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.

Tipping shrapnel allowed my friend to buy her wedding dress from tips. It mounts up. I tend to tip the juniors and youngsters as at least it helps them with their lunches and expenses. Juniors are not on minimum wage.

OliviaStabler funnily enough I was thinking about that. I went with a colleague to eat at Pho. There were just the two of us. We go often always leave a decent tip. The last time we went, I noticed on the receipt afterwards that there was a service charge. I hadn't noticed it but I would DEFINITELY have asked for it to be taken off. There was no reason for it to be there. We paid for the food.

We were there again last week in a bigger group (12 or so) and the staff were busy (2 staff for our table). Our boss paid the bill and I imagine service charge was on there - but I also imagine he left a big tip as the service was great.

Service charges, in my opinion, should always be taken off. The restaurant charges 'upfront' what they want the customer to pay. If they want more then they can add this to the prices. I dislike service charges and where it's optional, I will be more vigilant and take it off. If the service is great then I will tip accordingly. If it's not, then what am I tipping for exactly? I've already paid...

I would like to see the practice of tipping come to an end. It's exclusively for hospitality staff (not all of them, hotel breakfast staff is an example) and it's therefore unfair.

I would be quite happy to see restaurants charge what is a fair price to enable them to pay their staff properly (if they're not doing that).

I would like to see caring and nursing staff having their t&c/salaries increased considerably - across the board. Having a discussion about tips for waiting staff paid at least NMW seems disproportionate nonsense to me and I think our priorities are badly skewed.

I used to work as a waitress. Not many people tipped. I got the food out on time with a smile so it wasn’t that I was crap. I think some parts of the country just don’t tip.

I tip if service was excellent or if part of a large group. I don’t tip otherwise and have never met anyone who would tip no matter what. Honestly mumsnet is like a parallel universe sometimes Yanbu op.

Oh and the wage I got for waitressing was no worse than when I worked admin or call centre work. All low wages and you don’t get tipped in other jobs so I don’t buy into the whole “they aren’t paid enough” bollocks because lots of jobs don’t get paid enough for what they do!

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe

Thanks for answering. I am a tipper and have only twice asked for the service charge to be removed.

Once was years ago where the service we had was absolutely rubbish, really terrible. There was a 'suggested tip' section at the bottom of the bill but we only paid for the food. Once we'd paid and were leaving the manager came racing out to argue angrily with us in front of everyone as 'we hadn't paid'.

I was quite abrupt with him and said I always leave a tip but for service as bad as we had received (and I gave examples) we would not be leaving the 'suggested' tip and we had actually paid the food bill in full. He wasn't a happy bunny.

Do the people saying stay at.home if you dont tip reaalise that if everyone took that stupid attitude businesses would close and the poor min wage staff would lose their jobs? Also nice way to segrigate poorer people in society who might save enough to eat out in a restaursant and cant afford to tip as well.

I hate the tipping thing too. I only tip in a restaurant. I used to tip my hairdresser but stopped when I changed salon. I pay £75 for 2 hrs work, that's a hell of an hourly rate!

I don't like service charges... if I am going to tip I will decide the amount, not the restaurant. I've asked for the service charge to be removed before and said I'll leave a cash tip (and I did, not as much, but then I was charged 12.5% service on an order of 6 drinks plus some bread to nibble on, which added around £10 to the bill - seeing as we weren't even having a meal this was extortinonate).

Waitress acted a bit offended, asking was i not happy with the service.. I said the service was fine but I preferred to leave a cash tip than be told how much to tip.

Good for you, OliviaStabler, I said upthread that always tipping, regardless, just allows poor service to be rewarded and I firmly believe that. I can't believe the cheek of that manager to come after you and I'm really glad you sent him away with a flea in his ear. If I'd been another customer, I'd probably have applauded you!

In a way, this constant tipping for nothing special is like praising a child for every little damn thing they do with "Oh what a good boy" ever two minutes. It diminishes the praise when it's really warranted and becomes routine, a 'nothing' almost.

I'm not interested in somebody buying their wedding dress from shrapnel tips, they're not entitled to tips and other professions do not get them. They're deserved just as much and maybe more so.

User, I have no problem tipping the person who washes my hair at the hairdressers, I agree, they're on low wages and possibly not NMW - if they do a good job then I tip them. If they're surly and bored though, I don't.

