WAITERS, CUSTOMERS, AND SERVICE - SOME TIPS ABOUT TIPPING

In order to investigate factors that influence the size of tips given in restaurants, 107 waiters (Study 1) and 137 customers (Study 2) were asked various questions about tipping. The findings confirmed a numbe r of hypotheses. Respondents said that they themselves tip more than m ost people. Waiters indicated that they were more generous tippers and were more accurate in their estimate of 15% of the bill than customer s. Tip size was reportedly increased by friendly service, good suggest ions, excellent food, prompt delivery of the main course and check, a self-introduction by the waiter, and receiving separate checks. The ti p was decreased by waiting a long time for a beverage and being seated in a bad location. Waiters identified more variables than did custome rs as being significantly associated with tip size, and they felt that excellent food, being in an expensive restaurant, and being seated in a bad location had greater effects on tipping than did customers. Whe n asked about characteristics of waiters who receive large or small ti ps, most waiters and customers mentioned the waiter's attitude and qua lity of service. There was much less consensus on the characteristics of high and low tippers. Gender was not significantly related to any r esponses. In general, although waiters and customers share many belief s about tipping, waiters may be more aware than customers of the relev ant characteristics of the situation and of the individuals involved.