Here's a tip: We're still generous
But drop in customers leads to dwindling tip income for some
By Meagan Sexton Journal staff writer | Posted: Wednesday, July 30, 2008
A tip lies on the bar as Nick Topf mixes drinks at Luciano's Monday evening, July 22, 2008. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)
Becky Van Cleave is seeing fewer customers and taking home less in tips these days.
The acting manager of Regis Salon in the Southern Hills Mall in Sioux City said she's feeling the pinch from the country's economic downturn.
"With us being slow, we don't make any money," Van Cleave said. "We are commission-based people. If you don't do anything for the day, it's hard to have anything on your paycheck. And a lot of people don't tip because they don't have any extra money."
Nationwide, hairstylists, cab drivers, bartenders and waiters say customers are less generous with tips these days. They're also cutting back on dining out, having their hair or nails done and getting other services that typically involve tipping.
"Paying $80 to fill up your gas tank can really put a chill in people," said Anthony Townsend, a professor at Iowa State University's College of Business." And people react to more apparent times of economic distress by tending to economize around other issues."
In Siouxland, though, restaurant workers and their clientele say that for the most part customers continue to tip generously.
"If people can't afford to tip they shouldn't be going out to eat," said Breezy Struthers Drake, who was dining at Rebos Restaurant on Fourth Street in Sioux City last week. "They (wait staffers) are doing their job; they deserve to get paid for it."
Drake, 28, of Sioux City, said she determines what she will tip based on the level of service provided, not the status of the economy.
Byron Kuehl, manager at Bev's on the River in Sioux City, said he's observed that customers still tip at their traditional rate.
He said if waiters are noticing a decrease in the amount of tips they make, it could be because fewer customers are dining at the restaurant.
"The people who come out are usually going to spend the same amount," Kuehl said. "They are going to give 15 to 20 percent gratuity. It's more the number of people coming out to eat."
Townsend said he believes most people are sympathetic to waiters.
"It would be hard for people to stiff a waiter, but it's not hard for them to stay home," Townsend said. "My strongest suspicion is that people are economizing. That means they're ordering less, which affects the tab."
He said people are watching how much they spend in order to save money.
But one Sioux City hairstylist said she hasn't seen people spending less.
Leah Christians, a stylist at Body and Soul Salon and Spa in Sioux City, said she's pleased with customers' tipping practices and hasn't noticed a change in their habits.
"I haven't noticed any as far as a dollar amount," Christians said. "I'm still doing very well where tips are concerned."
Meagan Sexton can be reached at 293-4243 or meagansexton@siouxcityjournal.com
--The Associated Press contributed to this report.
How much should I tip?
Tip Jar
-- If someone comes around and keeps your glass full, $1 to $2. Otherwise, you don't need to tip.
-- Car wash: $2 to $3 for a car, $3 to $5 for an SUV or other large vehicle.
Restaurant
-- Food, cocktail and counter servers: 15 percent to 20 percent.
-- Self-service restaurant or buffet: 10 percent if a server delivers all or part of your meal or keeps your drinks refilled.
-- If you get bad service, talk to the manager. Refusing to leave a tip won't solve the problem.
Bar
-- Bartender: 15 percent to 20 percent or $1 per drink. If you hit the bar before your meal, settle up with the bartender before you go to your table.
-- Cocktail server: 15 percent to 20 percent. For free drinks in a casino, tip $1 to $2 per round.
-- Wine steward or sommelier: 10 percent of the wine bill.
Casino
-- Tip only when you win.
-- Craps, blackjack or roulette dealer: $5 or more per session.
-- Poker dealer: $5 a session or 10 percent of your winnings, not to exceed $25.
-- Keno writers/runner: $1 or more for the first ticket, more if you play a lot, 5 percent if you win.
-- Slot machine attendant: $1 or $2 if he or she repairs your machine.
Cab
-- 15 percent of the fare, up to 20 percent if the driver helps with luggage or makes extra stops.
Source: tippingetiquette.org
The acting manager of Regis Salon in the Southern Hills Mall in Sioux City said she's feeling the pinch from the country's economic downturn.
"With us being slow, we don't make any money," Van Cleave said. "We are commission-based people. If you don't do anything for the day, it's hard to have anything on your paycheck. And a lot of people don't tip because they don't have any extra money."
