More than 30% of Canadians still tip for bad service: survey
More than 30 per cent of Canadians still leave a tip even if they receive bad service.
A Research Co. poll found that regardless of how bad the service is, 33 per cent of Canadians still leave a tip with that number jumping to 41 per cent among those 18 and 34 years old.
Only 31 per cent of Canadians said they would not leave a tip at a sit-down restaurant if they received below-average service and the place wasn't busy.
READ MORE: 'Now 15 per cent is rude:' Tipping fatigue hits customers as requests rise
The poll also found regardless of how good or bad the service in a restaurant, the amount people tip doesn't dramatically change.
About of third of those asked tip between 15 and 19 per cent if the service was good, but not exceptional. This amount fluctuated depending on how busy the restaurant was, but only by several percentage points.
If service was average, 41 per cent would leave a tip in the 10 to 14 per cent range, but if service was below average 35 per cent would still leave a 10 to 14 per cent tip.
When it comes to exceptional service, 37 per cent would tip between 15 to 19 per cent while 34 per cent said they'd tip 20 per cent at a busy restaurant.
The poll found that Canadians were willing to tip for bad service and also when they received very little service – almost half of Canadians (46 per cent) said they still tip when they pick up food to go.
The Research Co. poll found two-thirds of Canadians (67%) believe food servers expect a tip but don’t work hard to earn it.
Seven in 10 Canadians said that servers cannot survive on their salaries alone so it's important to tip them and that if they were paid better they'd be no need to tip.
Ian Tostenson with the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association previously told iNFOnews.ca that tipping sale machines at retail locations, like private liquor stores, were taking away from the "integrity" of what tipping is all about.
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