BillF Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 Tipping is a complex matter raising lots of questions; e.g. Where - what's the practice in the country/region you're in? When - you might have tipped in the past, but do people still do it today? In what situation - what categories of worker? Size of tip - does percentage come into it? i thought about this when I saw Eric Alexander deciding what tip to leave in unfamiliar British coinage at a bar in Southport, UK. I'm British and I don't tip bar staff. Is this the norm, fellow Brits? Quote
aparxa Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 "We, tight-ass Scots, don't tip in bar" was I told in Glasgow by a friend of mine when she handed me back the change. Quote
Scott Dolan Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 I tip 20% at least, sometimes more. I have friends who work at a bar and who usually give me fat discounts, in which case I figure what I was comped and tip on what the "real total" would be. I consider this borderline unethical. Why? You treat your regulars well. Your regulars then stay regular and keep the atmosphere nice. Also, living in NYC off tips isn't easy, though maybe at upscale restaurants a bit better. Being of a somewhat younger generation and having been broke with a lot of friends in the service industry or working freelance, I've realized that in lieu of livable wages, those tips matter. Y'all stingy. well it obviously all depends on the circumstances. If your friends who work at the bar are also the owners of the establishment it's not the same issue as if they just give their friends a generous discount on the cost of the owners. for a generous tip. As I said having worked in the business myself I have all the sympathy for the workers. On the other hand they are also notorious for cheating, Wow, I can't understand why you side-stepped that one, uli. The answer to the question is "because it is stealing from the company". That's not to say that don't also sympathize, but stealing money in that fashion is outrageously unethical. Not to mention grounds for immediate dismissal. Quote
xybert Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 No tipping in New Zealand, at least not in a way that it's the done thing to the point where you're obligated/expected too. Quote
mjazzg Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 Tipping is a complex matter raising lots of questions; e.g. Where - what's the practice in the country/region you're in? When - you might have tipped in the past, but do people still do it today? In what situation - what categories of worker? Size of tip - does percentage come into it? i thought about this when I saw Eric Alexander deciding what tip to leave in unfamiliar British coinage at a bar in Southport, UK. I'm British and I don't tip bar staff. Is this the norm, fellow Brits? I never tip at the bar. Don't see why I should really. More likely to if waited on at a table but still unlikely if drinks only. My barber and restaurant waiting staff and sometimes minicab drivers (but not if they don't know where they're going) are the recipients of my restricted largesse. Usually 10-15% Quote
clifford_thornton Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 I tip 20% at least, sometimes more. I have friends who work at a bar and who usually give me fat discounts, in which case I figure what I was comped and tip on what the "real total" would be. I consider this borderline unethical. Why? You treat your regulars well. Your regulars then stay regular and keep the atmosphere nice. Also, living in NYC off tips isn't easy, though maybe at upscale restaurants a bit better. Being of a somewhat younger generation and having been broke with a lot of friends in the service industry or working freelance, I've realized that in lieu of livable wages, those tips matter. Y'all stingy. well it obviously all depends on the circumstances. If your friends who work at the bar are also the owners of the establishment it's not the same issue as if they just give their friends a generous discount on the cost of the owners. for a generous tip. As I said having worked in the business myself I have all the sympathy for the workers. On the other hand they are also notorious for cheating, Wow, I can't understand why you side-stepped that one, uli. The answer to the question is "because it is stealing from the company". That's not to say that don't also sympathize, but stealing money in that fashion is outrageously unethical. Not to mention grounds for immediate dismissal. You guys seem never to have heard of a free round, on which one always tips. Quote
Scott Dolan Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 The entire price of the round? Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 I was brought up to tip at 10%, which was the norm. Americans were regarded as stupid and lavish tippers perpetually flashing their cash about.When I visited America for the first time, I booked myself on a domestic coach trip to Maine for a few days. I was the only English person on the trip, the others were all, I'd guess, lower middle class people; an interesting and nice bunch, who all thought I was the STINGIEST guy they'd EVER come across. Well, I guess I was MG Quote
clifford_thornton Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 Yeah, you tip on that round as though it weren't free. Also I should have clarified - not "owners" in my friends' case, but managers who call the 'shots' (pun half-intended). Every city I've lived in I've had a regular spot or two, and that has always resulted in friend discounts. In one case I was actually rung up as "friend" with everything exorbitantly discounted, so the computer actually had that programmed in... Quote
page Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 (edited) Can I ask what the average price is of a main course (one you consider a good meal) in the US? Going out to dinner has become expensive these last few years. Edited February 4, 2015 by page Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 Tipping is anti-social. Use the nearest recycling centre. Quote
clifford_thornton Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 Can I ask what the average price is of a main course (one you consider a good meal) in the US? Going out to dinner has become expensive these last few years. I tend not to pay more than $15-$18 for my food if I can help it. One thing is I usually cook at home, or eat the cooking of my partner. But not eat my cooked partner. Quote
