Leaving money at the restaurant table ... fact or fiction ?

[TriuneImpurityRites]

Originally Posted by dissention

I usually pay for the meal with my card, but always leave a cash tip so the waitress/waiter doesn't get tax taken out of it. I'm all for lying about those tips.

[Will.]

I work at a restaurant and the tips are split evenly among all the workers (dishwashers and cooks too). Love that policy.

[TriuneImpurityRites]

Originally Posted by Will.

I work at a restaurant and the tips are split evenly among all the workers (dishwashers and cooks too). Love that policy.

by requirement?

[Will.]

Originally Posted by TriuneImpurityRites

by requirement?

I work in the kitchen so I'm not sure if the front of the house is required to, but it seems like everyone is happy to do it...

[TriuneImpurityRites]

Originally Posted by Will.

I work in the kitchen so I'm not sure if the front of the house is required to, but it seems like everyone is happy to do it...

well, it's illegal if it's required......

[Will.]

Originally Posted by TriuneImpurityRites

well, it's illegal if it's required......

I just checked, and yes you're right. Each server is asked if they are willing to share their tips and they seemingly have all agreed so far.

[Lacit170]

Originally Posted by Mike16

All that said, this thread has me thinking, how many of you that leave 20% tips leave a tip for other service workers? I'm referring to electricians, plumbers, landscapers, auto mechanics, etc. I always slip the mechanic a couple bucks when I take my truck in for tires or a state inspection, I do all repairs myself and although the shop I take my truck to for tires/inspections (two things I can't do myself) is locally owned the owner employs outside help and pays a little more than minimum wage. I suppose if you're having work done by a sole-proprietor tipping wouldn't be necessary however.

i dont tip maintenance workers and auto mechanics rip you off enough as it is...ill tip someone delivering something to the house like a couch or furniture or pizza but thats it really.

Originally Posted by cinemacrash

I've lived in CA for more than 23 years and I've never experienced just leaving money on the table or have seen people just doing that. I hate to say this but it's risky these days to even just do that knowing that some people might steal it and as others have stated you might be accused of not paying the bill. I've eaten at both regular and high end restaurants, but I always pay first and then saying a "goodbye" greeting to my server before leaving the restaurant.

where do you leave the tip if you dont leave it on the table

most restaurants you dont pay at a register unless we're talking about a pizza shop or diner.

[West E]

I've never thrown money at the table and walked off but damn now that I think about it I definitely want to try it.

I usually tip around 15%, unless it's one of our two or three usual restaurants where i'll always do at least 20 or 25. You get to know them and honestly they treat you better if they know you always tip fairly well.

[Lacit170]

Originally Posted by West E

I've never thrown money at the table and walked off but damn now that I think about it I definitely want to try it.

I usually tip around 15%, unless it's one of our two or three usual restaurants where i'll always do at least 20 or 25. You get to know them and honestly they treat you better if they know you always tip fairly well.

what do you mean throw money at the table?

im so confused by how everyone seems to pay lol.... waiter brings you the check, you pay and also leave a tip in the check book or leave the tip on table if no check book...

is that not common practice lol?

[spectre08]

Originally Posted by Lacit170

i dont tip maintenance workers and auto mechanics rip you off enough as it is...ill tip someone delivering something to the house like a couch or furniture or pizza but thats it really.



where do you leave the tip if you dont leave it on the table

most restaurants you dont pay at a register unless we're talking about a pizza shop or diner.

Maintenance workers and auto workers already make many times more than service employees in most circumstances, and they're also almost always significantly less directly involved with you on a minute-to-minute basis than service employees are.

A more comparable example would be barbers, hairdressers, makeup artists, bellhops and skycaps, etc. All of which are customary to tip, and all of which are still covered by minimum wage laws.

[meremortal]

I've had many friends and a few family members who grew up in the restaurant industry and have heard plenty of stories about lousy tippers and people who don't tip at all. So I try to keep cash on hand for dining out and very rarely give less than 20%, often a bit more.

[faultline]

Being a former server and restaurant manager, I can tell you what "should be" is irrelevant to what is. Some west coast states pay minimum wage + tips, while others only pay $4.90/hour guaranteed. If you are not making tips, which for good service is 20% of the bill, you are considering the oldest profession in history to help supplement your income... prostitution. It goes without saying, if you're not willing to tip (and the norm is not a set amount but a percentage of the bill), then you don't need to go out to get a meal. Tip yourself and throw the ol' vented meat tray in the microwave and do middle class America a favor by staying home.

Originally Posted by mrr1

Tipping is just a way for employers to download their responsibility for paying decent wages directly onto the shoulders of their customers.

I wish restaurants would eliminate tipping altogether, pay their employees better salaries, and just increase the cost of their menu items to make up for it. No tips required - we pay for what we agreed to at the start. Then we can do away with this awkward "tip" nonsense.

[pmil]

Originally Posted by ZeTi

Saw this so many times in movies (leaving the money on the table and walking out) ... is this just a trope or common practice in the states ?

Just curious.

Yes, it is common. Why did you think it was a "trope?"

By the way, the name of the country is not "the states." America or more fully, USA, is.

[pmil]

Originally Posted by ArmyOfDarknessAW

One thing movies and shows do that annoys me is they just plop down money without even getting the bill. They just know how much it's going to cost and pre pay. I've never seen that done.

That's not unusual in real life. I've done that plenty of times. When you're ordering you obviously see the prices, so it isn't difficult to figure out roughly what the total will be. I then give more, which would include a tip. It's simply a way to leave quickly. Not so uncommon.

[pmil]

Originally Posted by tezster

Is this not a common practice in Europe?

Europe is not a country. Customs and practices vary widely in the countries that make up Europe. He's from Austria.

[pmil]

Originally Posted by Markgway

The wage structure is different in the UK though. The waiters don't live on tips here. They have a steady income. Tips are just that. Friendly bonuses. You don't even have to leave one. I leave 10% because I'm a nice person.

Tips and a lower wage in America exists to encourage excellent service. It's a system that obviously works since America is famous for having the best restaurant service. In America the norm is to leave 15% for good service, and obviously more for better service.

[pmil]

Originally Posted by mrr1

Tipping is just a way for employers to download their responsibility for paying decent wages directly onto the shoulders of their customers.

I wish restaurants would eliminate tipping altogether, pay their employees better salaries, and just increase the cost of their menu items to make up for it. No tips required - we pay for what we agreed to at the start. Then we can do away with this awkward "tip" nonsense.

That's the last thing I would like to see happen in America. Tipping encourages excellent service. It's merit pay, which is a good thing. We should have merit pay as a part of many other salaries.

[pmil]

Originally Posted by Lacit170

i dont tip maintenance workers and auto mechanics rip you off enough as it is...ill tip someone delivering something to the house like a couch or furniture or pizza but thats it really.



where do you leave the tip if you dont leave it on the table

most restaurants you dont pay at a register unless we're talking about a pizza shop or diner.

It's not a custom to tip auto mechanics or any mechanic.

Tips today are often included in a line you fill in on the bill.

[Will.]

pmil -

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by pmil

Tips and a lower wage in America exists to encourage excellent service.

Yeah, that's the reason...