I always tip more than 15% or 18% but don't go crazy. I usually stick to close to 20%. MSCs won't cover the extra little bit I throw in, but I don't see that as a problem at all. Well, after many, many years with a particular MSC, I received a note from an editor stating that I tipped too much and that while the extra wouldn't be reimbursed, doing so would make me stand out. I highly doubt $8 to $10 on a $40ish check made me stand out. My husband said to just go back to tipping what the percentage stated in the guidelines. I don't want to cause trouble, but you would think after maybe 7 or 8 years with this particular MSC, someone would have called me out before now. The amount the editor is upset over is maybe $2. Just wanted to start a conversation about this topic - do you "over tip" when the guidelines say they will only cover a certain amount? Leave some on the card and some in cash (I think that makes you stand out more!)? Only tip 15% wherever you go and go up to 18% or 20% when its required by the guidelines? Been called out for this "grand gesture?"

Tipping more than 18% (of the pre-tax) amount is very unusual; 15% is normal. The only time I ever tipped more than 18% was when I was hosting a group of 30 young people that tore the place apart.

Everything has to be great for me to over tip. I stay within the 15/18%, unless it's really upscale and the evening was great, I'll go to 20%. Nothing has been said and if they don't have to pay, what's the problem. I know many that tip a lot, folks going out nice and drinking get loose with tips...silly to be called out for something your paying for.

I was a server for years in my 20s and received 20% all the time. Maybe it depends on the area. I was in San Diego. I am surprised you used the term "unusual." 20% seemed to be the norm back then and I just have continued it in my own spending. What area are you in Rousseau?

If there are no restrictions and I have room within reimbursement, I’ll tip more than 20%, in some cases.

Good grief. If you get service you feel is worth 20%, give the 20%.

I think it would make you stand out more if you did NOT tip extra for extraordinary service!

Now, as to whether or not to REPORT the extra tip amount, I'll just follow the discussion....but I think it would depend on the MSC involved. Some clearly say if the total meal/gratuity exceed the reimbursement, it's out of your own pocket, in which case I would report what I actually tipped. Just like I ALWAYS tip at Sonic, but I never report it; it's not addressed in the guidelines, and it certainly isn't reimbursed. But I don't feel right NOT tipping -- the carhop is as much a waitress as any waitress in a sit-down place, and I don't "stiff" waitresses.

Yes, I wasn't dropping $20s or $100s or something! No one would be calling the news to say I paid their next semester in college. I was really surprised to be called out for something so small and that they thought I would be memorable because of the "huge" chunk of change I left. I always know my reimbursement would be adjusted and I was just fine with it.

I stick to guidelines when I'm shopping mostly. But the companies that I do sit down restaurants for are okay with 20%. When I'm out for dinner not shopping, I must really stand out because my husband and I almost always do what I call 20% +. I figure out what the 20% is and then round up to the next dollar. In addition we make a point to tip in cash even though we usually pay the check by credit card. Why? Because I used to work for a place where management took a percentage of the tip that was done on a credit card. I refuse to take a chance on another place doing the same. Servers are grossly underpaid and deserve a decent tip. At least if they give really good service.

$10 on $40 is too much. I'd agree with the editor.

I have been "scolded" as well for tipping too much. I normally go by the guidelines but round up few dollars. I noticed one paticular MSC will only reimburse me the exact (to the penny!) percent that is in the guidelines hehe. I think its more natural to round up.

I looked it up out of curiosity. It was a total bill of $42.70 and I tipped $8. Reimbursement was to $50 with (I think) 15% tip, possibly 18% tip. Is $8 really "too much" and does that make me memorable?

@ShopSouthTexas wrote:

I looked it up out of curiosity. It was a total bill of $42.70 and I tipped $8. Reimbursement was to $50 with (I think) 15% tip, possibly 18% tip. Is $8 really "too much" and does that make me memorable?

Was it $42.70 including tax or before tax?
If it was after tax, you tipped over 20%.

SoCal - that was the total bill, including tax. Like I said, If I tipped based on pre-tax at the 15% rate, it would have fallen into the $6 range, a difference of $2 tops. I have done much worse at the more expensive restaurants that call for 18% and again, I do 20%. When the bill is larger, I tip pre-tax. Smaller, its such a small difference, I round up to the next $1 normally. The meal ended up costing me $2 and I am totally fine with that. I did not expect the MSC to pick up my generous overage. And yes, this is the MSC that calculates the percentage to the penny.

I agree with you.....I usually tip 15-20%

Could be this editor is a cheapo......who knows!!

I would have left the same tip amount, 8-10 dollars. That shouldn't make you "stand out". Some people are more generous than others when it comes to tipping whether they are mystery shopping or not.

tipping too little or too much can make u memorable. msers are supposed to be bland & ordinary. get generous w/tips in your off time not when working for msc w/guidelines.

@MSNinja wrote:

tipping too little or too much can make u memorable. msers are supposed to be bland & ordinary. get generous w/tips in your off time not when working for msc w/guidelines.

I agree 100%

I got it once -- but I didn't think much of it. I was eating at a diner and the reimbursement was for up to $15 (included the tip -- cheap diner). I ordered about $12 in food with the buffet, coffee, and tea. Apparently there was a special and the waitress who also rang in my order gave me a discount that jerked it down to around $7. I dunno why it wasn't mentioned when I asked about the specials, lol. Buffet and an iced tea for $5.99 + my cup o' joe.

I tipped the rest up to $15. I had a $10 and a $5 in my hand already to pay with and knew the reimbursement didn't have any stipulations on tipping percentage. I told her to just go ahead and keep the extra since I was already expecting to pay $12 for lunch anyway. She just said "awe, thank you honey, you're a blessing" or something to that tune. It's been a while, but it's the only time I was sorta chastised for overtipping and told to keep it at the standard 15-20% in the future so I didn't stand out. Now, I kinda think if I were to have gotten the same lady, she might think I stood out if I were a tightwad on future dining experiences.

