Tipping

[TheMonk]

I believe there's a big cultural difference in tipping regarding Europe vs. the rest of the world. Here we tip a lot less, and don't even tend to follow any specific percentage, unlike what happens in the US. That being said, I only tip when I've had very good service and food, and I try and do it proportionally to the quality of both, but never over 15%, and generally rounded up to a convenient amount.

While I sympathise with the waiter situation, I feel that the tipping systems is a crooked one, and one that mostly benefits restaurant owners. The restaurant business tends to have very good margins, and IMO they should support decent wages of the staff, the customer is already doing their part by paying the price the restaurant has decided was fair for what they're offering. I don't know any other business where the customer pays for the workforce apart from paying for the product or service - makes no sense to me.

[Fuzz]

Tipping in Japan is very uncommon, and most often, politely refused. Found that out the hard way the first time I was in Japan and had a young lady rush after our group to return the tip we left.

[Ryan]

I adjust, depending where I am. In Ireland at a restaurant, 15-20% depending on the service. I rarely tip bartenders here. It's not done, unless there is table service, then €1-€2 per round. No more is expected.

When I'm places where tipping bartenders is normal, I tip depending on how busy the bar is. If an extra $2-$5 saves me 20 minutes waiting for some drinks later in the evening, then I tip better. These are also the places where bartenders know what's going on, how to get a cab, where to go next, try this new rum/whiskey etc. a few extra dollars/pesos/euro goes a long way.

Interesingly, tipping can bring out racism in some people. I was with someone I used to call a friend in southern Spain a few years ago, 5%-10% for a waiter seems standard down there in casual bar/restaurants. We were out for lunch about 15 of us and only one waiter working. He did a good job, had to visit our table probably 10-15 times, got food for the kids that wasn't on the menu etc. At the end I wanted to tip at least 10%, she was insisting no more than 5% (there was about €2 in the difference for each of us paying). "You'll spoil them", she said.

"Who's "Them", exactly?" was my question, and then it kicked off.

[BrightonCorgi]

Depends on what was in the $200 tab.  If it was a $150 bottle of wine and one $50 plate; no way am I tipping the same if it was like 10 cocktails and 6 plates of food.  It has to be more than the tab amount alone to justify whatever percent tip I leave.  How much did the waiter actually do???  Never tip the same percent on wine as food.  It's no different for the waiter to open a $150 bottle of wine from a $30 bottle; why tip differently?  I say this as advice from my cousin who is a long time waiter at Capital Grille and use to manage Sparks in NYC in the early 80's...  He says you're crazy to tip the food percent on wine just because of this.  He also says you're crazy to order two steaks; better to order one and split it.

 

[shlomo]

30% - 50% tips!

I'm in the wrong line of work.

[hedgeybaby]

19 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

kerry packer was famous for that sort of thing. apparently liked a young croupier in vegas once and said he wanted to leave her a tip. "how much is your mortgage?' he asked. and paid it off!

What a legend he was. OT I know, but apparently he was in a casino somewhere being a bit, well Australian and he offended some Texan, who said "I'm worth $10 million Dollars." KP shot back "I'll flip you for it."

[wabashcr]

I can't remember the last time I tipped anything other than 20% rounded up to the nearest dollar.  Good service, bad service, I usually tip the same.  There have been a few times when service has been exceptional, and I'll go up to 30%, but that's exceedingly rare.  I can't recall ever having service I've deemed poor enough to tip less than 20%.  

[jackupster]

20-25% for good or better service

15% for barely adequate

10% for poor service

I think of it as my "comment" on their performance.

 

I have only left without tipping a few times. That's where the service was soooo bad I almost wanted to assault someone.

[JC67]

20 years ago whilst working in Arizona, we used to frequent a bar where a beer would cost about $3 

whenever I would give the waitress a $10 bil she would ask  " do you want change with that" ? That soon became the norm and all bar staff were trying it on

that used  to wind me up !! 

[Thomasdenaro]

I can honestly say that I do not often tip here in Brisbane. if i do it is Brilliant / phenomenal service that needs rewarding. Too man times I find the restaurant waiters / waitresses just making up time and getting their hours in for the pay, proper service is becoming increasingly rare. i also find that because they are paid well, especially over time rates, they are not to concerned if they get tipped or not

[clutch5150]

22 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

many stories about him. a good mate of mine has many stories from his brother who was one of packer's key cricketers.

i like the one when he kept them at a casino in london too long and then they had to drive to the south of england on a sunday arvo. everything shut. went into a little pub and asked for a few sandwiches for him and the guys. about five of them including some famous cricketers. bloke said bugger off, we are closed. we only want a couple of pies or sandwiches or whatever. will pay above the odds. bugger off, we are closed.

so they drove on. there was another pub on the other side of this little village. tried it. we are closed, says the owner, but come in and i'll make you some sandwiches.

time to pay and packer said you have two options. we'll pay you well or option two, i'll give you this cheque for ten grand (the figure varies depending who is telling it but it was ridiculous) on the condition that before you bank it, you go to the owner of the other pub and show him what he missed out on. the owner took the cheque!

Great story and would have love to see a video of that "before you bank it" trip... Would have been classic!

[Ken Gargett]

6 hours ago, hedgeybaby said:

What a legend he was. OT I know, but apparently he was in a casino somewhere being a bit, well Australian and he offended some Texan, who said "I'm worth $10 million Dollars." KP shot back "I'll flip you for it."

that is another well known story but the version i've often heard was that packer was quietly playing away (he could be very loud and obnoxious, i believe, but not when he was playing) and the texan was bignoting himself and carrying on. the texan asked if he knew who he was and that he was worth $50 mill. and back came the great quote.

got a few more stories from my cricket mates - if i get some time.

[gweilgi]

14 hours ago, Ryan said:

Interesingly, tipping can bring out racism in some people. I was with someone I used to call a friend in southern Spain a few years ago, 5%-10% for a waiter seems standard down there in casual bar/restaurants. We were out for lunch about 15 of us and only one waiter working. He did a good job, had to visit our table probably 10-15 times, got food for the kids that wasn't on the menu etc. At the end I wanted to tip at least 10%, she was insisting no more than 5% (there was about €2 in the difference for each of us paying). "You'll spoil them", she said.

"Who's "Them", exactly?" was my question, and then it kicked off.

Maybe it's just me, but when I encounter such staff with a "migration background", I will tip more than I otherwise would.  People like that have made truly enormous personal sacrifices to make a go of it, and I respect and honour that.  A few quid here or there won't make much difference to me, but it will mean a lot to them.  

And if this happens to annoy any passing racist f*ck, so much the better.

[2skinny]

Years ago, wifey and I ate in a mediocre steakhouse in Lexington, Kentucky. The waitress was great. The bill was $40 or so. I left her a $20 bill because that's the only bill I had left. She followed us out into the parking lot while crying saying that she really needed that $20 as she had fallen on hard times and she couldn't believe someone could be so generous. That really got to me and now, with decent service I generally leave a good tip. You never know what someone may be going through. If they are working as wait staff in a mediocre restaurant, they are probably out of options. 

[luvdunhill]

When I moved up north there was a single Mexican food joint in town. It was decent (but crap comparatively to Tex/Cal-Mex) and they were always threatening to close and no one ate there. I always left 100% tip just to show my appreciation. It was usually an $8 lunch special.