Im not in the tax bracket that MJH are in but the tipping standards of 15% is a sore subject with me. If i receive great service I will reward a server with a 20 to 25% gratuity and this might come as a shock for some but if the food or service is below par, I let the server know why I did not tip the standard 15%.

I once had a waitress who WAS only serving us drinks at Melvin B's in the city and she literally walk down the street after me because I only left a $14 dollar tip on a $100 tab. I said to her "You have to be fucking kidding me , right? " Her reply was , Standard is 15% . I said to her that for coming down the street and embarrassing me in front of my friends I wanted the $14 dollar tip back and she pulled it out and threw the money back at me. Needless to say I made the walk over to the bar to inform her boss what a Caller Bob she was and what she did. My full bar tab was comped and the girl was let go on the spot.

TRUE story.

I tip based on service .If its good I go up need I have to post this .....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5ODhIFawfs

Your server has no control over the quality of the food. As you did with your bitch waitress you should inform the manager of sub par food but tip the server based on their service.

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I'm like a carpenter building stairs.......Always thinking one step ahead.

First off, if this did happen. the gal was wrong to embarrass someone in such a manner. A tip is a discretionary matter. But when I go out with friends for a few beers after softball, we always tip closer to or over 20%. But part of that is because we go to places where the wait staff is premium eye candy and we like to be on a friendly basis with the help.

My bigger issue is the idea that you told the manager what a Caller Bob she was. If someone were to call an employee of mine a Caller Bob, even if her behavior was as objectionable as someone asking for additional compensation for her wait services may be-I might well have a stern talk with her, and possibly fire her if her attitude was not sufficiently contrite. But I would not only NOT give the patron his money back from his bill, but would ask that he never return to my establishment. Anyone who would use such offensive language towards my staff is not worthy of being served. Plus, I would want the rest of my staff to know that I respect them and expect my patrons to treat them with respect. Two wrongs don't make a right. If someone acts boorishly and inappropriately, that behavior should be pointed out. But it should be pointed out, in an appropriate and adult manner.

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Go Cubs!!!!

I am able to avoid all these problems since my son bought me this handy Tip Calculator a few months back...

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This is my signature...

Stu since the manager comped you, did you return to the establishment or purposely avoid it?

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I'm like a carpenter building stairs.......Always thinking one step ahead.

Just make sure its not a Willard.

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Story can be collaborated by a few other members of this board. I did not tell the manager she was a Caller Bob Steve, it was a figure of speech in telling the story. I was a bit miffed about what the girl did and totally floored she would come after me over a dollar is what pissed me off.I did become a smart ass with her because I thought she had to be kidding or one of the people with me put her up to it but she was pissed about getting only $14 bucks. SO I made her give it back to me and I told her you just embarrassed herself over a dollar and that's when she thru the money on the ground.

As for the manager, he could not of been more apologetic and he kept asking me , did she really walk down the street after you over a dollar? Her response was that we were there for 3 hours and never ordered food and was only working 3 tables and wasn't going to make any money with people who were not eating. I have no fucking clue what she thought that extra dollar I screwed her out of was going to do for her but at that point I just wanted to get out of there.

I was at Melvin B's all that Summer in 1998 and spent a ton of cash and always tipped well for the record.

I tip based on service received and how much money I have. Harry's argument of tipping by type of establishment or "location" blows. Some of don't have the money to throw around money but are able to afford a nice night out occasionally.

I've tipped as low as 10% and high as 50%. The bill amounts varied. I usually leave at least a $5 on smaller bills.

As long as I always have a cold coke on the table, the server is getting at least 20% from me...

I waited for a little while as I was a bit embarrassed as Im sure the other wait-staff members thought I was a jag-off. I did hear the waitress got a job at "Pippins" which I avoided for a long time.

Ironic that she gets fired for being upset over not getting a tip, then gets hired at a place with that name...

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A place I don't feel comfortable tipping is buffets. They really don't serve you and you pretty much do all the work . I will leave a buck or two if they bring water or drinks.

