Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Thoughts on Tipping
- Thread starter stevento
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
you then obviously didn't have enough russian tourists to keep the balance
that said to get back to the discussion i sure don't get the point why some jobs are considered "tip worthy" while others aren't ( taxi vs. bus driver)
guy behind meat counter at local supermarket ? no tip (sure more service than some waiters do)
the guy who brings your mail everyday with a bike ? no tip (sure something else than delivering a pizza once )
your dentist ? no tip (hair grows back, teeth don't and yet coiffeurs are the ones getting the tips)
and about the "customs" thing for tourists ... if waiters around here would spit into coffees everytime somebody ate a Apfelstrudel with vanilla sauce, eats a cake with a spoon, shoveled the food in their mouth with the fork in their right hand only, cut a piece of meat into small pieces before eating, keep the spoon standing in the coffee cup while drinking, ate Wiener Schnitzel with ketchup, chink glasses with alcohol with non alcoholic drinks etc. they sure would have dry mouths and quite a bit of less customers
Anything about the service is irrelevant when the server flat out asks for a tip. That's rude in my opinion.
Again, I reiterate my point that it is not the customer's responsibility to pay the staff. That is the job of the employer, and how are people supposed to know what the servers are being paid anyway?
I'm not sure... I've just always thought of going out to a restaurant as being a sociable activity with friends as opposed to getting something delivered which seems to be more like business to me - and the business world has contracts and fixed prices... it just seems natural that the delivery has cost me a fixed amount (not to mention that I'm not usually the one to sign for the parcel), so that is what I pay.
It just seems to be the way that I see the two activities as the reason why I tip for one and not for the other, and I'm sure many people will disagree with me on it (for example, what about business lunches?).
If I can afford it, yes.
For no-frills services, no.
If I'm in a cafe and I see the staff moving hectically, yes.
If I've been waiting longer than is acceptable, no, but might contradict the previous situation mentioned.
If it's an independent outlet that appears to be struggling next to a Starbucks or whatever, and offers much better service then always.
If it is a chain, no, unless service was exceptional.
It all really depends on when, where, what, who, how and me
For no-frills services, no.
If I'm in a cafe and I see the staff moving hectically, yes.
If I've been waiting longer than is acceptable, no, but might contradict the previous situation mentioned.
If it's an independent outlet that appears to be struggling next to a Starbucks or whatever, and offers much better service then always.
If it is a chain, no, unless service was exceptional.
It all really depends on when, where, what, who, how and me
For food servers, I start out at 20% and go either up or down from there. I'll tip a van driver or doorman a buck per bag. Some exceptions to the 20% rule - I'll tip at least a buck per drink. So if the drink's cheap or I'm getting tons of refills, it'll end up being quite a bit higher than 20%.
My tax accountant isn't getting paid less than minimum wage - I feel no need to tip him. Every so often I'll get tipped too. I don't refuse it, but it's very, very unnecessary.
I'm glad somebody brought this up
The concept of tipping is something which has always intrigued me.
Here in Ireland when I was growing up the custom of tipping was that if you received good service in a restaurant, then you left something for the server. Personally, I agree with this concept.
To be quite honest I find the custom of tipping as it is in the States nauseating. Why does everyone think they automatically deserve a tip?
A person is paid the wage of their job for doing that job. If they do an excellent job then a customer is entitled to reward them(and may I add should) but the server should not expect this. Whatever happened to this crazy notion that a person provides a good service because it makes their job fulfilling???
When I was working 100 hour weeks or 54 hour straight shift weekends without sleep, the reason I endlessly tried to look after my patients to the best of my ability was not so they would slip me twenty euro note. It was so that when I went home, I had that sense of fulfillment that money can't buy where you know you've done a good job.
Please don't misunderstand me. I am not a miser or mean with my money. If someone provides excellent service then I think they should be rewarded and I tip generously. In many ways, I think this is very closely linked with the origins of tipping.
