Tipping in restaurants

[The Large One]

I'm sure we've had this debate before, but what do you do about tipping in restaurants? the government is issuing new guidelines...

BBC NEWS | Business | New tip rules 'could cost jobs'

Personally, I'm confused as to how jobs could be lost. Perhaps someone could enlighten me.

With regard to tipping, I generally ask to take the service charge off (something which appears to completely confuse some waiting staff), and add my own tip where I feel it appropriate.

 

[strings]

I agree that tips should not go to the restaurant... after all, you tip because of the quality of the food and service.

I doubt 5000 jobs will be lost, it all seems like scaremongering to me... maybe someone could enlighten me too?

 

[withdeanwombat]

It's probably to do with making the caff pay the true rate for the job rather than some obscure wage that depends on tips.If the proper wage is applied,then the caff will have to pay national insurance etc and this will increase the wage bill.How do reduce your wage bill? Pay less wages = pay less staff = job losses. Ah,but what about quality,you ask.Well,the remaining staff have to work harder cos "there's plenty out there who want your job."

Whilst you have not been charged for this,a small tip would be kind.No,not Dobbin at 66-1 in the 2.15 at Chester.

 

[BensGrandad]

I can never understand why restaurants have a clause on their menus saying that 10% or whatever will be added to parties of 6 or more. I would have thought that the restaurant would have earnt more money themselves on a large party so the tip/tronk, if it goes to the staff makes no difference to the owners.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

It shouldn't really cause a loss of jobs, but restaurants will be 'forced' to pay their staff more and I would imagine that many restaurants are in a bit of a precarious position when it comes to making profits. Therefore you can see how some restaurants will be wanting to make cutbacks as their expenditure will increase.

 

[csider]

I tip depending on the food and service. I hate the service charge. Why not just charge it on the price of the meal in the first place

This debate was on here a while back...Started by me I think.

If the money as waiting staff is not enough, get a different f***ing job..:US:

 

[Billy the Fish]

If the service is good I tip on top of a service charge anyway.

 

[wellquickwoody]

if the service is good i tip on top of a service charge anyway.

sucker!

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I can never understand why restaurants have a clause on their menus saying that 10% or whatever will be added to parties of 6 or more. I would have thought that the restaurant would have earnt more money themselves on a large party so the tip/tronk, if it goes to the staff makes no difference to the owners.

It is a bit odd. I would have thought a bigger table, say 8, would be more efficient, and therefore cheaper, to wait and cook for than say 4 tables of 2?

It's a good point. I've got a friend who always questions the tipping situation of any restaurant and refuses to pay any service if the money goes to the restaurant and not the waiter. She's been in the press on this matter as well. It did lead to quite an interesting scene in a wanky place in Camden a year or so ago.

Personally I tend to pay the bill by card and leave a cash tip.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I tip depending on the food and service. I hate the service charge. Why not just charge it on the price of the meal in the first place

This debate was on here a while back...Started by me I think.

If the money as waiting staff is not enough, get a different f***ing job..:US:

In a lot of other countries in Europe waiting and restaurant work is actually seen as a respectable trade and comes with a decent wage. Over here it is valued very differently.

 

[marshallmercury]

Does not harm to leave a couple of quid on the table.

In my early 20's myself and 2 mates went out for a meal once and the girl serving to our table was so so pretty, so when we left we each put ten pounds down for her. As we got to the door we looked around and she had gone to clear the table. she just stood there stunned!!

 

[coventrygull]

This reminds me of the time I went to a tango show in Buenos Aires. The waiter whispered in my ear that service was not included, We payed the bill without including a tip and carried on finishing our drinks. He returned with an A4 piece of card. With service not included in several languages just in case I had not understood. I did pay up but the family have taken the piss ever since as I am a bit of a tight bastard

 

[Dave the OAP]

This is a huge debate on the Ocean Cruising fraternity.

we were on an american ship this year around the med...we paid $300 prepaid tips, for our cabin staff waiters and that sort if thing, BUT also we had 15% added to every single thing we bought on board, from Bottled water to alcohol, T shirts, etc.

