Waiters/Waitresses: Head to Philly!
Filed under: Etc.
Wait staff in the City of Brotherly Love get mad love!
According to a new Zagat report, Philadelphians are the most generous tippers in the nation.
On average, Philly's peeps leave a 19.6% tip versus the countrywide average of 19.0%.
Manhattanites tip at the nation's average of 19%.
However, Los Angelenos on average come in BELOW the national average at 18.4%.
How embarrassing, LA!
Celebrities, why don't y'all pick it up a notch with your tipping?
Weren't a number of you wait staff before you hit it big?!?!
[Image via WENN.]
Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:00 am
yah
Ryan Reynolds is a shitty tipper.
I live in CA, and I always tip double the tax. I also round up!
I'm surprised it's that high! I thought 15% was the average. One question that's always bothered me though: Do you tip on the price BEFORE or AFTER tax?
Ryan Reynolds is also an asshole and a terrible actor. Please never come back to Austin Ryan Reynolds.
Andy dear, I just changed my avatar to a pic of me. Hopefully it will show up soon.
I AM BIG ON CUSTOMER SERVICE….DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO SMILE AND SAY "HOW CAN I HELP YOU"!!! I TIP AT LEAST 20% ON THE AVERAGE BUT WILL TIP LESS FOR SUCKY SERVICE!!!
Re: bouge – Wow, that was fast.
Go Eagles is right!
It's about time Philly gets a positive image!
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES. Went to college there and it's true. Knew people who waited tables and they made mad money!
that was a waste of 30 seconds of my life…
Celebutards NEVER tip.
.
These delusional idiots expect to be not only served for FREE, they expect to get FREE food & drink, and on top of that they expect to get PAID to eat at your restaurant because of alleged publicity that the owner's will receive.
It's not that surprising that LA has the low tipping rate. There's a lot of tourists.
I've got a better idea, let's actually post a useless article telling people to MOVE so they can get a 0.6% increase in their income *if* they are lucky enough to work somewhere that skewed the results slightly upwards or within the minute zone that study was done in!
0.6% LOL! I heard Canada's rate inflation was 5% better than the U.S. last year, maybe everyone should move there to make an extra 5%!
Non related; #1 DNC pickup line "Hi,I'm John Edwards!"
Re: bouge – Wow!!!! You're a lot prettier than I expected!!! Very nice. And, yeah, I totally see the Angie Harmon thing goin on with you. Now let's see a pic of your husband!
Wow, shocking…celebutards don't tip? Of course they don't. They're all self absorbed, spoiled pieces of shit. This is not news.
Maybe LA just has shitty waiters/waitresses?
I MUST BE CHEAP I ONLY GIVE 15%!!!!!
Yeah I live in CA and double the tax too but where I live that is 7.25% so I only tip 14.5% Oops! Haha oh well that's why I am not a waitress
Bouge that's not you! That looks like Angie Harmon
I know I'm gonna get a lot of flack for this, but this really surprises me. I lived in Philly for 8 years and found it to be one of the cruelest and rudest cities ever! There isn't much "love" in that city unless you're from there. Philly people use the excuse of the "Philly attitude" allowing them to think it's "OK" to treat people like dirt. Granted, I dined in Philly often and did tip well, but I still would not suggest moving to Philadelphia even if you are a waiter/waitress. Stick to NYC or something.
I live in Philly and always tip close to 30%.
The people serving you get paid crap…you have to show them mad love!
Re: Andy27 – He took it off!
