What are your thoughts on tipping?

[just play]

I know other countries have different ideas on tipping, but here in the USA tipping is huge.

I was reading an article on yahoo the other day about a pizza delivery guy who delivered 85 pizzas totalling almost $1,500, and the people gave him a $10 tip. Now in a restaurant no one would dare leave that small of a tip on that kind of bill. I don't think he deserved the 15-20% tip, but $10? How many trips did he have to make to bring 85 pizzas to the door of the house.

I like reading the replies from people after reading the story, and most of the replies discusted me. Someone starting talking about counter tip jars for various places. The replies were...get a real job...I'm not gonna tip you for doing nothing...who cares if you make minimum wage it's not my problem...go to college...etc...

No one was talking about waitresses really, mostly just other places, like I said counter tip jars, or people at the restaurant who put together your meal for takeout. So after reading for about an hour I saw replies from people working in this places, saying what they have to do, what they get paid, and some even said putting your food together for takeout is much more time consuming than just delivering plates to a table.

Then some people chimmed in and said to those people who don't tip that they were in college, but had to have a job to pay for college and bills, some said they had masters degrees but in this economy had to take a minimum wage (or less) job.

So after this long winded post (I just wanted to add as much information as possible) what do you think about tipping...

1. waitresses
2. counter people who put together your food for takeout
3. coffee shops
4. deli workers who take your order, make your food and cash you out
5. delivery people

 

[chayton]

I usually tip everyone. I tip restaurant servers and cabdrivers and delivery people and if I get my hair done. Even if someone is not really good I still tip them something, and if they're really good I tip more. I have a feeling that most people who don't tip are people who have never had that type of job. I had this one acquaintance in AZ who grew up with her parents paying her way through one school after another, she never worked any 'service' jobs and she was adamant that she wouldn't tip unless she got exemplary service. I even caught her pocketing a tip I had left when we went to lunch together once!

I mean especially since when I was living in Phoenix going to school I decided to take a part time job as a waitress, at the interview the owner of the restaurant said something like, "Our normal wage is two but since you have experience we can start you at two-fifteen" and I was thinking, "...he can't mean $2 an hour...? It's not 1950!" But that's exactly what they meant - AZ being a 'right to work' state, at some restaurants you're expected to make minimum wage WITH your tips.

Of course I didn't take the job, and after that I tipped even more.

 

[chuzzleaddict]

Hello, in the UK where I am IMO tipping is quite a lot less 'popular' than it is in the US, a lot of people here are quite scornful of it like 'they're just doing their job, why should I give them extra?' type attitude. That said, it is also well known that in quite a few industries, you are expected to help the employee 'make up' their low salary with the help of tips,and it can be quite lucrative, in say the top end hotels, taxis, that kind of thing.

The places I tip are - pizza delivery, grocery delivery, hairdresser and the waiter for table service at a restaurant. I do not tip at take-out or buffet type of deal, coffee shops etc, nor any other delivery drivers unless it would be like a HUGE delivery coming in to the house with perhaps an install, like a washing machine.

But among people I know, I am in the minority, most do not like to tip at all and question why I do it. I have spent a lot of time in the States and think some of it rubbed off on me there!

 

[The Dude]

In Germany, tipping is kept to a minimum for a number of reasons. Most restaurants are family owned or small private businesses. When you sit at a table, in most cases that table is yours for the night. There is no handing you the bill before you are finished (like in the States), you have to ask for it when you want to leave. At that point the server will ask whether you want it separate or together, and they will either add it up on a small pad of paper, or ring it up at the cash register. When they hand it to you, you pay right then and there in cash (Credit cards are rarely used), and you round up to the nearest 1 or 2 Euros.

For a night out (pizza and four beers) that would be about 18 Euros - round up to 19.50 or 20. And the servers are appreciative about it since they don't rely on tips. Many of the servers are either part-owners of the restaurants, or they are paid well enough not to worry about a tip.

If you tip too big, they will think there is something wrong with you. If you do it around friends, your friends will think you are a braggart trying to be a show-off. You never leave a tip on the table unless you've used a credit card (rarely there is a "tip" section on most CC receipts). The waitress takes the payment - you place a Euro or two on the table and leave.

A lot of places invoke the honor system. When paying the bill, they ask you what you've eaten/drunk and add up the price. Some use your Bierdeckel (coaster), marking it with a pen each time you order a beer. When the party is over, you hand over the Bierdeckel and they add up the beers, and you find yourself a cab.

Cab drivers usually get the same sort of tip. You round up to the next Euro or two. Same at the hairdresser - you usually tip a Euro for an 18 Euro haircut. Pizza delivery - a Euro, maybe two.

This is one of the reasons I hate traveling in the States, tipping has become ludicrous. When it's mandatory, it's not a tip - it's extortion. If the servers and cab drivers feel they need more money, then the owners should adjust the prices accordingly. If the service is good, then tip. If it's not good or mediocre, then no tip. And if there is no tip, the server should just be happy about it anyway since the paycheck they are receiving should be good enough anyway.

And the service here in Germany is as good as anywhere else - sometimes better. So it's not like that 15% - 20% tip is getting you anything special. It's bullshit for all I'm concerned.

 

[Borgie]

I am also in the UK

I always tip taxi drivers, hairdressers - both the hair cutter and the hair washer if they are two different people, although more to the hair cutter and almost always waiters/waitresses unless I have had an awful experience. I will also tip someone delivering take away food.

I do not tip grocery delivery or online orders that are delivered.

 

[just play]

Chayton, I would agree 100% with you about the people who don't tip never had to work those type of jobs. I have worked them all, lol. I especially hated at some restaurants the waitresses would pool their tips, so if you wanted you could be a bad waitress and still get good tips.

I also tip everywhere, and tip nicely. When I used to drink my friends and I would frequent this bar, I would always tip the girl good on my drink order, so the next time I went up to the bar (there could be 20 people waiting around the bar) she would come to me first. I also notice in our local restaurants we get treated better, get more food, etc...I think the people really appreciate it and in turn show us how much they appreciate it.



Chuzzle, I knew some countries had different ideas on tipping but didn't know exactly which countries. We always tip takeout, but never tip washing machine deliveries. I didn't know people did that.

 

[just play]

This is one of the reasons I hate traveling in the States, tipping has become ludicrous. When it's mandatory, it's not a tip - it's extortion. If the servers and cab drivers feel they need more money, then the owners should adjust the prices accordingly. If the service is good, then tip. If it's not good or mediocre, then no tip. And if there is no tip, the server should just be happy about it anyway since the paycheck they are receiving should be good enough anyway.

