On the UK forum-mandatory tipping in the US??

[icydog]

I was looking for some travel advice and I came across this thread on the UK Board. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=821250&page=1&pp=15
in it the posters are adament that there are many restaurants in the US and particulary in Miama and Orlando that add a gratuity on their bills. I was sure they were mistaken but then a bunch of folks echoed the same sentiments that they were routinely charged a service fee in the US. I was dismayed to learn that sometimes it was added as soon as the waitstaff heard their accent. Has anyone here encountered forced tipping, except for large parties, in the US??

 

[dianeschlicht]

I have never heard of that. What was their proof that this happened? I do know that many restaurants will add on a gratuity for tables of 5 or more.

 

[CarolMN]

Any mandatory tipping or service charge policy should be stated on the menu. I don't recall ever being charged a mandatory fee that wasn't made known to me before I ordered. If it's excessive, we vote with our feet. If the resulting service was substandard, we ask the manager to refund the fee (only once, so far, LOL).

That said, tipping is not the norm in many other coutries/cultures. (I don't know if that is true in the UK). It's understandable that the waitstaff who depend on tips for a living do not want to be the "victims" of cultural differences / misunderstandings. I know that many servers are paid significantly less than minimum wage because thier employers are allowed to assume that their tip income will make up the difference. Perhaps in areas that cater to foreign visitors, adding a service charge or mandatory gratutity is necessary to keep good servers - I know I'd quit in a big hurry if all I got was $2.33 / hour (that's what my daughter was paid when she worked as a waitress in Wisconsin).

Best wishes -




Best wishes-

 

[icydog]

I have never heard of that. What was their proof that this happened? I do know that many restaurants will add on a gratuity for tables of 5 or more.

I had one guy tell me that if I didn't understand that this was happening in my country then how could I expect them to know. I'm telling you the were angry at me for telling them I have never heard of such a thing and then they started an outcry. Many people posted that it had indeed happened to them and also said it is incorporated in many tourist guides. The book stated that it is usual not to have a tip included but sometimes it was.
I am 58 and never had this happen to me. Am I out of touch. But how could I be, I live here?

 

[jonestavern]

Yes, occassionally the tip--usually 15%--is added to the bill. This is true at The Outback in Orlando as of 3/05. Furthermore not a word to you if they notice they've been over tipped! this happened to us while in a party of 8. It is not their custom in RI or NH. Usually, restaurants in the US are up front if they add a gratuiity--always wise to inquire. Often the added on gratuity is common in larger cities &/or upscale establishments.
I don't believe it has anything to do with the accent.

Jean

 

[icydog]

"Any mandatory tipping or service charge policy should be stated on the menu. I don't recall ever being charged a mandatory fee that wasn't made known to me before I ordered. If it's excessive, we vote with our feet. If the resulting service was substandard, we ask the manager to refund the fee (only once, so far, LOL)."

I don't think I have EVER seen a mandatory tip here. If it is on the menu it is only a suggested tip amount. I am not against servers being paid for good service, I am just surprised that so many brits claim they are routinely being charged a service or guitity fee.

 

[icydog]

"I don't believe it has anything to do with the accent. [/FONT]


How come I have never encountered it?? Which Outback the one in the Wyndham because we ate there in April no added gratuity then!Jean
[/QUOTE]

 

[jnrrt]

Posted on the other board.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Like I said, the only thing I have ever encountered is a gratuity that is added for larger tables. This is always stated up front though.

 

[icydog]

Posted on the other board.

Everyone should read this post on the UK board. It sums all this up beautifully.

 

[awatt]

We own a home in South Beach, Miami and yes majority of restaurants do automatically charge a gratuity. It is stated on the menu. This is done because of a large European clientele that is not accustomed to tipping, so the waitstaff does not get stiffed the majority of time.

 

[jarestel]

Room service at some of the WDW resorts adds gratuity to the bill, but many times the server "forgets" to mention it as you're double-tipping him for delivering the meal.

I've never seen an automatic gratuity at a restaurant anywhere in the US unless there is a large party. Hopefully the places that are doing this to our UK friends are listing it on the bill so they don't double-tip.

 

[Kez250]

In the UK tipping is generally 10% -12% for good service - 15% for exceptional service - I must admit that last time i went home i left a 20% tip because the service was probably the best i'd had in the UK in years and the waitress came over and was very embarrassed and asked me if the tip was correct because it was a lot.

The service aspect of UK restaurants is improving mainly because people are beginning to expect it but I still think that the service you get here even in the chain restaurants is superior. I think this is mainly because here people get a lower base wage and earn their tips - where as in the UK the base wage is quite a bit higher

What I have seen quite a lot of in touristy areas here is a tip card - which says in about 10 different languages that tipping is customary in the US and that the average for good service is 18-20% - some of them also state that if you are unahppy for any reason you should let your waitstaff know about it straight away - which seems logical but believe me I've been out with my parents in the UK and food has arrived - cold and sometimes not cooked how they ordered it and will they say anything at the time - no not for all the money in the world - yet they will go on and on and on about it after we have left the restaurant - drives me crazy

Anyway thats my 5 cents worth

K.

