MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. How much should Nigella tip?

tallgirld

Just give £2 each. Better than a slap in the face.

XRAT

A large group of us went to a busy restaurant in the U.S., we were on holiday and in no rush. A very pleasant 'server' took our order, we had drinks and chatted. The meal was served just over an hour after we were first seated, with profuse apologies.
The food was fantastic.
When the bill arrived the server explained that the restuarant had a policy that the meal was free if weren't served within an hour, and thanked us for our good humour. She had provided us with great service despite the kitchen delay, so we tipped her 50% of the bill we would have paid, happy that it was still half price (less including the tip)
Because the food was so good, we returned the next day having checked that they weren't so busy. On being seated we were asked, "Are you in a hurry...?" Word obviously got around the staff, who were quite happy to offer another free meal.

Amzalooz

bennett2kuk wrote: »

I absolutely detest the idea of tipping. I don't care if they earn very little, they should be pushing themselves in a job that pays more. I don't want to earn minimum wage so I go out and bust a hump in my chosen profession. I suggest they do the same.

We already pay taxes to support those doley "jobseekers" why the hell should we feel pressured into supporting people who don't earn as much as they would like. It's like benefits for those who lack ambition and drive.

If anything I might leave a £1 or so, but I very very rarely carry cash, and always decline the automatic tip system in places like TGI Fridays. And if anything goes wrong like a wrong meal, spillage, delay, anything like that then I don't tip. Why should I when I'm not fully happy with the service.

Tipping is disgusting and I refuse point blank to take part.

I absolutely deteste the ridiculous assumptions that this opinion is based on. Many waiters (for instance) are working multiple jobs, often whilst studying to "better themselves" to fund their "ambition and drive". You pay for service, and for attention to detail which should be gratified. I am the first to refuse to pay for poor service, and also believe that automatic tips added to bills are wrong- it should be up to the customer. If you are unsure who the tip goes to- JUST ASK THE SERVER instead of using it as a moral justification for stinginess.

Workers would be horrified to think that tipping is an embarressment, many would be happy with a small amount accompanied by a thank-you if finance is an issue. Speaking to a supervisor or manager to reward good service is always welcomed as it can often impact bonus schemes that may be in operation. Most important is to speak to your server, find out what operates in that particular establishment to reward attentive, contientious service. Its called manners.

As for "doley jobseekers", I'm sure most would be sickened by your Draconian attitude. In my book, people who work hard at physically and mentally laborious jobs are far from doley jobseekers; and would be offended by the implication that they are taking handouts. You have no right to be so presumptuous about their career path- it may be due to circumstances outside their control. Resultingly they try hard and "bust a gut" in whatever career path may be available at that time. To comment on your ill-informed tirade, by definition they cannot be on the dole, and if they are in employment are ALSO paying taxes. Obviously. For the record, all tips are taxed now anyway. Fool.

nicolax

i must admit im a bit picky about tipping and mostly tip because of social pressure
i work in a major high street store and feel i give good customer service and will often go the extra mile for customers yet i recieve no tip. i get paid minimum wage for this (i use my wages to fund me through uni) yet i find that my friends who do work in restaurants get paid a higher wage than me and other shop workers i know plus tips on top
but, saying that, if i have recieved particularly good service in a restaurant i have no problem tipping whatsoever

daveoto

Don't believe in tipping at all. Why should i tip a waiter & say "& one for yourself" to a bartender? Should i then not tell the supermarket-checkout girl "& a loaf of bread for yourself" ?
In this day & age you should pay the price of what you get. If a restaurant feels it should charge more & give staff more money, then it should do so. Market forces will determine whether it will continue to be successful.
Buy one get one free should mean what it says, not buy one give half away!!
But the biggest crooks in this racket are cruise-ships. The tipping subsidises wages for very poorly paid foreign workers, while the owners rake in massive profits.

tyzer2001

Here's the bottom line. If you can afford to eat out, you're probably not really, really, really strapped for cash. Ok, you might be using a BOGOF or a dscount or whatever - but if you were really on the breadline you would use the cost of the meal - even discounted - for something more 'worthwhile'.

Therefore, when you leave that restaurant having left a tip on the table, it's not going to impact you much. You probably won't suffer for it. By the time you're out of the carpark, it will have ceased to signify for you.
But it will impact the person you left it with for far longer. It may make the difference to a sh*tty day for them. It might make them smile, put a spring in their step, make their job seem less onerous.

Isn't that worth the couple of quid to you? To feel that you have impacted someone positively?
Or would you rather be the person who says 'I'm b*ggered if I'm going to attempt to make someone else happy'?

GSXRCarlos

I have to admit that some peoples comments frustrate me.

I'm now 25, but spent 5 years working in restaurants and then bars to afford to commute and study at university.

I was on minimum wage from these jobs, nothing to do with not wanting a better job, that's what my career if for. Since then i've graduated from university with a 2:1 and have worked for a Managment Contractor for the last 5 years (2 of which were placement and part time as it payed better than the restaurants/bars).

My tips were always greatfully received and in return for a good service, but on the other hand, never did i expect to be tipped

Saucepot

10% up to a fiver of the actual bill if service and food was good, in cash so the staff get it, and always a good idea to ask if the staff get the tips or the gaff they work for nicks them and factors it in to the minumum wage laws. Nowt if it was poor or you don't like what she tells you about the tips policy..

nathanhill69

I always find reading through these moral dilemmas interesting as they seem to identify at least two types of people:

1. Those who take the "I'm alright jack pull the ladder up" attitude who seem totally unaware of how their blinkered and selfish attitudes impact on others all in the pursuit of saving a few bob. How many times do you read the opening line "I don't get X, Y and Z so why should anyone else' (You should read the staggering selfish posts in this Money Morale Dilemma)

2. Those who want to save money but not at the expense of loosing sight of their interactions with their fellow humans and realise that being a money saver doesn't mean: A- Keeping your wallet/purse as tightly shut as an Oyster shell.
B- Disregarding any requests for consideration of others just because it may inconvenience them by the smallest amount.

Obviously it's a bit more complicated than this but it does seem some Moneysavers just lose sight of the bigger picture whilst trying to save some money. Some of the views expressed in these dilemmas do make me lose a little bit of faith in the human condition.

nickmack

katehesk wrote: »

A waitress will never ask for a tip, so your analogy is totally off the mark, we provide a service which people may or may not choose to reward us for.

Not always true in my experience.

For example, last week I visited a Italian chain restaurant. After the meal I was presented with a pen and the bill which included a space for 'Gratuities'.

It happens the waitress wasn't great in this instance (slower than I like service, failed to inform us two dishes weren't available and one dish served was incorrect) and if I do tip, I leave cash, so I didn't write anything in the space.

The waitress came to process the payment and noticed I'd left it blank and asked if I wanted to add ''Gratuities'.

A bit cheeky IMO. You can guess what I left.