

AlphaOmega@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 3d
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josephc@lemmy.ml · 0 pts · 3d

I tip 30% on top of the post-tax if it was good or if I like the people. I have the means, so it's only fair. If the service was terrible or the food was awful I'll do 20%.

meco03211@lemmy.world · -4 pts · 4d (3 replies)

If you could get the ear of a manager I'd "inform" them of the error. If I got even a hint that it was a known and accepted error or even intentional, I'd tell them I'm not eating there anymore. You could also talk to the server or bartender to see if it's a known issue.

Had they had shit like this when I was serving I'd have crossed that off on every bill I brought to a customer.

Edit: just a pet peeve. why the hell do people just downvote with no extra comment? What is so controversial about what I said?

Secondly, given that it's a corporate chain (didn't clock that before commenting), they'd get no benefit of the doubt. I'd just tell them I'm not coming back and that's the reason.

Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 4d

It's a corporate chain. The manager has very little control over what's on those receipts.

chris@programming.dev · 2 pts · 3d

Because there was no error in the calculation based on what is written there.

chris@programming.dev · 1 pts · 3d
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