Human troughs

[Quindiana Jones]

Why should you tip?

Haha, it's clear that we've grown up in very different places. Does everyone you know sit on a high horse? I totally agree with the whole "if you can afford the restaurant, you can afford the tip" thing though. That's why I think it's rude. But it's even more rude to tell people what to do with their own money, and to judge them when they don't do the same as you. It's worse than those annoying charity morons, who tell you you're murdering African children because you don't give £1 a month to charity.

[Jojee]

Choosing to go eat at a restaurant, knowing that you will be receiving service from your waiter, and then not tipping is in no way parallel to not donating money to a charity.

I'm guessing you don't have close friends in the food service industry, and if you do, I'm surprised if they don't give you crap for your perspective on tipping.

[Quindiana Jones]

That's not what I said. I said your attitude towards people who choose not to tip is similar to people who bitch and moan at you for not donating to charity.

My perspective on tipping? You mean how I think it's rude not to tip? Man, I'm a total dick. And that's not even considering my view that people should be allowed to do what they want with their own things!

I don't have a problem with people who don't tip because they're usually just cheap. I do have a problem with people who turn their nose up at others just because they live a different life. I think we can all agree that tipping waiters and waitresses is one of those social norms which is completely fair and reasonable, but it's ridiculous to bitch at someone just because they choose not to follow it.

[LunarWeaver]

Maybe you guys should just go for an agree to disagree kind of deal with this one.

[Quindiana Jones]

It's funny, because we basically agree on the actual point that the argument started over. xD

I also don't get why I kept throwing idioms around that were only used in a kind of correct manner.

[Jojee]

I'm not going to get into whether people who bitch at you for not donating to charity are justified, but I believe my attitude toward people who choose not to tip is completely justified.

I fail to see how it's ridiculous to look down upon people who are, as you agree, rude. Yes, it's their prerogative to do what they want with their money, and it's my prerogative to judge them, just as I will judge people who are otherwise rude, jerks, backstabbers, cheaters, and the list goes on.

[Quindiana Jones]

It's difficult for me to argue with that when I'm judging you for being rude. xD

[Iceglow]

Ok, Quin look at it this way, in Pizza Hut in the uk you earn as front of house waiting staff minimum wage. It's not nearly enough per hour to keep people going, we rely on the tips we get. Sometimes sure 10% isn't a whole lot, the average pizza is no more than 15 pounds (still on polish laptop, no pound sign) the drinks no more than 2 each person unless we go for smoothies or alcohol. Thats 1.70 - 2.00 for tips not much at 10% is it? Factor in 5 tables leaving say around 2 pounds each, thats 10 pounds. 5 tables could be as little as 30 minutes work depending on the customer's speed of eating. that means a waiter technically has the potential to earn 20 an hour in tips from a 5 table section, thats 20 pounds which isn't taxed or shared out thats straight in to the waiter/waitress's back pocket and kept. If no one left a tip thats 1 hours work and it's hard work as well and not pleasant people are basically pigs in general half chewed food, icecream bowls left full of melting icecream and candy sweets, drinks with crushed chilli put in them for no other reason but to be stupid, napkins shoved in drinks which still have pepsi or whatever in them, food, napkins, cutlery on the floor... it's not exactly what I'd call fun for 5.70 an hour. I've never seen every table on a section leave a tip so no worries we're secretly not working 4 hours and going home with around 100 pounds untaxed. More like we'll work 4 hours and go home with 25 pounds and thats when you're VERY good at the job. A good friday/saturday/sunday night closing shift will generally see a waiting staff member take 30 - 50 pounds in tips for 6 - 8 hours work.

So what about adding in service charge, well it's a mighty fine idea sure. 10% on every bill is paid to the staff. However that 10% is split not only with the waiting staff who made you smile, laugh and kept you doing so for the duration of your stay in the restaurant but also the kitchen guy who prepped the food (ok some say thats a good idea, give the chef a tip, however he's likely on more per hour for being BoH staff than the waiter), the manager who is doing nothing but sitting in the office telling people to leave them alone their busy even when in reality they're watching youtube clips and every other waiter in the place, some of whom may have caused you offense. Plus the service charge is not optional, if you don't leave the service charge the management takes it out of the waiting staff's wages. Yeah ouch lets say it's a 100 pound bill thats 10 pounds gone if there are 20 staff for the entire restaurant (and in reality it's likely more) they're going to be lucky to see even 50p of that back.

