OT: What’s the biggest hardo thing you do out of principal?

[the Q]

Most of the roads around where we live are 25 mph. When we were shufflin our younguns back and forth to URI from CT, we'd pretty much do 40-45 on those. Now that we live here, I do 25...maaaybe 28, 29. And when the cars stack up behind me, I point to the 25 MPH signs...

Rhode Island roads are also weird as they drop from 50 to 35 or 45 to 25 just out of nowhere.

 

[CL82]

This, 100%. Not because I'm cheap, but because of the principle. I do not tip on money that is going to the state.

If a restaurant has a tipping guide printed on the bill, and it includes tip on the tax, I will leave them a note and correct the numbers. (This is also so that they know I'm tipping at 18% by my method and not 16% by theirs.)

I've noticed that as well. Sometimes it is off even if you include tax.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Is not doing that a thing? I always include drinks when figuring tax.

Not sure what you mean really. If I've got $50 in food and $70 in wine, I may not tip on the $120 straight up. Especially since I don't seek help picking wine and prefer to pour my own after the initial glass. I actually find it irritating when they try to fill my glass before I'm ready. If I've got $100 in food and $40 in wine it's just $140 x tip%.

As others have said, this is why the tipping system is such trash. A draft beer, even an $11 imperial stout doesn't deserve the same tip as a carefully made $11 cocktail. And an $11 glass of house Cab arguably merits even less than the beer. A bottle or can of beer rates almost nothing in any rational world. Maybe a quarter each (of course you do more, but does that make much sense with a $2 PBR?).

If the reality is that everything at every bar and restaurant is just priced at 1.2 x the price, then just do that and end the tipping. If it's truly a reward for service then I think we should feel free to treat it that way. Watched a guy spend 5 minutes making me a Sazerac in New Orleans. It was happy hour and drinks were cheap. The tip was about 100% what I paid for the drink.

 

[whaler11]

Jeez louise, I said I agreed with you in principle and I explained why I don't do it in practice: perception is reality. I'm not sure how my difference in practice has devolved the discussion. Simply because it offends your sensibilities?

My point is simply something that I have learned over the years: It's okay to overpay sometimes, as long as you know why you are doing it.

Yes, the ostensible purpose of a good tip is to reward good service you have already received. Frequently, I am tipping in an establishment to which I intend to return, and in those instances I am also tipping well in hopes of receiving great service the next time I walk in the door. If I am known as "tipping calculator, no-tax guy" I don't expect that I will be greeted as cheerily next time as I am for spending a buck or two more. That, to me, is a situation when overpaying is worth it.

This reminds me of a similar dynamic: dining out with friends. One of my best friends since childhood is one of those who always either asks for separate checks, or he examines the group check to make sure he is only paying for what he had instead of dividing the bill equally among the diners. I get it: if I am ordering an expensive bottle of wine and you are not drinking, rest assured I will make sure that I contribute more, accordingly. But the "Um, I got the chicken sandwich and you guys got the salmon" business drives me insane. Another longtime friend is even worse: he will consciously avoid ordering wine in any restaurant because he insists it's more overpriced than any other alcoholic beverage, then he will enjoy a glass when the server pours it for him, only to later insist that he pay less than those who "ordered" the wine. We have come to avoid dining out with these people at all costs because it is so awkward and unpleasant.

i unloaded every friend who didnt split bills when i was like 25 maybe?

 

[HuskyHawk]

Rhode Island roads are also weird as they drop from 50 to 35 or 45 to 25 just out of nowhere.

Speeds traps are the main source of revenue for the corrupt politicians there. One near me in Cumberland goes from 40 to 25 while on a steep downhill for no reason other than that there is a convenient hidden speed trap spot at that location (a cemetery).

Their road signs also suck. Either there is a sign a mile ahead of the exit and none at the exit, or the first sign is behind the exit and might as well say (295 south, the exit you just passed). I swear they do it to make non locals uncomfortable.

 

[8893]

For reference, that 0% included breaking a wine glass, some of which ended up in my wife's salad, then dripping blood on her plate and using a napkin to wipe it off instead of removing the plate. Should I have rewarded that behavior?

No, you should have sued their asses.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

I’m sure they appreciate the note and were unaware before then. ;-P

That said, I do review the bill for errors, which I find frequently, and I point them out when I do. Oh and I also check to make sure the tip hasn’t been added automatically. Made that mistake once and it pissed me off for years.

They seem to do this(automatically add the tip on every check...not just large groups)in cities where there are a lot of non-American travelers....because they aren’t used to tipping. Cities like Miami.

I am ok with this....and will add more (it’s its like 18%) it they tell me about the added tip when they give me the bill. If I catch it and they haven’t told me about it, then they only get the 18%.

 

[superjohn]

Not sure what you mean really. If I've got $50 in food and $70 in wine, I may not tip on the $120 straight up. Especially since I don't seek help picking wine and prefer to pour my own after the initial glass. I actually find it irritating when they try to fill my glass before I'm ready. If I've got $100 in food and $40 in wine it's just $140 x tip%.

