tipping in florida

ferf1223

Voyager2002 wrote: »

In fairness, I should add that waiters and bar staff in the USA have significantly higher incomes than their counterparts in the UK. So the system works well for them; works well for many of their customers who get to enjoy good service and then feel generous for paying for that service; and maybe for the restaurant owners who are able to charge what seem like low prices because the cost of service is not shown on the menu.

But if you brought the wages up, brought the prices up, did away with the tips for the most part...those who previously earned decent money doing what is (let's be honest) really a crappy job would go do something else...and you would be left with relatively low quality wait staff happy to get by doing the minimum because they have that salary to count on and the tips are rare and unexpected...like here.

Personally, I much prefer a system where the staff have an incentive to do a great job than to one where they don't. It's human nature to make more of an effort when there's the potential for reward, right or wrong. Do I care if the wait staff put on a friendly face and make a special effort solely because a juicy tip might come of it? Not in the slightest.

And ultimately, with the exception of a bartender or cocktail waitress, the staff don't know you're not going to tip until it's too late...so really, if you don't want to tip, it's not likely to make any difference to the service you receive (provided you don't intend to visit the same restaurant multiple times). If someone's OK with stiffing the waiter or waitress since they feel it's morally abhorrent to tip, then go for it.

Murphy_The_Cat

OP, for what its worth, from my trips to Uncle Samshire, in general, most of the time, in nearly every place that I've been to, for mostly every meal that I've had (in a restaurant), the food has been damned good, the service has been very good, the prices have made eating out very good value for money and in those circumstances, I've never begrudged leaving a tip (although with me, its 10% and then round it up to the nearest whole number).
But on the few occassions when it has been poor, I haven't done.

lorrenna

thanks so much for all that advice. we are staying at the marriott hotel in downtown tampa. not sure what there is around there restaurant wise, iv heard there is a dominos across the street.

ferf1223

you could check restaurant.com to see if they have any restaurants that interest you close to the hotel. There's a 70% off code (SAVOR) at the moment good until 23rd May....so a voucher for $25 off a meal will cost you $3. Many of the restaurants participating will add an 18% gratuity before the discount - so that may not interest you, but may be worth checking out.

Dealmad

Sick of this tipping lark and made to feel you have to tip everytime , i dont get this pressure in the UK as much as in the US ...when i went for a meal i had to pay $200 for just the 2 of us then it was another $40 on top for the tip.

Wouldnt mind but most of the time i find the waiters annoying , asking you every 5 mins if all is good , i like to be left alone when i eat ... not to be bothered every few mins to ask if all is ok.

Also i find sometimes that it can be a bit fake , ask you how you are , how you are liking it here etc ....do they really care , no , they just want you to leave a tip.

Infact i would tip more if they would bloody leave me alone until ive finished my meal.

I dont get tipped everytime i work , i get paid a wage like everyone else , its not like these guys are doing it for free....i paid for a transfer to my hotel and even the coach driver asked for a tip , told him to do one.

I cant stand people what ask for tips as as soon as they do then i know for sure i want give anything

ziggyman99

FH_Brit wrote: »

Very true Murph!

And as an add - no law says you must tip.

Another thought --- There are some "not so honest places" and it was advised here if you pay by debit/credit card they present the bill that has the food price and a space for you to fill in a tip. If you leave cash tip write in the "tip" part of the CC/DC receipt "cash on table" as there was a con for a while (have not heard lately) that after you leave they add their own tip!

It happened to us many years ago in Arlington (Washington DC). Terrible service and terrible food. We didn't add a tip and the waiter got very agressive, then his buddies joined in. It was all very threatening. We stood our ground and left. When the Amex bill arrived they had added a tip, even though the slip had been closed with the final price on it. A quick phone call to American Express and the money was refunded.
I've travelled all over the world on both business and for pleasure, so I know how all about tipping, but I will not tip if it isn't deserved. Alternatively I have tipped to ensure I get a good service. Heavily tip a pool boy up front and your certain to get a good lounger by the pool for the remainder of your trip......;) Also, news will travel and the rest of the staff will be bending over backwards to give you good service in anticipation of a huge tip. Work the system but don't cut them off with no tip at the end. Dangling a carrot then whipping it away at the last minute is just mean.

dzug1

A side issue - if you are doing a % tip, do you calculate it on the total bill, or on the bill excluding sales tax?

dickydonkin

stephb34 wrote: »

dpassmore wrote: »

The airline industry is a prime example. Many of their cabin crew are the most cold and unhelpful in aviation, although I concede that this is not unique to US based airlines.



I have read your post several times, can you clarify am i supposed to tip the cabin crew as well now, or are you saying because they don't get tips they are rude and unhelpful.

If you read my post thoroughly, I stated that when tipping is taken out of the equation i.e. where tipping is NOT expected - such as airline cabin crew that I used as an example - you get to know the real attitude of the people who are supposedly providing a service to customers.

Obviously, you are not going to be overwhelmed and being repeatedly asked if everything is OK, persistently being annoyed by 'how are we doing here'? - and generally being pestered with obsequious behavior.

Some call it good service - I don't.

As an earlier poster hinted at, people just want their meals without being fawned over to ensure a tip is forthcoming after the meal.

Give me my meal, leave me alone and I am quite happy with that service.

Speaking of aviation, I wonder if it would be worth placing a 'tip box' on the counters of the US immigration officials and TSA workers - you know the ones - the paranoid heads up their own &r$e types who treat every visitor to the US like a piece of $h|t. Maybe the incentive of additional income may make them more courteous, pleasant and welcoming!:rotfl:

I think I am bordering on the realms of fantasy here though - but you get my point I hope.

As for tipping in the US being a 'culture' thing - many countries in the world frown upon tipping and certainly here in the UK, it is not generally expected to receive tips (although I accept they are greatly appreciated by many).

Why should people from Asia, Australia and indeed Europe etc. feel the need to change their cultural etiquette to supplement the meagre wages of staff who are paid to do a job and should treat everyone equally? (that was what I was told from a young age anyway). The reality is that many visitors to the US are uncomfortable with tipping and feel obliged to tip in the US when they are unlikely to tip in their own country.

I appreciate that you should respect the cultures of other nations (and that works both ways) which I generally do. Religion, customs, and etiquette are different throughout the world, however, having to support the wages of the staff of huge multi - national companies making billions of dollars annually is immoral - yes I've stated it again - immoral and a step too far in my mind.

Murphy_The_Cat

dzug1 wrote: »

A side issue - if you are doing a % tip, do you calculate it on the total bill, or on the bill excluding sales tax?

I take the total figure, add 10% and then round it up to the next $.

paulinespens

When in Rome do what the Romans do and if you don't like it then don't visit the US simple as.

I have been out to eat in the US many a time (I live there now) and I got to know one of the servers at one of the places I like to eat. She told me that on a busy weekend she could earn over $200 a night. She only worked weekends as she was at college.

I find the service here amazing from restaurants to shops. I tend to drink alot of soda when I eat out and take advantage of the free refills. In some places they know I like my soda and bring 2 out at a time. My wife and I are good tippers when we get good service.

I find that in some places they know us and we get amazing service.