You Should Tip

[Vegosiux]

though what you mean by with that attitude I have no idea.

Berating the OP for "doing nothing and continuing to be part of a problem" despite the fact that he did do something; especially ironic since you continue how "taking a stand" can get you replaced by the next guy who'd do the same job without complaining, while on the other hand reporting the situation is even more likely to, especially with spiteful management, which you proceeded to completely ignore.

As for tipping culture, well, waiters' income won't depend on tips here, so yes, that's one thing, but if it did, I'd see a tip merely as payment for the service.

 

[loc978]

I follow gratuity customs wherever I go, yes. Servers at restaurants get 10% for a bad job, 20% for a great job here in the US (also, dollar a song minimum to stippers and round up to the nearest euro at restaurants in the EU. I'm told they make a living wage there without gratuity)... but that doesn't really apply to fast food, sorry... haven't actually walked into the building of a fast food place in years. It's a little harder to tip from a drive-through. Not sure it's even possible, especially with a debit card.

I also refuse to eat fast food at all out of state... Oregon food service laws and their enforcers would shut the place you work down within a month of operation. I've learned the hard way that California's laws are horrifically lax in comparison (got food poisoning from a breakfast bowl at a Jack in the Box down there), and that they've got some of the more stringent food service laws in the US... so yeah. I avoid fast food entirely when traveling. I'd rather walk into the woods, kill my next meal with a stick and cook it on the spot.

 

[Lieju]

Tipping is not a thing here in Finland.
Everything is expensive already, but that's because you aren't expected to tip.

 

[Sight Unseen]

(And the UK, I think) we tip people

Not true, there is the odd occasion where some say "keep the change" but it's not in our culture.

In the UK min wage is about £6.08 an hour, which is $9.77 ... I assume that is more than your min wage, so it doesn't have to be "topped up".

I always thought it was strange that American business owners expect there employees to be payed by the customers directly. We should pay the establishment, then they pay the staff.

Then again I think America sound like the weirdest place when it comes to cash, you're charged for medical stuff, you have to work out VAT yourself, tip people ... how do you afford to buy food!?

In the uk, I can go into a shop, pick up something for 99P and pay 99P. If my meal costs £20, then I pay £20 and leave From what I have heard you pick up something for $1 and pay $1.20 or something. You to a restaurant and your meal is $20, you pay $24 for it then tip the person serving you an extra $4 or something.

I might be wrong about the VAT though.

Assuming VAT is what you call a sales tax then you're right. MOST places in Canada (where I live) and the US that I've been to don't incorporate taxes into the prices shown on menus, store shelves, etc. So everything ends up being more expensive.

In most provinces in Canada that sales tax is 13%... So if you buy something that costs $100, you're actually paying $113, which adds up very quickly.

OT: In Canada we also tip waiters and waitresses, which I never really understood because we have a minimum wage that's like $10 and hour and I think we have much more job security than the USA does. Employers can't just fire people for no reason, they have to have proof of one of many valid causes. Otherwise they have to give them a certain amount of advanced notice or pay in lieu of notice in order to find another job.

 

[anian]

I usually go out to eat when I travel somewhere, but that's pretty rare. Then I tip when I feel at least that the staff was polite and approachable.
That's it.

In my country, we rarely tip and, unlike USA, waiters don't really expect it and usually get decent wages anyway (well the whole country is in the crapper so it's like the whole mental state), although in most of Europe it usually is polite to leave a tip.
McDonalds and other fast food stuff, we don't leave tips and never saw anybody leave a tip, when there's some very little spare change I usually drop it the charity box on the counter.
For delivery sometimes I leave a tip, though mostly not, since I'm usually strapped for cash myself.

To be honest the american system is bloody stupid, if tip is for is good service, everything else should be included in the price, that's why it is THE PRICE. In any case even if you don't leave a tip, there's no discussion about customer being unfair to the staff by default. I understand pays are low for service staff, but you're insinuating that's the customers fault and that they should pay...how's that freaking logical?
If you go into a supermarket and buy something of a shelf for a price, you don't expect somebody asking you to pay more because they unpacked it and put it on the shelf for you to buy, do you? Being polite and going out of your way to keep a customer happy that's another thing, but being expected to pay extra for doing your job, which anybody else who does any other work doesn't get...isn't that at least unfair to everybody else?

The whole other part about you saving people from spider eggs (though if you told me I was about to eat cooked spider eggs, I'd be all "yeah, top of the food chain, damn arachnids")...it's just a shame that you feel like you're being treated unfair in this situation. The whole system is again very f-ed up and again you want the customers to pay you extra for keeping them from food poisoning (what you're talking about is extra price on top of a price they agreed to pay for a service).
Is this blackmail the next step?

 

[emeraldrafael]

though what you mean by with that attitude I have no idea.

