Tipping etiquette

[Justnosing]

I’ll keep it neutral so that it’s unbiased, currently having a discussion with DP

A) One of us thinks tipping is absolutely customary, regardless of the actual service (unless downright offensively bad)

B) One of us thinks tipping shouldn’t be expected, and service charges should be removed to add your own amount should you wish.

Also discussion on percentages. One of us thinks 10-12% is adequate. One of us thinks 15-20%

Both agree tipping etiquette is a nuisance and wish there were clearer social rules. We are in the UK.

Who would you side with? A or B

A

10-12% as long as service is acceptable.

Oh, and definitely not more than 12%!

B for me, definitely depends on service, food, etc.

Tend to do 10% rounded up to nearest 50p/£1.

B for me

In a restaurant, A.

Other stuff, B. A recent thread about tipping supermarket drivers baffled me.

I know that’s inconsistent and I’d rather pay higher prices without the confusion / guilt!

B

We've become too Americanised with tipping forming the cost nowadays. Yes it is still "discretionary" but I'd rather opt-in then opt-out and be able to stipulate the amount.

B unless in a nice restaurant with great service.

Neither.

If you are tipping, you are encouraging low wages and poor welfare, because there is no incentive for the employers to do their part.

Nobody should be tipping anyone for any reason. It’s totally unnecessary.

It's B for me although I always tip. Can't think of any occasion I haven't. Also feel 10% is fine.

I quite like that people have different views on tipping and make our own rules

Leaning more towards A, but in UK tipping should be 10% or a bit less, as wait staff on at least minimum wage. No need for crazy American percentages.

B) I never tip anything.

B. I'd only tip for very good service. However it's not really an issue for me as I hardly ever go anywhere that gives the potential to tip!

B

After having spent a few days in USA last week I’m glad we don’t have a 20% ish expected tip however I’ve got 2 boys who have worked in the restaurant/bar industry as young lads and the minimum wage for them as 15/16/17 yr olds is fairly poor and so the tips really helped bump their money up - in the places they’ve worked it’s shared equally between all staff so even the washer upper gets a fair share.
I usually give 10% unless service is poor then I’ll leave nothing!

B

A although I'd far rather we had the French system and the cost of paying waiting staff appropriately was incorporated into the cost of the meal. We don't, so I tip.

B for me. I'm not a tipper.

B

Somebody mentioned that there is no need to tip as employees receive at least minimum wage, and others have mentioned it encourages employers to pay low wages.

They might be interested in the system in the USA. In New York City for example, the minimum wage is $15/hour, but in food service it is $10 with a $5 tip allowance. This means that a work who receives $6/hour tips receives $10 from the employer and thus gets $16. A worker who receives $4/hour tips receives $11 from the employer and thus gets $15. You could also look at this as the first $5/hour tips actually goes to the employer, not the employee!

A but I've moved around the world and don't like to be the cheap Brit.

And 10% is shit service, 15% is good and 20% is 'my kid puked and you've said to leave and you will clean it up' service.

We shouldn’t have to tip anything. Tips are bullshit or a small gift to your paperlad/girl. Grown adults shouldn’t need to be tipped where there is a national minimum wage. And restaurants are overpriced as it is.

B wages are for a job. Tips are for a job very well done.

And I don't do %. I tip a flat rate that I would have been happy with as a waitress. The difficulty of serving me doesn't increase just because I order a fillet vs a sirloin.

We aren't America, wages should include all costs to serve.

I would err to say B, but you haven't said which sector you are referring to, nor if you are referring to the UK OP??? Hospitality staff in a bar/restaurant, your hair dresser or nail salon, taxi/uber driver, bus driver, train driver, the carer or nurse caring for your relative, The person stacking shelves in a shop, where you had your car MOT done, the place you buy petrol, the road worker you see holder a STOP sign, the bin person collecting your bins weekly???

Some of the above are on low wages/MW, yet I can bet that you don't tip them also!!! Why tip any of them when they are paid a wage for doing their job. I have given nice coffee, biscuits, chocolates on occasions when I've felt service was above the norm. I absolutely hate the additional of a 'discretional' service charge in restaurants. From friends in hospitality, this is NOT shared out to those actually serving! I had a recent incident where the restaurant refused to let us leave unless we paid the 'discretionary' charge!