Tipping

[Katys Grandad]

What??? and end up with the shoddy service we have in the UK, no incentive to put some effort in at all.

I think that's a good point - my very clear impression on my many visits to the US is that the quality of service is directly proportionate to the expectation of a monetary reward. Where there isn't a reward on offer, the service is much less impressive (such as on airlines and immigration/customs officials).

When I travel to Asia, I find the service to be superior to anywhere else in the world including the US (and many times more sincere) yet tips aren't generally expected - their incentive is the self-satisfaction of providing good service. It's rather sad that that attitude isn't widespread elsewhere.

[sammibabe]

I think that's a good point - my very clear impression on my many visits to the US is that the quality of service is directly proportionate to the expectation of a monetary reward. Where there isn't a reward on offer, the service is much less impressive (such as on airlines and immigration/customs officials).

When I travel to Asia, I find the service to be superior to anywhere else in the world including the US (and many times more sincere) yet tips aren't generally expected - their incentive is the self-satisfaction of providing good service. It's rather sad that that attitude isn't widespread elsewhere.

Well said KG, I have always tried to instill upon my children that you should do any job to the best of your ability in a polite and happy manner. They are a little young yet (not been working that long)to se whether I have succeeded. But I feel in this country particularly way too often it is do as liitle as possible and not always polite let alone happy. We did have a fantastic experience at Cafe Rouge in Exetera few months ago . The waitress was outstanding (checked often enough so that we were able to keep topped up with drinks but not so often we felt like telling her to leave us alone) and we left a tip. I don't usually in this country unless the service is outstanding hence I rarely leave a tip

[Jill]

What??? and end up with the shoddy service we have in the UK, no incentive to put some effort in at all.

Had not thought of it that way.

[FraserLynn]

Tipping in China is pretty much unheard of as people here think it is their job to provide good service. In some of the more western restaurants tipping has started to be accepted (in the other restaurants it is downright refused and ends up confusing the person you are trying to give it to). The difference in service between the 2.... I can't see anything at all.

I tip well whenever it is appropriate. I think good service deserves an award but I agree, the level of pressure sometimes is shocking. It is like dealing with a beggar or a salesman in America. I think that the risk here is that the mindset is moving from "I am giving a good experience and receiving a reward" to "it is my wages anyway because you all know I am paid low". The latter has no benefit to induce better service.

[msmiff]

I don't know if it's just my perception but I find that the servers in restaurants that 'automatically' add a tip to my bill are not as attentive / friendly as those where there is no such system.
I do know that in most places where the tips are added, they are shared by all the staff (not just front of table) so those that actually prepare the food, not just servers, get a cut...
Which is the fairer system ????
Must admit that, if I enjoy a well prepared / cooked meal, I personally consider it's more down to the 'backroom boys' than the servers & I will add a 'gratuity' to the bill (if not automatic) in the hope that it gets shared !!

[mexico]

My son is a chef, he works very long hours and hard shifts and the kitchen staff do not get any tips! Occasionally he has had a customer request that a drink is put behind the bar for him! I think that the people in the back should also get a share ! However I still believe no matter what country you are in tipping should be at the customers discretion and nobody is automatically entitled to it! Can I also ask if anybody knows if the restaurants in Orlando apply a service charge to tables of certain numbers? Which i Also don't agree with! There is usually only four of us but this year there is Seven! Thought I'd better check! Thanks
Pauline

[Father]

I'm not sure it will make things any clearer but I'm going to add a few comments.

......at the end of the day we are in their country and if thats the way they do things then maybe we should do things their way while we are there.

I have heard this point before and I fundamentally disagree with it. Sure we need to observe their laws and general behaviour patterns but we don't need to adopt their world views because we go there on holiday - heaven forbid.

We were told by a waiter who worked at one of the chains that they get automatically taxed 8% of whatever bills they have dealt with. That means that if you don't leave a tip for whatever reason, they will be charged 8% of your bill in any case, so if you leave 10%, they will only receive 2%.

If this is true (and I have no reason to doubt it) then this is surely a flaw in the tax system in Florida or the US in general. It's a bit much, and more than a little presumptuous to expect foreign visitors to calculate tips on this basis.



I also want to challenge the oft-stated position that service in Florida restaurants is generally better than that in british restaurants. This is absolutley not my experience.



Finally I would say that 10%, 15% even 18% is not considered a good tip. In my experience, they are looking for thirty, forty, even fifty percent.

[Father]

Can I also ask if anybody knows if the restaurants in Orlando apply a service charge to tables of certain numbers? Which i Also don't agree with! There is usually only four of us but this year there is Seven! Thought I'd better check! Thanks
Pauline

Most restaurants do. The size of the party varies from place to place but, if I'm absolutley honest, I don't have a problem with this as long as it's stated clearly on the menu or on signs on the wall.

[DaveL]

Finally I would say that 10%, 15% even 18% is not considered a good tip. In my experience, they are looking for thirty, forty, even fifty percent.

Really! I'm in Florida at least 2 months of the year and eat out most of the time. My wife has a very unusual allergy which means that we often speak at some length with both the server and chef.

If we have received good service and helpful advice I will leave around 25% as a tip. On many occasions the server has made a point of saying thank you as we were leaving the restaurant. If they were really expecting over 30% I don't think this would happen.

I should also add that we have travelled to most of the U.S. states and never found that servers expected more than 20%. A tip higher than this is most times acknowledged in some way. Also many restaurants now show the tip value for 15%, 18% and 20% printed on the bottom.

I'm not saying that your server would not be grateful for a 30% to 50% tip, but expected, I would think not.

Regards Dave

[vickk]

My son is a chef, he works very long hours and hard shifts and the kitchen staff do not get any tips! Occasionally he has had a customer request that a drink is put behind the bar for him! I think that the people in the back should also get a share ! However I still believe no matter what country you are in tipping should be at the customers discretion and nobody is automatically entitled to it! Can I also ask if anybody knows if the restaurants in Orlando apply a service charge to tables of certain numbers? Which i Also don't agree with! There is usually only four of us but this year there is Seven! Thought I'd better check! Thanks
Pauline

We have just come back and from memory party size in relation to tipping was mentioned in all menus. Size varied between 6 and 8 people and tip varied between 15 and 20%