To tip or not to tip?

laurenweberbelle

In Brighton, cafes and other establishments seem to become more and more aggressive in the way they pressure you to tip generously.
From bigger and bigger tip jars, and massive signs stating that "SERVICE IS NOT INCLUDED", even now found in takeaway establishments!
I recently put a pound coin in a tip jar in a small cafe (my meal was £6) and was met with a reproachful glare from the waitress (clearly indicating she expected more of a tip). Also, in another cafe, a server actually asked for the tip BEFORE i even tucked into my meal! He said he was a student and needed the tips! Is it just a Brighton thing or is it everywhere else too? How much are we supposed to tip? Thanks in advance for your replies.

Paul_DNAP

I would avoid tipping and not return to anywhere that aggressively asks for tips as that would dent my enjoyment of the dining experience, therefore not good service, therefore no tips, they are supposed to be a gratuity and not an obligation.


And for me £1 tip on a £6 total seems over generous, maybe I'm out of touch with the going rate, but 17% seems top end. What was she expecting?

Aylesbury_Duck

Leave an honest and factual review on TripAdvisor and don't go there again. Like Paul_DNAP, I believe that tipping is for good service. I'm relatively generous when service is good but don't tip at all if they've done the bare minimum.

pulliptears

Paul_DNAP wrote: »

And for me £1 tip on a £6 total seems over generous, maybe I'm out of touch with the going rate, but 17% seems top end. What was she expecting?

Agreed. I usually work on 10% in the UK but like others have said I wouldn't return to an establishment where I was made to feel uncomfortable over it.

PasturesNew

Do not tip.
Do not return.
Tell your friends, strangers, anybody.

Most eateries do not provide any "service" as posher folks mean service to mean when dining at "proper restaurants".

I sat down, read the menu, you shuffled over, I ordered egg and chips, you brought it.... is not service.

davidmcn

This is the Consumer Rights forum. You have the right as a consumer not to tip. I suspect other discussion about the topic is probably better-placed elsewhere - though while I'm here, I would say I'd much prefer to pay a higher basic price and be confident that staff are getting a living wage, rather than having to beg for random offerings from the customers.

cono1717

At lot of people get confused or caught up with this because of how big it is in America, however unlike America waiting staff get a legal minimum wage (American waiting staff can often get only $2-5 per hour so REALLY rely on tips).

As I say in the UK wait staff get a basic minimum wage so the tips are a complimentary amount and should be just that a compliment for the good level of service they provide. Personally if they check on me and if the restaurant offers free refills and the drinks are refilled I'll usually just round the bill to the next nearest £. So a £15.68 bill becomes £17.

If there is exceptional service I'll round to the nearest £5.

foxtrotoscar_2

Local Indian...three course lunch for £5.95. Pint of coke £3. Impeccable service and food. Happy to pay £23/4/5 quid for two all day long and it's a bargain at that.

powerful_Rogue

laurenweberbelle wrote: »

Also, in another cafe, a server actually asked for the tip BEFORE i even tucked into my meal! He said he was a student and needed the tips! Is it just a Brighton thing or is it everywhere else too? How much are we supposed to tip? Thanks in advance for your replies.

I would have been tempted to get up and leave.

foxtrotoscar_2

BTW here's where this should be?


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5517336

powerful_Rogue

foxtrotoscar wrote: »

BTW here's where this should be?


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5517336

Is that a tip?