I read threads and blogs by actual food service workers–all of whom grumble about anything less than 20% (and think 10% is hella cheapskate/you are saying the service sucked-that’s in basically every article on tipping, everywhere), plus I have friends who have actually been waiters. Of course a server will take 15%, but it’s increasingly becoming not enough. We’re in a recession, cost of living keeps going up… but the base salary for waiters has remained at something like $2.33 an hour… since the 80s. It’s deplorable. And thus, on any thread or article where you talk to actual people who serve food, 20% is the standard.
I work in marketing and I make less than 50K a year… and I live in Los Angeles (with 50% of my income going to rent + I have student loan repayments, of course!). I’m not rich. You can’t eat out without spending at least $20 just on yourself… so if I can’t afford to tip 20%, I don’t eat out. The onus is on me to make fiscally responsible decisions and not punish my server because I can’t afford a decent tip. When I was living in Boston, as a student and after (making 33K in my first job), I still tipped 20%. I just had to make pragmatic choices about where I could afford to eat.
In the parts of the country where I have lived, it still is possible to eat out without passing $20 per person, and 10% to 15% has been the “OK to Good” range. 20% would only be paid for truly exceptional service - as in the server dealt patiently and flawlessly with a large party composed of many different age groups that made many special requests and that required the bills to be split up accurately.
I can tell you that in New York and in Wasington DC, 20% has become the standard tip for restaurants, and for taxis. It may be a little less in Richmond, but I doubt it.
My 86-year-old mom still tips 10% in her small town, and she thinks that’s plenty.
I’m a current UR student who is from Northern VA. Here in NoVa and in RVA, 15% is considered the minimum tip at restaurants (can’t tell you about taxis) for poor service. 20% is the standard for excellent service, but I usually tip 18%, which is what most of my friends do too.
If I’m with someone who isn’t tipping enough, e.g. 15% - I’ll sneak and leave extra cash on the table. I’d feel terrible leaving less than 18%. That would be for poor service. 20%+ is typical for me and my family.
@happymomof1 Alright will contact the International Students Office, that really helped too, thanks!
@turtletime well you’re making me nervous now for picking the cheaper spider card when applying for housing. Hahah alright I’ll keep some money in my Spider Card in the future. Also yeah probably Uber would be my best choice if I want to go somewhere directly.Thanks for the tip!