Many are tipping less, survey shows. How about you?

Like many here, my default is 20% and it goes up or down accordingly. It can go up much easier than it goes down.

If I take up a table at a diner and only get coffee, the waiter gets at least 3 bucks.

I generally agree with Lonnie about tip jars for counter service. If I get a brewed coffee poured or a soft drink, then nothing goes to the jar. If I get a fancy coffee drink, then I put in some loose change. Besides, I think that some owners (not implicating anyone here) use the tip jar for counter service to justify paying lower wages.

On a related note; I was in a jazz club recently and the price of admission ($40) was just added to your bar tab at the end of the performance. I had a couple of glasses of wine ($18). When the check arrived, it had suggested tips printed on it for various percentages that was based on the total. I thought it was a bit strange, so I just tipped based on the cost of the wine. What say y'all?

Like many here, my default is 20% and it goes up or down accordingly. It can go up much easier than it goes down.

If I take up a table a diner and only get coffee, the waiter gets at least 3 bucks.

I generally agree with Lonnie about tip jars for counter service. If I get a brewed coffee poured or a soft drink, then nothing goes to the jar. If I get a fancy coffee drink, then I put in some loose change. Besides, I think that some owners (not implicating anyone here) use the tip jar for counter service to justify paying lower wages.

On a related note; I was in a jazz club recently and the price of admission ($40) was just added to your bar tab at the end of the performance. I had a couple of glasses of wine ($18). When the check arrived, it had suggested tips printed on it for various percentages that was based on the total. I thought it was a bit strange, so I just tipped based on the cost of the wine. What say y'all?

Totally agree. Do they think we don't notice stuff like that?

On a related note; I was in a jazz club recently and the price of admission ($40) was just added to your bar tab at the end of the performance. I had a couple of glasses of wine ($18). When the check arrived, it had suggested tips printed on it for various percentages that was based on the total. I thought it was a bit strange, so I just tipped based on the cost of the wine. What say y'all?

I think that tipping for the price of admission is totally ridiculous and them even suggesting it makes me wonder how else they are trying to get your money! They certainly don't provide any service for the admission price that I'm aware of so why should a tip be paid on it?

On a related note; I was in a jazz club recently and the price of admission ($40) was just added to your bar tab at the end of the performance. I had a couple of glasses of wine ($18). When the check arrived, it had suggested tips printed on it for various percentages that was based on the total. I thought it was a bit strange, so I just tipped based on the cost of the wine. What say y'all?

I think that tipping for the price of admission is totally ridiculous and them even suggesting it makes me wonder how else they are trying to get your money! They certainly don't provide any service for the admission price that I'm aware of so why should a tip be paid on it?

Tipping on the admission is totally gross, but still, $40 admission!? Who was playing? Miles Davis? Dizzy Gillespie? Both of them together with Benny Goodman?

On a related note; I was in a jazz club recently and the price of admission ($40) was just added to your bar tab at the end of the performance. I had a couple of glasses of wine ($18). When the check arrived, it had suggested tips printed on it for various percentages that was based on the total. I thought it was a bit strange, so I just tipped based on the cost of the wine. What say y'all?

I think that tipping for the price of admission is totally ridiculous and them even suggesting it makes me wonder how else they are trying to get your money! They certainly don't provide any service for the admission price that I'm aware of so why should a tip be paid on it?

Isn't this just the same thing as a cover charge? Does nobody do that anymore?

Sneaking it on the back of the bill is underhanded, though.

Depends on the service, and hasn't changed. I go from 15% to 20+%. I've only received truly terrible, actually insulting, service twice in my life, and both times I left nothing and told the manager why.

We're usually at 20% - above if great service or if we overstay at the table - but if we ever go below I always tell the manager why.

On a related note; I was in a jazz club recently and the price of admission ($40) was just added to your bar tab at the end of the performance.

I can't top that...but on a semi-kinda-sorta-related note, my wife and I were recently at a local establishment (OK, it was Rails in LaGrange)...We had both decided to end the evening with a splash of Bourbon...each of us politely requesting our pour with -one- ice cube (is that so hard). Instead we were served the Bourbon back and we each received a glass full of ice...No big deal, I can put my own ice cube in my Bourbon. When we tabbed out (dinner, a couple beers and and a drink each) I noticed we had been charged two dollars for the glasses of ice (which we hadn't requested). As a result I deducted 4.00 from the bartenders tip...2 bucks to cover the price of the ice and another two bucks for being a low life and not telling us there was a charge for ice.

