Restaurants - please ask who gets the tips

Detroit

JReacher1 wrote: »

I think the only person who has mentioned tipping 20% in America is you when you said that wasn't the case!

The exception is the poster who contradicted you with her own experience in America where they said it was 20%.

You seem to be deliberately making up information and posts just so you can say that 20% isn't the normal tipping amount in America.

It's very confusing

Ok, you got me!

I'll come clean., I work for the U.S. federal bureau of tip reduction, a highly sensitive multi agency initiative designed to ensure that wait staff get no more than their regular pay.

I'm working deep undercover here in the UK right now so:shhh:

JReacher1

Detroit wrote: »

Ok, you got me!

I'll come clean., I work for the U.S. federal bureau of tip reduction, a highly sensitive multi agency initiative designed to ensure that wait staff get no more than their regular pay.

I'm working deep undercover here in the UK right now so:shhh:

No I don't think that.

I suspect you just wanted to demonstrate some insider knowledge you have of America so use any excuse to tell people that real Americans don't tip 20% (even though it's only you who keep bringing this up).

Anyway we are going off point!

JReacher1

Gavin83 wrote: »

As a customer I'd prefer that to be honest. Seems better for everyone involved, including the waiting staff. If I was in charge of this country I'd make the whole tipping thing illegal.

It also seems a weird mix of who receives tips and who doesn't. The weirdest has to be black cab drivers who earn a huge salary. Saying that I don't use them anymore.

Its only a very broad generalisation and there are exceptions but it tends to be you tip people who you buy a service off, and you don't tip people who you buy an actual product off.

Detroit

JReacher1 wrote: »

No I don't think that.

I suspect you just wanted to demonstrate some insider knowledge you have of America so use any excuse to tell people that real Americans don't tip 20% (even though it's only you who keep bringing this up).

Anyway we are going off point!

It was you brought America into the thread, not I.

I was having a nice discussion about tipping in the UK until you came over all crazy for Uncle Sam.

Sometimes I think there's no pleasing you...

NBLondon

Person_one wrote: »

I'm happy to admit I only tip because its a social norm and expected.

I actually really dislike the practice, and I had hoped it might start to die out when the law was changed in 2009 so that waiting staff had to receive NMW direct from their employer and couldn't have tips counted towards it. That didn't happen for some reason.

This is pretty much my position too... I'd like to pay a fair price for the people who cooked the food and the person who brought it out to me and then have the option of showing extra gratitude for those who have done more than was asked. If the restaurant openly says there's a 10% service charge - I'd expect that to be routed to the serving staff. If I hand an individual some cash - it absolutely should be for that individual.

ibizafan_2

Detroit, we are going to Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada if that helps. However, my research into tipping in the U.S doesn't seem to come up with any difference between these states, but if you have different information, do share.

Gavin83

Person_one wrote: »

You're right that its odd who we decide deserves tips, but black cab drivers don't earn a salary, and their earnings are only average.

It obviously depends on what they're willing to put into it and what your definition of an average salary is but I'd expect a black cab driver in London to be earning £50k+ a year. Someone who is willing to put in an awful lot of hours and knows the best spots could double that. Saying that I'd imagine Uber have dented their profits but they're still doing alright.

£50k isn't the kind of salary I'd suggest needs a tip.

Detroit

ibizafan wrote: »

Detroit, we are going to Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada if that helps. However, my research into tipping in the U.S doesn't seem to come up with any difference between these states, but if you have different information, do share.

Sounds like a great trip!


The state by state tipping survey is at the link below.


http://lifehacker.com/this-is-how-much-people-really-tip-across-the-us-1521388393

JReacher1

Detroit wrote: »

Sounds like a great trip!


The state by state tipping survey is at the link below.


http://lifehacker.com/this-is-how-much-people-really-tip-across-the-us-1521388393

I think you're better off using tripadvisor than this survey. It seems a bit mickey mouse that survey and I wouldn't really like to use it as something to base my tips on.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-g191-s606/United-States:Tipping.And.Etiquette.html

EDIT - not sure why the link has put a smiley face in it but it still works!

FredG

I tip dependent on service and if it's excellent, I'll tip generously.


I do however agree with the principle that many have mentioned, ie - it would not be needed if businesses actually paid a decent wage to the staff.


I also agree that it's strange how we don't tip other minimum or low wage service/retail employees but that's a cultural thing.


What I find most strange though is nobody bats an eyelid to tax credits topping up £££'s of insufficent wages when employers are making millions, all of which is like an involuntary taxpayer funded low wage subsidy.