KH -- now this is an interesting thread. As you may remember, I live about 30 miles from the Canadian border and we have many, MANY Canadians that come into our town, especially for the local casino that has a restaurant. I was always told, from the people that work there, that Canadians rarely tip and if they do it isn't very much. Reading your post, evidently this isn't the case? What percentage is usually done in your area? Maybe it is a B.C. thing?

Maybe you should wait on yourself then and clean up your own mess or go to places like Burger King or McDonald's where there are no waitresses. Better yet, maybe you should get a part time job waiting tables and your attitude might change. If servers didn't get tips, then I promise you, there would be no servers, because no one would want to put up with some of the rude people who go into restaurants and expect johnny on the spot service but conveniently don't want to tip.

Strange.

It's 15-20% around here.

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Mom to dd (age 9) and ds (age 11)
blogging daily about purpose and personal identity

I agree!

WHAT???????????????? That is offensive to me. I am Canadian, and everyone I know goes out of their way to tip well. We realize that Cdn wait staff and many other services get paid less than minimum wage and therefore rely on tips. I tip EVEN WHEN I get crappy service. I would not stereotype all Canadians into the few cheap ones you may have run into.

I was a waitress for 5 years. I would first take it up with the manager and if that did not resolve the problem I would refuse to wait on the couple. I go to my job to make a living, not to make friends. I don't want to waste my time.

Regarding the minimum wages for servers, my paycheck after working full-time for 2 weeks was about $25 after taxes that are taken out for tips. If I'm not making tips then I am paying taxes on money I am not making. It would be great if servers were paid a decent living and did not have to rely on tips. Until then, I will always tip even for less than great service (but less so) because that is how servers make a living.

When I go out to a restaurant where I will be served food I expect that the full cost of the outing includes tip. I don't expect someone to wait on me for free.

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SAHM to my little monkey boy and bouncy baby boy, learning how to budget!

I'm not sure how that was offensive to you. I asked a woman, that I knew was Canadian, about something that I always have been told.

I wasn't the least bit offended. You just asked a simple question asking for clarification as to whether we tip here. It must be a hot button issue for her. I have mine too .. but this isn't one of them.

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Mom to dd (age 9) and ds (age 11)
blogging daily about purpose and personal identity

I have waited tables and figured it was part of my job to clean up the messes that other people left and taking the 'beating' from rude people. (but if I waited on myself, like you suggest, I guess a lot of people would be out of a job) That is why you vent to your friends, family and people online. Heck, I am not a waitress anymore and still get rude people on the phone all the time....but unfortunately if I want to keep my job I just put up with it and then complain about them to other people.

I have also worked retail so I know how people can be very rude...my dh is actually one of them who yells at the cashier etc. and I always have to explain that the cashier has nothing to do with it...they are the little people on the tadpole that get paid nothing while the CEO's make the rules/decisions, make the big bucks and don't get people yelling at them to their face.

I just think tipping has gotten out of control. I have to tip my server, tip the person that makes a cup of coffee, heck every place you go there is always a 'tip' jar and you feel like a complete jerk if you don't tip even though it isn't mandatory...but if a manager goes to a person and asked why they didn't tip sure makes it seem mandatory.

Just an FYI, I always tip the wait staff at least 20% if not more...so please don't think I just walk out of a place although some times the service is so horrible I have done just that.

Here in Oregon wait staff makes minimum wage, at the moment $8.40/hour, plus whatever tips they get. In Europe service is included in your bill, the staff gets paid a set wage and you're not expected to tip.

Jose'.