I"m a moody tipper and I have been a server, we know that some people tip well at times and don't other times. I think your editor was too picky. If that was a problem with the company why weren't you told long ago? I don't calculate percentages. I just leave a generous tip feeling like that should cover it, if the service was decent. I don't go out to a nice meal to have to do math.

When hubby & I go out to eat on Fridays (our date night for almost 30 years now!), we have always tipped 20%, and sometimes up to 22% on our pre-tax amount......we are by NO MEANS wealthy....we are both retired and living on very fixed incomes, but times are tough for everyone. Our son was a server for a while at Cracker Barrel, and from that, we know how appreciative servers are for what tips they get. So while I don't do mystery shops for eating out, as a rule I would say that 20% is fine if it's in your budget....even up to 25% if you feel that the service was warranted, and you can. Like I said....times are tough for everyone!

@ShopSouthTexas wrote:

SoCal - that was the total bill, including tax. Like I said, If I tipped based on pre-tax at the 15% rate, it would have fallen into the $6 range, a difference of $2 tops. I have done much worse at the more expensive restaurants that call for 18% and again, I do 20%. When the bill is larger, I tip pre-tax. Smaller, its such a small difference, I round up to the next $1 normally. The meal ended up costing me $2 and I am totally fine with that. I did not expect the MSC to pick up my generous overage. And yes, this is the MSC that calculates the percentage to the penny.

OK. Here you go.
Bill was $39.50 plus tax = $42.67

15% = $5.93
18% = $7.11
20% = $7.90
20.3% = $8.00

I would have tipped $7.33 and been done with it, if it's an issue with them.
$50.00 exactly. That extra 67 cents sent them over the edge. hahahahaha

I did a lunch about 15 years ago for them. I think that my bill was around $16. They wanted me to tip $2.25 or something crazy. I tipped $3 and called it a day.

In my area 20% is a standard tip.

Thank you for doing the math. .89cents if it were 18% and a whopping $2.07 if it was supposed to be 15%. Oh my. That's not worth the editor's time to type out to me! So hilarious to me. I don't think that server blinked an eye from the great windfall.

Like KathyG, 20% is the standard for good service in my area.

15% to 20% is standard. I would tip in cash from now on and only say I tipped whatever the guidelines allow. I would of course tip what your used to tipping. Thats the easy solution.

I always tip 20% pretax if service is good. Less if there is a service problem more if service is extraordinary.

If you can't afford to tip 20% which is The American Standard Guideline on tipping you should eat at a place where tipping isn't done aka Mc Donalds.

I know a lot of guidelines say 15% but I feel so cheap doing that! I used to work in the service industry and know how important tips are to the employee employees. I usually tip anywhere from 20 to 30% when it is not a mystery shop. For mystery shops I try to stick to about 18%. I did a pizza delivery shop where the tip was supposed to be $2. It was really windy and rainy that day, and the driver had to cross a large bridge to get to me, so I gave him an extra $5 bill when he arrived.

Are you kidding me? I did a movie theater shop which asked me not to tip more than 15%... no way I'm doing that for bringing me a soda 3 feet. Rounded up to the nearest dollar, was already $6 for that. A restaurant told me my tip had to be what would bring it to the next bill amount, so my $32 bill turned to $40 because I couldn't ask for change. No problem, its my favorite restaurant, and the bartenders and waiters were good, kept the drinks strong and filled (when requested).

Another restaurant I have been to almost every 2 weeks for the last 10 years, so no one knows I started shopping there. We also look like a typical family, I brought my parents and my grandma, as I'm only 22 and I live at home. Looked like a typical dinner out, and I, being a millennial, could 100% get away with being on my phone now and then as I kept getting texts from my friends about our weekend plans, and one even called me (I ignored it, but was conveniently when the waiter was taking our order). In the last 2 years, we had the best service we ever had, and we let our waiter know. I explained it in the mystery shop why we tipped 25%, and the guidelines were only at least 15%. We even called the manager that night to let her know he is probably the best waiter we ever had there. The MSC only reimbursed for up to $35 (no payment), and it was a family of 4, so we spent about $50 plus tip, but they approved my review within 12 hours of the shop.

How dare you try to give someone a living wage! /s

"We even called the manager that night to let her know he is probably the best waiter we ever had there."

You called the manager about the dinner that was a shop or was this another night?

"and I, being a millennial, could 100% get away with being on my phone now and then"

Just be careful of the guidelines. Some shops are still behind the times. They severely limit using your phone or do not allow it all.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/14/2017 05:20PM by LisaSTL.

@ShopSouthTexas wrote:

I looked it up out of curiosity. It was a total bill of $42.70 and I tipped $8. Reimbursement was to $50 with (I think) 15% tip, possibly 18% tip. Is $8 really "too much" and does that make me memorable?

Okay, $4.20 would be 10%, and half of that would be $2.10 so $6.30 would be the tip 15%. I always tip more than that... depending on the service, as I used to be a server in Florida.... making very low wages under $3 an hour and this was the year 2000.

I usually tip 18% - 20 % when doing a mystery shop. A lot of the restaurants that I do say to tip 18%. I have done 20% several times when service was good and nothing has ever been said. I guess good service times are reflected in our reports. When I am not doing a mystery shop, I tip better. I was a waitress in my younger days and I know the struggle! I also tip the car hops at Sonic when I am not on a mystery shop. My hubby and I frequent a local diner and I always leave one waitress $10 and the bill is only about $20. We have been going there for years and she always remembers us and gives the best service. It is a small place and they recognize my car when I pull in and usually set menus on a table for us before we even get in the door.