The daft thing was although in the bars you never actually bought anything from the bar, you were served by bar stewards ( waiters) ...you signed the receipt every time and there was 15% added, if you did go to the bar if it was busy, you still had 15% added to the bill.

Personally we tip around 10% of the bill in restaurants if there is no service change added and we do this by leaving cash, NOT adding it to the credit card bill

 

[Marc]

tippings for yanks, last time I checked I was'nt a yank...so therefore I dont tip!!

 

[beorhthelm]

have to laugh at the logic of those against this, its just the rogue ones that are a problem. well then, surely it wont affect all the properly run places...

pay cash tip, and frankly im less inclinded to pay at all these days when staff are getting £6/hr anyway. get two tables an hour leaving a £4 each, they're earning £14/hr which is nice. I also object to paying a tip on the already massively marked up wine

 

[BigGully]

It shouldn't really cause a loss of jobs, but restaurants will be 'forced' to pay their staff more and I would imagine that many restaurants are in a bit of a precarious position when it comes to making profits. Therefore you can see how some restaurants will be wanting to make cutbacks as their expenditure will increase.

Although I agree with how this will effect restaurants etc.

I do not accept that the burden of this should be fall to the customer.

Firstly I can see a burgeoning amount of established, fairly new and brand spanking new restaurants, especially here in Brighton, either they are all stupid or more likely there is good profit to be made from a busy restaurant.

I think there are too many restuarants with too few customers, charging to high a price for their food whilst being charged to high a rent for their shops.

Something must give, and the likely outcome will be closures.

Tipping has become a culture within the industry and of course they would like it to continue, but as with every business I think they should offer good products, with good service at a competitive price, whilst being soley responsible for there own overheads, including paying a fair wage to THEIR staff.

 

[Garage_Doors]

tippings for yanks, last time I checked I was'nt a yank...so therefore I dont tip!!

Have you never been anywhere into Europe ?
Its quite widespread there.

 

[The Spanish]

f***ing tight *****. I expect everyone on here who gets all principled about a 10% service charge, or goes, 'i only tip on service' is happily fleeced in every other walk of life. its the being a bit drunk on the power of tipping that makes me laugh.

waiters are just doing a job, they are not f***ing prossies. why you expect them to suck you off for a 5 quid tip when you are just some average bod yourself, is beyond me. yes its a shit job but most peoples are.

a tip is just good form, if you dont want to pay a service charge dont go to the restaurant if you have strong feelings about it. surely boycotting the places that do is far more useful than making a cnt of yourself in the restaurant.

i f***ing hate this debate. just pay it, give the waiter a little tip like a proper chap and not some arse, or dont go there.

I bet these same naysayers get mugged every day by other firms and services, and do not crack a note. its all a bit bullyish this debate.

 

[Gully]

Well said Spanish,

It is pretty well known that waiting staff get paid a pittance and very few restaurants would ever pass on money collected as service charge to their staff...if this means that waiters get paid the minimum wage and are allowed to keep all their tips, on which they have to pay tax, then so much the better.

My advice to Covgull would be that waiters have very long memories, if you treat one like a twat or are a very poor tipper they will remember next time you go to their restaurant...my first job after leaving school was as a waiter, despite it being a quarter of a century ago I can remember some of the worst customers at the establisment where I worked...the service you receive next time might not be as attentive as you would otherwise wish.

 

[coventrygull]

My advice to Covgull would be that waiters have very long memories, if you treat one like a twat or are a very poor tipper they will remember next time you go to their restaurant...my first job after leaving school was as a waiter, despite it being a quarter of a century ago I can remember some of the worst customers at the establisment where I worked...the service you receive next time might not be as attentive as you would otherwise wish.

Don't think I will be going back to Buenos Aires for a while Gully