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Tipping

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Acolyte
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What do you think about tipping in restaurants? I gather this is something that varies a lot around the world: in some countries, any form of tipping is illegal, but in others (eg the US) if you don't pay 15% tip, the waiter/ress poisons your complimentary mints.

As you may or may not know, when you tip a waiter/ress you're not really giving them money. In most restaurants, the tips are pooled and then shared out among the serving staff. What's worse, in the UK (and probably other countries), tips are used by the employer to pay sub-minimum wage. Of course, if there aren't enough tips to make up a minimum wage he must by law make up the difference out of his profits, but the result is that, by tipping, you're just saving the restaurant owner from having to do this.

FNM

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Originally posted by Acolyte
What do you think about tipping in restaurants? I gather this is something that varies a lot around the world: in some countries, any form of tipping is illegal, but in others (eg the US) if you don't pay 15% tip, the waiter/ress poisons your complimentary mints.

As you may or may not know, when you tip a waiter/ress you're not really giving them money ...[text shortened]... the result is that, by tipping, you're just saving the restaurant owner from having to do this.
What are you talking about?
is this an excuse not to tip waiters? because i can tell you from experience that the tips mean everything.

THis is a good opportunaty to let everyone know that you gotta tip at least 15 percent, maybe even 20 percent. hell, give 'em your whole wallet!

being a waiter is the worst job in the world, sodont make up these excuses! tip tip tip...

FNM

g
Wayward Soul

Your Blackened Sky

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i wash dishes for £3.50 an hour+tips...

tips amount to £1.50 each a day, max...which is pretty much my bus fare 😛

but we're not waitress service-back when we were, you could live off your tips! they averaged over £20 a day!

i didn't used to tip, but now that i work in a restaurant i'll tip everywhere and anywhere! yes, even those superbly overpriced places...

kody magic

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I am quite happy to tip, except when I get poor service. I realise that some of the staff are being exploited by the owners of these establishments, but if I have an unpleasant time, why should I subsidise them? If I have a great time, I am only too glad to share my good feelings!

I hate those places that charge an automatic percentage for service - you may as well increase the food charges accordingly and then let me tip extra if I so desire. The automatic service charge always seems to be at places were I would not leave a tip as the service was so bad - do the staff assume they don't need to bother as the tip is built in?

rwingett
Ming the Merciless

Royal Oak, MI

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Originally posted by Acolyte
What do you think about tipping in restaurants? I gather this is something that varies a lot around the world: in some countries, any form of tipping is illegal, but in others (eg the US) if you don't pay 15% tip, the waiter/ress poisons your complimentary mints.

As you may or may not know, when you tip a waiter/ress you're not really giving them money ...[text shortened]... the result is that, by tipping, you're just saving the restaurant owner from having to do this.
I agree with you on this one. If I was Supreme Emperor of the Galaxy, my first act of office would be to abolish the practice of tipping. Restaurants would be required to raise their prices 15%, with that money going to pay the waitstaff a regular wage. It's absurd that the customers should be expected to be their paymasters.

mwmiller
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Here's a link to some international 'tipping' information.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A640018

I feel that if there is a minimum wage law, it should apply to all employers. I just don't see how they can pay someone less and justify it by claiming that 'tipping' will make up the difference.

In my opinion tipping should not be 'automatic'. It should be something extra freely given to a specific person if the service provided was equal to or better than expected. If the service was less than acceptable, the tip should be reduced accordingly.

just my opinion,
Marc

kody magic

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Originally posted by mwmiller
In my opinion tipping should not be 'automatic'. It should be something extra freely given to a specific person if the service provided was equal to or better than expected. If the service was less than acceptable, the tip should be reduced accordingly.
I do agree with tips being pooled and divied out to all staff. If I get good service, that is the result of a team effort and it is unfair that the waiter/ress get all that - however good the waiting is, if the cook is rubbish I ain't going to tip.

mwmiller
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Originally posted by kody magic
I do agree with tips being pooled and divied out to all staff. If I get good service, that is the result of a team effort and it is unfair that the waiter/ress get all that - however good the waiting is, if the cook is rubbish I ain't going to tip.
I disagree.

If a waiter or waitress is rude or inattentive to a customer, they probably will not be putting a tip into the pool. Why should they be allowed to share or receive a compensation that was given to someone else who is doing a better job.

