Tipping

[SenseOfTumour]

Yeah, I'm pretty poor as I'm not working, but maybe once every couple of months I'll get taken to a pub/bar restaurant kinda place for a meal by my parents, who still live near and rely on me to deal with anything electrical that they buy, heh.

However, even tho I can't afford to eat out, I always take a few pounds with me so I can subtly boost the tip a bit as it's kinda embarrassing when 3 of us eat and they leave maybe 2 pounds, so I tend to slip a few pounds extra under my plate.

I figure if they left nothing, then you've just had customers who don't tip, but a small tip seems even ruder than none, as although this isn't how they mean it, I imagine it comes across as 'I wonder what I did wrong to drop it to like 5%?'

EDIT: they need to quit screwing around and make the minimum wage legal for everyone, and if it pushes my cheeseburger n fries from $10 to $12 so be it. No-one would have to hang their hopes of making ends meet each week on people feeling generous, not when they're working full time in a civilised country.

 

[Vilcus]

1: I do tip

2 - This part is going to be long: The amount I put towards the tip depends on the nature of the meal, and the quality of the service. Like if I go to something like Endless Pasta Bowl at Olive Garden, or Endless Shrimp at Red Lobster (if those event names sounds similar, it's because they're both owned by the same company), and my server works incredibly hard to keep up with my orders, then I would probably tip around 25-35%. However, if I was to simply order a burger, and then never see my server again after receiving said burger, then I would be inclined to 86 the tip as well as never return to that restaurant (not because of the service, but because of the increased risk of saliva, or other materials associated with the human body). The most I've ever seen tipped was by my sister when she took me and my father out to Endless Pasta Bowl at the Olive Garden when I still lived in Calgary. The final price of the meal was around $40.00 (really cheap for three people), but my sister was also a waitress at the time, and she recognized how hard our waiter was working. As a result of his hard work, my sister bestowed upon him a $60.00 tip, and in my honest opinion, he deserved every penny of it.

3: Tipping is a reward for above average service. If you tip someone for just doing their job, then they may develop a sense of entitlement towards a tip, and that is never good in any case. Giving someone a tip is like saying "Hey, you there! You did a fucking awesome job, and I think you deserve some extra money! C'mon, high five!" Which is something that shouldn't be simply thrown around because it has become the norm (which is stupid).

Also, one last thing. If you think that tip only goes to the waitress/waiter, then you are mistaken. In this day tips are split amongst everyone, and this includes the kitchen, other waiters and waitresses, and even the bus boys. This is known as "Tipping the house", and it actually kind of annoys me, because waitresses and waiters get payed the least out of everyone, yet they're expected to share the little bonus they received with the other people who get payed much more than them. It is for that reason that I will never work as a waiter (and the fact that I'd be horrible at it).

 

[Azure-Supernova]

If you do come to Canada, go ahead and don't tip. I don't really care. You're the one that looks like the stereotype of an Englishman. Not that it matters since you'll never see the people again, but that's a pretty sorry attitude. And then yes, it is your fault they don't get paid enough. The system is supposed to be that they get paid enough if their service if good. If it is and you aren't tipping, you're just ruining someone's day for no good reason.

I understand what you're saying, but it really isn't my problem that the restaurant makes an asusmption that every customer tips. That is the staff getting screwed over by the place they work for. Is it my fault that there's no legislation in place to make sure that these guys and gals leave work with at least minumum wage? No. So please, point out how it becomes my responsibility to make up their earnings when I've already paid for their services?

 

[Betancore]

We don't really tip much in Australia. It's not mandatory. Depends on the place. Some restaurants have a little bowl or jar for tips, but that's about it. Sometimes if they hand us the bill with the change tucked inside, we leave a few dollars. I guess I do see a point in tipping, and if I've experienced particularly good service, then I'll try to make sure the waiter knows that I appreciate it. But yeah, being an unemployed student, I rarely eat at places where I need to tip. Most of the time when I eat out, I have to line up to pay for my food and carry it to a table on a tray.

 

[voetballeeuw]

I tip 15-20 percent. Strangely though, I recently learned that you have to tip hairdressers. WHY?

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

I tip 15-20 percent. Strangely though, I recently learned that you have to tip hairdressers. WHY?

These are the people who can leave you looking like you escaped from the 80s and you have to ask why?

That's why I use clippers or a razor to take care of my own hair.

 

[beema]

1. of course

2. almost always 20% unless I'm broke or the service was crap

3. Yes, there is a huge point. The point is that tips are generally all the money these people make. All it takes is one stint in the foodservice industry and you will understand. They are very important.

 

[instantbenz]

1. Do you tip?

Rarely, I know waiters and waitresses get paid diddly-shit, but the service has to be outstanding. Even if the service is stellar, I still have to know I have extra funds, which is rare.

2. If yes, why and how much?

Again only if they are prompt on my drinks. Slightly courteous but not too much so that I feel awkward. If I see better service from another waiter or waitress I will refuse a tip. If all of my insane requirements are met, they get no more than $3 from me. If I'm with other people I will let them (yes, I'm that guy) tip.

