[Drinking] Tip your barstaff!

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StonehamPark

#Brighton-Nil
Oct 30, 2010
9,837
BC, Canada
The thing about American culture is that the service is generally excellent because of the tipping culture. The worst service amongst the countries I've been to is Spain. I've walked out of restaurants where we've had no more than the menu in 20 minutes and I appear to have donned an invisibility cloak. That type of thing simply doesn't happen in the States.

Just incorrect, when was the last time you experienced excellent service, and where from?
The tipping culture has radically changed over the past 5 years in the US and Canada.







 




portlock seagull

Why? Why us?
Jul 28, 2003
17,347
Exactly. We all know the Americans don't like trade unions (too Socialist) so over there they underpay their workers and expect the customers to do it for them. And surprise surprise they prefer rich customers who can leave bigger tips.

It's dreadful that it's becoming more and more prevalent over here to the extent that rich people are more welcome as customers because they can afford to give bigger tips. Pay the workers a decent wage and let the tips be a bonus.
Ahh but if you pay them a decent wage the British will moan about cost of service. Meanwhile they’re very content with Sat on arse at home shovelling junk food delivered by exploition R Us
 


beorhthelm

A. Virgo, Football Genius
Jul 21, 2003
35,399
Hospitality has to pay a minimum wage by law, so they are paid appropriately in one sense. But hospitality pay is low, hospitality is a tough gig and is public facing….the majority of whom seem to be entitled tossers these days who rarely compliment when things go well but certainly kick up a fuss when things don’t. I’m exceedingly grateful for what they do and as such will 99% of the time tip. Thanking them and giving a tip sends a clear message of how I feel in amongst all the crap they have to put up with…..usually gets me a free schnapps as well. Everyone is happy.
have you tried going to nicer places?
 




BN9 BHA

DOCKERS
NSC Patron
Jul 14, 2013
21,713
Newhaven
Last year I ordered some work socks from eBay, tbh I had forgot about them in February whilst ordering something else I messaged the seller no response, a week later I left a bad review item didn’t arrive no feedback from seller.
The next thing I had the husband on the phone saying my review had damaged his wife’s business. WTF I paid for something I didn’t receive you f***ing clown it’s hardly my fault.
I didn’t realise eBay sellers had buyers phone numbers, did you tell him to f*** off?
 




jackanada

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2011
3,201
Brighton
Ahh but if you pay them a decent wage the British will moan about cost of service. Meanwhile they’re very content with Sat on arse at home shovelling junk food delivered by exploition R Us
On the extremely rare occasions I use such a service I do top up the deliverers wages with cash for this very reason.
 


Iggle Piggle

Well-known member
Sep 3, 2010
5,428
Just incorrect, when was the last time you experienced excellent service, and where from?
The tipping culture has radically changed over the past 5 years in the US and Canada.







I was in Florida this time last year and been on and off for the last 20 odd years over a number of locations. Can't say I noticed any difference. Even Denny's was decent and I love their chemical brekkies. In Majorca the year before, same old, albeit at least they don't go for a kip in the afternoon there.

America has got a multitude of issues but shit service isn't one of them.

Edit : If your point is, is America more expensive, then I can't disagree. No value there anymore
 
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sussex_guy2k2

Well-known member
Jun 6, 2014
3,780
Tipping is (or was) a thank you for exceptional service/going the extra mile, not for doing your job and certainly not to enable staff to be underpaid. I would love to see a campaign against ‘discretionary service charges’, I think it would be popular.
I’m with you on this. I thoroughly dislike tipping culture.

If companies can’t pay their workers properly and can’t price their services at the correct levels to pay employees, then that’s on them, not on me.
 




South Stand Bonfire

Who lit that match then?
NSC Patron
Jan 24, 2009
2,224
Shoreham-a-la-mer
The Waterside pub next to the Thames last year, the service was excellent. I queued at the bar but they insisted I sit down a they would take the beer orders from our table 10 yards away..and then added 10% to the bill for service charges. I wouldn’t object if they had been upfront with it beforehand. If however I go to the Evening Star pre game or Duke of W for the odd beer, I am very happy to ask them to add “one for you too” onto the bill.
 


