Did someone say this, or did you imagine it? 20% is standard for good service, but anything less than 15% is message that there was something wrong with the service. If you cannot afford to pay for good service, you should not seek good service.
Pretty sure in all of Canada, or at least Ontario, everyone makes at least minimum wage. You go to Wendy’s or Boston Pizza, no one makes less than minimum. Why is it that I’m expected to tip at some but not others? Is a chip truck (where a tip is asked for) really different than McD?
My understanding is in the US, some people make $2 an hour and tips are expected. Then there’s places like Ontario where a tip is also expected. Genuinely, why?
All this “pay your workers” nonsense should be true for fast food, grocery store workers, and everyone else who makes minimum yet they’re not standing there with a tablet that “asks a few questions” every time you ask where the milk is.
They do make a really low base but are required by law to recieve at least minimum wage after tips. Some wait staff lie on their tips in order to avoid paying taxes on them, others lie because if their employer thinks they aren’t getting enough tips to cover their pay, that they must be a bad employee.
Fuck off lol. Don’t take a job where your wages are entirely dependent on the mood of the next person to walk through the door. “Good service,” you’re being asked to bring a glass of water, plate of food, and then a piece of paper, within 60 minutes. And 15% was the default up until like 5 years ago.
T. Former server, embarrassingly overpaid, no shame at all for people who see the rip-off in 2026
If you cannot afford to pay for good service, you should not seek good service.
Then why still tip if there was something wrong with the service? If you have to add 20% to your bill for good service, it should go both ways. You are conveniently shifting blame from the true source of the problem: businesses not paying their employees enough to make a living.
businesses not paying their employees enough to make a living.
The thing I don’t understand is that even in states that have better minimum wages, the same tips are still expected.
California has the same minimum wage for both tipped and non-tipped jobs, yet one person working a minimum wage job can be paid significantly more than someone else also working a minimum wage job, just because they work in a position that’s customarily tipped.
15% used to be standard. And it was only resteraunts, and local delivery services.
Now, I’m at a ballpark, buying BOTTLED BEER. All this bitch is doing is opening a cooler, and grabbing a bottle. And the kiosk card payment DEFAULTS to a 25% tip
In The Netherlands, service is included in the price. tipping is voluntary and not expected. If service was great, a 5-10% is generally the way. However, we have US-based chains like Starbucks that do or try aggressive ahead-of-service tipping on the price. It is very much frowned upon (especially because they already are expensive).
We have an unspoken agreement where the server exaggeratedly looks away when we hit the “no tip” button before paying so we can all pretend it wasn’t there.
0% means something was wrong where I live (rude service or completely bad service does not make me want to pay an extra amount in gratuity), 10% has been standard as long as I can remember though (it was even part of the “real American heroes” bit from decades ago).
Did someone say this, or did you imagine it? 20% is standard for good service, but anything less than 15% is message that there was something wrong with the service. If you cannot afford to pay for good service, you should not seek good service.
but I didn’t seek good service. I sought a basic level of service expected of someone doing their job.
I don’t need service good enough to justify a $20 tip when I go out for wings and two beers and take up literally five minutes of the server’s time
fuck tipping culture, pay your employees. wait staff aren’t special. you better be tipping retail associates at least 10% of your purchases, too
Pretty sure in all of Canada, or at least Ontario, everyone makes at least minimum wage. You go to Wendy’s or Boston Pizza, no one makes less than minimum. Why is it that I’m expected to tip at some but not others? Is a chip truck (where a tip is asked for) really different than McD?
My understanding is in the US, some people make $2 an hour and tips are expected. Then there’s places like Ontario where a tip is also expected. Genuinely, why?
All this “pay your workers” nonsense should be true for fast food, grocery store workers, and everyone else who makes minimum yet they’re not standing there with a tablet that “asks a few questions” every time you ask where the milk is.
They do make a really low base but are required by law to recieve at least minimum wage after tips. Some wait staff lie on their tips in order to avoid paying taxes on them, others lie because if their employer thinks they aren’t getting enough tips to cover their pay, that they must be a bad employee.
The tip should ideally be 0%, it’s not up to us to overpay to make up for the low wage
Fuck off lol. Don’t take a job where your wages are entirely dependent on the mood of the next person to walk through the door. “Good service,” you’re being asked to bring a glass of water, plate of food, and then a piece of paper, within 60 minutes. And 15% was the default up until like 5 years ago.
T. Former server, embarrassingly overpaid, no shame at all for people who see the rip-off in 2026
Then why still tip if there was something wrong with the service? If you have to add 20% to your bill for good service, it should go both ways. You are conveniently shifting blame from the true source of the problem: businesses not paying their employees enough to make a living.
The thing I don’t understand is that even in states that have better minimum wages, the same tips are still expected.
California has the same minimum wage for both tipped and non-tipped jobs, yet one person working a minimum wage job can be paid significantly more than someone else also working a minimum wage job, just because they work in a position that’s customarily tipped.
Don’t those laws have caveats for tipped jobs, so the businesses don’t have to pay their employees minimum wage?
Not in California.
Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington state all have the same minimum wage for both tipped and non-tipped jobs.
A few other states have a tipped minimum wage that’s lower than their regular minimum wage, but still higher than the $2.13/hr federal minimum.
This is why I don’t go places I need to tip. The service is NEVER exceptional or even adequate.
Also I believe a business should not make its patrons pay a tip.
15% used to be standard. And it was only resteraunts, and local delivery services.
Now, I’m at a ballpark, buying BOTTLED BEER. All this bitch is doing is opening a cooler, and grabbing a bottle. And the kiosk card payment DEFAULTS to a 25% tip
Fuck off with that!
Only 5.5% of internet users are American. Don’t assume everyone follows US customs. Some countries actually pay waitstaff well.
In The Netherlands, service is included in the price. tipping is voluntary and not expected. If service was great, a 5-10% is generally the way. However, we have US-based chains like Starbucks that do or try aggressive ahead-of-service tipping on the price. It is very much frowned upon (especially because they already are expensive).
I’m from Australia and we very rarely tip. It’s just not part of the culture. It was one of the biggest changes when I moved to the USA.
We have an unspoken agreement where the server exaggeratedly looks away when we hit the “no tip” button before paying so we can all pretend it wasn’t there.
Canadians expect 20% tips. I’m sure others do as well.
Edit: You can downvote if you like but it’s still true
0% means something was wrong where I live (rude service or completely bad service does not make me want to pay an extra amount in gratuity), 10% has been standard as long as I can remember though (it was even part of the “real American heroes” bit from decades ago).
20% used to be for exceptional service. Things going up for no reason is completely plausible.