Re: bouge – Oh yeah , now bend over!
yeah thats right im from philly born and raised. My sister has been a waitress for like 10 years and she graduated from college, still does the waitressing on the side downtown b/c of the $. GO EAGLES & FLYERS
Re: Andy27 – Thanks
Re: Kiwi – boooooooo are you kidding? new york is so expensive & they have an attitude just like us from philly. Get outa here if you dont like it
You should tip off the amount after tax. Most servers are required to tip out other parts of restaurant (kitchen, host, bartender etc.) off their total sales regardless of what they make in tips. So for those of you who tip your server a measly 10 percent, they're getting screwed twice. Just remember, servers live off tips, and you should tip on service quality not whether you liked your food or not. If the server is shitty, i'm not saying still tip well, but if they're good give them a decent tip!
this is so true. i waited tables in dallas when the eagles came to town to play the cowboys. damn, some of the best tips of my life. come back anytime eagles fans!
I read about this yesterday…so glad to hear some good news about my city!! We might shoot you but we tip well.
)
you would think Maryland…being that their the wealthiest state in the U.S.
Re: bouge –
you have to log out, then back in….:)
Re: bouge – Re: Andy27 –
you are!! you look just like her….
I'm from Philly and this is how I do it:
For example- the bill is $64.80… Take 10% of that (easy enough- $6.48) and double it ($12.96). That's 20%- now don't be a douche- leave your server $13.
I always tip 20%. at least! always!!!
Yeah Philly! I love living here.
Susieprincess…LMAO
I'm with Kiwi, I lived in Philly for 7 years and it is NOT the city of brotherly love. The Philly attitude is alive and well, not to mention the dirty streets and high crime rate. Venture out of the tourist areas at your own risk. Philly may have the highest tip percentage for Zagat's rated restaurants, but go anywhere non-Zagatworthy and you're lucky to get 10%.
Silly. Celebrities do not make up the population of Los Angeles. LA is full of hard-working immigrants who make less than minimum wage, so a good deal of them can only tip what they can afford.
Re: Bellezza Italiana –
I have to agree with Kiwi. The people in Philly are the rudest, most unintelligent people in the world. That's probably why they tip so well, they're not aware of what they're actually giving the waiters/waitresses. Yes people in NYC have an attitude, at times, but nothing compares to the filth that resides in Philly. If you've never been to Philly…. don't go! Stay far away! If you're not killed the moment you step out of your hotel, you'll discover the rudeness for yourself in one tenth of a second.
And Belle whatever your name is. I don't have to "get outa" there, as you instructed Kiwi to do, because thankfully I don't live there. I reside in beautiful and friendly Los Angeles. These are observations my friends and I have taken note of on the numerous occasions we've had the misfortune of being in your miserable city! You must be so proud! Oh wait, you're from Philly so I bet you're beaming with pride.
I'm a waitress in Philly, and I can tell you that when people visiting from L.A. dine, they leave either extremely bad tips or not at all. Servers make 2.83 an hour before taxes and then the government taxes them on 12% of total sales whether they made more or less. People who leave 15% or less in Philly will get dirty looks and sometimes confrontation from servers, so please be kind and leave 18-20%.
Re: abercorey – Lookin good babe
Re: abercorey – lookin good babe
Well, gee, maybe it is because in California, we pay a much higher tax rate than most other states. We have the highest gas tax, the highest state income taxes, some of the highest city taxes (in LA), and business taxes. And guess what, there is a tax increase slated for the state and the city. Don't forget, the proposed state tax increase is proposed to decrease after 3 years, but the tax will now be added to services such as doctor visits and hairdressers…….
Re: Bellezza Italiana – Trust me, I already did. Once again, perfect example of Philly attitude. I have a lot of friends still in the city. Not every one is a bad person, but there are a few who make it bad for everyone. And what kills me is that Philly is trying to get a better reputation, but the city as a whole tends to piss in its own bed (and at the El stations, need I mention the underground station for the broad street line and El at city hall) time and time again. Not every city is perfect, I know that. Philly has great history and some awesome restaurants and shops. I love South Street, Olde City, and even the Art Museum area. But Philly needs a lot of improvement. I don't know how Michael Nutter has been doing for the city of Philly, but Street was a mess, his brother even worse. I got out of Philly 9 months ago and enjoy the serenity of New England now. Bellezza, you can have Philly. Please, in fact I'll give wrap it, and hope that no one pisses on it before I can hand it to you.
