[Hamucevasiop]

Right well you sick it to the system bud, the only thing you would be screwing are the people that deserve the compensation. I know if you frequented a resturant that I worked at you would sit at your table staring at your water glass for quite some time, then again you seem like one who is easily entertained.

[VeniHemealm]

It is all relative though. While you may not pay more, in certain merchandise situations, you can certainly pay less if you know what your doing, thus, you are often paying more than you would if it was tip based. Americans know about the tip, understand the tip and seem to overall have no problem with the tip based payment system. I am curious how the non-tip transplants like zoolook or others who have lived in the states for an extended time now think of it.

It's tough to be honest and I cannot help but feel awkward every time I tip, because we just don't have that culture in the UK. The hardest thing is knowing what's appropriate in each situation. I've been here 3 years, so have a lot figured out, but handing a tip directly to someone's hand, still feels odd. I guess I have a hangup about being the guy with the dollars... I would be so much more comfortable being the one receiving the tip!

Bearing in mind I live in NYC, this is what I tip

- Restaurants: 15% if it's awful, 20% of it's good more if it's excellent
- Hair Cuts: Where I go, it's $50 for a cut. I give my regular hairdresser $20 (40%)
- Hotels $1 per bag for the guy who opens the car door and gets them out, same to the guy who takes them to the room, plus another buck (usually this is out of town, Chicago etc).
- Bars. $1 a drink to the barman/woman. If I make a big order or stay for 2 or 3, I'll probably just tip $5 at the start of the night and be done with it
- Sandwich shops/take out coffes - I usually drop the change
- Cafes - might drop a buck if I stay in for a coffee and cake, especially if I'm staying in to write a paper or something

That's about it. Probably completely messed up, but I might get used to tipping. What I don't like is the expectation from some restaurants that tips will be given even if the service is utterly lousy. Once or twice when the service has been completely appaling, and the waiter/waitresses fault (i.e. they were rude), I'll leave a 'penny', which is supposed to give them a message.

[Suvuseh]

Once or twice when the service has been completely appaling, and the waiter/waitresses fault (i.e. they were rude), I'll leave a 'penny', which is supposed to give them a message.

yeah, you had best watch your back as you flee the restuarant too, as i have (back in the day, when in college and i waited tables) seen fellow waiters lob change at fleeing customers.

I am much like you though, on the tip scale... %15 base, unless the service is horrid. more based on performance at a restuarant. $1 per bag.... 30% for a good haircut...

[delnisfernan]

Something I'm trying to understand here, why do people continually say "Some of these people purely depend on tips".

Why don't they get a better job? That maybe pays more?

I'm sure I'll hear "Because you make more working as a bartender making tip money".

I'm not trying to be a prick but if I order Burger king, should I tip them too? Maybe the guy who sells me my next car cuz he seemed nice? Maybe I don't wanna talk to the bartender.. I just want my drink. I think you get paid for the standard of a job you're supposed to do, correct?

[lmHVYs8e]

- Restaurants: 15% if it's awful, 20% of it's good more if it's excellent

I thought the whole point of tips was to reward good service? Why should you have to tip if the service is "awful"?

- Hair Cuts: Where I go, it's $50 for a cut. I give my regular hairdresser $20 (40%) 40%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [shocked] [shocked] [shocked] [shocked]

I hope it's a really good cut.

[Hamucevasiop]

Something I'm trying to understand here, why do people continually say "Some of these people purely depend on tips".

Why don't they get a better job? That maybe pays more?

As already explained they only make about $2 an hour directly from the restaurant and absolutely rely on tips. It would be absolutely rediculous to expect one to live off of that wage especially if hours are limited. Is this really all that difficult for some of you to wrap your head around?

There are plenty of cases where a "better job" isn't an option for a multitude of reasons and if people didn't tip and waiters only made $2 an hour, you wouldn't have anyone to give you your food.

That Burger King analogy was quite weak by the way, they get paid at least minumum wage, unlike full service waiters, who also have much more demanding jobs so don't bother with that arguement.

[lmHVYs8e]

There are plenty of cases where a "better job" isn't an option for a multitude of reasons and if people didn't tip and waiters only made $2 an hour, you wouldn't have anyone to give you your food.

Or restaurants would start paying decent wages.

[VeniHemealm]

I thought the whole point of tips was to reward good service? Why should you have to tip if the service is "awful"?

Awful is a bit strong. 15% if it's very average or below average. Often it's not the service staff's fault, and it they're trying hard, they'll get tipped.

40%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [shocked] [shocked] [shocked] [shocked]

I hope it's a really good cut. I started off with $10 while I was trying places out, but a flat $20 is pretty standard for someone you like and if you want to make sure you get appointments when they're convenient for you. The haircut is actually about $57 with tax so it's closer to 30% really.

