To not tip when eating out?

[JemimaPuddleDucksPuddle]

Saw a thread on another board that mentioned tipping when eating out and whether or not you should. The majority of posters seemed to think of a person as being tight fisted or ungenerous if they don't tip. I disagree and don't tip as a matter of routine, only if the service is exceptional. AIBU?

YANBU.

I don't believe in tipping except if all the staff get a cut of the tips. Otherwise it's not fair on the other staff.

It is an outdated practice in this country though, I do agree.

Personal choice. I always tip (unless service terrible) as I think it's polite to.

Always tip. I'm kinda surprised that people think minimum wage is a fair wage. It's certainly not a living wage. Wait staff get treated like shit.

I'm pretty sure as well that restaurants can't keep tips anymore, I've not RTFT though so someone may have pointed that out.

I don't tip. I work in Mental Health and earn just slightly over the minimum wage. I have a responsible job and I work hard but I never get tipped. This idea that some low paid workers should get tipped but not others is bizarre.

Is it not just as bizarre to think because you don't no one should?

Don't get me wrong I know how hard you work first hand, you should be paid a better wage anyway but I don't see why no one else should have fringe benefits because others don't.

If hairdressers and restaurant staff should get tips, then so should everyone else, everywhere, in every job.

^This

Double barrel - I said I don't tip. I am not bothered in the slightest if anyone else tips. I find it bizarre that it is more expected in some industries but not others but I don't begrudge anyone getting a tip. I however don't tip for the reason a few others have outlined I don't feel I warn enough to top up others wages when I am on a similar or identical amount.

Can never understand why some people thing you "ought" to tip a waiter or waitress, but then happily walk past the cleaner, the security man, the parking warden, the supermarket worker, the Receptionist at the gym, the lollipop man that crosses them over the road, the person that serves them in the newsagent or the chemist or any other shop, the porter at the hospital, etc., etc., etc

Because good waiting staff can genuinely make a difference to your night out, and will go out of their way to make you feel like they want you to be there. Because they have to keep smiling even when faced with utter tosses, and because doing a good job is exhausting.

And @bluegirlgreen: you seem lovely...

I tip sometimes but only if the service is exceptional. I'm only on minimum wage myself so can't afford to eat out much anyway.

Tipping is a minefield, I don't tip my hairdresser as I feel awkward about it and she probably earns more than me. I do tip in restaurants unless the service is dire, but I can see pp points that it is illogical to tip in restaurants and not for other service related jobs. I will say thou that the tips my teenager received as a waitress made her job worthwhile the minimum wage at 16 is £4.35 an hour and up to the age of 20 is £6.15 an hour, which isnt a great wage. Waiting staff tend to be paid the minimum wage wheareas supermarkets often pay more, same dd then earned over £8 an hour in morrissons at 18. I will always tip takeaway delivery drivers, my son delivered pizzas for a while and he was paid minimum wage plus £1 per delivery which didnt cover his petrol so he was effectively earning less than the minimum wage- he gave it up pretty quickly, some employers do exploit the young.

I tip for good service, those saying about nmw being enough etc at 18 you can rent a flat and it’ll cost the same as it would it 25, council tax cost same, all bills cost same whether 18 or 25 yet at 18 you’re paid 6.15ph so over £2 less than if you’re 25 yet doing the same work, that tip could help more than you realise.

If you can’t afford to tip you can’t afford to eat out. If you are a regular somewhere the staff may smile and be nice to you as it’s there job but believe me there taking the piss out of you out the back. If you come back into me you would only get the minimum of attention.

You lot are dead tight! Just tip if someone has been decent to you, don't if the service has been crap. I get the logic but do you really want to be "that person"?! They're on rubbish wages, just be kind!

I always tip, if I am pleased with the result, not just in restaurants, I think it’s up to the individual. Even in hospitals, where tipping is inappropriate, I will come back the next week with a huge box of chocs for the staff.

Why do some posters think that waiting staff should get tips because customers are badly behaved? I never eat in these places, have never seen an argument or shouting at waiting staff. If I did, I would stand up for them because that's inexcusable.

How does having shrapnel thrust at you make it somehow ok or better? That's ridiculous.

Waiting staff should be treated with respect, not necessarily given a tip by the customer. Polite and friendly goes with the job, it's what I'm required to do in my job too so it's not too hard to do.

Some waiting staff are really great but most are mediocre. I don't need gold-plated service, just polite efficient service. Servers get paid what the job is worth and what they agreed to do the work for. It doesn't need more than is in the job description, does it?

For myself, I want to reward the brilliant waiting staff if I'm going to tip, not the entitled 'very average' staff.

Threat Matrix - everyone should be getting good service because that is your job. What if other low wager earners applied that logic? Carers, cleaners etc not giving people or their job as much attention because they hadn't been tipped. Personally I go out of my way to give people in my work the best service I can give because it is my job and I want to do my best. Plus the idea that waiting staff may be talking about me behind my back in restaurants doesn't bother me. I can handle that.

I always tip. I especially can't believe some don't tip their hairdressers, it's such a personal service, washing, cutting and styling hair. Plus you are in their chair, it's hardly the same as the checkout girl in Tesco who is sitting in a chair whilst you pack your shopping. They are on their feet all day in a busy salon or in the quieter months they're not earning as much. If Tesco was empty the checkout girl would still get paid.

The only reason I'd have for not tipping would be poor service.

I especially can't believe some don't tip their hairdressers, it's such a personal service

I was completely unaware that tipping hairdressers was a thing until I read about it on mumsnet. So I felt obliged to do it. Have tried it on three different hairdressers and they all refused to accept it, and two of them seemed quite insulted. My current hairdresser laughed and said 'are you mad? If I thought I wasn't getting a fair payment I'd charge you more'.

I don't like tipping as much as I used to purely for the fact I used to leave tip on the table and now worry that correct waitress/waiter will get it or if any staff will get it at all incase it gets pinched, most places now their isnt alot of service as you go order and pay at bar they just bring meal to table and if you have carvery you getting your own anyway. I do feel guilty though some offer option to add tip when paying at end which I will if pos, I still tip hairdresser think it's been instilled into me . My Mum Used to tip dustmen, paper boy and milkman at Xmas. Having delivered papers and been waitress seeing from other side it's just nice getting a tip.knowing you have done a good job as it's not easy with some of customers you get , best way to tip is catch waitress/ waiter at end slip money into their hand

I might occassionally tip a taxi driver or waitress/waiter if my service was exceptional. Otherwise no I don't see why we need to tip people.

@52Ifbutandmaybe I think its nice to give people a nice little bonus at Xmas such as paper girls/boys especially if they have been doing it all year long and done a good job. Let's face it they dont get minimum wage!

I don't tip someone for doing their job. They receive a wage

The beach supermarket I go to in Rhodes has a jar on the desk for tips! It is just a normal supermarket, you pick up your goods, take them to the till and she / he takes your money. And they are wanting a tip?? LOL

I used to tip all the time but after realising where that tip goes sometimes iv stopped.
My daughter wanted to take a group of friends to the cinema for her birthday a few years ago and we followed that up with a visit to a well known pizza establishment for a pizza making session.
The girl running our group was fantastic! Nothing was too much trouble so when i came to pay i asked if she could take extra for a tip. She said no please dont as the tip never comes to the staff it goes direct to the company! She actually said she would rather we left feedback online and mention her in person as that goes in her favour for future promotions. I did do this and having spoken to friends it seems this isnt unusual.
I do still occasionally tip if service is outstanding but always ask who gets the tip before i leave it