Nationwide, hairstylists, cab drivers, bartenders and waiters say customers are less generous with tips these days. They're also cutting back on dining out, having their hair or nails done and getting other services that typically involve tipping.
"Paying $80 to fill up your gas tank can really put a chill in people," said Anthony Townsend, a professor at Iowa State University's College of Business." And people react to more apparent times of economic distress by tending to economize around other issues."
In Siouxland, though, restaurant workers and their clientele say that for the most part customers continue to tip generously.
"If people can't afford to tip they shouldn't be going out to eat," said Breezy Struthers Drake, who was dining at Rebos Restaurant on Fourth Street in Sioux City last week. "They (wait staffers) are doing their job; they deserve to get paid for it."
Drake, 28, of Sioux City, said she determines what she will tip based on the level of service provided, not the status of the economy.
Byron Kuehl, manager at Bev's on the River in Sioux City, said he's observed that customers still tip at their traditional rate.
He said if waiters are noticing a decrease in the amount of tips they make, it could be because fewer customers are dining at the restaurant.
"The people who come out are usually going to spend the same amount," Kuehl said. "They are going to give 15 to 20 percent gratuity. It's more the number of people coming out to eat."
Townsend said he believes most people are sympathetic to waiters.
"It would be hard for people to stiff a waiter, but it's not hard for them to stay home," Townsend said. "My strongest suspicion is that people are economizing. That means they're ordering less, which affects the tab."
He said people are watching how much they spend in order to save money.
But one Sioux City hairstylist said she hasn't seen people spending less.
Leah Christians, a stylist at Body and Soul Salon and Spa in Sioux City, said she's pleased with customers' tipping practices and hasn't noticed a change in their habits.
"I haven't noticed any as far as a dollar amount," Christians said. "I'm still doing very well where tips are concerned."
Meagan Sexton can be reached at 293-4243 or meagansexton@siouxcityjournal.com
--The Associated Press contributed to this report.
How much should I tip?
Tip Jar
-- If someone comes around and keeps your glass full, $1 to $2. Otherwise, you don't need to tip.
-- Car wash: $2 to $3 for a car, $3 to $5 for an SUV or other large vehicle.
Restaurant
-- Food, cocktail and counter servers: 15 percent to 20 percent.
-- Self-service restaurant or buffet: 10 percent if a server delivers all or part of your meal or keeps your drinks refilled.
-- If you get bad service, talk to the manager. Refusing to leave a tip won't solve the problem.
Bar
-- Bartender: 15 percent to 20 percent or $1 per drink. If you hit the bar before your meal, settle up with the bartender before you go to your table.
-- Cocktail server: 15 percent to 20 percent. For free drinks in a casino, tip $1 to $2 per round.
-- Wine steward or sommelier: 10 percent of the wine bill.
Casino
-- Tip only when you win.
-- Craps, blackjack or roulette dealer: $5 or more per session.
-- Poker dealer: $5 a session or 10 percent of your winnings, not to exceed $25.
-- Keno writers/runner: $1 or more for the first ticket, more if you play a lot, 5 percent if you win.
-- Slot machine attendant: $1 or $2 if he or she repairs your machine.
Cab
-- 15 percent of the fare, up to 20 percent if the driver helps with luggage or makes extra stops.
Source: tippingetiquette.org
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Thanks Dan wrote on Aug 4, 2008 7:27 AM:
Steve wrote on Aug 3, 2008 11:02 PM:
Dan wrote on Aug 1, 2008 5:26 PM:
As for it being a crime. You have to be able to prove a crime. Those saps dont even know what you did. It cracks me up just thinking back to those days. What fun. "
Nice Dan wrote on Aug 1, 2008 9:08 AM:
Your comment was OK until the part when you said that you put a booger or spit in the food of people who stiffed you on the previous visit.
I'm sure is really sucks to get stiffed on a tip, but it's a CRIME to spit in someone's food. You're a freakin' idiot. "
Dan wrote on Jul 31, 2008 5:33 PM:
I used to be a waiter and I took pride in giving great service, being clean and fast. I would stand at the wait area and watch my tables for any sign of need and then was on it immediatly.Timing is everthing. I always made the best tips.Learn how to properly serve a table and getting tips isnt a problem. But even the best still get stiffed, and for those people..on thier next visit thier food would have a giant booger in it, or maybe some spit, depending on my mood. A waiters revenge. Dont think they dont remember the people who stiff them. "