Mandatory "tips" in America

[Ry_B]

I've just returned from Florida with a party of 5 people.

To cut a long story short so we can just debate about the topic rather than my specific example, our bill came to around $120, we left a tip of $8 which was the change left over from the bill and we thought it would be nice to give them some change. On the way out of leaving the restraunt we all said bye to the waiter, he shook his head and didn't speak to a single one of us. We couldn't believe how ungreatful this was!

Surely $8 is a big enough tip? We then went to another restraunt where a similar thing happened, apart from at the bottom of the receipt they tried to scam us into paying 18% of the bill as a tip. Is this normal?

[louiebaby]

I think 10 - 15 % is the normal expectation out there...

[crofty1984]

Next time they bh at you give them a quarter. That's the "This is not an oversight, I've not forgotten about tipping, I'm just intentionally giving you fk all" signal.

[HD Adam]

The convention is to pay between 15 to 20% as a tip. IF, you get good service (which you normally do) and service has not been included in the total.
When we first started going to the US, my wife couldn't get her head around this concept either. I explained that the total is way less than you would pay in the UK so adding a percentage at the end actually makes no difference as you still aren't paying any more than you should.
Very recently, we had the same again with parking at the theme parks. She begrudged the $12/day parking. I said that if an extra $120 had been added inclusive to the price of the 10 day tickets and we had "free" parking, she wouldn't have noticed.
So, don't be tight, pay the tip and don't let it spoil your nice holiday.

[ridds]

Had this in the UK 2 weeks ago.

Went for an Italian with a group of 8 people.

Service was shocking had to ask for everything, order to be taken, drinks, bread (that didn't come with soup or mussels) We were there over 3 hours and had a table behind seat 2 other parties while we were there.

Anyway, service was included in the bill and came to £35 I think, Only gave them £10 as the others weren't happy with leaving nothing.

Got outside and was talking whilst having a ciggy and the cheeky bd waiter came out and said we were £20 short. Bloody cheek. If you give me good service I'll tip you, don't just expect it.

[MrTom]

I think we tipped 15% of the bill( in your case $18). We would round up or down depending on how good service was. Do you really care, it's not like they would remember if you ever went back.

[bazking69]

Just like in this country, I only tip if the service has warranted a tip. I don't tip because it is expected, I tip for good service. I point blank refuse to tip when the service or experience has been anything other than good at worst, regardless of who I may upset.

Another thing that sets my goat is restaurants who automatically try to include service charges or tips in the bill.

[tvrolet]

You're kind of starting out with the wrong mentality here. In the jolly old UK a tip is an additional little goodie for the serving staff - nice to have but in addition to the bill. In the US the tips are effectively part of the wage.

So in the UK if you have cr@p service you still 'pay in full' unless you complain strongly enough and refuse, and in any case the server still gets paid in full. In the US the expectation is 12-15% and you should see that as part of the cost of the meal/service. Only there you have the option to hold back payment if you feel you've been given poor service. US servers who get no tip put it down to ignorant tourists, but leaving a tip od less than 10% sends the message that you know to tip, but feel that the service/product was such you want to withhold part of the wage. When you go in to a US restaurant and see a steak for $20, don't think 'oooh, a steak for £12; read it as $23....that's what you should pay. If you actually want to 'tip' i.e. show real gratitude for great service you have to leave more than 15%.

You might not like it (although I find it works fine, better than in the UK since a small tip shows dissatisfaction), but that's how it works. Look at US restaurant prices the same as UK prices stated ex-VAT - you know you're going to pay 15% more.

[john_p]

America has a different culture to tipping and you need to do 15-20% if you ever want to return to that place again.

Also in bars, you need to tip the barman each round.

Don't like it - don't complain when they spit in your food (you've seen Road Trip)

[AUDIHenry]

$8 for $120 is ludicrous.

15-20% is the norm. $8 is like spitting in his face, frankly.

[LilCat]

The norm in the States is 15-20%.
Also add an extra $1 for every drink beverage you get at a bar.

