I would have lost it!!!!!!!! (and then probably lost my job) That is absolutely sickening to me.

This. Articles like these are really just a way for people to feel superior to "celebrities."

You mean more than the negative press to which you linked, and to which that article referred?

Just curious -- why do you tip up to 30%? I mean, that's great if you want to do that, but that's quite above the standard, and I hardly think someone should be criticized for leaving a standard tip.

I leave something, but it's a token something so that the terrible server can't just say "well, he forgot." And I speak to the manager.

Personally, I wish Americans would just do away with the tipping system -- I'd much rather restaurants just increase the price of the meal to cover it or include a service charge -- but it'll never happen.

Cary Grant gave his entire salary from The Philadelphia Story ($150,000 in 1940 dollars - probably around $15,000,000 today) to the Red Cross. Yeah, real douchecanoe. :rolleyes:

I'm not going to do a he/she said on this. I had no reason to doubt my pool man (or a few others who have similar stories about Cary Grant and others). I commend that donation. Just a bit to think about: there is public and then there is private behavior.

It's clear that I didn't forget because I put a line through the tip area or I tell the server.

You also speak to the manager so the tip you left is balanced out. LOL.

Tipping is the be-all and end-all of life. Our life contributions and accomplishments all boil down to whether we tip and how much. Cary Grant is NOTHINGNESS. NOTHINGNESS, I SAY.

That applies to everyone. Imagine how much we (in general) would dislike each other if we (in general) could follow each other around all day and everyday and see what each other does or does not do that we agree or disagree with.

Some people's deal breaker is tipping and they swear volcanoes errupt because of it. I have different deal breakers than tipping, some of which those who consider tipping a deal breaker may not have. Life keeps moving.

OH no I dont criticize people that leave 18% at all! I have a problem with people leaving less than that for great service lol. My minimum is ALWAYS 20%. If they REALLLLLLLYY suck, then 18%..but thats rare. The 30% tip is reserved for people I know personally, servers or bartenders that really bust their ass for me if me or my friends are being picky or demanding, servers or bartenders that have "hooked you up" (giving you a couple beers free or not charging you for a soda, something like that), and usually during happy hour..if your check is $15, but due to 241 drinks should have been more like $30, then I tip on the original amount (the $30.. in which case Ill leave $8-9 or so).

I worked as a server and bartender all through college and it is hard work. Right now am bartending a few days a week for extra cash for my wedding in November. Trust me, I come across some really cheap people who just dont get that I only get paid $4.25 an hour and rely on their tips. I could go on and on about this subject so Ill shut it for now lol.

Most people who work in restaurants tip big.

For the rest of us, 15% is fair market for average service, no tip for bad service and a great tip depends on the service.

$1 for a $10 meal, what does the person expect $5, $10???

she may not have had 50 cents.

Your generosity should never be confused with a standard. ;)

I leave 15% unless the person did something more awesome than the average server. I have high expectations in life and expect great things so someone has to be greater than great to be above average. Or I have to be feeling superdupergenerous which occasionally happens especially after a couple of glasses of red wine. I hope there is still a place for me in Heaven. :)

I don't think this has expired:
http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/tipping/

This. I might round it up if it makes the math easier/rounds out the dollar.

And LOL on drawing a line where you'd write the tip. I'm so old I still automatically think of leaving cash in the table, but you're exactly right.

Oh yes, I also do that.

I will also round down if need be. LOL.

I'm horrible at carrying cash. I'm getting better. :o

When I am carrying cash, I still leave a line where the tip would be and either leave the cash tip on the table, give it to the server (preferred method), or give it to the front desk. Whatever lets the server know that she/he has a tip...or doesn't have a tip.

I thought it was more common in mid-range American restaurants, since in many European countries, service charges are added to the cost of a meal. An extra two or three Euros can be added if the service is exceptional.

It strikes me as pretty funny that most of the "bad tippers" haven't had the best publicity of late...Tiger Woods? Others might just be the victims of beef...LeBron James? Did a disgruntled Cleveland native write this article? These articles are silly...as is most anything related to "The Frisky."

I dont understand why people think 15% is still the "minimum" now-a-days. Prices on everything have gone up, minimum wage has gone up,so why is the old-fashioned 15% minimum still standard? In any restaurant you'll notice the automatic grat is minimum 18%....but I digress.

PS..$1 on $10 is 10%..thats pretty low for someone who had to go to the kitchen 4-5 times and has to share there tips with the bartender, hostess and busboy..just sayin''..even rounding up to the next buck helps a ton (unless they sucked at service, in which case my argument is irrelevant.)

Based on this argument, at some point the tip will be 100%. Although I do believe in tipping, and do so, it is also true that it is not my responsibility if the waiter lives comfortably, has a car, has a coke problem to support, whatever.

And if you're a waiter at a place where the total bill might be $10, you're gonna be in a world of hurt. That's 2 people eating dinner at McDonalds, and you don't have to tip there.

Being a waiter is a sucky job at least partly because of the way they receive their income, but it's not my job to fix that. While in the US, I tip what I consider standard - 20% on the total not including the tax. I don't tip on tax.

Depends on what country you visit. In some counties servers just get paid more because tipping isn't the standard. But in most servers make the minimum and rely on tips. Adding a service charge is not "what they do in Europe" but what they do in some European counties and it's usually mentioned on the menu.

I make minimum wage, and work my ass off (in my personality,huge perfectionist) and it sucks that people rake up a huge bill and just leave a few euros.
In The Netherlands the minimum wage for servers is a bit higher than in the US, so the standard is 10% for average service, more if it was really good and nothing if it sucked or if you're cheap. Also, we have to share the tip with the other servers, the kitchen staff and the bartenders so I only get to keep about 5% of what I get tipped.

I usually tip 10-15% here (15-20% when back in the U.S.) and always compliment a server if the service was good, tell the manager when it was exceptional.

ETA.
One huge difference, I've noticed the Dutch only tip in Bars/Restaurants and maybe Hotels. Not for hairdressers/coatchecking/gasstation. First time I went to the salon here I tried to leave a tip but the came after me, thinking I forgot my money :o.