How much to tip? Depends on service

How much to tip? This question has nagged at consumers since the first service transaction. The practice of tipping is meant as a form of thank you for services rendered, or beforehand as a subtle bribe for special treatment.

Tipping need not be considered mandatory or automatic. Tipping should be done at your discretion and as a reward for good or superlative service.

According to the American Society of Travel Agents, when it comes to tipping waiters, 15 to 20 percent of your pre-tax check is considered standard. Some restaurants will automatically add a 15 percent gratuity to your bill, especially for large parties -- look for it before tipping.

If the 15 percent is added, you need only tip up to another 5 percent for superlative service.

Dave Miller of Jackson is a traveling salesman. He said he has literally lived in restaurants across the country for 25 years, and he has received service from stellar to normal to negative.

"When I receive stellar performance, which means a happy, personal interactive experience with the waiter or waitress, I tip 20 percent," he said. "If I have extra drinks, I leave 30 percent, especially when an expense account is covering it."

Miller said when he receives what he considers normal service, he tips 15 percent of the bill. If his dining experience is negative, the server receives 2 cents.

"Not being brought water or crackers or butter or silverware after being asked and after being ignored, I leave 2 cents," said Miller. "This displays the fact that I thought about the service and tipped accordingly. I actually had a waiter in Chicago chase me into the parking lot after discovering his 2 cents and asked, 'Was it really that bad?' I responded in great detail, and I feel he received a worthwhile education."

Martha Breeze of Wolf Lake, Ill., has been a waitress 19 years. She said she has never chased a customer after receiving a cheap tip, but she has worked with people who have.

"I was 15 when I started waitressing and the normal tip then was 10 percent. It's 15 percent now," she said. "I've worked at restaurants in Farmington, Van Buren, Advance and Cape, and I think a 15 percent tip is a fair amount. When I eat out that's what I tip for good service, and sometimes I'll leave more if I really like the person."

Kassi Lynn is a waitress at Port Cape Girardeau. She said a 15 percent tip is usually the norm, but a really good tip should be 25 percent.

"A 25 percent tip happens here every now and then," she said. "There are times when a person will enjoy the food and service so much that you get $20. That's great. The restaurants downtown usually have regulars, people who like the downtown atmosphere and don't eat at the big chain restaurants on the other side of town. I find them to be generous."

Bill Scoley of Sikeston recently dined at O'Charley's in Cape Girardeau. He tipped his waitress 15 percent.

"I think 15 percent of the bill is a fair amount," he said. "Sometimes I tip maybe 10 percent if I think the service is slow. If the food is bad, I don't take that out on the waitress. It all depends on timely service. Sometimes there are delays in getting food, but usually the waitress will apoplogize for that, and I know it's not her fault. And if I'm in an especially good mood, I'll leave a $20, which would be way more than 15 percent."

Kathy Walker of Jackson has been a waitress on and off for about 12 years. She said she considers 20 percent of the bill to be a good tip.

"I think 15 percent is pretty much considered the normal amount, but it's not unusual to get 20 percent, sometimes more," she said "I think if you serve a group of people a lot of drinks and do a lot of walking back and forth, then 20 percent would be a decent amount. I've found that the more people drink, usually but not always, the bigger the tip."

Peggy Noon of Scott City said she eats out for lunch two or three times a week. She said she always tips, but since her bills are not high, she doesn't leave much.

"But I do try to leave between 10 and 15 percent," she said.

When it comes to tipping, Alex Moore of Cape Girardeau, who likes to frequent steak houses, said he's always good for at least a 10 percent tip at a minimum.

"Even for what I think is bad service, I still leave about 10 percent," he said. "I'm just not a cheap guy. Sometimes waiters will be having a bad day or they'll be real busy, and I might tend to get overlooked. I try not to take it personal. I don't think anybody gets bad service on purpose. And when I get regular service, I'm always good for about 15 percent."