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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not tip when eating out?

439 replies

JemimaPuddleDucksPuddle · 22/09/2019 22:48

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?

OP posts:
origamiwarrior · 23/09/2019 07:22

If we're using vouchers (once a year we have a Pizza Express freebie blowout with Tesco vouchers for example) I add a massive tip because the meal was essentially free, however

That's illogical because using vouchers 'hits' the restaurant profits, not the server's pay. The only thing you should be mindful of when using Pizza Express vouchers is that you base your tip on what the meal would have cost without the vouchers (as the server is doing the same work) rather than on the smaller, drinks only bill you get.

sevencontinents · 23/09/2019 07:23

I tip because I feel that restaurant staff are underpaid. I agree that shop assistants and many other sectors are similarly underpaid, which is unfair, and I certainly couldn't afford to tip all of them. But the answer is not to stop existent tipping practices. The answer is to raise the NLW further for ALL NLW and low paid workers. I am shocked that some people think that the NLW is sufficient. The working poor is real in this country and if I can help, I will.
I do understand why those who are also on NLW don't tip as it does add extra to the bill. But to those who can afford it: shame on you.

Livelovebehappy · 23/09/2019 07:23

I tip if the service is good. Absolutely riles me though when a tip is included in the bill automatically and you can’t remove it.

Cheeselipbalm · 23/09/2019 07:26

Hmmat the nurses saying they don't get tipped for working antisocial hours. You do get time plus 89% in my trust for working bank holidays or Sundays. Also time and a half for working Saturdays or nights.
My cousin worked all Christmas Day and made £20 in tips. And the restaurant was fully booked. That was in her holiday from being a primary school teacher. But you go on telling yourself waiting staff are overpaid.

adaline · 23/09/2019 07:26

I think waitresses are paid a perfectly fair wage for what they do. It's unskilled labour and requires no prior qualifications - the same as working in a shop.

That's not me being belittling - I did basic retail and hospitality work for years and am now in retail management. It's still fairly low skilled - you don't need qualifications to do my job, just a few years experience.

It might be hard physical work but so are plenty of other jobs and they don't get tipped for what they do.

If you don't think people are being paid enough then the solution isn't to tip and give their employers yet more reasons to pay them what they do.

Like PP I also don't believe tips go to the right people - most places split tips so the hardest workers and the laziest ones get equal amounts - hardly fair. In some places, the owner takes the tip and the staff see none of it.

Gizmo2206 · 23/09/2019 07:28

Ive waitresses for years at 'high end' chain restaurant and earnt very good money from tips. The downside is the crappy hours, rude and horrid managers, cancelled shifts with no notice, reduction in hours during quiet periods etc and demanding customers looking down on you. Personally I think if you have had good food and good service you should tip as in real terms it would be impossible to live on minimum wage when you dont get a guarantee of hours (some weeks I would get given 10 hours work - this is common practise as built into contract is a clause 37 hours as and when the business requires")

FamilyOfAliens · 23/09/2019 07:32

But the amount of people who turn their noses up to it when they apply because they want 10 an hour... It's laughable. They end up working in a shop for minimum wage regardless.

Have you read that somewhere? Or just made it up?

Pinkyyy · 23/09/2019 07:33

I think waitresses are paid a perfectly fair wage for what they do. It's unskilled labour and requires no prior qualifications - the same as working in a shop.

Completely agree.

OMGshefoundmeout · 23/09/2019 07:34

I always tip. Waiting tables is hard work and the wages are low. Even if the food wasn’t good I would still tip the waiter. On occasion I’ve had inedible food removed from the bill but I still tip the waiter. The only exception would be if the service was actively bad (which would mean they were rude or unpleasant, not slow) and that has only happened a couple of times in 60 years. I leave the tip in cash even if I’ve paid the bill by card in the hope the staff actually get the money.

I do have a couple of friends who don’t tip or give tips so low I find it embarrassing and I avoid eating out with them. I would never be in a relationship with a man who didn’t tip.

