Real life MMD: Should I tip when using daily deals vouchers?

jazzali_2

If you'd usually tip, then the payment method shouldn't make a difference.

Also bear in mind that these daily deals sites force businesses to cut their costs in half, and THEN pay a hefty commission to them, so the businesses are usually only making 30-40% of the usual value, and they are often relying on extras such as tips, or the customer buying additional products, to ensure they're not losing money overall.

It's up to the business to make sure it's financially viable for them to provide the product or service at this vastly reduced cost, but it does mean that I strongly believe customers should treat the service as if they were paying full price.

burybird

RedTulip wrote: »

The whole idea of tipping in the UK annoys me really. As earlier posts point out, we have the minimum wage here, it's there for a reason. I don't get tipped for doing my job so why should I tip someone else for doing theirs?

For me, if you would tip normally then do - if not then don't bother.

I totally agree with this. No-one tips me for doing a very difficult job well. ANd with this philosophy I don't even give my children's teachers an end of term parting gift. I see this as a form of tipping too.

The only tips I give are in restaurants where I try to stick to the 10% rule. or in taxis where I generally round up. and i feel awkward doing this - scrap the tipping culture and get more wages in bank accounts.

masonhv

jap200 wrote: »

In 2009 there was a change in minimum wage regulations. Before that, it was possible for employers to pool tips and use them as part of the minimum wage paid to staff, thus benefitting the employer, but not the employee. Thankfully this practice is no longer legal, so tips 'should' make their way to staff. However, I do always wonder what happens to those added on to credit card payments.

The minimum wage is particularly low for younger people, so although I don't like tipping, I will do it where I feel it is deserved. Certain jobs like waiting/waitressing are very hard work and can't be compared to to job of a checkout operator in any way other than the level of pay.

RE: Credit card tips

It depends on the place- always ask the waiter/waitress what the deal is and if they have been working there long enough they will tell the truth.

Once place I worked at used to divide all tips (including card tips) that night before we went home between all waiting staff, bar staff and kitchen assistants (not the chefs) as all those working had contributed. This would be done with the waiting staff present and a record would be kept and the total amount given at the end of the month. However, it was a pretty fancy restaurant!

The next place I worked- we had to put all cash tips in a locked box and the owner would divide them at the end of the month and decide who was the most deserving- it never tied in with what went in the box. Card tips never made it to any of us and were clearly supplementing the owners income. As a result I would tell people this as I'd rather people didn't bother tipping than line someone who didn't deserve its pockets.

With regards to the dilemna only tip if you feel the service deserves it, and as others say this should be on the full retail price of the treatment.

jazzali_2

Totally agree on restaurants/bars etc. Have worked in a few in my time, and I always tip good service, but I do really struggle with the rising service charges. For most of the UK it's 10% or 12.5% at most, but a rising number of restaurants in London are charging 15% which I think is incredibly high, particularly given the already escalated price of eating and drinking in London.

I was at a big function the other week where we got charged 15% service on our wine order for the night, which came to around £60 just in service. The most galling thing was that they didn't even serve the wine to us - it was all on the table when we arrived, and as it was screw tops we opened and served it ourselves!

The other thing I've noticed restaurants doing is adding a service charge as standard, and then when you come to pay by card, they ask if you'd like to leave a tip - tricking some customers into tipping twice.

I'm happy to tip for good service, but it should be discretionary, and too many establishments are being greedy and putting people off tipping at all.

datlex

I personally avoid tipping where ever possible. I do not get a tip for doing my job well. I fail to see why some professions expect to be tipped!!

When was the last time any one tipped a cashier at any supermarket, an office junior or a bus driver?

BNT

I don't see why people have a problem with tipping. It is just down the industry. Saying "I don't get a tip for doing my job" is a bit like saying "I don't wear a uniform at work" -- different jobs have different practices. In many service industries it can work well because it means that people who are working when it is busiest will receive more money. Where it is the usual practice to tip it is also built into the business model, so it's not as if you end up paying more. In countries where tipping is the not the norm the wages will take account of that.

It does vary by country and one shouldn't impose one's own tipping habits on people overseas. As someone noted, in Australia tipping is less common than the UK; unfortunately, they have a reputation in the tourist trade for being poor tippers when they go overseas also. Americans are viewed as over-tippers, which is often seen as just as ugly a trait as under-tipping.

Avon2001

The thing about tipping is that when it becomes standard practice, employers know it and the taxman knows it too, so they will adjust wages on the assumption that people are going to make tips, so it becomes a vicious circle. Knowing this does not make me tip when the service is bad, however I do tend to give people the benefit of the doubt unless they are taking the mick. I refuse to tip when people are trying it on for example in some takeaways. I'm fine with tipping a delivery driver who will be taking out a scooter in all sorts of traffic in all sorts of weathers at all sorts of hours for a pittance but I fail to see why I should tip takeaway staff for shoving my food in a tub and handing it to me. To answer the original question, if you would have tipped without the voucher then tip and if not, then don't.

Sopheline

All this talk about tips is great, but I'd like to point out a couple of things:

If the voucher merchant was Groupon, the place the voucher is for is getting a crap deal. Groupon takes 50% of the price paid for the voucher if the voucher is redeemed. If it isn't redeemed, the [beauty salon/whoever] gets nothing and Groupon takes 100% of the price. I don't know how it works with other voucher merchants.

The vouchers are inevitably a major loss leader offered in the hope of generating more business.

Beauty salons are generally very small businesses, whether they're run under a limited company or by people who are self-employed, or in some kind of partnership. Put it this way, it's not always a big faceless corporation or rich employer throwing money at the branch to keep it afloat.

If you like the service, tip. If you can afford to, go back. It'll make you a valued customer and probably gain you treats.

dalsude

As a complementary therapist and as a user of complementary therapies, I nor any of my colleagues expect to or have recieved a tip. So no, don't feel that you have to leave one.

ShowmetheMoney

Wow - would never have crossed my mind to give a tip! I feel the price they charge should reflect the price they want for their service. If they want more, they should charge more upfront and not expect/rely on tips.