Tipping based on sub-total or after tax amount?
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Maybe it depends on where you live. I tip on the total. Sometimes, when the company is cheap and says to tip up to [x]% - at a level below the standard - I tip on my mystery shopping credit card and my companion makes up the proper amount tipping in cash.
At least now you have clarification for future shops.
At least now you have clarification for future shops.
"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
Tips are on the total bill plus for anything that was comped or a coupon was used. Don't forget to tip on to-go orders. Servers do a lot more than you think to prepare your orders. Don't punish your server if food is less than par, they cannot control what the kitchen does.
Going forward it would be a good idea to contact the company before your next job like this and ask them specifically what they mean. Every company (and every shopper) has a different opinion about tipping so if it is unclear you need to get the info directly from the source. I find the schedulers to be a better place to ask these sorts of questions.
I waited tables and was a bartender for years. It's common practice to tip on the subtotal, but I generally tip on the total amount, personally. I also tend to tip more than 20% because of my background. For stellar service I sometimes give 30%. There are companies who don't want you to tip that much and only want you to tip 18% even for excellent service, even if you stay under the reimbursement otherwise. Ridiculous.
I think that your editor was wrong in this case and should not have dinged you. They obviously never have waited tables before.
I think that your editor was wrong in this case and should not have dinged you. They obviously never have waited tables before.
I have always heard also that the tip is figured on the pretax amount. Like JAS I usually tip on the full total though.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
My #1 company when doing a take out pick up says to leave a dollar or two for tip. I run in and pick up order, no service, that's what i do...it's their client, who am I to argue. I usually tip on total amount giving 15% for o.k. and 18% for good service and 20% for great service. They now tell you how much to tip.....and some in Vega add in tip they want, nto even your choice.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/05/2017 06:38PM by Irene_L.A..
Live consciously....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/05/2017 06:38PM by Irene_L.A..
I tip on pre-tax total, so I probably would have done the same as you. I guess for this company, shoppers should use the total with tax. Usually, there is not a big difference between the two tip amounts. I just don't see why I would pay tax and then pay a tip on the tax amount.
When I dine out on my own, I leave a 20% tip based on the total or total before discounts (happy hour, coupons, comps, etc.).
When I dine out on a shop, I follow the guidelines.
When I dine out on a shop, I follow the guidelines.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I think the guidelines for the OP must have been ambiguous. And yes, Honny, I also take into consideration what the amount would have been if I did not have a coupon or the location was not running a special (i.e. buy one get one, etc.). But if everything was regular price I usually tip on the total after tax. I think it's fine either way on your own dime. I guess the OP will have to make note of what this particular MSC wants for future reference, but it still could just be the editor's perception and not that of the MSC or client.
@HonnyBrown wrote:
When I dine out on my own, I leave a 20% tip based on the total or total before discounts (happy hour, coupons, comps, etc.).
A LOT of people don't take into account discounts. It depends on me. If I go somewhere that has a daily special, like say chicken fingers are normally $.9..99 but on Tuesday's at lunch they're $7.99 and they have a different item like that every day, yeah, tipping on the total. But for the most part, I agree with you. If I have a buy one get one free coupon they're getting 40% instead of 20%. And if something is horrible and I get comped dessert, yeah, not tipping on that either.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
Right, and there are people who get a bad meal and take it out on the server by giving a lesser tip, which is just so wrong if the server tried really hard to fix things. But getting comped a dessert, well, I generally wouldn't order dessert so if my meal sucked and they gave it to me for free, nope, not tipping as if it had been on the bill.
I follow the guidelines on shops. But when I'm on my own, I'm a serious tipper!!!!
And on Sonic, even shopping, I always tip $1, even knowing it's coming out of my pocket.
And on Sonic, even shopping, I always tip $1, even knowing it's coming out of my pocket.
@JASFLALMT wrote:
But getting comped a dessert, well, I generally wouldn't order dessert so if my meal sucked and they gave it to me for free, nope, not tipping as if it had been on the bill.