As others have said, this is why the tipping system is such trash. A draft beer, even an $11 imperial stout doesn't deserve the same tip as a carefully made $11 cocktail. And an $11 glass of house Cab arguably merits even less than the beer. A bottle or can of beer rates almost nothing in any rational world. Maybe a quarter each (of course you do more, but does that make much sense with a $2 PBR?).

If the reality is that everything at every bar and restaurant is just priced at 1.2 x the price, then just do that and end the tipping. If it's truly a reward for service then I think we should feel free to treat it that way. Watched a guy spend 5 minutes making me a Sazerac in New Orleans. It was happy hour and drinks were cheap. The tip was about 100% what I paid for the drink.

Wait, what? When paying a restaurant bill you separate the alcohol from the food when tipping?

 

[storrsroars]

Wait, what? When paying a restaurant bill you separate the alcohol from the food when tipping?

I've done that. Not with garden variety wine or by the glass, but for a $150+ bottle, I'll tip I was going to tip anyway on the food, then add a flat fee on the bottle. And if the wine steward does the pouring, I try to tip him/her separately if possible.

 

[8893]

i unloaded every friend who didnt split bills when i was like 25 maybe?

We probably haven't dined out with either of them in at least 15 years, but we still see them socially at parties and will occasionally grab a few drinks with them. Funny enough, we are going out with the one I've known since childhood and his wife on Sunday. They've been after us to make plans for a while and we have put it off so many times that it has gotten uncomfortable, so we settled on inviting them to join us at the beach for some pizzas. This way we can all bring our own booze and I know going in that I am only out the cost of the pizzas.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Wait, what? When paying a restaurant bill you separate the alcohol from the food when tipping?

I don't think I really have in practice. But I might knock it from 20 to 18% if the wine is more than 50% of the bill. The point is, the price of the wine has zero to do with the effort to open and pour it. How Much Should You Tip on a $10,000 Bottle of Wine?

Edit: the hospitality included approach appeals to me and would potentially cause me to buy a nicer bottle of wine. As someone who often knows the approximate retail price of most of the wine list, paying 350% of retail, plus 20% on that will cause me to order a beer.

 

[the Q]

Speeds traps are the main source of revenue for the corrupt politicians there. One near me in Cumberland goes from 40 to 25 while on a steep downhill for no reason other than that there is a convenient hidden speed trap spot at that location (a cemetery).

Their road signs also suck. Either there is a sign a mile ahead of the exit and none at the exit, or the first sign is behind the exit and might as well say (295 south, the exit you just passed). I swear they do it to make non locals uncomfortable.

They are very good at it. I’ve been driving 101 in RI for over a decade and still don’t feel comfortable because of all the random drops.

 

[HuskyHawk]

They are very good at it. I’ve been driving 101 in RI for over a decade and still don’t feel comfortable because of all the random drops.

The worst part from me living in Mass a mile and a half from RI is that the Rhode Islanders drive by my house to get to 495 and they are always acting skittish and driving too slowly. It's shocking that in this one way I consider Massachusetts a paragon of freedom.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Wait, what? When paying a restaurant bill you separate the alcohol from the food when tipping?

Yeah I've never heard of any of this ____.

 

[8893]

As someone who often knows the approximate retail price of most of the wine list, paying 350% of retail, plus 20% on that will cause me to order a beer.

I also usually know the approximate retail and wholesale prices of the wines on the wine list. I try to find the sweet spot in the list where the restaurant is making less of a markup percentage, and that usually results in me spending more on the bottle because it is a better relative value. In other words, even if I like both wines, I'd rather pay $60 for a $35 bottle than pay $35 for a $10 bottle.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I also usually know the approximate retail and wholesale prices of the wines on the wine list. I try to find the sweet spot in the list where the restaurant is making less of a markup percentage, and that usually results in me spending more on the bottle because it is a better relative value. In other words, even if I like both wines, I'd rather pay $60 for a $35 bottle than pay $35 for a $10 bottle.

Absolutely. I do the same. And they have to price them that way to move them. They can't mark up a $100 bottle 100%. So applying a straight 20% for service is contrary to how they know they have to price the wine and hurts sales. The markup decreases dramatically as the price climbs, to the point where on some bottles, tip at 20% will exceed the markup. So, for a billionaire, who cares? I wouldn't either. But for ordinary people who want a nicer bottle on a special occasion it's an impediment and hurts the restaurant. Some are clearly realizing this.

Two of my favorite places to order wine used a unique approach. One was in Saratoga, CA and other in Brookline, MA. Both charged $10 or 10% (I forget which) over wholesale/cost. So for some bottles, under retail. I always splurged at those places (and yes, tipped 20% on the whole bill). And most importantly, went back, over and over.

 

[ctchamps]

Hardo #2. I laugh at people who think their preference for tipping, shopping or driving is hardo!

 

[Husky25]

Not sure what you mean really. If I've got $50 in food and $70 in wine, I may not tip on the $120 straight up. Especially since I don't seek help picking wine and prefer to pour my own after the initial glass. I actually find it irritating when they try to fill my glass before I'm ready. If I've got $100 in food and $40 in wine it's just $140 x tip%.