StonehamPark

#Brighton-Nil
Oct 30, 2010
9,837
BC, Canada
I was in Florida this time last year and been on and off for the last 20 odd years over a number of locations. Can't say I noticed any difference. Even Denny's was decent and I love their chemical brekkies. In Majorca the year before, same old, albeit at least they don't go for a kip in the afternoon there.

America has got a multitude of issues but shit service isn't one of them.

Surprised and humbled to have learnt that I, the writers, articles and locals here, in North America, are all wrong, and you are correct because ...Denny's, of all places, provided to you great service in Florida. 🙃
 






Iggle Piggle

Well-known member
Sep 3, 2010
5,428
I
Surprised and humbled to have learnt that I, the writers, articles and locals here, in North America, are all wrong, and you are correct because ...Denny's, of all places, provided to you great service in Florida. 🙃

I appreciate - probably more than 90% of people on this board and I can't be arsed to explain why - is that small sample sizes of data are the curse of analysis especially in a country as big as America. It's like arguing service in London is the same as Benbecula.

Here's what I noticed

- Service is still good and - largely - unchanged over 20 years. It's mile's better than Europe.
-Tip culture seems to be 20 rather than 15% in 2019 rather than 12.5% in 2005 ish. As a tourist I just get on with it. Where does that end?
- Prices are significantly higher than pre COVID which is probably where the backlash comes from. Some of that is exchange rate but it's not just that. America is more expensive.

Happy to argue specifics. Opinion articles from Guardian and Telegraph are opposite ends of the same bullshit theme for me.
 








BevBHA

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2017
1,732
In my retirement years,... early retirement, I helped out running the bar in a few pubs locally here in the west country. Currently doing 10-15 hours a week at a pub that does food,.. a good quality one that has table service for diners, drink and food,. Recently a table of 16, most had two courses, most had two drinks.... total tip... 30p from one old lady.. we have frequently had zero from tables paying bills of more than a hundred, great quality food and service, reasonable prices... no excuse.
Well done you gave good service, so you did your job? That’s your job regardless of if you think a customer will tip or not, you’re in the service industry. If you don’t want to give good service because that’s your job maybe consider a new role in Karen’s Diner.
 




heathgate

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Apr 13, 2015
3,517
Well done you gave good service, so you did your job? That’s your job regardless of if you think a customer will tip or not, you’re in the service industry. If you don’t want to give good service because that’s your job maybe consider a new role in Karen’s Diner.
Oh I hope you drift in to our little establishment..... oh how I wish it....
 


Gwylan

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
31,405
Uffern
My son is a bar supervisor in a nightclub. I was staggered when he told me that he regularly gets £40 to £60 a night in tips. He works long hours so he deserves some appreciation but that's a handy sum of money of top of his wages.
 




Paddington Gal

Active member
May 7, 2013
106
Being an old publican the common form of tipping was "and have one for yourself ". Obviously as times passed by staff were stopped from drinking while on duty ( health and safety , not knowing when to stop etc), the normal thing was " I'll have an half please guv". Great times.

I stopped tipping on the day the Amex opened. Down from London with a Spurs fan pal of mine, we were on the sauce after the game. Enjoying the delights West St could throw at us, we found ourselves in the Half Moon in Middle Street. My pal knew a previous landlady many years previous who used to get a 60+ year old stripper in to entertain the clientele.
Anyway I ordered a couple of pints and upon payment I offered " one for yourself " and promptly handed over a £20 pound note. The very bohemian barmaid promptly gave me my change. A full fu***ng 20p. Now bearing in mind a lager and a bitter were well under a tenner at this time, it had me scratching my head. Now curiosity has got hold of me and I asked her what she had. A double vodka red bull was her reply as she stuck a tenner in her tip jar.
Never again unless I receive exceptional service which is a rarity these days
 


OzMike

Well-known member
Oct 2, 2006
12,996
Perth Australia
Tips stands for 'To Insure Prompt Service', and was initially given when arriving at the restuarant to make sure that you were treated well and that everything went smoothly.
I am a tipper, but only if the above is evident, if not, then not tipping and not coming back.
From what I have seen since being here, Aussies don't tip much and seem to struggle using a knife and fork.
 


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