Tipping is
important and you’ll understand its importance once you understand the low
wages servers make in restaurants. When you’re stingy with your tipping, you
are causing a dent in their lifestyle. I can see what you’re thinking, “Why
should you care?” Simple answer, because you’re not a self-centered asshole……that’s
why! If someone is going to devote time to making sure your dining experience
is perfect the least you can do is leave a decent tip. Seriously guys, who is a
better wingman than a server who knows how to serve without inconveniently
interrupting your conversation with a potential hunny? And ladies think about the bartender who
treats you and your friends like Beyoncé clones during ladies night. It’s not
just serving food and drinks ladies and gentlemen, you must understand that
when you’re tipping!
Walking into
a restaurant, a normal tip starts at 15%. 15% is what is given for just putting
food on my table and making sure my water cup doesn’t go empty. 15% doesn’t
imply that the service was bad; it just says it wasn’t spectacular enough to
garner a higher percentage of the bill.
I’m a
southern man at heart, whose life goal is to have a reserved seat at my favorite
restaurant for my wife and I. When I go out to restaurants I like the waiter/waitress
to engage in conversation with me. If I’m out of town I view them as the expert
of their city, and will often ask them to suggest other activities while I’m in
town or ask for suggestions on the menu. If I feel above standard service was provided,
I provide a tip into the higher side of 20% of the bill. I’ve also been known
to tip more than the bill. One time, while sitting in a waffle house in Phoenix,
I had the pleasure of having a waitress from Mississippi. We shared a 30-minute
conversation about the magical feeling you get when having your grandmothers
grits. Sometimes, your heart leads you to give more than the standard tip
amount, follow this notion. I’m not saying make this your normal tipping
behavior. However, if you meet a special waiter or waitress do your part and give
them a monetary blessing. There’s no better feeling than paying it forward if
you’re capable.
When do you
tip?
If you’re
dining in a restaurant, you should tip! Pick up orders do not count in this, unless
there’s above standard service being offered. I’ve picked up orders and the
cashier offered assistance to my car, which in my eyes, warrants a tip. If I’ m
just picking up a meal then no, I don’t tip.
If you’ve
been invited to dinner to discuss business, you don’t tip! Don’t even
offer!! Thank the host for your meal and
get up from the table and send a thank you card later. You’re the guest and its
extremely awkward asking the host about assisting with the bill. Seriously,
nothing annoys me more than the “Are you sure about that?” No, I just grabbed
the bill and placed my card down for practice. Shut the hell up and be thankful
clown! On the flip side, if you’re hosting a dinner don’t expect others to pay
the tip. Don’t invite people to dinner if you can’t afford to finance the
entire meal. Yes, you can always go Dutch but make sure this is pre-determined
before even arriving at the restaurant.
Bad service.
In the
unfortunate situation you feel you received bad service, before you decide on
the tip, you must be realistic as to why you felt the service was bad. Simply stating
the waiter/waitress was busy does not define a bad dining experience. Sometimes
they do not have the time to engage in lengthy conversation and must get orders
in a timely manner. Try to show some compassion for them and have your order
ready. But if the service was truly bad, tip the 15% and the next time request
a different waiter/waitress. Never get up from the table and leave nothing!
It is not
necessary to tip to validate your wealth. At the end of the day, the wealthy
and not as wealthy should receive the same care when it comes to dining
experience. Regardless of your income, tip as necessary and within your means.
Exceptional service= exceptional tip, crappy service= average tip. Regardless of the service, always tip.
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