Tipping Etiquette

[Diddy_Mao]

I honestly don't understand the tipping etiquette myself and if I'm being perfectly honest I hate that I have to do it.
Don't get we wrong, I tip in pretty much every expected situation and I tip well.

I do it because with the hours I keep I understand that the folks serving me are working one of the shittiest customer service jobs in the world and although I've never worked for tips, I've had shitty CS jobs before and I refuse to add to anyone's stress in that field of work.

In a Restaurant I get the idea. I sit down, relax and the waiter/waitress (Waitron?) does most of the work. They take my order they bring me my food, refill my drinks and wait until I have my mouth full to ask if I need anything else...all the standard food service industry stuff.

And for that I'm expected to pay an additional gratuity for the service provided.

I still don't like that I'm expected to pay extra largely because I know that if I don't my server doesn't get to pay their bills but I'm not really picky about it.

In a bar I can also understand the mentality.
I sit down and the bar back pours my beer and Whisky, regularly buses my empty glasses and in general makes sure I'm taken care of. Now because of the nature of the establishment I can't just kick back 4 drinks and then drive home, the barkeep is pretty much stuck with me for a couple hours.

So yeah I tip, on average about $2.00 per drink to make it worth his while to put up with me.

What I don't understand is tipping in a coffee shop.
In most of the coffee shops I've been to, once I get my drink I'll probably never speak to the barrista again unless I decide I want another coffee or one of their sandwiches.

I don't order anything particularly frou frou or complicated. The most thought that goes into my order is whether or not I need room to add cream. On the odd chance I order food I know full well that nobody in the store prepared any of it.

So what exactly am I tipping for in this situation?

 

[OneCatch]

In Britain, tipping isn't so prolific because everyone makes minimum wage. For a decent meal out (they take you to your table then come take your order and bring it to you etc), I'd tip about 10-15% depending on service. Unless it was shite, in which case I would go between 0-10%

For the place described in the OP, I wouldn't tip because it sounds more like a cafe or pub lunch. You tip for the service; if you are doing it yourself, you don't need to. I wouldn't tip for a buffet lunch, or coffee, or takeaway either.

That said, I'd always tip in the US (or elsewhere), because you don't have a minimum wage there, which seems really stupid to me, but there you go - culture differences!

Also, I always tip cash so I know the person who actually did the work gets the money (and that the company doesn't use it to top up to minimum wage or any crap like that)

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

It all depends on how they treat me. I have not tipped at all (they forgot that we even ordered) and I've tipped 400% they were very nice, treated me very well, and they were hot.

You do have to keep in mind many of these people survive on these tips. So if your going to tip low you better have a damn good reason.

 

[LetalisK]

Yes, I normally tip, though I wish the whole wretched system was done away with. It's just a bullshit institution that saves companies a couple nickels by preying on the fact that people don't want to fuck over otherwise decent people.

 

[TheRocketeer]

I always tip generously; the restaurant industry sucks, period, and the way waiters are paid is retarded. Most of them need good tips just to get by. You aren't helping gild their mansions' toilets by throwing in another %5, you're getting their utilities payed on time.

But more than just the money, it's always worth it to just be courteous and nice to your waiter. Anyone that's ever worked in the service industry can tell you that it only takes one asshole customer to ruin your whole day, and you don't know whether you're the table right before or right after that guy. So it's worth it to try and make up for that- never mind just being the right thing to do anyway.

I can't stand eating with people who treat their waiters like garbage. I've just never understood what it is about a notepad and a button-down/vest combo that scream "I'm not a person working eleven hours a day for sub-minimum wage" to some people.

 

[GrandmaFunk]

I'm from Canada and here tipping is second nature. Not tipping someone in a service position is viewed quite poorly by almost everyone, except when said service is exceptionally bad, of course.

---

Some of my friends went on a trip to fiji, the resort they were at had a bar by the beach and when going up to order drinks, they did as they usually do and tipped the bartender(nothing extravagant, like a dollar each round).

after two days, the staff would see them setting up on the beach and would walk out to serve them their drinks before they even ordered...despite there being several ppl in line at the bar.

most of the other customers were brits and aussies and apparently those ppl just don't tip...so they got extremely angry about the "fucking canucks" that were "bribing the staff".

my friends couldn't stop laughing, but they did tell the staff they didn't want any preferential service.