[Hamucevasiop]

Or restaurants would start paying decent wages.

Don't count on it.

Wouldn't you think if it wasn't working there would have been an uprising by now? The fact of the matter is that it does work as is, and you can make good money as a server if you are good at what you do. Of course there are the cheapskates out there that feel they are making some sort of "statement" by not tipping but then there are the grounded people that realize these people rely on these tips. 15% isn't much for decent service where you get your order taken, drinks refilled in a timely manner but it is the fact that servers want to please the customers beyond the job description that make higher tipping worth it.

[Suvuseh]

I thought the whole point of tips was to reward good service? Why should you have to tip if the service is "awful"?

Think of it this way: Restuarant food in the US is at a 15% discounted rate when you walk through the door. Unless you think they spit in your food, or messed up your order due to pure carelessness, that 15% is just standard rate for you getting your food in a reasonable time, and drinks taken care of at a reasonable pace. You tip more for better service. I walk into a bar, and barkeep see me from across the room and has a beer waiting for me by the time i reach him, that deserves more than the standard 15%, sincei didn't have to wait. If a waitress, doesn't bother me, as in i do not notice her, but at no time am I in need of them for something, because everything was well taken care of, then that definetely deserves more, because my dining experience was better because of it.

Alot of waiters just make average money because for the most part they suck. Even so, i was once a waiter, and though i worked my ass of and had tons of regulars and made plenty doing it, unless there was something drastically, and intentionally wrong with my dinner, i tip 15%, because i know that is what i should pay for it.

[Annewsded]

I also always tip cab drivers, becuase they have a very difficult job and have to deal with a lot of crap... however if they are totally hopeless and don't know where they are going, I treat the extra bloody meter time they wasted as their tip. lol

WTF... like taxis are not expensive enough already!!! [cursing]

Only place I tip for a cab is the US, because well their fare is lower in comparison to our extortion rate fares.

If you're gonna tip cabs, you might as well have a chauffeur on dial as they are not much more expensive and it's a nice overall service. Of course I still don't tip those guys. lol

I blame Cubase for Americanising Sydney.

[Hamucevasiop]

WTF... like taxis are not expensive enough already!!! [cursing]

Only place I tip for a cab is the US, because well their fare is lower in comparison to our extortion rate fares.

If you're gonna tip cabs, you might as well have a chauffeur on dial as they are not much more expensive and it's a nice overall service. Of course I still don't tip those guys. lol

I blame Cubase for Americanising Sydney.

Waiters, bartenders, cabbies, bums, he doesn't descriminate, he shafts them all! [rofl]

[VeniHemealm]

Think of it this way: Restuarant food in the US is at a 15% discounted rate when you walk through the door. Unless you think they spit in your food, or messed up your order due to pure carelessness, that 15% is just standard rate for you getting your food in a reasonable time, and drinks taken care of at a reasonable pace. You tip more for better service. I walk into a bar, and barkeep see me from across the room and has a beer waiting for me by the time i reach him, that deserves more than the standard 15%, sincei didn't have to wait. If a waitress, doesn't bother me, as in i do not notice her, but at no time am I in need of them for something, because everything was well taken care of, then that definetely deserves more, because my dining experience was better because of it.

Exactly. I have two Thai restaurants very close to me (OK, I have about 18 close to me, but 2 that I go to). One I go to the counter, order my food. The guy says nothing, points me to a plastic seat, I wait for it or go to the beer shop and come back, get my food an go home. I pay for the food, no tip. But it's good food so I go back there occasionally.

The other Thai place I go in, order the food and I get walked to a table (as though I am eating in), get brought a glass of water, sometimes some crackers. It's all very nice. I add a couple of bucks to the amex payment. Every time I order now, I usually get an extra sauce or extra crackers and one time they threw in a soup they'd just started to see if I liked it.

I wouldn't say that's typical, but it's worth it to know it got noticed, and you're a valued customer. It's a family owned restaurant, so it doesn't even have anything to do with the wages they are paying...

[lmHVYs8e]

Don't count on it.

Wouldn't you think if it wasn't working there would have been an uprising by now? The fact of the matter is that it does work as is, and you can make good money as a server if you are good at what you do. Of course there are the cheapskates out there that feel they are making some sort of "statement" by not tipping but then there are the grounded people that realize these people rely on these tips. 15% isn't much for decent service where you get your order taken, drinks refilled in a timely manner but it is the fact that servers want to please the customers beyond the job description that make higher tipping worth it.

The only reason it carries on is because that's the way it's always been. If everyone in the US stopped tipping tomorrow yes there'd be a lot of poor waiters and most would probably quit. But then the restaurants, if they wanted to keep their staff (and therefore remain in business) would pay their staff more. Those that didn't would close down.

