Money Moral Dilemma: Should I tip if other diners don't?

undrop79

Sea_Shell wrote: »

The price "on the menu" should reflect the total cost of the meal, including service. If that means the cost has to go up then so be it. Anything else is just artificially keeping the price low.

If you're so adamant you want to automatically pay what the price should be to reflect the TOTAL cost of the meal which includes more than minimum wage for the staff, why don't you just add 10% to 15% yourself? Oh wait... that would be a tip and you're really against that. Sure...

NBLondon

Not going into the tip or not debate (that's been dome elsewhere) - the dilemma is what to do if you want to and the group doesn't.

As was said above - if you want to reward your server for a good job - go ahead and do so. Don't make a passive-aggressive point by slapping it on the table to shame others, pass it to the server in cash.

undrop79

Zero_Sum wrote: »

I think these days where the till can keep a tab on the table number & whose serving, tips will be paid via payroll rather than cash in hand. So will get taxed on the correct amount.

Tips don't usually touch the restaurant's payroll. Most eateries use a tronc system with a separate accounting solution purely for tips which will be managed by an independent un-biased person (tronc-master) who normally isn't the restaurant-owner with the tips then being shared out to staff as explained when you are employed. In this scenario which probably accounts for most restaurants, the sharing of gratuities is a fair system.

chloenightingale

I would leave a tip. It's a nice thing to do and the servers appreciate it. It might sound silly, but sometimes a couple of extra quid from a nice customer when you are having a rough shift can really turn your mood around.
And you said you usually tip anyway, so don't let the social pressure of your friends not tipping stop you.

Sheepster

onwards&upwards wrote: »

It depends on the group.

If you’ve got a veggie teetotaller and a steak eating wine drinker, one is always going to come out of it a lot better than the other if you split evenly! Groups of friends don’t always earn similar amounts or have the same financial circumstances either.

I recall a huge online debate on this on a well known forum, and also from experience over the years in that it’s ALWAYS the steak eating wine drinkers who then decide to “split”..... then get extremely butthurt if anyone suggests otherwise. Funny that!

Keen_Green

I always tip unless the service is really bad. Even then, I take into consideration how busy the restaurant is, if it's understaffed, or badly managed. Any of those things are not the servers fault, and they shouldn't go without their tips when management is the problem.



I agree with the comments about nurses and retail staff not getting tips. It doesn't seem fair, I think there should be a rise in minimum wage so these workers don't have to rely on tips to make ends meet.

rufford155

Sea_Shell wrote: »

The price "on the menu" should reflect the total cost of the meal, including service. If that means the cost has to go up then so be it. Anything else is just artificially keeping the price low.

Sorry, that's far too sensible !
When was the last time something sensible was adopted in this country?

rufford155

undrop79 wrote: »

If you're so adamant you want to automatically pay what the price should be to reflect the TOTAL cost of the meal which includes more than minimum wage for the staff, why don't you just add 10% to 15% yourself? Oh wait... that would be a tip and you're really against that. Sure...

So you do that for EVERY minimum wage person who serves or helps you do you ?

BethP

I always tip. My hairdresser gets 10%. We tip restaurants 10%
On board cruise ships we pay the on-board daily gratuities added to our account but also tip our Cabin Steward £50 per week. We tip taxi drivers too if their driving hasn’t scared us and if they greeted us. (Some taxi drivers do not speak; are rubbish drivers and play loud music.)

Accyaccy

The weird thing is, this is why I'm against splitting. I'm the more gluttonous from my group usually and will happily tot up in my head the amount I've spent and add 10% for a tip.

The problem I get is with a new group or with one that likes to split, I feel a pressure then to change what I have in order to match everyone's spending so that I don't feel I'm taking advantage. It usually means I'm not able to enjoy my dinner out as much. Most groups I'm in fortunately remember what they've had and often usually add a tip on accordingly.