Tipping

[donna307]

Hi again everyone

I bet you will all be so glad when I finally go to DLP in 17, ye 17 days so you don't have to keep being pestered with all my questions...

I have just read on the DLP magic website to check if service is included in the price. Do you know of anywhere that adds this on?? Given that it may be 10-15%, that's quite a bit more on the bill Just trying to budget for food tonight and find out roughly how much each place is going to cost.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

I don't know of any restaurant that you are going to come across at DLP or in Paris which doesn't have service compris.

It is included in the price that you pay along with VAT so there is no need to leave any money as a tip.

If you feel "guilty" as some people seem to, unable to shake the habit of tipping everywhere, you can round up to the next € or 2 but never 10% or even 5% (unless you have had service that is outstanding)

 

[donna307]

So the prices you see on the menu doesn't include the service charge? They add it to your bill at the end? Also, I've been looking at some of the menus and they have set menud with a fixed price. For example, blue lagoon has the buccaneers and treasures if the sea menus. The treasures of the sea menu is €33.99 but when I priced up a starter, main and desert from the main menu thats also on the treasures of the sea menu, it came to €46.97. That's quite a saving if you stick to the menu. Is that right???

 

[Carrie_Cat]

So the prices you see on the menu doesn't include the service charge? They add it to your bill at the end? Also, I've been looking at some of the menus and they have set menud with a fixed price. For example, blue lagoon has the buccaneers and treasures if the sea menus. The treasures of the sea menu is €33.99 but when I priced up a starter, main and desert from the main menu thats also on the treasures of the sea menu, it came to €46.97. That's quite a saving if you stick to the menu. Is that right???

The price you see on the menu includes everything (service and vat) If you look at the end of the menu it says service compris - tax included

If you are looking at the same menu as me it is

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=44636443&postcount=69
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=44636466&postcount=70

Menus are always cheaper than going from the carte as the restaurant makes more money like that in the end.

Most people would only choose a main course and a dessert as 3 courses is a lot.

This would only cost them 30.98€ for the chicken and a creme brulee. They see 33.99€ and go I can have the starter for only 3€ more instead of 9€-13€ depending on what they choose

The restaurant has made 3€ more out of that one person that they wouldn't have spent and it's cost the restaurant nothing as their margins are huge

Also the 2 fish choices on that 33.99€ menu aren't on the main carte so their profit can be much higher

 

[HappyPanda]

It is hard to get out of the habit of tipping, but they really don't expect them at all. A couple of times I have tried to leave a couple of euros as we've had excellent service and the waiters would not accept it!

Very different to how it is here, where you can feel the waiters eyes burning into the back of your head if you leave without leaving one!

 

[Carrie_Cat]

It is hard to get out of the habit of tipping, but they really don't expect them at all. A couple of times I have tried to leave a couple of euros as we've had excellent service and the waiters would not accept it!

Very different to how it is here, where you can feel the waiters eyes burning into the back of your head if you leave without leaving one!

I've never left a tip in the UK, maybe you do in London but up where my family lives they'd never be expecting it

ETA - How much do you leave them ?

 

[donna307]

Thanks Carrie_Cat. I was panicking for a moment thinking that I had planned how much everything was going to cost based on the menus from the DLRP Magic men then was going to have a massive service charge added on top!

I was actually basing it on the menus from the DLRP Magic site but on looking at the link you posted, they are the same

It took me a while to get my sleepy head around the menu thing (its' been a long day!) but basically what you're saying is that they are banking on most people only having a main and desert so give you the 'cheape'r set menu because they know you will see that as a bargain (which it is) and spend an extra 3 euros or whatever it may be to get the starter as well. Gosh, you would think they wouldn't be overly bothered about a small amount like that. So do you think its better to get the set menus in most places then? I suppose it depends on how hungry you are .

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Say you have 50 people who choose to have a menu as it's only 3€ extra thats 150€ more in the till.

These people might also order more drinks as they are going to be there longer and why not a coffee at the end

Like I say the mark up is so huge on food as well as drinks that they are making money easy like this

I can't eat a 3 course meal so it doesn't work with me I'll normally have at Walt's a main and then a café gourmand but if I was doing it I'd be going for the menu if the choices interested me which they generally do

 

[donna307]

Good point I suppose if the selection is good, go for it the blue lagoon one suits me perfectly as I usually get the chicken and all the deserts appeal. Although...after reading the thread about gourmet coffees and their tiny mini cute desserts, I'm going to have to try at least one :- )

 

[I_Heart_MK]

Am I understanding this right that if the menu says "service compris" on it, then the waiter receives a tip from the price of the meal even if you don't add anything on?! Do you know how much they receive? We have always left an extra 10% at DLRP as that's the norm here in the UK, I had no idea it was not expected in France! Unless I've misunderstood the post? We're going in the morning (I'm too excited to sleep!!!) and have budgeted for 10% tips on all our meals, so if the waiters already receive this then that means I can buy more souvineers! thanks! Xxx

 

[zanzibar138]

If it's anything like Australia (where tipping is not the norm either), waitstaff generally get paid enough so that they don't have to rely on tips to supplement their income. So rather than the tip being included in the menu price, there is just no tip at all.

