Tipping Etiquette

[GAbiker]

11 minutes ago, petrel800 said:

Having seen this discussion in wine forums for years, all I can tell you is there is no consensus on etiquette.  Takes the same amount of effort to open a bottle of $30 wine as it does $200 wine.  How do you tip?  

It all comes down to you and your experience.  I don't live by the 15-20% rule, nor do I put up with shit service.  If it is really bad or I get rushed in a nice restaurant, I've got no problem going below 10%.  That said, if someone goes above and beyond, I make sure to tip accordingly, and make a mention to the manager on the way out.  Remember, most folks will bitch about poor service to management, very few will seek out a manager for great service.

You got that right.   I tip on the quality of service, but never below 15%.   If service was SO miserable that I'm inclined not to tip, I'll ask to speak to a manager.  Having been in the customer service industry many years, I can tell you that managers don't always know when an employee is f'ing up, and most will great constructive criticism positively (as compared to just bitching).  And the opposite is also true.  If I get outstanding service, will let manager know...good service NEVER gets enough complements

[Charlutz]

2 hours ago, meadeweber said:

I guess I'm not understanding why you tip more on more expensive pours.  As I think someone else said, doesn't it take the same effort to pour MM for example as it does PVW15?

That's fine. Just recognize it goes both ways. It takes as much effort to pour a $5 glass as it does a $100 glass and by that logic maybe a $2 tip on the $5 pour is too low? Tip a fair amount for the service. 15-20% is a guideline and that will even out for your servers but it's certainly not applicable to all situations, high or low. 

[squire]

6 hours ago, GAbiker said:

 . . . . If I get outstanding service, will let manager know...good service NEVER gets enough complements . . . .

Good rule, it only takes a moment and is always appreciated.

[jvd99]

If you're spending that kind of scratch on a drink, man up and tip accordingly

[b1gcountry]

That is the first I've ever seen someone claim tipping is manly. Lately the only people I hear using the "manly" card are people who want me to do something their way for no good reason. 

[GeeTen]

Had one of my credit card companies write an e-mail and ask if I left a $5 tip on a $15 bill.  What they didn't know was the bill covered two (2) very generous pours of EC12, as well as several tastes of a couple of other bourbons that I wanted to try (Hirsch, HHBIB, IIRC).  Never had that happen before????  And he slipped in a generous taste of The Macallan Fine Rare Cask, too -- that earned him anoter $5 bill (instead of a $49/shot bill).