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Post by MuvverRussia on Apr 27, 2005 4:56:12 GMT -5
Tipping is far, far less commonplace than in the US. Generally, you can get away without tipping at all, although if you are in a decent restaurant tip maybe 5% or so.
In terms of people to tip, if in doubt don't. For example, you very rarely tip a barman (almost never), or similar kind of thing (e.g. someone in a sandwich shop etc). You can sometimes tip taxi drivers, although again I wouldn't bother.
Overall, I don't know where the tipping thing came from, as they are just doing their job (and are being paid for it). People in the US (i.e. service workers) seem to think that it's their God given right to receive a tip, even for very mediocre service.
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Post by WillTravel on Apr 27, 2005 11:40:23 GMT -5
In the US, the waiters are often getting sub-minimum wage with the expectation they will get tips, and they're taxed on the expected tips as well.
MR, I was interested to read your take on it for London. I think Lonely Planet suggests a 10% tip if service is not included on the bill.
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Post by MuvverRussia on Apr 27, 2005 12:47:45 GMT -5
Surely paying waiters etc below the minimum wage is illegal? Or is it based on on target earnings? That said, restaurants are pretty much the only time I'll tip, although they have to work for it. Also, on the continent you may have to tip toilet attendants, although that depends on how fast you can get out of there - they can be very forceful though. Check out www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A640018 for a fairly concise guide to tipping etiquette |
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Post by WillTravel on Apr 27, 2005 12:58:10 GMT -5
It's perfectly legal to pay sub-minimum wage, although I don't know the details. The ridiculous thing I've read (from US servers) is that because the price of living has gone up, the percentage expected as a tip has gone up - which of course makes little sense mathematically. Some recent article was advocating 25% tips for US dinners - which is the road to madness, IMO.
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Post by stanncie on Apr 27, 2005 18:31:16 GMT -5
Muvver thanks for the info on uk tipping policies but if you ever come to the US please understand things are very different. I found your attitude a little hostile and i think it stems from ignorance on the policies and laws on service people in the US. My whole family works on the service industry so i know it very well. I myself worked as a waitress for a year and a half while in school before i attained my degree. I can tell you without doubt that service people live off tips. A waitress is not paid minimum wage she/he is usually paid about half that and the rest is expected to be made up in tips. For example when i was a waitress minimum wage was 5.15 and i was payed 2.25 an hour. Now, don't get me wrong you can usually make a decent amount if you are a good waitress and especially if you are efficient. However, a 15% tip is expected on regular service and more if you get exceptional service. If you get crappy service the thing to do is to just tip 15% and never go back to that establishment. A maid in a hotel is only paid about 6/hour these days and obviously this is hardly enough to support a family so tips of3-4 dollars are the proper thing to do. I'm sorry if i offended you but what you wrote made me very angry since i know first hand how hard these people work  |
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Post by Kim on Apr 27, 2005 19:24:50 GMT -5
stanncie,
I don't think MR was trying to come across as hostile or trying to say that service workers aren't hard workers, I think as a whole everyone can agree on the fact that service workers have extremely draining and tough jobs.
Here in Canada, I wouldn't dream of ever not tipping, it's just not done. Although I do have to agree that it is crazy to tip when you get horrible service - although I still do even though I know it makes no sense.
It's just a whole different ballgame in Europe with different "rules", wages and standards. I don't think MR is trying to be negative but rather just stating the standard practice for where he is in the UK.
Kim
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Post by LHR02 on Apr 27, 2005 19:34:55 GMT -5
I'll chime in here to say with certainty that in Germany at least nothing will brand you more quickly as a 'North American' than your tip! Service charge is included in every bill and they don't tip as a rule....and frankly find our habits of leaving 15-25% amusing. Most Germans will typically round up to the nearest euro, but no more than that. Look at your bill....whatever the country...if a service charge is included then be sure the locals tip very little or nothing at all. They've already done so in paying the check. Americans and Canadians are the tipping giants of the world....but it's not like that in Europe overall.
