Posted on 02/29/2024 5:09:50 PM PST by nickcarraway
Regardless of whether you’re just popping out for a quick coffee, grabbing a pick-up order from a fast-casual restaurant, or savoring dinner at your fave local spot, you’ll probably be asked — or encouraged — to tip the server or the staff before you leave. And according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center, Americans’ views on tipping are (unsurprisingly) varied and can depend on a number of factors, from what you ordered to how old you are.
Pew’s pollsters surveyed almost 12,000 U.S. adults in August, asking over a dozen questions about the who, when, where, and how of our tipping behaviors. One of the survey’s big takeaways was that, as a whole, we’re not always sure when and how much we’re meant to tip. Only around one-third (34%) of respondents said that it was “extremely or very easy” to know how to tip, and another one-third (33%) said that it was “extremely or very easy” to know how much to add to the final bill. The majority of respondents (72%) also said that we’re expected – or at least asked – to tip in more places than we were five years ago.
When it comes to how those gratuities are distributed, the majority (72%) also said it’s the fairest if each server is allowed to keep 100% of the tips they receive, while 14% said that tips should be collected and distributed to all members of the staff — including table bussers, hosts, and bartenders — while another 13% said that tips should be pooled and then split equally between all of the servers.
The Only Tipping Guide You Will Ever Need
The majority of respondents said that they “usually” tip at sit-down restaurants, so Pew asked how much they would tip for an average meal with equally average service. Over half (57%) of those surveyed said they would tip 15% of the bill or less, while 12% said they would tip at least 18%, and 25% said they would tip 20% or more. Two percent of respondents said they would not tip at all. (That same 2% probably also hate when all the Whos in Whoville start singing.) Pew also notes that more older Americans — those 65 or older — were more likely to tip 15% or less.
Tipping behaviors can also vary based on how and where someone is eating or drinking. An overwhelming majority of respondents (92%) say they “always or often” tip at sit-down restaurants. More than three-quarters of respondents (76%) said that they “always or often” tipped on delivery orders, while 70% said they “always or often” tipped at bars. Only one-quarter (25%) of respondents “always or often” tip at coffee shops, and 12% tip at fast-casual restaurants like Chipotle or Panera, where orders aren’t placed through or delivered by a server.
The biggest factor determining how much customers tip is the quality of the service. Over three-quarters of respondents (77%) said that it was a “major factor,” while 18% said it was a minor factor. Five percent said that they didn’t take the service into consideration at all.
Finally, the respondents seem to prefer it when they’re allowed to determine their own tipping amounts, as opposed to being presented with automated suggestions. Forty percent of survey-takers said they “strongly or somewhat oppose” a list of suggested tips, while 32% were neutral about it. The older respondents (again, described as those 65 or older) were most opposed to tip suggestions, while those under 30 were almost evenly split in their views about those recommendations. Almost one-third (31%) said they “favor” suggestions, 33% said they were opposed to them, and the last third (32%) didn’t mind either way.
Very simple. Make your own rules. Don’t let someone who
doesn’t want to work tell you how to spend your money.
I have become a stingy tipper over the last few years. The more I see business asking for tips, the less I tip. And I now judge those who should get tips more closely. If they dont provide good service, they get something under 15%. No one gets more than 15%.
Total bill, divide by 7.
Thats the tip amount.
$21/7=3
Easy
I worked with someone who would break out his calculator. I was ‘eh’ until I saw he was deducting tax and tipping on the actual cost of dinner. Smart.
Guess I’m generous to calculate on total bill.
Maybe I should reconsider 🤨
15% for a restaurant.
Nothing for self-serve or fast food.
With some demographics, no math is necessary...they simply never leave a tip anyway.
Started waitressing when I was 15.
Did it for several years.
Waitressing taught my how to interact with people.
Came in handy when I graduated from med school.
Most restaurant checks that I see show the pre-tax cost, then the tax, then the overall total. I don’t tip on taxes either.
I’ve also always tipped in cash, never on a credit card (except when the meal was being charged to a company card). If the servers can beat the taxman, more power to them.
During the fake covid crap I would always tip 20.20, 20.21,20.22. If the bill was less than 20% we appreciated the no mask requirement and the employees.
I went out for dinner and I tipped $15 on a $35 tab. My friend says, why do you even tip them? I explained my reasoning, and he says, how much do you think they make per hour? I called the waitress back and asked her how much and how many hours she and the cook get... just a little diner..... She says, $20 an hour, and they get 32-40 hours a week, depending on what they want to work. I cut back my tipping to a few bucks for the clean up girl, and leave it on the table. In this State of WAh, it is mandated they get 18 an hour, but they have to pay more to get better help. 18 is what they pay buristas and window money handlers at Mickey D’s.
Food costs have increased far faster than other stuff. As a result, tip percentage should be lower. I generally do around 15%.
I recently ate at a place that made me manually input my credit card number through a QR code to pay. Since I had to do much of the work, the tip was commensurate.
At a buffet, my tip is just a dollar or two.
At a carry-out place, my tip is zero.
Waiters/waitresses: at least 20% unless the service is really, really bad
Delivery drivers using their own cars: o tip according to distance from the source of the food, and the amount of food and the difficulty delivering.
If I ordered pizza and a couple of 2-liter sodas to the fourth floor of a walk-up apartment building from a shop that is 15 minutes away, *at least* $10. If I am across the street in a street level house, $3 to $5 for the same order.
Wait staff and food delivery make only 1/2 minimum wage (last time I checked), so I tip them accordingly.
I do end up putting a bit of change in the jar but I am going to stop now that they have raised the minimum wage.
I also do not tip delivery people who are paid the full hourly wage and driving a company car.
I also tip the lady who cuts my hair.
The cigar store now asks for a tip, even though you have to go to the humidor and get the cigars yourself.
having to survive on tips because they only pay $1.50 and hour versus getting minimum wage does change the thinking on amount of tip.
I always appreciate when folks keep stereotypes alive. Percentage sounds low. I would have thought closer to 12%.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.