As others have said, this is why the tipping system is such trash. A draft beer, even an $11 imperial stout doesn't deserve the same tip as a carefully made $11 cocktail. And an $11 glass of house Cab arguably merits even less than the beer. A bottle or can of beer rates almost nothing in any rational world. Maybe a quarter each (of course you do more, but does that make much sense with a $2 PBR?).

If the reality is that everything at every bar and restaurant is just priced at 1.2 x the price, then just do that and end the tipping. If it's truly a reward for service then I think we should feel free to treat it that way. Watched a guy spend 5 minutes making me a Sazerac in New Orleans. It was happy hour and drinks were cheap. The tip was about 100% what I paid for the drink.

While you may not be wrong in principle (Boom. Roll credits), given my thoughts on convenience, that's far more effort than I'm willing to expend over something so seemingly trivial for what amounts to maybe a few dollars. I can understand taking a stand on including tax in the calc, but if I have the opportunity to calculate the tip based on perceived effort to prepare what's on the itemized bill, I'd just assume call it the cost of having a fine meal at a restaurant. Multiply whatever number by two and move the decimal point one spot to the left. Round up or down accordingly.

If the above theory was taken to the next level, there is no way it takes the same amount of effort to prepare a garden salad as it does Seafood Fra Diavolo. Why would they garner the same percentage? Why tip the same percentage on the $40 bottle of wine as food? I'd surmise that it takes less effort to open and poor a glass of wine than it is to prepare a scotch rocks.

 

[HuskyHawk]

While you may not be wrong in principle (Boom. Roll credits), given my thoughts on convenience, that's far more effort than I'm willing to expend over something so seemingly trivial for what amounts to maybe a few dollars. I can understand taking a stand on including tax in the calc, but if I have the opportunity to calculate the tip based on perceived effort to prepare what's on the itemized bill, I'd just assume call it the cost of having a fine meal at a restaurant. Multiply whatever number by two and move the decimal point one spot to the left. Round up or down accordingly.

If the above theory was taken to the next level, there is no way it takes the same amount of effort to prepare a garden salad as it does Seafood Fra Diavolo. Why would they garner the same percentage? Why tip the same percentage on the $40 bottle of wine as food? I'd surmise that it takes less effort to open and poor a glass of wine than it is to prepare a scotch rocks.

Please understand that I don't actually tip based on that perceived effort. I do the same thing you do. It's just a rant pointing out how stupid the system is (perhaps because I was recently in France and enjoyed the difference). Bartenders consider $1 a drink fair except for cocktails. I'd agree. But once you sit at a table that goes out the window.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

Yeah I've never heard of any of this ____.

read the whole thread, and you'll find lots of things you may not have heard of, like;
children raising money for school are urchins to be shunned, and
all charities are scams, and
kids working their first job are slacker doofuses, and
self-checkouts are an anti-socialist tactic, and
robots and skynet are taking over the world tomorrow morning , and
always carry bleach wipes cuz bacteria are gunning for you, and
drive like an angry lunatic, especially if the other guy is driving like an angry lunatic, and
'no thank you' is a bad word, and
the Seinfeld opeepo in florida tipping episode is must see tv, and
write little notes on the bill so management knows how you really feel, and
anti-Gripshki prejudice is exploding.
who knew? that is all. vlashnik

 

[David 76]

I'm all for splitting checks but you do need to sensitive to some people's financial situatuations. Dropping a few hundred dollars is different for some people. In that case, and if they have ordered frugally, Don't be a jerk. Also have seen people in recovery not want to contribute to a large alcohol bill.
Both different than someone being cheap and I don't want to dump those friends.

 

[8893]

I'm all for splitting checks but you do need to sensitive to some people's financial situatuations. Dropping a few hundred dollars is different for some people. In that case, and if they have ordered frugally, Don't be a jerk. Also have seen people in recovery not want to contribute to a large alcohol bill.
Both different than someone being cheap and I don't want to dump those friends.

Agree 100%.

 

[CL82]

To me tipping is always a variable. There's horrendous, poor, indifferent, good, great, exceptional and each gets rewarded accordingly. Even by not tipping on tax, I've left amounts ranging from 0% to 40%.

For reference, that 0% included breaking a wine glass, some of which ended up in my wife's salad, then dripping blood on her plate and using a napkin to wipe it off instead of removing the plate. Should I have rewarded that behavior?

Did you stay after they dripped blood on her plate? Short of taking a dump in it that's about as bad as it gets.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

The same people buying $150 bottles of wine at dinner are the same ones taking out the ol' slide rule to figure out the tip?

Some call me a cheap bastard for my unwillingness to go to "nice" dinners, but I usually end up leaving hungry and out $100 when I could have spend $12 gotten a couple slices and a beer and been just as happy.

 

[8893]

Some call me a cheap bastard for my unwillingness to go to "nice" dinners, but I usually end up leaving hungry and out $100 when I could have spend $12 gotten a couple slices and a beer and been just as happy.

Okay, but where are you getting your pizza?

Actually, best slice places would be a great thread. I don't think any of my regular pizza places sell slices and I can't think of any place I'd recommend off the top of my head.