Tipping

[sunseeker]

The two points that I was trying to make were:

1 - the business model of the industry is what it is; regardless of whither we agree with it or not; therefore I do not feel that it is necessarily just some nominal boss that it is too blame, it is the whole industry.

2 - I do agree with you not to feel obliged to tip for poor service, regardless of the financial model of the business. I think, however, it is far better to do so and also inform a restaurant manager so that it is not just assumed that you don't understand the etiquette of tipping. To just tip poorly or not at all could just perpetuate the image that tourists don't know how things are done, rather than conveying the message that you were dissatisfied with your service.

The point you are missing i feel, is, the tip is a GRATUITY and not an addition to the pay given. The owner of a restaurant is a human being and not a lemming. Regardless of what the business model is, surely each and every owner has a mind of his/her own. This idea of having to tip waiting staff 18% is a nonsense and ultimately reduces the owners expenses, how long will it be before an owner asks for staff to work on a tips only basis? surely a good idea, more profit for the owners, better service for the customer and the staff can pay their own taxes. Tips should only be based on what you feel the waiter/waitress deserves and not because you feel you should have to. As for speaking to management about poor service, it is not my job to tell a manager that his staff are underachieving and i couldn't give two hoots about what they think of me for not leaving a tip. The fact i didn't leave one should say enough.

Dave

[steph_goodrum]

Apparently the ultimate insult is to leave a one penny with the head facing up and that shows that you have not "forgotten" to leave a tip but that you didnt feel it merited one.

[SDJ]

There are quite a lot of bartenders in USA who work for tips only and there are plenty of people who want a job as a bartender. It can be extremely lucrative in a popular bar.

We actually pay our waitresses and bar staff £8.50 per hour which is way above the minimum wage. They don't have to rely on tips but realise if they give good service, it is often rewarded - funnily enough not by our USA visitors[msnwink]

Sandra

[steph_goodrum]

There are quite a lot of bartenders in USA who work for tips only and there are plenty of people who want a job as a bartender. It can be extremely lucrative in a popular bar.

We actually pay our waitresses and bar staff £8.50 per hour which is way above the minimum wage. They don't have to rely on tips but realise if they give good service, it is often rewarded - funnily enough not by our USA visitors[msnwink]

Sandra

I think that is what should happen Sandra, if the Staff are paid a decent wage they have incentive to give good service all the time as they want to keep their job, and anything over and above is then a proper bonus and not making up a shortfall.

[Albert the Frog]

It's a bit swings and roundabouts this though isn't it-if the industry suddenly started to pay higher rates they would put their prices up so the nett effect to the customer would be nil

[Jill]

Personally I would prefer for places to put their prices up to cover a proper salary for staff and then I would feel as though any tip I gave was actually for good service rather than because it was expected.

[Bazamor]

At the end of the day i go to a restaurant for the food. Most times its overpriced for what they give you but unless they let me go to the kitchen to fetch it how else do i get it other than by server. Its an overhead they should factor in and not rely on the customer to fund it. If that then makes the menu price too much you will lose custom much as you would in any business. This business of "low rates of pay they rely on tips" is a crock as i have been to restaurants that do pay the servers excellent rates and they tell you not to tip but they are very busy places. I doubt that the server gets what you leave anyway and the owner takes a percentage before divvying up.

[DisneyPrincess]

I dont mind tipping at al when the service is good - but i feel irritated when the gratuity has already been added on 'for convenience' and the service/food is poor.

Generally though the service we have received in the past in the USA has been excellent - the only bad experience we have had in terms of service was in Perkins on I-Drive with a young male waiter. We left less than the recommended tip because he had been continually unhelpful during the meal - snapping at requests, banging plates down etc. He wasn't best impressed with the tip - in my opinion he was lucky to get anything!

[florida4sun]

Bazamor,
not in the USA, you need to understand the serviced based economy of the USA, it is historic and the reason why service is generally exceptional. In the USA if your are good at your job you can work up to premium restaurants and earn serious money. The service in the Uk is nowhere near the USAs standards. The reason being folks don't have to work for their wages, yet we are expected to tip their already full wage. Lets face it the job is not rocket science. The owner getting a percentage is wrong, they will pay a percentage to the Matre D as they should do a good job is haring the customers out and getting them prepared.

My Tipping Guide
poor service - wouldn't even get to the tipping stage, would change server before this happens.
average - 10%
Good - 15%
Excellent - whatever I feel.

[florida4sun]

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

Personally I would prefer for places to put their prices up to cover a proper salary for staff and then I would feel as though any tip I gave was actually for good service rather than because it was expected.