For my friend not to tip

[kangar00]

My friend suggested we meet up at a local chain restaurant as they are currently doing kids meal free with any adult main. On arrival she said that she has taken advantage of this offer lots over the holidays. She ordered a £7.95 salad and tap water. When we came to pay she put out £8 cash. I was paying by card so tried to subtly hint saying 'would you like me to add a tip' to which she replied 'I'm not working at the moment so i don't tip' and then walked off to take her daughter to the loo. I paid and added 10% of my meal. Is she being unreasonable to take advantage of this offer so often (about 4 times over the last 2 weeks) and pay the bare minimum or maybe she is just being savvy? I would feel really awkward returning to the same place knowing I was being a bit of a cheap skate. So as not to drip feed, it is true that she isn't working and has a preschooler. On the other hand she has a BTL (no mortgage on it) and has chosen not to work. However she is a single mum so this makes it harder. I suppose I most impressed/taken back by her confidence in saying she won't tip.

If the restaurant are putting on the offer and she's taking them up on it, where does cheap skate come into it? If you want to tip, that's your choice. You said yourself she isn't working...

Also that was not a 'subtle hint' that was directly asking

It wouldn’t bother me - it’s entirely her choice to tip or not to tip. I certainly wouldn’t call her a cheap skate. She’s paid for her meal that’s all she’s obliged to do.

No one is obliged to tip. Would you tip in McDonald's?

She's a cheap git. I wouldn't go out to dinner with her again.

this isnt usa where tips form the majority of waiting staff wages

no need to tip in uk at all. for whatever reason you like

I also would have found you asking/judging quite embarrassing. If I'm on a budget, I too look for places that have offers on for that exact reason

Yabu
Massively
She's clearly on a budget
Can't believe you would even think like this...

Having worked in hospitality for the best part of a decade, I know how it can be frustrating to work your ass off and get f all in tips.

Having said that, I still won't tip unless the waiter/waitress has made an effort and been attentive. 90% of places you go they'll just do the bare minimum, but if I ever feel like they've actually tried to earn the tip then they're welcome to it.
This isn't america, so our national minimum wage isn't as dependent on strangers tips as theirs.

I normally don't tip. First and foremost because most places already add a gratuity. If they don't then I tip if children have made a mess/service was good. But otherwise I wouldn't tip. Britain by and large doesn't have a tipping culture and I do not want one to develop. It encourages restaurants to pay less leaving employees at the mercy of tippers. I would rather consistently pay more for my food and only tip if I felt the server worker harder than I would expect for minimum wage.

Some people tip, others don’t.
I used to work in bar / restaurants and it’s actually the norm NOT to tip, or at least it did about 10 years ago.

I always tip though - unless there’s a reason not to.

Nobody has to tip, its not compulsory.

I normally would but not always. I went to dinner at the weekend and refused to tip, the service was atrocious and they didn't deserve it!

most places already add a gratuity

Never seen this outside of London, or for parties of less than 6 people.

If the restaurant are promoting the offer with unlimited uses then I wouldn't feel bad at all - they are still getting paid for the goods and to be honest are probably still making a good profit on it even at a discounted price. I'm also not usually a tipper unless I have received exceptional service, though a lot of the time I find the service is pretty lacking but people seem to feel the need to tip anyway which I think is wrong as that is why it just becomes expected and probably not appreciated. I don't get tipped for doing my job.

Can't be that skint if she's eaten out 4 times in the last two weeks!

I am probably in the minority.
I spent several years working in restaurants and I think she was being cheap. I know tipping is optional, but restaurant staff are paid very badly and many rely on tips to pay their rent.
The restaurant is offering a deal on children's food - but it doesn't mean the server works less. S/he is still taking orders, serving tap water, clearing plates. The child presumably had a drink (even if tap water). My point is, they are running back and forth to serve the customer.
Whenever I have a discount meal (Taste card etc) I always tip for the full amount, before the discount is offered.
And no, I wouldn't tip in McDonald's but McDs doesn't serve you food. You order and collect it from the counter and the clean up your mess. Why would you tip?

I eat out once a week every week but I have to budget under £10 for it every time

Some people never tip, skint or not.

I don't tip unless very impressed with the quality of service. As PP have pointed out, we do not have a tipping culture in this country as the onus is on business to actually pay a fair wage (which it should be). Besides, not all places pool tips- what about the people who work in other roles within the business, such as kitchen staff?

Out of genuine curiosity, do you also tip your hairdresser, taxi drivers and mechanics?

Chocolateavocado, are you in the UK? It's definitely not the norm here for hospitality staff to rely on tips to pay rent. If it were a lot would be contributing to the homeless statistics!

Out of genuine curiosity, do you also tip your hairdresser, taxi drivers and mechanics?

Hairdresser? No. But I always give the apprentice that washes my hair a couple of quid.

Taxi drivers? Usually, unless I have a reason not to. They earn crap money and have to put up with loads of crap.

Mechanics? No, they usually earn almost double the minimum wage.

I rarely tip, I wouldn't appreciate you judging that or trying to 'hint' that I should. As an adult I get to decide.

That's fine- I'm asking the question as I want to know the answer. I will try to take on more of her way of thinking in future!

I don't tip anyone except the teenage lads that bring the takeaway I order, or if service has been exceptional, like the one restaurant where we went to that turned out to be completely empty except for us and we had the most amazing night as all waiters, including sommelier, were having a grand time trying out snacks, dishes and drinks on us.

You don't have to take on her way of thinking, just don't presume to know better I.e. Your 'hinting'/don't judge her or anyone else for choosing something different to you. I'd be upset if a friend judged me as being a cheap skate especially when I've gone somewhere deliberately to use an offer

@GreatDuckCookery is right though. She has a fairly new car, doesn't work out of choice and has a decent BTL and her own house (which she is about to complete an extension and new kitchen on). The extension is probably the reason for her budget. There is a bit of a back history. We were trying to arrange to go out places and we found country house with extensive grounds - the only charge was £3 for parking and you could take your own picnic. She refused to go on the grounds of paying for petrol and parking and suggested this lunch out instead.