How much do you tip?

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***For the non-American WP members, in America it is customary to leave some extra money at you're table to pay for the services of your waiter/waitress. The custom is almost completely voluntary, and has generated some controversy as to how much wait staff should be tipped.***

I know the rule of thumb is 15%, and not surprisingly, many waiters will insist the proper amount is anywhere from 15% to 20%. I personally tip 10%. If it is a really nice restaurant, if the service was extra good, I might tip 15%. Also, if I am one of only a few people there, I will tip 15% in order to help out the person waiting on me. In general, however, I only tip 10%. That's just what I feel like the service I received was worth most of the time. It doesn't seem like waiters add that much value to my meal, so I don't pay them that much.

How about you guys? How much do you tip and why?

I'm not a tipper.

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I don't tip waiters, Just my chair.

Usually 20% or more, depending. In the US the tips are a major part of a waitress's or waiter's income. I think in some cases it is their only income. I tip based on the service, not the food, since the waiter/waitress has no control over the quality of the food they serve. Only once have I not left a tip and that was because the service was absolutely atrocious and for no apparent reason.

I don't go to places where they have waiter/waitress services.

0

The employer should pay them the required amount of money for their job.

(I don't go out though, so it's kinda moot.)

Because tips are customary in service related jobs, employers are exempt from paying wait staff minimum wage in the US. Tips are expected to supplement the difference between what they are paid, and minimum wage. This is not the case in most European countries. It's all well and good to feel that employers "should pay them the required amount of money for their job", but the fact of the matter is, they don't, and the law says they can get away with it.

I don't have a lot of money(on Social Security Disability) & I don't go to super fancy restaurants. If the service was good I'll tip alittle over 10%. I round my credit-card total to an even dollar(no cents) so I may do like 11 or 12% rounded up to nearest dollar.

Roughly 10% of my Bill (e.g £50 bill so £5 tip)

In the UK it's not mandatory to tip but you'll look like a tight w***er if you don't.

Some or probably most restaurants have service charge included in their bills in the UK which pretty much what really pays for us waiters/waitresses. In fact, realistically that's how the wages come to be otherwise we just end up getting paid less than even the minimum wage.

In my case, if the service is really good, I tend to leave a £5 tip.

I guess tipping system is necessary to ensure that they provide good service especially in the states. Otherwise they won't be motivated much I'm sure.
I hate dealing with waitstaff so I don't go out to eat often but when I do, I usually tip 15%+.
It's ridiculous that they want tips at coffee shops for pouring coffee though.

20% is standard these days, and I usually round up, as I've spent enough time in tipped occupations to understand how they work. Really, if you're in the US and you're going to a full service restaurant, you need to understand that the cost of the service is not included in the menu price, and realize that if you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to eat out, and choosing not to tip is virtually theft. It works out the same either way, you pay $50 for a steak dinner and tip the waiter $10, or the restaurant pays the waiters a higher hourly and the steak costs $60, the tip system is just a bit more flexible as the waiter isn't paid as much during idle times, and the restaurant is a little more free to staff fully knowing that they're not on the hook for a huge labor cost if it's a slower night.