Tipping: What method of payment?

[Chris and Pooh]

I would welcome advice with tipping. I am aware of the amounts when tipping in the US the one thing I am not sure about is how.

Let me explain, in the UK I have been told by servers when asked, that if I pay by credit/debit card for a meal and include a service tip, then it is taxed before the server gets it and in some cases the management also take a cut, because of this I always tip the the server with cash, so it goes straight into their pocket.
This is the person to whom I want to say thank you to, not the taxman or the management!!

How does it work in the US?

 

[MouseWorshipin]

Same deal. Tips on a credit card automatically have taxes deducted by the accounting people, and are included on the next paycheck.

Cash tips leave it up to the server. They can declare all the income, or they can cheat on their taxes, but they have money in their pocket that day.

Most servers prefer to be tipped in cash.

 

[DVC Sadie]

We always tip and just add it to our credit card and no one (waiters or waitresses) has ever complained. We just don't bring a lot of cash with us on vacation. Cash or credit card are equally fine!

 

[Pugdog007]

I would welcome advice with tipping. I am aware of the amounts when tipping in the US the one thing I am not sure about is how.

Let me explain, in the UK I have been told by servers when asked, that if I pay by credit/debit card for a meal and include a service tip, then it is taxed before the server gets it and in some cases the management also take a cut, because of this I always tip the the server with cash, so it goes straight into their pocket.
This is the person to whom I want to say thank you to, not the taxman or the management!!

How does it work in the US?

We are visiting London, Paris & several other European cities this Summer. Can you tell me the "standards" for tipping where you live? Who and how much? TIA!

 

[Chris and Pooh]

We are visiting London, Paris & several other European cities this Summer. Can you tell me the "standards" for tipping where you live? Who and how much? TIA!

One major thing to bear in mind in the UK is that it does not have the same tipping culture as the US and as such many services do not require tipping.

10% for servers in restaurants is generally quite adequate !5% if you feel really generous,
In pubs and bars you are not expected to tip when served but if waited at table then also 10%, in hotels we normally leave £1/day for the chambermaid about the same for cases, £1/case.
Taxis generally about 5 - 10% but dont take that as gospel as we never use them.
In an unrelated post a french member stated that they do not tip in France