Suggested gratuity

[popeyewhite]

goldar said:

You ps off. With an attitude like that it's no wonder they feel entitled to a tip. Nobody deserves a tip for doing their job. You keep topping up their wages and they're going to believe it's normal behaviour. Then you end up with a stty system like in the US where tipping 20% minimum to everyone is expected.

Rather blunt but entirely true.

Anyway I was in Prime Cut (gold painted steak type place and quite expensive) on Saturday and a 'gratuity' was already added to the bill when it dropped on my plate. Service was OK, food was good, live music was absolutely dreadful (female club style singer trying too hard) and nearly ruined the night. Bill came to £70 - 1 beer, 1 lemonade, shared nachos to start and x2 burgers. Should I tip (I didn't of course) because I could afford it, despite the meal nearly being ruined by the 'entertainment'?

[Lucky_Jim]

Same gratuity options when buying coffee.

We’re all American now

[JackJarvis]

What really baffles me are the people who leave a tip / pay the service charge when the service has been terrible. WHY?!

The other thing which baffles me is why do we tip some service staff and not others? If someone spends a few seconds pouring me a pint I'm asked if I want to leave a tip, but nobody tips checkout staff in the supermarket - WHY?!

Bin it all.

[Cotty]

Lucky_Jim said:

Same gratuity options when buying coffee.

We’re all American now

I thought the rule was if you have to walk up to a bar or counter you don't tip i.e no one tips at McDonalds or a pub if you are effectivly your own server.

[goldar]

You're mistaken. There is no rule. You've been misled to believe you need to offer them something in return for giving you service. It's in fact the proprietor who pays their staff for serving it's patrons. Them adding on a service charge is an utter scam, and they do it because they know most people won't question it in fear of looking tight. There's nothing wrong with being tight. In fact, you look a fool when you hand over money for nothing.

[snuffy]

goldar said:

Them adding on a service charge is an utter scam, and they do it because they know most people won't question it in fear of looking tight. There's nothing wrong with being tight. In fact, you look a fool when you hand over money for nothing.

Adding on a service charge is not a scam.

I don't agree with adding on a service charge; but a scam it is not.

[Rick101]

Cotty said:

I thought the rule was if you have to walk up to a bar or counter you don't tip i.e no one tips at McDonalds or a pub if you are effectivly your own server.

What if you use the McD's table service? What if you eat in a pub and are served food, what if they bring drinks to the table?


The whole idea of the standard being paying an undisclosed extra cash amount for service is frankly moronic.
There are so many imbalances on the whole thing. Do those that pay electronically give an extra 20 or 40% to offset the losses declared in additional taxable earnings? It's a complete nonsense.

On the opposite side, I'll quite happily pay whatever is on the bill. Service, food, charge me for the new lightbulbs if you want.
Itemise it or bundle it in, doesn't really matter. If the bottom line is reasonable and matches what has been provided, I've no issue.

[bmwmike]

I've heard some places are adding a service charge to cover for breakages and cleaning dishes etc, so it's not tips but more an operational charge for running their busines. It may be BS but if it's true the only people who will lose out are the staff as I'm not leaving a tip if I'm getting hit with a service charge.

P.s. on our first trip to Canada we had an awful meal with terrible service so left without leaving a tip. The waitress came out after us shouting and generally rather annoying. Turns out it's a bit like the US in that regard. I hope it doesn't become the norm here.

[Rick101]

I find it quite bizarre in the abomination of a country that is the US, business owners aren't fully responsible for paying their own staff.

Could almost argue for a self employed model where you do get a separate service charge.

[popeyewhite]

snuffy said:

goldar said:

Them adding on a service charge is an utter scam, and they do it because they know most people won't question it in fear of looking tight. There's nothing wrong with being tight. In fact, you look a fool when you hand over money for nothing.

Adding on a service charge is not a scam.

I don't agree with adding on a service charge; but a scam it is not.

It's certainly deceptive to some in the effect they feel obliged to pay.

[Cotty]

Rick101 said:

Cotty said:

I thought the rule was if you have to walk up to a bar or counter you don't tip i.e no one tips at McDonalds or a pub if you are effectivly your own server.

What if you use the McD's table service? What if you eat in a pub and are served food, what if they bring drinks to the table?

I didn't know McD's had table service. Last one I went to didn't even have tables. In my local pub you order at the bar and carry your own drinks to the table, I usually tip myself a couple of quid.

[Rick101]

I guess not everyone uses McDonalds that often but still amazes me how many people have little awareness of modern life.

Every time I see a 'Since when?' thread I do admit to just thinking of a archetypal person.

[theplayingmantis]

popeyewhite said:

Rather blunt but entirely true.

