While I wait for Whomageddon to finish airing so I can download, here's a poll!

[gogmagog]

[Poll #1218262]

I'm just curious about the art of tipping; I'm well-versed in the art of restaurant tipping (having grown up with "home cooking" being various Kansas City restaurants), but I'm always unsure when it comes to those other kinds of tips how much I should give. (I usually end up going for the high side of what I think is acceptable, because I'd rather err on the generous side, but then I wonder whether I'm tipping TOO highly.)

Note that I ask for "on average"; what I mean by that is, how much would you tip for acceptable to good service in this area? Also, if any of these results don't apply, or you have other thoughts about tipping and such, post them in the comments!

Comments

[yoshitsune.livejournal.com]

Not just can, but generally are...a good part of the entire restaurant business is predicated on waitstaff being paid horrifically low wages (considerably lower than minimum wage; I think minimum wage here is a little under $6/hr, and minimum for waitstaff is a little under $3/hr) and being expected to make it up in tips.

I do agree that they don't have the right to give you crap food; however, realistically, it happens, and I'd like to avoid it if possible. (By the same token, retail staff don't have the right to give you horrible service if they don't like you, but it also happens.)

And I think the fast-food/coffee divide is a lot clearer here? I mean, you may have fast-food places with good coffee (Dunkin' Donuts' is supposed to have amazing coffee, for example), but no one would ever call them "coffeeshops," per se, and you wouldn't be expected to tip. Similarly, while coffeeshops may serve food, even something resembling fast food (like sandwiches and stuff), no one would ever class them with, say, McDonald's. And it's strictly in Starbucks and their more independent ilk that tipping is expected.