Should we tip more in the UK ?

Rich_L said:
Yeah that pesky american system where service is, with very few exceptions, exceptional compared to here. Clearly it's not working :p
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I couldn't give a stuff whether the person who brings me a $7 cheeseburger in Denny's is service provider of the year or the most miserable person I've ever met. I'm there because I'm hungry and they sell food not because it's an epic night out, yet I've still got to tip her 15%, nice :p
 
Sliver said:

After watching this video I felt really good inside. Seeing the looks and reactions on the faces of these minimum wage workers being tipped $100 was awesome.

It got me thinking that here in the UK we largely don't tip and I think that's a bit tight fisted of us. Personally, I always tip my hairdresser. My haircut is £5.50 and I always leave a tip of £1 for her because I know she gets paid peanuts. However, I don't tip anywhere else. Maybe I should ?

So should we tip more to help minimum wage workers ? Do you ever tip here in the UK ?
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How they made that money is a far FAR more interesting youtube video :D
 
Rich_L said:
Yeah that pesky american system where service is, with very few exceptions, exceptional compared to here. Clearly it's not working :p
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in what way is it exceptional?


they take your order, the chef cooks it they bring it to you, you eat it they give you the bill and take your money.


now that is basic service, what is exceptional service?

as aside from something going wrong and them fixing it there's very little service staff can do to add extra.
 
It's the difference between getting laid and a hand-shandy, you can get by with the latter just fine but once you've had the former it's hard to put up with the latter all the time. :p
 
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I didn't get tips in my minimum wage job so why should anybody else.

There's a reason the national minimum wage exists, so consumers don't have to foot the bill for underpaid food servers.
 
Rich_L said:
It's the difference between getting laid and a hand-shandy, you can get by with the latter just fine but once you've had the former it's hard to put up with the latter all the time. :p
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so you tip for a waitress to be a prostitute?:confused:


seriously what makes the service exceptional, and given they;re applying the same service to everyone its unlikley they;re giving you any more attention than the typical service staff.
 
Isn't this pretty much the same as the last thread.

Yes as it improves service, but no as we aren't set up to tip. so it would need changes in the way we do things.

opstrat said:
why should i tip someone for a doing a job?
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Tipping is no different to paying. It's just where the money comes from.
Do you want to pay 100% to the company to spend how they see fit and get poor service, or pay the company 80% and directly pay the service provider the remaining 20%.
I would rather do the latter, however it won't happen as you would have to change how we operate in the uk.
 
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I just got back from a meal with my family and after paying the bill and tipping the cashier my wife pointed out that certain companies do not give their staff the tips, the waitress had been very attentive and was constantly checking that my mids, wife and I had everything we needed so I waited till she was away from the cash desk and then gave her a tip for herself.
A lot of companies now see the tips as theirs because they are providing you the service and the serving staff are only doing what they are paid to do. Unfair IMO.
 
Glaucus said:
Tipping is no different to paying. It's just where the money comes from.
Do you want to pay 100% to the company to spend how they see fit and get poor service, or pay the company 80% and directly pay the service provider the remaining 20%.
I would rather do the latter, however it won't happen as you would have to change how we operate in the uk.
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except you're not paying 80% to the company and 2-% to the service provider

you're paying 100% to the company and a further 20% to the service provider.



Tell me do you tip at mcdonalds?
 
Tefal said:
except you're not paying 80% to the company and 2-% to the service provider

you're paying 100% to the company and a further 20% to the service provider.



Tell me do you tip at mcdonalds?
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what I said.
Did you just miss the part where I said we would have to change the way we do things in the UK. And no as mcdonalds are not providing personal service and nor do I expect them to.
 
Tefal said:
so you tip for a waitress to be a prostitute?:confused:


seriously what makes the service exceptional, and given they;re applying the same service to everyone its unlikley they;re giving you any more attention than the typical service staff.
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This is like explaining colour to a blind man, or civilisation to a Welshman..

