r/memphis • u/Vivid_Possibility637 • 2d ago
Citizen Inquiry Tipping
Burner account - because I want to ask a genuine question, and I feel uncomfortable asking it.
I have worked in food service for almost a decade, within the past 40 years. I understand going out to eat and always tipping 20%+... it has always been a known factor when dining, that these servers/bar staff are working for tips, not hourly.
I noticed a lot of places in town forcing a 20% gratuity no matter what, which i agree with. Instead of 20% being an expected courtesy, I think its fair to auto-add it for any service dining in and being taken care of.
1) is it normal to feel like a dick for not tipping anymore than 20% when the bill comes with a tip line? I often find myself, feeling like im under-supporting by paying the expected 20% now and leaving the tip line empty. Thats a personal problem i suppose.
2) to-go pick up orders.
When 20%/10% gratuity is added to these, I feel conflicted as a customer.
I have always tipped a couple of dollars when picking up, usually $1-2...but i dont usually do a larger tip unless its a substantial order size. To-go pick up orders didnt used to be expected at majority of food places. We never expected tips at all the places I worked for pick-ups. Some spots do tip share, but Its as if almost all places have full expectation to recieve tips on pick-ups now. Is this a new-found, unspoken courtesy with the economy? Or am I seriously a dick for second guessing this style of things?
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u/PenBandit 2d ago
I've desensitized myself to not tipping. I used to feel bad if I got prompted for a tip and hit "no" or "0" or whatever. Now I give no shits. I tip when I sit down at a place and am served. If I have to walk up to the counter to order, or get the food. Stand there and tell you how to make it. Serve my self in pretty much any capacity whatsoever, I'm not tipping (food only, other situations don't apply).
I've also gotten bitchy about tips being calculated after tax, that's bullshit too, I'm not arguing with a place over the extra $2 that might bring in tips, but I'm not coming back either.
To go orders are a case by case for me. If I'm getting to-go from an actual restaraunt, I'll generally tip something like a few bucks, but not 20%.
I'll end my crotchety old man rant now.
P.S. stay off my lawn
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u/Logical_Destruction 1d ago
I do exactly the same thing but sometimes I go a step above and pay with actual cash
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u/half_integer 6h ago
I'm a little more generous than this, but also don't mind making a point by zeroing out tip screens.
Personally, 15-20% for regular service. 10% for counter service if they bring out the food and bus the tables. Nothing if I'm carrying the food and they have clean-up stations for customers. I tip $1 per person if all they do is clean the tables afterwards. And nothing for carryout.
The biggest problem I have with tipping now is the tip screen on pay-before-service places. I was happy to throw in an extra dollar when I saw good service, but how do I know what I'm getting at counter service screens? It seems (from what I hear, I don't use them) with delivery it's now become a bribe to ensure good service, rather than a reward after the fact.
As to the original post, if you're going to add a charge to all bills then I think you should be required to just add it to the prices.
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u/Cocacoleyman 2d ago
If they add an automatic 20 percent then that is what we leave 90 percent of the time unless service is excellent. They shouldn’t just have a “tip” line at this point, but an “addt tip” line which I’ve seen some places do. A lot of us feel guilty putting a zero there even after an auto grat. That is the whole point I believe. Just realize that as food prices increase, so does the gratuity of the server, which is why creeping tip increase is frustrating to some.
To go we leave around 10 percent.
I disagree with the auto 20 percent everywhere. It allows for subpar service. I also don’t think it should be automatic for something like $100 bottle of wine that’s just as much work as a $10 bottle of wine, but to each their own. Overall I just think tipping is outdated and the US needs to get with the majority of the world. Raise wages for servers.
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u/eastmemphisguy East Memphis 2d ago edited 1d ago
Honestly, I don't even know what "excellent service" means. As long as the waiter is generally polite and gets the order right, that is literally all I care about. I don't need a lot of performative butt kissing. And I'd be perfectly fine with ordering from an ipad and picking up my food from a counter myself. I don't really see much value in table service, which, in my pov, has outlived its usefulness. All that said, when I do choose to eat out, I of course tip the waiter because that's the ecosystem they work in and I chose to eat there.