And the service here in Germany is as good as anywhere else - sometimes better. So it's not like that 15% - 20% tip is getting you anything special. It's bullshit for all I'm concerned.

I look at this different. If the owners of certain places were to increase their workers pay, most of these small businesses would go out of business. These restaurants are not required to pay minimum wage, like other places such as 7-11 or something similar.

You don't believe if a party of 15 people come into a restaurant a mandatory tip should be included? I have no idea what waitresses make these days but it's REALLY LOW. They do not make minimum wage, tips is what makes their pay, not their paycheck. The paychecks are ridiculously low, it's laughable.

When we frequent our local restaurants we DO get better service because they know us. And to tell you the truth, when I waitressed and knew people that came in and didn't tip well, I will admit I didn't service them as good as others.


edit....

And if there is no tip, the server should just be happy about it anyway since the paycheck they are receiving should be good enough anyway.

This is strange to hear from you, living in the USA for as long as you did, you should know how little waitresses are paid. Their paychecks are nothing! Our current minimum wage just got raised or is being raised to $9 an hour I believe, waitresses make I would guess (I have no idea) $3-4 an hour...so their paychecks ARE NOT good enough anyway.

 

[dionysus]

We (meaning the bf and I)tend to tip espec. where the employee gets hourly minimum, so, waiter/waitresses, pizza/beer delivery, bartenders and cabbies. Standard is usually 20%, more if good service, less if bad. HERE, certain services get LESS than the standard minimum wage and RELY on tips, mostly restaurant and bar workers.

 

[chuzzleaddict]

My friends like to regularly remind me of the time when in the USA and renting a house in Florida,I got so flustered/paranoid about the tipping rules that I saw fit to tip our pizza delivery person $25 for a $12 pizza She walked pretty fast down the path hoping I wouldn't change my mind lol

 

[dionysus]

A nice thing we have here (a few of the ON cities I've lived in), is I can tip the beer delivery guy my empties; saves me carting them back, and he's ok with it, because it's still money to him.

 

[just play]

A nice thing we have here (a few of the ON cities I've lived in), is I can tip the beer delivery guy my empties; saves me carting them back, and he's ok with it, because it's still money to him.

What a good idea!

I don't think we have beer delivery guys here? (There could be but I'm not aware of any) You mean from a liquor store, you call up and place a beer order and they bring it to you?


Chuzzle...$25 for a $12 dollar pizza. Hahahahahahahaha. Even the other way around would be too much...$12 on a $25 pizza.

 

[The Dude]

I look at this different. If the owners of certain places were to increase their workers pay, most of these small businesses would go out of business. These restaurants are not required to pay minimum wage, like other places such as 7-11 or something similar.

This is the problem. There is something wrong with the system. It should have never gotten this bad. Businesses should have been required to pay their employees enough to stay above the poverty level. This is where capitalism fails us.

You don't believe if a party of 15 people come into a restaurant a mandatory tip should be included? I have no idea what waitresses make these days but it's REALLY LOW. They do not make minimum wage, tips is what makes their pay, not their paycheck. The paychecks are ridiculously low, it's laughable..

Sure, in the States it's normal for big parties to have one bill - and there is usually a 20% service charge tacked on. That's normal for the States. That's not normal here. For one thing, it's rare to have a party of 15 on one bill. You could have 15 people, and if they are couples or families, there would be separate bills for each small group and the normal tipping procedure would apply.

When we frequent our local restaurants we DO get better service because they know us. And to tell you the truth, when I waitressed and knew people that came in and didn't tip well, I will admit I didn't service them as good as others.

That's the thing, in Germany you don't have to throw money at people to get service - they do it because they are being paid to do it already

This is strange to hear from you, living in the USA for as long as you did, you should know how little waitresses are paid. Their paychecks are nothing! Our current minimum wage just got raised or is being raised to $9 an hour I believe, waitresses make I would guess (I have no idea) $3-4 an hour...so their paychecks ARE NOT good enough anyway.

You misunderstood me - what I said was what waitresses are being paid by their employers "should be good enough anyway". What servers in the States are paid is criminal. There is a minimum wage, and any respectable business should be paying more than just that.

In the States, there is a restaurant business environment that relies on churning out as many customers as possible. If you've never lived abroad, that may be hard to understand, but like I mentioned - here in Germany you never fell pressured to leave a restaurant. I'm sure if the waitresses here relied on 15% tips, they would be shuffling you out the door like in the good ol' USA.

 

[just play]

Bryan...Ohhhhhhhhhh. Ok your post makes more sense now. I was like huh? LMAO.

In the States, there is a restaurant business environment that relies on churning out as many customers as possible. If you've never lived abroad, that may be hard to understand, but like I mentioned - here in Germany you never fell pressured to leave a restaurant. I'm sure if the waitresses here relied on 15% tips, they would be shuffling you out the door like in the good ol' USA.

Yup that is correct.

I have a friend who went to Paris, and she couldn't get used to how slow everyone ate...I think I posted this here years ago. She said it would take people 3-4 hours to eat dinner, that is unheard of here. Even at home. We believed that is why people from other countries who ate slowly and talked/enjoyed their meal, drank more in between bites are thinner compaired to USA people.

Yes, this is the good ol' USA.

 

[conker]

I am another UK resident who tips quite regularly - cabs, waiters, bar tenders, hairdressers, hotel stuff. However, it is always at my own discretion and normally they aren't expecting it. I would agree that having been in some of those jobs myself, a tip can make your whole day that much better - an aknowledgement that you are doing a great job.

Having seen and expirienced the standard of service in the US and Canada I can say that I am a fan of tipping, what I don't like is that you are still expected to tip if the service has been poor or even non existant. A tip by its nature is a reward for a job welldone, not simply making up someones wages in a poorly paid profession.

I am not a fan of restaurants adding their discretionary 12.5% on to the bill, as I would assume that this is not always passed onto the person it was meant to reward. When companies abuse this then that is really f£$ked up!!

 

[dionysus]

What a good idea!

I don't think we have beer delivery guys here? (There could be but I'm not aware of any) You mean from a liquor store, you call up and place a beer order and they bring it to you?


Chuzzle...$25 for a $12 dollar pizza. Hahahahahahahaha. Even the other way around would be too much...$12 on a $25 pizza.

