To tip or not to tip

[Von Tonner]

Ok, I am going to hang my colours to the mast from the outset - yes, I do think "tipping" is the name of a small village hidden away in the remote hills of China somewhere!

I have no problem tipping a car-guard in a parking lot for example whose only source of income is reliant on goodwill in return for the service he is giving.

But it really irks me that in restaurants it is expected to tip the waiter. Why must someone subsidise the owners wage bill? Why must one reward someone for doing a job they are employed to do in the first place?

TIPS (To Insure Prompt Service) came into practice by some bright spark to speed up service from waiters. And hell, are we paying for it now!

In the link below a sports team tipped " $25,000 service fee for 2 hours of just drinking and not eating a single bite of food."

In SA we have CEO's of parastatals receiving astronomical year-end bonus over and above their bloated salaries - with the tax payer picking up the tab. Just another form of tipping. Even our esteemed law officers are getting in on the act - giving new meaning to what is for all intents and purpose nothing other than a common bribe.

Who do we have to thank for this practice of tipping? Apparently its history goes all the way back to Tudor England where overnight guests in private homes would leave the servants a "little something" in appreciation for services rendered.

According to the linked article this insidious practice is now starting to creep into other services as well and finding favour in more and more countries.

http://u.osu.edu/zagorsky.1/2015/01/12/tip/

[Betonov]

We don't have a tipping culture here.
It's something no one expects you to and is really up to the person being served.

I don't always tip even if satisfied with the service or even if the waitress is a personal friend. It all comes down to how I fell and how heavy my wallet.

Usually it's just rounding up a €7.80 check to €8 etc. Almost no one tips when the check has a round number.

And from what I've seen, only the lower class tips.

[Torplexed]

Tipping. Proof as if one needed it, that life is neither fair nor equitable.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Brilliant, as usual, Torplexed.

Tipping isn't the norm where I am, if service has been good then they'll get a little extra. I usually tip my barber, but only so I get the right change for the car park.

[STEED]

Never tip never will, not got money to throw away.

[Jimbuna]

I always tip unless there is a problem or small altercation that wasn't resolved.

Example: Usual takeaway delivery is approx. £18 so I give £20.

[Platapus]

Tipping is my form of economic stimulus.

I won't give a dime to someone begging on the street.

But show me someone who is hustling at work and I am a very generous tipper.

[ikalugin]

In Japan they run after me to give the change (that I have left as a form of a tip).

In general I have a 5-10 percent tip rule, or just leaving the change. In Russia tipping is expected, but not demanded. Personally I tend to leave a tip if I frequent the place, as then the staff gives me a better service

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Torplexed

Tipping. Proof as if one needed it, that life is neither fair nor equitable.

That's actually true. Some university once did some testing there and found out that waitresses in miniskirts got higher tips than those with pants.

Originally Posted by ikalugin

In general I have a 5-10 percent tip rule, or just leaving the change. In Russia tipping is expected, but not demanded. Personally I tend to leave a tip if I frequent the place, as then the staff gives me a better service

That's how I do it as well.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Usually tip 10-15 %, unless the service does not warrant it.

[MH]

Why not tip waiter.
It is usually teenage or students job , a very hard job with minimal wages so why not make their life little better.
Every job an its pros and cons , waiters get their tips... yet to get them have to keep certain standards and attitude.

[Rockstar]

Just call me Mr. Pink

[Sailor Steve]

The United States has a very strong tipping culture; so strong that most restaurants are legally able to pay far below the minimum wage - only 1/4 to 1/3. The waiters and waitresses are expected to make a certain amount in tips, and are taxed according to that expected amount. Supposedly 15% is expected. My friends and I always figure 20%, and then round up to the nearest whole dollar. That only changes if the service is very poor.

The downside is that now a lot of fast food places have tip jars on the counter. That I'll never do, as a behind-the-counter job doesn't involve actually waiting on the customer. Pizza-delivery guy? You bet. Taxi driver? Yep. Clerk of any kind? Not really. Unpaid musicians hosting the blues jam for nothing? Yes, please.

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

The United States has a very strong tipping culture; so strong that most restaurants are legally able to pay far below the minimum wage - only 1/4 to 1/3. The waiters and waitresses are expected to make a certain amount in tips, and are taxed according to that expected amount. Supposedly 15% is expected. My friends and I always figure 20%, and then round up to the nearest whole dollar. That only changes if the service is very poor.

The downside is that now a lot of fast food places have tip jars on the counter. That I'll never do, as a behind-the-counter job doesn't involve actually waiting on the customer. Pizza-delivery guy? You bet. Taxi driver? Yep. Clerk of any kind? Not really. Unpaid musicians hosting the blues jam for nothing? Yes, please.

LOL, Maybe you all should try crowd funding like Artistshare or Sellaband. Might be able to get a record label and sell a few to pay for some road trips.

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

I always tip unless there is a problem or small altercation that wasn't resolved.

Example: Usual takeaway delivery is approx. £18 so I give £20.

Originally Posted by ReallyDedPoet

Usually tip 10-15 %, unless the service does not warrant it.

Absolutely! I generally double the sale tax; having been in low pay 'personal service' jobs myself-golf caddy and waiter. Quite often wait personnell are below minimum hourly wage as the tip is figured in to their pay...and the IRS certainly sees it that way in pusuit of taxes on tips based on a waiter's reciepts. Attenpts to make wages the legal minmum-wage are resisted by restaurant owers; especially in new york as profit margins are slim. Since I'm usually a repeat customer in touristy Napa, I try to keep 'em happy at 16-20% ; and they DO have long memories!