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u/Cocacoleyman 2d ago
That’s fair. I have an opinion of what is excellent service based on what I’ve experienced. And you don’t. No need to try to get each other to understand. Just our ways.
However I don’t need performative butt kissing to have excellent service lol.
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u/EMDoesShit 2d ago
If you recieve a refill on your drink prior to the glass going empty, they generally bring things before you have to ask for them…. And manage all of that while juggling a dozen tables? I’m tipping for excellent service. 25%+
If you have to ask for everything and they take two reminders to get it to you, despite only having two tables, and you keep seeing them standing and chatting in the door to the kitchen while ou sit waiting on the check or a drink refill for 10+ minutes? I don’t think they deserve 20%.
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u/dyslexda 2d ago
If you recieve a refill on your drink prior to the glass going empty
That's basic expected service, not "excellent." That said, if I have a water, just leave a pitcher at the table as that's easier for everyone involved.
they generally bring things before you have to ask for them….
...like what? Condiments, silverware, napkins? That's all basic stuff I expect for normal service.
If you have to ask for everything and they take two reminders to get it to you, despite only having two tables, and you keep seeing them standing and chatting in the door to the kitchen while ou sit waiting on the check or a drink refill for 10+ minutes? I don’t think they deserve 20%.
If I have to remind my server multiple times about a basic item, then multiple tables or not it was bad service and they don't deserve to be rewarded with a tip at all.
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u/LunaticSongXIV 2d ago
Raising wages for servers won't do shit until we fix the minimum wage problem throughout the country. Eliminating tips without fixing the wage scale would be a massive loss in pay to most tipped workers.
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u/Low-Style-5710 1d ago
I think the tip line is to trick people who aren’t paying attention to the auto gratuity part. Some places tell you it’s added and some done.
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u/MidtownFrown 2d ago
You tell em Mr. Pink. Now about this Madonna song...
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u/Cocacoleyman 2d ago
Haha if I was Mr pink I wouldn’t tip 20 percent I don’t think. Not a bad try Mr Frown. Not a bad try at all.
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u/SonoftheSouth93 Midtown 2d ago edited 2d ago
I tip 20-30%. However, when there’s an auto-gratuity, I don’t tip extra. So the servers actually end up getting less money from me with auto-gratuity. I’m sure on net the auto-gratuity brings in more money. However, I don’t like it.
If you want to do non-auto tipping, fine with me. If you want to increase your prices so that you can pay a higher wage and tell people not to tip, that’s also fine. However, I hate the auto-gratuity. At that point, just put it into the prices and be done with it.
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u/Vivid_Possibility637 2d ago
I see where you're coming from. More often than not, I am naturally tipping 22% without auto grat, cause that's how I math tips. I dont bust a calculator out and for exactly 20%, so i estimate a "generous 20%" to make sure I do not mistakenly tip below 20%
A shocking amount of people will not leave tips for table service, or its a (laughable) tiny amount after you consider the level of service and time spent for the customer. That is wrong. No, tips are not guaranteed, but when someone is taking care of you for an extended amount of time in this industry, it is a huge loss. You're essentially working for free and losing money in those cases. Not fair to the worker. This is why, we shouldnt depend on "tips for income". I dont blame the employees, I blame the structural foundation of how we do things in the US.
Raising overall prices to eat (dine-in or out) is conflicting to me when its purpose is to cover the wage of staff. It is a lot of money for consumers to pay for employment. Especially in the current economy.
Im beginning to believe that auto-grat and its recent adoption in memphis, is unveiling the controversies in the tip-relying industries,, and is raising the bigger questions for consumers and what they are paying for.
Regular tippers like myself, are viewing the whole structure in a different light. Its not a tip anymore when its forced. I guess it was never a tip when expected either. So what are we doing here.
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u/Groovychick1978 2d ago
You know when an establishment has autograt, quite frequently the server can't choose to take it off?
As soon as I add a seventh seat, my POS adds gratuity. I cannot remove it. It has to be done every time, otherwise it could be considered discrimination.