Well, it's any kind of dial up delivery service, for smokes, beer, liquor, pizza w/e. There's a couple actually called The Beer Guy and Dial-A-Bottle. The're listed in the phone book as delivery services. Friends tell other friends who they use that's cheapest.
If it's minus 30 I'm not hiking my ass out for beer; I'll pay the 8 bucks to have it come to my door.

EDIT: also good if you're 1/2 into the party and run out or you get surprise guests and can't drive cuz already 1/2 in the bag.

 

[IanO]

I'd agree that people who have relied on or worked for tips in the past seem more likely to tip themselves. It's certainly true for me. I'll tip waiters and waitresses, delivery people and taxi drivers, and I'm usually pretty generous, especially if I'm trying to impress a date

Tipping anecdote from my past.... cue wavey lines and harp music....

15 odd years ago (god I feel old) I was working in Sydney as a hotel porter and general dogsbody. As a crusty backpacker I was on next to nothing so the tips really helped. One day I was called to the front desk and asked to help an American lady gets her bags to her car. 'Woo-Hoo' think I, as Americans often made for the best tippers.

One short trip from her room to her car and she opens the wallet to 'give me a little something'. She then proceeds to pull three crisp australian $100 bills from her wallet and hands them to me. More money than I'd seen in the previous month!! I was stunned, but my mammy trained me well and I had to stop her. ''Umm, excuse me, but do you know how much this is?''. Turns out she thought it was only a couple of bucks, and when I pointed out the US to AUS exchange rate she went white. I handed her back the money, and she thanked me profusely. She then said ''Well I cant give you nothing... let me see... and re-opens the wallet. This time I can see inside, at the WEDGE of $100 bills. She must have had a few grand in cash at least.

she flips through it all, shrugs, and says 'sorry, I only seem to have $100's''. then gets in the car and drives away. Good thing I believe in Karma, eh?

 

[just play]

Well, it's any kind of dial up delivery service, for smokes, beer, liquor, pizza w/e. There's a couple actually called The Beer Guy and Dial-A-Bottle. The're listed in the phone book as delivery services. Friends tell other friends who they use that's cheapest.
If it's minus 30 I'm not hiking my ass out for beer; I'll pay the 8 bucks to have it come to my door.

EDIT: also good if you're 1/2 into the party and run out or you get surprise guests and can't drive cuz already 1/2 in the bag.

Sorry to keep asking you questions...lol...but I find other countries customs interesting.

You mean you can get a delivery of ONE PACK OF SMOKES?

In my area, all deliverys have a minimum price, pizza, restaurants, grocery, etc...

edit...it cost 8 bucks, so there must not be a minimum correct?


@IanO....HAHAHAHAHAHAHA....you could have told her you could break her $100.

 

[Osloking]

In Norway, people usually dont tip as it is already in the price, take a pizza for example, its coast you 45$ plus 12$ to get delivered, and the pizza dont taste good either. so total 57$ (im not kidding)

a "cheap" beer at local pub coast you about 13$ for 0.5L

i was at a restaurant with my girlfriend last week and we eat nothing special (2 meal + 2 drinks) 110$ bill

but i still tip IF the service is outstanding, but service minded workers dosent exist in Norway compared to US or Japan.

 

[Osloking]

I also should note that in Oslo, the waiter threat costumer differently to others, they threat you very nice if you are bit older in age and order wine or more expansive drinks at restaurant. when i was younger i worked at a restaurant and the waiter always was angry in the background when costumers ordered water as drink and gave them the ignoring face.

I grew up in Tokyo, if you get go to Japan once in your life time, you will notify what the real "customer service" feels like.

 

[chuzzleaddict]

OMG IanO, thats one hell of a story! I deffo think the karma will return to you though if it already has not, kudos on the honesty But can't believe she gave ya nuffin!

 

[Jasminebed]

Too funny this thread was here this morning, it was topic over coffee in my kitchen.

I tip, and I tip acceptably usually. People that serve alcohol in Ontario are allowed to be paid less. The days of 10% being a reasonable tip are gone, I'm usually around 15%. A buck a drink if you just pass it to me across a bar.

I always tip cabbies, unless they are rude. That's pretty rare. I tip less when you are lazy. That's not as rare. I get my hair done at a discount chain, and I tip around $3 on a 12 cut there. They are often quite surprised, they usually get a buck if anything. Most of them have spent 20 mins or so talking about their kids and listening to me talk as well.

I do not tip counter people in chain fast food establishments, or drive through.

Would never have occurred to me to tip furniture delivery or UPS.

@Dion ... If all things are equal, use Dial-a-Bottle. One of the partners with his father revived an old name, and I'd heard they had franchised. He was a trivia frenemy at NTN for a long time. Another trivian and one of the original partners is still driving for them, and $6 plus tip for just The Beer Store is way cheaper than taking a cab to go get it.

Not just any delivery company can deliver alcohol, the service has the responsiblity for no sales to minors, or too inebriated.

Food delivery gets 2 - 4 bucks.

And win or lose, I tip the BJ dealer when I leave the table if I've played more than a hand or two. I do not tip any online casino people.

 

[clees42]

tipping is not real part of the culture here in finland. Tip is pretty much included in the salary. Some people still do it when they are especially pleased with the food.

 

[polli123]

Me in Germany:


1. waitresses: 10%
2. counter people who put together your food for takeout:nothing
3. coffee shops: only pennies
4. deli workers who take your order, make your food and cash you out: nothing
5. delivery people: 10%

The service is included in the total over here, so you can save the tip.

---
In the USA i always tip between 15-30%, depending of the service. But i don't give any tips at counters (e.g. Subway) and coffee shops.

PS: i met a nice 22 years old bartender girl at the Aztec Inn, LV several times over 2 years. She drove a 350 Mercedes and i think she earned more with whipping drinks & titties than a local Bank Director here at good old Germany.

Cheers!

 

[Mouche12]

I usually tip everyone. I tip restaurant servers and cabdrivers and delivery people and if I get my hair done. Even if someone is not really good I still tip them something, and if they're really good I tip more. I have a feeling that most people who don't tip are people who have never had that type of job. I had this one acquaintance in AZ who grew up with her parents paying her way through one school after another, she never worked any 'service' jobs and she was adamant that she wouldn't tip unless she got exemplary service. I even caught her pocketing a tip I had left when we went to lunch together once!