People often hear of the clichéd American dream where a person can go to America and the hard working reap the benefits.
What I think happened however is that somewhere along the way, this concept became warped.
As tipping became more common place I have no doubt that this assumption crept in that everyone should be tipped regardless of the quality of service. The result is that now everyone thinks they deserve a tip of 15-20% for doing their job, regardless of the quality of service. Of course, if they do an excellent job then they get more!!
Why should I have to tip someone automatically for a service that is average? Whatever happened to rewarding the best man for the job?
I have been to the States a number of times and initially I used to tip out of social fear. Now however I look at everything on an individual basis. If restaurant service is good then they get 15-20%. If the service is poor then I do not tip and I have no hesitation about it.
The concept of tipping is something which has always intrigued me.
Here in Ireland when I was growing up the custom of tipping was that if you received good service in a restaurant, then you left something for the server. Personally, I agree with this concept.
To be quite honest I find the custom of tipping as it is in the States nauseating. Why does everyone think they automatically deserve a tip?
A person is paid the wage of their job for doing that job. If they do an excellent job then a customer is entitled to reward them(and may I add should) but the server should not expect this. Whatever happened to this crazy notion that a person provides a good service because it makes their job fulfilling???
When I was working 100 hour weeks or 54 hour straight shift weekends without sleep, the reason I endlessly tried to look after my patients to the best of my ability was not so they would slip me twenty euro note. It was so that when I went home, I had that sense of fulfillment that money can't buy where you know you've done a good job.
Please don't misunderstand me. I am not a miser or mean with my money. If someone provides excellent service then I think they should be rewarded and I tip generously. In many ways, I think this is very closely linked with the origins of tipping.
People often hear of the clichéd American dream where a person can go to America and the hard working reap the benefits.
What I think happened however is that somewhere along the way, this concept became warped.
As tipping became more common place I have no doubt that this assumption crept in that everyone should be tipped regardless of the quality of service. The result is that now everyone thinks they deserve a tip of 15-20% for doing their job, regardless of the quality of service. Of course, if they do an excellent job then they get more!!
Why should I have to tip someone automatically for a service that is average? Whatever happened to rewarding the best man for the job?
I have been to the States a number of times and initially I used to tip out of social fear. Now however I look at everything on an individual basis. If restaurant service is good then they get 15-20%. If the service is poor then I do not tip and I have no hesitation about it.
Now you know. Servers are not even paid enough to cover the taxes they have to pay. And they pay taxes based on how much they sell, not how much they actually make.
Again to reiterate my point, if you don't like it, the time to make that known is not when you stiff a server. You hurt only them.
Everything boils down to how we all see' things in our own different ways, each to their own, which colours the world.
I agree with this but what else can customers do exactly...? maybe it's up to the waiting staff etc to put the pressure on the employers..
Yes- so please respect the customs of foreign countries you visit.
The employers will merely fire the employees and find new ones. It's pretty easy to do these days.
I can't believe some of what I'm reading in this thread.
My guess is that the majority of you tipping dissenters have never worked in restaurant business and don't know half of what garbage waiters/waitresses have to put up with.
Now if you are from a different country with different customs (like the UK), then just keep in mind that American waiters and waitresses don't make very much absent their tips. For the most part, it doesn't even cover their taxes and Social Security deductions. They need the tips in order to pay the rent, so don't try to make your "moral" point by harming an innocent person.
We would think you're cheap and probably shouldn't visit that particular restaurant again.
My guess is that the majority of you tipping dissenters have never worked in restaurant business and don't know half of what garbage waiters/waitresses have to put up with.
Now if you are from a different country with different customs (like the UK), then just keep in mind that American waiters and waitresses don't make very much absent their tips. For the most part, it doesn't even cover their taxes and Social Security deductions. They need the tips in order to pay the rent, so don't try to make your "moral" point by harming an innocent person.