Actually, if they just don't give me the head massage, they're already getting a tip - I hate head massages as they mostly do it as if they're trying to crack a coconut!

So if we are supposed to tip waiting staff because they get minimum wage then what if we too get minimum wage? Actually I get much less than minimum wage because I live off carers allowance. And yet I'm still expected to sub someone else's income?

I said I always leave a tip but for service as bad as we had received (and I gave examples) we would not be leaving the 'suggested' tip and we had actually paid the food bill in full. He wasn't a happy bunny

He sounds like one of those who have no intention of the staff getting the "service charge" - doubtless, too, they'd have said the same if asked

But while who gets what is always a thorny issue, it isn't really one I want to get involved in when I'm out for a meal. I happily go along with whatever the stated policy is - unless, as in your case, something goes badly wrong - and I usually tip if there's no service charge, but for me the rest is a matter for the staff and management to sort out themselves

Seems an odd issue to go all social justice warrior about. More about saving non tippers a few quid imo

KERALA are you incapable of seeing anybody else's point of view or indeed having one of your own that isn't loaded with insults? Many of the non-tippers on this thread have said that they don't tip as they wouldn't be able to afford to eat out if they did. Your judgemental comments are just obnoxious and, as said ^^, thoughtless, yet still you continue. Let's hope you don't find yourself in that position ever.

Get on with your own way of doing things and leave other people to theirs.

So many people on low wages that don't get tipped. My DS works in a large coffee chain, so service industry and catering. Not allowed to accept tips. It's silly and outdated imo.

@KERALA1

Did you enjoy your meal last night? :)

Flame fanning?

Depends on the place and the experience.

I always tip waiting staff if I know they get the tip and I round it up. It's not always about the percentage but I consistently tip in the same places.

I'll tip on an Uber taxi if I think the driver was great. I no longer tip in black cabs because I think they are overpriced.

I tip my hairdresser if they work there but not if they are the owner of the place.

I've been a waitress, tipping was important to my income. So now I pay it forward.

We always tip

1. Waiters/waitresses unless the meal and service was awful
2. Taxis
3. Hairdressers

We have always bought DD’s teacher, TAs and care staff presents at Xmas and the end of the summer term (often about 25 people in specialist residential provision).

We live in the SE, where the NMW does not equal the living wage. Restaurants have an average life of 4 years if that, iirc so it’s not like they are raking it in and can just pay staff more - which would only put prices up anyway! I may pay £65 at the hairdressers, but that goes to the owners; not the actual staff. The rent for a small shop on our street was £35,000 pa a few years ago. That and business rates are a massive drain on any small business; neither of us would ever open a shop! Its unfair to equate staff wages with the prices you pay, which have to cover the fixed property costs first!

KERALA hope you had a lovely meal

I usually tip if there's no service charge, but for me the rest is a matter for the staff and management to sort out themselves

I always tip too, only twice have I not tipped and both times the service was atrocious as I mentioned. Like you though I let the policy of the restaurant decide who gets what. In my experience it is divided between both front and back of house.

I went to New York this year and I tipped 20% or a tad more. I have been a waitress on crap money (before NMW) and every tip was very gratefully received so I really empathise with them working for tips and trying to get by. I tipped the housemaid daily, I made sure I gave the doorman a good tip on arrival etc. I feel sorry for the people who will com e into contact with the OP, they will get zero

I feel sorry for the people who will com e into contact with the OP, they will get zero
@OliviaStabler feel free to read the whole thread where I have mentioned numerous times that I do tip (or if you feel you can't manage that then just the opening post). I just don't think there should be an expectation to tip (service charges/ asking for a gratuity/ tip jars etc) and would prefer to use my discretion.
Do I have to explain myself anymore to you?

Why would you feel sorry for staff being paid to do their job?

Yes it's a tough job but they get paid the same as me, and I don't see why I should have to pay them on top of their wage?
If restaurants want to pay their staff better, increase the costs perhaps?

I also hate the snobby attitude of if you can't tip don't go, which will basically mean large numbers of rsturants will close, staff won't have a job, will have to claim benefits and then you will have some prick post on mumsnet complaining about the number of people on benefits

I worked as a waitress in a few places, earned minimum wage and had a few pay rises. I didn’t expect tips and any I got I shared with kitchen staff. I think it’s more of an issue in places where staff aren’t paid a proper wage but then is it the customers job to make up the money the employer should be paying them?