Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Tipping in relation to item prices, a question.

StephenSa · 12-06-2004, 01:29 PM

To start, I'm a good tipper. I believe in tipping and generally tip 20%. If I get exceptional service it can go up from there. I have a bar I frequent and get the same thing every time, a 16oz Draft Guinness and a Lagavulin (single malt scotch) neat. I may order two to three set-ups in an evening meaning my server may have to come to my table three to four times at most. No fancy mixing of drinks or anything, just a beer and a shot. I don't engage in conversation, I make no demands of the wait staff, I just sit quietly and wind down from the day. The Guiness runs $4.50 a pint and the Lagavulin is $8.00 a shot. At the end of the evening my tab is usually $37.50 and I leave a 20% tip. Not a bad tip for as little work my presence causes. On the other hand, someone can sit and order one $1.50 Bud draft after another, running the waitress ragged demanding free bar snacks etc and end up with a tab of only say $15.00 or $20.00 and even leaving a 20% tip still have paid a lot less in tip then I did while making much greater demands on the server. My question then is should the tip be based strictly on the price of the tab or should the amount of actual work involved be considered?

12-06-2004, 01:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
StephenSa Psycho Location: Dallas, Texas	Tipping in relation to item prices, a question. To start, I'm a good tipper. I believe in tipping and generally tip 20%. If I get exceptional service it can go up from there. I have a bar I frequent and get the same thing every time, a 16oz Draft Guinness and a Lagavulin (single malt scotch) neat. I may order two to three set-ups in an evening meaning my server may have to come to my table three to four times at most. No fancy mixing of drinks or anything, just a beer and a shot. I don't engage in conversation, I make no demands of the wait staff, I just sit quietly and wind down from the day. The Guiness runs $4.50 a pint and the Lagavulin is $8.00 a shot. At the end of the evening my tab is usually $37.50 and I leave a 20% tip. Not a bad tip for as little work my presence causes. On the other hand, someone can sit and order one $1.50 Bud draft after another, running the waitress ragged demanding free bar snacks etc and end up with a tab of only say $15.00 or $20.00 and even leaving a 20% tip still have paid a lot less in tip then I did while making much greater demands on the server. My question then is should the tip be based strictly on the price of the tab or should the amount of actual work involved be considered?