Re: bouge –
thank you…as do you!!!
uhhhh, when did industry standard go to 19%. I realize I have not waited tables in 10 years but I thought
15% on total bill (waitresses pay taxes too) if you got service
20+% if you got excellent service
christ I feel like a shitheel if I have only been leaving minimum
Usually 15% gratuity is considered the norm, so really LA is above average in that.
18-20% is the new standard. 15% is now considered on the low side, while anything below that is insulting.
Someone asked about pre/post tax tipping….that's part of a great debate in service land.
Re: superBitch – 19% is an above average tipping rate. It's still customary to tip 15% and most people just round up to 20% because it's easier. Plus, in California, food servers make the minimum wage on top of the tips. In a lot of other states, servers either don't make an hourly salary, or make less than the minimum wage. So tipping a server higher in another state is a nice thing to do.
Philly is a blue collar town with a deep appreciation for hard work. Wait staff are treated with respect.
We don't tip a lot because we're 'stupid' as someone snarked…we tip well because we appreciate the fact that our waiter/waitress is breaking their ass and working long, shitty hours for crap pay.
Way to represent Philly! Great website for Philly and Jersey sports, fun, etc….
www.diceituponline.com
Let's go birds!!
Nice! It must be the abundance of university/college kids and their expendable income at University City! LOVE PHILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY!
If I eat an an overpriced restaurant, where salads & burgers cost $20…..
I usually under tip. When I eat someplace where I am nicely feed for a reasonable amount of money….if you caculated the difference….I'm probably overtipping. The tip shouldn't be based on the price of the food. Is is more difficult to serve someone a $30 entree than a $10 meal? Maybe the restaurants in Philly are more reasonably priced? Think about the difference in what a waitress/waiter makes in tips when 1 works in a restaurant where tabs run into the $100's, vs. the on working where the average tab is $40
Yo!
Ok, I was born & raised in South Philly and although I agree the people can be rude, at least they are honest. I have been living in Vegas now for 14 years and I feel people from like Cali (and not all of them) are rude in their stuck up - all about me, materialistic mentality.
At least in Philly someone will just beat the crap out of you, where as LA, they will smile at your face then stab you in the back. Philly keeps it real yo!
Re: bouge – You look like Angie Harmon. I mean that in a good way
I'm a cocktail waitress and I think the best tippers are drunk men! They def tip the best!
i tip double the tax, so 16%, BUT i'm not in a major economic center like those cities where everything is overpriced anyways. WHen did tipping become expected too? Wait staff are SO LAZY half the time, they don't deserve anything. And yea, i've worked in food service and i WORKED for my tips and earned them. If you're a grumpy, lazy POS then do you really expect money to be handed to you for free? If i have an outstanding waitress than i'll tiip more. If they suck, they get like a buck. EARN IT. Battenders are even worse, they are the bitchiest people ever and want like 50% tips! No thank beoch!
This is for the people who think that tipping under 20% is acceptable. First off it is not acceptable one bit. I am a server and I sometimes don't even receive a paycheck because of how much I make in tips. Say you come in and leave 15% on a $100.00 check. That would be a $15.00 tip. By the end of the night I would take 2% of that for my bussers, 1% for my food runner, and 1% for my bartender. On a good night, you may tip out $60.00+ in tips. That is a general idea of what many restaurants tipping rules are. Some servers don't even get benefits. If they do, they have to meet a certain criteria (usually in hours) to keep their benefits. All of that tipping money is going to car payment, utilities, groceries, credit cards, and all other expenditures. Servers don't have a set income in many states where if they don't make any money that night, they still have thier hourly pay to bounce back from. In most states, minimum wage is paid out and in AZ it is $2.32 an hour or something like that. Realize that when you are sitting at your cubical or desk and you are getting paid to play Tetris (think Office Space) or whatever, servers are busting their asses. So when your dining experience is over and you had really great service don't just say thank you, show it to them with your outrageous tip. We don't come into your work and pay you 15% for your services.
