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.

Absolutely nothing to do with you OP, YABU. You're not obliged to tip, it'snot compulsory.
You can tip all you like,but it doesn't make you any more superior to someone who doesn't.
Just makes you look like a judgy twat.

I'm shocked at the attitude on here, as if not tipping is some sort of active strike against consumerism for those fortunate enough to afford meals out, also at those saying "if people don't like not getting tips, get a better job"... OP I'd have been embarrased to have gone out with your friend, she's clearly mean spirited.

You're probably getting shot down because you've mentioned she's got a BTL, she sounds a typical middle class selfish type but for all her kindred spirits on this post you may as well as have slighted them personally

I would be embarrassed to be with someone who didn't tip unless the service had been really poor

Me too. I wouldn’t eat with your friend again

I think it’s fine to take advantage of the offer though

I'd like to see all of you who say you never tip and that the serves don't deserve it work as a waiter/waitress for a week in one of these places and put up with all the crap waitresses have to, then see if you rethink your stance on tipping

I was a waitress for three years. I don't tip.

Yabu. I very rarely tip. Definitely wouldn't for an 8 pound salad.

I would be embarrassed to be with someone who didn't tip
Are you tipping everyone? Who do you NOT tip then? And much cash do you have if you can afford to give tips to everyone!

My approach to tipping changed a lot when it was revealed that Michel Roux jr pocketed his staff's tips.

how rude of him! What a shame, his restaurant, and his staff are lovely.

Tipping is optional. No one in the U.K. should feel obliged to do it. Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don't.

Here in London there is this bullshit system of adding it to the bill automatically. If the service was crap, I cross it out and just pay the bill or give what I consider to be an adequate tip, not the 12.5% they have dictated to me - cheeky buggers.

Because I've heard that some restaurant managers keep the tips for themselves I try to avoid paying a tip by card. Instead I ask the waiter/waitress "If I give the tip by card will you get it or will it go straight to the management?" Of course sometimes they are afraid to answer in hearing distance of the boss so I let them signal with blinks (it's crazy the fear they can be under). If they indicate that they only receive the tips left in cash I make a point to ensure it is a cash tip. No manager has any business taking a waiter/waitress' tips for themselves. That practice is so greedy!

ikea I give 10-15% of the bill when i tip. I'm not rich but I'd rather have less then be mean.

I always tip. I'm not especially well off I just factor it in when choosing things on the menu. I used to be a waitress and I remember how much I appreciated the tips. It's have to be crap service for me to not tip.

8 quid for a salad???????! Christ!

The question is, did she want her 5p change?

@Kangar00

This subject comes up almost weekly on here!!!

No need whatsoever to tip these days. No-one should be 'tipped' - not in 2018.

Since the national minimum wage came in 20 years ago, there has been no need to tip. As has been said, do you tip the macdonalds workers, or the woman who serves you in Asda, or the teller in the post office?

No, of course not. So why on earth should some people be tipped when others are not?

'Tipping' is 20 years out of date. I never ever ever tip ANyone.

I also agree with the people saying you had a bloody cheek judging her and looking down your nose at her for not 'tipping.'

Not being judgy- my Aibu was to find out what the 'right' thing to do is. The overwhelming consensus is not to tip and if there is a good offer then take advantage and don't feel guilty. I just wanted to find out so I understand conventions.

Irrelevant but.... actually I think it was a lentil Dahl type thing with salad?!

As you say...irrelevant...what difference is that supposed to make?

Are you from somewhere other than the UK?

Taking advantage of a meal deal isn’t a problem at all. Not tipping I don’t think is fair on poorly paid staff.

I give 10-15% of the bill when i tip.
but the question is, who do you - or anyone -tip?
The binmen, the delivery guys, the window cleaners, the receptionists, the nurses, the garage, the shop assistants, the nursery workers, the ticket collectors, the air hostess.. Where does it stop!

I feel the staff taking care of my babies deserve a lot more of a thank you than the people who bring me a coffee.

Another thing- the friend also brought along a 'starter' for her DD (not bought from the restaurant) to eat in her bag and produced it as soon as we sat down. It was cucumber and carrot. Daughter is 4.

@Fuzzyduck0 I mentioned the meal as another poster had questions the price of the salad so was clarifying what the meal actually was.

Kangar00 the starter has nothing to do with the fact you had a problem with her not tipping though.
So is that just a drip feed to try and make her look even worse and make people feel more sympathy? That wasn't your issue with her.

I don't actually have a problem with the tipping!!! What if I didn't tip myself....
I think Aibu was the wrong place for this. Oh well.

Probably should have entitled it Aibu for not bringing along a starter from home to eat at the restaurant. I'm now on a massive drip feed and I simply can't stop!

Someone asked whether I am from abroad. I live in the UK but some of my family are American and live in California.

I don't actually have a problem with the tipping!!!

Yeah,you do.You said she was being a cheapskate (your words),then to her pulled her up on the lack of tipping by trying to "subtly hint" by asking her if she wanted to add to it.
And if she was BU to keep taking advantage of the restaurant's offer but only pay the bare minimum.
Sounds like you did mind the no tipping
Why isn't AIBU the right place for it? You're getting answers.Maybe they're not answers you want to here, but hey, never post in AIBU if you're not willing to be told that yep,YABU lol

hear not here