Typical English average service would be:

Get seated, wait 5 minutes for someone to show up with menus, wait another 5 minutes for someone to ask for drinks. See someone when food is delivered. Wait for 5-10 minutes with empty glasses of drinks or empty plates until if you're lucky someone might occasionally stop by and see if you need anything then wait 10-15 minutes after finishing to get someone to bring the bill. If you have questions about the menu or dietary requirements you're generally greeted with a blank stare and then as if it's a hassle to check with the chef.

Typical US service:

Get seated and within a minute you have menus, a jug of water and glasses and are greeted with a smile and a request for drinks orders. Drinks come quickly and the person will check-in on food orders, ask if you have any questions or can offer recommendations. Person will keep an eye on the table and if drinks are getting low, or if anything appears to be an issue will come over and see if you need anything without any prompting. Tables are cleared promptly but not too early and the person is attentive, personable and cheerful throughout. Servers also know the menu by heart including what ingredients are in the food and are more than happy to take custom requests, check with the chef etc.

Would be my general experience anyway :p
 
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Rich_L said:
This is like explaining colour to a blind man, or civilisation to a Welshman..

Typical English average service would be:

Get seated, wait 5 minutes for someone to show up with menus, wait another 5 minutes for someone to ask for drinks. See someone when food is delivered. Wait for 5-10 minutes with empty glasses of drinks or empty plates until if you're lucky someone might occasionally stop by and see if you need anything then wait 10 minutes after finishing to get someone to bring the bill.

Typical US service:

Get seated and within a minute you have menus, a jug of water and glasses and are greeted with a smile and a request for drinks orders. Drinks come quickly and the person will check-in on food orders, ask if you have any questions or can offer recommendations. Person will keep an eye on the table and if drinks are getting low, or if anything appears to be an issue will come over and see if you need anything without any prompting. Tables are cleared promptly but not too early and the person is attentive, personable and cheerful throughout.

Would be my general experience anyway :p
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from your English example it seems your just an idiot and haven't heard of signaling to the staff when you require something(although maybe im just odd and i hate the staff coming over and interrupting with "can i get you anything", which does not happen in the upmarket places where they wait for you to signal, only in chain restaurants where its policy). and most staff will be more than happy to give recommendations they simply wait for them to ask you.


this seems much more a cultural waiting to be asked for instead of intruding thing than a tipping thing.

also it seems that Americans either employ far more staff per customer or the waiting staff are run ragged.
 
Upmarket places do not wait for you to signal. That's quality.
They also don't interrupt, if they do. Again that's bad service.

It's much more of what place are you talking about and what level of service you want.
Frankly most of the arguments against tipping is price. But that isn't an argument as you are not paying more in countries like America. It's just the bill is split differently.
 
Glaucus said:
what I said.
Did you just miss the part where I said we would have to change the way we do things in the UK. And no as mcdonalds are not providing personal service and nor do I expect them to.
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they are providing personal service if the coo ktime is long they wil lask you to seat yoursefl and they will bring your food voer for you when its ready.
 
Well unless I bring a whistle or table bell to the next meal it's hard to signal to a waiter who isn't there or barely pays attention.

Upmarket places do not wait for you to signal. That's quality.
They also don't interrupt, if they do. Again that's bad service.
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Exactly - you shouldn't have to signal but nor should you be interrupted.

also it seems that Americans either employ far more staff per customer or the waiting staff are run ragged
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A combination of both, unsurprisingly when a proportion of the servers wages are paid directly from *drum roll* the customer then the establishment can afford to employ more staff *and* they work harder for you.
 
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Rich_L said:
Well unless I bring a whistle or table bell to the next meal it's hard to signal to a waiter who isn't there or barely pays attention.
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i've usually found eye contact and a slight smile or hand raise has always been sufficient.
 
Reading some of these responses I think I am tipping to much... I generally go with 10% and 15% on a Sunday.

I hate it if service charge is auto added. It is presumptuous and rude because if service is substandard I am then forced to justify why I don't want to pay for it. This is very poor customer service.

If service is poor then I don't tip.

I tip more when in America because service is 99% of the time exceptional.
 
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