Re: azdaizey – Maybe you should look foe a better job? I've always thought that doubling the tax, & rounding up, was perfectly acceptable. I guess I've been an undertipping slob my whole like. I guess I should be ashamed. But I'm not……….I work very hard for my $ too
Re: que sabrosa –
Why would a bunch of poor immigrants be eating out at restaurants?
Succulent—you make a good point–that you don't need to leave 20% when they are charging u $30 for a meal. I always assumed that the tip rate was 15% because I didn't know any better. I just usually double the tax (which is 8.25 in Ca) so I am giving about 16%. I have a question—when you get something "to go", are you supposed to tip? I never do because all they are doing is handing me the food.
i live right outside of Philly, and ALWAYS tip well. Thats just how we do it.
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and GADZOOKS!
im proud to say i always tip 20% or more
where i work if you get less than 20%, you feel as though you've done something horribly wrong. Like, you're upset if you get 15. Granted, everybody is stinking filthy rich where I work anyway.
20% is so the norm, 15 is if you got shitty.
Re: azdaizey – " We don't come into your work and pay you 15% for your services."
.
No but if you want to get technical, a tip is optional. We come in and pay for the food, tax for the food, and the tip. Waiters do not have to choose that as their career if living off 15% gratuity is the problem.
I personally don't do percentages. If the waiter is great. Being friendly, acceptably fast, things like that, I like to leave them a generous tip, if they don't earn it, then they don't earn a good tip. I don't think you'd leave someone a wad of cash for ignoring you, or being rude to you either.
.
Re: succulent – I will get a better job… when I finish school. It is the most functional while you are in school
Re: jazzmony – but did you ever think that they might be preparing the order for you behing the scenes?
Re: Ms. McGillicutty – Sure a tip is optional, but who doesn't tip and feels good about it? I am speaking for all of those hard workers who give great service. From my experience, some people will tip exactly the same whether they get the best treatment or terrible treatment. I think that if you are giving crappy service get a new job. Instead of tipping them bad talk to a manager and complain. That is what I do. Also you have to think that sometimes your experience may be bad but is it the servers fault? Did they go back there and cook the food wrong? Was it their fault. Sometimes people blame their server because it is the only person they deal with.
I lived in Philly for four years while attending college, and to the posters above with the whole getting shot walking out of your hotel room ,etc. are dead wrong. If you have never lived in Philly, shut it. Philly has its downside as does every other city. But I met some of the nicest/kindest people in the world there. You say the things you do and now you make others that have never been there think the ignorant stuff you spew. Downtown where the hotels are there is hardly any crime. So the whole walk out your hotel get shot thing is the most ignorant thing I have heard. I lived in Cali for 3 years and can tell you, I rather have the east coast any day. I won't be shallow and closed minded like the Cali girl aka (Snobby) and say everyone is like that but I can say there are more rude stuck up asses that live around that area and I have lived in a lot of places. While I live in NYC now and absolutely love it and never want to leave…..Philly wasn't a bad place to experience. go BIRDS!
not to mention old city and the art museum area are BEAUTIFUL!
I'm a waitress in San Diego, and UNFORTUNATELY we get a lot of traffic from across the border. Wealthy Mexicans only tip 10-14%. In California, that's a slap in the face… but it's expected. To receive anything less than 20% means that I'm not doing a very good job. (to me at least)
Doubling the tax is NOT how you tip. That is below average and lazy. If you've received good service, then take the amount of the bill (example $80) and double the first number… $16 tip. It's easy as that. If it was bad service, than 15% is acceptable. If the service was complaint worthy, I will stoop to 10%.
