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Are you a high earner? Do you need to budget your food expenditures? I tip 50% of the post-tax total (or $5, if that’s more) and feel good about supporting the

by cmrx64 2y ago

Are you a high earner? Do you need to budget your food expenditures? I tip 50% of the post-tax total (or $5, if that’s more) and feel good about supporting the local economy.

OhMeadhbh 2y ago
Good Question. I don't think it's based on my ability to pay. I think it's some weird, deeply-programmed "social contract." 15% was the law. Yes. It's arbitrary and rationally it seems weird I have an emotional response to this. I want to support the local economy and wait staff. During the pandemic I started tipping 20%-30%, even for take-out. I had heard local businesses were having an unsure time, so I wanted to give them a bonus for being open and to help prevent them from failing. But it's post-pandemic now and my feelings are going back to pre-pandemic. Also, Europe is an existence proof of a culture that can pay wait staff a living wage. I would be happier if I knew the wait staff could get a guaranteed decent pay-check so they were less dependent on the largess of the dining public. But that's a project that will take more than a few HN posts. As for cash. I'm not swimming in it. I'm probably "under-employed" as I work on some personal ventures. But I don't think my feelings about this have changed from when I was a reasonably well paid corporate drone.
- freetinker 2y ago
  I’m of the same view as you. 15% (or higher) of post-tax total is double-taxation. I do tip a hefty amount (50%+) on occasion if I feel the service is exceptional. I feel this is one way of incentivizing good service. Maybe the bar has shifted. Perhaps that’s one way of saying I’ll pay for service directly based on my discretion, not a pre-set amount. Bundle that in the total cost.
  - OhMeadhbh 2y ago
    Okay. I'm not completely crazy for thinking tips are calculated on pre-tax subtotal. Or if I'm crazy, I'm the same kind of crazy of at least one other person.

by cmrx64 2y ago

Are you a high earner? Do you need to budget your food expenditures? I tip 50% of the post-tax total (or $5, if that’s more) and feel good about supporting the local economy.

OhMeadhbh 2y ago

Good Question. I don't think it's based on my ability to pay. I think it's some weird, deeply-programmed "social contract." 15% was the law. Yes. It's arbitrary and rationally it seems weird I have an emotional response to this. I want to support the local economy and wait staff. During the pandemic I started tipping 20%-30%, even for take-out. I had heard local businesses were having an unsure time, so I wanted to give them a bonus for being open and to help prevent them from failing. But it's post-pandemic now and my feelings are going back to pre-pandemic. Also, Europe is an existence proof of a culture that can pay wait staff a living wage. I would be happier if I knew the wait staff could get a guaranteed decent pay-check so they were less dependent on the largess of the dining public. But that's a project that will take more than a few HN posts. As for cash. I'm not swimming in it. I'm probably "under-employed" as I work on some personal ventures. But I don't think my feelings about this have changed from when I was a reasonably well paid corporate drone.

freetinker 2y ago
I’m of the same view as you. 15% (or higher) of post-tax total is double-taxation. I do tip a hefty amount (50%+) on occasion if I feel the service is exceptional. I feel this is one way of incentivizing good service. Maybe the bar has shifted. Perhaps that’s one way of saying I’ll pay for service directly based on my discretion, not a pre-set amount. Bundle that in the total cost.
- OhMeadhbh 2y ago
  Okay. I'm not completely crazy for thinking tips are calculated on pre-tax subtotal. Or if I'm crazy, I'm the same kind of crazy of at least one other person.