Service Charges - Do You Tip As Well?

[deptfordmarmoset]

Normal to slightly above average service, no. Exceptional service, yes. (If I've got the money.)

 

[Aperitif]

At 'Hix' where I was on Sunday, they are signed up to a 'fair play' scheme I think. this means that there is a sliding scale of payments, in addition to a fair wage and not one arrived at by the assumed tipping or service charges etc and the tips and service charges are distributed on a basis of points accrued through employment experience.

It did get a bit dicey once, at The Hippodrome, circa 1984, in its prime under the leadership of Peter Stringfellow. A visit to the Gents was a guaranteed 50p for the 'attendant' sitting by the assorted aftershaves after one had relieved, rinsed and made one's way for a spray, of Aramis, or Eau savage etc. No 50p, or a sprinkling of loose change into the saucer got you the glare and a dare. ie: "don't pee no more tonight, man."

Tip, tip and tip again.

 

[Roadrider48]

In France I believe all bills are 'service compris' and have been so for a long time. Service charges were not always levied back in the day of my GCE French lessons and "service compris?" is now a redundant phrase from my juvenile French armoury.

I don't have a problem with service charges. It isn't compulsory to eat in establishments who levy them and it's normally flagged on the menus that are displayed outside of the restaurants.

Of course the classier establishments don't stoop to such common behaviour and rely on the fact that their clientele don't worry about the magnitude of the bill service charge included or not.

I never said it was compulsory. I just said I think including a service charge in the bill is a damn cheek, and I do.
You don't have a problem with service charges either in France or here....good for you!

 

[Roadrider48]

And the the waiter/waitress puts it into the kitty to be re-distributed amongst the staff negating the motives behind the removal of the service charge from the bill which does tend to be distributed amongst the staff......

A tip should be for the person/s who have given you service at a particular eating establishment. Not for the owner to get their hands on first and then decide how to divide it up.

 

[vernon]

I never said it was compulsory. I just said I think including a service charge in the bill is a damn cheek, and I do.

I simply expressed an opinion diametrically opposite to yours and I'm happy to accept your approval.

 

[vernon]

A tip should be for the person/s who have given you service at a particular eating establishment. Not for the owner to get their hands on first and then decide how to divide it up.

I'd be happy to eat at any eaterie meeting your exacting requirements but I think that I'd have difficulty finding many of them.

 

[IncoherentJeff]

If there's a service charge I don't tip.
Nor do I tip using the gratuity system on card machines, I tip in cash.

Been stung with that gratuity system before! Asked to pay by card, without my knowledge the waiter added himself a gratuity before passing me the card machine. I didn't spot it paid by card & then left a cash tip.

Once out the restaurant I spotted the gratuity he'd helped himself too. Not impressed in the slightest!

Since then I've been more critical of waiting staff, they agree to work for their salary when they sign their contract. It's not my responsibility to boost their wages for just doing their job. If they provide an excellent service I will leave a tip.

 

[slowmotion]

An automatic service charge is an insult to the patrons. I don't eat out particularly frequently but I would avoid anywhere that I knew applied one. I usually leave a 10% tip in cash on the table when paying with a card. If the staff want to stick it in a pot, that's up to them.

 

[bikingdad90]

I am led to believe that many restaurant rules are give the waiter/waitress cash in their hand (literally) then it's theirs but leave it on the table and it goes into the pot.

I always refuse to pay the service charge and tip what I think it is worth for my experience of dining. Service charges are just a cheek, I have been a few places where the service was horrible, food was cold and they still wanted a tip!

 

[Tommy2]

They do their job, they get paid a wage.
They should do an excellent job regardless, no employer should let their staff do a half a**ed job!!!

All they are really doing is bringing food to your table then taking the plate away.

 

[vernon]

Since then I've been more critical of waiting staff, they agree to work for their salary when they sign their contract. It's not my responsibility to boost their wages for just doing their job. If they provide an excellent service I will leave a tip.

I think that you'll find that they are told that they get a salary plus an explanation of how the gratuities are distributed when they sign their contract if they ever get asked to sign a contract.

 

[asterix]

When our mini bus stopped at a fuel station near Nairobi I used the toilets (spotlessly clean) and tipped the security guard/attendant with some change I had over from buying a packet of rather expensive crisps. It was perhaps worth 40p but his reaction was as if he had won the lottery and as our bus left he stood at the exit and saluted us.

The thought struck me that appearances were deceptive and some people don't get paid very much in Kenya. As tourists we still existed in a separate world.

 

[vernon]

I only tip once. If there's service charge already added - then it's been added. If not, I add 10% if the service warrants it.

A lesson to us all in lucidity, brevity and generosity.

 

[pplpilot]

So why do people feel the need to tip a waitress / waiter bit not the other people you come into contact daily that may also be serving you? I really do not get this tipping one profession but not others. The excuse that the service was good does not cut it with me, the service should be good its their job to give good service not sloppy service with the option to give good service.

 

[MarkF]

Where does 10% come from? I used to be a waiter (when I was 20) and the thought of receiving .80p from the efficient and pleasant serving of a pizza meal would not have had me giddy with excitement.

At the Italian restaurant there was a default service charge in place when I started, I received none of it nor any of the "extra" money left as tips. I needed money so complained and it was removed, all tips were then pooled and shared, this was better but still didn't make me happy because my partner waiter was a clumsy, cack handed and monosyllabic oaf. So I complained again.....and again...until I got to keep all my own tips.

I have service charges removed and I may tip or I may not, I usually do.