Anyway I was in Prime Cut (gold painted steak type place and quite expensive) on Saturday and a 'gratuity' was already added to the bill when it dropped on my plate. Service was OK, food was good, live music was absolutely dreadful (female club style singer trying too hard) and nearly ruined the night. Bill came to £70 - 1 beer, 1 lemonade, shared nachos to start and x2 burgers. Should I tip (I didn't of course) because I could afford it, despite the meal nearly being ruined by the 'entertainment'?

Googled that out of curiosity but assuming i have the right place, 15 quid for a sit down burger isn't expensive, think you would pay the same in a Whitbread chain (assuming they haven't divested from restaurants!).

how are the steaks?

tip/gratuity shouldn't just be for the waiters, the kitchen should get it too and irrespective of ok service if the food is good a tip should be in order IMO. the singing is by the by, your not tipping the singer and could have complained if it was that bad!

[popeyewhite]

theplayingmantis said:

Googled that out of curiosity but assuming i have the right place, 15 quid for a sit down burger isn't expensive, think you would pay the same in a Whitbread chain (assuming they haven't divested from restaurants!).

The burger was very good as well. Extra for the chips, extra for onion rings etc. Just to add I'm not debating whether the meal itself was reasonable value.

theplayingmantis said:

how are the steaks?

Very good. Extra for chips, sauce, veg etc etc. Last time it was £120 for 1 burger and 1 fillet steak/all accompaniments. Soon adds up.

theplayingmantis said:

tip/gratuity shouldn't just be for the waiters, the kitchen should get it too and irrespective of ok service if the food is good a tip should be in order IMO. the singing is by the by, your not tipping the singer and could have complained if it was that bad!

I disagree. Now it may not be the chef's fault personally, but the eating experience was ruined by the 'entertainment'. So, no tip. Food might be the best I've ever had, but if the wine is off should I still tip? What about if the aircon's on too high and I'm frozen whilst I eat? No tip. I pay for the experience of eating food in a particular establishment and couldn't really give a monkey's whether the chef gets something or the waiter or the bar staff. I pay the bill and that's the advertised cost of my meal.

[Rick101]

popeyewhite said:

I disagree. Now it may not be the chef's fault personally, but the eating experience was ruined by the 'entertainment'. So, no tip. Food might be the best I've ever had, but if the wine is off should I still tip? What about if the aircon's on too high and I'm frozen whilst I eat? No tip. I pay for the experience of eating food in a particular establishment and couldn't really give a monkey's whether the chef gets something or the waiter or the bar staff. I pay the bill and that's the advertised cost of my meal.

Just so we're clear, are you arguing for or against tipping?
Your post seems completely at odds with itself.

[popeyewhite]

Rick101 said:

popeyewhite said:

I disagree. Now it may not be the chef's fault personally, but the eating experience was ruined by the 'entertainment'. So, no tip. Food might be the best I've ever had, but if the wine is off should I still tip? What about if the aircon's on too high and I'm frozen whilst I eat? No tip. I pay for the experience of eating food in a particular establishment and couldn't really give a monkey's whether the chef gets something or the waiter or the bar staff. I pay the bill and that's the advertised cost of my meal.

Just so we're clear, are you arguing for or against tipping?
Your post seems completely at odds with itself.

Why?
You could look at my previous posts for context.
Anyway I'm against the practice of 'gratuities' added to the bill by management. I do actually tip - when I feel staff/chef etc has made an effort beyond the norm.

[Cotty]

brickwall said:

I absolutely hate the tipping culture in America. The intricacies and complexities of how much and when, and the feeling I’m being pillaged for cash at every turn.

In the UK I go with
- Service charge on bills 10-12.5% fine. No tip on top. Only ask for it to be removed if the service has been truly awful. I saw 15% service charge the other day and was a bit miffed, but I’ll admit I didn’t ask for it to be taken off.

It annoys be that it is a percentage of the bill. Six of us went for a curry that came to £216.20 on top of that they added a "discretionary gratuity 12.5%" adding £27.02 to the bill. Why does the value of the food and drink have any baring on the service charge.

They are trying to mislead you about the cost of the food, they could add 12.5% to each item on the menu, but they want to sneek it onto the bill and hope you don't notice or make a fuss.

[bad company]

This company ask for tips for their staff when you’re online shopping with them. Obviously I didn’t.

https://lionlegion.co.uk/products/just-use-oil-uni...

[DOCG]

Gratuities and service charges are basically used as a way to list artificially low prices on the menu.

[RayDonovan]

It's certainly getting more common in the UK. No issues when the service is good, but more than happy to get it removed when the service is toss.

Why should we reward poor service?