Tippng

There has been a lot of "tipping creep" here in the US, where there are suddenly tip jar at all sorts of counter service places. The old rule of thumb used to be that you did not need to tip for counter service. In fact, some chains used to prohibit tipping for counter service. No longer. If I am doing take-away food, I certainly do not expect to tip.

Also, it used to be that a good tip was 15%. Now the wait staff expect 20%. It was explained to me by the comment "we haven't had a raise in years." Of course, every time the owner ups the charges, the wait staff get more tips, so they've had "raises" right along. Of course, if the service is poor, I give them less. If the service is rude, I make sure that the manager know why no tip has been left. I'd hate to leave them under the impression that it might be an oversight.

Whether through tips or higher charges on the menu, the wait staff should be paid. Frankly, I prefer the "service compris" one finds in Europe, with no tip required! But, when travelling, one should tip in accordance with local customs - provided, of course, that the service was decent.

BTW, the fellow who put the bags on the cart without first asking "may I help you" was way out of line. If you have baggage you can manage on your own, you have every right to do so!
 
I think that we have started to go way over the top on tipping within Europe and it will get to the stage where everyone wants a tip (as in the USA). I will tip in restaurants if I have had good service, if the service has been poor then there's no tip. If there is already a service charge added to the bill then no tip, if the service is poor then I refuse to pay the service charge (it is everyone's right to do so for terrible service). I won't tip at takeaways or anywhere that's self service.

The funny thing was that when we were in NZ people didn't expect tips. NZ waiters and waitresses tend to be temporary staff who are perhaps students, have other jobs or, are over there on temporary work permits whilst trying to see the world. In other words...... they are not renowned for silver service, speed, charm and delightful personalities. Most NZ guidebooks will confirm this. In a couple of restaurants we received excellent service. Not only was it prompt and efficient but the waitresses took time to advise us on what to see whilst we were travelling and were genuinely helpful. We left tips at those restaurants and the staff were surprised..... It's just not expected over there.
 
garinda said:
I agree of sorts, but why do we accept that some relatively low paid jobs should be tipped and not others?

When was the last time someone tipped a shelf stacker or the person that flipped your burger in MacDonalds?
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I think its irrelevant on how much or how little ones wage is Garrinda ,but more the quality of service given . I would never tip in places like MacDonalds purely because there is no effort required in shouting over a counter to the ones at the back for a ready boxed burger and over cooked fries . I do think however that at xmas time etc places like asda should have tip jars for their staff mainly because they are usually very helpful and in my experience nothing is to much trouble so why not?
 
cherokee said:
I think its irrelevant on how much or how little ones wage is Garrinda ,but more the quality of service given . I would never tip in places like MacDonalds purely because there is no effort required in shouting over a counter to the ones at the back for a ready boxed burger and over cooked fries . I do think however that at xmas time etc places like asda should have tip jars for their staff mainly because they are usually very helpful and in my experience nothing is to much trouble so why not?
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I think traditionally it was important how much someones wage was. We have tipped some service workers like the girl who washes your hair, bar staff, cab drivers or waiters etc. but not others, why?

When was the last time we tipped the boy/girl who works in the newsagents?

I think everyone should be paid a fair wage for a fair days work, and we should do away with tipping except in exceptional circumstances.
 
have always tended to tip for good service here and abroad,if its crap i usually tell em,and give em sod all. don't really give a thought to good wage/poor wage to me its about GOOD SERVICE.
 
garinda said:
I think traditionally it was important how much someones wage was. We have tipped some service workers like the girl who washes your hair, bar staff, cab drivers or waiters etc. but not others, why?

When was the last time we tipped the boy/girl who works in the newsagents?

I think everyone should be paid a fair wage for a fair days work, and we should do away with tipping except in exceptional circumstances.
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I always tip at the hairdressers as for the young uns that deliever papers they seem to get their tip at xmas time but come to think of it we never seem to tip the guys who mot our motors or people like that . never really given it much thought to be honest G
 
I think if some places allow tipping, they must not be paying there staff well,I agree with Lettie about N.Z .
If I had the choice of a restaurant with a service charge or one with over freindly waiters, I would sooner pay the charge.
Also a good thing here in Oz are BYO (bring your own) this is for restaurants that don"t have a Liquor license so you can take your own bottle of wine along are even a six pack of beer, some of the posh restuarants say BYO wine only, and charge you a corkage fee sometimes more than what youve paid for the wine itself, but I stay away from them.
 
I did the free papers for years over 15 I must have been 10 when I started. 950 papers a week to 950 homes and got about 5 tips in total. 15*50*950=712 500 papers in sun rain hail, snow, ice and bitter cold blue hands weather that you just don't get anymore, and 5 thank yous for it. :(
maybe thats why i don't tip, and dont agree with it unless someone does something worth tipping.
I can't see this country getting like that, we're too tight, and quite rightly so
 
Madhatter said:
I did the free papers for years over 15 I must have been 10 when I started. 950 papers a week to 950 homes and got about 5 tips in total. 15*50*950=712 500 papers in sun rain hail, snow, ice and bitter cold blue hands weather that you just don't get anymore, and 5 thank yous for it. :(
maybe thats why i don't tip, and dont agree with it unless someone does something worth tipping.
I can't see this country getting like that, we're too tight, and quite rightly so
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I dont really think we are tight MH and i think the majority of people do tip . What i can see is our next generation losing sight of tipping because of plastic and not thinking to carry loose change , I personally like to tip , its my way of showing my appreciation of a job well done in the hope it will continue
 
I was actually working illegally you note. Your not supposed to do paperrounds until you're 13-14 and then with a medical. I was always a rebel, a good quiet shy kid but a rebel on the sly.
 
haha you still are i think MH ..
still even though you were underage thimk its a bit mean that folk didnt tip you your age obviously didnt stop them gettin their papers
 
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