Alan2005

I don't like it but it's preferable to some chef doing a micheal winner in my soup.

MR79

i dont see the point in tipping, it should be upto the restaurant to pay their staff higher wages.........

JonboyE

Then the food will cost more, and if we got lousy service there's not much we can do about it.

Aviator

Margins are already very high. It is largely because it has always been this way and they can get away with it.
If you get lousy service, why would it be any different to any other store, you complain to the management, if they want to keep customers they do something about it, or you just go somewhere else.

Would retail stores give better service if you tipped the cashier or sales assistant?

Alan2005

Except not go back obviously. Nobody actually likes tipping, we do it cos it is the socially accepted norm.

(The Japanese have this right, no tipping and you pay at a till on the way out.)

Alan2005

The liquor store near me has a tips jar. Cheeky gits - needless to say I never put anything in it (and nor does anyone else by the looks of it)

Aviator

Perhaps flight crews should start passing a a hat around as passengers disembark! Or maybe they would feel more generous before the flight takes off

Steve_P

Isn't that Air Canada's new business model?

JonboyE

I think the rule of thumb is 1/3rd for the food, 1/3rd for wages, and a 1/3rd for overheads. A 200% markup on food. That said, not many non-franchise restaurants make much profit. If they pay the staff more they will have to increase prices


It is different to going shopping though. I go to nice restaurants to celebrate a special occasion, or to entertain friends or customers. I want a relaxing, enjoyable occasion and good service makes or breaks the event. I don't want to spend time arguing with the management when I should be enjoying myself.

JonboyE

It is not a fair comparison. The Japanese approach comes from a code of manners that took hundreds of years to develop. Good luck in trying the get western yoof to behave in that way.

Alan2005

That's a very accusatory tone. Did somebody not tip your properly for your last set of accounts

I said they had it right, not that it would work here. North americans are too grasping for that.

JonboyE

The only tip anyone has given me was to buy shares in a company that lost 90% of their value in the following six months. Fortunately, I am far too close to a dollar to risk money on speculation.

If a client wanted to give me a tip I would curse myself for not charging them enough.

Aviator

So western cultures have not developed a code of manners yet?

JonboyE

Of course they have, but it is a different one.

NotTooShabby

Spot on.