I have gotten into a habit of rounding it off and overtipping. My kids who all make more money than I do, say I'm nuts.

Ironically, there was a big article in our Southtown today about taxes. They had 4 or 5 waiters, servers write in comments at the end of the article. And they agreed- with what all my students who bartend and serve tell me. And that is that virtually next to zero of those who work for tips declare all their income.

In the paper they estimate through survey and audits of total sales that the average waitress/waiter declares about half to 3/4ths, and that secretaries, assistants and other service/repair and delivery people who work not on tips but by the hour (like retail store salespeople- and is THAT job hard)pay at least twice the income tax on a whole for the same REAL income.

My graduate student barkeep chuckled when I showed her this article. She says she has made $350 on a 5 hour shift during a Holiday weekend or game day night. She won't take a Nursing shift now, when she can get a barkeep shift instead.

Hi!

Here is an interesting link regarding tipping:

http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php

(You mean Im not supposed to be tipping the piano tuner? Hahah!)

No name, the Florida base rate is 6% -- not 7.5%. Here in Collier County we have no additional sales tax and only pay 6% on everything including in restaurants.
We do have a bed tax also, but that doesn't apply here.

JJ5, I believe you are accurate on your tipping information. I would do the same thing if I was in the servers' shoes.

LoveItaly, that's exactly what we do. We try to leave it in cash but if we didn't make it to the money machine we leave it on the cc card - although I do feel guilty about that when I do it.

Suzie, I'm curious why you feel guilty about putting it on the CC slip? My waiter friend actually prefers it that way, as it's easier bookkeeping for him at the end of the night when he has to tip out on his total -- easier when they are all on CC receipts rather than some in odd cash.

And as already expressed getting cash should have nothing to do with taxes, etc.

I guess if the waiter works at one of those odd places where they deduct the 1.5 or 2% from his tips that were on credit cards, I guess that's a little cause for concern -- but how many places do that?

I don't know how many do it. But that's why I don't like to. It's just my practice. It matters not to me whether any one else does it. I love going out to dinner. I love it when servers make the meal a special experience and I never treat them like a servent. I consider them partners in the meal experience!

OK. I agree with everything you say. I guess I just don't get what putting their tip on the CC slip has to do with it. No problem, just thought I was missing something.
Meanwhile, a reminder that in Europe, one should always leave any tip in cash, as the general policy there is that the extra tip on a CC will go to the restaurant and not to the server. But that is no issue in the US.

Am I to believe it is the diners responsibility to cheer up a grumpy waiter?

htty, no you don't have to, but I do. It improves the service and the experience. If you just deal with a grumpy server you may not tip them much but the dinner is never as nice as it could have been. Cajoling a waiter out of a bad mood takes very little effort and there is big payback in that the meal is way more enjoyable. Have you never had a meal that was tasty but the waiter's mood and behavior still ruined the evening? Complaining to the management does nothing to save the evening either.

last night my husband & i walked into Le Madeline (theater district Nyc). My husband said to the hostess, "hello, we ave a reservation." She said "no you don't". I said, "yes, we made a reservation". She rolled her eyes and said "it's pre-theater, everyone has a reservation." We turned around and left. Our friends, who were already dining there under a different reservation, had a few words with her, and met us later with a handwritten apology & card for free dessert. Still, no excuse for the attitude, flat out calling us liars, & the embarassment. I don't think we will be using the dessert card.

Yes, bugswife1, it is not that unusual. I do think a page has turned in the "relationship" interchange in service/customer across the boards, not just in restaurant or meals service. And I have served/waited as well. And have done retail work with the public.