I used to wait tables a while ago, and didn't find the tips to be that great. It all depends on where you dine. Philly has a lower class, so the odds weren't that good. CHICAGO ROX!
Maybe it's a good place for waitstaff but I wouldn't recommend anyone move there. I lived there and it was vile. If you are not from there you get no respect. Every city has rude, crude, miserable people but I have never seen so many of them concentrated in one place.
I agree Perez,
Most Actors start off as WAIT people in LA!!
Show Them the Money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm also from Philly and a 20% tipper but will tip less for crappy service.
And just to address the harsh comments from some of the west coasters…Sorry that you had a poor experience in Philadelphia, but you made some GROSS generalizations about the city. It would be like me saying that all people from L.A. are unmotivated lazy tree huggers. While those things may be true about some people in the city, they are by no means applicable to most.
I've lived here most of my life, and like many people from the city you develop a loyalty to it. We're hard working people who like our sports teams and have pride in all of the culture of the city. We hang out in places like Fishtown, South, and Northeast Philly rather than just in the trendy areas (although we could tell you a thing or two about those too). As far as being uneducated goes, we have some AMAZING schools in the area, and MANY of the students in those schools are commuters. There's a reason that Philadelphia is composed of people who are born live and die there. You should give it another chance.
Waiters and waitresses in Philadelphia get paid crap, like the worst hourly salary and they make all of their money in tips. Everybody that lives there knows that (I used to) so people in Philadelphia would be real assholes if they didn't tip well.
cheap bastards!
WWW.DICEITUPONLINE.com
Come on all you Philly heads. Check it out and spread the word!!!
fuck ya go iggles!
Living in philly my whole I life I have striven to tip at least 20% for a good waiter, and 15 if they are bad…….
Re: Snobby – OK…. I was born and raised in South Philly (near the stadiums) we may have a high crime rate, and a tude, but remember we take krap from no one!!!!!!!!! We stick up for our selves, and if you don't like that get the hell out of this city…..oh and PS we are not dumb at all you probably have not spent time with people from philly that have had a education
Re: RChubbs – I know, finally!
Perez, dude, head east. MOST of L.A. is not rich, not famous and barely able to eat out at all, let alone tip big. Not excusing it, just suggesting you leave your ivory tower once in a while to see how the majority of L.A. lives.
I'm a waitress in Philly & for the most part people tip well but there are a lot of cheap @$$es out there as in any city. And for all of you talking sh*t about this city you just don't get it & I'm glad you're not here anymore. One less a-hole!
Man ! I usually tip 15%!!!
Re: succulent – wow… please stop going to places you can't afford to eat at it that is your philosophy. your server doesn't set the price of the food. and you have obviously never worked in a restaurant. i think it should be a requirement of everyone before they get any job that they put in time as a server.
I've seen debates on what an "average" tip is, and many of you are mistaken. Fifteen percent is NOT good tip. You are telling me (or any server) with that amount that things were so-so with the service. On top of that, it varies from restaurant to restaurant, but I tip out 6% of my sales…SALES, not tips, to food runners/bussers/bartenders. If you leave me 15%, i get 9% and if you leave me a really bad tip, or no tip at all, I actually lost money by serving you. One last thing to say…calling an entire population the most unintelligent really only makes you sound unintelligent.
Re: Snobby – your username says it all. thanks for writing 3 paragraphs about your hatred for the city of our founding fathers. I lived in new york for 3 years, brooklyn to be exact, & they got just as bad an attitude hunny. You say philly as a whole is filth and thats just not true. Its an amazing city for people who can actually appreciate history and culture, and a good sports game if your into that. And Im happy, please dont come here, youd get eaten alive.
Re: Kiwi – ok ill give you the respect to voice your opinion and thanx for seeing it for its beautiful culture. We arent all bad, and every city has its flaws. I grew up in s philly and if you have ever been in the heart of it, i know w/o a doubt you would change your mind.