 

[SimonG]

Hi everything kez said is true.British people are not used to tipping as much as you guys.My niece is a waitress and on her last shift came home with a grand total of 70p($2.00).We always follow a moto when in Rome.We did our research into America and my wife did a tipping guide to fit into my wallet which i used every time to make sure igot it right .We found the service everywhere to be of a very high standard not like back here.One night we were in the hollywood brown derby and asked th ewaitress to come back home to show our lot how its done.Thanks for the advice though very interesting

 

[JimMIA]

Can't post, edit, anything! Goin' elsewhere - I don't have time for this!

 

[NMW]

A lot of restaurants around here and where we lived in New Jersey add the tip if you are a larger party. It's different with every one-some are over 5, some 8 and over. Some restaurants add 15%, some add 18%. We always tip 20%, so we just add some more. I really never thought about it. I just figured for larger groups it's fair because they are taking up more space and the waiter is doing more work.
When I was in college I waitressed at a T.G.I fridays (in the early 1990's). We added 15% to groups 8 or more. I think it was posted SOMEWHERE, I just don't remember where!

 

[icydog]

Hi everything kez said is true.British people are not used to tipping as much as you guys.My niece is a waitress and on her last shift came home with a grand total of 70p($2.00).We always follow a moto when in Rome.We did our research into America and my wife did a tipping guide to fit into my wallet which i used every time to make sure igot it right .We found the service everywhere to be of a very high standard not like back here.One night we were in the hollywood brown derby and asked th ewaitress to come back home to show our lot how its done.Thanks for the advice though very interesting

Very interesting, and true now that I think about it. We ate Indian food all the time in London. We found to be the best food and also the most economical. The service was usually horrendous but I thought there was some sort of a language problem. I couldn't get anyone to give me ice. Is it rationed or something over there? I would ask and they would pop in a cube or two but no more. I would order a drink and specifically say I wanted ice and it would come out luke warm no ice. They seemed rather miffed if I asked for some more and kinda spoke to each other under their breath about Americans (did I hear American ***)whispered?

 

[vernon]

Keep your eyes open if you visit Miami guys ( even a few places in Orlando these days). As awatt says this is common practice all along South Beach and I think some other areas in Miami. While all of the restaurants did have this printed on the back or bottom of the menus it wasn't pointed out when the bills came and the total was left open (allowing for another tip to be added). I'll guess I paid a double tip at least 5 times before I worked out what was going on.

Is this because the restaurants in South Beach were getting too many people not leaving sufficient tips for their staff? Or is it because they know they get a lot of people passing through for just a couple of days who they can scam, safe in the knowledge they probably won't be coming back any time soon? IMHO the prominant sign on the table ( or placed next to the bill when it arrives) is more than sufficient to let people know what it expected.

I'd be very interested to know if ALL that money gets paid to the wait staff if they get a double tip. I tend to think it won't be, but them maybe I'm too cynical at times.

I can understand why this is done for groups of 8 or more (quite conceivably this could be the major (or only) service a particular server provides for an evening. I can understand if this is done for smaller groups AS LONG AS IT IS HIGHLIGHTED, OBVIOUS AND EASY TO FIND, it should also be mentioned when the bill is produced that if they felt they received exceptional service the guest can add an extra gratuity on top of what has already been added. In it's current mode I think this is the restaurants taking advantage of either drunk or unaware tourists and scamming them for extra tips.

I don't mind either system, but there needs to be uniformity and clarity, I REALLY don't want to have to scour every restaurant menu (some of which can run to several pages) or to have to total every bill I get in order to work out if I have already paid the tip/service charge or not.

 

[jnrrt]

Very interesting, and true now that I think about it. We ate Indian food all the time in London. We found to be the best food and also the most economical. The service was usually horrendous but I thought there was some sort of a language problem. I couldn't get anyone to give me ice. Is it rationed or something over there? I would ask and they would pop in a cube or two but no more. I would order a drink and specifically say I wanted ice and it would come out luke warm no ice. They seemed rather miffed if I asked for some more and kinda spoke to each other under their breath about Americans (did I hear American ***)whispered?

Actually, icy-dog, ice in drinks is very rare in most European countries, and they mostly think Americans are crazy for liking it. Between that, and the Corn Flakes thing, American eating habits can take a lot of flack .

 

[Cruelladeville]

I think English eating habits should get more flack than our's. The english put cole slaw, or even baked beans on their baked potatoes!!! Even beets, but not a dollop of sour cream in sight! And try to find campbell's chicken noodle soup when you're sick--ain't happening!