Berating the OP for "doing nothing and continuing to be part of a problem" despite the fact that he did do something; especially ironic since you continue how "taking a stand" can get you replaced by the next guy who'd do the same job without complaining, while on the other hand reporting the situation is even more likely to, especially with spiteful management, which you proceeded to completely ignore.

As for tipping culture, well, waiters' income won't depend on tips here, so yes, that's one thing, but if it did, I'd see a tip merely as payment for the service.

its at least doing something that can make a permanent change. All the op is telling me is they work in an unsatisfactory condition of health to both worker and customer, and they are not doing anything for larger change. I know what they say about a blissful ignorance, when you tell me something like that, it doesnt make me want to tip you. it makes me want to report you for not doing your job and duty in reporting it yourself and never eat at that place again. fast food is not what its cracked up to be and there are many other jobs you can go into that require the same skill level (essentially none) that if you explain will accept you or hell wont even ask. the solution is simple. Leave, report and take the chance of being forced to leave or keep your job, or dont expect a tip after saying all the dirty secrets like that. I see nothing in their work that deserves a tip, but rather a quick trip to unemployment and visit from a health bureau.

besides, the op doesnt rely on tips, so I see no need. as I said, i tip when you do something special, and keeping someplace "safe" enough for me to eat is not going above and beyond, thats expected.

 

[Frission]

Normally I think this thread would be more of a call for regulations and job security and increased minimum wage. Not more tips. Although the call for civility is good.

I didn't tip that much outside of the states because I knew the wages of the waiters and waitresses were not made entirely out of tips.

 

[Da Orky Man]

Here in the USA (And the UK, I think) we tip people for service.

I'm guessing, people have said this, but I'd like to get onto that bandwagon before it leaves:

We Brits don't tip nearly as much as you Yankees. In this sense, we're together with the rest of Europe in our tipping tendencies. If you provide truly excellent service, then you get a tip. If not, then you don't.

 

[omega 616]

(And the UK, I think) we tip people

Not true, there is the odd occasion where some say "keep the change" but it's not in our culture.

In the UK min wage is about £6.08 an hour, which is $9.77 ... I assume that is more than your min wage, so it doesn't have to be "topped up".

I always thought it was strange that American business owners expect there employees to be payed by the customers directly. We should pay the establishment, then they pay the staff.

Then again I think America sound like the weirdest place when it comes to cash, you're charged for medical stuff, you have to work out VAT yourself, tip people ... how do you afford to buy food!?

In the uk, I can go into a shop, pick up something for 99P and pay 99P. If my meal costs £20, then I pay £20 and leave From what I have heard you pick up something for $1 and pay $1.20 or something. You to a restaurant and your meal is $20, you pay $24 for it then tip the person serving you an extra $4 or something.

I might be wrong about the VAT though.

Assuming VAT is what you call a sales tax then you're right. MOST places in Canada (where I live) and the US that I've been to don't incorporate taxes into the prices shown on menus, store shelves, etc. So everything ends up being more expensive.

In most provinces in Canada that sales tax is 13%... So if you buy something that costs $100, you're actually paying $113, which adds up very quickly.

Yeah, it stands for "Value Added Tax". You pay it on everything except some food. In the UK it was 20% the last time I looked, for years it was 15%, then went up to 17.5%, then 20% during the recession ... probably gone back down now though.

 

[Agent Larkin]

I don't tip.

This is Ireland. We don't do Customer service so i don't do tips.

 

[RanD00M]

I don't tip here in Iceland because waiters aren't paid that bad, and when I'm abroad I don't tip because I either don't care or I have better use for my money.

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

Last time I went out to eat and pay for my own meal (as dinner), was in Berlin.
I had a five Euro pizza. I payed with a twenty Euro note, and let them keep the change as a tip.
Best pizzas I've had in any European country. I'm quite happy to tip just about anyone like that. I just don't go out anymore.
Of course, if they aren't nice, I won't tip them. Like a certain asshole in Amsterdam. Get my damn order wrong, and try to tell me otherwise... No generous tip for you. I don't like aggressive, rude staff.

 

[spartan231490]

snip

I don't believe you. I work in fast food myself, and we aren't allowed to accept tips. If we accept a tip and get caught, we're fired. Also frankly, the guy behind the counter has absolutely nothing to do with your food, if you want to tip someone go tip the guy in the back who has to make the food. Sure, the people in front need to deal with angry customers but the guy making the food usually has more work to do, and probably gets paid less.

Certainly, it's always nice when the person ordering isn't an angry douche, but tips are a bad idea.

 

[spartan231490]

snip

I don't believe you. I work in fast food myself, and we aren't allowed to accept tips. If we accept a tip and get caught, we're fired. Also frankly, the guy behind the counter has absolutely nothing to do with your food, if you want to tip someone go tip the guy in the back who has to make the food. Sure, the people in front need to deal with angry customers but the guy making the food usually has more work to do, and probably gets paid less.

