Tips at restaurants

[Tefal]

It's not about the money though is it? It's about giving someone who works silly hours at minimum wage with no pension or perks something to brighten up their day in the hope that they provide a better service to the next people they serve.

I worked as a waiter for a couple of months whilst waiting for my qualifications to be converted and it was the most miserable, depressing, degrading job I've ever had to do. Sucking up to people all day long is horrendous but now and then a tip from a customer showing their appreciation would cheer me up a bit, and that's why I tip.

I can't think of a single person who chooses to be a waiter / barman / cab driver / whatever. They're there because it's often all they can do / get.

So do you tip the staff at tesco, or primark or any other minimum wage retail outlet where tey have to suck up to people all day and do the most miserable depressing and degrading job ever?


or how about mcdonalds that's surely gotta be worse than restaurant work?

 

[syke]

Depends where I am. If at a nice restaurant and service/food was good, I'll usually tip. If at just a smaller normal food join getting some food before watching the football etc and it say came to £26-28 - I'd just leave a £30 and go for example.

 

[Judgeneo]

I'm actually not a fan of tipping, I can appreciate good service but when a waiter/waitress is sickly nice to you in the hope of being tipped actually adds a lot of pressure. They are in a job, being paid to do what they do - It's almost as though you are paying to keep them to have a nice attitude. I understand tipping, and of course receiving a tip gives a nice moral boost.

I worked 3 years in a restaurant, so I have been in the situation.

+1

 

[Glaucus]

I'm actually not a fan of tipping, I can appreciate good service but when a waiter/waitress is sickly nice to you in the hope of being tipped actually adds a lot of pressure. .

If you feel like that, they are not doing a good job.

 

[Tummy]

Me and my group would wave good bye and find a bar with good service where the staff don't expect a tip every drink.

Awesome.

really I'm out and drinking like 10 drinks a night I'm supposed to give the barman a tip every drink? I'll give him a tip get a bloody education and a proper job you parasite

Working for minimum wage = parasite. The majority of bar staff I know (me included) are students, the bar I work on has a better education than you do.

What do you do for work?

Not to mention the staggering ignorance about stereotyping and generalising that people which work in minimum wage jobs do not have an education, nor is it a 'proper' job.

It's not enough we also had to pay to get the in club/bar is it? jesus christ you want some money if I take a crap too ? should I tip the guy giving out sprays in the toilet? maybe set up a trust fund for him

Again. Awesome.

I do not think you drink / go to the same places I do.

then you get all the women thinking men should buy them a drink so they can go "oh my friends over there bye" lol man some people must be proper mugs spending the amount of money on bribes as they do their own drinks

I think this is more about your attitude to women.

 

[Sharlaw]

I don't mind tipping if I feel I received exceptional service, or that the person has gone above and beyond what I'd usually expect.
I do take issue with people just expecting tips as a matter of course.

 

[valkia]

If you feel like that, they are not doing a good job.

Lets say, even if they are being normally pleasant and helpful - it's still only in my mind they are doing it for the tips. I have tipped before, just so I'm not remembered as the guy who doesn't tip when I go back to the restaurant. This doesn't actually help for my anxiety disorder. I will however tip someone for exceptional service as per Sharlaw.

 

[arknor]

Working for minimum wage = parasite. The majority of bar staff I know (me included) are students, the bar I work on has a better education than you do.

No working a low paid job and being under the impression that people "Should tip" it should be optional if you get a tip you should be grateful.

only person I tip is my barber, he charges £6 but I always give him £10

every time he acts surprised like he wasn't expect a tip and asks me if I'm sure etc.
but people who clearly expect GTFO!

do I get a better haircut because I tip? no since I usually go when it's dead anyway and he has always took his time with the tidying up at the end even on the first day I went in.

have some pride in your work, provide a good service and if you receive a tip as your reward then well done to you.
but if your going out of your way to not serve people because they might not tip you deserve nothing but the sack, your not self employed moonlighting your there to do a job and serve customers as fast as you can in the order they came to the bar.

but the bars 5 deep so it's okay LOL some people are just rude as hell

TBH I'd be more likely to tip when it's not busy and the staff pay you some attention.

was in mcdonalds at 3:30am the other night staff are like zombies.

they don't even say "hello" just stand their looking like they are ready to take an order as you move to the counter.
You place and order and they disappear pretending to be busy so they don't have to talk to you even though there's like 5-6 employees and maybe 1-2 people ordering food

Now if they said "hello" and then after taking your order asked how your night was etc, wished you a safe journey home then maybe I would say keep the change which is about £2 from a tenner cos I'm greedy and get multiple big macs

 

[Judgeneo]

If you feel like that, they are not doing a good job.

To me good service is not being seen, coming fairly promptly to the table when called, and not talking to me, frankly introducing themselves before the meal makes me cringe.

I go to a restaurant to eat, drink, and talk with whoever I'm with. I don't want American style service. I really don't want to pay extra for it by tipping, and I was a waiter/barman for 3 years too.

