tipping

(altho i've only been in england for abt 4 years so maybe i've been doing it wrong + offending ppl)

My sister in England claims that not only are you not encouraged to tip there, but that some servers will take it as an insult. True/false?

Maybe it makes them feel like servants?

What do you guys think is customary for buffets? I usually do just like, a buck (if it's $7.95 or whatever), since all the server really does is give you your drink and take plates away. Or do you tip the same?

tip a few dollars, also depends on the ethnicity of the buffet

Buffet tip should be at least two bucks a person, more if the server was somehow distinctly great, and if it's some sort of upscale, pricey buffet thing then adjust those numbers because it's insulting to tip $2 on a $30 check no matter what. Although I have no idea what kind of buffet that would be! (Up front: I wait tables for a living. And it's in a hotel, so to be fair, there are opportunities to be good that go beyond keeping on top of drink refills and handling the check(s) quickly etc - - people ask for directions and recommendations in town and so on.)

My opinion here is also shaped by working in a place that only does buffet for breakfast on the weekends, which are hectic, long, break-free shifts in comparison to table service periods, just because the volume of customers goes way up without there necessarily being more servers on the floor. So the server may actually be doing way more work in general to keep the general dining experience afloat. Yeah, less interaction with you individually, and none of the above is your idea, but the fact that you were able to get a clean table quickly, your drinks regularly refilled without you having to ask, the dirty plates out from under your elbows fast, your checks split up and cashed out promptly.... all of that is down to the staff generally staying on top of everything.

Anyway, what I'm getting at is that, if it's just a buck a head, they are doing a lot more sweating and running around in order to keep you fed, and getting tipped less on it.

This is also where that "you're tipping the support team as well" thing comes into play. We don't do that at my place but lord, I wish we had at least one busser/food-runner on buffet shifts. We had that at a place I used to work at and things went a lot smoother, I didn't mind tipping those guys out in the slightest.

I tip the same.

for the record I don't think I've ever gotten a waitress who was able to refill the drinks "on time"...usually you have to wait 5-10 minutes. but I'm just talking about one place in particular; i guess maybe it shouldn't be any different? I dunno...I've had this debate before, in the end the whole culture of tipping is kinda ridiculous

10%, double it, adjust down if required = easy

― 40% chill and 100% negative (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 28 April 2011 12:05 (4 hours ago) Bookmark

^^^ been doin this for years

for the record I don't think I've ever gotten a waitress who was able to refill the drinks "on time"...usually you have to wait 5-10 minutes.

Well, that's lousy! But I take pride in being a big refill-anticipator. You find satisfaction in the small things in this line of work I guess.

tip a few dollars, also depends on the ethnicity of the buffet

????

re. the ethnicity thing.

I have recently been chided by my girlfriend, an ex-barista, for not routinely tipping at coffee shops. I mean, sometimes I throw a buck in the tip jar, but I haven't -- until now -- been routinely doing a dollar-a-drink like I do at bars. GF notes that making a cappuccino or espresso is more work than pulling a pint, and barista wages are no more than bartender wages, so tips should be commensurate. This makes sense to me and now I feel guilty.

(and I just read the barista tipping guide up above, which I'm sure my girlfriend would endorse)

I don't feel guilty! They're not waitstaff, and I don't tip the guy who makes my sandwich at the deli.

Yeah, I mean ... where the line exactly is between "server" and "service employee" is hard to say. But I get the analogy to bartenders. Especially if you're actually drinking the coffee at the coffeeshop. Getting it to go might be more like getting food to go (when I usually don't tip, except maybe a buck or so).

But anyway. More to the point for me is my girlfriend will think I'm a Bad Person if I don't tip in coffee shops, so that's worth avoiding.

A buck! A buck is what I would tip for a cocktail, you say it like that's the LEAST you would put in. This is a fucked up world in which coffee servers need to be tipped. Not to say that frothing milk and making lattes and stuff isn't work, but...how is the CUSTOMER supposed to know that their employer isn't paying them minimum wage??

I meant I tip a buck or so for pick-up food, not coffee. (Though there's probably a whole etiquette discussion there, too.)

And I think baristas really are supposed to make minimum wage. Whether they do or not might vary, I don't know. Otoh, minimum wage isn't much.

i tip baristas, the cute ones at least

whenever I tip a barista, they always say "why are you pushing me"

No, but wait a second: the mandate to tip servers/waitstaff is because there's a pre-existing labor model in place in which they are paid WELL under min wage under the assumption that tips will make up the difference (and potentially more). We don't tip them JUST BECAUSE they don't make "a lot" of money. There's a specific tacit agreement.

Making min wage is, god knows, not a comfortable place to be in any way, but it's not up to the customers to make it up to the servers?

it's not. that's why you don't have to tip baristas.

...Which is what I'm saying. Tipsy has personal reasons to keep his gf sweet and happy by being not-an-asshole in her eyes, so he tips. I'm kind of reacting to the suggestion that we should all be doing it. Because I'm reactionary like that, at least on days ending in -y and on which I'm really really bored.

I tip for a complicated coffee drink and/or food that requires prep but not for drip coffee and a muffin on a plate.

