By Madeline

March 25, 2009 10:12 AM | Link to this

No way am I tipping less. That is a servers main source of income and who am I in this world to dictate how they get paid? Sure, if I get horrible service I tip less, but that rarely happens to me. If the service is outstanding, then I tip a regular 20%. Go into a restaurant with a good attitude about the place and service and you’ll get great service every time!

By David

March 25, 2009 10:22 AM | Link to this

Good points Madeline. I find that service makes or breaks the meal experience. I tip accordingly, 25% to “may I speak with the manager”

By LALA

March 25, 2009 10:32 AM | Link to this

I tip based off the service that I get. Good service, good tip; poor service, poor tip.

By Doug

March 25, 2009 10:37 AM | Link to this

I can understand why tipping is down at the Cornerstone. I’ve there twice in the last two months, service was awful. I have learned my lesson, I won’t be back.

By flipper

March 25, 2009 11:23 AM | Link to this

I tip, as always, by the service rendered.

By Larry

March 25, 2009 12:17 PM | Link to this

To quote Steve Martin from the movie My Blue Heaven “I don’t believe in tipping, I believe in OVER tipping”. I’ve worked second jobs in food and bar service on and off for 20+ years and I’ve watched many customers demand this and that with no thought to how busy the server might be. Then after being rude and demanding through the entire meal they will leave change on the table for a $40.00-$50.00 bill. On the other hand I’ve been in places where all the servers will gather at one spot and after a 10-20 minute disscussion on whatever they make it over to my table and act as if I was putting them out by showing up. I’ve visited many of these places….ONCE! The places I frequent know me and I know them. A little extra money spent on the hard working waitress or bartender is what I consider a good investment in the long run.

By Samuel

March 25, 2009 12:21 PM | Link to this

I tip the same way I always have: If the server sucks, they get a sucky tip. Its called a TIP for a reason. There is NO requirement for it (no matter how much a server will complain that it is required). If they’re good they get over the expected 15% if they suck they get a dollar. If they were adequate they get the 15% maybe a little less to make the math easier on the receipt.

By vick

March 25, 2009 12:23 PM | Link to this

Amelia, You are missing an option in this poll: tipping more. I’m eating out less but I’m tipping more because I know that the wait staff really needs a little boost no matter where you choose to eat.

By mom

March 25, 2009 12:29 PM | Link to this

I work in a restaurant and have noticed that tips are a bit down but not as much as you would think. I work in a very successful family owned restaurant and we have a large regular following. Most people tip the same but occasionally you will get a couple of people who tip poorly. And trust me it is not the service. It does not take a genius to serve well you just need to be friendly and know how to multi task. You are basically there to take 100% care of your tables/customers.As for tipping..the most aggravating tip servers get is 3 dollars on a 20 something bill. It is something we obviously take with a smile but when you give great service it aggravates us. 3 dollars is something most people tip on a 10 dollar tab.

By Lucy

March 25, 2009 12:42 PM | Link to this

I used to work in a restaurant for several years and I eat out quite often now. A bit of advice: Just tip 5 dollars!!!! Unless your bill is over 40 dollars..then tip accordingly. 5 dollars is a tip that servers really are happy to get and what is 5 dollars out of your pocket??not really that much and it makes someone happy and helps the servers make a good living. I remember working at Christmas time and 5 ladies sat in my section (4table section) for 4 hours (the entire dinner rush) and I only got 1 or 2 from each lady. I really just wanted to say ” Do you have kids??I do and they need presents..thanks for not making that possible this evening

By April

March 25, 2009 12:56 PM | Link to this

If you can’t afford to tip, you shouldn’t be going out.

By RM25483

March 25, 2009 2:38 PM | Link to this

I calculate a base TIPS (between 15-20% depending on the type/price/etc. of the restaurant), then I add for good service and subtract for poor service. The TIPS is part of the cost of the meal, not an addendum.

