My friend recommended roughly a $1.25 tip for taxi drivers plus rounding up to the next dollar. How does this sound?
Tipping Taxi drivers
- Thread starter Romeo
- Start date
Why do we tip?
I have always believed that you were susposed to tip a person for above par service. Also lets not forget what the word tip means. It is an acronymn ,,,,,To Improve Performance.
Tipping has gone from a gesture of appreciation for a job well done, above the normal service expected of the person, to an expectation of society to tip all people in the service industry. Hell even the gov't belives this as there is a different minimum wage for people working in the restaurant business as servers. The owners of these businesses have paid these people so poorly over the years that the employee would starve to death if they did not get tips, while they are making profits off the sweat of those people, who if they don't perform well will drive away customers and the owners will then be the ones who go broke.
So who do we tip? Food servers, taxi drivers, bell boys, escorts, servers in the bar industry, casino people that bring the winnings, dealers in the casino and this list goes on.
I can understand tipping a server that goes out of their way to make your meal a very relaxing time and making sure you need to ask for nothing. However when you go into most mid level and lower restaurants the owner has not brought in enough staff that the server has the time to give you th attention you need in order for that to happen. They are so busy running their ass of that they barely have time to serve your food after taking your order. Never mind bring the extras that you may require. And if a taxi driver scares the hell out of you with the way he/she drives or does not attempt to get you there at a normal rate of speed, then why should they be tipped.....because it is expected? It is there job to get you there safely and expediently. Unless they go beyonbd their job description, why should they get a tip?
Casino employees are just doing there job and expect tips when they bring you your winnings.....WHY? A dealer only deals the cards and when you win they expect a tip...WHY?
I am sure there are some reasons for this however I don't know what they are. If a person thinks that customers or clients are susposed to tip them or their family will starve....their family is not the other persons resposibility. If they think that they have earned a tip by going beyond their normal duty in some fashion then sure no problem if they have. Society has just become relaxed in their attitude toward this and some people who don't earn a tip expect it and get it.
I say we should only tip when a person has earned it and not just because they are in a job where it is expected.
Dogman
I have always believed that you were susposed to tip a person for above par service. Also lets not forget what the word tip means. It is an acronymn ,,,,,To Improve Performance.
Tipping has gone from a gesture of appreciation for a job well done, above the normal service expected of the person, to an expectation of society to tip all people in the service industry. Hell even the gov't belives this as there is a different minimum wage for people working in the restaurant business as servers. The owners of these businesses have paid these people so poorly over the years that the employee would starve to death if they did not get tips, while they are making profits off the sweat of those people, who if they don't perform well will drive away customers and the owners will then be the ones who go broke.
So who do we tip? Food servers, taxi drivers, bell boys, escorts, servers in the bar industry, casino people that bring the winnings, dealers in the casino and this list goes on.
I can understand tipping a server that goes out of their way to make your meal a very relaxing time and making sure you need to ask for nothing. However when you go into most mid level and lower restaurants the owner has not brought in enough staff that the server has the time to give you th attention you need in order for that to happen. They are so busy running their ass of that they barely have time to serve your food after taking your order. Never mind bring the extras that you may require. And if a taxi driver scares the hell out of you with the way he/she drives or does not attempt to get you there at a normal rate of speed, then why should they be tipped.....because it is expected? It is there job to get you there safely and expediently. Unless they go beyonbd their job description, why should they get a tip?
Casino employees are just doing there job and expect tips when they bring you your winnings.....WHY? A dealer only deals the cards and when you win they expect a tip...WHY?
I am sure there are some reasons for this however I don't know what they are. If a person thinks that customers or clients are susposed to tip them or their family will starve....their family is not the other persons resposibility. If they think that they have earned a tip by going beyond their normal duty in some fashion then sure no problem if they have. Society has just become relaxed in their attitude toward this and some people who don't earn a tip expect it and get it.
I say we should only tip when a person has earned it and not just because they are in a job where it is expected.
Dogman
Just watch as US-based Terbites now post their replies, incredulous at such cheapness in the Canadian psyche. The custom in the US and Europe pegs tipping in the service industry -- especially for cabbies, waitpeople, hairtrimmers, etc. -- at 15-20% of the bill. I.e., the bill either before or after tax, depending on one's level of generosity. (Or more if you wish to be generous.) In Europe a tip in this range is generally built right into the bill, and many people *still* tip a few percent on top on this.
We can argue forever about right and wrong in tipping, but it's an entrenched custom, and you look bad if you don't do it. Maybe not in your own eyes, but in the eyes of that person dining with you, and certainly in the eyes of the, ahem, service provider.
Einar
We can argue forever about right and wrong in tipping, but it's an entrenched custom, and you look bad if you don't do it. Maybe not in your own eyes, but in the eyes of that person dining with you, and certainly in the eyes of the, ahem, service provider.