I wouldn't argue that's the right way to do it, mind you. It's just the way I roll. There's a sandwich shop in my building and I sometimes stop for a drip coffee ($1.77) and I never put he change in the change jar, because it's like the arbitrary line I've drawn, and the cashier hates me.

yeah i mean i usually do it if it's convenient (i.e. i pay with a card and there's a signable receipt with a tip space) but i don't really feel bad if i don't do it.

the beginning of this thread was funny

A buck! A buck is what I would tip for a cocktail, you say it like that's the LEAST you would put in. This is a fucked up world in which coffee servers need to be tipped.

you do see how there's more work in a latte than a beer though, right?

whenever I tip a barista, they always say "why are you pushing me"

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Thursday, April 28, 2011 5:00 PM (23 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

i hope this post doesn't get lost

I SAID A COCKTAIL. THERE'S MORE WORK IN THAT TOO.

I'M GLAD WE AGREE.

BUT EVEN SO, IF IT WERE A WELL MADE COCKTAIL WITH GOOD SPIRITS I WOULD PROB DROP A COUPLE BUCKS, AND SO I AM COMING INTO ALIGNMENT WITH THE ARGUMENT THAT I SHOULD DROP A COUPLE BUCKS FOR A GOOD COMPLICATED COFFEE DRINK AND MAYBE DROP A GEORGE FOR A BLACK COFFEE.

IF SHE'S CUTE.

so on average, the more attractive you are, the more tips you get??
hmmm interesting

But How do you tip at a bar? Do you lay the extra money down on the bar, or what?

change it into quarters, try to flip them into a glass behind the counter

bartenders love customers who are "fun"

Never got into bar games much, though. In fact, I've never drank at a bar.

IF SHE'S CUTE.

― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Thursday, April 28, 2011 1:36 PM (17 minutes ago) Bookmark

this is still really the main thing isn't it

The place where I am confused about tipping is at a stylist. I can't tell if I am way overtipping or not. $45 haircut + $20 tip = I feel confused every time. This is probably standard? Or not??? My sister-in-law who is a stylist will talk about clients who leave tips in the hundreds, or pay her in airline tickets, and I am like 'wtf is going on???'

I mean I think the triple-digit tips aren't a regular thing but I am still ––– ––– ––––––––––––– ––– you know?

The safest rule to follow in all tipping situations is "assume 15-20% or $1/unit" (the latter being for instances like buying drinks at the bar; $1/drink)

I'd say you're overtipping by the baseline rules, but if that's the amount you want to leave then leave it; the reason your SIL is talking about those specific tips is because they are extravagant and ridiculous (and, in the case of the plane tickets, potentially gross; is the client expecting to fly with her???? ew)

No no no I'd probably tip like $10 on that, Abb, if that gives you any perspective. Might tip $20 if the cut was over...$60? Or thereabouts.

this is still really the main thing isn't it

― call all destroyer, Thursday, 28 April 2011 17:54 (9 minutes ago) Bookmark

i mean honestly a friendly demeanor regardless of cuteness is the biggest thing, buuuuuut yeah this too

the reason your SIL is talking about those specific tips is because they are extravagant and ridiculous (and, in the case of the plane tickets, potentially gross; is the client expecting to fly with her???? ew)

haha Dan it is a wonder I ever figure anything out. This makes perfect sense. I think the person who tipped her plane tickets had a cheap hookup (worked for an airline) & just knew she would appreciate it, no crepe.
I am always an overtipper. Tipping just makes me nervous!

Also, man, that extra dollar (or I guess $10 extra dollars for my stylist!), that makes a person so happy. Really no big deal to throw down $1 extra and that person hooks you up forever.

My reasoning actually on that styling tip – the first time I saw her I tipped $10 ($10 plus an extra dollar). But then Jenny upthread said $10 was the proper tip for a free bang trim that literally took less time to do than any song from "Double Nickels on the Dime." So why should that, and something that takes an hour, get the same tip? It made no sense to me.

Well that's really the thing about tipping; you should tip what you feel comfortable leaving. The "rules" are really guidelines.

I'm never sure what to tip at a place with counter service, where you order and pay at the counter but then they bring the food to your table. And per the immediate above, I'm not sure what to tip the stylist when I bring my daughter in for her free bang trim. I mean, the haircut itself only costs $10!

OTOH $10 for the bang trim made no sense to me!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU9lv_WqK6k

Yeah in general if you tip well at a bar and are friendly to the bartenders they really do hook you up

I played bar dice numerous times with bartenders who would intentionally tank the game, great times

I have never actually gotten anything back form bartenders. But we always tip way too nicely at the pizza place down the street & last night the owner gave us a p deluxe pizza & two beers for about $15 less than he should have. Very nice.

I meant I tip a buck or so for pick-up food, not coffee.

servers still often have to tip out on to-go orders, which i get most ppl dont really realize, but its always fun to lose money on an order

I meant I tip a buck or so for pick-up food, not coffee.

servers still often have to tip out on to-go orders, which i get most ppl dont really realize, but its always fun to lose money on an order