Should we tip more in the UK ?

elmarko · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:32

tom_e said:
That's the thinking behind it, if someone knows they're going to get tipped then supposedly they'll work harder for it.

Yes I agree with that aspect but it's no guarantee for good service (which was implied in his post), it's applied retrospectively.

Mynight said:
If you tip a bartender at the beginning of a night they'll come to you first when they next see you useful on a busy night. Not sure how it would work in restaurant though.

For a bartender for repeat custom I agree you are correct, but for a meal out it's in no way related to the experience you get as you also pointed out. It's not like you always get good service in the USA either (in which tipping is mandatory).

bartledvd · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:32

Tipping was something i did not like when on holiday in the US i just do not like the feeling of paying someone to be nice to me like getting an escort with out any of the fun

elmarko · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:36

bartledvd said:
Tipping was something i did not like when on holiday in the US i just do not like the feeling of paying someone to be nice to me like getting an escort with out any of the fun

That's a big part of my objection.

It economises politeness & going out your way for another person. I do this often in my job for both internal & external customers because that's how I believe people should behave. I don't do it for token rewards or extra financial gain, neither do I do it for the benefit of my company.

It cheapens 'niceness'.

Mynight · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:36

elmarko said:
It's not like you always get good service in the USA either (in which tipping is mandatory).

I couldn't agree more. I was shouted at in a restaurant for refusing to tip when they served me flat beer claiming there was nothing wrong with it and refusing to replace it. Then we get the wrong meal and lovingly found a few suspiciously curly hairs in the right meal we got an hour later.

James J · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:40

Shimz said:
I totally agree, all the waiter/waitress did was take and order and deliver the food, don't some places share the tips afterwards though? and is that fair in itself?

The local pub that does (microwaved and basic) food shares tips between the front of house and kitchen staff. I think its a fair system, as they are all integral to the process of you getting what you paid for in that circumstance.

balky12 · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:43

Rightly or wrongly waiters / waitresses are sometimes paid poorly because of the potential tips.

Currently girlfriend was a waiter at Pizza Hut during her university. Her wage was barely above minimum wage, but tips could see her treble or quadruple her take home. Still wasn't outrageous money, but they do make a big difference.

aardvark · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:45

Gilly said:
No.

tom_e · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:46

balky12 said:
Rightly or wrongly waiters / waitresses are sometimes paid poorly because of the potential tips.

Lots of people are on minimum wage and won't have any chance of ever being tipped, they're not paid poorly because of potential tips they're paid poorly (and I don't mean this in any way offensively) because you can literally train anyone to carry food out to people.

Munky1080 · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:47

When I first moved here from Texas, I worked in a kitchen in Bluewater as a chef. One of the waitresses came up to me not long after starting, and said "Bloody American customers - they don't know it's ok to tip here in the UK."

At which point, I said to her, "We do know to tip, and frequently give rather decent tips of 20% of the bill, but your problem, <name redacted> is that you're a **** waitress, and don't deserve tips."

That shut her up...

Rybo89 · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:48

Not watched the video but i would shag someones leg if they gave me £100 for doing my job.

Hmmm, i tip the takeaway delivery guy. Swear he is Superman or something, by time i have put the phone down, he is knocking on my door with my food.

GiraffePencils · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:48

Tips for people who deserve it.
that applies to any taxi driver who picks my drunk ass up in the early hours, they almost always get a tip.

gibbingslfc · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:48

Unless you get exceptional service, I think it's the employers responsibility to pay servers, not the customers.

Dyson · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:50

No, I fail to see a reason to. They're getting paid, same as everyone else.

When was the last time you tipped the cashier at Tesco for doing an amazing job of scanning your shopping? Never, I'd guess, so why would would I tip someone for carrying food?!?

ttaskmaster · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:51

All depends how much things cost to begin with.
I've had crappy steakhouses try and charge me more for their junk than a Michelin-Starred restaurant... with a "service charge" added on afterward!!

I probably tip quite regularly, but then I prefer to frequent places that deserve it!

OhEsEcks · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:51

tom_e said:
Lots of people are on minimum wage and won't have any chance of ever being tipped, they're not paid poorly because of potential tips they're paid poorly (and I don't mean this in any way offensively) because you can literally train anyone to carry food out to people.

When I started working I made minimum wage as a mortar monkey on building sites. Anyone could do the work. And it was a damn sight harder than taking someone out some food. Would anyone think of tipping labourers? **** no.

Shimz · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:51

James J said:
The local pub that does (microwaved and basic) food shares tips between the front of house and kitchen staff. I think its a fair system, as they are all integral to the process of you getting what you paid for in that circumstance.

I guess that makes sense in that situation but in actual restaurants with food made from scratch is it fair?

FoxEye · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:53

D.P. said:
Tipping is the only way to get good service. There is no other incentive to give great service so if you dont tip you get lousy service like you get in the UK.

Shouldn't we apply that to all professions, then?

"Sorry mate, I'm going to leave some of your rubbish on the kurb unless you tip me."

"We're not going to process your wages for another week because you didn't tip the guys in HR."

It strikes me as bizarro that some people feel entitled to not do their jobs properly, if they aren't given bonuses.

Oh wait, the whole banking sector works exactly like that as well

Judgeneo · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:53

Shimz said:
I guess that makes sense in that situation but in actual restaurants with food made from scratch is it fair?

I worked in as a waiter in corporate/VIP hospitality, there any tips I earned were mine to keep.
When I worked in a hotel bistro - under the same management - tips were shared between all staff including the chefs, who made the food from scratch

So I guess it varies wildly.

MikeTheNative · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:54

I think it would be easier if nobody ever tipped, like Japan.

OhEsEcks · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:55

FoxEye said:
Shouldn't we apply that to all professions, then?

Tipping as an incentive for good service is ******** anyway. The Japanese don't tip. They just take pride in their work, regardless of what they're doing. Different culture and work ethic.