We would think you're cheap and probably shouldn't visit that particular restaurant again.
So something else has to be done thenYes- so please respect the customs of foreign countries you visit.
The employers will merely fire the employees and find new ones. It's pretty easy to do these days.
Btw, I already said I respect the customs of country's that I visit and others should too, earlier on in the thread,...no tip for you for not paying attention
I was talking about how the subject of tipping affects how people feel about giving to waiters/waitresses over say a delivery guy etc etc
I'm sort of on your side here BUT I wouldn't tip for poor service, from anyone.I always tip for above and beyond, no matter what the service is,<<* I've said this earlier in the thread too
The law allows that to happen. Minimum wage for those employed as waiters and waitresses is legally lower than other workers because the government expects them to earn a tip.
Some states (like California) have a flat minimum wage that helps waiters and waitresses, but living in California is also more expensive than the rest of the nation, so it's really a wash.
If you feel that way, don't dine out in an American restaurant. It's a cost of going out, like paying for parking or subway fare; if it bugs you, you don't have to participate.
Man I am in so many different minds about this.... Should I? Shouldn't I?
If cafe/resturant workers put up with crap, why are they working their in the first place? But then it may be the only job they could get, and without them working there anyway that joint wouldn't exist. I hate this thread its confused me lol, but has taught me aswell to be less stingy
If cafe/resturant workers put up with crap, why are they working their in the first place? But then it may be the only job they could get, and without them working there anyway that joint wouldn't exist. I hate this thread its confused me lol, but has taught me aswell to be less stingy
So something else has to be done then
Btw, I already said I respect the customs of country's that I visit and others should too, earlier on in the thread,...no tip for you for not paying attention
I was talking about how the subject of tipping affects how people feel about giving to waiters/waitresses over say a delivery guy etc etc
I'm sort of on your side here BUT I wouldn't tip for poor service, from anyone.I always tip for above and beyond, no matter what the service is,<<* I've said this earlier in the thread too
Of course. If service is bad, then no- no tip. It's rarely bad though. I go out to eat a lot, and it's rare that I run into poor service.
Exactly- The waiters of the US will be glad.
I hate this thread its confused me lol, but has taught me aswell to be less stingy
Work for 6 months as a waiter, and you'll never tip poorly again.
You know what I've noticed? The people who are perpetually disappointed by the service they receive are also the ones who tip the worst. Coincidence?
It's terrible,...no, it downwright stinks that waiters/waitresses are forced to accept a lower minimum wage than the rest of the workforce, it shouldn't be allowed IMHO, thank goodness the rest of the world doesn't do this.
I wont be eating out in the US anytime soon [that I know of] so I'm off the hook so to speak, but if I do and the service is poor , I wont be tipping. god service yeah ok , it's the custom , no bother, poor service gets nada, zilch, nothing from moi.
The more I read about America the less I'm inclined to believe that it is the most advanced/forward/<insert positive word here> nation in the world.
Even if the staff are being paid what they should and that is not enough, they don't have to be working in that industry.
Most importantly though, I don't believe that the finances of those working in a restaurant are the concern of the diner. You pay for the food (which from my experience in New York is pretty marked up anyway) and if you like the service you give a tip. A tip is an extra, a bonus, something that you give to someone as a gift.
When someone starts expecting a gift, that is when I feel less comfortable giving them it. On the bill in TGI Friday's there was a list which basically had 3 faces. A smile, a straight no expression face and a frown. Beside each one there was a specific amount listed of how much they expected.
Now here it's pretty common for a waiter or waitress to write a little message saying "Thank you, Jill" or whatever and I don't really mind that. But when they are listing how much money they want you to give them I just find that repulsive.
Just don't use it as an excuse.
For YOU it is. In Britain it is. Here, it's different. It's expected. Whether you like it or not is irrelevant when you visit. Either cook in your hotel room or respect how things are done here, while you're here. Otherwise, don't be surprised if people get irritated with you.