News-Record.com

I tip as I have always tipped before. I feel that when going out to eat, getting a car wash, etc that you know you'll have to tip, so I think about that before hand. If I can't afford to tip I don't go out to eat, get a car wash, etc.

I also tip as i done. I think that the people who did not tip or left a small tip are not tipping now and it is more noticable. There are a large group of people who will not tip no matter what.

If you can't afford an appropriate tip, you shouldn't go out to eat/drink. That's part of the cost of dining out. Some people are never going to tip but that's just because they're cheap or ignorant. Or they intentionally don't tip because it's a power trip. They get a charge out of running you back and forth a dozen times and then not giving you anything for it. That being said, I personally don't approve of the whole tipping custom. I think restaurants should pay their employees an adequate wage instead of expecting the customers to fill in the gap. I worked in the restaurant business for several years and always felt that it was degrading to work for tips....much like legalized prostitution. However, I DO adhere to the debasing custom and tip 20% for good service.

I have found myself tipping a little bit less recently. During my youth I worked in the food service industry, and that essentially bred me to be a good tipper, even if I received subpar service - for me, 20% is the norm.

Now, as restaurants are raising their prices to keep with the ever-increasing cost of food, the amount I tipped on the same meal six months ago is no longer the same percentage it is today, and that's the main difference. The dollar amount of the tip really hasn't changed, the percentage has gotten a little lower because of the increased menu prices.

One other change I've made is also tipping less for sub-standard service - I used to give them 20% even if my order came out wrong, or they left my drink empty, etc, mainly because I understood that the majority of their income is derived from tips and, at the very least, I am taking up a table for a certain period of time. Now; however, I'll no longer reward bad service with a good tip, and give them strictly 15% of the bill.

Regarding exemplary service, I'll still be happy to reward that to a deserving server with a 20-25% tip. It's important for someone to earn a little more who is willing to commit a little extra time to my party and do a great job.

I worked as a waiter ONCE in my life as a poor colleges student. During my summer at that job I got exactly 2 tips from the Bur-Mil crowd. Such a cheap crowd, Burlington Industries salary people!

From that time onward, I have ALWAYS tipped at least 10%, even for lousy service - provided I had the impression that the worker involved at least cared about his/her job. I have not cut my tipping on account of the economy. I hope the economy never gets so bad that leaving a $5 tip for a $30 meal becomes a burden I can't handle.

I tip the same as ever, perhaps a little bit more in recognition of the difficult economic climate - as long as a tip is actually earned. I refuse to pay additional for non-chalant service or arrogant attitudes.

I tip the same as always, I know these people depend on there tips, so why penalize them with a lower tip. It's not their fault that gas prices have caused everything to rise. By the way Amber at Natty Greene's is pretty HOT!!

I still tip 20% for great service and always have, but have found myself only leaving 15% lately, especially if the service is anything less than great.

I have been tipping at about the same percentage as before or just a bit higher.

However ... I have been dining at restaurants where a tip is appropriate considerably less. So my total tip amount is down, even though the percentage has not decreased.

As always, good to excellent service gets a good to excellent tip. Lousy service gets a quarter ... just so the wait staff doesn't think I simply forgot.