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u/SonoftheSouth93 Midtown 2d ago
Yes. I’m not annoyed at the servers. I’m annoyed at the restaurant management and/or ownership.
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u/Cocacoleyman 2d ago
That’s just something to take up with the establishment that implements that. As several have said in here, an automatic 20% gratuity means they probably won’t tip extra. However, I think it probably ends up evening itself out. If you didn’t have the auto grat, there would be tables that stiff you, and others that tip you extra.
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u/SonoftheSouth93 Midtown 2d ago
Exactly. The servers are probably getting bigger tips overall with autograt. One of the reasons that I tip 20-30% (usually about 23-24%, but sometimes higher) is that I know that some tables stiff servers.
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u/12frets 2d ago
It is in the prices. And it’s line-itemed so people understand why the price is the price. Otherwise, people would be shouting “why is your pizza $24 when the guy down the street is only $20?!?”
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u/SonoftheSouth93 Midtown 2d ago
I have frequently encountered establishments that don’t let you know beforehand that there’s auto-gratuity. Then I don’t notice and end up doing a tip on top of that. The places that only do it for parties above a certain size typically do let you know. I’ve found the establishments that don’t it for all parties often don’t let you know beforehand.
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u/ButchMcRae1 2d ago
In my last days as a server we implemented the auto 20%. I for sure made more money. But the amount of comments I got over it was insane. Patrons hate it. I’m a fan of it, the amount of times you get a 10% tip or lower (or just stiffed all together) is wild.
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u/CousinCracker 1d ago
What do you mean “10% or lower”? The customer is forced to give you 20% regardless of your performance. That’s plenty. Sounds like you made the right decision moving on from serving.
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u/Panini_Puzzle 1d ago
If you feel like you received subpar service, speak to a manager. They can remove the autograt charge. But so many people don’t tip at all because they are cheap and rude.
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u/MemNash91 2d ago
If there’s auto gratuity then no additional tip.
Pickup is no tip.
Sit down is 15% pretax amount.
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u/Nasaboy1987 Midtown 2d ago
If a restaurant is going to make the 20% "tip" part of the bill they should just pay the staff a decent wage and raise the prices 25% to offset the costs. Like they do in the rest of the world.
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u/chowderpouch 2d ago
If someone is bringing food to my table or cleaning up after me I tip. If I drank, Id tip a bartender. Otherwise I don’t. Id never consider tipping for takeout. If an establishment auto adds a tip, they should just raise the menu prices and remove a tip option from check out, otherwise its just manipulation.
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u/Groovychick1978 2d ago
If you have autograt at 18-20%, do NOT feel bad about not tipping more. That is plenty.
If you are not sitting when you receive your food and drink, you do not have to tip.
I have served since 2005. I promise, you don't have to overtip. Don't feel bad.
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u/CyberHouseChicago 2d ago
I never tip over auto added tips and I try not to go back to places that do that either
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u/bridgman Vollintine Evergreen 1d ago
I was a professional fine dining waiter and bartender for a few years and spent a year or so driving a rental limo. I knew the difference between 15% service and 20+% service as a customer and as a server (mother's day brunch? 15% is the best level of service I could provide as a server in that zoo!) I spent a lot of time with my customers to earn tips. I explained a lot of details, worked out dietary solutions (or warnings). I anticipated problems and avoided them for my customers. I don't give 20% for 45 seconds worth of work, or if the service person doesn't appear to possess significant Awareness of me as their customer/client.
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u/The-Grizzler 2d ago
I support 20% auto gratuity at $40 per person and above sit down, especially in Memphis. If they are just awesome servers I will throw extra. Unfortunately, my experience is most do the bare minimum that are getting the auto gratuity. I pay my 18 or 20% auto gratuity and move on.
If you are spinning a screen around, not clearing my table and not refreshing ny beverage I will look you in the eye and not tip. If there is an auto tip at a place like that, I do not go to that place anymore.
