# 7.5% Tip..am I a cheap bastard? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 18, 2000, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525 "2000-02-18T00:51:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/1 "2000-02-18T00:51:00Z")
The wife and I went out to eat the other night at a place called Chili’s restaurant. Not really a high end place to eat but not cheap either. When we got the bill it came to 49.90 for the two of us ( we had some kind of unmemorable meat dish on a bed of rice.) I always leave a tip but…15% of $50.00 is $7.50 and I had no change so I would have had to leave $8.00 for my waitress making this rather average meal close to $60.00. I left the waitress $4.00. The food wasn’t memorable but the serivce was ok. Still, I just couldn’t bring myself to leave a 15% ($8.00) tip. Am I a cheap bastard? * * * “I’m the best there is Fats. Even if you beat me, I’m still the best.” (Paul Newman in The Hustler) ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/2 "2000-02-18T00:54:00Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/3 "2000-02-18T00:59:00Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/4 "2000-02-18T01:02:00Z")
You would rather take away $3.50 from someone rather than give them 50 crummy cents? Especially if you had no qualms about the service? Even if you did not want to leave the extra 50 cents, you couldn’t go to the bar to get change? That’s fucked up. And please, we all know Mr. Pink’s speech on tipping from Reservoir Dogs so no need for anyone to post it here. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/5 "2000-02-18T01:04:00Z")
Yes. Standard tip is 15%. A poor tip would be 10% or lower. Not tipping because service is poor is one thing. Not tipping because you just didn’t want to spend any more on your meal- that’s just cheap. If you plan to continue, I suggest you rent _Reservoir Dogs_ and memorize Mr. Pink’s anti-tipping speech. It’ll come in handy when the waitresses start to recognize you and ‘accidentally’ spill your hot coffee directly into your lap. * * * JMCJ Winner of the _Mr. & Mrs. Polycarp Award for Literalizing Cliches_ for knowing an actual atheist in a foxhole. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/6 "2000-02-18T01:15:00Z")
I just read in the newspaper _today_ an interesting quote from a local (D.C.) restauranteur in a discussion stemming from Hillary!'s forgetfulness in tipping. The conversation centered around who were the best and worst tippers overall. Politicians were rated pretty high, lawyers and journalists were rated the lowest. But the quote that stood out in my mind was when the owner was talking about “leaving the accepted **20 to 25%** tip.” Since when are we _expected_ to tip 25%? On special occassion, yes, but where do we draw the line? What’s wrong with 15% for basic, acceptable service, up to 20% for very good service? And yeah, I’d hang my head in shame if I only left $4.00 for a $50.00 dinner outing. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/7 "2000-02-18T01:25:00Z")
I’d say NO, you are not a cheap bastard, since you qualified it by saying the place was no big deal, service was OK, the tip was then OK, and the food was blah. Given all that, I would probably have left a five dollar bill and vowed not to go back. TIP is for good service, not to supplament some lazy ass waiter or waitress pay day for work NOT DONE. But, take a look at this one, if you really want to see a cheap bastard. [http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum5/](http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum5/) HTML/000676.html (Note: this is already in an active thread. Lynn) [Note: This message has been edited by Lynn Bodoni] ---
**Author:** ![Nu\_Vo\_Da\_Da](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/97f17d/32.png) [@Nu\_Vo\_Da\_Da](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nu_Vo_Da_Da)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/8 "2000-02-18T01:29:00Z")
You do know that people in tipping jobs generally are paid less than other people due to the added wages they are expected to get from tips, right? By tipping less you aren’t simply not-rewarding them, you are actually lowering their pay. Besides, it’s a cheap and nasty thing to do, learn to tip _at least_ 15% unless the service was substandard to the degree that you felt you had to punish the server. And Mr Pink was an asshole… ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/9 "2000-02-18T01:40:00Z")
Now we all know why a lot of places automatically figure in a 15% tip. Yes, you are a cheap bastard. To be too cheap to leave an extra 50cents- jeez. You aren’t my ex-husband, are you? Zette (who used to have to sneak back to restaurant tables and leave a real tip after her el-cheapo ex got done leaving his) * * * Love is like popsicles…you get too much you get too high. Not enough and you’re gonna die… [Zettecity](http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/zettecity/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![aha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/10 "2000-02-18T01:51:00Z")
Damn this is a tough room. But straight dopers have set me straight. I pledge from this day forward to NOT be a cheap bastard and to leave a 15% tip. * * * “I’m the best there is Fats. Even if you beat me, I’m still the best.” (Paul Newman in The Hustler) ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/11 "2000-02-18T02:23:00Z")
