Dear Jashnimal,
An appropriate tip depends on the type of service, the customs in that
particular part of the world, and the value of the service to you. I'm
giving you a mostly USA-specific answer, and I hope this will suit
your needs.
The web page [ http://www.tipping.org ] is an incredible resource for
those who wish to learn about the fine art of tipping. At the top of
their page is the claim that "There is no right or wrong when it comes
to tipping, just common sense...Use your judgement when deciding to
tip or not to tip."
Here are a few of the sub pages within this fantastic web site:
[ http://www.tipping.org/tips/TipsPageTipsUS.html ]
List of tip suggestions for services provided in the USA.
Includes: Barber shop, Casino, Hotel, Taxi, Restaurant, and much more!
Their Restaurant page at [
http://www.tipping.org/tips/TipsPageRestaurant.html ] suggests 15% -
20% of the total bill at a restaurant. In my home state, sales tax is
8.25%, and most people I know usually just double the tax rate (to
16.5%) in order to find the correct tip amount. Based on these
figures, an appropriate tip for a $70 restaurant bill would be between
$10.50 and $14.00.
It's important to realize that all suggestions on tipping.org are just
that: SUGGESTIONS. You may tip more or less depending on the quality
of the service. You should keep in mind, however, that many wait-staff
at restaurants are paid BELOW the minimum wage. This is considered
legal because it is assumed that tips from customers make up the
majority of their income! In other words, if you refuse to tip a
waiter or waitress, they haven't gotten paid for providing service to
you. Because of this, I usually won't deny a tip unless the service is
so attrocious that it spoils the entire experience of the meal. If you
feel that the service was sorely lacking, it's usually a much better
idea to (a) complain to the manager early on, and/or (b) leave a very
small tip -- like $1.00 -- to clearly show that you didn't forget and
are trying to make a point. At the same time, you should always leave
more if you felt that the service exceeded expectations. If you
frequent the establishment, and leave good tips, there's a good chance
that somebody will remember you and try to treat you right the next
time.
Also, I didn't see a category for "bartender" on the web site. The
usual rule my friends and I use is $1.00/drink, regardless of the
price.
Let me add that some restaurants automatically add a service charge to
the bill, especially when there is a large group sitting at the table.
These restaurants frequently charge 18%. In these cases, there is no
obligation to add an additional tip unless you really want to.
CNN has another good article on tipping here: [
http://www.cnn.com/2001/TRAVEL/NEWS/06/25/tipping.adviser/ ]
Please remember that the above suggestions apply to the United States
only. In other countries, the rules differ considerably, and tipping
may not be practiced.
I hope this helps you decide what you wish to tip! Please ask for
clarification if needed.
Search Strategy:
[ ://www.google.com/search?as_q=etiquette&num=100&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=tip+tipping+gratuity&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=images
]
Google Search: etiquette + { tip | tipping | gratuity }
/ephraim |