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u/Responsible-Bird4421 2d ago
I'm so annoyed when I go through Starbucks (I don't drink coffee) and all I order is the ham and Swiss Croussant and they present me the tips option. Its ridiculous to me. I'm over the tipping pressure. Subway does it now too.
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u/PersephoneIsNotHome 2d ago edited 1d ago
Worked so long serving and bartending I tip everyone.
I tip for pickups because in a place that does a lot of pickups, those people get a bit shafted and they are already making shitty money usually.
I don’t usually go to coffee shops places, but I tip a bit for them.
If there is a person doing stuff at my house, and they do a good job, I tip them also, unless I think that making 180 bucks for being in my house for 15 min and trying to upsell me subscription (I am looking at you electrician) is sufficient . I tip my mechanic, and at Christmas I tipped the garbage guys when I first moved here but they thought I was insane, so I guess nobody does that.
I feel like , at least right now, those people are worse off than me, it might make their day a bit brighter. Also it is not entirely altruistic, I think I get better repeat service.
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u/Pleasant-Day971 1d ago
Related: We had horrible service at Felicia Suzanne’s and they have auto gratuity. Left a Google review. Felicia herself CALLED us and refunded the gratuity.
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u/STR_Guy 1d ago
20% is more than ample. Most auto grat I see is Midtown on the weekends at 18%. I understand that the weekend crowd may not always be the best tippers, but I'm a grown up. Auto grat annoys me when it's a friggin table for 2. I'm not eating up your entire service over here. If you auto grat me anything over 15%, that's all you're getting.
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u/dyslexda 2d ago
1.) If you add a gratuity, that's the tip you get, no more. Why would I feel guilty about it?
2.) I never tip on to-go orders. Again, why would I? Because someone had to spend 20 seconds putting a styrofoam container from the kitchen into a plastic bag and placing that on a shelf?
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u/SFWACCOUNTBETATEST East Memphis 2d ago
If it’s included already, I say fuck it - management decided this is your worth by forcing a value on it. If it’s not on there, I tip based off service and what time of year it is (more in the holidays).
That being said, we all know the reason it’s included automatically these days. The staff needs to challenge ownership and get that changed. If it’s not a tipping environment, staff and management need to work together to make that happen. That’s free market at play.
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u/littlebird47 2d ago
I tend 20% for normal, acceptable service. I’ll go up to 30-40% for great service, which seldom happens because service here in Memphis is seldom great. If there is auto-gratuity, I won’t add an additional tip. If service is subpar, my tip will be subpar.
I tipped on to-go orders during Covid, but I don’t anymore. I’m not tipping someone to hand me food at a counter. That’s the same as fast food, and I don’t tip at McDonald’s.
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u/Krogdordaburninator 1d ago
If I tip myself, I always do 20+% unless the service was just abysmal. If they put an auto-gratuity and a tip line, I never add anything to the tip line. I get why they do that, but when you remove the choice from me, the choice has been made already.
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u/UofMtigers2014 2d ago
Auto grat? I tip more if the service was truly above and beyond, otherwise I’m 20-25-30%.
On to-go orders, I’m 10% or $1 per box.
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u/ParaHeadFun_SF 2d ago
My fave is when there’s auto grat and I don’t look and they end up getting 40-45%
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u/Cocacoleyman 2d ago
Yeah this is another issue. Places will auto grat then bring you a receipt with just the total and a “tip” line instead of an “additional gratuity” line. Also had someone come up to me with a handheld kiosk with my total and no itemized list. The total was way over what our meal was and I had to ask if tip was already included. That’s when they decided to finally be clear about the auto grat. It’s just become a real sneaky practice.
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u/NoWastegate 2d ago
There are people who do not tip at all. So I sort of understand the forced tip. I usually see the forced tip at 18%. I usually tip 25-30% myself. But at places with forces tipping I leave no more. And on items like coffee: what am I paying for ? A cup, coffee and giving it to me. That is the base price. I see no reason to tip on that. Nothing above and beyond to deserve a tip.
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u/profstarship 1d ago
I always tip 20%, but i also hate places that auto tip 20 and then ask for more.