I mean especially since when I was living in Phoenix going to school I decided to take a part time job as a waitress, at the interview the owner of the restaurant said something like, "Our normal wage is two but since you have experience we can start you at two-fifteen" and I was thinking, "...he can't mean $2 an hour...? It's not 1950!" But that's exactly what they meant - AZ being a 'right to work' state, at some restaurants you're expected to make minimum wage WITH your tips.

Of course I didn't take the job, and after that I tipped even more.

I am a bit derailing here... but your story about your acqaintance pocketing a tip reminded me of a very wealthy friend from the past, who would sometimes take (read: steal) ashtrays from fancy hotels and restaurants. I've experienced this several times and was bloody ashamed of it. What kind of mentality is this?

About tipping: I always do it, but I tend be more generous when I have more cash and when the service is very friendly. If the service has been very lousy though, I don't.

 

[chayton]

When I was young and cute and worked at a pizza joint I had this big group of guys who came in for pizza and drinks - there were like 8 or 10 of them and their bill came to like $300 by the time they were done, they tipped me $100!

And when I worked at another place there was this little old couple who used to come in and whenever I served them they left me a quarter - which was pretty impressive to the rest of the staff because they never tipped anyone else anything at all.

To be honest I never really cared about whether people were big tippers or not, the only thing I hated was serving people who were rude. You know the kind, usually some well off guy and his date, he's trying to impress her by acting like he bought you at an auction and she's treating you like something stinky that's stuck on her shoe.

Actually that reminds me of this couple that came in where I worked once - one of the other girls served them and I guess the date didn't like her, he left a fairly hefty tip and they were almost to the door and she came back and took it. lol.

TBH I don't think I could handle that kind of work anymore - I have no patience for rude or obnoxious people in my old age. I'd probably get fired the first day.

 

[just play]

When I was young and cute and worked at a pizza joint I had this big group of guys who came in for pizza and drinks - there were like 8 or 10 of them and their bill came to like $300 by the time they were done, they tipped me $100!

And when I worked at another place there was this little old couple who used to come in and whenever I served them they left me a quarter - which was pretty impressive to the rest of the staff because they never tipped anyone else anything at all.

To be honest I never really cared about whether people were big tippers or not, the only thing I hated was serving people who were rude. You know the kind, usually some well off guy and his date, he's trying to impress her by acting like he bought you at an auction and she's treating you like something stinky that's stuck on her shoe.

Actually that reminds me of this couple that came in where I worked once - one of the other girls served them and I guess the date didn't like her, he left a fairly hefty tip and they were almost to the door and she came back and took it. lol.

TBH I don't think I could handle that kind of work anymore - I have no patience for rude or obnoxious people in my old age. I'd probably get fired the first day.

OMG... I remember one time I was working at a restaurant and this cool couple (we were talking and laughing a lot) ordered something with shrimp, so when I went over to ask how everything was the man said "I didn't get many shrimp". I said sorry, talked a bit and went about my business. I went back to the table a little while later and said "I had a talk with the cook and he said if you didn't like how many shrimp you got, he would meet you out back after your done". The look on his face was priceless...I started laughing, they started laughing...they left me a huge tip.

Oh I loved serving older couples, most would always leave $1. I found it cute. Most were very friendly, very nice to serve, just would eat and enjoy the food/restaurant and have a nice night out.

Awwww, I loved being young and cute.

 

[secret2]

There is a website forum named, ' Tipthepizzaguy.com'. It really opens ones eyes as to what pizza delivery guys go through and who they meet...and how they are tipped or not.

 

[skiny]

What are your thoughts on tipping?

Doesn't bother me but the cows hate it.



I have never been much for eating out and it's been a lot of years since I spent much time in bars so I wouldn't exactly call myself an experienced tipper. I don't mind leaving a little something on the table or giving the delivery person a little extra but it's always bugged me a little that it's expected. They're called "gratuities" but the fact that it's expected contradicts the gratuitous nature of the gesture.

Here in Canada the disparity between minimum wage for employees that receive gratuities and employees that don't vary from province to province. I think it actually ranges from 0 to about $1.35. The highest being the province I live in of course. When an employer is allowed to pay employees less for the sole reason that their job puts them in a position to receive tips the tips automatically become part of the wage unless it's expected that waitresses can live on less money than factory workers. This means that not only does the employee and the employer expect the customer to pay extra but apparently the government does too. They set the minimum wage. And to make it even worse an exact percentage of your bill has been decided on which will be the expected extra you will pay. A percentage that has actually increased over the years and will likely continue to increase with inflation.

I'm not even sure where the logic in this lies since it's not uncommon for well established restaurants to have a higher profit margin than many other small businesses. Meanwhile the restaurant pays less per employee in wages and the other small businesses barely scrape by. I can't for the life of me figure out why a salon should be allowed to pay less than minimum wage. How much overhead can a company have with 6 barber chairs and two dozen pairs of scissors?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with tipping a server who has shown a genuine interest in making your experience in their establishment a better one but all businesses should be paying the same minimum wage for all employees and gratuities should actually be gratuitous. When you hand me a bill with an expectation that I add 15 or 20% to it that is no longer a tip - that is a tax. And when a person leaves a tip it should tell the server that they were happy with the service. It should be a way to thank someone for exceptional service. If it's expected it means nothing.

Pay all employees the same minimum wage, remove this expectation that we supplement some employee's incomes regardless of how they perform their duties and there will be fairness and equality among small businesses and good service will be rewarded while simply adequate service will not.

 

[dionysus]

Sorry to keep asking you questions...lol...but I find other countries customs interesting.

You mean you can get a delivery of ONE PACK OF SMOKES?

In my area, all deliverys have a minimum price, pizza, restaurants, grocery, etc...

edit...it cost 8 bucks, so there must not be a minimum correct?


@IanO....HAHAHAHAHAHAHA....you could have told her you could break her $100.

Lol you could get a pack delivered and ive seen people do it..I wouldn't lol. I meant more,like if im having a $50 bottle delivered in the winter ill have the guy grab a pack of smokes and maybe pop too at the 7/11....an additional stop is an additional buck.

 

[missmichelle]

Hubby and I tip very nicely almost always. You have to do something really terrible for us not to tip but just average service we tip well on. If you go out of your way for us we really tip. We don't have much money either.