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Post by me on Apr 27, 2005 21:09:26 GMT -5
one time i got really BAD service in Quebec City, and the waitress howled at me when i left a low tip on my OJ. [menu said "fresh squeezed." i guess they squeezed the can of concentrate!]
i thought she would hit me as she yelled how she gets taxed for 20% by the government! i fished out a few more coins and scooted out of there.
i was shocked that they let crazies wait tables in Quebec City!
- d
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Post by Cat on Apr 28, 2005 2:05:47 GMT -5
In the Netherlands and Belgium tipping is rather uncommon as well. Like Dustoff said, when the restaurant has provided good service, you add some euro's to round it up to a nice figure, but that's about it.
Waiters get paid enough to pay for their daily living, the tips are an extra they appreciate, but do not count on as regular income.
When I was in the States I was amazed at the amount people tipped. I then learned how important that extra bit of money is for people in the industry.
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Post by MuvverRussia on Apr 28, 2005 5:16:14 GMT -5
Muvver thanks for the info on uk tipping policies but if you ever come to the US please understand things are very different. I've been to the US numerous times. I've family throughout Texas (Dallas, Ft Worth, Corpus Christi) and have visited many parts of Florida, as well as Boston MA. My post before was a comment on US tipping practices from a European persepective. At no time was I derogative towards service workers etc. However, I still stick by my belief that tipping should be the exception. That's how I've been brought up (as a European) to do it, and to bring this post back on topic, that's how it works throughout Europe. |
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Post by MuvverRussia on Apr 28, 2005 6:31:56 GMT -5
Personally, I wouldn't ask them. Overall, tipping is more personal though - you decide how much or how little and when. There aren't really any set formulae like in the US.
Lonely Planet has an ok guide to tipping etiquette as well - according to my copy, tipping in France is pretty much a no go, as restaurants charge service and bar staff don't expect it. In Spain they appreciate a couple of coins (€1 or so) etc.
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kena
Senior Travel Member
Posts: 64
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Post by kena on Apr 28, 2005 20:49:40 GMT -5
i thought she would hit me as she yelled how she gets taxed for 20% by the government! i fished out a few more coins and scooted out of there. How awful! Not to mention that the standard practice around here is ~15% (it's easy to calculate because that's exactly the amount of taxes we pay, and it's detailed on the bill) and I'm pretty sure that's what they're taxed on, not 20%. And it's considered ok to leave less if the service wasn't good. I'm afraid she recognized you as a gullible tourist (unfortunately, tourist traps abound in Quebec city) In what restaurant was that? Otherwise, the norm in Quebec is something like: - 15% for sit-down service, never less than 1$ - no tip for fast foods and all places where service is at a counter, except for a couple of coins if the service was very good, you had a special request, etc... - Around 10% for taxis, deliveries, buffets, etc... - Never less than 50 cents for a drink in regions (even if there's a 2 for 1 deal, or something like that), 1$ in fancy places and everywhere in Montreal or Quebec City. Also, 0,50-1$ for coat checks in bars, even if there's a cover fee. - 15-20% for hairdressers and most of the service industry etc... |
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Post by Imaguest on May 31, 2005 18:52:04 GMT -5
I find it strange, the whole concept of tipping. With Australia we rarely ever tip, i mean, pretty much never. I can understand it in America where people rely on tips, but in Australia our minimum wages are quite high so nobody bothers. The only time i have ever tipped was when i was at a really expensive cafe in the city and me and my friend didn't want to look like stupid poor little children so it was a stupid reason really. And if we do tip here it isn't much more than a couple of dollars.
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Should I tip everywhere and everytime? Or there are some places where you MUST tip and some where it is not that necessary? And one more thing: how much tip is enough? How many %? 
Should I tip everywhere and everytime? Or there are some places where you MUST tip and some where it is not that necessary? And one more thing: how much tip is enough? How many %? 
So many opinions. Thanks a LOT!