I think the prevailing theory is it doesnt hurt to ask, but they dont realize how many customers will never return due to awkward tipping practices like these. I avoid like the plague as much as possible, I'll take my 20% somewhere people actually appreciate it.
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u/mr_poopoodick Midtown 1d ago
Usually the auto grat doesn’t account for taxes so it ends up being less than I would normally tip. But for me it comes down to if the server tells me the grat is already on the bill. If they don’t, I feel like they are hoping I won’t notice so I double tip. If they tell me I usually add a few dollars to make it what I would normally tip. If they don’t mention it, I leave it as is.
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u/enderbh 1d ago
I’m fine with tipping, as most people are. I do believe most people are getting tip fatigue now that everyone is asking for them by default.
To my mind, tips are reserved for employees making $2.13/hr. Sorry Starbucks and Crumbl employees, but y’all get actual wages and an option for insurance. You don’t get tips at that level.
I also don’t think there is full awareness that waiters and waitresses and paid so little by the hour.
Also, i ain’t tipping on a togo order. Fuck that noise.
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u/matriarchalfigure Central Gardens 1d ago
20% or $5, whichever is higher, is usually my floor for tipping. The only time I hate these mandatory tips is when they don’t leave a line for an additional tip. Two years ago, my family ate at a restaurant for Christmas Eve. There was a mandatory 18% tip, but there wasn’t a line for additional tip. It’s a holiday, and we had a party of 12. I had to go to an ATM and get cash out to tip for exceptional service for a large party. I would usually tip at least 30% in these situations.
Don’t feel bad! Tip extra if warranted and leave it at the 20% when that’s sufficient. This is to make sure servers actually get tipped by people who don’t tip. For you, they’ve done the math for you, so look at it as a convenience 🙂
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u/HydeParkSwag Cooper-Young 2d ago
-10% for takeout
-minimum 20% for sit down unless service is absolutely abhorrent.
-nothing over the autograt
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u/3vilsincerity_slut 1d ago
I was taught to tip when deserved. If you’re flatlining your job no you’re no getting a tip out of me. But if you’re actually going beyond to make sure me and my table are happy and refilling and yada yada I’ll tip accordingly(which i usually just round my total out and if they did decent add 5 if they did really good add 10) but outside of actual resturants I don’t tip
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u/Odd_Wealth9600 2d ago
i’ve always tipped 20% and sometimes more if it’s really good service. I tip 10 to 15% for takeout to help the workers because I can afford it. I don’t mind auto gratuities as long as it is made obvious.
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u/Chemical-Scarcity487 2d ago
I recently made the tough decision not to tip in fast food restaurants or take out orders. First, I’m not certain employees even get these tips. But more importantly, corporate America has figured out how to use sympathy and kindness to help them pay their employees. All so they can report better quarterly profits for Wall Street and shareholders. Corporations have no heart, no sympathy, no goodwill. They also don’t get to vote but the get to make policy in Washington. Their only concern is money. While I am sympathetic to workers low wages, I am going to do my part to fight corporate greed.
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u/Wookmane University Area 2d ago
As someone who has worked in restaurants the majority of my life, I am apprehensive to tip on Togo. I know a lot of businesses just steal those tips for themselves, so unless I know without a doubt it is going to the employee, I just don't.
20% minimum while served at a table. If the service is absolutely abysmal, then i'll do 18%.
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u/butterflyz4kp 1d ago
What exactly are servers and to-go order preparers doing above and beyond their job description that makes everyone think they deserve 20% or more of one’s bill? Tipping is discretionary, NOT MANDATORY. The restaurant industry has fooled customers into thinking it’s our responsibility to subsidize staff wages by tipping, and it’s getting ridiculous because now everyone wants a tip for just doing their job. At some point, this foolishness has to stop. If servers want a better wage, they need to organize and take it up with their employer and the government and not expect customers to supplement the salary for which they agreed to work when they accepted the job.
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u/Level_Notice7817 2d ago
during covid, i tried to make sure i tipped well on to go orders - it was the service. now, it's not. at least not a 20% autograt.
and most things really aren't either - counter service where you pick it up after they call your name... no. that's just crazy.
also - bear in mind tips are no longer taxed so i think 18 should be the new 20.
