[1rudeboy]

I always ask the following question on tip threads: when calculating the 20%, does one use the pre- or post-tax total?

[smoothsailing]

Post tax.

[jocon307]

pre-tax, definately. and hubby, who is a very generous tipper, always says you should only tip 10% on the bar/beverage part of the bill

[PAR35]

A fair tip is between 20% of the pre-tax and 15% of the post tax.

[Hildy]

It's not that hard, I take the total AFTER TAX and give 20% of that. More if the service was above and beyond. It's very rare that service is bad...or intentionally rude. In fact, I can't really remember a time I was not happy with service. But I'm easy to please!!

[rlmorel]

I always use the post-tax total.

My minimum basic, "no frills not great service" tip is 15%. Overtly rude service gets no tip.

I give 20% nearly all the time, and in cases of exceptional service (special orders handled correctly, service like new drinks without asking, good attitude/personality that adds to the environment, I have given up to 50%.

My two sisters are outstanding waitstaff, and I work in healthcare, which is (or should be) heavily customer service oriented. I know what good service is, and I think people should be lavishly rewarded for great service, if one can afford to do it. (some people really can't...)

That said...I am not surprised by liberals who appear on that site. To be the devils advocate, remember the name of the site...:)

[caryatid]

Use the same one you use to calculate your 10% tithe ... whether pre-tax or after-tax.

[mountn man]

Well I'll show my lack of sophistication. My usual restaurant that I would tip at is Cracker Barrel (or comparible) so my bill is going to be in the $20 range. My motto is "if you can't afford the tip, you can't afford the dinner" on a $20 bill there will be about $2 in taxes. I tip 20% usually, sometimes less for BAD service, and often times more for exceptional.

But on a $20 bill with $2 tax, paying tax on the tip only means $0.40. I'm not going to concern myself with $0.40. whats the difference in paying $4.00 or $4.40 in a tip. If someone is so worried about $0.40 on a tip, they can't afford to eat out in the first place, and should be staying home and eating, and saving their money, so that some day they can afford to go out.

I worked at a few restaurants when I was younger, and I know what its like to earn tips. For those who think tipping is strictly for extra stuff, they need to RETHINK their tipping. Our societal norm is that you tip at certain restaurants. 15%-20% being the usual standard, and 10% being considered cheap. For a person not to tip, or tip less than even 10% is down right rude.

One last thing. To all you Born Again Christians (of which I am one). DON"T EVER leave a skimpy tip and a tract. Not only do you embaress me, but you embaress Christ. Nothing enrages waitstaff more than to work hard for someone hoping/expecting a desent tip, and instead getting a tract. All they'll do is throw it out. And it removes all credibility from you, AND YOUR MESSAGE. If you want to attract your wait staff more, leave a GENEROUS tip with the tract.

[SuziQ]

when calculating the 20%, does one use the pre- or post-tax total?

Use the total. I had a good friend in college who helped support herself by being a 'serving wench' at Steak and Ale. She worked dang hard, and I think about that when we're eating out. Of course, if the service is crappy, the tip reflects that. We leave just enough to make the point. ;o)

We are always nice to our waiter/servers, so it is a rare event when we don't get good service.

[Sandy]

when calculating the 20%, does one use the pre- or post-tax total?

I worked as a waitress for a number of years. Customers usually base the tip on the post-tax total. However, in situations where the restaurant's computer software adds the tip to the check, the computer calculates using the pre-tax total (at least in the places where I worked). So, while tipping based upon the pre-tax total may be technically correct, it rarely happens and normally annoys the waitress.