[cazzer]

Remember that the minimum wage in the UK is something like double the minimum wage in the US.
My wife worked at a waitress in the US for a while, her wage was made up of 40% salary 60% tips.
Thats just how it works over there.

[Jackpot]

I bitterly disagree with the way the tipping system works in America. The Companies and owners must be laughing all the way to the bank.

So the Restaurants/Bars/Hotels pay their staff a minimal wage and then it is expected for the customers to pay the rest of their wage.

I don't get tipped for doing my job and nor do I expect to, I can safetly assume most people on here do not get or expect to be tipped by customers for doing what they are paid to do.

Absolutely disgraceful part of the culture in my view.

[shakotan]

LilCat said:

The norm in the States is 15-20%.
Also add an extra $1 for every drink beverage you get at a bar.

Or, buy the bartender a drink with each round, you'll normally get every 4th drink on him.

The ONLY time you every tip below the 15% minimum is if the waiter literally spits in your food in front of you.

I was at a bar in Vegas with three friends, and when we split the bill three ways I paid my share inc tip. The three other decided they were not going to tip as the waiter had been 'a bit slow', so just made the remaining money up to check value. So not only had I 'tipped', but in actual fact my tip went towards paying for their food and drink, instead of to the waiter. We left and made our way out to the prececint, and moments later the waiter came roaring and spitting like some sort of visagoth out of the restaurant after us.

I was very embarrased, but my 'friends' just laughed at him.

Edited by shakotan on Monday 7th September 09:51

[Don]

It varies from state to state as well. 15% minimum. Usual is 20%.

When in the States I usually leave 20% if the service was good - and it almost invariably is.

Here in the UK its 10%. UNLESS the fkers include a 10% "service charge" on the bill. If they do that then that was their "tip" AFAIC. That 10% tip is supposed to reward the server for service above and beyond the call of duty in the UK. In the US that 20% is their wages.

The US has a fked up system - but it's the system in place and you've got to work with it.

[grumbledoak]

Jackpot said:

I bitterly disagree with the way the tipping system works in America. The Companies and owners must be laughing all the way to the bank.

Quite the opposite. With the American system, provided you understand it, the money goes to the staff who served you well. The Japanese system (no tipping) also works well. At a push, the French 'pour boire' (i.e. 10p tip) system was good, though it's suffering inflation due to tourists who don't understand it.

Hands down the worst system is the common UK one, where the tip is added to your bill and then doesn't go to the waiting staff.

[AUDIHenry]

Jackpot said:

I bitterly disagree with the way the tipping system works in America. The Companies and owners must be laughing all the way to the bank.

So the Restaurants/Bars/Hotels pay their staff a minimal wage and then it is expected for the customers to pay the rest of their wage.

I don't get tipped for doing my job and nor do I expect to, I can safetly assume most people on here do not get or expect to be tipped by customers for doing what they are paid to do.

Absolutely disgraceful part of the culture in my view.

Watch Reservoir Dogs.

[Mattt]

I disagree with paying tips to barstaff if you stand at the bar - waiter service possibly.

[HD Adam]

Jackpot said:

I bitterly disagree with the way the tipping system works in America. The Companies and owners must be laughing all the way to the bank.

So the Restaurants/Bars/Hotels pay their staff a minimal wage and then it is expected for the customers to pay the rest of their wage.

I don't get tipped for doing my job and nor do I expect to, I can safetly assume most people on here do not get or expect to be tipped by customers for doing what they are paid to do.

Absolutely disgraceful part of the culture in my view.

Then you seem to be missing the whole point of how the system works.

It's made so that the waiting staff do a good job. If they don't, they don't get paid whereas when the service is included, they can do anything they want.

Of course, not every job gets tips. Why would you tip a Policeman or a road sweeper for example? Restaurant staff are different

[JMGS4]

Just come back from 2 weeks in USA. I tip 10-15% depending on service.. I always ask the waiter/ress whether they get the tips if included on a CC payment to ensure they actually get it. If they say they don't then I cash tip them and score out the tip column on the CC slip...
NB ALWAYS score it out or the cheeky swine will add somethingg themselves....