I don't understand tipping culture...

[JemothSkarii]

Well,a ll I can say is I kinda feel like a dick now. While staying in Pennsylvania last month I was told to tip 5-10% so...yeah.

 

[DarkRyter]

the customer who's already paid for the service.

You didn't pay for the service, though.

 

[Tanis]

It's pretty obvious a LOT of posters in this thread have never held down a job, or at least not one within the 'service' industry.

 

[Colour Scientist]

I'm not American but I still tip, I tend to leave quite a large one if the service is good too.

I feel pretty cheap if I don't, to be honest, and it's not going to bankrupt me to give the waiter a few extra quid. If I'm going out to dinner, I'm usually in a position where I have a bit of extra cash so it just seems like the nice thing to do.

 

[Vegosiux]

It's pretty obvious a LOT of posters in this thread have never held down a job, or at least not one within the 'service' industry.

"or at least not one within the 'service' industry in USA.".

That last bit is rather important if one doesn't want to come across as overly judgmental.

 

[Amaror]

Your not wrong. I was working at a gas station for some time. I got the same pay as waiters, without tips and way shittier customers.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

Being Australian, where there are basically no tips unless you can't be bothered collecting your change or you are feeling particularly affluent, which is never in both cases for me, I think it's ridiculous and stupid that there would be a mandatory tipping culture created by laws that account for tips as part of the wage and thus basically creating a system where if you tip you're feeding an objectionable practise of paying people so they're dependant on the goodwill of their customers, and if you don't you're endangering the financial security of waiters and waitresses. In my opinion regular service, even good service, should be rewarded with a positive experience and then maybe coming back, and a steady wage that covers what a wage should legally cover.

 

[Bruce]

It's pretty obvious a LOT of posters in this thread have never held down a job, or at least not one within the 'service' industry.

Yep. Particularly the ones who think the harder job is in the kitchen.

 

[Mersadeon]

Well, I too live in a country where tipping is only there for really good service. There are exceptions, of course (Pizza delivery for example often really do need a tip to make the job worth it), but since waiters normally can live without tips, they are ok with not getting one. Obviously, once you reach a certain bill, you will almost always tip at least a bit - once you have 43,78? worth of cocktails you won't pay exactly that amount.

So, how exactly does it work in the US? I hear a lot of differing accounts - most people seem to see 10% of the bill as being an appropriate tip.

 

[Doom-Slayer]

No you are right, I think people feel guilty if they don't, it has been ingrained as what you just do. I only tip if the person does a good job or whatever, but I don't eat out often either. So I could be way off.

Its amusing because we dont tip here in NZ. Since minimum wage is enforced everywhere and is actually pretty high. If you get tipped here you must of done REALLY good. Like my dad has tipped in a fancy restaurant of around 50 dollars(because thew waiter was awesome) and tipping like that is unheard of.

I find the whole culture kind of weird, but then again I dont like in the US where its a thing.

 

[shootthebandit]

I live in the UK were tipping is more of a courtesy. People in the service industry get at least legal minimum wage same as a lot of shop assistants who dont get tips

I will tip if the service is good or if I've got a lot of smash in my wallet i want to get rid of

apart from frankie and bennys where you have no choice but to tip which i think is out of order, what if you get really shitty service!?

Seriously? How can they force you? I go there all the time and quite often i dont tip

 

[anthony87]

Anyone else come in thinking this was about cow tipping?

 

[Easton Dark]

So, how exactly does it work in the US? I hear a lot of differing accounts - most people seem to see 10% of the bill as being an appropriate tip.

Well it's different among people, because some are nicer and some have more money. I've heard %15 from my dad, but I don't think I'll be the kind of guy who tips. I don't eat out much to start because it's so much more expensive than just making food for myself, and I would be in no mood to pay more.

 

[shootthebandit]

Waiters, legally, can be paid WELL below minimum wage.

As a result in order for them to make minimum wage they NEED tips.

I fully understand this and this is why i would tip a lot if i went to america

But i said this last time the thread popped up. I have very little sympathy for people in the service industry in america. Sure its a very demanding role i certainly wouldnt be cut out for it but its their own fault they dont get paid well (not that they dont deserve to be paid well) because they are not doing anything to help themselves. Do you not have trade unions in america? Mass strikes need to be organised in the service industry even if only 50% went on strike it would have a huge impact. Wheres the groups lobbying to the goverment why arent people going to their MP (member of parliment) which i think you guys call a "senator" or "governor" or starting e-petitions. If its a large chain restraunt why arent people voicing thier opinion to the CEO or for smaller restraunts going to the manager. This is a very powerful group of people who could get a fair wage for themselves if only they done something about it

 

[kuolonen]

Lot of stuff here makes me wonder why anyone would ever go to an american restaurant.

Seriously, below minimum wage salaries, and to top it off, the manager naps a cut from the tips? That is bloody modern day slavery and anyone participating in it is no less guilty than the people who bought all american cotton circa 18th century.

 

[A BigCup of Tea]

I live in the UK were tipping is more of a courtesy. People in the service industry get at least legal minimum wage same as a lot of shop assistants who dont get tips

I will tip if the service is good or if I've got a lot of smash in my wallet i want to get rid of

apart from frankie and bennys where you have no choice but to tip which i think is out of order, what if you get really shitty service!?

Seriously? How can they force you? I go there all the time and quite often i don't tip

it may be for large groups only then..everytime I've gone it's been with 8 or so people and when we get the receipt it has our bill and then at the bottom it says included tip!

 

[Meatspinner]

After reading all 5 pages of this thread I have decided to never go to an american restaurant. Don't feel like supporting those kind of business practices. Especially if the blame is shifted on the customer.

Spoiler: And to anyone thinking I'm a dick for nor supporting that system

 

[Private Custard]

Waiters pretty much live off those tips so think of it as helping out another human being in rough times. Anyone who has been a waiter will know that it is very helpful to tip good.

Which makes it quite disgusting when you find the manager of a place pocketing a large percentage of tips taken in before dividing among the staff. :I

Dividing tips among the staff always seemed like bullshit to me: I tipped THIS guy because he did a job, the rest of them didn't earn it.

Do you tip the kitchen crew?

I've been on both sides of the wall, and seriously, front-of-house staff really don't appreciate just how easy they have it. Yet the people that actually cook the food, working in kitchens that can hit 100 degrees for hours and hours at a time, without breaks, end up earning less than the people that carry it to the table!

 

[lordmardok]

What I thought when I saw 'tipping culture'.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Z-8RF8hoYU/Til82YtN9QI/AAAAAAAAATQ/pRPug8mU108/s1600/IMG_3182.JPG

 

[Private Custard]

It's pretty obvious a LOT of posters in this thread have never held down a job, or at least not one within the 'service' industry.

Yep. Particularly the ones who think the harder job is in the kitchen.

Think?

I've seen both sides of the coin. I know!