Amusing article about tipping

[Dimplenose]

I was hoping for something more substantial when I read the tiltle, but this is a fairly amusing article from the BBC website.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7927983.stm

I must admit I agree with the point that a $10 bottle of wine takes the same skill to serve as a $100 one. (In fact I resent paying more than an hour of my own wages in tips for just for one meal for the four of us - but that's a different soap box!)

 

[natalielongstaff]

great article

I never recieve tips for the service i provide, but my haidresser does

 

[jjpenguin]

Loved it!

Once, staying at a very upscale hotel we dined in the dining room, I gave a cash tip instead of putting it on the bill. Something must have happened to it because we weren't back in the room 10 minutes before we got a call asking why we hadn't given a tip!! That spoilt my whole stay for me.

I believe in tipping for service above and beyond and that the usual fee for service should be added in the charge. I understand how it works in the US, but I don't think it should be that way, pay the folks a decent wage!!

Nat, I've never understood the hairdresser thing in the UK either!

 

[Chilly]

I understand why we tip in the USA but I don't like it. I wish they would pay everyone properly to start with.

 

[darthtatty]

I tip but i dont agree with it, lots of us save hard and do without to afford to go on holiday.
always blame the british dont they

 

[Morgstar]

I read an article a year or so go (although for the life of me i cant find it now ) that in my eyes shone new light on the whole tipping culture.

It basically said that in Florida state law an employer actually has to guarantee a minimum hourly wage but is allowed to pay the server a lower salary in expectation of the tips the server would receive. If the gratuity recieved plus the salary did not average out at/above the set minimum hourly rate it was up to the employer to make up the difference. Because of this very often a weekly payslip might actually read $0 if the server has been tipped in cash since the salary being actually paid by the employer only covers taxes etc.
Of course, because of the tipping culture in the U.S, if you were an employer and were having to 'make up' the wages of one of your servers you may be asking are they providing a good enough service?
Therefore i really dont blame servers for expecting a tip. They work in a culture where they are almost expected to be self employed. The employer (eg resturant owner) supplies the goods and they then serve them a bit like you might go and pay for car parts some where and then take them to a mechnic to have them fitted, you pay the supplier for the goods and the mechnic for fitting them. (probably not the best example but you get my point?)


I am not saying i agree with the system at all but unfortunately that is the way it is
It does seem like the employer is making all round by not having to pay the servers and expecting the customers to do so. But their argument would be that is why they are able to keep the actual cost of food lower.

This is my personal opinion on tipping;
I am totally against the 'service charge' already added to the bill. I feel tipping is a way of showing ones gratiude (gratuity) for the way they have been served. If i have recieved good service i leave an appropriate size tip (i would do this in the UK also although admittedly the % would be less since i recognise british servers are on a higher hourly wage). If the service is poor i will leave a stupidly small tip to recognise the level of service i have recieved. Its petty i know but its my way of saying i understand the U.S tipping culture but have been unhappy with the service provided. As it happens there are very few occassions when i have done this.

Whats your tipping 'dos' and 'donts' ?

 

[wickesy]

I feel tipping is a way of showing ones gratiude (gratuity) for the way they have been served.

I'm the same. I tip both here and abroad as my way of saying thank you for the service that has been provided, be it a hairdresser, taxi driver, waiter or whatever. I know I am paying for the service anyway but I see it as a way of showing that I am not taking the person for granted.

 

[Dimplenose]

I'm always embarressed to tip - as if I'm saying that I'm better than my server by giving them some money - If you know what I mean?

I do tip waiters (but only if I get one or two waiters per meal not 4 or 5 as sometimes happens!) and my hairdresser but I feel really uncomfortable.

We went on holiday to Denmark (I think) and tipping wasn't expected and it made for a much more relaxing holiday (even if the prices were higher to start with).

 

[mandymouse]

I'm the same. I tip both here and abroad as my way of saying thank you for the service that has been provided, be it a hairdresser, taxi driver, waiter or whatever. I know I am paying for the service anyway but I see it as a way of showing that I am not taking the person for granted.

Me too

 

[wickesy]

I'm always embarressed to tip - as if I'm saying that I'm better than my server by giving them some money - If you know what I mean?

Although I see what you're saying it's the opposite for me - it makes me feel I am saying "I know that you are waiting on me but I don't think I am better than you."

 

[hildasmuriel]

I'm always embarressed to tip - as if I'm saying that I'm better than my server by giving them some money - If you know what I mean?

I do tip waiters (but only if I get one or two waiters per meal not 4 or 5 as sometimes happens!) and my hairdresser but I feel really uncomfortable.

I feel the same as you. I don't understand why tipping is still common in the UK, now we have a national minimum wage. I don't tip the checkout girl in Tesco who probably earns the same wage as the waitress in the restaurant and probably far less than my hairdresser.

People often comment how cheap it is to eat out in the States, but if you have to factor in a 20% minimum tip then the 'cheap' meal suddenly got a lot more expensive.

I always tip at DLRP but I notice the waiters don't seem to expect it and seem genuinely pleased with it.

 

[Aardvarks]

Personally this 'Im your new best friend' thing grates on me.

In the UK, my meal is ordered and brought to the table. I will tip 10% if the food is warm and I wait less than 15 minutes.

I would however be happy enough to walk to the kitchen and collect my own food and tip nothing.

In the USA I am utterly embarrassed at the level of attention that my family gets from waiters, it can ruin the food for me.

So, if I get the food I ordered inside of 15 minutes and it is hot, they get 10%.

I dont care how many damned bread rolls and cola top ups that I receive, I also dont want 6 people asking me how the food is.

Wht dont you just line up all your college students outside of the airports with big smiles saying 'welcome to america, please leave the contents of your wallets' and their hands out.

For this reason, I prefer counter service and self clear places.

Ps, I love the USA and I love the people, but this ungenuine saccharine service crappolla is getting out of control

Edit to add

Pay people a reasonable wage for their level of responsibility and add it to the cost of the goods in an upfront and transparent manner. That way people will be encouraged to get themselves upskilled to get the better jobs at better rates of pay. The last bartender I spoke with made more money per week than I do and I carry a darned sight moe responsibility than he does and have had years of training to content with

 

[Booknut]

I understand why we tip in the USA but I don't like it. I wish they would pay everyone properly to start with.

Agree 100%! We don't tip retail assistants or teachers or doctors or nurses for doing their job but we can get them something nice as a thank you if they go above and beyond their duty. I wish it was the same with servers in restaurants. Some of those poor people in the USA make $2.50 an hour at places like IHOP and Sizzler It's like having to beg and plead for your salary, I really dislike it, I think its demoralising.