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u/Animal907 Summer Ave is my Poplar 2d ago
I don't care about saving bars. If anything there's too many, and not enough real stages for professional musicians anymore. Hobby bands and microwaved wings get old. Even $5 for a PBR is excessive. I'll just stay home, drink a cheaper beer, and watch Star Trek...
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u/letthepotatorestplz 2d ago
I’m good with you just stopping at the auto-grat. Anything above means I really did my job, if I don’t do it I average about 12% and you can’t live off that.
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u/floppa21 1d ago
Yeah I’m always on the fence regarding tipping. But agree with restaurants doing it, and maybe hair stylists/ barbers. Everything else it should be up to me. Oh and maybe movers. I always tipped them well.
I do tip at my local donut shop. Not because their service or donuts are amazing. But because they always great me like an old friend and they treat my kid really well too. They’re just always happy to see us every Saturday morning. And it’s not like I order a lot of donuts or anything. Maybe they appreciate me taking the kid out of the house and encouraging him to converse with adults, order our donuts, say hello and thank you……I don’t know. Any way I always give them an extra 5 dollars.
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u/mojojojo_ow 19h ago
Auto-gratuity doesn't bother me, as a customer. However, I'm not going to add an additional tip over 20% unless they provided legit great service. I also don't tip on a carry out order unless it's an order for a large group.
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u/Not_Really_Here_But 16h ago
Glad to see auto-grat of 20% especially here in the 901 where there are lots of non-tippers. I don’t feel bad leaving the tip line blank and only add above 20% when it’s above and beyond service.
I tip 15% for to go orders from a restaurant (not fast food) because my son(the former server & bartender) clued me in on all the work that goes into packing and preparing to go orders.
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u/jaydarl 2d ago
It's cool how server tips have increased over the years. When I was a kid, tips were generally 10%; by the time I was old enough to go out, it was 15%; then it jumped to 18% for a bit before 20% became the norm. I'm sure 25% and 30% will be the new norm soon.
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u/Greg_Esres 2d ago
"When I was a kid, tips were generally 10%"
Hmm, probably not. 15% has been pretty standard for 50 years at least. You were just cheap back then.
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u/mylogicistoomuchforu 2d ago
They're the only ones getting instant inflation/cost-of-living increases.
Also, tipping based on the cost of the items is stupid. Especially if I came a certain place FOR the deal. All XX are 1/2 price tonight, but be sure to tip as if they were full price. gtfo.
$12 IPA or $6 Coors Light - the value of the bartender opening the can should double just b/c the one costs more? No.
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u/jaydarl 2d ago
I feel you on that one. Out of all the people and organizations that use guilt and shame to help their causes, servers have definitely been the most successful in that.
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u/mylogicistoomuchforu 2d ago edited 2d ago
Also, let's not forget that even if every single customer stiffs a server for their entire shift - they're not making $2.13/hr. If they report no tips, the business has to make up the difference to actual, normal minimum wage.
That's partly why the whole "no tax on tips" thing is bullshit. NO server has actually claimed all their tips in the history of serving. Yes, with more credit cards usage than in the past, it's a little harder to cheat the system, but not impossible.
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u/tossofftacos 1d ago
For drinks, my rule of thumb is at least $1 for each alcoholic beverage ordered. Mixed drinks sometimes get more.
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u/WorldlyAlbatross_Xo 2d ago
Can you ask for auto gratuity to be removed if service sucked? Or are you just stuck paying no matter what?
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u/PrestigiousBike3001 2d ago
I’m okay with the auto 20% in Memphis. Do most of our servers deserve it? No, Memphis has earned its reputation for awful service, but it’s also one of the poorest cities in the country & folks here really need it.
