Tipping in Restaurants

Acc72

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

Good customer service should be rewarded.

Why ? - as a customer, surely good customer service should be expected ?

It is then up to the individual customer to decide if they want to leave a tip or not.

ellay864

I usually do tip, amount depending on how good the service was but I still dont really get what the service charge is that's added on in most places already. It's not like they charge for the food alone then bung a bit extra on...the price is already allowing for restaurant overheads, staff wages etc and it's a restauarant...the whole point is that food is served to customers so why an extra charge? I don't go expect Tesco to put some extra on the price because they provide shopping trolleys, I don't expect a public swimming baths to charge for having water in the pool...I don't get why service deserves an extra charge, surely it's an automatic expectation. Having said that we have once not only not left a tip but reduced the bill as we refused to pay the 10% service charge as both the food and service were absolutely abysmal

gunsandbanjos

Ellay we charge service on larger tables > 12. It is much more work to serve 1 x 12 than 6 x 2. It weeds the kitchen and slows up service for the rest of the restaurant.

I dont like restaurants that add service onto every table, some even charge on tables of 1!

balletshoes

LudaMusser wrote: »

I just wondered what the general feeling was on leaving a tip for the waiter/waitress in a restaurant? Do you always tip, do you never tip, do you only tip depending on your experience?

The reason I ask is because I feel awkward and as though we`re expected to leave a tip. Like it`s an unwritten rule.
I went to Prezzo on saturday night, the food was quite good but the service was average at best. I also hate it when you have different people serving you throughout. We did`nt leave a tip and then I felt awkward leaving as they always hover around the table incase you leave and money.

We went to a small restaurant in St Ives in Cornwall in the summer, the waitress was lovely and I tipped her a couple of pounds. The food was`nt anything special but she was just really nice and genuine which I like.

So, do you feel awkward not leaving a tip?

I only tip here in the UK if the food and the service have been more than acceptable. If its just okay, no, I don't tip.

Sambucus_Nigra

gunsandbanjos wrote: »

I work in a restaurant and have done for a while whilst I do my degree.

Whilst I've got you here in the room; can I ask a question that bugs me nearly every time I go to any restaurant.

We sit down, we order, the food comes, we eat it, the plates are taken away, we sometimes have dessert and then we wait. And wait. And sometimes wait a little more. We put our coats on, and almost have to trip the waiter/waitress over to get their attention just to get the bill and pay.

It seems to be universal - the inability to let me pay for the food I've just consumed. Sometimes, I've had to ask 3 times; and sometimes I am waiting for longer than it took to peruse the menu, order, wait and eat the stuff.

WHY?

jjblondie

Waffle_On wrote: »

You wouldn't tip someone earning minimum wage in any other industry, so why are waiting staff different?

This is why I very rarely tip. No-one tips me in my two minimum wage jobs for performing services which are part of my job. I would feel odd not tipping everyone who earns a low wage if I were to tip.

jjblondie

gunsandbanjos wrote: »

Ellay we charge service on larger tables > 12. It is much more work to serve 1 x 12 than 6 x 2. It weeds the kitchen and slows up service for the rest of the restaurant.

Have you ever found that this encourages larger groups of friends to go and spend their money elsewhere? We had a surprise 15% service charge sprung onto our party at a restaurant once, which rather threw budgeting and expected prices out of kilter.

redpete

Mojisola wrote: »

I would rather the bill covered the cost of paying the waiting staff a decent wage and they did their job to a reasonable standard just because it's their job.

I would rather I (the recipient of the service) had some say over whether that service was satisfactory rather than the employer deciding on my behalf.

gunsandbanjos

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Whilst I've got you here in the room; can I ask a question that bugs me nearly every time I go to any restaurant.

We sit down, we order, the food comes, we eat it, the plates are taken away, we sometimes have dessert and then we wait. And wait. And sometimes wait a little more. We put our coats on, and almost have to trip the waiter/waitress over to get their attention just to get the bill and pay.

WHY?

No idea! It seems odd to me, I always ask at the end of the meal after desserts/coffee/drinks etc if they would like anything else or would they like me to bring the bill?

BitterAndTwisted

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Whilst I've got you here in the room; can I ask a question that bugs me nearly every time I go to any restaurant.

We sit down, we order, the food comes, we eat it, the plates are taken away, we sometimes have dessert and then we wait. And wait. And sometimes wait a little more. We put our coats on, and almost have to trip the waiter/waitress over to get their attention just to get the bill and pay.

It seems to be universal - the inability to let me pay for the food I've just consumed. Sometimes, I've had to ask 3 times; and sometimes I am waiting for longer than it took to peruse the menu, order, wait and eat the stuff.

WHY?

I can answer that and I've never been a waitress. Do you know how much mark-up restaurants make on the alcoholic drinks? And on the coffee it would make your hair curl. Depending on what time in the evening it is, that's why they do it. If they think that they can squeeze an extra sitting in your bum won't be on the seat long enough to warm it.