I am wholly of the opinion that if the service is crap do not leave a tip, in fact if the service is THAT bad speak to a manager. However when some poor waiter/waitress has busted their balls/boobs often picking up burns from super hot plates/pans and generally done an excellent service then yes tipping should be if not enforced then at least the social norm (which thankfully it is) I can understand not tipping in say KFC or Mc Donalds where pay is a lot higher than minimum but a lot of people don't see why they should tip in Pizza Hut but should in Pizza Express (because Pizza Express or Bella Italia is somehow a proper restaurant?) DK said last night that he feels PH is a fast food outlet, but I don't call 20 - 40 mins for food fast food thats full service restaurant times which is where I happen to work.

As for doing what you like with your money? Sure but remember, waiting staff are humans too they're not doing their job for love of it but for the money made. They also have memories like the rest of the human race does and can remember what people look/sound like and how they speak to the staff and I can tell you from experience of being a waiter, if you are a ty customer or you don't tip and leave a huge mess in the restaurant pray you don't get staff who were working that time when you next go in they will generally remember you and well just think, we prepare your food out of sight of customers and it's very easy for stuff to happen to it. Same goes, if you are a good customer and leave a nice tip maybe not a huge tip but a decent one say 3 pounds minimum is a decent enough tip for the average bill you will be remembered and people will honestly do their best to have you on their sections again and to serve you because you're easy and leave good tips your service will be even better and if there is anything wrong with the food prior to serving the waiting staff will fix it even if it means they must go downstairs and do something like put it in the oven for a few more minutes themselves.

It pays to tip people remember this.

[Breine]

Okay, I'll go into this tipping thing: It totally depends on where you're from!

I know people from the US tip a lot, and that's fine. No problem there. But in Denmark we just don't tip that much. The only times we tip is when we feel like we've had a really good service, and if that's not the case, we just don't tip. And it's totally fine not to. Nobody's gonna be like "Ugh, that cheap jerk" or whatever, 'cause it's just as normal not to tip as it is to actually do it.

Sure, it can be argued it depends on where you're eating (i.e. if it's a fancy restaurant or whatever) and so on, but really... it depends on where you're from. Different countries have different customs on tipping.


EDIT:

Oh, and I don't like it when people eat with their mouths open, or chew their food noisily.

[Madame Adequate]

In the US, some states have lower minimum wages for restaurant staff because tipping is so expected and culturally ingrained that it's expected they'll make their money from it. So for people for whom tipping is not expected or expected only in classy places/where the service was exceptional, the US style is a little weird, but for people who expect to tip pretty much anywhere classier than BUrger King not tipping is a little weird.

For my part I tip pretty much anywhere that's Pizza Hut and up, but if the service is bad I might not.

[Heath]

Quin is Mr. Pink.

Iceglow: If you think minimum wage isn't enough, the staff shouldn't rely on customers to top up their wages, they should raise the minimum wage. Why should people who work in restaurants get boosted up above minimum wage when there are many other people in other vocations who earn minimum wage and society doesn't expect you to tip them? Tipping to top-up incomes justifies the current system and if you think that isn't working then I think you've taken the wrong approach. Now, I agree with tipping and always do tip, but I also think it's unfair that society deems some people worthy of tips and others not.

[Rodarian]

I did a stint at working at a restaurant... Got paid around 12 bucks an hour and an average of 5 dollar a tip. I left after four months because the boss was really an ass and he cut corners... Now since I come from a well to do family , working at the restaurant was to earn some spending money..Obviously my parents ain't going to give me money to by that Diesel tracks I want, so I earn for it.


I'm a generous tipper and like Jojee, pay the 15% 20% on either lunch or dinner..For course we all go dutch on this but the collective should be at that percentage..Some of my snooty friends balk at that but I simply say that if you can go to this swanky restaurant and literally pay $55 per head..Yea you can tip a little more..

[Old Manus]

Oh God forbid anyone spend an extra couple of quid on service after a meal!

[Jiro]

I have never been anywhere where you could tip. Either because there is no service or because they all disappear before you have a chance to give them anything.

I only tip with a smile at fast food joints. ;D

[LunarWeaver]

I think we should tip based on how attractive the person is.