I often get the question from international travelers about how much to tip.. but also HOW how to tip.. We could totally talk about how tipping is strange.. or how tipping doesn’t necessarily lead to better service.. or how service works should be paid a fair wage in the USA.. But that’s not what this video is about.. the service industry in the US runs on tips.. get over it.. so this is how it works.
1 – Table Service Restaurants
The standard tip math is 15% if your experience wasn’t awful. 18 to 25% if it was good/great. Pay on the pre-tax amount.
At restaurants in the US sometimes they’ll bring your check if they’re tired of you.. or trying to turn tables quickly. Other times you have to ask for a check. At “American” cuisine restaurants you typically need to ask the server that has been waiting on you. At other ethnic cuisine restaurants like Chinese, Japanese, you can typically ask anybody. Your server will typically bring the check and place it on your table.. and they’ll walk away. You then look at the check, make sure you didn’t get charged for something you didn’t order.
Depends on whether you are paying cash or card. We’ll start with cash.
If you are paying cash.. you’ve got 2 options..
1 – Exact amount. Place the exact amount of cash including tip on the bill, or in the holder.. you are now done.. you can leave. Really.
If the server comes by before you leave.. you can hand it to them and say “keep the change”
2 – Change. Let’s see the bill is $22. You can put in $40. If you don’t say anything it is assumed you need change. Good servers will typically bring you back change in small bills so you have enough to tip. They’ll bring back the change, and leave it on the table. You then take what you want. Leave the rest for them. And then you can leave.
If you are paying by credit card
Place the credit card on the receipt, in the folder.. they will take your credit card away with the receipt. They will then bring back the bill with 2 more receipts.. one for you to fill out the tip and the total and sign.. and one for your records. Fill that out however you’d like, sign it.. take your copy and card.. and you’re ready to leave.
Sometimes the receipt won’t have place to fill out the tip.. just little check boxes for 15, 18, 20.
Some restaurants now bring a portable reader to you.. in that case you’d punch your tip in to the machine. But this is fairly uncommon.
American diner type restaurants often have you pay at the counter as you exit.. in that case if you’re paying by card you can tip your server at the cashier. If you’re paying by cash.. ask for change.. the GO BACK to your table and place the tip on your table. If the restaurant is particularly shady you may want to find your server and just hand them the tip and say “Thank you”. They’ll know what you’re doing.
Some restaurants are moving towards a “service charge” model. In that case you don’t need to add a tip.
Most restaurants will add a mandatory tip for large parties (usually 6 to 8)
Who are you tipping? Sometimes just the server.. sometimes the tips are pooled. It’s hard to tell.
2 – Counter Service Restaurants & Coffee Shops
3 – Bars
4 – Taxis
5 – Uber/Lyft/Uber Eats
6 – Hotels
Tour guide
Did you go on a walking tour? Give the tour guide s few bucks.
At Disneyland — the staff has to refuse 5 times.. then they can take your tip.
