Tips / service charge
 

Do you tip & why / why not?

Re: Tips / service charge
 

I always tip, and always have, but the Spanish are not big tippers generaly.

I have known barmaids who only get about 2 euros a night tips, rubbish............

Re: Tips / service charge
 

Wow, that`s rubbish.

Re: Tips / service charge
 

my wife is a waitress,gets 7e an hour not too bad and about 10e a day in tips,problem is a party of 10 can leave a euro tip or a couple having a coffee can leave a euro tip

everyone should if the service is good and food/drink good leave at least 10% as a lot of the wages are 5e an hour and this extra helps

the other prob is a lot of the owners also take a share,i think this is wrong

Re: Tips / service charge
 

We did carry on tipping UK style when we first arrived here, but soon noticed that the locals tend to not tip.
So to answer the question, no we do not tip now (bye & large) unless a service that we receive is exceptionally good or more than can be expected.

Re: Tips / service charge
 

my wife went out to lunch with a group of 34 women the bill came to , 328 euros. She sugested that each one should put a tenner in, so that each one would give only a 30 odd euro tip each. The women went mad. they thought that the tip was too much (about 12 euros).

They spent about half an hour scrabbling around for their 20 cents change and in the end left a 5 euro tip.
This was about 4 years ago, my wife has not been out with them since.

Tight wads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

she was so disgusted she kept the bill to remind her.............................

Re: Tips / service charge
 

Here it is almost rude not to tip, I was surprised to hear from others saying the opposite.
There is no rule on the amount, although 10% is the norm. I do find it a pain though as I rarely carry cash, and never coinage so if the missus hasn't bought her handbag then they are out of luck!

Re: Tips / service charge
 

I personally think it is up to the person concerned, no way should they feel obliged to tip. If they want to, fine, if not, no problem. It should not be the customers job to have to make up the staff's low wages. If you walk in a pub in UK, order a few beers, you don't tip the barman every time you buy a round, why should you do it it Spain when they offer you the change on a tray? Having said that, we always used to tip quite well, but have cut back, especially on long stays when we eat out every night. I quite like the Spanish way if they are not happy with the service, to leave a cent, or lowest denomination coin, to show that they haven't forgotten the tip, in fact they have left what they think the service deserved.:)

Re: Tips / service charge
 

Like most I leave a tip, but in these recesionary times I am beginning to wonder why does a waitress on minimum wage deserve a tip when so many others on minimum wage get nout? :confused:

In Corte Engles cafe they refuse to accept a tip.

Re: Tips / service charge
 

The only people I have ever known leave a tip in a Spanish cafe/ bar were Brits.

And no, I do not tip anyone. Why should I? nobody ever gave me a tip for simply doing my job.

Re: Tips / service charge
 

It is usual to leave a tip in a bar/cafeteria, even if you are just having a coffee and tapa, but it doesnt have to be much, just 10 or 20 centimos.

2 euros tip is fine if going for a lot of tapas in the early evening or 5 euros for a proper evening meal

You dont have to tip anything like 10-15% like Brits or Americans might

However, Spanish people do usually tip at cafes and restaurants, just not very much and if you don't tip noone will complain.

Re: Tips / service charge
 

[QUOTE=cricketmanHowever, Spanish people do usually tip at cafes and restaurants, just not very much and if you don't tip noone will complain.[/QUOTE]

Not around here they don't. :)

Re: Tips / service charge
 

You must have some particular stingy ones then :)

Someone said yesterday "How can I talk for every Spanish person". Of course I cant. I can only comment based on what my Spanish friends and family do and what I see of Spanish culture on the TV and newspapers.

The culture is to tip in Spain, but not huge amounts....

Re: Tips / service charge
 

How are tips shared out in a restaurant? Varies I suppose. :confused: For instance, if you enjoy your meal it's because of the food as well as the quality of service, so does the chef, the bottle washer all get a share?:confused:

Re: Tips / service charge
 

I always tip if I've had good service and I know that my tipping probably marks me out as a foreigner, but I think good service deserves paying for and the added benefit is you'll be guaranteed good service next time. It's an investment.