3. Do you see the point in tipping?

In the states, yes. Elsewhere, not unless my service has literally made my day. A couple I hang out with met with some people from Norway who said "the waitress would have to blow me to get a tip". I've never thought of tipping the same since I heard that one.

What do you think about other services getting tips?

Delivery deserves tips in certain conditions. If it's blizzarding here and they still deliver, the person is putting themselves and their vehicle at risk so I tip ... if it's the right order and on time ... and they're not assholes when they get to the door.

It's really a courtesy thing for me.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

"the waitress would have to blow me to get a tip"

I'm pretty sure that comes as an extra charge on the bill.

 

[MMMowman]

No, in Austalia we dont tip because the prices are high to begin with.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

No, in Austalia we dont tip because the prices are high to begin with.

Plus all the service surcharges are put there right on the bill.

 

[Vrach]

I tip cabbies, waiters, pizza delivery guys (why are they never girls!), some non-contract repairmen (f. ex. if I need my bike serviced) and similar, the amount depends on the quality of the service (is 0 if they pissed me off, simple mistakes don't piss me off, attitudes and a poorly done job does).

The 'reason' for it is twofold. First off, and this is the lesser reason, most of such jobs suck a bit as far as the salary goes and the tips are actually the main source of income for a lot of those people. Second, more "important" one is that it's a service and not a product. Meaning, you're paying for the product and then, at your discretion, you pay for the service with an amount appropriate for the quality of service rendered.

A standardised tip however (ie. included in your tab) can go fuck itself with a rusty iron pipe. It's arrogant and defeats the whole purpose of it. Don't get me wrong, I'm ok if a price is set higher at the discretion of the restaurant or whatever to provide a reasonable income to the staff, but calling it a tip and including it in the tab is just really arrogant imo.

 

[Sacman]

I tip no one!!!

 

[gbemery]

Yes I tip

I tip because most of the server jobs pay sucks and need tips. I usually tip 20-30% if really good, 15-20 if good, 10-15 if alright, and at least 5-10 if they at least didn't let me run out of drinks. I will usually always tip $2minimum even if that takes it over 20-30% unless they were just complete assholes or the place charged gratuity.

The point of it is as i said above and plus it lets you show how much you appreciated their service.

 

[Araethuiel]

To me, a giving a tip is the same as saying "yeah, you did an awesome job there", so I don't just tip "because they brought my food"...
If the order comes out wrong, if I have to wait too long (E.g. if I see someone sit down at another table after me, then order their food before me, that's too long), if the water is rude, or inattentive, ignores me when I try to catch their attention (this REALLY gets to me), then no tip.
If the food's under/overcooked or shite, this isn't the water's fault, so that has no impact on their tip...
If I thought the waiter did a good job, then yeah I'll happily give a tip- usually a fiver, or whatever I can spare.

As far as delivered food goes, again, if they say it'll be with me in say 30 mins, and it's there in about that, and the driver isn't an arsehole, he gets a tip.
If not, no.
Tips for the driver are a bit less, "keep the change" up to a couple of quid, ish...

Context: in Merry old England tipping is not required but considered slightly rude if you don't, mainly in restaurants (not fastfood) and delivered food (Ie pizza). This is because waitstaff don't need the tips to make up their wage, they get national minimum and whatever tips they get are bonus

tl:dr
I only tip if it's polite, prompt, friendly service. Usually a fiver, maybe a bit more.

 

[Mad World]

1. Yes.

2. Usually, I tip 15%.

3. Yes.

However, I am against restaurants that automatically add the tip to the bill. They call it a "gratuity," but it being forced negates the entire idea.

 

[helldragonX]

1: Yes
2: 10-15%, cause they put up with a lot of crap.
3: Yes, if they have earned it.

 

[DustyDrB]

20-25% for waiters and waitresses. 1 dollar for every 10 I spend in a bar (roughly. I really only tip in bars if the bartender has to actually mix my drink. None for beer. And I drink much more beer).

 

[b3nn3tt]

I live in the UK, and up until fairly recently (within the last year or so) I used to automatically leave a tip if I went out to restaurant. Then I got to thinking about it, and realised that there's no reason for it to be an automatic response. Just to be clear, over here waiting staff are paid at least minimum wage, any tip they get is a bonus. So effectively, I was paying people for simply doing their job. I wouldn't do that for any other profession; I don't go into a shop, buy something and then give the cashier extra money. Having said that, if the service is good, then I will leave a tip, and it is a very rare time that I won't leave one. But the point remain that there really is no logical reason for doing it

In terms of the tipping situation in America, I would personally hate to feel guilt-triped into tipping someone. It's not my fault that restaurants can get away with paying their staff minumum wage, I don't think the burden should be on my shoulders to make sure that they get decent pay. Again, if the service is good then I would probably leave a tip, but that is down to the waiting staff themselves

Basically, I don't like that tips are expected, I think they are something that have to be earned

 

[Treefingers]

Reservoir Dogs ftw.


Personally, i'll tip in restaurant and bars if they deserve it. In NZ it isn't expected.