Originally Posted by
emma69
I think you might be giving servers too little credit - they will know exactly why you have not tipped, I wouldn't sit there nodding politely throughout the meal, I would have said something to them long before it got that far. I know a friend of mine who will write "0 - bad service" on the tip line of a credit card slip, but I will have said something long before then to the server. Some just don't give a moneky's and frankly, I am not about to reward that, even with a dollar.
I was in the industry in the UK - where pretty much every server and bartender makes far less total than their America counterparts. Bar tender and assistant restaurant manager were my two main industry positions but I also waited tables, cooked in the restaurant, and other assorted dogsbody jobs!
To be fair Emma the tipping culture in the US is completely different than the UK. So it is unfair comparison.
Also, while you may be vocal and let a server know when service is bad not everyone is like you. Also some people have the policy of not tipping when the service is acceptable and only tipping a bit for outstanding service. So how is a server supposed to know in those cases? You would be surprised how many patrons come in to a restaurant in a bad mood and/or are rude to waitstaff before we even have a chance to deliver poor service.
One of my favorite situations that happens often.
Server: "Good evening, my name is...."
Patron: "Iced Tea!"
As for wage situation, honestly I am not familiar with UK's wages for restaurant employees, cost of living in UK, tax situation, benefits etc. That play a part in total standard of living. I am only familiar with how it is in the US.
You may not like our system, but like I said there are ways to avoid it (don't travel here or when here do not eat at sit down restaurants) or you can just roll with the punches. There are lots of things in the UK that I think are silly but when I am there I follow local customs.