What do you consider a good tip? Something around 15 to 20 percent, right? Depending on the service? And if the wait staff goes above and beyond the usual you leave even more. That's what I do.
Well apparently I'm behind the times. According to a new report from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, workers are now expecting tips around 25 percent -- or even more. And people are tipping that much, too! The study looked at 9,000 receipts from a restaurant in Poughkeepsie, New York and found that 30 percent of the diners tipped over 20 percent. So dig deep, everyone. Can you afford to be a "good" tipper in the age of tipping creep?
Honestly, I don't know if I can. Look, I know housing and gas and other necessities keep getting more and more expensive. It's tough making a living and getting your wages to stretch. But it's tough for customers like me, too! Adding that five or ten percent to my bill kind of bites.
And it's not like, along with this shift to higher tips, I've also noticed a shift to better service. Customers are not getting anything out of tipping more. Not that I can tell, anyway.
So I don't know... Is this higher tipping thing permanent? I hope not. And who are these 30 percent of people tipping higher, anyway? I sure would like to have a conversation with them. My first question would be: What the hell, man?
Do you ever tip over 20 percent? If so, under what circumstances?
Image via Jeffery Turner/Flickr
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Comments 30
It's not my fault that servers don't get paid a living wage and it isn't my job to pay the difference.
Perhaps servers should form a union and fight for their wages because they do work hard and do deserve to make a living.
I tip 15%-20% and that probably won't change anytime soon. The waitstaff can 'expect' what they want- if it becomes mandatory for me to pay more, they employer can up their chargers and pay their staff a better wage. Tipping is a tip, for going above and beyond.
People amaze me! Would anyone want to work on their feet sometimes 12 hours a day and not get paid? Imagine depending on people like you to pay their bills? That's what you people are saying!!! Yes it would be nice if the employers paid their wait staff but that's not how it is. You can work a 12 hour shift and go home with $50 if everyone thought like all of you that don't like to tip. Waiters and waitresses work very hard and even have to be nice to people who don't appreciate their work and professionalism. Some of you should try it sometime...it's a hard job. If you want to dine out then you should budget the tip into your check and eat accordingly or go somewhere where you don't have to tip if you can't afford it. It's funny but you find that the people that don't like to tip 20% are the ones that expect the best service! Yes, I'm a waitress and I'm more judgemental than most because I wait on tables...for horrible service I leave 15%, for decent I leave 20% and if you're really good 30% or more. Wake up people!