[P_I_Staker]

Less than 20% is a soft slap in the face in many places. More so, if it's less than 15%. Some people use other "systems" though, so they might not even be paying based on the number on the check. If the bill is overpriced that's often a reason people use to skimp on the "percentage".

[bogomipz]

>"Less than 20% is a soft slap in the face in many places."

Wow, that's a bit sensational. Using LA/NYC as a point of reference, tipping is basically a spectrum. For drinks in a bar the minimum tip is a dollar and two is a good tip. For a taxi driver 15% is acceptable for average service and 20% would be for good service. For dining out 15% is perfectly adequate for just average service and 20% and above for good service. Counter tipping is it's own special thing but generally stuffing a dollar in the tip is jar is acceptable.

[culopatin]

I didn’t know I was supposed to tip taxi drivers too. Why not just make the rates what they need to be and we stop this unspoken rule payment thing already?

[zeroego]

Interesting. I know in some states servers are not guaranteed minimum wage. They can make as little as 4 or 5 bucks an hour, so if you don't tip them they make very very little money. If I was in a state like that I don't think I'd ever go below 20%.

[happypenguin]

This actually isn't true. Servers makr minimum wage, if all night they were tipped $0 then the resturant is required to pay them more hourly to hit minimum wage. Their combined pay from tips and the restaurant's pay must meet minimum wage. That is a federal law so it applies to all states. States can increase the minimum wage but cannot decrease it.

[macmcleod]

Have you ever worked in one of these positions? I worked in a few and my base rate was $2.13 an hour. If my tips for the day didn't put me over minimum wage ($7.25/hr at the time) on average, the place would pay me more. The people that had that happen more than once a month were fired.

[happypenguin]

I'm not suggesting to not tip, just correcting the misinformation. Servers are guaranteed minimum wage.

[zeroego]

Ah good to know, thanks for sharing!