Exactly. Tipping on it gives it a cost, so you're not getting it free as was intended.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
Yeah, cease, I tip Papa John's carryout CSR $1 though I know I am not getting it back, either.
to tip or not to tip that is the question
and if so how much
and if so how much
Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.
Okay, this is another track on tipping, but, do ya'll put tips in jars sitting on counters? Like in a taco place I visit where I have to walk up to the counter, order, take a buzzer and walk to another counter to pick up the food? Also have to get my own drink and clean up my own table. And they have a big ole tip can sitting right next to the register! I've even encountered a tip jar at a roadside farmers market!
While I'm frugal I will tip appropriately for SERVICE - am I being cheap not throwing change into these jars?
While I'm frugal I will tip appropriately for SERVICE - am I being cheap not throwing change into these jars?
Susie shopping the Columbus Ohio area and outlying communities.
I do not tip for counter service.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
It depends. I tip counter service at some places, but never do I feel obligated.
I am a minimum 20%'er, yes I have been a waitress, and have to say I also hate the tip jars. I hate to say that I never thought about my shops being rejected because I tip too much, will make sure to check the specs and tip the rest in cash. But I do make an exception for the tip jars at the farmer's market up at the corner or if I get great service. I would hate to be out there in 100+ degree heat index and make the little bit they do. Plus, I have found out they give a little extra or make sure I get the freshest produce. I didn't do it for the perks, except the one where you feel good helping someone else.
I tip on the subtotal or what the subtotal would have been without the coupon or discount. In my area, most people I know take the tax number and double it rounding up (they aren't discount/ coupon shoppers so no issues there).
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/2017 02:52PM by wwin.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/2017 02:52PM by wwin.
Even according to the Restaurant industry- which has tried to shame us into paying more and more (when I was growing up it was $10%-- then 15% -- now they are pushing 18-20%) that you are to tip on the PRE TAX amount. Don't tell me that "those were different times" .........."10% is still 10%" whether it is one a $1 in 1970 or a $10 hamburger today. Yes I DO tip and usually 15% -- but it going too far now with every swingin' &^^% sammich shop having a tip bucket out (YES I know I can opt not to tip)-- but I would rather have Employers paying a Living wage to their employees so that someone giving me counter service (not sit down service) does not expect a tip. YES I have heard the argument that this will drive the cost of the food up............negligibly. I would pay a a little more to get rid of the overused tip buckets. They have em at Jersey Mikes, Dairy Queen..........what next? Tip buckets at McDonalds and Taco Bell? ...........
Might as well put a bucket out that reads
"MY CHEAPSKATE EMPLOYER DOESN'T PAY ME ENOUGH TO EVEN RENT A CHEAP STUDIO APARTMENT --SO YOU THE CUSTOMER SHOULD PAY THE DIFFERENCE........GIMME A TIP,,,, A GOOD ONE" ....
" YES I TIP BUT IT HAS GONE TOO FAR!!
'Ye Olde Tip Curmudgeon.
Might as well put a bucket out that reads
"MY CHEAPSKATE EMPLOYER DOESN'T PAY ME ENOUGH TO EVEN RENT A CHEAP STUDIO APARTMENT --SO YOU THE CUSTOMER SHOULD PAY THE DIFFERENCE........GIMME A TIP,,,, A GOOD ONE" ....
" YES I TIP BUT IT HAS GONE TOO FAR!!
'Ye Olde Tip Curmudgeon.
catlassy, I am in my mid 50s and waited tables in the early 80s and was a bartender in the mid 80s, and the expected tip for average service was 15% and 20% or more for great service. When my parents took us out to dinner in the 70s when I was in my teens, they tipped 20%. You must be a great deal older than I am, because I never remember it being 10%. I agree about the tip jars for minimum wage workers, though.
