We haven't had a conversation about tipping in awhile

[Alidar Jarok]

Did this thread happen not that long ago? like an almost exactly identical thread. because i'm getting a really odd feeling of deja vu.

The title explicitly says that this thread happened awhile ago

 

[iguana_tonante]

Tipping is so alien to me that I managed to completely piss off a waiter on my honeymoon in Italy where tipping *is* expected. It honestly didn't occur to me. We spent the week wondering why the guy started off being so pleasant but then progressively treated us with ever increasing, blatant contempt.

Didn't twig until we were on the plane home. Still feel like such a monumental asshole when I think about it.

I have no idea why I'm telling you this.

please kill me

If I can quell your guilt, I can assure you that in Italy tipping is definitively *not* expected. It's nice if you do, but it's not common (except for exceptional service... or if the server is cute). The only places that expect tipping are tourist traps that cater to American visitors and travellers.

^ Wait, the service charge isn't just another term for "tip"? Have I been thoroughly mistaken? Is this another bitter regret to add to the pile? I've been conducting my life in an appalling manner, I presume. Fuck

As far as Italy is concerned, "service" is always included in the bill (as coperto e servizio -- "table and service", or simply included in the price of food).

 

[Alidar Jarok]

If I can quell your guilt, I can assure you that in Italy tipping is definitively *not* expected. It's nice if you do, but it's not common (except for exceptional service... or if the server is cute). The only places that expect tipping are tourist traps that cater to American visitors and travellers.

I was at a trattoria in Siena. I left extra money as a tip and they came running back to me trying to give me my money. I had no idea how to explain that I was giving it to them as a tip. I kept saying "per Lei" and "per tu," but they seemed to just be confused. I finally gave up and took it back.

Then I looked up the word for tip so, when I came back, I was able to say "è una mancia." I know tipping isn't required, but I was shocked at how difficult it was to give one. Now that coppia is ubiquitous (especially in tourist traps) and that can be annoying from my perspective (especially since you can't even get free water), but I'm fine going with what is normal once I know to expect it.

 

[SmoothieX]

Too bad it's not like that in the States.

 

[Jim Steele]

Tipping is so alien to me that I managed to completely piss off a waiter on my honeymoon in Italy where tipping *is* expected. It honestly didn't occur to me. We spent the week wondering why the guy started off being so pleasant but then progressively treated us with ever increasing, blatant contempt.

Didn't twig until we were on the plane home. Still feel like such a monumental asshole when I think about it.

I have no idea why I'm telling you this.

please kill me

If I can quell your guilt, I can assure you that in Italy tipping is definitively *not* expected. It's nice if you do, but it's not common (except for exceptional service... or if the server is cute). The only places that expect tipping are tourist traps that cater to American visitors and travellers.

Oh, I stand corrected. Well I feel like less of a git now, thanks!

That waiter was just an arsehole, I guess. This was nearly ten years ago, by the way. Should probably let it go.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Too bad it's not like that in the States.

Keep in mind that there's a 10% service charge regardless of quality of service, if you think that's preferable.

 

[Yoda]

I can't remember the last time I tipped 10 percent or less... so I say bring it.

 

[MacLeod]

Service charge in the UK is fairly often only applied to large groups. So if was only a few people eating it wouldn't be included.

If the service is poor you could ask for it to be removed.

 

[SmoothieX]

I hate that. Nothing like the imposed gratuity of 18% for a party larger than 6.

 

[Scout101]

Usually doesn't work out in their favor when they do that for me. If they say tip is included, here's the amount; I pay that amount. If there's no tip included, they'd normally get the 20%, maybe slightly more if they went nuts or we're splitting it and paying cash, whatever. When the 18% is already on there, I either sign it, or just round up to nearest dollar or round number...

 

[JoeZhang]

Service charge in the UK is fairly often only applied to large groups. So if was only a few people eating it wouldn't be included.

If the service is poor you could ask for it to be removed.

Some places try it on by then adding a tip - which is calculated by including the service charge!

