No. No one has said that.

Servers, bar staff etc generally get paid a minimum wage which is then supplimented by tips. Please note that, in Ontario, the people behind the bar get a lower mimimum wage than everyone else, lower than the student rate of minimum wage.

http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/...de/minwage.php

Whether or not people believe this to be a fair and just way of having things is irrelevant. Tipping for service is the norm in North America.

The phrase 'suck it up and don't be a miser' comes to mind.

The point of the thread was not really to rehash a recent debate on tipping but to highlight the rather offensive and irrelevant remark the customer put on the bill.

I have no problem with tipping in a restaurant - no problem here or back in the UK for normal or better service.

You have obviously never worked in the hospitality industry.

They probably get paid more than minimum wage, plus bonuses, health care etc.

One thing to bear in mind is that wait staff here generally have to pay 'tip out' this can be as much as 5% of their takings, (and sometimes it's taxed too) that tip out goes generally to the kitchen staff - who generally get paid more per hour anyway.

I remember paying 3p per plate to the chefs, who were the highest paid, bar staff second highest, wait staff the lowest. The head chef would share our their share of tips at the end of the week to the rest of the kitchen staff - the head chef obviously getting the most 'cause it was always worked out on hours worked

I generally round up and add a bit if necessary, I don't go in for percentages, I think a pound (pound fifty) a person is fair as is a couple of dollars pp here. Anything much less then you obviously need the money more than the wait staff so you should keep it.

Your spat with lmartin is none of my business!

However surely you must find time spent in a bar/restaurant in Canada far more relaxing to time spent in a supermarket?

One of the great benefits of the bar/restaurant is the ability to sit back whilst cheerful people bring stuff to you after a hard day's work whilst you can chat with friends or watch sports.

The supermarket involves ques, hunting for items, carting a trolley around etc.....

I see it very much as tipping for the quality of relaxation provided.

By the way does any one know if you should tip the barber in Canada?

I have a friend who is a refuse collector. He makes $65k per year and gets more vacation and benefits than me.

It's a poor example.

There are also Assembly Line workers in the GTA making $25 per hour.

The fact of the matter as Ireland2Canada points out is that servers by legislation get less than the regular minimum wage of average workers.

You then have to factor in the hours of the day they work when the restaurant/bar is empty. It is very much a career in Canada and yes there are servers in certain bars commanding very good money but in your regular suburban dive with out tips during busy periods they are screwed.

I have and have not. Not depending upon the quality of cut, just whether I had the spare change.

I do. It may be a perception but I feel he now takes a little more care with the cut-throat and spends a bit more time trimming the eyebrows.

This morning I gave a decent tip to the tow truck driver. I didn't expect anything in return, just that I appreciated the care he took with my car. Turns out when he got to the garage it wasn't quite open so he called me, arranged what to do with the keys and made sure everything was ok.

I also do tip the people who pack the bags at grocery stores, where it is usual to do so. An example would be Mexico.

And I see that, once again, you have made an entirely pointless contribution to a thread.

I actually like grocery shopping...

Credit: Lester Brown

And this ^ is what?

Of course you do

I tip mine. At least I think I do as I've no idea how much he actually charges. I've just been handing over $20 for the last three years - I'm assuming he'll tell me when it's not enough.

Damn straight.....