Tipping.

TerriBull and Germanshepherdsmum - in my neck of the woods the milkman/woman is busier than ever. Over the pandemic they weren't taking on any new customers as they were unable to "service" them.

I haven't seen them for a while but my milk is almost certainly on my doorstep as I type.

On the other hand I can't get a paper delivered *Callistemon21

Ah, I can get papers delivered! The paper boy isn’t much younger than me by the looks of him!

No.

My pet hate is when a gratuity is added to the bill . I don,t mind so much for food but having paid at least double for a bottle of wine I don,t see the need for 10% and above to be added. When eating with friends I don,t like to query it.

We tip various service people - delivery drivers, cleaners, etc. - at Xmas and waiters when eating out (unless it's already added to the bill). Also hairdresser. Taxi drivers usually. Serving staff in the USA are usually underpaid and depend on decent tips.

I never tip. I really feel strongly about it. Why should we top up someone's wages? The employer should pay their workers a decent and fair wage not expect the customer to pay for the meal/drink or whatever and then top up their employees wages as well. Yes, I have worked as a waitress, in a hairdressers and behind a bar and was never sure if I was more embarrassed or thankful when someone offered me a tip. One other thing I never understand is why do people always complain about sales assistants but then go in a coffee shop and tip a waitress? Doesn't make sense to me.

There are tight-fisted individuals (whether they can afford it or not) and generous people. So the whole idea of tipping is not even for the service industry.

If all trades were paid a fair and living wage there would be no need for tipping. But certain people will always tip in gratitude for a job well done.

I’m a generous tipper especially for waitstaff in restaurants. For hair salons, if the owner is your stylist I believe it is not necessary.
Cheers!
USA Gundy

When we were in New York we asked for the price to go around Central Park in a carriage. We were told *dollars plus the tip. They were making it clear we HAD to tip.

I don't tip my hairdresser, as she is a partner at the salon. I usually round off what I pay a cab driver, but if the trip is long I will tip extra. I tip 10% at a restaurant. Less if the service is not up to scratch. I won't tip more than 10% in the US, as their employers need to pay them more, and more often than not I have found the service shocking. Once it was so bad we did not leave a tip. I left a 10% tip while dining out with my family in Italy. There were 11 of us, and the food kept on coming. The staff were taken aback at how much I had left them.

When in US we were served by a rude waiter who took our order and delivered the two plates of food to our table without a word He spent the whole time chatting to another table. When we came to pay I left 10% tip he chased us down the stairs demanding a minimum 20% no we did not pay it.

I do disagree with people who say they never tip, because the companies or owners should pay living wages.

The problem is - they don’t. Certain sectors of the service industry are structured because tipping for employees is factored in and they come to rely on it.

Waiters/waitresses have to pay the same bills you do. It’s hard work when patrons are demanding too.

Makes it terribly uneven. If I was serving food and you didn’t tip, I’d remember you the next time you come in. Hah! (Human nature - that’s how a lot of restaurant people feel.)

I tip for personal service that has been good. Of course I don't tip in shops where I am just being sold stuff over the counter. A meal served efficiently and in a friendly, helpful manner makes a real difference to the experience of eating out and deserves that acknowledgement. We tip postie and refuse collectors at Christmas - unsung heroes in my opinion!

Hetty58

Yes, I tip taxis, waiters, the bin men and postman at Christmas - but not the (owner) hairdresser. If the service is bad, I don't tip.

What I really don't agree with (as a retired teacher) is the recent trend to give an end-of-year gift to teachers. We are well paid professionals, so it's quite an insult - and we're not allowed to accept them, anyway. Instead, a little note or card would be appropriate.

I was shocked by the gift giving to my DDs first teacher. One of the other mums organised a collection and I contributed - very reluctantly as I didn't really like her. She was only with her for a term! The following year that teacher came in as a supply when her new teacher was off. She was really mean to DD who was only 6 and had a broken arm. I only found out because another mum told me what her daughter had told her what had happened. I made a complaint as I was friends with one of the school Governers and told her she shouldn't be employed there again with the younger children as she showed no compassion! I regretted contributing to the end of year gift for her - my instincts had been right all along!

