Deceptive Beer Pricing

Never been a server, bartender or waiter and don't want to....especially after learning that some people think $1 is a good tip. This thread here is the only place I've heard of $1 per beer being considered acceptable. Unless it's a $3-$5 drink, which really isn't realistic in my experience for anything other than happy hour specials (which in my experience pretty much never include craft beer).

Decent service should net between 15% and 20% tip. I have never considered working bar duty anywhere because I wouldn't even bother unless everyone was doing 30%+ tips. Sub-minimum wage plus dealing with hours of angry drunk people and extremely loud music (I have tinnitus), no thank you. And I really can't stand angry customers.

Mind you, if tipping 15% requires rounding $1 up to $2 I'm more likely to just give them $1.

 

How much are you paying for beer that $1 isn't about 15% or more? Most craft beer around here tops out at $7 or $1.05.

 

So what do you normally A) spend on a ber (not full bill, a single beer) and B) what do you tip on that beer?

if my math works out, a buck is 20% of a $5 beer, 15% of $6.66.
It's really not difficult to (correctly) pour a beer and serve it, takes a minute of work tops, more if you're talking about something that needs to settle, in which case you can easily pour and serve another customer while waiting.
I personally don't see even a buck on a more expensive beer as unworthy.
I was at a place a couple weeks ago, a group comes in, orders 8 drinks, I think. 2 mixed, 4 bottles and 2 draft beers. Left a buck tip. In that case, I gave the guy a dirty look as he passed them out (don't know if he noticed or not) That, to me, is severely cheaping out. I would have given minimum $10, more likely $15 on that transaction; more drinks = more work.

 

I agree so much with this. It's not a $1 per order it's per drink. That was a dick move. I had a buddy that would rack up a tab and write "in tip jar" on the tip but not leave anything. His friends caught on and shamed him into tipping well after that. Pouring a drink is a quick way to make a buck so I think $1 a drink is generally enough but that doesn't mean it's ok to short them.

 

Ah tipping.
Such a unifying concept.
Works well don't you think, this system?

 

Apparently the bars in Antarctica have higher prices than the states and thus higher tips, which kinda makes sense.

 

I visit a store very seldom that doesn't have prices on all of their beers and sometimes even has beer that is past its prime . I only shop there if I'm feeling lazy and don't feel like driving 25 min more to the next best beer store. Even then I stick with seasonals that have a price on them only. If I go to an unfamiliar bar without pricing I will now always ask for the price after going to Boston and I ended up paying $12 for a pint of Arrogant Bastard.

 

What is the standard 15%?? i'm goin to the us in a few weeks.. whats the Protocol?

In Ireland we only tip if someone earns it, not because they think they deserve it..

I worked in a bar and i'm fine with it.. seems kinda wierd that barstaff think they are entitled to it.

 

If they don't have anything to make you aware of pricing, then just ask them to go down their list and tell you the prices of everything. You know, "Borat" style..."How much a dees one? Ok, and a dees one. And dees one..."

 

In the US tipping is the cultural norm, and it is expected. I don't think barstaff should feel entitled to a tip, but they certainly deserve one if the service is good. I think this list of guidelines is concise and accurate, check it out. The only things I'd add are that a) sometimes the gratuity is included on the bill (usually for large parties only) so check the bill, and b) of course this is for good service, it's OK to leave less or nothing if the service is poor -- just be aware that the server will consider it a slight.

 

Tipping is not a city in China. Back in my bartending days, if someone left me a dollar a drink, I would have been thrilled. On some busy Fridays and Saturdays, as folks became generously very southern and lubricated, I might pull in $75-$120 in tips. (Probably chicken feed these days). Paid for rent, dog food, and the rare day off. If you are good at what you do, people notice.

 

Yikes, I'm pretty appalled so many people think its crazy to tip a dollar for a beer. And I've never even worked as a server

 

Beers tend to run $4-5 a pour here (more expensive beers in 8oz pours instead of pints). I would never dream of leaving less than a $1 a beer (maybe if they were complete d**cks). Unfortunately I know from speaking with barstaff $1 a drink isn't the norm.

 

I just tip the usual 20% unless service is abysmal. My beer tab is generally around $5 to $15 depending on what I get, so I tip $1 to $3.

 

I pretty much only goto happy hour and beer is a dollar off 5$ so 4$ a "pint" (standard shaker glass that holds 16oz with no head.) and I tip a dollar per drink. if you think that's unfair for just pouring a beer then that's on you. if the bartender is nice and chatty may get a couple extra dollars before I leave.

 

Did you get a good trade value on the wife's Lamborghini towards the helicopter? Couldn't resist the opening, man..

Seriously, and on topic, lots of stuff is not accurately priced in MA, not just beer. Check your super market receipts carefully a few times - I guarantee you will pay more attention at the checkout counter. I can't comment on bars because I don't go, but stores with incorrect labels or no labels are annoying. The shelf tags end up mismatched too which is another issue. Asking mostly works, but they usually have to run up to the register to scan/call up the SKU in the bottle shops - the workers can't possibly remember prices off the top of their heads. But watch people in stores too - they will grab a beer off the shelf, wander around with it, then not put it back where they found it. Price stickies get knocked off or removed intentionally. I am SO happy I don't work in retail. So yeah it can be the fault of the store lacking a system, but customers can mess things up too. And yes - in the semi-police state of Massachusetts you'd think it would be handled "better" but it isn't.

 

Asking is great and all, but to make a proper informed decision, you need to know all of the prices of the beers you have possible interest in. I don't really see anyone price checking 30 beers for you no matter how nicely you ask.

 

So you'd rather your customers have to bother your busy bartenders about prices on possibly multiple things than just have it written up to find out for themselves, because you think a chalkboard is unbecoming? This is exactly the type of crap that pisses me off.
My local bar charges $15 for a short pour of BCBS (which is far too much), but the price is right there so no one's getting fooled, or assuming it's in line with the market.