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Tipping Etiquette
- Thread starter thiosk
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Also, thanks for ruining my day with a Cracked link.
I'll be honest whilst it fits the self-independence of the American ideal and it probably does lead to friendlier service (I think it's probably no debate that your waiters beat UK waiters hands down generally), I think paying waiters minimum wage at least is a better route, because everything in a restaurant, from the food to the decor to the service has an affect on the customers experience, so can you really say that just the waitress deserves the tips? Or she deserves not to be tipped because the cook is an idiot and the restaurant looks like someone dropped it behind the sofa?
10% here is probably an acceptable tip, if you feel that it's been worth tipping. But if you've got a £50 meal then that's an entire hours work of a cleaner or a childminder or someone that you're tossing about. It's still right to tip and I don't know if it'd even be socially acceptable to tip a cleaner but I think its important that we think about this stuff, even if the conclusion is a no.
I always feel sorry for people with naturally unsmiley faces, people can pass all sorts of judgements on them
10% here is probably an acceptable tip, if you feel that it's been worth tipping. But if you've got a £50 meal then that's an entire hours work of a cleaner or a childminder or someone that you're tossing about. It's still right to tip and I don't know if it'd even be socially acceptable to tip a cleaner but I think its important that we think about this stuff, even if the conclusion is a no.
I always feel sorry for people with naturally unsmiley faces, people can pass all sorts of judgements on them
This basically. I'll give what I think is fair, and if someone does an awesome job, they'll get more than my usual. I'm always up in the air on what to tip people who give atrocious service though. Some would say nothing, but I almost feel like leaving some stupidly small amount like a quarter is more of a slap in the face for those times when you really want to be an asshole about it. I actually did that once too, but was subverted by one of the friends I was dining with left more because she felt bad that I was only tipping a quarter. I'm not sure what there was to feel bad about though after the guy skipped me in the drink orders, and was about to skip me again when taking our meal orders if I hadn't spoken up as he turned to walk away.AnythingOutstanding said:
Here in the UK, whenever I eat with friends we usually each chuck in an extra couple of quid, usually adds up to about a tenner.
In Britain we don't really need to tip. But it's a nice thing to do in a restraunt. If that is the case, I tip based on how good the service was, which in all likelihood was shit.
I'm in the US, and have worked tables before. I usually start at the 15% figure, then adjust up or down depending on the service. The only thing outside the service I'll adjust for is actually my own party; I used to take some fraternity groups out to restaurants and if they were really nasty to the wait staff I'd up the tip some in apology. However, if the wait staff was ever nasty or rude that would cut the tip at least in half. Had it happen too, where the waitress would start lecturing us about "if you guys are sharing beers i'll have to kick you out" before we'd even ordered food. She did not receive a nice tip.
I tip based on 2 things: quality of service, and how close my bill was to an even $5 mark. If a reasonable size tip will get me to an even $5 mark, that's what I tip, if it's too low or too high I just end up leaving it at an even dollar. If the service was completely unremarkable, I go about 15%, if the service was ok, and the person was friendly, I tip 20%. If the service was really good, I go up to 30% or a little more. If the service was poor, but it either wasn't that bad, or if it was somehow understandable, I tip about 10%, maybe 15% if it really isn't her fault. If the service was absolute crap, I usually leave just enough of a tip to make it to the next even dollar.
I don't really go to any restaurants like you describe. If I did, I would probably not leave a tip, or leave a very small tip, under 10%. I suspect that the people there receive full paychecks, not like servers in sit-down restaurants who only get paid like $3 an hour and the rest is tips.
I don't really go to any restaurants like you describe. If I did, I would probably not leave a tip, or leave a very small tip, under 10%. I suspect that the people there receive full paychecks, not like servers in sit-down restaurants who only get paid like $3 an hour and the rest is tips.
In the socialist dictatorships of the North (if Glenn Beck is to be believed), tipping really isn't a thing. Although I do tend to leave some of the change behind if I feel like they should have it. Also, if there is a little coin jar or something on the bar, I usually slip some change in there. More so depending on if the bartender was cute.
I don't like places that have compulsary tipping, as in it states on the menu that you MUST give a 15% tip. Most of Europe does it and it's catching on in the UK.
If I tip, it's because I enjoyed myself. The food was good, the waiting was good, the restaurant was nice, all that.
I won't tip if I could have made a better meal myself.
Basically, tipping should be optional; a tip is a little extra "thank you for the nice meal", not what some places disguise as a food tax.
If I tip, it's because I enjoyed myself. The food was good, the waiting was good, the restaurant was nice, all that.
I won't tip if I could have made a better meal myself.
Basically, tipping should be optional; a tip is a little extra "thank you for the nice meal", not what some places disguise as a food tax.
Well depending on the size of the order and/or restuarant, I usually tip 10% or the change I would receive(if the bill is expensive)
I believe the reason why tipping is so important is because, in america, waiters are paid abysmal amounts for what they do, so they tend to rely on tips to survive. I'm pretty sure that, At least in the UK, wages are a bit better, but also there is a service charge with your meal in most restaurants which goes to the waiter. But yes it is generally considered a nice thing to do just to show your appreciation.Vault101 said:
I tip well. All the time. Had a friend who was a waiter, hearing him tell stories of his job... I'm surprised more waiters/waitresses don't end up going on killing sprees. Though he might have exaggerated a bit...
Yep. Tips are how waiters/waitresses make most of their money here in the US.Vault101 said:
The thing is though, in the US at least, a waiter/waitress' salary is way below minimum wage (the lowest amount of money an employer can pay you). At least it was when my friend still worked as a waiter. Back then minimum was about $7/hour, and his pay was about $3/hour. The tips are the majority of their pay. Things might have changed, but I'm pretty sure tipping is their main source for money.NightmareLuna said:In Sweden there is no tip at all... So... I don't. Not even when I travel. Why should I give them more money? They are already payed for their work. If the waiter is good, the food is good and everything is good... Then they are doing their job, nothing more and do not deserve anything extra.
However if the waiter would for example... Dance (Karamelldansen ftw!) for me in exchange for money, I would gladly tip them for what the dance is worth.
I just don't get tipping at all. Here in Finland we don't do it.
Yeah I guess it would be nice to give the waitress some extra for good work, BUT what then if you don't have cash? Or right amount of cash? Maybe you have too big bills to just some change? I usually just use my credit card everywhere anyway.
Yeah I guess it would be nice to give the waitress some extra for good work, BUT what then if you don't have cash? Or right amount of cash? Maybe you have too big bills to just some change? I usually just use my credit card everywhere anyway.
I do pretty much the same thing. I don't eat in places where tipping would be expected very often and when I do I find that the food is so ludicrously overpriced that I don't anyway. If the food is that expensive, they can afford to pay their staff properly. If someone did far more than they were already paid to do, I might consider telling them to keep the change, but that would require an exceptional level of service.Fatboy_41 said:
are you saying you dont even give a standard amount for the service you get?Fatboy_41 said:
sure they're suppose to provide a standard service, but keep in mind they have to deal with shitheads and rude people. ive worked in food service, people can be intolerable. sure i carefully watch how the server acts and performs, but i try to never stiff the poor people.
I'm a Brit and I will only tip if its been exceptional service or I'm part of a large group as I accept that's more work and disruption for them. Otherwise I see it as rewarding them for doing what they are being paid to do.