Einar
Tipping...
Of course if you don't tip, you may find more than you bargain for in your next meal.......
Of course if you don't tip, you may find more than you bargain for in your next meal.......
I don't subscribe to any rigorous doctrine for tipping.
Scenario 1
You go to some pretentious restaurant on the Danforth. Eurotrash waiter does his job, comes out takes your drink order, returns takes your food order, brings you food, asks if everything is ok, then dessert, then bill.
Bill for 2 people - say 100 bucks including taxes.
Tip, 10 bucks, plenty for satisfactory service.
Scenario 2
You are in a small town having breakfest, bacon and eggs. Waitress does everything Eurotrash waiter above does. (Dessert, she refills your coffe)
Bill = $6.00
Tip, 15% would be 90 cents.
Now where's the justice in that????
She did everything eurotrash waiter on the danforth did with probably a whole lot less attitude to boot.
Why does Eurotrash waiter expect 15 or 20 bucks based on the simple premise that you tip on the bottom line?
It just so happens that he works in an expensive restaurant.
I say give the hard working waitress 2 or even 3 bucks and the eurotrash waiter 10 bucks max, and if he doesn't like it tough shit for him.
Scenario 1
You go to some pretentious restaurant on the Danforth. Eurotrash waiter does his job, comes out takes your drink order, returns takes your food order, brings you food, asks if everything is ok, then dessert, then bill.
Bill for 2 people - say 100 bucks including taxes.
Tip, 10 bucks, plenty for satisfactory service.
Scenario 2
You are in a small town having breakfest, bacon and eggs. Waitress does everything Eurotrash waiter above does. (Dessert, she refills your coffe)
Bill = $6.00
Tip, 15% would be 90 cents.
Now where's the justice in that????
She did everything eurotrash waiter on the danforth did with probably a whole lot less attitude to boot.
Why does Eurotrash waiter expect 15 or 20 bucks based on the simple premise that you tip on the bottom line?
It just so happens that he works in an expensive restaurant.
I say give the hard working waitress 2 or even 3 bucks and the eurotrash waiter 10 bucks max, and if he doesn't like it tough shit for him.
I'm not sure what Eurotrash means, but I agree in that my percentages have a broad range depending on a few factors including a decent minimum amount.
I certainly would not tip a cab driver anywhere close to what I would give a server in a restaurant, unless it was somehow warranted.
There are many places where cab fares must be negotiated or you will be fleeced, thus no tip is required.
I have always thought that tipping in Canada is far more generous than in many other countries, generally speaking from what I have seen.
I saw many pleasantly surprised waitresses in Germany.
My friend kept telling me that I tip way too much, and that nobody tips like that.
She could not understand why people in Canada feel they must tip so much.
In the Dominican Republic, the people were extremely cheap in the tips department, including most tourists from various countries around the world.
I've noticed the same thing in Amsterdam, Cuba, Mexico, and Thailand.
I don't make it a point to notice, it's absolutely none of my business and I often avoid looking, but sometimes it is so obvious and hard not to notice, especially when someone leaves nothing right in front of you.
I certainly would not tip a cab driver anywhere close to what I would give a server in a restaurant, unless it was somehow warranted.
There are many places where cab fares must be negotiated or you will be fleeced, thus no tip is required.
I have always thought that tipping in Canada is far more generous than in many other countries, generally speaking from what I have seen.
I saw many pleasantly surprised waitresses in Germany.
My friend kept telling me that I tip way too much, and that nobody tips like that.
She could not understand why people in Canada feel they must tip so much.
In the Dominican Republic, the people were extremely cheap in the tips department, including most tourists from various countries around the world.
I've noticed the same thing in Amsterdam, Cuba, Mexico, and Thailand.
I don't make it a point to notice, it's absolutely none of my business and I often avoid looking, but sometimes it is so obvious and hard not to notice, especially when someone leaves nothing right in front of you.
JTK - I have a better solution. When on the Danforth, skip Lolita's Lust and Cafe Brussels and go to Mong Khut (great new Thai place near Pape) or Sher E Punjab.
Cheers
Slackman
Cheers
Slackman
Being a Eurotrash waiter myself (I like the name lol) I can tell you that a %10 tip is an insult and I would not suggest having me serve you again. In most restaraunts the waiters get paid crap by the hour and rely on tips mostly. So if you leave %10 on a 100 its 10 bucks less what you pay to the house, bartender, and busboy. You are left with a couple of bucks for serving someone all night. Funny thing is after a while I realize who the %10 are, those are the people that barely see me. I wont be racist here but as a waiter you see which races dont tip well. 15% is proper for satisfactory service.
