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Originally Posted by China Clipper
(Post 23128404)
Everyone's different. When I was late for work (which was usually) I'd sometimes tell the cabbie: "The more you scare me, the bigger your tip will be."
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Tips are sort of an odd thing to me in the sense that although it is a "gift", it is still without reasonable doubt an expected service charge to one's meal, especially in areas where servers make under minimum wage and work solely off tips. However, by no means should it ever be forced upon a customer, even if that customer may just be unaware of the "tipping" society that we have in America.
I paid for a $6 meal with a $10 bill and received approx. $1.10 in change. When I politely asked my server where the rest of my change was, she promptly replied that she had taken out her tip from the bill. I don't know if she assumed that I wouldn't have voluntarily tipped her because i was a teenager at the time, or because I am Asian-American (tipping is not customary where I am from), but regardless, I felt incredibly disrespected that she took a specific amount of money out for herself when it should have been up to my own discretion how much I felt her service warranted. Generally, I will tip no matter how bad my service is because I understand and empathize with those in the service industry, but taking out your own tip because you don't think the customer will tip you otherwise is no different than stealing. |
Originally Posted by Jason Tan
(Post 23153931)
Tips are sort of an odd thing to me in the sense that although it is a "gift", it is still without reasonable doubt an expected service charge to one's meal, especially in areas where servers make under minimum wage and work solely off tips. However, by no means should it ever be forced upon a customer, even if that customer may just be unaware of the "tipping" society that we have in America.
I paid for a $6 meal with a $10 bill and received approx. $1.10 in change. When I politely asked my server where the rest of my change was, she promptly replied that she had taken out her tip from the bill. I don't know if she assumed that I wouldn't have voluntarily tipped her because i was a teenager at the time, or because I am Asian-American (tipping is not customary where I am from), but regardless, I felt incredibly disrespected that she took a specific amount of money out for herself when it should have been up to my own discretion how much I felt her service warranted. Generally, I will tip no matter how bad my service is because I understand and empathize with those in the service industry, but taking out your own tip because you don't think the customer will tip you otherwise is no different than stealing. |
Many years ago, my dad stayed at an airport hotel with a $15 meal voucher.
He tried to order an entree which, after tax, would've come to $14. The waitress rebuffed: "You cannot order that because the voucher would not have enough money left over for a tip." My dad had planned to tip in cash on top of the voucher, but was incredulous at the two presumptions inherent in that statement: (1) that he had no cash, and (2) how much the tip should be. |
Originally Posted by davie355
(Post 23160424)
Many years ago, my dad stayed at an airport hotel with a $15 meal voucher.
He tried to order an entree which, after tax, would've come to $14. The waitress rebuffed: "You cannot order that because the voucher would not have enough money left over for a tip." My dad had planned to tip in cash on top of the voucher, but was incredulous at the two presumptions inherent in that statement: (1) that he had no cash, and (2) that he would not tip. |
Tips: 15% $4.43 20% $5.90 I have never seen a handwritten note on a bill suggesting tip amounts. Should I encounter one however I would strike out the suggested amounts and write 10%=XXX and leave that amount. |
Gotta love Asia & Europe. Expected tip: 0%. I leave 10% for good service, but most of the time can't even do that. They don't even have tip lines at most local restaurants when paying with CC.
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This place in Miami Beach really went all out on tipping suggestions:
http://cmk10.smugmug.com/Travel/Flye...DSCN3228-L.jpg |
Originally Posted by CMK10
(Post 23202219)
This place in Miami Beach really went all out on tipping suggestions:
http://cmk10.smugmug.com/Travel/Flye...DSCN3228-L.jpg |
Originally Posted by Jaimito Cartero
(Post 23203265)
At least the tips shown are pretax. Personally I'm not offended at places that have large foreign tourists, trying to gently inform them.
I would prefer that places like that put a sign up that you can see when you enter. That way, I'd know to go to the place next door - if they're going to pull that passive/aggressive stuff I'd prefer to know before I've committed myself to dining in their dump. |
I understand places that cater to tourists having the pre-printed suggestions on them (although it's expanding). The ones I've seen are usually pre-tax.
I remember before a biz dinner one time a # of us were at the Four Seasons in Boston having drinks. I think the bill was $195; the Swedish rep left a $5 tip. When everyone moved away/before the waiter came I added to the tip to what it should have been, and just chalked it up to cultural differences. But I'm pretty sure the waiter would have been upset if he only had been tipped $5. However, I think even in America some cheap out - or don't know how to do the math quickly in their heads - so having the 15% etc means they can just look at what's printed & go w/ that, especially if the pre-tax bill is an odd amount. A handwritten one seems a bit tacky though. When I lived on the west coast, doubling the tax worked. Where I live now the sales tax is less so doubling doesn't work. Also, where I live now I saw an ad for someone for a waitress position & it said wage was $2.15-7.50 with tips. You'd need a lot of tips if the wage was $2.15! Cheers. |
I think all servers should be paid by full wages only and not tip
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Originally Posted by howtofreetravel
(Post 23216389)
I think all servers should be paid by full wages only and not tip
One recent discussion from NYC chef Amanda Cohen is over at eater.com. Makes some good points, I think, including that the current tipping system is like a restaurant outsourcing some of its HR functions to diners, which doesn't seem like a good idea... A bad tip is a red flag to a manager that a server requires closer supervision, but most customers just want a nice meal, not to be deputized as the owner's secret HR department. However you look at it, tipping puts extra pressure on the diner, and that's the last thing a chef wants. |
Originally Posted by gustav316
(Post 22996994)
I don't agree that a tip is a gift. Waitstaff are paid below minimum wage based on the expectation that a tip will be earned. You should always tip except in the rare circumstance where service was intentionally horrible or the was a complete disregard for customers. The pre calculated amount are useful for those who may not be mathematically competent.
I don't see the big deal. It seems like you are making the argument that printing tip amounts is somehow indicating an expectation for something that is optional. However discretionary tipping may be, I think most expect to tip and waitstaff (and the IRS) expect tips will be earned. Tipping is crap for everybody. |
Originally Posted by CarolynUK
(Post 23001511)
Who has decided what the "proper" tip amount should be?
I don't have a problem with tipping for good servicebut personally I don't see why it should be a % of the bill - why should a server in one restaurant get a huge tip because he he works in an expensive restaurant whilst another gets less for providing an equivalent service in a cheaper chain restaurant? I had the situation on my last US holiday where a server was upset at "only" getting a $100 tip (on a $500 bill) whilst another was ecstatic at getting a mere $20 on a $60 bill - guess who actually provided the better service? Looking at the maths of it - if the server who was upset at the $100 tip had his figures extrapolated (and I'm erring on the cautious side here as we only had 2 courses and a bottle of wine) and got that amount from each sitting at the 6 tables he served, he could easily be pocketing over $1000 in tips per shift- 5 days a week $5000 times say 48 weeks a year which comes to $240,000 in tips a year - not bad for a server - and waaaay more than a teacher or nurse or even a serviceman could possibly earn. |
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