I had no idea that tipping was expected in the UK - I'll file that away for future reference

 

[TheTizardFamily:0)]

I had no idea this was the case! We always leave at least a 10% tip in DLP!

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Am I understanding this right that if the menu says "service compris" on it, then the waiter receives a tip from the price of the meal even if you don't add anything on?! Do you know how much they receive? We have always left an extra 10% at DLRP as that's the norm here in the UK, I had no idea it was not expected in France! Unless I've misunderstood the post? We're going in the morning (I'm too excited to sleep!!!) and have budgeted for 10% tips on all our meals, so if the waiters already receive this then that means I can buy more souvineers! thanks! Xxx

I've never left 10% in the UK ever and it's only been brought in in recent years from what I can find out this 10 or 12% discretionary charge that is added on to bills Normally it was all included in the prices.

Here in France you round up if you want to or you simply get up and leave- Have a look at this post and save your 10% for other things

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2890403

You can almost say that they are getting 15% (service charge) included in their wages

If it's anything like Australia (where tipping is not the norm either), waitstaff generally get paid enough so that they don't have to rely on tips to supplement their income. So rather than the tip being included in the menu price, there is just no tip at all.

I had no idea that tipping was expected in the UK - I'll file that away for future reference

It's like this more or less - some waiters even saw it as an "insult" to receive tips as their job was a "noble" one.

I had no idea this was the case! We always leave at least a 10% tip in DLP!

Gives you a bit more for your souvenirs too

 

[tinks_1989]

Tipping is very expected here even in cafes our local takeaway even has a tip pot.

When ever you pay for a meal by credit debit card you even have the option to add a tip so you don't have the excuse I had no cash on me.

I'm a hairdresser and when I worked in a salon my tips were such a great help and was always so grateful to any one who tipped.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

I'm a hairdresser and when I worked in a salon my tips were such a great help and was always so grateful to any one who tipped.

Hairdressers are different I leave always a couple of €'s in the pot that she has on her table as do most people here.

But you'd never leave 10/15/20% of the price of your haircut and it wouldn't be written on your bill as an option or as a discretionary charge I'd hope

 

[tinks_1989]

Hairdressers are different I leave always a couple of €'s in the pot that she has on her table as do most people here.

But you'd never leave 10/15/20% of the price of your haircut and it wouldn't be written on your bill as an option or as a discretionary charge I'd hope

Oh no course not I never expect tips but they were very very gratefully relieved especially leading up to the wedding and birth of DD

I feel guilty not tipping others that work in a service that should be tipped as I know how much I loved receiving mine.

In France though we don't tip as much I didn't know the tip was added in the price I was just told that in France the waiter/waitress were paid a lot better so never felt as guilty to tip xxx

 

[I_Heart_MK]

This is so interesting! Sorry for going a bit OT but where in the uk are you from CC? We're in the south east, and my parents are from Somerset, and I was always brought up to tip 10% in restaurants. I used to be a waitress as well and I have to say I did expect to get tips as everyone seemed to tip around 10% and I was paid minimum wage. I just assumed it was the same all over the uk! Thanks for all the info, I'm looking forward to saving a few euros this trip I'm in the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras, about to board and so excited!!!! xxxx

 

[bonhoga]

Oh Donna, I so wish you had asked this question before we went......we were under the impression we had to leave a tip .
Still glad we did in Walts as Zoa was amazing but this is so good to know for next year

17days 17 days , sure I can't help carry your suitcase, come as an unpaid babyitter, general dogsbody etc etc?
K

 

[donna307]

Aww Kaye, you know i'd love for you to come! I can't believe how quickly it has all come around! Booked in January so have spent all these months trying not to go OTT with the planning so I wouldn't get too excited but now its time to plan I don't know what to do!

I think if we were to get an exceptional service, I would leave a few extra euros. I used to work in a restaurant here when I was about 15 and never expected tips but it was lovely when we did get them. We used to save them up and take them home at the end of the year.

 

[tennisfan]

If it's anything like Australia (where tipping is not the norm either), waitstaff generally get paid enough so that they don't have to rely on tips to supplement their income. So rather than the tip being included in the menu price, there is just no tip at all.

I had no idea that tipping was expected in the UK - I'll file that away for future reference

Tipping isn't expected in the UK like the US as service is usually included unless its stated or you are in a large group (8 or more) I will tip if I get good service but just recently that hasn't happened as the service hasn't been exceptional. In the UK we have a minimum wage of $6.08 for over 21 yr olds, £4.98 18-20 yrs old so tipping is not deemed essential