question for Americans!

[deird1]

Dear helpful flisty people,


A friend of mine will shortly be going to your fine country, and, being an Aussie, has no idea about tipping.

So...
- Who are you supposed to tip?
- When?
- How much are you supposed to tip them?

Any info you could provide would be very useful.


With love, from a confused Aussie

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

The math on 20% is pretty easy - you take 10% (so move the decimal over one place) and then double it.

I always tip 20% for restaurant meals if the service is reasonable or good, and 15% if it's bad, and maybe 10% if it's really horrible (like, top 10 worst ever in my life).

I'm a graduate student living on a shit stipend, so I don't usually tip baristas (coffee makers), sandwich-makers, order-takers, etc. since they actually get paid a real minimum wage (~$7/hr depending on the state). Minimum wage for waitresses and waiters is different - they only make ~$1.50/hr because the law assumes they're going to get tips that will more than make up for the difference.

I also tip $1 per drink in a bar, which is a pretty standard.

~ gingerwall