Do you tip on the total bill before or after the added tax?

[TooPatient]

Re: Do you tip on the total bill before or after the added t

I tip 20% of $ pre-tax. 15% for lousy service and never go back.

I'm curious to hear how people tip at a buffet versus a la carte. I tip the same way...

Fifteen percent for lousy service is good. I've given less for really bad service. My biggy isn't actually food, it's hair salons because often I don't know if the hair cut was good until I'm home and had a chance to really look at it. I use to give 20% to stylists, but now my new rule is 10-15% the first time and if my hair still looks good once I'm home, then I'll go back to the same gal and give 20% next time. This is because I use to always give at least 20% and once my dh said my hair was crooked and he normally doesn't notice this stuff. I had to go back in and have it recut by another stylist. It bothers me that the first girl who did the crappy job got the tip.

I cannot stand tip jars in the mall & places like that. If a person puts out a Styrofoam cup as a tip jar, I won't put money in it. There was a cute one at an ice cream place though that was a jar covered with little crystals that probably took hours to glue on and I put a tip in there.

Hair salons are tough!
I don't go often because I really hate to get my hair cut. So often it just turns out

My approach last time was to give a $20 tip on a $50 hair cut in hopes of getting great service the next time. I'm remembered for the tip, but didn't really care for the hair cut


Tipping on a $500 meal for 2?
After recovering from the shock of seeing such a number, I'd probably tip on the total after tax because I'd hate to offend anyone and prefer to err on the side of generous (assuming the service or food wasn't just awful).