I was stranded with my car and my 15 year old daughter and our dog. I called for a cab because it was 2:00am and I just wanted to get us home. I was terrified we would have a long wait since it was the middle of the night. The cabbie called and asked if I needed a ride and would we be there if he came. lol He got there within minutes and he was telling me the last three calls he went out on weren't there when he showed up. We were not far from home and the ride cost 8.00. I gave him 30.00 and he said do you realize how much you gave me? I said yes, and how much I appreciated how fast he got to us and that I hoped it helped make up for the ones he missed out on. He gave me his card and said if I ever got stuck to call him and he would be right there.

We have a few places we regularly go to eat and once someone has taken care of us if they see us come in they actually fight over us. My daughter has waitressed for quite a few years, so I know what they go through to earn their money. I always keep that in mind and try to be generous with them since I know there are many times they don't get close to what they deserve.

Michelle

 

[adedpoet1]

tipping at a casino

What do you tip the attendant who brings you a jackpot payout at a casino?

 

[harrys99]

What do you tip the attendant who brings you a jackpot payout at a casino?

I believe if the jackpot is over $1200 there would most likely be more than one attendant as they would also bring the necessary tax forms. A tip of .5 to 1% of the jackpot for each in that case. This is IMHO.

 

[vinylweatherman]

What do you tip the attendant who brings you a jackpot payout at a casino?

I'd offer them a tip - don't play this slot after I leave

Tipping on this scale is not something you see in the UK, and as more businesses become bloated and "faceless", it is likely to become even less common in the future. I recall the milkman getting the odd tip at Christmas for delivering the milk every morning whatever the weather. But he got to know his customers personally over a number of years. A supermarket selling milk would not expect a tip around Christmas for selling you milk all through the year.

The big problem in the US (for Brits seeing things from the outside) is that tipping has become detached from the provision of a service. When booking a cruise for example, you are told you must pay a large tip in advance, long before you have any idea how staff will treat you on board. This means that the tip becomes detached from the service, and is no longer seen as a discretionary gift to a member of staff who has acted beyond the call of duty, but as a sneaky means to disguise the true asking price of the holiday by advertising an artificially low price, and then adding on compulsory extras to get to the real asking price.

For US businesses in the US, it seems tipping has been used as a means to underpay staff, and then expect the customer to pay twice, once for the price displayed, and once again as a tip to the establishment. I bet it is easy to "spot the Brit" in such establishments, even if they don't order tea and scones (It's the tight wad, the one who didn't tip anyone).

 

[LaHutti]

I haven't had time to read the whole thread, but I'll just give my 2 cents on the subject, as it is something I've had many a discussion about, since I moved to Canada.
I'm from a very different culture, and I try hard to "fit in", but this is one area, that I find it hard to cope with.

Where I come from, tipping is done for extra good service, and is there to give whoever gives the good service something extra for the effort they put in, to make ME feel special. Tipping isn't there to pay the missing wages for the owner...effectively you're paying the owner even more money, because they don't have to pay their staff. The goods you buy, are already paid for, and this is where the owner should make their money....not on slavery (Sorry...I know it may sound harsh to people who are used to this way of doing things, but it's something that I feel strongly about).

In general, I believe, that if you hire someone to do a job, you should pay them, so they're able to make a living. If your business isn't making enough money, so that you can pay people descent wages, something else is wrong with the business or you're simply being a greedy bastard. I also believe, that paying people peanuts, and sticking the dough in your own pocket is highly immoral. Whatever you make on your business is very much thanks to the staff you hire, who is really doing the work for you....so bloody pay them, to make money for you. I strongly believe, that your staff is your biggest asset, and the better you treat your staff, the better the staff will treat your business. Happy workers are good workers, and it's like any other relationship...give and take.

So that's how I feel about tipping...I tip because I know it's the only way the people working in these jobs, have ANY chance of paying their bills, but I can assure you, every time I do, I think to myself, that I'm putting money directly in the owners pocket, and it does bug me on a high level.

So in other words, I would love to tip someone, who is doing something extra, if I knew that they would actually GET something extra for their effort, and wasn't depending on the "tip" to survive.

 

[dunover]

Indeed, tipping can be an embarrassing subject in some cultures. Us Brits do tip, but not usually generously. In the UK it is totally voluntary, and that's generated goodwill. It means tips if something is genuinely appreciated. When I first went to South Africa to live, we played golf and we had a Zulu lad about 20 caddy for us. When we'd played the 18, my Uncle got out a few small coins, and I got 20 Rand note out (at the time about £1.70) and I remember my uncle being outraged, telling me it's far too much and put it away. In the end he got 5 Rand in shrapnel and was well happy. When he'd gone, my Uncle explained it was far too much in their terms and would lead to higher requests and more people hanging round the club in expectation. (In other words we don't need the Poms flashing their money about because the exchange rate is so good for them.) So basically I'd completely misunderstood the local 'price'.
In the UK prices don't usually include service unlike many European countries and N.America. It is creeping in though, and I don't like it because it goes through the business ledgers and there's no guarantee the staff will get it. Then it's embarrassing if you're not happy, because I believe they are obliged to remove service charges under UK laws IF the buyer objects. So if you get crappy service, you have to ask for it to be removed. I once had a Spanish girlfriend, and we went for a meal and it was crap. I went to the till to settle and asked for the service charge to be taken off. The poor lad (not his fault) mumbled something about (this was before our minimum wage laws back in 1998) the staff needing the money. My girlfriend was cringing and quietly telling me to stop it, but I got it removed and paid cash. I then gave the lad the change, concealed in a napkin and told him to put it in his pocket keep it for himself and his mouth shut. We had a lengthy and interesting conversation that evening about Anglo-Continental differences and the English being 'passive aggressives' and culturally bereft (her words) later evolving into loud UK rock music and football hooligans which ended when I asked her where the treasures and antiquities the Spanish looted from S.America were (melted down for the King) and where the ones the British found were (in museums all over the UK and world)

Back on track, I never tip bar staff, usually tip for meals and usually tip cab drivers. I know a postman who clears over £1k in tips Christmas week, but I've never personally tipped the postmen or refuse collectors before at Christmas. They are on quite good money here in the UK. I used to get a daily paper delivered and used to give the paperboy a tenner at Christmas.

I recently watched a documentary about Brits who've emigrated abroad, and recently there was a couple who were in Florida, and the husband got ripped off in a franchise deal. As he was supposed to be in the US to run small business, the terms of his permit said he couldn't work, but his wife could. She went to a local restaurant for an interview, and when the manageress offered her work, she was told the wage was something like 4 or 5 dollars an hour. The wife - well, you could see a combination of disappointment, shock and colour drain from her face simultaneously. Obviously in the UK the min wage for that job would be 10-11 $ per hour equivalent. The manageress explained that with tips, she would clear anything from 2-3 times as much. The British woman clearly didn't understand how tips affect service staff in the US compared to here.
Interesting stuff.

