Why do we tip based on cost of the meal?

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Let me start by saying I always tip 20% or more. But I was wondering, what’s the difference if the server brings me a plate with an $8 burger vs if it was a $50 steak?

In: Economics

3 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

In general, restaurants don’t have that kind of price differential between their entrees. A place with an $8 burger is more likely to have a $15 steak. The restaurants with a $50 steak tend to have a $30 burger.

Because of that, in general if a table has a bigger bill it means one of two things:

* The people stayed longer and ordered more food
* The table had a larger group and ordered more food

Either way, the waiter had to work more at that table than a table that ordered less. Tips are to cover parts of their wage the restaurant owner isn’t paying, so it makes more sense that if a table requires more work the burden should be greater.

Yeah, it breaks down if one table just orders the most expensive things on the menu. But price disparities like you laid out don’t tend to be very common.

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