Only if I've had poor service do I not leave anything.

Re: Tips / service charge
 

Before the Euro was introduced, everyone happily tipped. But with the new coinage, all pricing was rounded up heavenwards. And with one blow, tipping came to an end. Most just leave the small change, with nothing more being expected.
Personally I don't like tipping. I prefer peeps are paid a decent living wage. Good service should not have to be rewarded with me having to pay more than the advertised price. I find the idea that service should ever be anything less than the best one can give, to be utterly bizarre. If a business provides all the advertised stuffs at the price agreed, then I shall return. Simple really.

Re: Tips / service charge
 

So I take it then that you would tip.......
The lads who collect the basura.
The postie (assuming you get one)
The checkout person in the supermarket.
The bank clerk.
etc.
etc.
etc.
etc.


It is when you think about it, quite illogical & a pain that you have to think about if you are a tipper.
It is easy for us here now as we do not have to consider the issue & hust pay the bill for the service that we have recived & the locals where we live frown and mutter when tourists tip.

Re: Tips / service charge
 

I’ve always tipped, here in Spain and everywhere else. Perhaps I imagine it, but I’m always well-treated in the places I frequent, and my tapas portions are definitely bigger than those of the non-tippers, if I call a taxi one arrives in minutes, and my postman goes out of his way to deliver my mail.

My pool maintenance people keep it sparkling clean, my mechanic uses proper oil, and I’ve even had a few salutes from Trafico.

Re: Tips / service charge
 

You tip Trafico :huh:

Re: Tips / service charge
 

You cannot tip trafico, its called " sobornar" :lol::lol::lol::lol:

Re: Tips / service charge
 

Yes, HGB, you do imagine it. I also receive all of those things mentioned....without tipping!

Re: Tips / service charge
 

I've even taken my bank manager to lunch. and my accountant, and my lawyer. I like to see people smile, and can't see any harm in not paying more tax than I have to.

Re: Tips / service charge
 

In Australia we hardly ever tip as restaurant/cafe staff are quite well paid. In the UK they are not so I would tip, if I thought the food and service deserved it. Here in Spain I have been leaving small tips occassionally.:thumbup::thumbup:

Re: Tips / service charge
 

I think there is a class of people who delight in any excuse not to tip. In the UK often the staff are paid poorly (my daughter did a lot of waitressing when she was younger, so I have some first hand experience. ) Their money was so low that they really appreciated the tips they got.

We were told by our Spanish friends that 5% was the custom, but I do think that with everyone going short, I think people tip less.

I still do, as I get damn good service where I go, and it is a practical, real way of saying 'thank you.'

A lot of people can't even say that,, so why should we be surprised if people don't want to tip. Who knows, with luck they will be in a similar position one day, and that might just teach them some empathy.

As for those who are rude to staff, hmmm, these are people who handle my food out of my sight. Knowing what goes on in restaurants sometimes, I REALLY want them to like me.

Re: Tips / service charge
 

Bil you are attempting to stereotype here.
Class of people ? (mean spirited/tight/rude ???)
Cannot say thank you (see no tipper)

Yes I know that you are generalising, but I have done bar work & I do praise often "and" get good service without the need to "tip".
As has been said, bar staff etc are not the only workers to receive low wages, in fact half of the Spanish workers receive low wages IMO but you would never "tip" them I fancy.
Just bear in mind that you can tip heavily & "still" no be liked !

Re: Tips / service charge
 

Don't worry, we know we're hated, we have jackytoo and agoreira to remind us of that lest we forget. ;)

That won't stop me tipping though

Re: Tips / service charge
 

Ive always tipped 10% when having a meal. It does get costly though, especially if you have been out for a special meal for instance

On a recent visit to America I worked out I had tipped over €200, for if you dont do 15% you are looked at with disdain! They even have suggested tipping amounts printed on the bills!

Re: Tips / service charge
 

Ah yes, I do HATE being told what I should tip.

Generalising is absolutely fine, as is stereotyping. To say people have two legs is to generalise, and stereotypes are real. They wouldn't be stereotypes else....

A knob-end will always be one no matter how he tips, and a tightwad also is usually recogniseable.