 

[elrudo]

What do you tip the attendant who brings you a jackpot payout at a casino?

Ah finally a tipping thread! Come on in 2+2-ers.

I'm from the Netherlands. There is a lousy tipping culture here.
For me:
- beggar/street musician/car window washer/shoeshine guy: loose change to a few euros. i tip those ppl only sometimes.
there are no car window washers or shoeshine guys where i live
- bartender/waitress (drinks) : loose change to a few euros per drink or round of drinks
- hotel maid: 5 euros on pillow the first day, 2-3 euros every next day, 5 euros last day
- vacation guide: 50 euros for a week + vacation bus driver 50 euros for a week
- waiter/waitress restaurant: round up + 5-10 euros (50 for 43.20, 100 for 87 euros) For dutch standards, this isnt even bad.
- hairdresser: round up + a few euros (20 for 17.50)
- taxidriver: round up + five euros (25 for 18.65)
- roulette croupier : 'piece for the house' on a full number hit
- blackjack dealer: tenner after shift from nice dealer, fivers and tenners when on a lucky streak
- slots attendant: 2.5 to 3 percent (roulette-ish tip) for big jackpot hit. 5 or 10 euros for regular handpays
- disco or brothel bouncer / parking attendant: 5 euros when i go in, nothing when i leave.
- stripper: way too many 5 euro bills = smallest paper money. Wish we had funny money like you americans.
- hooker: kiss on the cheek + 10 euro for standard decent service, more for better service. I really shouldnt because they get spoiled.

 

[just play]

hooker: kiss on the cheek + 10 euro for standard decent service, more for better service. I really shouldnt because they get spoiled.

Is it common to see a hooker in the Netherlands?

I never understood seeing a hooker? Unless your joking, but why not just pick someone up at a bar or something? It can't be that hard to "get some" can it? But then again, I'm a woman, it's pretty easy for us.

 

[bsilva028]

here in portugal the tip tradition is very close to germany,

tips of 1 or 2 € or to round the price, example: price is 25.30, you pay 26 and give the €0.70 as a tip
and you only pay when you want to leave like bryan said that is in germany too

 

[cheetahwind]

Well I figured I would chime in on this subject, mainly because my profession is being a bartender.

Now unfortunately I work in one of those upscale restaurants where every front of house staff member works on a tipped wage. It being $4.35/hour. This being me the bartender, the service staff, or even the host. Yes I said the host. Now the host is the only person who doesn't work for personal tip per se. They actually work for 3% of the total food sales, which me as a bartender tip out. Then the service staff not only has to pay 3% of the total food and non alcoholic beverage sales to the host. Yet they also have to tip 3% of the alcohol sales to me.
So here's where my bit becomes a bit of a rant I guess. What always gets me upset, ok I get some people don't tip, because they thought the service was poor, the drink/food tasted funny or didn't meet there expectations, or just flat out have the mentality that tipping isn't the right thing to do.
Yet what I think alot of people don't think about ok, so what if the server/bartender was in the position. That no matter of how small or large your bill was they had to give that 3% out whether they wanted to or not.
Now I understand that some people especially come in just for a soda and may not leave anything. Especially when you pay $2.67 for a glass of Coca Cola. That doesn't hurt my bottom line. It's when you get that larger party and they leave nothing on a $100 plus bill is when it hurts.
Now of course if the service was just horrible, do I blame them for not tipping? Of course not, but if the service was at least good, or better. I guess I as a server working for less than minimum wage and also having to pay tip share. It just upsets me to no end, when I have to take money out of my pocket because they couldn't be bothered to cover my tip share.
Now of course me knowing this knowledge, I tend to be a lot more lenient than I did in the past for tipping. Now does this say I tip every time, oh hell no. I mean if the person can't be bothered to come back around or can't even offer me a refill. You bet you I won't tip, and hope they keep it as a lesson learned. Yet as long as I can see the server is trying I do tend to give them some slack.
Now because I'm a guy, I won't lie I really don't tip very well at all for getting my hair done. Mainly because I'm the kind of hair cut where they use there 1 and 3 guards and I'm done. Unless if they really take there time to make sure my eye brows look good, actually verify I don't have any loose ends with actual hand clippers. I'm probably not apt to leave more than a $1.
As for casino jackpots, well I guess it just varies in size, how fast they got to me, and how horrid of a day I'm already having at the casino.
Then for like delivery, if it's food of course I'll give the guy a few dollars. Otherwise if it's any other type of delivery, hell getting them to stop long enough at my door. Would be a blessing less give them a tip.
Otherwise as for like fast food, coffee shops and such I don't tip at all.
Anywho, I hope this gives a few people a fresh perspective on the horrible Americanized Restaurant system.

 

[vinylweatherman]

Well I figured I would chime in on this subject, mainly because my profession is being a bartender.

Now unfortunately I work in one of those upscale restaurants where every front of house staff member works on a tipped wage. It being $4.35/hour. This being me the bartender, the service staff, or even the host. Yes I said the host. Now the host is the only person who doesn't work for personal tip per se. They actually work for 3% of the total food sales, which me as a bartender tip out. Then the service staff not only has to pay 3% of the total food and non alcoholic beverage sales to the host. Yet they also have to tip 3% of the alcohol sales to me.
So here's where my bit becomes a bit of a rant I guess. What always gets me upset, ok I get some people don't tip, because they thought the service was poor, the drink/food tasted funny or didn't meet there expectations, or just flat out have the mentality that tipping isn't the right thing to do.
Yet what I think alot of people don't think about ok, so what if the server/bartender was in the position. That no matter of how small or large your bill was they had to give that 3% out whether they wanted to or not.
Now I understand that some people especially come in just for a soda and may not leave anything. Especially when you pay $2.67 for a glass of Coca Cola. That doesn't hurt my bottom line. It's when you get that larger party and they leave nothing on a $100 plus bill is when it hurts.
Now of course if the service was just horrible, do I blame them for not tipping? Of course not, but if the service was at least good, or better. I guess I as a server working for less than minimum wage and also having to pay tip share. It just upsets me to no end, when I have to take money out of my pocket because they couldn't be bothered to cover my tip share.
Now of course me knowing this knowledge, I tend to be a lot more lenient than I did in the past for tipping. Now does this say I tip every time, oh hell no. I mean if the person can't be bothered to come back around or can't even offer me a refill. You bet you I won't tip, and hope they keep it as a lesson learned. Yet as long as I can see the server is trying I do tend to give them some slack.
Now because I'm a guy, I won't lie I really don't tip very well at all for getting my hair done. Mainly because I'm the kind of hair cut where they use there 1 and 3 guards and I'm done. Unless if they really take there time to make sure my eye brows look good, actually verify I don't have any loose ends with actual hand clippers. I'm probably not apt to leave more than a $1.
As for casino jackpots, well I guess it just varies in size, how fast they got to me, and how horrid of a day I'm already having at the casino.
Then for like delivery, if it's food of course I'll give the guy a few dollars. Otherwise if it's any other type of delivery, hell getting them to stop long enough at my door. Would be a blessing less give them a tip.
Otherwise as for like fast food, coffee shops and such I don't tip at all.
Anywho, I hope this gives a few people a fresh perspective on the horrible Americanized Restaurant system.