I tip if it's worth it. It doesn't really matter to me if I'm paying for service (taxi, bellhop at hotel) or product (food in restaurant), I base the tip on the overall experience. I expect my taxi drivers to get me to my destination in a timely and safe manner. I expect my server at at restaurant to be courteous and efficient.
As long as expectations are met, I tip. If expectations are exceeded, I tip even more. If I'm at a restaurant, I'll fill out one of the comment cards and express my pleasure with the overall experience, highlighting the server.
I once had a meal at the Banff Springs hotel for $50. I left a $20 tip because the service was that good. She actually ran after me and told me that I had left too much! (I told her to keep it. And no, she didn't come to my room afterward. ;-)
As long as expectations are met, I tip. If expectations are exceeded, I tip even more. If I'm at a restaurant, I'll fill out one of the comment cards and express my pleasure with the overall experience, highlighting the server.
I once had a meal at the Banff Springs hotel for $50. I left a $20 tip because the service was that good. She actually ran after me and told me that I had left too much! (I told her to keep it. And no, she didn't come to my room afterward. ;-)
I guess my point of my little diatribe was that a guy at a more expensive restaurant does as much or less work than the girl at the diner (usually they don't have a bus boys at morning diners, she clears your dishes too) for a greater tip.
If you leave her even 15% you truly have left her nothing....
As far as you not serving me again, well, i don't really care because there is someone else who will.
As far as a fixed percent goes, i have often been told that you tip based on the subtotal not the tax included bottom line. Taxes go up just about every week in this country and frankly, restaurant taxes seem to be a bit of a mystery to me anyway. Food tax, bar tax, GST, PST, this tax, that tax.
I agree though that you tip based on service, and that unfortunately for wait staff includes the meal.
No joke, i know a guy in toronto who probably worth a 100 million bucks. I was out for lunch one day and he left just about nothing for a tip.
He just looked at me and said, "I am not a big tipper."
Go figure.
If you leave her even 15% you truly have left her nothing....
As far as you not serving me again, well, i don't really care because there is someone else who will.
As far as a fixed percent goes, i have often been told that you tip based on the subtotal not the tax included bottom line. Taxes go up just about every week in this country and frankly, restaurant taxes seem to be a bit of a mystery to me anyway. Food tax, bar tax, GST, PST, this tax, that tax.
I agree though that you tip based on service, and that unfortunately for wait staff includes the meal.
No joke, i know a guy in toronto who probably worth a 100 million bucks. I was out for lunch one day and he left just about nothing for a tip.
He just looked at me and said, "I am not a big tipper."
Go figure.
Life is short- Tip large!
I like to leave a healthy tip- who wants to come across as cheap? A few dollars means a lot to someone who is making minumum wage... I know they used to mean a lot to me when I did. If I can afford a $100 meal, then a $15-20 tip isn't going to kill me.
After having left a decent tip a couple of times, you will be remembered, and service improves. Win-win.
On the other hand, I emphatically have no problem not tipping when the service deserves it. (do bear in mind that your waitron doesn't control kitchen timing)
I like to leave a healthy tip- who wants to come across as cheap? A few dollars means a lot to someone who is making minumum wage... I know they used to mean a lot to me when I did. If I can afford a $100 meal, then a $15-20 tip isn't going to kill me.
After having left a decent tip a couple of times, you will be remembered, and service improves. Win-win.
On the other hand, I emphatically have no problem not tipping when the service deserves it. (do bear in mind that your waitron doesn't control kitchen timing)
****james t kirk said:I
No joke, i know a guy in toronto who probably worth a 100 million bucks. I was out for lunch one day and he left just about nothing for a tip.
He just looked at me and said, "I am not a big tipper."
Go figure.
OK, I went and figured. And I came up with a rather unfortunate fellow. One can imagine how he treats other people.
Einar
Malibook said:[B
I have always thought that tipping in Canada is far more generous than in many other countries, generally speaking from what I have seen.
I saw many pleasantly surprised waitresses in Germany.
My friend kept telling me that I tip way too much, and that nobody tips like that.
She could not understand why people in Canada feel they must tip so much.
****
That waitress is *already* getting maybe 18% tip built right into the bill. You'd have to know this cultural nuance or you'd miss it. But if you subsequently tip her *another* 15%-20%, of course she'll be astonished! And of course she'll suddenly love Canadians! And you are of course welcome to do it.
But that would be a huge tip. A European might instead just give her a few small coins, to show a token of appreciation, knowing that she is already being tipped right in her wage.
Just a totally different system. Don't know whether I'd say it's better or worse, but at least a service person in Europe can't get stiffed like they commonly are here.
Einar
Totally agree. You can tell a lot about people by how they treat those who are in a "subservient" position to them.einar said:One can imagine how he treats other people.