 

[cactusweasel]

I tip if the server has done a really good job, if the server just handed out the food/drinks and didnt engage or smile or want to make you feel welcome then I don't tip, if they go above and beyond just 'serving' then I do.

The food quality doesn't come into my tipping opinion.

 

[mattyg]

I gave the guy doing my MOT £20 because I turned up late and he squeezed it in (also let me off a duff bulb. Definitly worked before I left).

When I was working in clubs I used to serve the people that tipped first . I'm great with faces but crap with names.

So do you tip the staff at tesco, or primark or any other minimum wage retail outlet where tey have to suck up to people all day and do the most miserable depressing and degrading job ever?


or how about mcdonalds that's surely gotta be worse than restaurant work?

Tesco. Minimum wage???? with all their perks. Paid sickness. Pensions, share schemes etc etc.

 

[cactusweasel]

Tesco. Minimum wage???? with all their perks. Paid sickness. Pensions, share schemes etc etc.

Tesco is a supermarket, its about getting what you need.
A resturant is about having an enjoyable experience.
Cannot compare the two.

Some people consider their restuarant habits a hobby, and rightly so. Would you consider your weekly shop at Tesco a hobby? I think not!

 

[Glaucus]

To me good service is not being seen, coming fairly promptly to the table when called, and not talking to me, frankly introducing themselves before the meal makes me cringe.

I go to a restaurant to eat, drink, and talk with whoever I'm with. I don't want American style service. I really don't want to pay extra for it by tipping, and I was a waiter/barman for 3 years too.

Very good servicing shouldn't even need to call them, they should know when they are needed and when they aren't. Although I would only expect that at high end restaurants.
I modify tipping to what I expect, so at a lower end place it should be easier to get a tip, as my expectation is lower and thus easier for them to up their game. And despite higher end places having to do more, they usually do.

However this is rarely done. Service in this country is a shambles.

 

[MooMoo444]

If the food is absolutely excellent, and the service is always there when you need them, then sure, a tip is completely fine.

It being expected though is bang out of order.

 

[Tummy]

No working a low paid job and being under the impression that people "Should tip" it should be optional if you get a tip you should be grateful.

only person I tip is my barber, he charges £6 but I always give him £10

every time he acts surprised like he wasn't expect a tip and asks me if I'm sure etc.
but people who clearly expect GTFO!

do I get a better haircut because I tip? no since I usually go when it's dead anyway and he has always took his time with the tidying up at the end even on the first day I went in.

have some pride in your work, provide a good service and if you receive a tip as your reward then well done to you.
but if your going out of your way to not serve people because they might not tip you deserve nothing but the sack, your not self employed moonlighting your there to do a job and serve customers as fast as you can in the order they came to the bar.

but the bars 5 deep so it's okay LOL some people are just rude as hell

TBH I'd be more likely to tip when it's not busy and the staff pay you some attention.

was in mcdonalds at 3:30am the other night staff are like zombies.

they don't even say "hello" just stand their looking like they are ready to take an order as you move to the counter.
You place and order and they disappear pretending to be busy so they don't have to talk to you even though there's like 5-6 employees and maybe 1-2 people ordering food

Now if they said "hello" and then after taking your order asked how your night was etc, wished you a safe journey home then maybe I would say keep the change.

What work do you do arknor?

Why does working minimum wage (as in, working for the minimum amount a company can pay you) make someone a parasite?

Do you have any ability for cognitive empathy?

 

[mattyg]

Tesco is a supermarket, its about getting what you need.
A resturant is about having an enjoyable experience.
Cannot compare the two.

Some people consider their restuarant habits a hobby, and rightly so. Would you consider your weekly shop at Tesco a hobby? I think not!

Easy..... I'm Pro tipping..

 

[mattyg]

A lot of people in this thread seem to live in Ivory towers

 

[MOOGLEYS]

Nobody ever tipped me for doing a good job when people's lives depended on me.

It could be that I'm just old and tight as well as bitter though......

 

[arknor]

What work do you do arknor?

Why does working minimum wage (as in, working for the minimum amount a company can pay you) make someone a parasite?

Do you have any ability for cognitive empathy?

I never said working minimum wage makes you a parasite I said expecting tips does.

I'm a lab tech not minimum wage but not great either considering I'm 34 but I've never had any ambition or drive to better my self so surprised I didn't even up working in a factory like my dad

 

[Tummy]

I never said working minimum wage makes you a parasite I said expecting tips does.

I'm a lab tech

What degree do you have?

I ask because there are PhD's working on the bar with me, undergraduates, postgraduates, masters students...

Not all bar staff are uneducated, nor are they parasites.

I've worked part time in hospitality while I have studied or travelled, I have never encountered people whom 'expect' a tip, a tip is motivation for staff to do 'more' for the customer.

Working long hours, with no breaks (despite having pay deducted for breaks), ungrateful managers in a intensely high pressure situation is difficult. Tips are a nice reward for customers acknowledging the work you do.