Tipping

[Scotland]

Yeah, gratituity can GTFO. That just comes across like an extra 15 or 20% for the restaurant rather than a couple of extra beans the the slave labour waitress.

 

[Gough]

I've never really seen it done here, but in England if you bought the barman/wench a drink you usually got decent service all night, and some nights working behind a bar you could end up with a half dozen or so drinks bought for you over the course of the night. That's a sort of tipping I suppose.

 

[JuddsABlue]

Im a tipper, and I thnk overall I get A grade service at any place I visit regularly

I tip bar staff at clubs I go to, I always get to skip the line when I get to a packed bar, sometimes get my drink without even asking, the bartender will see me out of the corner of their eye and just make my drink and bring it up, avoiding any "hey I was here first" from others if they come up to me

Overall, service in the states is exceptionally better than it is here. Its quite contrasting and when spending a week over there and then coming back here it can be pretty shocking how rude and careless people are here. Its just get in do the job at the minimum standard and get back out to living life here.

But in saying that, tipping in the states is out of control. Recently with some friends we were in a nightclub getting bottle service and they wanted to charge $5k to my credit card in advance, which is annoying but kind of standard, so I allowed them and then it came back saying it was declined. I said that shouldnt be right, what are you charging? $6,600 they said. Well why are you doing that its meant to be $5k, "oh theres $1,600 mandatory gratuity"

So theyre forcing us to tip $1600 before we even get served. Quite extrordinary. Its the new standard across the board now in night clubs with bottle service, and really really frustrating. I would never not tip, but basically taking it out of your pocket makes you wonder why bother with the system in the first place

 

[swiftdog]

The only place over there that tipping became a nuisance was in Vegas - everywhere you went it seemed someone was putting their hand out for a tip right down to the guy out front of the casinos that waved up a taxi for you and opened the door. Perfectly capable of doing that myself thanks without having to feel the need to slip you a couple of bucks for waving your hand. (Also had those toilet guys in a couple of places that would help wash your hands after a piss)

Found that to be a more of a nuisance in Europe than the States. Toilet guys are everywhere around Europe, and they always strategically place themselves right over the basins or next to the hand dryer knowing that you'll have to go through them, whether it's actually giving them a tip or having to refuse, which I imagine some people have difficulty with.

 

[Nothing]

Found that to be a more of a nuisance in Europe than the States. Toilet guys are everywhere around Europe, and they always strategically place themselves right over the basins or next to the hand dryer knowing that you'll have to go through them, whether it's actually giving them a tip or having to refuse, which I imagine some people have difficulty with.

I just pat them on their back and walk off.

 

[BABYBOMBERS2007]

I would never tip anyone as they get paid to do their job.

 

[Doss]

I've never really seen it done here, but in England if you bought the barman/wench a drink you usually got decent service all night, and some nights working behind a bar you could end up with a half dozen or so drinks bought for you over the course of the night. That's a sort of tipping I suppose.

I suspect the practice of buying the barman a drink is pretty rare these days here- especially in the city.

Too much paranoia about RSA and compliance with it for most to take the risk.

Soft drinks perhaps- but not hard stuff.

 

[JuddsABlue]

the people saying they never tip, do they ever say 'keep the change'

like give $70 to a restuarant bill thats $69.25

Surely people arent waiting around to get 75c back

 

[Keys]

Im a tipper, and I thnk overall I get A grade service at any place I visit regularly

I tip bar staff at clubs I go to, I always get to skip the line when I get to a packed bar, sometimes get my drink without even asking, the bartender will see me out of the corner of their eye and just make my drink and bring it up, avoiding any "hey I was here first" from others if they come up to me

Overall, service in the states is exceptionally better than it is here. Its quite contrasting and when spending a week over there and then coming back here it can be pretty shocking how rude and careless people are here. Its just get in do the job at the minimum standard and get back out to living life here.

But in saying that, tipping in the states is out of control. Recently with some friends we were in a nightclub getting bottle service and they wanted to charge $5k to my credit card in advance, which is annoying but kind of standard, so I allowed them and then it came back saying it was declined. I said that shouldnt be right, what are you charging? $6,600 they said. Well why are you doing that its meant to be $5k, "oh theres $1,600 mandatory gratuity"

So theyre forcing us to tip $1600 before we even get served. Quite extrordinary. Its the new standard across the board now in night clubs with bottle service, and really really frustrating. I would never not tip, but basically taking it out of your pocket makes you wonder why bother with the system in the first place

I wanna go out on the piss with you

Agree completely that a mandatory gratuity completely defeats the purpose of tipping in that its a reward for good service. It shouldnt have to be something you pay just so that you can get served

 

[Rustin Cohle]

I don't mind people keeping the change but it really annoyed me when the pizza delivery driver asked me if I wanted my change last week when I was paying for my order.

 

[TassieEagle]

I don't mind people keeping the change but it really annoyed me when the pizza delivery driver asked me if I wanted my change last week when I was paying for my order.

The driver has to do the fake fumble around the bumbag for the change for a second or two until you chime in "Keep the change"

 

[mad_monkey_j]

Maybe I'm an arse, but I don't feel the need to tip for a quality service when I expect it either way. On the other hand I generally say to keep the change. I don't really consider that a tip, though.

 

[Catfish Alley]

Maybe I'm an arse, but I don't feel the need to tip for a quality service when I expect it either way. On the other hand I generally say to keep the change. I don't really consider that a tip, though.

I don't think it matters in Australia. Some people will tip the pizza guy or at a restaurant but it's not expected. Not like over here.

 

[Scotland]

Where possible I don't pay with cash, so whatever amount a bill comes to is what is charged to my card.

I don't really get pizzas delivered or pay for taxis with cash, but 'keep the change' is standard fare for a restaurant meal with no split bill IMO. If you put in a $50 note and ordered somthing that cost $27 you'd expect to get $20 back from the pot but the haggling over the odd $1 or $2 here or there is just a waste of time. That's less about tipping as just not being a dick. You might even get a $32 meal for $30 one time.

 

[Catfish Alley]

Where possible I don't pay with cash, so whatever amount a bill comes to is what is charged to my card.

Don't they have the machines where it asks $ or % tip?

 

[Scotland]

Don't they have the machines where it asks $ or % tip?

I've never seen one here. Most places are moving towards PayPass/PayWave too.

 

[Catfish Alley]

A couple of things I enjoy when I visit are not tipping and paying exactly what is on the price tag (they add on tax here)

 

[PACatter]

Tip in the U.S. regularly; tip in Canada sometimes, except with the Frenchies in Montreal when they're dicks because we attempt to speak French and they still give us chaff; tipped in Australia a handful of times but only because of great service. I actually like the Australia idea, where you tip solely because someone did a great job, not because it's expected as a form of payment.

And this is from someone who worked as a bartender for years in America - I always hated seeing shit workers get tips because they were expected, while great workers who provided much better service would also get the same level of tip, give or take a percent.

 

[Keys]

A couple of things I enjoy when I visit are not tipping and paying exactly what is on the price tag (they add on tax here)

Yeah the tax got confusing over there.

Pick up something to buy, price tag says $20, go to pay, that'll be $25 thanks.

That its diferent in different states also get confusing