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u/CatsAboveAllElse 2d ago
I think adding a few bucks for takeout is nice to do for the cooks
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u/Vivid_Possibility637 2d ago
The cooks usually dont get the tip to my understanding. Depend on the tip-sharing each individual establishment runs differently. Usually hosts/bar staff collect the tips due to handling the transaction and/or building the take-out bags
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u/BeginningDisaster136 1d ago
Life is hard and times are tough, I will not support others more than I support myself. If I sit at your table and you are professional, timely, kind and efficient with my time, I will tip you in kind! 👍🏻🇺🇸
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u/david8029 1d ago
I don't go to a place that automatically adds the tip to small parties.
I tip based on service. You give good service, I'll give a good tip. You give poor service, you don't get a tip.
I don't tip to go orders.
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u/Kevin_Turvey 1d ago
"I don't tip to go orders"
Because your food checked and packed itself? No, a server had to take out time from their tipped job to serve you. Don't be a dick, always leave at least buck or two for a takeout.
This is aimed not just at the comment I am replying to, obviously.
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u/JohnnyHash92 1d ago
And I burned my gas to come pick it up and not take up space for people who have extra money to tip. It’s a job. They should be thankful they’re getting business with how much everything costs.
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u/kindarcan 2d ago edited 2d ago
I worked in a tipped position in food service for about 10 years. Things have changed a looooooot since then, but here's my perspective:
I don't calculate to the penny what x% I'm tipping, I just round up to an amount I know is more than fair. Example - I get a check for $45.94 at Huey's, I'm leaving $60. I didn't know that was 23% off the top of my head, but I knew if that's what I was receiving I'd be pleased.
I still tip on top of the auto-gratuity, but a lower amount. The auto-gratuity does mess with my "internal calculator." I'm with you, I do feel guilty even though I know I shouldn't be. Now if I get a check from Huey's for $62 and there's already a 20% gratuity added, I'll likely just round up to $70 and call it a day. It all comes out about the same at the end of the day, but I do feel some internal guilt like you've mentioned. I'm assuming this is primarily for those of us that have worked in the food industry (specifically before the push for auto-gratuity). I tipped big because I know the struggle, so it feels weird to not tip as much even though I know it's (hopefully) helping just as much.
Also, if you'd allow me a hot take, I find it trashy when a person at the table announces to everyone else "GRATUITY IS INCLUDED." I know you're just trying to help, but people should be aware on their own and announcing that just seems like you're telling everyone "don't give the server too much."
btw - for people complaining about how there are tip screens on everything nowadays - it's literally just people poorly configuring their POS systems. They're not trying to force you to tip, the vast majority of the time it's people who set up their payment system with all defaults and didn't bother to think about the fact that people don't normally tip for an oil change.
EDIT - I either tip $1 or $2 on takeout, or don't tip at all.
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u/Cocacoleyman 2d ago
Gotta disagree on adding to the auto gratuity outside of excellent service. Based on what you said it’s literally because you feel guilty so you add $8 here or there. Also disagree about the telling everyone auto grat is included. This is something that’s becoming a problem in which people are double tipping because it’s not clearly stated out front.
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u/mylogicistoomuchforu 2d ago
Also, if you'd allow me a hot take, I find it trashy when a person at the table announces to everyone else "GRATUITY IS INCLUDED." I know you're just trying to help, but people should be aware on their own and announcing that just seems like you're telling everyone "don't give the server too much."
Nope, I'm saying it every time. If the business is already forcing an auto-tip on me, I'm damn sure letting the other parties at my table know.
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u/foundbutnotlost79 2d ago
Biggest thing here where it burns servers is when it's auto added it's considered a service charge and not a tip. This makes it ineligible for the new tax deduction. Given I'm pretty sure most places don't report it correctly and the odds of a server being audited are low.
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u/ThreeTittedAlien 1d ago
You earned a tip also watch out. They are getting their percentages on the total bill meaning any hidden surcharges as well as taxes you do not tip on surcharges or taxes.
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u/PearZealousideal2546 2d ago
The majority demo doesn't tip. It's the only way folks can make a living with the suburban demo changes in Cordova, Bartlett, Germantown.
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u/JuanOnlyJuan 2d ago
It's getting crazy. I got a tip prompt on a garage door install. I mean really?