http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005 by the authors Wed, 8 Jan 2003 16:07:34 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/01/07/112058.php#comment-2730 I tipped on the total until my bartender friend pointed out that the government had nothing to do with the quality of my service. I typically go 20% also if the service is good, rarely below 15%. If you really want to save, go to Japan where they still don't tip much at all. 2730@blogcritics.org Wed, 8 Jan 2003 16:07:34 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/01/07/112058.php#comment-2728 BTW, nice article, Dawn. The pedant in me is struggling, wanting to point out that the nine remaining diners probably wouldn't spend the same amount on dinner as the ten did, and in fact it is quite likely that the tenth diner spent a little more of the total than the others, but I've managed to restrain that part of me with another part of me pointing out that thanks to the Earned Income Tax Credit, the poorest one or two diners quite possible got change back every night after paying nothing for dinner. Whew! Anyway, great story. Someday I expect to be either the first or at least the second diner, so I appreciate your future support. 8^) 2728@blogcritics.org Wed, 8 Jan 2003 15:22:18 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/01/07/112058.php#comment-2727 Wow, I haven't seen anything this interesting since the last time I saw two evangelical Christians arguing over whether to tithe on gross income or net income (the answer, incidentally, is "If you win $170 million in PowerBall, definitely 'net'")! I've always tithed, I mean tipped on the total check, including tax. What a chump I've been! At 8.25% sales tax (or 7.25%, depending on which part of town I'm in), I could have been saving about $1.65 out of every $100 spent! (I'm a 20% tipper normally.) Thanks! 2727@blogcritics.org Wed, 8 Jan 2003 15:18:49 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/01/07/112058.php#comment-2726 Andy is correct on both counts. 2726@blogcritics.org Wed, 8 Jan 2003 14:54:05 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/01/07/112058.php#comment-2725 I exclude the tax - and I also try to leave cash tips when paying by credit card so they can pocket all of it. 2725@blogcritics.org Wed, 8 Jan 2003 13:51:37 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/01/07/112058.php#comment-2723 Speaking of the gratuity system, do you include or exclude the tax from your gratuity calculations? 2723@blogcritics.org Wed, 8 Jan 2003 12:53:36 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/01/07/112058.php#comment-2704 Excellent job of making macro theory personal and micro. Next you should address the whole gratuity system. 2704@blogcritics.org Tue, 7 Jan 2003 16:05:49 EST