Are You Tipping the Right Way?
How good are your tipping habits? We get it—things have gotten expensive. But wages are low, and your servers are barely making anything, and even more so if you choose to skimp on gratuity. From leaving an insultingly small tip to pressing the "no tip" button when getting takeout, you could be the least favorite customer of your go-to diner. So, are you making any of these common mistakes?
1. Leaving No Tip at All
Unless something went seriously wrong with your service, you should never leave nothing on the table. As mentioned, many servers depend on tips as a significant part of their earnings, so tipping zero at the end of your stay is basically a slap in the face.
2. Tipping with Lots of Coins
Sure, giving your server all your loose change is still heaps better than leaving nothing at all, but you still want to be respectful and calculate a good amount. Don't just dump a handful of pennies and nickels down—everyone will think you were just doing it to get rid of it, and not out of appreciation.
3. Punishing Your Server When It's Not Their Fault
Did your food take longer than expected, or was your favorite dish unavailable? Well, as annoying as it can be to not get what you want, you shouldn't punish your server by leaving them no tip out of frustration. Newsflash: your waiter doesn't control everything happening in the restaurant!
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4. Making a Big Show of How Much You're Tipping
At the same time, if you're tipping a big amount, that's great! Just don't make a big show out of it. No one cares, really, and you'll only embarrass your server if you shout your "generosity" out loud. Rather than turning your gratuity into a PSA, let your actions demonstrate your appreciation.
5. Using Your Tip to Threaten Your Waiter
Look: mistakes happen. We all make hiccups here and there, and we all have our bad days. If your server trips up, don't make them feel more miserable by telling them it'll cost them their tip. Nobody enjoys working under threats, especially when they're already under immense stress and pressure.
6. Tipping Only on the Discounted Total
Using a coupon or taking advantage of a restaurant promotion? Well, guess what: your server is still doing the same work, regardless of how much your total is. Take their efforts into account when calculating your gratuity; don't be that guy who celebrates getting a cheap meal.
7. Purposely Leaving a Small Tip
Leaving a dime is better than leaving nothing, right? Wrong. If you're thinking of giving your server a measly amount, you're basically insulting them. It's one thing to accidentally miscalculate your gratuity, but deliberately tipping a few cents to express your dissatisfaction? Congrats, you're their worst customer.
8. Not Leaving Extra When Your Table Has Been Difficult
Have your kids been unusually rowdy? Or maybe your friends have made excessive demands or even snapped back at a worker? Whatever it is, if your table has been particularly rude to the staff, you should up your tip. Even if you weren't personally responsible for the behavior, it's worth acknowledging the additional patience and effort your server had to provide.
9. Expecting Excellent Service Despite Bad Tipping
If you tip poorly, don't expect to get glowing service. No server is going to want to put in that extra effort when you're already rewarding them with next to nothing. And while they might still treat you professionally, that doesn't mean they'll put up with having their work go unrecognized.
10. Forgetting to Tip When Ordering Takeout
Just because you're picking stuff up instead of sitting down doesn't mean no work went into preparing your food. Think of the person who took your order, the chefs who cooked it, and the packer who made sure you got exactly what you wanted! Even if tipping for takeout isn't generally expected at the same rate as full table service, it's still good manners to leave a few dollars.
So, how do you make sure you're practicing good tipping habits? Other than avoiding the behaviors we mentioned, you might also want to follow these 10 tips (pun intended):
1. Leaving a Little Extra for Outstanding Service
When your waiter goes above and beyond to make your meal more enjoyable, consider giving them a little extra. While a tip of around 18% to 20% is common for exceptional table service in the US, you can always give more when it's deserved.
2. Tipping More During Busy Hours
Did you come in during lunch or dinner rush? Well, that's when servers are at their busiest. If they still manage to provide excellent service despite the chaos around them, adding a little extra to your tip tells them you appreciate their hard work.
3. Giving a Bigger Tip for Large Groups
You probably wouldn't want to deal with a group of 10 people while also tending to other tables, so cut your server some slack. While some restaurants automatically include gratuity for bigger parties, you should do your part and leave an additional amount for particularly attentive service.
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4. Leaving Cash When It's Convenient
Tipping by credit card is perfectly acceptable, of course, but depending on the restaurant's policies, electronic gratuities might not be available until payday, while cash tips are usually distributed at the end of a shift. Doing the latter means the reward comes right away.
5. Remembering to Tip for Smaller Orders
It's easy to overlook gratuity when you're only ordering something small, but again, like with takeout, the same amount of effort was put into getting your dish to you. Don't skimp on the tip—show your server and the rest of the team that you recognize the work involved.
6. Accounting for the Extra Cleanup Your Table Requires
Your kid spilled juice all over the floor? Well, if your server helped clean most of the mess, don't let their efforts go to waste. They understand that accidents happen, of course, but they should still be appreciated for going out of their way.
7. Tipping Appropriately When Using Gift Cards
Getting a gift card to a restaurant is a great reason to treat yourself, but it shouldn't change how you tip your server! Whether your dinner costs you $100 or absolutely nothing out of pocket, remember: the staff still provided the same level of service. Be generous!
8. Recognizing Service During Long Visits
There's nothing wrong with enjoying yourself, but occupying a table for several hours can still affect service. If you've spent a long time chatting after your meal and your server has been nothing but helpful and respectful, go ahead and leave them a little more than usual.
9. Checking Whether Gratuity Is Already Included
Going out with a large group? When the bill comes, take a moment to review what's been charged and whether the amount goes directly to the staff. Even if gratuity is automatically included, if you felt your server provided exceptional service, you can always leave something extra to make their day.
10. Being Consistent with Your Tipping
You don't need to leave an extravagant amount every time you dine out, but you should get into the habit of tipping fairly and treating your servers (and all other staff) with respect. That way, when everyone knows they can expect consideration from you, you'll be their favorite as much as they're yours.
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