---

one of those guys went to england a few months later and while in a pub, dared to leave the bartender a tip...said bartender lost his shit and almost jumped over the bar to beat my friend up, yelling that he wasn't some poor slob that needed handouts.

all that to say, british ppl get upset over weird things.

 

[DionysusSnoopy]

Approach the cow from the side and quietly so as not to startle the creature. Then push it over from the side until it tips over. Best achieved at night.

On the money side UK is 10% usually and is optional.

 

[DevilWithaHalo]

I don't tip. You are paid to do your job; it is not my responsibility to cover your lost wages. If you do not like it, either find another job, or fix the broken system which has resulted in the rediculous social expectation that only certain jobs require extra funding from those already paying for the service.

 

[GrandmaFunk]

I don't tip. You are paid to do your job; it is not my responsibility to cover your lost wages. If you do not like it, either find another job, or fix the broken system which has resulted in the rediculous social expectation that only certain jobs require extra funding from those already paying for the service.

I bet you never tell them 'thank you' either.

also, that whole excuse is only legit if you're Steve Buscemi.

 

[Flames66]

one of those guys went to england a few months later and while in a pub, dared to leave the bartender a tip...said bartender lost his shit and almost jumped over the bar to beat my friend up, yelling that he wasn't some poor slob that needed handouts.

all that to say, british ppl get upset over weird things.

o.0

Where in England was your friend? I have never seen anything like that where I live. I do see a fair bit of casual violence though.

I always thought of tipping in my country as a nice thing you do if the service was exceptional.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

I usually don't tip unless the service is exceptional, if it's anything less a simple 'thanks' will suffice. Like I said, if the service is so exceptional I will leave behind a bit of change if I have it on me.
On places with a mandatory tip, well I never quite understood why they don't work the cost into the food and drinks. On tipping in the US, it's hardly my fault that restaurants don't pay their waiting staff properly and it shouldn't be imposed upon the customers to make them feel obliged to make up the pay.

A tip is a commendation, a reward and praise for great service. Paying staff a shit wage in expectance of good tips seems to negate the very point of tips in the first place. It's more like a tax than a tip with how socially accepted it is. It's not commendation for good service if you're guilted into it.

 

[GrandmaFunk]

Wut?

Giving people money for a job they are already paid for is COMPLETELY different to having common courtesy.

Where I'm from, tipping IS common courtesy.

If you see your logic as a valid reason not to tip, how does it not apply equally to simple gratitude as well?

after all, it's thanking someone for doing their job, a job that they're already getting paid for.

 

[Monkeyman O'Brien]

We don't tip. If I do tip its because they gave such great service that I want to tip them but they don't get extra money for just doing their job. You don't see other people getting tipped even though their job is probably harder than just carrying a fucking plate 20 feet.

Oh and don't give me any bullshit about them being tip dependant. The only reason they would be "tip dependant" is if they are fucking stupid and do not know the law.
Even in America, if tips do not add up to at least minimum wage then the employer must make up the difference to minimum wage.
If you can't be fucked learning the law then you do not have the right to whine if people don't tip you.

Oh and anyone with the attitude of "If I don't get tipped then I will spit in their food next time." should be fired and barred from working with food ever again. These people disgust me and do not deserve a job. They want to act like savages then let them live on the street.

 

[Marcus Kehoe]

If the the waiter was OK 15 percent, If they were bad usually the same but I will round down to the nearest dollar. If the service was great then at least 15% sometimes 20%.

 

[kortin]

We don't tip. If I do tip its because they gave such great service that I want to tip them but they don't get extra money for just doing their job. You don't see other people getting tipped even though their job is probably harder than just carrying a fucking plate 20 feet.

Oh and don't give me any bullshit about them being tip dependant. The only reason they would be "tip dependant" is if they are fucking stupid and do not know the law.
Even in american, if tips do not add up to at least minimum wage then the employer must make up the difference to minimum wage.
If you can't be fucked learning the law then you do not have the right to whine if people don't tip you.

Oh and anyone with the attitude of "If I don't get tipped then I will spit in their food next time." should be fired and barred from working with food ever again. These people disgust me and do not deserve a job. They want to act like savages then let them live on the street.

I can tell you've never worked in the restaurant business. While, yes, there are harder jobs out there, the waiter/waitress' job is not just "carrying a fucking plate 20 feet".

Its not your fault that your employer doesn't pay you the correct amount, so you aren't allowed to complain. Tell me if that makes sense, mate.