Having said that I tip good service in restaurants and tend to tell taxi drivers to 'keep the change'.

NanaDana- I live in the states and I totally agree with you . Not only has everyone raised their prices of food but then the standard tip has gone up to 18%. My hairdresser cost went up $10 . It costs me $160 for a tint, cut and color and I’m expected to tip on that ? And the haircut takes a few minutes . I was a teacher and never got anything extra even when giving up my lunch to sit with my students and help them. This whole tipping has gotten out of hand .

I tip whether having a coffee or a meal, and also tip my hairdresser even though it’s her salon.

My brother in law (who I don’t always agree with!) said that he always tips a little more than the person is expecting as it makes a big difference to them, and very little difference to to him. And I follow his advice in this case.

I’m afraid that staff in this country (the UK) don’t always get tips if added into the bill if you pay by card, so I try to give cash for the tip.

While I’ve got some money, am happy to share it, I fully realise that not everyone feels the same and that some people simply can’t afford to tip.

🌷🌷🌷

Generally the answer is no - the minimum wage means that nobody should be relying on a tip for doing their job. I did, however, recently tip the hairdresser . The reason why is that everyone had put up prices due to other bills rising, BUT she had not as she feared losing customers. I don't think that is fair as she too has bills to pay.

Gundy

There are tight-fisted individuals (whether they can afford it or not) and generous people. So the whole idea of tipping is not even for the service industry.

If all trades were paid a fair and living wage there would be no need for tipping. But certain people will always tip in gratitude for a job well done.

I’m a generous tipper especially for waitstaff in restaurants. For hair salons, if the owner is your stylist I believe it is not necessary.
Cheers!
USA Gundy

This clearly sums up the difference between the USA and Britain. What is not understood is that the British do not need to tip (although many do) because we have employment laws which give protection to employees. One of those protections is the minimum wage. No one in Britain works for no pay and is expected to get by with tips. Nothing to do with being tight, it’s to do with proper legislation to protect workers.

Not really sure about the comment ' you tip a hairdresser etc but not a bus driver (Bluebell). A bus driver looks at a bus pass or just takes your money. People tip for personal 1-1 service. A waiter or hairdresser and the like spend more time on you/with you than just fleetingly taking your fare.. I tip for good service. Waiters, hairdresser dont always earn great wages. I have a great hairdresser so choose to tip her. It's also personal choice if you choose to tip or not.

I tipped my carpet fitter - own business and it took longer than he expected.

We have often queried the addition service charge which is automatically added to the bill. Quite often it is not justified and is an unwelcome assumption that you want to tip for mediocre service. We always get it removed.

We nearly always tip, even in fairly modest surroundings. I can think of only a few occasions when we haven't - usually if service has been rude and unfriendly. Even if the food in a cafe or restaurant isn't really very good, we tip if the service has been pleasant.

Yes I always tip. Taxi drives, my great hairdresser, waiting staff in restaurants and window cleaner etc at Xmas. Not tipping is mean. I've been a waitess and worked at all sorts of underpaid jobs when I was a student. They almost always need the money and although I'm not rich , I can afford to recognise good service.

Depending on the company I'm in, I'm about to try asking servers to remove the service charge. I will then tip whatever I fancy. Seems ridiculous that I should feel uncomfortable about this but the presumption really does annoy me.

I prefer to have the service tip added to the bill, and then it solves the problem. When I lived in Geneva it was always "service compris" in restaurants. In the UK I add 10% to the bill. I tip the hairdresser and taxis, and give Christmas gifts to the paper boy, postman and gardener. I actually find tipping embarrassing as it seems to indicate a servant/mistress situation. Once in America I was asked the the service had not been satisfactory as I only gave 10% (didn't know the rules there). Actually it wasn't satisfactory as he was very unpleasant, and one of our cups had lipstick on it.