You should probably spend those $20 on buying some better food at a supermarket if you're that hard up for cash.
For $20 you can get two weeks worth of Calories from rice.
Tipping in Canada
- Thread starter warpus
- Start date
You should probably spend those $20 on buying some better food at a supermarket if you're that hard up for cash.
For $20 you can get two weeks worth of Calories from rice.
I'm too lazy to Google, but I don't think there's anywhere in the US where waiters make $2/hr.
And anyway, that's still not a good reason to tip poor service. You should motivate poor waiters to exit the service industry (or improve their service) by not tipping them - they'll have no choice but to quit if they actually make only $2/hr.
Synobun
Deity
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- Nov 19, 2006
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Probably, yeah. I'd do that if it wasn't twice the distance, as walking to the restaurant is already a rather difficult trek, especially with the snow.
Warpus, you do it for two reasons: 1, social norm and a few dollars is worth not being an ass; 2, you want to make sure your waiter isn't making minimum wage alone of you want decent service. It's a rather brutal job to only make $9/hour.
Oh, the federal standard for tipped employees like waiter is $2.13 / hour. There's now a law that states the waiter must still earn true minimum wage (so $7.25 / hour) with tips.
Some states set higher minimum wages than the fed's rate of $2.13 / $7.25 and a worker is entitled to the higher amount.
Oh, the federal standard for tipped employees like waiter is $2.13 / hour. There's now a law that states the waiter must still earn true minimum wage (so $7.25 / hour) with tips.
Some states set higher minimum wages than the fed's rate of $2.13 / $7.25 and a worker is entitled to the higher amount.
Well if the idea is that all servers everywhere should make the same approximate wage, yeah, but realistically I think local cultural expectations come into play when you talk about overtipping. I.e. it might be strange to adjust your tipping scale to the %30-%50 range in the US, and I don't think the restaurant industry could handle such an adjustment as eating out would become prohibitively expensive. But yes, ultimately it is not fair to pay servers subminimum wage, but we had a thread on that already I guess so I won't digress too much.
warpus
Sommerswerd asked me to change this
It's $2. something. Maybe someone like Lucy could chime in with proper numbers? They probably vary by state..
Anyway, my point was that tipping in the U.S. exists because the waiters are paid crap. They need tips to make a living.
In Canada this isn't true. So.. I *want* to tip based on service. But then I'd be a douche who tips 5% on average and I'd get spit in my food
That's my dilema
contre said:
It seems to me that it exists as a social norm under false pretenses. At least I was always told we tip because waiters don't make a good wage. And sure, $9 an hour isn't great, but it's way better than $2. Tipping 15-20% when your waiter only makes $2 an hour seems reasonable to me. How much would you tip if your waiter makes $9 an hour? 5%? 2%? 7%?
$9 / hour for the job waitstaff have to do is still crap. I made more than double that apathetically sitting in a chair listening to abuse from a disembodied voice on a head set.
warpus
Sommerswerd asked me to change this
Sure, but there are other jobs that pay $9 and they don't get tips..
What I'm saying is this: I understand the need to tip if you make $2.. They make $2 an hour because it is understood that tips will make up the rest, bringing them over the minimum wage barrier.
But $9? It's not a great wage, but do I really give a crap? It's over the minimum amount that a business is allowed to pay someone. If I'm tipping 15-20% in the U.S. to make up the difference, how much should I tip in Canada? 0-5%?
Depends on what you want from your waiter. If you want an apathetic drone who is as attentive as your worst McDonalds cashier, then sure, tip 5% and bring their wage up to 10 bucks. If you want service, then you should be tipping 10-15%
You know the adage, you get what you pay for.
warpus
Sommerswerd asked me to change this
The problem with that is that you tip after you've already been served, so the tip doesn't influence the sort of service you get at all, unless you're a regular.
Tell the server your intentions beforehand.
That's awful manners because it implies that you're paying for the good service as an extra - it's a point of pride to the waiter that all service is of the highest standard, and you're suggesting that it might not be unless you pay.
warpus
Sommerswerd asked me to change this
I would never talk to the waiter about tipping.. it seems awkward and almost insulting.
But okay guys.. I think I've figured out my conclusions for this debate:
- In the U.S. you tip waiters and waitresses 15-20% because they make $2.13/hr and rely on your money to make a decent living
- In Canada you tip whatever you want based on how good or bad the service was, but 10-15% seems to be the average
These are two totally different reasons for tipping and I didn't realize there was a difference.. until today.
But okay guys.. I think I've figured out my conclusions for this debate:
- In the U.S. you tip waiters and waitresses 15-20% because they make $2.13/hr and rely on your money to make a decent living
- In Canada you tip whatever you want based on how good or bad the service was, but 10-15% seems to be the average
These are two totally different reasons for tipping and I didn't realize there was a difference.. until today.
Well a good tip will also help out the next customer too, as the server will know they did a good job with you and continue that level with the next person. Good karma from giving the server extra $$$ and good karma from ensuring the next customer gets the same great service you got.
In a bar good tipping definitely has immediate returns.
In a bar good tipping definitely has immediate returns.
Yes - you say 'a pint of Old Peculiar and one for yourself', and you're set for the night. Bonus points if you've brought a lady with you.
On my first round I'll generally tip $1 for every drink I get if I am getting a round for everyone; if I get one drink I'll tip $2.
warpus
Sommerswerd asked me to change this
Yeah, I bribe my bartenders when I get my first drink too 
Yeah, I'd never actually do that.
I've been kind of curious about drink tipping - when I was in school, I'd generally tip $1 per drink for ~$3 drinks frequented by students, which was pretty good. Now I hang out at bars with non-students with more expensive drinks, and I'm not really sure if I should adjust my tipping accordingly.
wilycoyote
King
I had a friend in Arizona make $2+ an hour. Also, I'm pretty sure that amount is very common elsewhere in the US.
