Thursdays: Your Consumer Protection Series, So far:
Lenda Hand Yu is available to offer service industry training sessions for your wait staff. She has over 20 years of experience. Call her at 402.932.3497 for details.
Double check any double lines of tip on a bill. Follow these cautionary tips to be sure extra tips aren’t added later. In any economic times, eating out is the most agreeable entertainment for groups. But look twice, when the final bill comes, a second tip line appears.
Part of delivery charges may go to the delivery driver. Assume less than half, as the business may have a standard amount that gets divided in a pool. While eating in, automatic party gratuity percent tips are posted on signs or noted on the menu.
Separate checks for large parties may not always include the gratuity percent. If patrons don’t leave the minimum party tip, it makes the wait staff’s work feel minimized. If you want separate checks, tell them before ordering. More experienced wait staff will usually separate in the beginning. At the end, it’s easier to run a total bill, if one person decides to pay it all. Asking to separate at the end takes more time.
As of 2012 in the Midwest:
The average standard percent rate for a party gratuity tip is 18%.
The average expected tip, is at least 15%.Self quick calculating tips:
Using calculators to figure out a tip, makes you look cheap, even if it’s on your cell phone.
Rounding up to a whole number is a lot easier to calculate, plus is only a matter of a few percent generous difference. For example, if we have a $16.76 bill. Round the 10% $1.67 to $2, give 15%=$3. The actual percent will still be in the range of the average expected tip.
Examples:
10%$20.00 bill
Decimal 1 digit left:
$2.000
15% :
$20.00 bill
Decimal 1 digit left:
(10%) $2.000
Add half of that to that: $1
The tip is $3.
20%
$20.00 bill
Decimal 1 digit left:
(10%)$2.000
Multiply that X times 2=$4
The tip is $4
Of a $20 bill, 18% is between $3 and $4 and a little bit past half the difference of the two. It isn’t a percent number to easily calculate quickly in the head. Computer systems will calculate the amount for you and will appear on the first line of tip.
Sneaky tip tricks
- They may draw a smiley face or circle around the extra tip line.
- They hope you don’t pay attention to the already added 18% and hope you add 15% more on top of that subtotal.
- They may add a number later if you leave blank lines.
- They know, some, under the influence of alcohol, may tip more.
- They may pressure your time, by hovering, pausing, or coming back to collect quickly.
- Some may delay giving you change from cash.
If you DON’T WANT TO TIP MORE than the 18%:
· X out the extra tip line.
· A subtotal may include the 18%.
· Re-write that subtotal in the total line at the bottom.
· Sign
· Keep your receipt
· Hand to your assigned waiter.
If you WANT TO TIP MORE than the 18%:
- Enter the amount in the extra tip line area.
- Write in the added total from the subtotaled 18%.
- Sign
- Keep your receipt
- Hand to your assigned waiter.
It pays to double check the double lines of tip. Be sure to only give the final bill back to your assigned waiter. Be sure to keep your copy of your credit card receipt too, in case there’s a dispute about charges. The establishment may have to produce those receipts for a chargeback issue.
Lenda Hand Yu is available to offer service industry training sessions for your wait staff. She has over 20 years of experience. Call her at 402.932.3497 for details.