Jocasta2018 · 23/09/2019 07:35

If there's a service charge on the bill then I don't give a tip otherwise it's 10% IF the service is good.
Likewise I always tip my hairdresser - she's a great stylist working in a crappy place as it fits around her kids' school hours so I get a decent cut at a ridiculously low price.
With my local cab company I always add a couple quid onto the price. I use them a lot - if I phone up last minute there's usually someone here within 5-10mins. With other cabbies, I'll tip depending on service.
My regular postman gets a tenner at Xmas as does the window cleaner. I appreciate the effort they do - I can always tell when the regular postie is away - and the window cleaner has helped me quite a lot to move heavy stuff in the garage - so if I can buy them a drink to say thanks then I will.
I guess that makes me a mug? Or patronising? Feudal?

Itisnotapuppet · 23/09/2019 07:35

I'm very confused after reading this. We usually tip but I'm wondering if we should. I'm inclined to go along the route of 'tip if you feel you the urge because you're impressed with the service but if you are not impressed ... don't'.

EleanorReally · 23/09/2019 07:36

YABU,
Think of the staff, all my dds have worked waiting tables, and really appreciate the tips

Chocolatecake12 · 23/09/2019 07:37

I’ve always tipped unless the service was poor.
My ds works as a kitchen porter - washing up/sweeping the floor/ deep cleaning the kitchen and he gets minimum wage for a 17 yr old - just under £5 an hour. He also gets a share of the tips which is so appreciated by him - it can add on another £5 - £10 a week to his wages.

HappyParent2000 · 23/09/2019 07:39

I might occasionally leave a few £s to someone who did something really nice.

When the partner at a bar the tips just went on fun things, not needed for survival.

Generally though I don’t tip.

Itisnotapuppet · 23/09/2019 07:40

I just read this on which.co.uk

If you are told about a compulsory service charge, you must pay it, unless the service was particularly poor.

Useful to know. A bit surprised to read that we MUST pay it if the service is good. It just makes me think the prices listed on the menus are deliberately disingenuous as in reality they're 10% or whatever it is more.

adaline · 23/09/2019 07:40

Personally I think if you have had good food and good service you should tip as in real terms it would be impossible to live on minimum wage when you dont get a guarantee of hours

But why is that the customers responsibility?

Plenty of other industries don't receive tips and have to work on minimal, unpredictable hours and the public aren't expected to tip them.

The fight should be for better employee rights, not to keep workers in a position where they rely on tips to survive!

Itisnotapuppet · 23/09/2019 07:43

I wonder if these lnon tippers " are also the people who eat in restaurants and order jug after jug of tap water with ice and lemon, and then every person in the group insists on paying by card

What's wrong with asking for tap water and paying by card?????

easyandy101 · 23/09/2019 07:46

What age group are the anti tippers if you don't mind me asking?

I expected there to be some people that didn't tip
but didn't expect it to be a popular thing at all.

I always tip, except for very bad service

I also frequently get offered tips working in retail but always refuse them

Uniformuniformuniform · 23/09/2019 07:46

Family.... We own a restaurant

blahblahblahblahhh · 23/09/2019 07:48

@FamilyOfAliens
I didn't get tipped for being treated appallingly by customers in retail....

Itisnotapuppet · 23/09/2019 07:49

What age group are the anti tippers if you don't mind me asking?

My guess is the older people are tippers and the younger ones are not ... in general.

Boysey45 · 23/09/2019 07:50

Yes always now, its often people who are starting out in life in say waitressing and its very low paid often part time and they have to put up with a lot of crap from the public.
If you dont give tips here don't go to the USA then they are asking for tips right left and centre and its expected that you give them.

EleanorReally · 23/09/2019 07:50

what age do you consider older?

easyandy101 · 23/09/2019 07:50

Why is it a race to the bottom?

Well I never got tipped in the betting shop so why the hell should anyone else benefit ever?

What a nonsense logic

Itisnotapuppet · 23/09/2019 07:52

Just the word 'tip' sounds old-fashioned.