TIPPING in the USA

warrenlead Sat Nov 12, 2011 7:53 pm

Gidday

We had a good discussion at the pub last night, a friend of ours is visiting the USA soon, and we were talking about how we thought tipping works in the USA.

Here in Australia tipping isn't customary but it is done at restaurants if the service or meal was really good, and sometimes to pizza delivery dudes, if the delivery is quick. But the tip is usually not that much... usually just to round the price up to the 1, 10 or 100 dollars. eg. if a pizza guy was collecting $27.95, you might give him $30, or if a restaurant bill was $95 you might give them $100

From reading the travel guides it seems tipping is more or less compulsory [in the USA] for most goods and services and is sometimes even added to the bill for you? Is this correct, how does it work? Can anyone explain?

Regards
Warren

Godsey3.0 Sat Nov 12, 2011 8:41 pm

Some restaurants will add the tip in the bill. Others will not. Most people will either leave a 2 to 5 dollar tip or leave a tip equal to 10 to 15% of their bill. I would just follow the same way you do in Australia. Round it up to nearest amount. Waiters and delivery guys.

**RknRusty** Sat Nov 12, 2011 9:31 pm

Proper etiquette is 20% now for restaurants where the wait staff takes your order and tends you while you dine. It was 15% for as long as I can remember until recently. The waiters live mostly off tips and do not usually make minimum wage. I will cut one short if I get indifferent service. If you are with a large party, look for it to be printed on the bill before you add it. Credit card and ATM card receipts will have a line for you to add it. You don't have to, but don't go back if you stiff them.

Pizza guy drives his own car and buys his gas. $2 to $4. Maybe $5.

warrenlead Sat Nov 12, 2011 9:55 pm

A bit different here... waiters and delivery drivers get a wage. My daughter worked at a Thai restaurant and the tips were all pooled up and divided up equally between all the staff at the end of the night. She would typically get about 5 or 6 dollars on top of her wage for the night which was $10 per hour. Delivery drivers get a wage + a car allowance if they use their own car and can claim it on tax. Hence why tips are probably not as generous.

andrew Sat Nov 12, 2011 10:04 pm

Many establishments will pool tips here also. This ensures that busboys and kitchen staff are able to supplement their wages, too. Tipping is generally restricted to bars, restaurants and food delivery, although some barber and beauty shops participate.

warrenlead Sat Nov 12, 2011 10:46 pm

Ok so it's not so different to here.

PV Pilot Sun Nov 13, 2011 12:33 am

I go about 18% of the total. Now if it is really stand out service,,I go a bit more.

SuperDave Sun Nov 13, 2011 8:27 am

By definition, a "tip" is "To Insure Perfect Service" which in itself is ironic since the "tip" is awarded AFTER the service is rendered rather than before. So what's to "insure"?

A tip is courtesy and nothing more helping wait staff suppliment their hourly income or, in cases where they don't receive one, constitute their entire income. One never know which is the case.

It it entirely presumptive when a "tip" is included in a final bill as it ASSUMES the "perfect servive" was rendered. I'm more in to rounding out the bill rather than sticking to a given percentage by whipping out my calculator.

Neither of my former professions was "tipped" any more than once would "tip" a medical doctor or an attorney. I'll award "tips" if they are my inclination rather than obligation.

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