penguinbar

I pay FICA

penguinbar

Bartenders and waitstaff are not considered independent contractors.

HarryTheSpider

Thanks penguin bar - very useful insight - I'll tip in cash in future.

penguinbar

Just tip for good service please! Would love to see some of you in NYC sometime! I make some mean cocktails!

CherryPi

Oh I understand that it is not always the servers/bartenders fault for crappy service. I was a bartender for 5 years before moving here and my dad has managed numerous pubs. But what I should have rather asked is, if the server/bartender is blatantly rude/giving you crappy service, perhaps even favoring specific customers, do you proceeds to tip them up the full extent? Or, do you tip them minimally and possibly feel like an asshole for doing so despite the situation?

lj2

For what it's worth, I tip 15-20% as 'standard' in a restaurant - I'd tip a buck or two for a cocktail waiter in a bar and I'd tip a buck every round-ish for someone who just gives me beers (only so I get served quick enough!).

I have tipped 0 for bad service (even if the service isn't the fault of the wait staff I wouldn't look into it - bad service = lower tip. AWFUL service = no tip. If that's the kitchen's fault, I would suggest the servers take it up with the kitchen! I would also underpay for a meal if it was bad enough, but I have never yet done this without a manager reducing the bill for me), and I would tip 25 - 30% for exceptional service.

Coffee shops / fast food? No chance.

Egg and Cress

Who cares? You aren't going back for a second dose of crappy service, are you? Any place where we feel a minimum tip is due definitely gets crossed off the list. We normally tip more than the 15-20% anyway, particularly if it's a place we are going to return to - wait staff often remembers you and future visits are more pleasant. Wait staff who actually interact with us, joking, teasing or just light chat usually get the bigger tips.

SultanOfSwing

We rarely eat at restaurants, I never go to the pub anymore and I cut my own hair. I hardly ever have to tip anyone

The only time it comes up is in a restaurant though. Normally we'll round up the bill for the tip if the service is good, which ends up being up around 25%, but if they're shit, we just work out exactly 15% and bugger off. Nine times out of ten the service is fine - which stands to reason, if someone is relying on tips to make money then they are going to provide the best service they can.

Bob

I don't think most people have a problem with tipping for good service.

It's just the expectation of having to tip for regular or subpar service.

Which isn't easy when it might not even be the servers fault, if the kitchen makes a mess of the food or holds things up.

Why this system is shit.

Sure you can talk to the manager, but what does that actually achieve? The chef spitting in your food when it next gets sent out and another delay.

It is the way it is though.

I also really hate the whole gaming the bar system. I want a drink, I pay for a drink, I expect it to be a solid drink, I don't expect it to be some weak shit that only gets a good top up if I'm a regular tipper or have to wait extra long because someone else is a regular tipper. Like I said though, that's just the way it is, so I rarely drink out.

njmackem

Remember its called gratuity. So for eating and drinking out and other service industries work out whether you were happy with the service, if you are tip. If not don't.

As service industry workers they know that they make most their money on tips, so if they don't meet my expectations they don't get tipped.

That said, I would always tip a hairdresser so they do not mess up my next cut..

I have spoken with restaurant managers before who have questioned why no tip and told them, but at the same time I have tipped well despite the kitchen messing up an order.

Uncle Ebenezer

My tip is, if you're not prepared to conform to local custom, don't eat out.

cosmicjunkie

I am conforming to the local custom and I do tip on the rare occasions I eat out. It's all new here for me in the States and I'm just making observations that are unfamiliar to me. I wanted to know what everyone else did where tipping was concerned. That's all!

Uncle Ebenezer

Keep your hair on! That wasn't aimed at you, just a general post - if it had been aimed at you, I'd have quoted you.

cosmicjunkie

Like I said, I understand the tipping system in restaurants and that's fine. The thing that annoys me is that a lot of other people in other jobs seem to have jumped on the 'tips bandwagon'. For example, on my way here I got lost at the airport in New york. I was very worried because my flight was due. I asked an official airport attendant to help me find my way. He was very nice and charming and personally led me to where I was supposed to be. Upon arrival he turned to me with his big smile and said, "well mam, here we are. Now I hope you're gonna see me alright for my trouble" Basically, I had to tip him because he showed me the way.
Another time, another airport worker put my bag on a trolley and pushed it a few yards to where my husband was waiting for me at the gate. I had another trolley with another bag and a huge dog cage with the dog in it . I could barely see where I was going and yet he took the lightest bag off me. My husband tipped him $5 and he was all pissed off. I had to give him another $5. I think some of these people are just cheeky bastards and that is what annoys me.

cosmicjunkie

Sorry...it's that time of the month....