Certainly, it's always nice when the person ordering isn't an angry douche, but tips are a bad idea.

 

[DeltaEdge]

It feels a bit weird to call the people that you want more money from bastards before asking us for what is basically a favor...
OT: I dislike the idea that I should feel obliged to tip. If your working standards are terrible and you are under-payed, then to me that sounds like something that you should take up with your employers. I think it's ridiculous because the management is basically abusing it's employees, the customers should have to pay up. That's like saying "I'm not getting enough money from my employer, so now I'm making it your problem too. Give me twenty percent of whatever your food costed!". Don't get me wrong, most people who work at places like that deserve better, they really do, but demanding gratuities which we are not obligated to give and should not have to give doesn't sit well with me either. I generally don't have a problem with tipping people, but if anyone ever asks me for a tip they are getting nothing.

 

[VanTesla]

TIP DAMMIT. Tip everyone.
Do you tip? Who do you tip? Do you agree that we should tip the guys behind the counter?

I tip 20% if the waiter or waitress are being attentive and considerate and never give less if say the food is bad for they are not at fault. I tip the same for delivery if I have exact change or close to 20% for gass and etc. I tip my barber 20% if they do well. Only reason I don't tip behind counter is for they get paid more than the average waiter/waitress without counting tips in America for if not for tips they be only making 2-3 dollars a hour... Ofcorse that is not the same for barbers, but that was how I was raised and it just stuck... I do think that many in fast food places get screwed over by the higher ups and some don't get paid enough, but that is the sad thing about life... It's bull crap but it's how it goes and honestly many workers do barely anything and still get paid the same amount for how ever they perform... There are two sides to everything and also if I tipped every dam person for every task I would just not go out and eat at home... It's the job you picked or got stuck with and I am thankful for you being a outstanding worker by the looks of it and hope you get a better living and enviroment since those in charge seem to be idiots that if caught would be fired themselves, but im not going to tip the person that is typping down what I say in a register. I will however thank them if they are polite and always be polite back.

 

[Total LOLige]

I usually say "keep the change" but places like McDonald's are so overpriced that there isn't much change to be had. I don't eat out at restaurants so I have no waiters/waitresses to tip, I do tip takeaway people though sometimes I get a bit scared to say "here mate have this £3" that's why I like it when they're about to give me change I can just say keep it.

 

[VanTesla]

Last time I went out to eat and pay for my own meal (as dinner), was in Berlin.
I had a five Euro pizza. I payed with a twenty Euro note, and let them keep the change as a tip.
Best pizzas I've had in any European country. I'm quite happy to tip just about anyone like that. I just don't go out anymore.
Of course, if they aren't nice, I won't tip them. Like a certain asshole in Amsterdam. Get my damn order wrong, and try to tell me otherwise... No generous tip for you. I don't like aggressive, rude staff.

Reminds me when I was ten years old in the Mexico themed restaurant at Epcot and ask for just a burrito with meat only and the waiter in a snide voice said "we are not taco bell"... What ahole starts getting rude to a ten year old for just asking for a burrito with meat only... My mother snapped at him and we left, but I saw him getting yelled at by the manager when we where leaving hah.

 

[IckleMissMayhem]

Snipped out the stuff that made me shudder - sorry!!

OK, I fully admit I'm off on a tangent here, BUT! it sounds like you and your friend really should get in touch with the US version of the Food Standards Agency & Health & Safety (killjoys!!) Executive to report the safety and hygiene issues in your workplaces. 2 seconds on Google seems to suggest it's the FDA, but I'm not 100%.

OK, on the tipping issue, I tip if (and only if!) the staff have gone above-and-beyond their basic job. That doesn't seem to happen often. Wherever I am in the world.

 

[VanTesla]

Here in the USA (And the UK, I think) we tip people for service.

I'm guessing, people have said this, but I'd like to get onto that bandwagon before it leaves:

We Brits don't tip nearly as much as you Yankees. In this sense, we're together with the rest of Europe in our tipping tendencies. If you provide truly excellent service, then you get a tip. If not, then you don't.

well I don't know how much the average waiter/waitress in England is paid per hour, but over here in America it's around 2-3 US dollars a hour which is nothing to live on without those tips and then even if paid what is considered the minimum of 15% they still tax it... How they are able to get away with paying them so little is all for the whole tipping services/performance and the one problem with it is if you have not many peole com in a few days or bad tippers you get screwed. On the other hand a good waiter/waitress in a nice/high restaurants can make bank with tips and more if paid in cash instead of writting it on your credit card (by pocketing more than the required amount by taxes and yes it's considered illegal, but I tipped them the extra not the gov't...).