Tipping question

[Honeyman]

Out of town and popped in a bar for a couple drinks. Tito's and tonic for me, house chard for my wife. Bartender says it's 18 something, I pay with a 100. He gives me coinage, a single, 2 5s, a ten, 3 twenties. I ask him to break the five and he looks at me like I ran out on the tab. I feel like I'm a good tipper, but is a 5 dollar bill the expected tip in that situation?

[originalzzmfmjock]

When my wife and I got out to dinner, we usually tip at least 5 dollars for anything under 25 dollars. Over 25 dollars, which now a days it usually is, we tip 20 percent. The only exception to that would be if the service left something to be desired.

[Turkeytop]

Out of town and popped in a bar for a couple drinks. Tito's and tonic for me, house chard for my wife. Bartender says it's 18 something, I pay with a 100. He gives me coinage, a single, 2 5s, a ten, 3 twenties. I ask him to break the five and he looks at me like I ran out on the tab. I feel like I'm a good tipper, but is a 5 dollar bill the expected tip in that situation?

$3 would have been adequate. When I'm going out somewhere, I try to make sure I have bills of various denominations with me to avoid awkward situations like that.

At home, we have $1 and $2 coins. One usually has a few of them in one's pocket.

[TC Talks]

Classic bartender move. Don't sweat it. 20% is standard

[craig11152]

Use a credit card or debit card like most people do now days.
Otherwise don't walk around with 100's in your pocket for relatively small purchases.
Do ATM machines spit out 100's where you are? Or did you walk in the bank and ask for them?

[Honeyman]

Use a credit card or debit card like most people do now days.
Otherwise don't walk around with 100's in your pocket for relatively small purchases.
Do ATM machines spit out 100's where you are? Or did you walk in the bank and ask for them?

I'm in Cambria, CA. for a month. My favorite restaurant here, the Sea Chest actually only takes cash so yes, I did stock up on bills before we came. But I really didn't think it would be that big of a deal for a busy bar/grill to break a Benjie. Was headed to a farmers market after and wanted some smaller bills.

[paul8539]

If it's anything over $10, I tip $2. Anything under $10, I tip $1.

[craig11152]

If it's anything over $10, I tip $2. Anything under $10, I tip $1.

What if it's $10?

[MotorCityRadioFreak]

$5 is plenty for an $18 tab especially for cash.

[Plate Cap]

$5 is plenty for an $18 tab especially for cash.

I was wondering if anyone would make that point...thanks, Freak.

Cash tipping improves the value of the tip substantially....the house may hold some back to allegedly share with the back staff, they may (and probably do) report W2 income on it (which means they pay taxes as income on the tip), they may even sting the employee for the interchange rate on the credit card.

Cash tip is worth another 20% at a minimum.....with a well paid waiter in a big shop, probably more like 30%.

And, they like it better. That counts if they see you often.

[MotorCityRadioFreak]

$5 is plenty for an $18 tab especially for cash.

I was wondering if anyone would make that point...thanks, Freak.

Cash tipping improves the value of the tip substantially....the house may hold some back to allegedly share with the back staff, they may (and probably do) report W2 income on it (which means they pay taxes as income on the tip), they may even sting the employee for the interchange rate on the credit card.

Cash tip is worth another 20% at a minimum.....with a well paid waiter in a big shop, probably more like 30%.

And, they like it better. That counts if they see you often.

Bingo. They pocket it and don’t give any bussers or other staff their cut(if it applies).

[paul8539]

If the waitress tells you that somebody else picked up your bill, how much do you tip?

[paul8539]

Craig: if the bill is exactly $10, it depends on how well the waitress treated me.

[craig11152]

If the waitress tells you that somebody else picked up your bill, how much do you tip?

In that case I would tip big....like 40% or 50% or even 60% .
I make the waiter happy and I still have a big discount from the 120% I would normally pay.