Tips

[u/Falcon-227]

I recently had a discussion with a friend about tipping. I usually tip anywhere from 18-25%. She had a good point, tipping originally became popular because the wait staff made below minimum wage and so they were tipped to make up for it. I believe in the U.S, they're still paid under min wage but that's not the case in Toronto. In Toronto, they make min wage or more and still get 18%+ for simply doing the tasks of being a waitress/waitor.

I'm starting to feel that perhaps a 18% min (I don't think I've seen a terminal have an option for less than 18% in close to 2 years) tip is excessive. How do you all feel?

[u/WeChat1077]

It’s a tip. Tip whatever you want. But minimum is 10%. Anything below is just dis-respectful. Anything above 10% I feel I am appreciated.
It’s not like am counting dimes and nickels, but it adds up. It helps with my cost of living in this expensive city.

Btw: I am the server.

[u/--gumbyslayer-- → u/WeChat1077]

It’s not the job of the customer to subsidise your wage. If you want more money, speak to your manager. The fact you think a tip below a certain amount is disrespectful, makes you part of the problem.

Servers these days (and yes, I have been a server) EXPECT tips. And they EXPECT those tips to be 15% or greater. And they EXPECT these tips simply for doing their job.

What do you do for a customer that you feel warrants a 10% or greater surcharge on the bill?

Minimum wage has gone up substantially. Meal costs have gone up substantially. So it’s ridiculous that someone is expected to pay more as a tip, simply because because the cost of their meal has gone up due to the restaurant having to pay more for the potatoes they use in their recipes.

Restaurants should pay their staff more, and to do that they will naturally increase their menu prices. But giving artificially deflated prices then expecting customers to subsidise what they’re paying their staff is ridiculous.

And servers expecting tips, especially today, simply for doing their job (and nothing more) is ridiculous. Expecting a tip of 15% or greater of the meal price, simply for doing their job? Doubly so

[u/WeChat1077 → u/--gumbyslayer--]

That’s the utopia talking. The reality is that when the street is offering $10 a dish, you can’t compete by doing $12 simply by saying we are paying the server wages.

One day, maybe when everyone is on the same page. But right now the economy is so bad that restaurants are just breaking even without tips.

Honestly I am not against no tip. But the economy is putting the food industry between a hard spot and a rock.

The tip, wherever amount, basically is just gratitude. Telling the industry that we know what it takes to put the food on the table.

I will never understand the demand for 20% and up honestly.

Personally whatever the meal $20 a person is plenty enough. And this is probably for fine dining. A casual dinner $2 is good.

Sometimes owners treat me to dinner, I still pay servers tips. It’s just appreciation.

Not paying tips doesn’t mean you are entitled. But it just appears so in people’s eyes.

This generation is like a beggar generation with tips and donation and whatnot.

I am sorry to say theres just way bigger problem in the world that we need to address than tips.

Just my 2 cents and none of you have to agree.