How much do you tip?

[Wing Nut]

Just to make sure I'm not a cheap-skate...

[Loafing Smurf]

I leave a dollar, always. I'm a teenager that leaches off my parents income, so I try to be wise with my money.

[Craig.]

nothing, we dont tip in the UK, when in US depends on the service if it was good service 20%, poor nothing, and if it was just average 5% to 10%

[Felix/FFDS]

I think it's very much a personal - and local - preference/custom.

In the Orlando (Florida) area, as well as "generally in the USA", waiters and waitresses are paid a base wage (which may be, legally, less than the minimum wage) since they are expected to make up and "sell" with tips.

Typically, tipping in this area is expected to be 15%.  I'll round off to the next neatest dollar (If the bill ends up $65, I'll round to $70, so 7.00 plus 3.50= $10.50), and tip on that.

While it seems "unfair" to pay less than "minimum" wage, remember that a good waiter can be expected to pull in enough in tips that they can bring in in total, more than a living wage.

Also, waiters are expected to tip the busboys, since they don't normally get tips directly.

Again, in the Orlando area, many restaurants, especially in the "tourist" areas, have signs stating that the customary tip is 15%.  Experience has shown that Europeans do not tip well, not because they don't want to, but rather, it is our understanding that gar

[Tequila Sunrise]

nothing, we dont tip in the UK

I do, 15-20%

[Hagar]

What Craig says used to be true but tipping is more common in the UK now. Maybe since the minimum wage was introduced.
I often eat out & would expect to leave a 10 - 15 % tip, depending on the service. If the service is bad they get nothing as I'm never likely to go there again. You have to watch out that the tip hasn't been added to the bill. This has also

[Felix/FFDS]

Cab drivers in the UK always expect a tip. It's also traditional to tip a barber for some reason that I never figured out.

Do you tip the barber BEFORE or after the cut?

[Hagar]

Do you tip the barber BEFORE or after the cut?

Traditionally you pay afterwards so you would give a little extra. It's best to go to a different barber if you didn't leave a tip the last time. Barbers have long memories.

[Wing Nut]

In Chicago the average cab ride for me is about $6-10, so I'll tip a couple bucks on that.  I tip the barber too.  Usually she charges $10 for a haircut (I don't have much left to cut) and depending on the cut, I'll slip and extra $2-5 in there.

Do you tip the hostess when you are seated?  I don't, but I have to get a good seat from time to time or when I wanted to get bumped up in the line...

[denishc]

 When out with friends there's usually a debate on how much to tip and the figures of 10, 15 or 20% are batted around.  A good rule of thumb when tipping is, at minium, to leave double the sales tax.  This takes the math out of figuring out how much to tip.  Ofcouse if I've had exceptionally good service, or a large party, or left a large mess at the table (which can happen if you have small kids with you) I will leave more.

 I can honestly say that I've never had a problem with bad service or had a 'pushy' waiter so leaving a tip has been no problem for me.

 I also tend to leave tips at places like sandwhich shops, burger joints, pizza and ice cream parlors or any eatery that assembles my meal and has a tip jar on the counter.  With the exception of fast food places.

[OTTOL]

I used to be a lousy tipper until the tables were turned and I had to work a job that was dependent on tips. THEN I understood!

"generally in the USA", waiters and waitresses are paid a base wage (which may be, legally, less than the minimum wage) since they are expected to make up and "sell" with tips.

 .......I have found that many people don't realize this.

As a waiter I earned anywhere from $200-600usd a week and only $150 of that was my paycheck! The quality of the service is a no-brainer, in regard to "how much to leave", but here are a few MORE  factors that I account for.

One of my favorite restaraunts is an old fashioned  diner at Fort Lauderdale Exec airport. Obviously the atmosphere is the main draw but the fact that you can get breakfast for arond $3, is nice as well. I see these old codgers tip a couple of Quarters on a $3 breakfast!  ::)   obviously even 20% of $3 is only .60cents. At that rate, she might be able to sleep on a bus bench at night and survive on Ramen noodles. What does it hurt to throw in a extra dollar or two? Five-whole-dollars! ? !  :o  ::)   Also around  Christmas my tip percentages increase substantially. I think about some single mother waiting tables and how nice an extra  $5 makes Christmas shopping.

20% is MY personal standard though.

[ozzy72]

Over here people expect a tip for just doing their job (oddly teachers never get one).
Doctors expect about 40% for any surgery they do, hairdressers expect an extra 20-30% on top for cutting your hair, taxi-drivers and waiters expect 20% for doing their job.
I had a small tantrum the other week in a petrol station when they wouldn't give me my change (and I'd filled the car myself!), and I actually threatened to go and get the lighter out of my rucksack and conduct an experiment in thermodynamics! I really hate people that demand money for nothing. I don't hassle my students parents for dough during a parents/teachers night!
But that said if I've had good service I do tip. Sometimes v.generously (especially in wine cellars and pubs that have been nice to me )

Ozzy

[KnightStryker]

I am the worst tipper there ever was. I am extremly tight fisted with my money, If someone expects a tip I better get some awesome service. I always tip according to service, never by percentage.

[Paz]

 Never really thought about it much, if we are happy with the service we usually plop down 3-5 bucks, maybe more depending on the situation.

[SaVas]

Restaurant tips:

Bill $5 to 10, I tip 50%
Bill over $10 but under $40 I tip 20 to 30%
Bill over $40 I tip 20%

Haircut is $15, I tip $5 make it an even $20