As for tipping cabbies what the hell for?? They drive you to your destination, what more can they do to warrant a tip?

[Teeppoodiug]

I generally tip well.

How do places get away with paying staff so little? Isn't min. wage in place for a reason? IIRC, wait staff still get at least min. wage up here. Tips are just bonus, as they should be IMO (although they are counted as income for tax purposes in most cases). I tip because I liked the service, not because I feel obligated to make up their difference in pay.

[SetSnonejog]

I think I tip people in most professions, with the exception of bar wokers. With taxi drivers it all depends if they are friendly and initiate a conversation, if they is being pure ignunt then they gets nothin'. Not that I go splashing 20% or anything on hairdressers and waiters, just a couple of quid as a sign of gratitude. It'll buy 'em a beer, what more do you want.

When I'm abroad then I'll tip according to the custom of that country, you gotta play fair after all when you are a guest in another country. Course when I go to places like Thailand I generally tip quite a lot, but when the average tip is around 30p you can't help but leave a few extra coins on the table.

[Creelaleps]

The only reason it carries on is because that's the way it's always been. If everyone in the US stopped tipping tomorrow yes there'd be a lot of poor waiters and most would probably quit. But then the restaurants, if they wanted to keep their staff (and therefore remain in business) would pay their staff more. Those that didn't would close down.

IMHO, but don't blame the restaurants for not paying enough, or the waiter/waitress for getting ticked about not getting a tip if they did a good job, blame the labor laws that allow the restaurants to pay crap wages.

Then again, it cracks me up when you go to pizza shops or chinese places that are takeout only and they always have tip jars on the counter, when they don't do the slightest thing for you other than cook their overpriced food for you.

[JosephNF]

WTF... like taxis are not expensive enough already!!! [cursing]

Only place I tip for a cab is the US, because well their fare is lower in comparison to our extortion rate fares.

If you're gonna tip cabs, you might as well have a chauffeur on dial as they are not much more expensive and it's a nice overall service. Of course I still don't tip those guys. lol

I blame Cubase for Americanising Sydney.

No offense lenny, but that's a pretty retarded mindset you have there. When you go to a different country, you adapt to their customs. While Taxis are expensive, do you not realize that the Taxi company is the one making most of that money? Intentionally shafting the driver is not getting your point across, because you're taking your anger and ignorance out on the wrong guy.

The only reason it carries on is because that's the way it's always been. If everyone in the US stopped tipping tomorrow yes there'd be a lot of poor waiters and most would probably quit. But then the restaurants, if they wanted to keep their staff (and therefore remain in business) would pay their staff more. Those that didn't would close down.

You fail to realize that those in the service industry actually have the ability to make well over minimum wage if they are good at what they do. Dining in a restaurant goes far beyond the meal that you are eating, since the service is equally important. If you hustle your ass off, you might just be rewarded with a nice tip. There would be much less incentive for waiters to go above and beyond what they have to if they simply made a decent wage, as well as less incentive to tip. If you can't wrap your head around this idea, then don't go out to dinner. Simple as that.

[Hamucevasiop]

The only reason it carries on is because that's the way it's always been. If everyone in the US stopped tipping tomorrow yes there'd be a lot of poor waiters and most would probably quit. But then the restaurants, if they wanted to keep their staff (and therefore remain in business) would pay their staff more. Those that didn't would close down.

Yeah dude, I think everyone gets your principle but it isn't going to happen so if you were to come to the US and eat at a full service restaurant and based on your current principles you would be considered a cheapskate and would receive very poor service if you were to return. I don't understand why it is so hard for you to swallow that fact that not everything works the same around the world. It is a extremely basic concept and you aren't changing the world, let alone anything, preaching your beliefs. [rofl]

[Injurnerona]

Yeah dude, I think everyone gets your principle but it isn't going to happen so if you were to come to the US and eat at a full service restaurant and based on your current principles you would be considered a cheapskate and would receive very poor service if you were to return. I don't understand why it is so hard for you to swallow that fact that not everything works the same around the world. It is a extremely basic concept and you aren't changing the world, let alone anything, preaching your beliefs. [rofl]

I dunno how my g/f is going to cope when we move to the US. She rarely tips.... and while you can get away with it here, you cannot over there, as you said. Actually there have been many occasions where i have tipped, and then caught her taking it back as I get up to leave. She comes from a very stern upbringing and has the "suck it up" philosophy when it comes to work. But what never ceases to amaze me is that despite the fact that you would think those who have done it thought would have an understanding of those in similar positions and help out, they rarely do. In face, most become just as bitter as the people who made their lives tough. Sad really as it begins and endless cycle resulting in arguments like this.