Tipping is not the done thing.

[Lyndaishistory]

You are not expected to tip in the UK! I'm not sure why some people think otherwise.
I would only tip if service was above and beyond but it is not an expectation and I wouldn't "cave" if it was crap service.

Husband and I had a rubbish meal at a well known resturant chain for our anniversary. I complained at the time but nothing was done about it.
Left husband to pay the bill and he tipped them. Bloody hell, I want my fiver back!
Seriously considering LTB over this.

Indeed, Lynda.

ahardman's attitude and way they behave is the hallmark of excellent service for me. It's so rare and I travel so extensively that sooner or later, I'll come across them, and I really hope I do.

Really. All these Florence Nightingales working as waitresses. In most cases, servers are polite, take your order, bring it to you - possibly ask once is everything ok- then bring the bill and say goodbye. There’s not that much interaction. I’m not there to observe and appraise the serving staff. It’s pretty basic stuff.

Bit patronising. Also depends where you go. A high end restaurant is infinitely different to pub/restaurant to wine bar to cafe/bistro. Working in a wetherspoons Vs working in the Ritz same job title massively different role in reality. I've been lucky enough to work with some really amazing people. I've worked with lazy rude arseholes as well, but those are the minority and never last long.

What I meant by that is that this standard of service is quite rare so I will happily 'save up the tips' I would have given, and give them to ahardman.

@SilverySurfer

Keep up, we've got past the insults stage.

😂Lynda I was thinking the same .

I once served an elderly lady, she was 99p short and couldn't afford to add a pot of tea to her order. So I paid the 99p and she got her tea

Bless you, ahardman - what a lovely thing to have done

You're right, too, about how important "a few words" can be when someone's done well. So many only comment when things haven't pleased them, not bothering to say anything when they have - and to me that seems s shame

You're right, too, about how important "a few words" can be when someone's done well.

Lots of teachers have this reaction when it comes to the end of year. Most say that a card with a thoughtful message means so much more and that gifts aren't expected.

If you eat out you tip. If I couldn't afford the tip I wouldn't eat out. How can you walk out without leaving a tip?! I would feel awful.

Lol

If you eat out you tip. If I couldn't afford the tip I wouldn't eat out

Don't be so ridiculous. You're seriously saying that if people don't have enough to tip in the UK where it isn't needed, then they should stay at home?
That'll do local businesses a fat load of good, won't it if people stop going.

You clearly have no understanding of the service industry. Hope circumstance never dictates that you or anyone you consider friend or family finds themselves in the lowly position of working as wait staff. Dickhead.

Is this a joke? I used to be a bartender. Occassionaly got tipped but rarely. Then i went onto be a carer for dementia and terminal illness and now i work in a shop/garage place and guess what? I was on the same minimum wage for all of them. I wasnt tipped as a carer or in the shop so why should i have been in the bar?

Surely no one is suggesting that waiters receive tips because they are more worthy than any other minimum wage workers? It’s just custom rightly or wrongly.

I routinely tip in restaurants where a service charge is not added already (although I recognise there is a bit of an issue as to whether staff actually get that device charge as a tip). I thought this was totally standard and I’m surprised many don’t, although I get some of the reasons.

I have never quite got my head around tipping black cabs who are essentially self employed and not minimum wage although I do round up from time to time.

I should probably tip hairdressers etc. but rarely do as I find it awkward.

I would really rather just pay what something costs service and all...

Interesting about the US pay structure. I hadn’t realised. Although I did know you were supposed to tip 20-25%.

Fwiw I don’t think working as wait staff is ‘lowly’.

I have always given tips since I was a waitress as a student. To waiting staff, taxi drivers and hairdressers --- unless it is the business they own. So as my beautician owns the salon, I don't tip her (but will take a small gift at Christmas) but I tip the lasses who rent chairs from the salon and those that do the hairwashing.

Posties, bin collectors (and the milkman, when we had one) get Christmas boxes.

However, you've all got me wondering what the correct protocol should be with the delivery company drivers... some of whom are regular visitors to XingCastle.

However, you've all got me wondering what the correct protocol should be with the delivery company drivers...

But where do we draw the line. The last time I had a food shop delivery, we had just moved house and I had 2 week old baby. They guy was so lovely but I couldn't find a single penny (everything was still in boxes etc) I felt bad that I didn't tip him and told him this. He said he didn't do the job for tips and he didn't usually get tipped.

Sweetsomethings you are right of course. Some pensioners are notoriously tight and never tip. A relative of mine tips 20p or 50p and is very comfortably off with final salary pension and six figure savings. They also like to ask what you are giving as a tip and piggyback on that, then don’t contribute.

I tip at least 10% for average service and more for good service in restaurants. If the service has been bad then I don’t tip at all. But I think that’s only ever happened once or twice.
I give food delivery people £2 and the same to the lady who does my nails. Taxi drivers get to keep the change if it’s not a massive or insulting amount and they haven’t been an arsehole.

My grandad, bless him, always tries to tip his Tesco delivery driver but the driver always says they aren't allowed to accept tips? He always leaves with a handful of sweets though. He keeps a little jar next to the front door, the postie always gets some as well when he drops off parcels too.

Can I ask people who tip where do you actually go to eat?

I’m a waitress on minimum wage and I tip if the service is good ( smiley, friendly, knows the ingredients in the dishes, makes me feel special), and I don’t tip if the service isn’t good.
I don’t mind if you do or don’t tip, but please treat me with the same politeness and respect that I show you, the guest.😀

Can I ask people who tip where do you actually go to eat?

That's a really relevant question. I cook a lot so when i want to go out to eat I want it to be somewhere very pleasurable.

For instance I would never eat at McDonalds so therefore I would never tip there (because I would never go there).

So when I go out to eat it is at a proper restaurant. It will be the sort of restaurant where you check the menu in advance and book in advance and I will go there with friends or what have you.

So maybe that makes a difference.

So when I go out to eat it is at a proper restaurant.

Is mcdonalds not a proper restaurant then? They are held to the same food hygiene regs, healthy and safety and staff are trained in customer service. You wouldn't tip these guys because? What's the difference here?

Working as a waitron isnt lowly but its bloody low paid. If you are too mean to tip then stay at home and count your pennies.

Mac Donald’s doesn’t have laid tables, Silver service, wine service , the waitress won’t take you to your table, take your coat, bring you water, explain the menu, cater every dietary you can name and work with the chef to ensure you have a fabulous meal.
I love a nice Mac Donald’s but there is a difference

• McDonalds

I tip the only people I would never tip are black cab drivers because when I was young and working in the West End (earning fabulous money) they would never take me home South of the River. I tip valets and toilet attendants too. Some people don’t leave work for Home until 4 am.