I'm in my mid 40's and I remember when you tipped 15% for good service. Then it went 15% for average service and 18% for good service. Then it went to 18%-20% for average service. I may be cheap but 20% for me is good service and 15% is average and I'm sorry but I absolutely tip less if service sucks. When eating alone, I do round those numbers up if service is good.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
I was a server too, but it a low-end steakhouse. Tips were usually a dollar or two. Sometimes five. It was rarely based on a percentage of the total.
I was actually dinged the other way on a shop several years ago. I tipped based on the total (including tax) and didn't get full reimbursement (even though I was under the reimbursable amount) because the max I was allowed to tip was based on the pre-tax total. Although I had never thought about it that way, I've never forgotten it and I think it makes complete sense.
Sales tax has absolutely nothing to do with the establishment. It's a number set by the state and local communities in which the restaurant operates. The IRS allocates tips based on sales, not taxes that are collected and submitted to taxing authorities. I know, there's no reason to use an IRS policy to form our own policies, but it makes sense to me.
I also tip over 20% for outstanding service. But I base my percentages on the pre-discounted sub-total ever since that ding a few years ago.
I was actually dinged the other way on a shop several years ago. I tipped based on the total (including tax) and didn't get full reimbursement (even though I was under the reimbursable amount) because the max I was allowed to tip was based on the pre-tax total. Although I had never thought about it that way, I've never forgotten it and I think it makes complete sense.
Sales tax has absolutely nothing to do with the establishment. It's a number set by the state and local communities in which the restaurant operates. The IRS allocates tips based on sales, not taxes that are collected and submitted to taxing authorities. I know, there's no reason to use an IRS policy to form our own policies, but it makes sense to me.
I also tip over 20% for outstanding service. But I base my percentages on the pre-discounted sub-total ever since that ding a few years ago.
@LeslieKay111 wrote:
Tips are on the total bill plus for anything that was comped or a coupon was used. Don't forget to tip on to-go orders. Servers do a lot more than you think to prepare your orders. Don't punish your server if food is less than par, they cannot control what the kitchen does.
Unless the MSC like ACL specifies the tipping guidelines for to-go orders.... e.g. 10% or sometimes no tip is required.
We've debated about this on this forum many, many times. It's not our job as mystery shoppers to pay out of pocket for additional tip. If there are location requirements that automatically add 18% gratuity for having a party of 6+, fine; no problem. However, this wage gap for servers should be addressed by their employers, not their customers....
As someone said above, some people genuinely believe a $5 tip applies for ANY dine-in visit, whether a $10 bill, a $35 bill or a $70 bill. If you want to statistics, why are these companies relying on a society where the majority of their citizens lack basic math comprehension? The majority doesn't understand this math mumbo jumbo
Sources:
[qz.com]
[www.npr.org]
[nypost.com]
Very infrequently shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado these days.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/07/2017 01:36PM by Tarantado.
For those who remember when standard gratuities were in the 10% to 15% range, they correspond with the time when tips were not taxed. Not only are they taxed now, the tax uses a formula based on what the server rings. Whether or not it is our job as mystery shoppers to pay out of pocket or to subsidize employers who can pay a special lower wage for their tipped workers is not relevant. It is not the servers job to subsidize our mystery shops either.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Not a shop, but I had a manicure today and she did a good job, but had no fan to dry nails...she said to just sit there, and put on a drying polish. I sit and not knowing how long, I ask her if I'm dry, she littering holller's at me,
"I said to sit", and was really rude...o.k. When I went to pay, I told them I would't return to her, they apoligized
and I gave her 10%, tip, she lucky I gave her anything. Tips should be for good service, you can't feel sorry for everyone who chooses to do a service job........
"I said to sit", and was really rude...o.k. When I went to pay, I told them I would't return to her, they apoligized
and I gave her 10%, tip, she lucky I gave her anything. Tips should be for good service, you can't feel sorry for everyone who chooses to do a service job........
Live consciously....
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