Re: Tips / service charge
 

Rachel if it suits you ;)

I can only speak for myself & hate feeling obliged to "tip"
The last person I tipped was the grua driver who dropped us and our shopping off at home when he effectively had done his job by dropping the car at the garage.
As for tipping for a coffee :rofl:

Re: Tips / service charge
 

So do I. But I don't do it because I feel obliged. I do it because and when I want to.

Re: Tips / service charge
 

Quite right and proper.

I have known a few people who have disdained to tip, saying they only did so when the service was really good. Needless to say the tight b*stards never did, and they always struck me as the type of person that would sweep up the crumbs after a picnic so the sparrows didn't get anything they hadn't deserved.

Re: Tips / service charge
 

I used to work in a beachbar where all tip equally got divided between bar/waiting & kitchenstaff up untill the one who did the dishes, it seemed fair enough.

Now I work as a taxidriver, am on call 12 hours a day for six days a week. My monthly wage is € 840,- which comes down to an average of € 38,- per day or € 3,18 per hour. Every little bit extra is greatly appriciated by Santander bank, Giahsa, Endesa, Orange, Telefónica oh, and my children.... ;)

Re: Tips / service charge
 

I dont hate you Rachelk or the British in general, (it would be a bit ironic if I did) and you keep on tipping, and so will I.
:lol::lol::lol:

Cheers,--------

Ps I was going to write cheers (and insert a little Spanish term of endearment) but after having read a post on a different thread about sticking a Spanish word in a sentence "willy nilly", I have decided against it.
:sneaky:

So cheers babe...........:lol::lol:

Re: Tips / service charge
 

I used to own a taxi firm many years ago in the UK and often found it was the wealthy that didn't tip so well and the poorer that were more appreciative of your work and did tip.
My OH is Spanish and is a tipper but said that most Spanish do not tip. My OH works in a famous restaurant in Madrid and because a plate was broken has been told there will be no more tips for the next 2 months. Bearing in mind that everyone in the restaurant from the cleaner to the head cheff all recieve equal tip money and it averages around 300E a month my OH was a tad f************* off to say the least as to why my OH has to loose 600E + for a plate that nobody saw who broke.
Wont stop us tipping though.

Re: Tips / service charge
 

I must admit that if I go for a meal (very rare nowadays) I budget to leave a 10% tip, assuming the service has been good. Why? Well apart from it being low-paid work, it's usually anti-social hours. Having said that, I (and most people) don't tip for drinks in the bar, so I suppose I'm being inconsistent.

Re: Tips / service charge
 

What kind of a plate was it?????????????

Re: Tips / service charge
 

You stick any spanish words of endearment you like in, and dont let other language snobs put you off! :D

Re: Tips / service charge
 

Not a particularly expensive one. The manager has got it in for my OH big time at the moment and she took great delight in telling how she had a free holiday to New York with the 2 month tip money from my OH.
Spot the difference between Spanish attitude and English attitude....if I was in that position and a manager gloated like that he would spend the next few minutes waiting for an ambulance!

Re: Tips / service charge
 

What a sh itty attitude, can nothing be done?????????? It sounds like bullying to me.
Some people dont know how to treat staff as fellow human beings, sorry to hear about it.

Pass on my best wishes to your wife, and lets hope all this crap passes soon

Re: Tips / service charge
 

I was in the my bank this week and after the usual half hour wait in a slow moving queue, a lady a few places in front of me reached the counter. She had previously exchanged a few words with me, and I would describe her as a well spoken, well dressed, English lady in her 70's. She conducted all her business in good broken spanish, if that makes sense. She did this even though it was not necessary as the teller was multi-lingual. Then she opened her carrier bag and gave a box of chocolates to the teller, and to the one at the next counter, also to the person on an ajacent desk, and two others at desks elsewhere within the bank. The whole queue looked on in absolute shock and amazement. She went on to explain it was a 'little thank-you' to everyone for all the hard work they do through the year. Then she caused great hilarity by pointing out to everyone that she did not bring anything for the 'jefe'. After she had left the buzz of conversation this caused went on for quite a while.