<added>
I can see where the 'pooled tips' idea would be of benefit to the kitchen staff that the customer would not normally see. Perhaps it would be reasonable for the person tipped by the customer to then share a part of the tips with the kitchen staff. I just don't see any reason for a good waiter or waitress to have to automatically share a tip with a bad one.

kody magic

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Originally posted by mwmiller
I disagree.

If a waiter or waitress is rude or inattentive to a customer, they probably will not be putting a tip into the pool. Why should they be allowed to share or receive a compensation that was given to someone else who is doing a better job.
So if you have a sublime meal, with excellent waiting and superb wine selection plus beautifully clean cutlery, how do you ensure all staff get a cut of your generousity, as they have all contributed to your experience. I am not going to leave little piles for each.

Generally, I have found that when I have a good experience it is a reflection on the staff as a whole (if I go back I usually get another good experience, albeit with different service staff).

FNM

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Originally posted by rwingett
I agree with you on this one. If I was Supreme Emperor of the Galaxy, my first act of office would be to abolish the practice of tipping. Restaurants would be required to raise their prices 15%, with that money going to pay the waitstaff a ...[text shortened]... urd that the customers should be expected to be their paymasters.
You say 'their' as if waiters are some kind of alien.
In fact 'they' are just people that need the money, so they are willing to embarasse them selves byc leaning up after other peoples food just for some cash.
so the leaset all you cheap bastards can do is give 'em some money! 😲

What if tommorow your child will be a waiter? or your brother?
will you still think that do you still think that he shouldnt recieve money for al is hard days work?

FNM 🙂

mwmiller
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Originally posted by kody magic
So if you have a sublime meal, with excellent waiting and superb wine selection plus beautifully clean cutlery, how do you ensure all staff get a cut of your generousity, as they have all contributed to your experience. I am not going to leave little piles for each.

Generally, I have found that when I have a good experience it is a reflection on the s ...[text shortened]... whole (if I go back I usually get another good experience, albeit with different service staff).
In a perfect world, all staff would be equally competent and proficient, and the 'pooled tip' system would be very appropriate. Any staff who are less than competent would be fired.

In my world that is just not the case,

shavixmir
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The whole system sucks the peanuts out of watery poo.

People who work in restuarants should receive a decent normal wage. End of story. They shouldn't have to rely on tips.



mwmiller
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Originally posted by shavixmir
The whole system sucks the peanuts out of watery poo.

People who work in restuarants should receive a decent normal wage. End of story. They shouldn't have to rely on tips.



Well, you do have a 'poetic' way of expressing it, but I agree. 😲

rwingett
Ming the Merciless

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Originally posted by Faith No More
You say 'their' as if waiters are some kind of alien.
In fact 'they' are just people that need the money, so they are willing to embarasse them selves byc leaning up after other peoples food just for some cash.
so the leaset all you cheap bastards can do is give 'em some money! 😲

What if tommorow your child will be a waiter? or your brother? ...[text shortened]... think that do you still think that he shouldnt recieve money for al is hard days work?

FNM 🙂
What are you babbling on about? I'm looking to mandate a decent, regular wage for the waitstaff and not make them dependant on the customers to pay their wage. I repeat: tipping should be abolished and the waitstaff should be paid a regular wage, just like any other employee.

It isn't expected that you should subsidize the wage of your auto mechanic, or your bank teller, or your children's school teacher by tipping them when they do a good job. Why should the customer be expected to pay the wages of waitresses? Pay them a decent wage and abolish tipping, I say.

By the way, when I'm Supreme Emperor of the Galaxy, my second act in office will be to have you thrown into the dungeon.

FNM

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Originally posted by rwingett
I repeat: tipping should be abolished and the waitstaff should be paid a regular wage, just like any other employee.

It isn't expected that you should subsidize the wage of your auto mechanic, or your bank teller, or your children's school teacher by tipping them when they do a good job. Why should the customer be expected to pay the wages of waitresses ...[text shortened]... Emperor of the Galaxy, my second act in office will be to have you thrown into the dungeon.

[/b]
I'll tell you why.

Because people don't give a damn about mechanics,
people don't give a shit about childrens school
the only thing people care about is Food, so people want to have the power over the waiters, so that they can treat them like dirt and still have the power to chose of the poor waiter gets the money!
people are scared that if waiters get the money in advance, they wont be as nice. because lets face it, waitering is a crappy job, so the only way to get someone to smile in a crappy job is to threaten hi that he wont be paid unless he will kiss some ass.

Its a conspiracy I tell ya!!!

(can I now be saved from the dungeon?)

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