To tip or not to tip?

es5595

I haven't noticed more places asking for tips, but I've noticed it being snuck onto the end of a bill, and when I ask the staff they don't actually receive it.

I think restaurant owners are getting confused with capitalism and forget that staff wages are part of their business expenses than need including in their pricing structure. And some waiters/waitresses in the UK forget they are entitled to the same minimum wage as everyone else and you don't tip the checkout operator at Tesco...

foxtrotoscar wrote: »

BTW here's where this should be?

Apart from it's three years old and 19 pages long... :T

foxtrotoscar_2

es5595 wrote: »

I haven't noticed more places asking for tips, but I've noticed it being snuck onto the end of a bill, and when I ask the staff they don't actually receive it.

I think restaurant owners are getting confused with capitalism and forget that staff wages are part of their business expenses than need including in their pricing structure. And some waiters/waitresses in the UK forget they are entitled to the same minimum wage as everyone else and you don't tip the checkout operator at Tesco...


Apart from it's three years old and 19 pages long... :T

It's still relevant to read and see as it's been ongoing over the three years. There is not a Consumer Rights issue in this thread.

Lip_Stick

cono1717 wrote: »

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.

I think it's more complicated than that in the US. They do actually have a minimum wage, but service staff are expected to get tips so the employer pays based on estimated tips. I believe if they don't earn the right amount for minimum wage then the employer has to make it up. Also, they are taxed on estimated tips too.

NBLondon

laurenweberbelle wrote: »

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).

I would have taken a 50p back out in that case....

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!

Look in pocket - find a couple of 2p - put it on table and say "I'll just get it ready"

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.

A couple of years ago in an upmarket pub in Croydon (*) I ordered a bar meal for two, paid by card and the system invited me to add a tip. Before the food has even been cooked and the only service was the taking of the order. I declined. I did however go back to tip (in cash) the guy who actually delivered the cutlery then food and a refill of drinks since he was polite and efficient.


(*) I know some of you are thinking upmarket and Croydon don't belong in the same sentence:D

z1a

cono1717 wrote: »

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.

Nearest £ would be £16 not £17.

[Deleted User]

laurenweberbelle wrote: »

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.

Why did you remove the OP text from your only other post?

The 'Aldi unwarranted harassment' thread.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/76111397#Comment_76111397

preable

I tip only if the service is good! Once I recall going into a place and waiting over an hour for food and the staff were rude and they asked for a tip at the end as the person was a student and I said here is a tip don't be so rude to customers and bring the food out in a good time and then left.

Pollycat

laurenweberbelle wrote: »

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.

How long is a piece of string?
I've never been to Brighton but I doubt I'd tip in a cafe (as I understand the word 'cafe').
I wouldn't find 'bigger and bigger tip jars, and massive signs stating that "SERVICE IS NOT INCLUDED"' aggressive.
That would not determine whether I tipped or not or how much.

If I'd tipped and been 'met with a reproachful glare from the waitress', I'd have fished the tip back out but only IF I'd was 100% sure that the 'reproachful glance' was directed at me and did actually mean that I'd not tipped enough.

If a server had asked for a tip - either before I'd eaten my meal or after - he would have been given short shrift.

I tip for good service in restaurants.
My choice whether to tip or not.
My choice of how much.

(your original post quoted in full for posterity.)

bertiewhite

I'd have given her a tip - "Don't eat yellow snow"

George_Michael

Colin_Maybe wrote: »

Why did you remove the OP text from your only other post?

The 'Aldi unwarranted harassment' thread.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/76111397#Comment_76111397

Probably because they didn't get the responses that they were hoping for.