When did 20% become the new tipping standard?

[DesiPower]

% things is crap, unless its a company event I pay based on the meal. A dinner at Olive Garden or BJ's gets 5 - 7 dollar.

 

[tokie]

I think this is the real answer to the OP. People started sucking more at math and it was easier to calculate 20% than 15%.

Really? So people just became stupid and started tipping more to save on math?

Does anyone know the time frame for the change? Was it late 90s? Early 2000s? Late 2000s?

 

[alkemyst]

What's the standard tip in Europe? I thought Europeans didn't tip?

Depends on country.

20% is not the standard…it's what many are doing now for good service since service as a whole has declined.

15% is more or less just to have your food and drinks show up. People get the wrong idea that 15% is for superior service.

All in all most here just lie about stiffing waitstaff.

 

[JEDI]

i usually give %20 for low-price meals and %10-%15 for high-price meals (20$+).

ding ding ding winner!

 

[soulcougher73]

No such thing as a "standard tip". You tip what you want or if you want to at all. Tipping needs to die though as an expected thing.

 

[ThinClient]

No arguing about the merits of the tipping system in this thread.

I was born in the 80s and I always understood the standard tip to be 15%. Since it is percentage based, it should not need to be modified for inflation.

Now I understand the standard tip in society is 20%. When did this change happen? The 2000s?

You realize that the United States is the only country in the WORLD where it has become customary to tip when a tip is not earned, right?

 

[ThinClient]

What's the standard tip in Europe? I thought Europeans didn't tip?

There is no standard tip in Europe. Tipping is almost exclusively American.

 

[child of wonder]

Standard is 15%. If I feel the server elevated our experience through superior service, offering great advice on what to order, and made us feel welcome without smothering us with attention, I'll tip 20%+.

 

[Kaido]

20% is not the standard…it's what many are doing now for good service since service as a whole has declined.

I remember being a kid in the 80's (and 90's) and service seemed a lot better back then. Maybe part of is that the Internet wasn't available, so restaurants had to rely on advertising, newspaper reviews, & word-of-mouth instead of Facebook, Yelp, etc. It seemed like more of a big deal to go out to a restaurant and you almost always got good service. Now, it's really hit or miss, it seems like.

 

[ThinClient]

Standard is 15%. If I feel the server elevated our experience through superior service, offering great advice on what to order, and made us feel welcome without smothering us with attention, I'll tip 20%+.

That's called customer service and it's part of their job description which is what earns them a paycheck.

 

[Puppies04]

There is no standard tip in Europe. Forced Tipping is almost exclusively American.

FTFY

 

[ThinClient]

FTFY

I'm not forced since I'm not weak spirited.

I don't tip unless they do something to earn that tip that's above and beyond the duties in their job description which includes customer service --a service that nobody seems to understand anymore.

 

[dr150]

15% for me.

20-25% for great service.

Most restaurants consider 18% auto tip for parties of 6 or more so they assume less tip than 18% is fair for small parties.

Additionally I'm seeing some restaurants automatically add an 18% tip regardless of size of party. So 15% is OK, as these other entitled restaurants think the 18% ramp is fair for their servers.

And like someone else said in this thread, more tip for cheaper meals and vice-versa. The difference of 15% vs. 20% on a $500 meal is not meaningless versus a $15 shared breakfast at Dennys.

 

[Puppies04]

I'm not forced since I'm not weak spirited.

I don't tip unless they do something to earn that tip that's above and beyond the duties in their job description which includes customer service --a service that nobody seems to understand anymore.

You are part of a tiny minority then.

Unless you just tip like everyone else is expected to then come with the tough guy attitude on the internet which is more than possible.

 

[edro]

Who would have thought that a subjective service fee would be so... subjective?!?!

 

[ThinClient]

You are part of a tiny minority then.

Unless you just tip like everyone else is expected to then come with the tough guy attitude on the internet which is more than possible.

I'm proud to be in the minority.

 

[clamum]

I never realized it was the new norm. I still do 15% unless the service was extra good.

 

[brianmanahan]

Yay another tipping thread.

im just thankful its not another cop thread

 

[Midwayman]

I would say that 20% isn't standard by a long shot. 20% is what they wish you would tip. Standard is still 15% for competent service.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

usually what happens is you tip your bartender well and you can get a free round of shots or free drinks every time you go. we used to have this one bartender and we'd drink all night and the tab would end up being something like $30.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

No arguing about the merits of the tipping system in this thread.

I was born in the 80s and I always understood the standard tip to be 15%. Since it is percentage based, it should not need to be modified for inflation.

Now I understand the standard tip in society is 20%. When did this change happen? The 2000s?

It is destined to always go up. Some guy decides to be nice, it becomes the new standard.

Just like our welfare system. Destined to never go down, only expected to take more and take more, never less.

I tip and I tip based on service. If you did a damn good job, I will tip up to 20% with ease. That isn't often though. Rarely do I find a waiter that is worth a damn. 15% for mediocre (expected) job. 10 - 0% for shit service. Sorry, I know people might hate me for that... you know.. tipping based on performance of actions/job... I mean who does that amirite?

edit: And nothing pisses me off more than a receipt with a tip line from a take-out joint. What service did you provide to me? Making the food? what the fuck do you think the money I gave you is for? What, do I need to tip for you handing me the bag?

 

[KeithTalent]

I tip 20% because I think it's usually worth 20%. I add or subtract according to the service and price.

This.

KT

 

[zinfamous]

It really depends on where you live--in the 90s, when I had my own money (Well, kinda), it was about 12-15% It stayed that way for a while and when I moved to Chicago, same time period, the tip was suddenly 15-18%.

Our here, it's about 18-20% and higher. I tend to tip around 18% as standard.

Of course, it always changes b/c of CoL. Pizza delivery guy way back when...1 dollar. then it was 2 dollars...now it's something like $4? I have no idea, really.

20% because the math is easier

yeah, pretty much. Or, just do 2x(tax). Well, that works in the states, because taxes are not included in the prices, and you get the breakdown on the receipt. I do find this annoying and kinda wish it was all in the advertised prices, so, you know--no surprises....but I think that would piss off the typical USAer. I NEED TO KNOW WHY YOU ARE TAXING ME!!! rage, etc.

 

[DrPizza]

Poor service: divide by 7 (14.3%)
Average service: divide by 6 (16.7%)
Good service: divide by 5 (20%)
Outstanding service where dinner <$40 for 2 people: divide by 4 (25%)
If tip <$5, tip = $5. (Lunches and breakfasts)

I do NOT tip at places like Starbucks. I'm not sure how the hell that phenomenon started. They're no different than the kid making your burger in the back at McD's, except that you can watch them making it. And you, the person making subs at Subway, you are NOT an artist. If I have to stand at the counter and order, then wait for my food, you're not in the class of people who get tipped (imho.)

Also, I tip based on the final price (including tax), not the price prior to tax.


Amazing how so many Americans have trouble doing 4th grade arithmetic.
Else: tax in some counties around here is 8%. Double the tax and the tip is 16% of the pretax amount (or 14.8% of the post tax amount)

 

[olds]

10% if she has pointy elbows.
20% if they are well rounded.