Tipping when 20% tip is already (and openly) added to the bill.

[forty_caliber]

I've given large tips to the server for excellent service. One time in particular a $100 bill on a $40 check. To achieve that, the entire establishment is on trial. Quality of food, speed of service, and never allowed to thirst are the top three things I'm looking at.

Atmosphere also plays a role. Loud drunks, screaming children, and a cacophony of background noise like crashing dishware will also affect my generosity.

Sometimes the server does everything just right, but grease running on the plate isn't the servers fault. Kitchen understaffed and slow isn't their fault either.

I consider sour cream a class 4 biohazard. I've ordered food with no SC, yet it arrives on the plate. When I send it back to kitchen, I've had the plate come right back with the SC scraped off and entree turned over on the plate. I won't pay a surcharge for bad practices such as this. I won't stiff the server either, but they didn't EARN a big tip.

I've never seen the situation that you've described exactly, but it's pretty common for parties of 8 or more to have a proscribed tip in these parts. Big parties are much more work for the server and I don't have a problem with it at all.

Walking into a place and seeing signage like you've described would result in an abrupt 180 and me heading to the door.

.40

 

[CharlieD]

I do not know why we keep comparing US to Europe. What is the point. Any body interested of paying 70-80% taxes? The only thing I wish we had was their vacation, 6 weeks or so, but even then who can afford to go anywhere for 6 weeks. Also I am not the to complain. I have 5 weeks vacation. And my wife has an Unlimited vacation. Now that's all totally of topic.
My daughter ia not a waitress, she just finished cosmetology school and is a hair dresser. Her salary is $12.30 or something. You cannot survive on that. Yes she does get tips, but not always and only if she has a client. Yesterday for example she only had 2 walk ins. If she had to live on her own, I doubt she would be able to survive. And with prices the way they are, 20% tip doesn't seem to be too much. If i cannot afford tip, I don't go out.

 

[grumpyoldman]

me thinks, when the water is this deep its best not to even stick my toes in the water

 

[dragnlaw]

Just got my hair cut and after reading all this I did not add the tip to the bill. Just gave her a fiver. How she handles it after that is none of my business. Do they pool and share? Don't know, don't care but at least I know that she with the cash in her pocket can do as she wishes.