By HuberTucky

March 25, 2009 2:41 PM | Link to this

I always tip according to the attitude and friendliness of the server. remember, TIPS is an acronym for To Insure Prompt Service. If it’s out of the server’s control, NEVER penalize the server — talk to a manager. I tip 15 to 25% based on the server. Lousy service = lousy tip (10%). Great service = great tip (20-25%)

By Amy

March 25, 2009 3:34 PM | Link to this

Here are some guidelines that should should be considered when tipping: 1) If you can afford to go out to eat, you can afford to tip for the service. 2) You should never not tip. Even if the service wasn’t great, you still received some sort of service. The least you can do is leave a dollar. 2a) Never leave less than $1. It is an insult. 3) If you are receiving some sort of promotion that reduces the total bill, whether it be a coupon, half price appetizers, kids eat free, etc., make sure to remember to base your tip off what the bill WOULD have been. Many times patrons’ bills are cut almost in half by promotions. You are still receiving the same service, so don’t cut their tip in half. 3) If you are dining at a restaurant for a longer period of time, for example the duration of a football game, you should leave a larger tip than you would on a normal meal. This is important because while you are sitting there for 3-4 hours, the server has no table turn over and a significantly reduced chance of making decent money. 4) You get what you pay for. If you dine at a restaurant regularly, your tipping habits are remembered by your server and often shared with other servers. Most servers will provide the type of service that corresponds with the type of tip they expect to receive. If you tip well, they will remember and put forth a greater effort to give you good service. If you tip poorly, they will not bend over backwards for you, to say the least. 5) Do not base your tip on the amount of time it takes for your food to arrive to your table. Nine times out of ten, the kitchen is either behind or has mis-prepared your food. This is not your server’s fault. An experienced server, should give you notice if food times are running slow. 6) The Golden Rule—“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Put yourself in the server’s shoes; think about what type of tip you would expect after performing the same duties for your table and tip accordingly. I have worked in the food industry for almost ten years now and promise you that these guidelines come from hard work and experience. We are all trying to make ends meet, so be courteous and tip your server, recession or not.

By cheap

March 25, 2009 3:54 PM | Link to this

I guess I’m cheap. I give 10% for poor service. 15% for good service.

By sally

March 25, 2009 4:49 PM | Link to this

On a $20.00 bill - $3.00 is 15%…so it is not insulting to only leave $3.00. Tipping over 15% is a choice (one that I usually make, but still a choice)….

By !?!?!?

March 25, 2009 6:17 PM | Link to this

This is for MOM….On a $20.00 bill - $3.00 is 15%…so it is not insulting to only leave $3.00. Having said that…I would like to ask…would you rather have a $3.oo tip or would you rather have an empty table??? Honestly…during these tough times - what’s wrong with leaving $1 per person no matter what the bill is???? Get real people!!!!

By rjs56

March 25, 2009 6:24 PM | Link to this

I typically tip 15-20%. I have been known to tip 30% for great service, If I am on com[any business they dictate how much I tip, I usually add from my pocket and make sure the server knows there is more on the credit card receipt. I agree that good service gets good tip, I will not leave less than 10% even for substandard service. Servers financial living is depending on it.

By Lashonda

March 25, 2009 7:40 PM | Link to this

I never tip, even if the service is excellent. Its not my fault the restaurant is not paying the servers enough. Hey, if you want more money get an education. If all you want is to be a server, maybe you deserve to get minimum wage.

By Dearest Lashonda

March 25, 2009 9:42 PM | Link to this

Dearest Lashonda…maybe you need to get educated! Servers make less than minimum wage & rely on tips to make up the diff! However…I do agree there is something wrong with the world if a server makes as much as a lawyer.

By carl

March 25, 2009 10:41 PM | Link to this

Yo Lashonda, Servers make $3.50 an hour. Minimum wage currently is $7.30. See the difference? Tip it.