I have to go with what everyone said… you’re a very cheap bastard. What the hell was the 50 cents to you?? Instead you took away almost 4 dollars. That is probably what she makes in TWO HOURS in wages. So how about next time I want to save 50 cents, I dock your wages by two hours? I remember waiting tables… making $2.13/hr and having assholes leave 20 cent tips. It sucked. And it wasn’t that I was a bad waitress (actually I was a very good one, I had more than a few people go out of their way to tell the manager what good service they’d gotten) it was just that they were cheap bastards. If you aren’t willing to pay the tip STAY HOME. * * * – “it’s all real” “I KNEW IT!!!” O p a l C a t [www.opalcat.com](http://www.opalcat.com) ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Crunch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@Chief\_Crunch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Crunch)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/12 "2000-02-18T02:35:00Z")
I don’t think you’re a cheap BASTARD. A bastard would have left no tip at all. I generally try to be fair when tipping, often I’ll leave more than 15% but, if for some reason I can’t leave a full tip, I’m not going to lose sleep over it. ---
**Author:** ![Studi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Studi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Studi)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/13 "2000-02-18T02:39:00Z")
If service was good - yes. If the service wasn’t good - no. I’ve left very small tips, or no tip at all before, if it was called for. Studi * * * When I grow up, I want to be the Minister of Silly Walks. ---
**Author:** ![Lexicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lexicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lexicon)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/14 "2000-02-18T02:45:00Z")
Yes. Noonch. * * * how did it start? well i don’t know i just feel the craving. i see the flesh and it smells fresh and it’s just there for the taking… VvvV ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/15 "2000-02-18T03:23:00Z")
aha sez > [@](#): > > Damn this is a tough room. But straight dopers have set me straight. > I pledge from this day forward to NOT be a cheap bastard and to leave a 15% tip. Would all Dopers (well, _anyone_) be so quick to learn and admit error of judgement. Congrats. ---
**Author:** ![Oblio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c4cdca/32.png) [@Oblio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblio)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/16 "2000-02-18T03:45:00Z")
And don’t forget to calculate your tips on the usual price of the food. Don’t screw your wait(er)(ress) during happy hour. We get a pitcher of microbrew and a dozen wings for $6.75, hang out for an hour plus, and get great service. We usually tip $4-5. I like to scale it non-linearly. You are being served, taken care of, and if it is a cheap place, it just doesn’t make sense to tip 1 or 2 dollars if you have spent an hour or two holding a table depriving a server of more customers. On the other hand, if I spend $150 on a meal (real rare), it better be damn good service to warrant 20% of that tab. Often I will get better service during a $10 meal than a $50 one, so sometimes a flat percentage doesn’t make sense and I adjust for that. * * * A point in every direction is like no point at all ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/17 "2000-02-18T04:59:00Z")
Oblio’s post reminds me of graduate school days: The usual group would go for Monday Night Football, with dollar drafts and half price appetizers. Often, our tip would almost equal our food/drink bill. Just because stuff is on special doesn’t mean the waitress/waiter doesn’t work just as hard. Probably harder, given hungry, drunk grad students. 🙂 Unfortunately, the restaurant we liked to frequent stopped their special promotion due to extremely lousy tips on cheap nights. Not from us, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/18 "2000-02-18T05:26:00Z")
Glad you’ve seen the light,aha. Trust me, I worked as a waiter and bartender during college and they earn every cent of 15%. The exception is if the service is very bad. then a small or no tip is apropriate. I myself tip 20% as a matter of routine. If you waited on me, and I only left 10%, you sucked. My wife gets on me about this all the time. I can’t help it, it’s ingrained. I generally pre-bus my own table into a nice 1 handed carry too, but thats another story. * * * Cecil said it. I believe it. That settles it. ---
**Author:** ![Crystalguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dbc845/32.png) [@Crystalguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crystalguy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/19 "2000-02-18T09:02:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by aha: > \*\*Damn this is a tough room. But straight dopers have set me straight. > > I pledge from this day forward to NOT be a cheap bastard and to leave a 15% tip. > > \*\* So, are you going to go back to CHILIS and make it up to the server? ---
**Author:** ![Jomolungma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b2d939/32.png) [@Jomolungma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jomolungma)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525/20 "2000-02-18T10:11:00Z")
I, too, routinely tip closer to 20% – adjusted for either exemplary or egregious service. I try not to take out my dissatisfaction with mediocre food on the server. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-5-tip-am-i-a-cheap-bastard/4525.md?page=2)