How do you tip?

I use a pretty ornate system. California usually floats around 7.25%~8.25% depending on the area I'm in, so I usually double the tax and round up to the nearest dollar if service was up to par, but not extravagantly good (meaning they did nothing wrong but wasn't fantastic).

If I'm not satisfied, I round down to the nearest dollar. If I'm really unsatisfied beyond that, I state my problem on the credit card receipt the store keeps (that way the manager has it on file and sees it) and leave a crappy tip confirming what the problems was.

If the service is good I default to 20% tip.

Once I went to Applebee's with a party of 20+ people, and we just had to be split up to 3 parties just because of the sheer size. Everyone at our table was just sharing large appetizers (we're all college students). Our server even made sure our subtotals were divided up per person on the check! I've never seen that done before. I wanted to make sure our server's efforts were well rewarded since he didn't make one stint about the party being so large (composed of broke college kids might I add), with us having 3 separate people needing to pay by card separately, and yet he still was making absolute sure everyone's needs at the table were fulfilled and came back more than enough times to refill our drinks and make sure everything went smoothly. I knew for sure 15% on 6 appetizers wasn't satisfactory when our server was going back and forth for 11 people at the table, so I left a $40 tip for my $8 cup of chili.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Shin

Er, what? One would hope that the restaurant employed enough staff so that everyone eating can get their food in a reasonable amount of food when the place is full. Serving a bunch of people at once isn't some act of heroics, it's what he's paid to do. I think tipping extra because a place is busy is pretty retarded really, it's like you're assuming that the normal state for a restaurant is half empty, in which case, if the waiters aren't busy then the owner is employing too many people.

I agree, but we were a party of around 20-24 ppl, taking up at least 2-3 tables each in the 3 sections we were being split up into. Considering all were college students, with at least 2 people sharing appetizer entrees that are only like $8 each, when you compare that to normal customers who would come in as a party of 4, take 1 table, and each order an entree of at least $15 each with drinks, appetizers and possibly even desserts, that makes a difference in their sales share.

I just wanted to make sure the hospitality of our server, his very reasonable manager(s), and the kitchen staff was well rewarded. I don't think what I did was absurd. The restaurant pretty much sacrificed 5-6 tables they could have used to serve customers that would have ordered alcohol, a full-price entree, and possibly appetizers and desserts, so given that their sales could have been impacted by our huge party, I would think that leaving down a couple extra Jacksons would not be too crazy.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by RAZGRIZ-1

All I'm saying is, when I go to a restaurant and I'm done eating, if I happen to have my laptop I'm gonna have a few drinks and get some work done. After all, my work is almost directly paying your salary; which you're complaining about.

Unless you're continuously/constantly ordering drinks while you work, you taking up a table / seat is actually costing the restaurant more than you think. If you're done eating, satisfied with your meal, had the pleasure of enjoying your meal with good company and have throughly satisfied yourselves with your conversation, then it is more polite for you to leave the restaurant and open up the table / seat so the restaurant can offer that seat to another customer. More customers = more sales opportunities = more revenue = more tip/income.

You taking up a table for an overly extended period of time (basically past the point where the restaurant has no revenue opportunity out of you) is just you being a jackass (unless, again, you're ordering a beer every 5 minutes or so).

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by RAZGRIZ-1

OK... You've, like, seen me drink. Do you honestly see that as being a problem for me to be ordering a beer every 5-10 minutes or so?

In two hours' worth of time, I will write lesson plans for a whole week, finish a couple of designs, dust about 3 pitchers of beer, pay my tab, tip my server in cash, stumble to my car, drive home, talk my way out of a ticket and be home in time for House M.D..

Who's kidding who now?

Ok hon, I give you the benefit of the doubt. It's the dickheads who order one fucking beer and stay for 2 hours chatting with their friends who order water (and expect free refills) that bug me.

Additional Spam:

Originally Posted by RAZGRIZ-2

See, Wing Leader, you're a damn good tipper, so it isn't an issue.

And I kinda knew about this too, so I didn't really mean the jackass comment directed at you Paco. Sorry <3

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