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Original poster

Service charge - difference of opinion. Any thoughts?

47 replies

Lottapianos · 03/02/2019 18:39

Out for lunch today with DP and another couple, Him and Her. Had a lovely time, good food, good booze. We always split the bill between couples when we go out

Bill arrives and I see that no service charge has been added, so I mention this to other couple, wondering how much they wanted to leave as a tip. Her says that they never pay any sort of service charge, unless service has been really exceptional. I asked why not, she said that it's normally included in the total Confused I said that it clearly wasn't on today's bill. Him piped up with saying that he wasn't interested in topping up people's wages and that minimum wage should be higher. I said that I agree it should be higher but it's not, and why should our poor waiting staff suffer. Him said that if they didn't like it, they could get another job. Yes, really

The upshot was that I paid all of the tip (what i thought was reasonable) with no contribution from them. For context, they confirmed that they had no complaints whatsoever about the service we received. They are in well paid jobs and not remotely hard up. Their part of the service charge sound have been under a tenner

I'm really taken aback by their attitude and think it's extremely tight and mean not to tip for decent service. Any thoughts, and how have you handled similar situations?

OP posts:
Troels · 03/02/2019 18:42

He's tightfisted.
You know how the rich get rich, they just don't spend unless they have to. One day he'll be rich and mean spirited.

Original poster
Lottapianos · 03/02/2019 19:44

That's what I thought Troels

OP posts:
wowfudge · 03/02/2019 19:47

What type of place were you eating in and was it full table service? I agree they sound tightfisted.

Original poster
Lottapianos · 03/02/2019 19:49

Gastropub, and yes, full table service. Cheerful, pleasant, efficient service too

OP posts:
BackforGood · 03/02/2019 19:59

Lots of people don't tip.
This is asked time and time again on MN and it is fairly evenly split.

Do you tip the cashier in the supermarket ?
Do you seek out the person who has cleaned the toilets?
Do you tip the lollipop man when you cross the road ?
Do you tip the chap that grits the road for you to get home safely?
Do you nip into the kitchen and tip the person who is doing the washing up?
Do you stop as you wander through the shops and tip the people stacking the shelves?

Why do you tip a waiter / waitress, and not any of the other low paid workers that make your life tick along nicely?

RedHatsDoNotSuitMe · 03/02/2019 20:02

I don't know, but I ALWAYS tip waiting staff, unless the service or the food has been awful.

Original poster
Lottapianos · 03/02/2019 20:04

What sound you do in my situation RedHats? Pay the full tip or just your half of it?

OP posts:
Original poster
Lottapianos · 03/02/2019 20:05

Would not sound! Stupid phone

OP posts:
BarbaraofSevillle · 03/02/2019 20:28

But why did you feel the need to tip for them as well as you? You could have just tipped based on your food. It would still have been a nice bonus for the server, and probably significantly increasing their hourly rate.

Tipping waiting staff makes no sense at all. Of all the low paid jobs, it's probably the least deserving when you consider what other jobs require. Who would be a home carer when they can get twice as much carrying plates and chatting with restaurant patrons?

Redglitter · 03/02/2019 20:35

It's perfectly reasonable for them not to tip it doesnt mean they're tight they just dont believe in tipping.

You'll find lots of people dont tip. I rarely do

Personally i object when places automatically add a service charge

greendale17 · 03/02/2019 20:37

I don’t believe in tipping and I would have paid either. I wouldn’t appreciate you questioning my choice not to tip either and make a scene.

Justmeagain123 · 03/02/2019 20:39

I might get slammed but I don't tip. We have minimum wage, I didn't get topped up when I was in a minimum wage job years ago, I don't tip retail staff. It's an outdated concept that will die out I'm sure. I tip in countries where there isn't a minimum wage.

Justmeagain123 · 03/02/2019 20:41

Tipped, thankfully wasn't topped either :)

Want2bSupermum · 03/02/2019 20:44

They didn't think the service was exception so made a choice not to tip. It was really rude for you to say something.

I tip 20% for basic service here in the US and tip more if exceptional service is given or if the food bill is low (last night dinner was $15 for my 3 DC so I tipped $10). If I don't tip the server is making $2.50 an hour with zero benefits. In the UK a server gets at least minimum wage plus benefits including healthcare at no additional cost. IMO the only people who openly tip in the UK are showoffs who want everyone to know they have cash. By all means tip but you don't need to give the other people you were with a lecture.

Chewbecca · 03/02/2019 20:45

My mum says the same and I always pay her share of a tip too.

wowfudge · 03/02/2019 22:04

Barbara has just demonstrated that people do not understand how demanding being a waiter can be. Unfortunately it's often viewed as a temporary job anyone can do until something better comes along.

BarbaraofSevillle · 03/02/2019 22:07

Please explain how being a waiter is more demanding than a carer, a cleaner, shelf stacker or a shop worker?

BarbaraofSevillle · 03/02/2019 22:10

All are physically demanding and involve interacting with the public. Both caring and cleaning have unpleasant aspects and caring may be upsetting when clients pass away and carers sometimes suffer abuse.

wowfudge · 03/02/2019 22:18

This isn't about the top trumps of service jobs, just that so often people are dismissive of what it actually involves. I tip in restaurants. I don't tip carers or cleaners as I don't have anyone doing that work for me. I tip my hairdresser - always have done.

BarbaraofSevillle · 03/02/2019 22:27

I'm not dismissive. It's just that the reasons that people give for tipping waiting staff apply equally and more so to other low paid jobs.

Also people's definition of good service are either the bare minimum expected of the role or upselling, neither of which should make people feel obliged to tip.

BrokenWing · 03/02/2019 22:33

I usually tip in restaurants, but you were being unreasonable and rude challenging the other couple.

TickTockClocks · 03/02/2019 22:47

I wouldn’t have tipped either. Never do.

Original poster
Lottapianos · 04/02/2019 07:32

Quite a range of opinions. In future, I will leave a reasonable tip (if service is ok), to cover our half of the bill and say no more

OP posts:
fatoneatthegym · 04/02/2019 07:49

For those of you who don't tip, do you pay the service charge if it's already added to your bill

anniehm · 04/02/2019 07:54

Lots of people don't tip, it's optional. It really depends on the type of pub - if you order at the bar I don't tip, if we have multiple courses full table service I do, for a single course meal it depends - I don't at the local pub because they charge quite high prices and pay the staff properly to start with (they say service is included on the menu as people prefer that)