Tips: 15% before or after tax?

[gotsmack]

do you calculate the 15% before or after the tax?

 

[ggavinmoss]

Before... they're not serving you tax... and if they were it wouldn't help get them a better tip.

-geoff

 

[JMaster]

Usually after, just to be polite.

 

[alareau]

before here

 

[iamwiz82]

is that extra $1 you saved by tipping before tax really going to break the bank?

 

[Garet Jax]

In the states where the tax rate is quite low, it is not worth the time it takes to calculate, but in the states or provinces where is it high, it can save a lot of money.

 

[mpitts]

I don't calculate 15%. I give what I think a person deserves.

If a person does well, I have no problem leaving 20% and up if they do a good job.

All of you Scrooge Costanza's should try waiting tables once and a while.

 

[RalphKramden]

There's a lot of parsimonious people on these boards.
mpitts has a good point.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Garet Jax
In the states where the tax rate is quite low, it is not worth the time it takes to calculate, but in the states or provinces where is it high, it can save a lot of money.

lets assume 10% taxes. Are you really gonna argue about 15% of 10% of the bill? Considering a $50 bill would yield a $5 tax, 15% of that is only 75 cents.

 

[ggavinmoss]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
is that extra $1 you saved by tipping before tax really going to break the bank?

I tip pretty well for good service so I don't feel that I'm doing anyone a great injustice by not tipping someone on the tax I'm charged.

-geoff

 

[Anubis]

BEFORE!!!!!!!!!!!

you dont tip on the TAX thats a rule god damit!

 

[brtspears2]

Before. If they want an extra 15% of the 7% or so of the sales tax, I better get exceptional service.

 

[dabuddha]

I rarely ever give 15% to anyone. I find it ridiculous how some people believe that 15% should be mandatory. Of course, if it's exceptional service, I will tip big. The most I've ever tipped (percentage wise) that I can recall was a $20 tip for a $12 meal.

 

[prodigy]

I usually double the tax (8.5% here) and add or subtract from there depending on how the service was.

 

[yowolabi]

Originally posted by: mpitts
I don't calculate 15%. I give what I think a person deserves.

If a person does well, I have no problem leaving 20% and up if they do a good job.

All of you Scrooge Costanza's should try waiting tables once and a while.

Just because you are able and willing to tip more than 20%, it doesn't reflect negatively on anyone that doesn't. That's your personal choice. If I chose to wait tables, I wouldn't expect anything outside the standard range of 15-20% if I did a good job.

 

[depechemodeone]

I have had fantastic service...and I have had really really really crappy service.
I'm not hard to wait on, I don't ask for much (I'm not one of those people who want to replace everything that they order...can I have x instead of y)
Anyway, if they are good, 20% and up (the most I have ever tipped was 150%, but that was REALLY exceptional), but look out if they are bad, I have left notes before.
I take into consideration that if the food isn't good, it's not the Waiter/Waitresses fault, but if my salad plates are scorching HOT, that's something they could control. I had a waitress go on her smoke break while waiting on us....there's were the note came in.

I had another jerk complain about the tip...(I was having a business lunch and 3 of us left over a 40% tip, well more than he deserved) we were in such a hurry to leave, when checking out...we said keep the change...because we didn't want to be late for our meeting...well he thought that was his tip and started yelling at us. My buddy goes to the table, takes the money and told him that this is what he lost....

 

[RalphKramden]

Originally posted by: dabuddha
The most I've ever tipped (percentage wise) that I can recall was a $20 tip for a $12 meal.

I wonder why. How big were her boobs?

 

[FoolishMcNasty]

20% after taxes...unless the person $ucks...

 

[TwinkleToes77]

You are supposed to do it before, but normally the tax makes such little difference that i just take the final amount.. and i dont tip 15% anyways.. im a 20% tipper...

 

[foolanger]

I usually try to tip 17% after tip.. But after reading this board i think i'm gonna have to shrink that down..

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

20% above tax or more, unless they REALLY suck. Pony up, ya cheap bastards!

 

[Imported]

Since tax here is like 7-8%.. I just usually give them tax times 2 rounded up as their tip.. :\

 

[Ynog]

Tips are done before tax. Not to say you cannot give more than 15-20%.

Anyone that has been part of a big party, where the tip is added automatically, look its before tax.

That said nothing wrong with giving more money. I usually do. But the time a waiter or waitress
expects 20% on after tax, will be the day they get 10% or less on the before tax bill.

And i have worked as a waiter. And as a customer this always pisses me off. When its time to
pay the bill and the server comes up they are not suppose to say is it all set? They should say
I'll bring you some change or says something assuming you are going to bring change. Your never
suppose to assume the bill is all set unless the customer tells you so. A good server will never ask
if the bill is all set.

 

[PigPig]

after tax.

But if the person do a good job, i'll pay more.

 

[brjames]

before tax... but its so tacky to leave odd amounts of change, i just round to the nearest quarter (so tax doesnt really matter)