Tips, should I?
Oct 30th 2009 | 2:27 am
#46
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 623
From: GA
Re: Tips, should I?
If the food is bad, I'd probably complain to the manager. Slow or rude service I'll leave little or no tip.
I think pretty much all countries have a tipping structure in sit down restaurants. It feels more of a compulsory thing than a voluntarily thing here though.
I don't tip for takeaways or buffet service. That just seems ridiculous to me.
I think pretty much all countries have a tipping structure in sit down restaurants. It feels more of a compulsory thing than a voluntarily thing here though.
I don't tip for takeaways or buffet service. That just seems ridiculous to me.
Oct 30th 2009 | 2:53 am
#47
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,703
From: Andover, MA
Re: Tips, should I?
I am so confused with tipping it is not even funny anymore, but the thing I don't get is why should I tip when I get bad service. It has happened on a few occasions now and my US partner tends to pick up the tab because she knows I really don't want to reward bad service.
But, nothing...
Then my US partner insisted I still tip at least 15%
All the other Americans I was with agreed. So as to not make a scene, I did so 
BUT... the restaurant was a chain. I went on the corporate website and gave detailed feedback of what happened, naming the restaurant location.
Within a day I got a call from the manager.
He apologized and sent me $30 in gift certificates
Oct 30th 2009 | 2:57 am
#48
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,703
From: Andover, MA
Re: Tips, should I?
Case in point... a beer is $4.75. I give a $5 and he doesn't offer me change.
Maybe I'm being a git, but I basically think if he's presumptuous enough to decide I'm giving him a tip then I just hope he's happy with 25 cents, cos I'll be buggered if I'm going back into my wallet to get him anymore cash!
Oct 30th 2009 | 3:12 am
#49
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 4,382
From: on the horizon
Re: Tips, should I?
I'm more than happy to tip in restaurants, or anywhere I sit down to eat or drink. I always feel slightly uncomfortable though when I go for take-out though.
I've just collected my lunch order from CPK, and there is a line for Tip amount, I never tip in this instance, but then feel slightly guilty. What does everyone else do?
I've just collected my lunch order from CPK, and there is a line for Tip amount, I never tip in this instance, but then feel slightly guilty. What does everyone else do?
Oct 30th 2009 | 3:36 am
#50
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 709
Re: Tips, should I?
Asking again what you consider bad service? Plate thrown on the table? Given something you didn't order? Was the steak well done instead of rare? Or was it just the bread basket wasn't delivered fast enough? Was the kitchen slow in preparing your order? Or was the server slow in hopping to attention because you wanted a refill on your drink? Did the server not hoover over you constantly to make sure that your every whim was fulfilled? Not everything is a server's fault.
At my age and with my waitressing and bartending experience, I will say that I have met up with little of what would be considered poor service. I've sat at tables that might not have been clean enough or received a utensil that needed a bit more soap and water or not received a glass of water when I sat down. But that is not poor service on the part of the server. Normally these things are the responsibility of the kitchen and bussers and I would not penalize the server.
In countries where you don't have a tipping structure, then you really have no choice in rewarding or penalizing a servers. At least in the US you have that option and can opt for leaving the customary 15-20% of the bill and/or leaving 1 cent under a plate to indicate bad service and then tell the manager about your dissatisfaction.
At my age and with my waitressing and bartending experience, I will say that I have met up with little of what would be considered poor service. I've sat at tables that might not have been clean enough or received a utensil that needed a bit more soap and water or not received a glass of water when I sat down. But that is not poor service on the part of the server. Normally these things are the responsibility of the kitchen and bussers and I would not penalize the server.
In countries where you don't have a tipping structure, then you really have no choice in rewarding or penalizing a servers. At least in the US you have that option and can opt for leaving the customary 15-20% of the bill and/or leaving 1 cent under a plate to indicate bad service and then tell the manager about your dissatisfaction.
By bad service I am not talking about the food. The thing that really gets to me is slow service to the point that you feel you are being ignored, this only becomes an issue with me in a restaurant that is not busy, if a place is busy when I go in I am expecting things to be a little slower than the norm. Rudeness, which I will admit happens rarely, but it does happen. Good service is one of the things when I am back in England that I comment on to everyone, I think the general standard is very high.
But to rephrase my question, should I tip when the server takes my drinks order, then stands at the bar for 5 minutes with my drinks sitting there, chatting with the bartender, when the server stands in the corner of the room, texting/talking to the other servers for ages when there are people waiting to be served. At the point tips are what make the job they do worth doing, it must be in their interest to do the best most efficient job they are capable of. The reason I am given that I MUST always tip, is the low wages that servers get, but even a tip needs to be earned surely?
Oct 30th 2009 | 4:32 am
#51
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 47,663
Re: Tips, should I?
But to rephrase my question, should I tip when the server takes my drinks order, then stands at the bar for 5 minutes with my drinks sitting there, chatting with the bartender, when the server stands in the corner of the room, texting/talking to the other servers for ages when there are people waiting to be served. At the point tips are what make the job they do worth doing, it must be in their interest to do the best most efficient job they are capable of. The reason I am given that I MUST always tip, is the low wages that servers get, but even a tip needs to be earned surely?
No, in those situations, I agree with you to give a lower tip and/or no tip or better yet to say something if you order a second drink and it continues.
DH, myself and my dad were at the casino one day and when we got home we stopped for a bite to eat. We walked in and the five waitresses were standing in a group talking, laughing and talking. We waited ten minutes, no menus, no one came over, so we got up to leave. We were approached on the way out as to why we were leaving and frankly, I told her "Since your conversation took priority over your customers, we are going somewhere where our patronage is valued. Have a good night." and left. There's 3 restaurants on that block. No need to have to be treated discourteously.
There is no reason why you MUST give a tip. But bear in mind, often if you talk to your server in a nice manner, before the situation gets completely out of hand, things will improve.
Oct 30th 2009 | 4:36 am
#52
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5
Re: Tips, should I?
The tip on an average meal in the USA seems to be anything from 2 to 5 cents, depending on the service.
Oct 30th 2009 | 4:51 am
#54
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,532
From: Google Town
Re: Tips, should I?
When in a bar, if the singer gives you a song sheet and asks you to pick a song for him to sing. Should you tip him at the end of the night?
Oct 30th 2009 | 5:05 am
#56
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 89,088
Re: Tips, should I?
Servers...I normally leave a 20% tip rounding it up to the nearest dollar.
Mail carrier, garbage men, recycling collectors, exterminator guy...I leave $20 at Christmas. I think they are due for a raise this year.
I leave my hairdresser a 30% tip rounding it up to the nearest dollar...it ensures she fits me in without an appointment.
Mail carrier, garbage men, recycling collectors, exterminator guy...I leave $20 at Christmas. I think they are due for a raise this year.
I leave my hairdresser a 30% tip rounding it up to the nearest dollar...it ensures she fits me in without an appointment.
Last edited by Jerseygirl; Oct 30th 2009 at 5:07 am.
Oct 30th 2009 | 5:16 am
#59
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,913
From: Manhattan
Re: Tips, should I?
I agree with Rete. As I said It's not always the servers fault. I also hate when it's slow and the server or bartender is ignoring the table and I have to wait as well. I work in a small restaurantr and if someone calls in sick there is not always a staff member available to replace them. Also like I said the kitchen can be backed up as well as the bar. As I also said before if you have a problem get the manager. I am an excellent tipper since I am in the business but I was in Miami a few years ago and the waitress had a terrible additude and was outside smoking a cigarette when we needed more drinks . I got the manager and she appologised, repremanded the waitress and gave us a round on the house. I gave a low tip it was justly deserved.