By Bartender

March 26, 2009 12:38 AM | Link to this

AHH..Lashonda, obviously you have no clue. Get an education? I find this amusing seeing how you THINK that servers/bartenders are paid minimum wage. They are paid $3.50 an hr., they are also required to pay a tip-out to the busser/bartender for assisting them throughout the shift. LET ME EXPLAIN…I know this may be difficult for you to understand. Lets say your bill is $100, the server/bartender is required to pay 1.5%-5% in tip-outs to the busser/bartender/house at most establishments based on total sales. You being the educated person you are have spent approxiamtely an hr. or so expecting someone to be sure you are satisfied, have an enjoyable meal etc. and you leave nothing in return. So in the end…you just cost your server/bartender an hour of time in addition to a minimum of $3.00 out of there own pocket. Then you are also most likely clueless as to why when you return to the same establishment not one person is remembering you with a smile. Serving is often used as a form of income while getting an education. I have my RN, I am a certified CPT/ICD-9 coding specialist and a Registered Health Information Administrator and I bartend and let me tell you I would rather work 15-25 hrs. a wk. and make great money, and be able to be home with my children the rest of the week…while you spend 40 hrs. plus working for the same amount of money!! I strongly agree with Amy. Her tips are great. If you can’t afford to tip accordingly go to a drive through or stay home!!! Take into consideration how you would feel if whomever you came in contact with during your work day had the ability to negotiate your income….If your bill is $20 and you want your server/bartender to receive a 15% tip then tip 18% keep in mind your server/bartender does not keep 100% of the tip. Better yet remember the old saying….”what goes around comes around” or “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

By John

March 26, 2009 11:19 AM | Link to this

I am not going to bash Lashonda on here although I bet she never eats out at the same place twice because servers do remember those that tip and those that don’t. I worked for 21 years as a pizza delivery driver. Yes my wage was more than servers make but my expenses were greater too. Most people think that delivery drivers drive company cars and get paid for their gas and this is untrue. A typical driver must pay for their own gas, maintenance on their vehicle, and insurance as well as pay for the car! Yes the pizza place charges a delivery charge but the driver usually only sees a small percentage of that. For the establishment I worked at, a $1.50 Delivery charge translated to 7 1/2 cents in the driver’s pocket. This charge is a fuel surcharge the company passes on to deliver the food to the store. Tipping is essential for these employees as much as it is for any food service worker. When you do carry-out (car-side to go) do you tip the food runner? they are usually a waiter or waitress assigned to that station for the night and they do not have the opportunity to make as much as if they were on the floor. I look at it like this. If I were to do their job full time would I appreciate and tip me? For the record, I am educated, I work full time, I make decent money and yet I still enjoy working as a tipped employee because I like to meet new people and I enjoy being there for those who order food and serving them.

By John

March 26, 2009 11:19 AM | Link to this

I am not going to bash Lashonda on here although I bet she never eats out at the same place twice because servers do remember those that tip and those that don’t. I worked for 21 years as a pizza delivery driver. Yes my wage was more than servers make but my expenses were greater too. Most people think that delivery drivers drive company cars and get paid for their gas and this is untrue. A typical driver must pay for their own gas, maintenance on their vehicle, and insurance as well as pay for the car! Yes the pizza place charges a delivery charge but the driver usually only sees a small percentage of that. For the establishment I worked at, a $1.50 Delivery charge translated to 7 1/2 cents in the driver’s pocket. This charge is a fuel surcharge the company passes on to deliver the food to the store. Tipping is essential for these employees as much as it is for any food service worker. When you do carry-out (car-side to go) do you tip the food runner? they are usually a waiter or waitress assigned to that station for the night and they do not have the opportunity to make as much as if they were on the floor. I look at it like this. If I were to do their job full time would I appreciate and tip me? For the record, I am educated, I work full time, I make decent money and yet I still enjoy working as a tipped employee because I like to meet new people and I enjoy being there for those who order food and serving them.

By Scott

March 26, 2009 3:13 PM | Link to this

A question for the servers…I believe I am a very good tipper (the kind that leaves $4 on a $7 lunch tab, happened today). I generally pay in cash for a tab less that $40, but if I do use a credit card, is it better to put the tip on the card or write in $0 and leave a cash tip. I’ve done credit card tabs with cash tips for years thinking it was better for the servers on taxes.

By Madeline

March 27, 2009 9:27 AM | Link to this

Scott- Leaving a cash tip is always in the best interest of the server. When you leave a tip on the credit recepit it is added to their paycheck and has taxes deducted from it. Plus, they don’t get it immediately, as they would with a cash tip, which is kind of the point of a tip. Leave cash as often as possible, out of courtesy for your server. Thanks for tipping so well in such difficult times!