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Originally posted by CT-UK:
I left $20 because the service was only average and nothing more even if it was great should I leave $150.
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Originally posted by fbgdavidson:
Being a Brit too, tipping culture is something I am always a little uncertain with.
There is a metaphorical limit as to the limit of tipping. As Chris said he took he wife out for a $750 meal, surely any standard of service doesn't warrant a $150 tip!
$50 is the most, and the limit to what I would leave. If I take my girlfriend out for a nice meal and spend say $300 I would rather leave a $20 tip and buy a nice bottle of wine on the way home.
I can see this from both sides of the argument having worked in a £50 a head restaurant. We never really expected tips above £30 for a table of 10 even though IMHO we did provide good service.
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Right, so now my tips are going to come down to 6%!!? Oh please. I understand that there are cultural differences and that people from countries where service is included have a difficult time justifying the 15% in their minds (forget 20%!). And another above poster does not want to tip 20% for average service for a $750 meal? That poster tipped @6% too! Sheesh! When I visit other countries I try to follow their customs even though I don't care for them and even though people visit my country and appraently do not follow ours.
Tipping food and beverage workers is not a "custom" here. It is a traditional work practice. A tip for a bartender or a waiter is a WAGE. That fact that some people cannot or will not get their mind around that and perhaps, even disagree with it, does not change the reality.
If you would like us to "band together and unionize", then your $750 meal will now be $900.
*whew*
I am getting upset and that is bad for my Karma.
I apologize if I ranted. It is funny how sensitive we (myself and some above posters) are with out money. We have a saying among waiters (I shouldn't say this 'cause a FEW will contradict it and flame me and I am a sensitive guy who can't take the flamimg but...) but here goes: "The bigger the car, the smaller the tip."