The system only works because the customers have allowed it to. I bet tipping started out as a genuine gift for exceptional service, but the greedy owners decided that since their best staff were making money in tips, they could get their greedy hands on some by pushing wages down. The more people tip, the lower the wages get pushed. Things will get worse until something breaks in the system. Here in the UK, wages can't be pushed below the minimum wage, which sets a floor on the basic wage, and thus reduces the reliance on tips (not that you get many for ordinary service). The US seems to have no such legal minimum, so wages can be pushed as low as can be achieved whilst still having staff willing to work in the hope of getting tipped. If you are already paying $2.67 for a glass of Cola, you are already paying a very high mark up on the basic price, so this should be covering the extras such as service. A big party may not tip if they feel the bill has already been subject to a hefty mark up, and they have not enjoyed anything exceptional in their overall experience. They would be more likely to tip if the bill came in below what they had budgeted, yet they had a great time and felt the price didn't reflect how good their experience was. It may be as simple as them having all chipped in and given the money to a nominated bill payer, who then found he had collected more than enough to cover the bill. Does he calculate refunds and struggle with the notes and coins to give equal amounts back to each person? Does he pocket the surplus for himself (frowns of displeasure likely from others in the party), or does he solve the problem by dumping the surplus on the table as a tip. You would probably get a tip from a party of Brits in such circumstances

What may annoy Brits the most is blatant begging for a tip, such as sticking one's hand out before anything is even offered, and then standing there eyeballing the client as if to bully a tip out of them. You may get one, but it would be grudging.

Restaurants here have tried this "service charge included" trick because Brits just don't tip as much, so they try to use the British tradition of not making a fuss by making tipping an opt out, so a tip is automatically charged unless you tell them to take it off. Many Brits won't do that because it means "making a fuss", and implying something was not of the expected standard. It works better in higher class establishments, the ones where you have to book weeks in advance to find the staff are of a higher social class than some of the customers.

The richest are often the tightest of all, so a wealthy businessman might tip less than a middle class professional.

One thing you DO see quite a bit here is the charity tin, where customers can donate their small change to the establishment's selected charity. McDonalds have two or three different collection devices in each restaurant, and they often seem filled up with coins, even a few notes You certainly don't tip the staff there, but you often see people ditching coins in the charity tins. Many shops also have these at the till. The benefit is that the company can then take the credit for "raising £xxxx for whatever", even though they didn't actually dip into their pockets, their customers did.

 

[elrudo]

No tipping thread is complete without a reference to the "mr. Pink tipping scene" from Tarantino's movie Reservoir Dogs, amirite? *

 

[requiem]

Where I live it is usually already included in the price. But I usually tip around 10% if I am satisfied with an evening dinner. Never tip anyone else really since they earn a solid salary. But of course it is different if I go abroad. I adjust to the culture. Remember when I went to NY, and had a feeling that "Oh quite cheap here for being a big city like NY"...and then when the 15% is added I quickly remembered "Ah the hidden tip..."

 

[Balthazar]

Can't believe I missed this thread.

I've worked for tips for many years (pizza delivery, bars/pubs, restaurants...) so I know first hand that these people depend on tips (at least in North America). They earn less than minimum wage because they get tips. Pizza drivers use their cars and gas to bring the pizza to you, they get minimum (inadequate) compensation for it and sub-minimum wage. The ONLY reason why you get your pizza delivered at this price is because both the store and the driver expect you to tip. When you don't tip, you rely on others to pay for you and that's not cool. As for bartenders and waiters, they have to pay taxes on the "expected" tip even when they don't get any. So if you don't tip, you actually steal some money from of their sub-minimum wage because they'll have to pay taxes on the tip that you didn't give.

Taxi is a different story. I always tip them but they don't strictly rely on tips like the others.

Not tipping for food or drinks in Canada/USA is borderline stealing.

 

[Redbet-Andy]

i think she earned more with whipping drinks & titties than a local Bank Director here at good old Germany.

Cheers!

Woaah, hang on...

She whips drinks and titties?

I think something has been lost in translation there, if not you have a very strange local pub.

 

[dunover]

Woaah, hang on...

She whips drinks and titties?

I think something has been lost in translation there, if not you have a very strange local pub.

Right, lets say the 'whipping' can be substituted for the English slang for selling, 'flogging'. That's the first one cleared up?
So, she sells drinks and tiities. We're halfway there.
She sells drinks better than others, because she has a large cleavage.
So, I think what the translation is is this:

'She earns more than the local bank manager by selling most drinks because of her large breasts'.

I hope this line above doesn't appear in assembly instructions for any Chinese-manufactured shelving or such.

 

[skiny]

Can't believe I missed this thread.

I've worked for tips for many years (pizza delivery, bars/pubs, restaurants...) so I know first hand that these people depend on tips (at least in North America). They earn less than minimum wage because they get tips. Pizza drivers use their cars and gas to bring the pizza to you, they get minimum (inadequate) compensation for it and sub-minimum wage. The ONLY reason why you get your pizza delivered at this price is because both the store and the driver expect you to tip. When you don't tip, you rely on others to pay for you and that's not cool. As for bartenders and waiters, they have to pay taxes on the "expected" tip even when they don't get any. So if you don't tip, you actually steal some money from of their sub-minimum wage because they'll have to pay taxes on the tip that you didn't give.