And I will follow up that serious note with a totally juvenile one...
Hey badnick, as it so happens, I have given your mom a tip for her incredible service!
Sorry, my immaturity took over, couldn't resist...
****james t kirk said:I
No joke, i know a guy in toronto who probably worth a 100 million bucks. I was out for lunch one day and he left just about nothing for a tip.
He just looked at me and said, "I am not a big tipper."
Go figure.
OK, I went and figured. And I came up with a rather unfortunate fellow. One can imagine how he treats other people.
Einar
100 million dollars and he cant leave a decent tip thats crazy. Those are the type of people that leave a restaraunt all pissed off. Why? If you are going to spend the money than tip your waiter kindly its the least you can do. Its the people that act like big shots that leave %10 that piss me off. You can tell the people that dont have money and hey you know what at least there honest about it.
I agree with this post, but this "Waiter" forget to bring up one important point...2sexxxy said:Being a Eurotrash waiter myself (I like the name lol) I can tell you that a %10 tip is an insult and I would not suggest having me serve you again. In most restaraunts the waiters get paid crap by the hour and rely on tips mostly. So if you leave %10 on a 100 its 10 bucks less what you pay to the house, bartender, and busboy. You are left with a couple of bucks for serving someone all night. Funny thing is after a while I realize who the %10 are, those are the people that barely see me. I wont be racist here but as a waiter you see which races dont tip well. 15% is proper for satisfactory service.
HIS SERVICE.
I have been in the food industry for many years, and tipping must be based on service, I hate these places that add 15% on the bill, I generaly will not eat at these places.
One tip for all of those who eat out.
If ther service really really sucked, never I repeat never leave 0.00 tip. All this does, is tell the waiter that you are a cheap SOB. It doesn't tell him anything about his service.
There used to be a custom to leave only three pennies. this told the waiter that your service sucked.
But the most important is to tell the management, we need to know. If you do not tell us , the waiter sure wont.
my thoughts ...
you can pretty much tell whether someone has worked in the restaurant industry by the way they tip ... i have waitressed in a former life so i try to leave generous tips to those that deserve it.
there is nothing worse than going on a date with a cheap person who leaves terrible tips ... i make a point of sneaking some extra money on the table if my companion has been outrageously cheap for no reason.
if i take a cab for $7.50 ... and the driver has been pleasant, knew the most direct route and didn't talk on his cell phone the entire ride ... i will just give him a $10 bill. An extra toonie in his pocket makes him happy ... and really makes no discernable difference in my pocketbook. [there are some cab drivers that could work a whole shift and barely break even after the increase in gas prices ...]
and i agree 100% that the most underappreciated servers in the industy are the people who serve breakfast. through high school i worked in a golden griddle ... i would have people order toast and a bottomless cup of coffee ... sit at a table in my section forever reading a paper ... requesting glasses of water and refills ... then leave me a 30 cent tip ... gee. thanks so much. other times someone would leave a $5 tip on a bill of $7. it could make your day ... seriously.
as far as going to a restaurant when the place is understaffed ... if the server is running around like mad driving to serve too many tables ... and accordingly the service suffers ... i tend to still tip 15% ... you have to think that someone called in sick or the management did not schedule properly ... matters that are out of the control of the server ... then again ... if i am waiting, waiting, waiting and the server is just chatting with other staff ... no tip for you!
syn
you can pretty much tell whether someone has worked in the restaurant industry by the way they tip ... i have waitressed in a former life so i try to leave generous tips to those that deserve it.
there is nothing worse than going on a date with a cheap person who leaves terrible tips ... i make a point of sneaking some extra money on the table if my companion has been outrageously cheap for no reason.
if i take a cab for $7.50 ... and the driver has been pleasant, knew the most direct route and didn't talk on his cell phone the entire ride ... i will just give him a $10 bill. An extra toonie in his pocket makes him happy ... and really makes no discernable difference in my pocketbook. [there are some cab drivers that could work a whole shift and barely break even after the increase in gas prices ...]
and i agree 100% that the most underappreciated servers in the industy are the people who serve breakfast. through high school i worked in a golden griddle ... i would have people order toast and a bottomless cup of coffee ... sit at a table in my section forever reading a paper ... requesting glasses of water and refills ... then leave me a 30 cent tip ... gee. thanks so much. other times someone would leave a $5 tip on a bill of $7. it could make your day ... seriously.
as far as going to a restaurant when the place is understaffed ... if the server is running around like mad driving to serve too many tables ... and accordingly the service suffers ... i tend to still tip 15% ... you have to think that someone called in sick or the management did not schedule properly ... matters that are out of the control of the server ... then again ... if i am waiting, waiting, waiting and the server is just chatting with other staff ... no tip for you!
syn