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"lET ME , Worry about Luca Brasi"

I do not and will not tip at baseball games or concerts. At the Cell, $6.50 a beer, and I let the vendor keep the 50 cents. But it I walk and get the beer myself from a stand, I'm not tipping a damn thing.

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At 6.50 a beer, I figure tip is added in.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Do you sometimes tip in Gamerscore points?

Only if you're tipping Sam Zell.

If you happen to be lucky enough to sit in either the Scout seats or Jim Beam club at the Cell you should tip the servers as these kids work their ass off. The ticket includes free alcohol and food for the entire game and people have these servers running all night. Most don't tip as they our guests of ticket holders and or our customers or free loaders of big companies.

Our group gave our server $60 on Friday night as she did an awesome job and having a set of D's didn't hurt either.

I tend to tip women more than men.

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"You can't put a bounty on a man's head"!

I'm with you there Frank. No tipping at the ballpark for me either. They are completely pricing out the average fan with these vendor prices. I end up sneeking in some Vitner's Cheese Popcorn to eat and sip the $6.50 beer for the whole game. It makes me want to bring a half pint of Vodka instead.

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-"God is great. Beer is good. And People are crazy!"

Angus for 3, KABOOM!

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Are you kidding me...the government can always print more money, but gamescore...that's a currency that can never be replaced...

My thought is tip how you much you want, there is no right or wrong, the only thing if it's a place you go back to a couple of times, you may want to tip a little more, or you may get lousy service.

Stu- if that girl wanted 15%, my math may be a little off here, but is that just one more dollar. if that's the case, she may have some other problems.

This argument gets very tired because I've heard pretty much all angles...

Two of my very close friends are servers, and knowing them I've learned a lot about what these people go through on a daily basis. One, yeah, pretty obvious, the food quality has nothing to do with the server (unless they're spitting in your food for being an asshole of course)...also, when you do things like substitute, or not tell a waiter/waitress that you're splitting the check until they've already calculated everything (depending on what kind of restaurant you're in, in most places now it doesn't matter), you're adding to their stress--and keep in mind you're not the only person they're waiting on, and they may be also waiting on total assholes somewhere else, and while you can have the dumbass attitude of "Well, that has nothing to do with ME!" keep in mind that they're people, and like most people...they have a boiling point.

I have much more respect for the people that work in that shit ass industry, and always make sure I tip at least 20%, most of the time more than that. I usually will keep an eye on how busy my server is

In some cases, yeah you get incompetence (especially at chains), and you do get rude servers. Some are just generally awkward.

Most of the time I consider the service I get from restaurants adequate. I can't remember the last time I was blown away by good service; but I also can't remember the last time I was given horrible service...

get over it, and get on with life. Stay at home and make your own meals

damn did i just go mr. belvidere all over everybody's ass?

I usually go a little over 20% even for average service when I am out with the children. The place is generally a war zone when I leave, so there will be work beyond the general service.

General question.
My Greek father-in-law (read restaurant owner- go figure) claims that majority of people base their tip amount on the pre-tax total.
I've always used the after tax total.
What do you do?

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“Mmmm. Move over, eggs. Bacon just got a new best friend - fudge.”

Pre-Tax is the standard, I believe.

I'm surprised at how many people still hold on to the 15% number. I thought generally accepted practice is now 18-20% on the total bill. I put that on whatever is the bottom number on the bill, which usually is the total bill, including taxes. Subracting out taxes and figuring the subtotal without taxes (when it is not readily apparent on a bill) sounds like needless math to shave a server out of a few cents.

An easy tip is to just double the tax, in the city it's about 9%, so it'll be the 18% tip.

So you got a girl fired because YOU were to cheap to fork over an extra dollar.

I'm not sure what's more appalling, your inability to part with an extra dollar, or your reaction when she called you on it.

No, what's bad is her sorry ass stalked him down the street for the dollar. Her crazy ass needed to be canned. Who the f does she think she is?