Scott Dolan Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 Can I ask what the average price is of a main course (one you consider a good meal) in the US? Going out to dinner has become expensive these last few years. I guess the definition of "good" is going to vary wildly from one person to the next, but I'd say $25-$45 usually gets you a pretty damned good entree. The $15-$18 range Clifford notes above can as well. Tastes and budget factors in. My wife and I don't eat out often, and have fairly adventurous tastes, so we don't mind spending a little more, if it's highly recommended. But, like Clifford, we usually do all of our own cooking. And with my wife being just shy of a master chef, we tend to be really picky about where we eat out. Quote
Cyril Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 A right to tip does not exist in the Netherlands. It's in this country an 'Encore', unlike the US where the failure of an extra dollar is 'bread robbery'... Quote
page Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 Can I ask what the average price is of a main course (one you consider a good meal) in the US? Going out to dinner has become expensive these last few years. I tend not to pay more than $15-$18 for my food if I can help it. One thing is I usually cook at home, or eat the cooking of my partner. But not eat my cooked partner. That last is especially good to know. I cook at home all the time. $15-$18 that would be hard to find around here at a restaurant. We do have what we call dinnercafé's which can have good food for a reasonable price, but that is usually more than that. Can I ask what the average price is of a main course (one you consider a good meal) in the US? Going out to dinner has become expensive these last few years. I guess the definition of "good" is going to vary wildly from one person to the next, but I'd say $25-$45 usually gets you a pretty damned good entree. The $15-$18 range Clifford notes above can as well. Tastes and budget factors in. My wife and I don't eat out often, and have fairly adventurous tastes, so we don't mind spending a little more, if it's highly recommended. But, like Clifford, we usually do all of our own cooking. And with my wife being just shy of a master chef, we tend to be really picky about where we eat out. Well, good is subjectiv of course but for me that is to have vegetables to go with the meat I order, (or fish or vega) and not just 3 beans on top. My experience is that the food got more expensive while you'll get less (in quality as well as quantity) on your plate in most restaurants here. Quote
clifford_thornton Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 $15-$18 that would be hard to find around here at a restaurant. We do have what we call dinnercafé's which can have good food for a reasonable price, but that is usually more than that. Depends on whether it is a special occasion meal - I'd say w/ drinks around $100 for two - or a 'night out' sans drinks, in which I would not spend more than $20 on my part of the food portion. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted February 4, 2015 Report Posted February 4, 2015 (edited) $15-$18 that would be hard to find around here at a restaurant. We do have what we call dinnercafé's which can have good food for a reasonable price, but that is usually more than that. Depends on whether it is a special occasion meal - I'd say w/ drinks around $100 for two - or a 'night out' sans drinks, in which I would not spend more than $20 on my part of the food portion. Guess you won't be going to a place where our son works. :-) Edited February 4, 2015 by Chuck Nessa Quote
JSngry Posted February 5, 2015 Report Posted February 5, 2015 Cost of eating out, yes... Taco Bell has cheap bean burritos, and it's hard to fuck up a bean burrito. In this part of the world, there's still a few old-school mom and pop "cafe"s, occasionally called "diners" which is not what that term might mean down east or up west...and if you drink water (which I always do, do NOT get me started on the benefits of proper hydration, nor about the horrific lack of it in the general population), you can still eat a good meal (of that variety) for under $10.00. Also, in my town, the still-increasing Asian (including Indian) population ah led to a significant uptick in the overall quality of the once advisedly-avoidable buffet. Be selective, and you can till get a good plateful or three for around $10. But be very selective. And this place here, although not a buffet, more a "cafeteria", but jeez, they load you up like it might as well be a buffet, net effect and all, and food is always fresh and good: http://www.fadiscuisine.com/ Get the lamb shanks for $2 extra.. Trust me on this one. And also trust me on this one - that narrator chick is nowhere to be found, ever. So thank you, Fadi's.. Everybody here has their swear-by neighborhood Tex-Mex joint (and mine is the best, ahem/ofcourse/lol), and you can go basic entree for around $8, get "fancy" for under $15. Appetizers...nachos are for suckers, not necessarily so, queso blanco and some fresh flour tortillas. We got a good fish house here, and you're looking at the 10-15 range on the average. From there, we don't do "chains" for anything other than Whataburger (and that's strictly for me). Next step up is Fearing's, and there, an appetizer runs 10-25-ih, entree runs between 35-50, and yes, you get both if you know what's good for you and your tastebuds. Don't eat out as an event more than about 3 times a month, and then, try to stay local, because I like keeping it in the neighborhood if I can keep the foo in me (hahalol). When it comes to LTB, yes, Madame CAN burn, so..the ultimate local, that is. I used to love trying different restaurants, never a foodie, but I liked to play, now I just like a good meal with no drama. Quote
page Posted February 5, 2015 Report Posted February 5, 2015 Just on our evening news. We have been tipping less the past few years due to the economical crises. The average is 4 %. Quote
JSngry Posted February 5, 2015 Report Posted February 5, 2015 Some restaurants here are eliminating tipping, hiking prices, and raising wages. It;'s a good idea if it works, I think. http://www.eater.com/2014/6/9/6210631/why-a-kentucky-restaurant-eliminated-tipping http://www.eater.com/2014/4/7/6247629/tipwatch http://www.eater.com/2015/1/6/7504725/restaurant-eliminates-tips-gives-employees-35000-salary http://thepricehike.com/post/52308734397/nycs-sushi-yasuda-eliminates-tipping-gratuities One restauranteur's experience: http://www.slate.com/articles/life/culturebox/2013/08/tipless_restaurants_the_linkery_s_owner_explains_why_abolishing_tipping.html Quote
Hardbopjazz Posted February 5, 2015 Author Report Posted February 5, 2015 Yes, why not bundle the tip into the overall cost of the meal? It will be like a gas tax, after a while the consumer is use to paying for it. Quote
Aggie87 Posted February 5, 2015 Report Posted February 5, 2015 Or pay employees reasonable wages, negating the requirement for a tip in the first place. Quote
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