I can't top that...but on a semi-kinda-sorta-related note, my wife and I were recently at a local establishment (OK, it was Rails in LaGrange)...We had both decided to end the evening with a splash of Bourbon...each of us politely requesting our pour with -one- ice cube (is that so hard). Instead we were served the Bourbon back and we each received a glass full of ice...No big deal, I can put my own ice cube in my Bourbon. When we tabbed out (dinner, a couple beers and and a drink each) I noticed we had been charged two dollars for the glasses of ice (which we hadn't requested). As a result I deducted 4.00 from the bartenders tip...2 bucks to cover the price of the ice and another two bucks for being a low life and not telling us there was a charge for ice.

Weak cocktails and stuff like this puts me straight off a dining establishment.

On a related note; I was in a jazz club recently and the price of admission ($40) was just added to your bar tab at the end of the performance. I had a couple of glasses of wine ($18). When the check arrived, it had suggested tips printed on it for various percentages that was based on the total. I thought it was a bit strange, so I just tipped based on the cost of the wine. What say y'all?

I think that tipping for the price of admission is totally ridiculous and them even suggesting it makes me wonder how else they are trying to get your money! They certainly don't provide any service for the admission price that I'm aware of so why should a tip be paid on it?

Tipping on the admission is totally gross, but still, $40 admission!? Who was playing? Miles Davis? Dizzy Gillespie? Both of them together with Benny Goodman?

Oz Noy Trio.....Dave Weckl, Will Lee....,well worth $40.

On a related note; I was in a jazz club recently and the price of admission ($40) was just added to your bar tab at the end of the performance. I had a couple of glasses of wine ($18). When the check arrived, it had suggested tips printed on it for various percentages that was based on the total. I thought it was a bit strange, so I just tipped based on the cost of the wine. What say y'all?

I think that tipping for the price of admission is totally ridiculous and them even suggesting it makes me wonder how else they are trying to get your money! They certainly don't provide any service for the admission price that I'm aware of so why should a tip be paid on it?

Isn't this just the same thing as a cover charge? Does nobody do that anymore?

Sneaking it on the back of the bill is underhanded, though.

Even if it you consider it a cover charge, the wait staff's tip shouldn't be based on a cover.

I had no problem with the admission price being put onto the bar bill and this method is not uncommon with NY jazz joints. They did mention that up front. However, if the suggested tip is going to be printed on the ticket, it should not factor in the price of admission.....s'all I was saying.

Depends on the service, and hasn't changed. I go from 15% to 20+%. I've only received truly terrible, actually insulting, service twice in my life, and both times I left nothing and told the manager why.

We're usually at 20% - above if great service or if we overstay at the table - but if we ever go below I always tell the manager why.

I don't go to the manager for barely acceptable service, only for something really bad.

Avg. tip % by state


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/map-where ... 20396.html

On a related note; I was in a jazz club recently and the price of admission ($40) was just added to your bar tab at the end of the performance.

I can't top that...but on a semi-kinda-sorta-related note, my wife and I were recently at a local establishment (OK, it was Rails in LaGrange)...We had both decided to end the evening with a splash of Bourbon...each of us politely requesting our pour with -one- ice cube (is that so hard). Instead we were served the Bourbon back and we each received a glass full of ice...No big deal, I can put my own ice cube in my Bourbon. When we tabbed out (dinner, a couple beers and and a drink each) I noticed we had been charged two dollars for the glasses of ice (which we hadn't requested). As a result I deducted 4.00 from the bartenders tip...2 bucks to cover the price of the ice and another two bucks for being a low life and not telling us there was a charge for ice.

Although I'll agree the server should have informed you of that, I'd bet there's pressure from the manager/owner to do that sort of thing. I'm not familiar with the establishment, but to me that way of doing business predicts a short lifespan.

I always tip huge. Usually over 20% sometimes WAY over (30-40%) depending on how much fun I had. If I tip 15% that means something was wrong. But I never NOT leave a tip.

We generally eat at places we like in town and, therefore, become regulars. So leaving a low tip would not serve us well. That being the case, we average probably 20-22%. If I go to a new place where the food seems too expensive and/or the alcohol has a high markup, then I won't feel bad at all about tipping 15%.

I know this goes without saying on this forum, but we always make sure to tip based on the full price taking into account and food or drink specials.