 

[MacLeod]

Never come across that myself, and for a couple of years I was eating out more or less 5 nights a week. (When I was working away from home)

 

[SonOfMogh]

I'm in the UK, and I find this tipping thing very strange....... It seems to be creeping in there in certain restaurants, and some people I know tip, others do not.

Why the HELL do the employers not increase all prices by 10% or whatever and give all staff a payrise? I can't get my head around being given a price on a menu and then discovering the person who brought the food from the kitchen is not getting paid enough to carry out even that basic function- surely the employer has it wrong.

I'd prefer the option to go to the kitchen and collect my own food and then wash up, if the waiter/waitress service is mandatory then employers need to pay their staff more and include this cost in their pricing structure.

 

[RoJoHen]

I'm in the UK, and I find this tipping thing very strange....... It seems to be creeping in there in certain restaurants, and some people I know tip, others do not.

Why the HELL do the employers not increase all prices by 10% or whatever and give all staff a payrise? I can't get my head around being given a price on a menu and then discovering the person who brought the food from the kitchen is not getting paid enough to carry out even that basic function- surely the employer has it wrong.

I'd prefer the option to go to the kitchen and collect my own food and then wash up, if the waiter/waitress service is mandatory then employers need to pay their staff more and include this cost in their pricing structure.

Honestly, if servers were paid a "real wage," they'd probably make less money than with the current system of tipping in the US.

 

[Maestro]

Gosh, it's nice to be back living in Northern Wisconsin... I walked into this thread and thought it was about tipping over cows.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Honestly, if servers were paid a "real wage," they'd probably make less money than with the current system of tipping in the US.

I want a tip every time I solve an equation. Double if it's a partial differential equation.

I would surely make more money than I currently do with my research fellowship.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I'm in the UK, and I find this tipping thing very strange....... It seems to be creeping in there in certain restaurants, and some people I know tip, others do not.

Why the HELL do the employers not increase all prices by 10% or whatever and give all staff a payrise? I can't get my head around being given a price on a menu and then discovering the person who brought the food from the kitchen is not getting paid enough to carry out even that basic function- surely the employer has it wrong.

I'd prefer the option to go to the kitchen and collect my own food and then wash up, if the waiter/waitress service is mandatory then employers need to pay their staff more and include this cost in their pricing structure.

Honestly, if servers were paid a "real wage," they'd probably make less money than with the current system of tipping in the US.

Then maybe the people griping about poor tips should knock it off, lest they get their wish.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

This story reminded me of this thread, so I hope no one minds a bit of necromancy.

Earlier this week, we posted a story about a restaurant customer who not only chose to deny the waitress a tip, but also wrote “I Give God 10% Why do you Get 18?” on the receipt. Now we’ve learned that the server who posted the receipt online has been fired.

“I originally posted the note as a lighthearted joke,” says Chelsea, who was dismissed from her job at Applebee’s on Wednesday, as the story began to spread across the Internet. “I thought the note was insulting, but it was also comical. I posted it to Reddit because I thought other users would find it entertaining.”

Chelsea tells Consumerist that the receipt was actually not even for her table. Rather, the server on the receiving end of the note showed it to Chelsea, who snapped a photo of it later that night.

As posted originally on Reddit’s Atheist page, the image contained the customer’s full signature. Chelsea says she didn’t think to edit that out because she had assumed the name was illegible.

But the Internet is a remarkably curious place, so sleuths began trying to identify the self-described “pastor” on the receipt.

 

[doubleohfive]

Yeah, that story was awful. Not only did this pastor get their congregation to stir up shit for that Applebee's, but the waitress in question was fired. Fucking ridiculous.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Yeah, that story was awful. Not only did this pastor get their congregation to stir up shit for that Applebee's, but the waitress in question was fired. Fucking ridiculous.

Yeah, my response to a message like that would be, "Because I have bills to pay and God doesn't, you sanctimonious shitbag." I mean, if I'm gonna get fired anyway...