Taxi is a different story. I always tip them but they don't strictly rely on tips like the others.

Not tipping for food or drinks in Canada/USA is borderline stealing.

There is a separation in Canada between "controlled" tips and "direct" tips. Direct tips are not taxed. Basically these are tips that don't show up on paper. If a tip is added to a bill the employer is supposed to include it as earnings for the employee. Also employers that use a tip sharing program are supposed to report the amount of tips distributed. Cash tips not paid directly to the employee that are not shared are not taxed. The Canadian government doesn't expect a server to claim every dollar left on the table or the change left over from a pizza price that a delivery person was told to keep.

The only real gratuities ARE the direct tips. Any money that a business adds to your bill automatically is not a gratuity. You can't force people to be gratuitous. Basically you're finishing your meal and the server is saying "Ok, your bill is one hundred dollars and I'm just adding how much you liked my service... There are some comment cards near the cash register too but don't worry. I've already filled one out for you. It was very flattering, thanks."

Sharing tips is even more ridiculous. Now you're not only forced to tip a server regardless of the service you received but you're also tipping people you might not have even seen. Why is a percentage of my "gratuity" going to some waiter on the other side of the restaurant that I haven't even been in contact with? For all I know he could have been in the store room snorting cocaine the entire time I've been there and if I really liked the service at MY table the waitress is off later on telling him how much money HE made on the generous tip I left HER.... and probably to wipe his nose before he leaves the store room.

What we need to do is stop calling these things tips. They are the furthest thing from gratuitous. It's just a sneaky way to pad the bill so the employer can pay the employee less and the customer can foot the rest of the wages. If a percentage of the bill is automatically added and expected to be paid it's a tax. There is no reason that any business can't pay an employee minimum wage. If I take a job at McDonalds I'm expected to handle food and operate a cash register for minimum wage without gratuities. If I do basically the same job at a slightly fancier restaurant my wage is decreased to below the poverty line and the rest is expected to be made up through customer kindness and appreciation?

Someone should have put a stop to this years ago before it became so far blown out of proportion. Absolutely no gratuities should appear on a receipt. That's nobody's business but mine and my server's. If I happen to have 3 dollars in change in my pocket today and 5 dollars tomorrow then that's what the server will get and nobody should be telling me it wasn't enough. Why should my appreciation for the service be greater because I had a more expensive meal? Why am I expected to tip more because I had a 30 dollar steak dinner today and less because I had fries and a coffee yesterday but the service was exactly the same? Somewhere along the line people have forgotten what a gratuity is. People have forgotten why people were tipping in the first place. Tipping used to show appreciation for good service. Now it's just another bill you have to pay when go out to eat.

Every person employed in Canada should be making at least the minimum wage. That's why it's called the "minimum" wage. No employer should even be allowed to ask how much a person made in tips. That's none of their business. It should be considered rude to expect a tip and gracious to leave one. It's like walking up to someone and saying "We've been friends for months. Where the hell's my Christmas present?" It's selfish to expect it, it's rude to ask for it and it's gracious to give it. And if you receive it you know you've been appreciated. That's how tips should work. When that day comes we can start calling them "gratuities" again.

 

[just play]

Can't believe I missed this thread.

I've worked for tips for many years (pizza delivery, bars/pubs, restaurants...) so I know first hand that these people depend on tips (at least in North America). They earn less than minimum wage because they get tips. Pizza drivers use their cars and gas to bring the pizza to you, they get minimum (inadequate) compensation for it and sub-minimum wage. The ONLY reason why you get your pizza delivered at this price is because both the store and the driver expect you to tip. When you don't tip, you rely on others to pay for you and that's not cool. As for bartenders and waiters, they have to pay taxes on the "expected" tip even when they don't get any. So if you don't tip, you actually steal some money from of their sub-minimum wage because they'll have to pay taxes on the tip that you didn't give.

Taxi is a different story. I always tip them but they don't strictly rely on tips like the others.

Not tipping for food or drinks in Canada/USA is borderline stealing.

I want to add...not all people know this. It would only be people who actually did this kind of work.

I wouldn't call it stealing, I would call the people who didn't tip assholes. I love when I see in yahoo the pictures that waitors/waitresses post of their receipts, that has an excuse for why they didn't tip. One comes to mind, the priest who wrote something like "I give God (some % I forget) why should I give you 15%"...A PRIEST wrote that!!!

I have never taken a taxi, (we start driving early in USA, I was 16 when I started) I don't understand why they get tipped? If they make minimum wage or more, why do they get tipped?

 

[Jasminebed]

Most taxi drivers don't have any guaranteed wage, and here, most have to work 12 hour shifts 6 days a week to make a living. Some definitely go above and beyond, those I tip better.... they guy that carries my groceries to the door when he sees I'm struggling, those that hop out and open the door, etc.

As for taxes... you are in supposed to declare every penny you make. Years ago, a restaurant my ex worked was audited by Revenue Canada, and all servers had to declare 10% of sales as tips. At that time, an "average" tip was 12 - 15%, and now it's considered to be higher to be acceptable. End of year, a note was included with the T4 to indicate what your sales were.

 

[vinylweatherman]

Can't believe I missed this thread.

I've worked for tips for many years (pizza delivery, bars/pubs, restaurants...) so I know first hand that these people depend on tips (at least in North America). They earn less than minimum wage because they get tips. Pizza drivers use their cars and gas to bring the pizza to you, they get minimum (inadequate) compensation for it and sub-minimum wage. The ONLY reason why you get your pizza delivered at this price is because both the store and the driver expect you to tip. When you don't tip, you rely on others to pay for you and that's not cool. As for bartenders and waiters, they have to pay taxes on the "expected" tip even when they don't get any. So if you don't tip, you actually steal some money from of their sub-minimum wage because they'll have to pay taxes on the tip that you didn't give.

Taxi is a different story. I always tip them but they don't strictly rely on tips like the others.

Not tipping for food or drinks in Canada/USA is borderline stealing.

It's actually the BUSINESS that is stealing. They are cheating customers by advertising a price that is lower than the correct price. If a customer pays only the price displayed, they are stealing from no-one. It is the BUSINESS that is stealing from it's employees by making them pay for the artificially low price they advertise the goods for.

It goes on because the customers allow it to. A bit of "tough love" is needed to change this, a consumer revolt, but one that recognises that the staff are victims of this scam too. It will force businesses to advertise the true price of the goods or service, which in turn would enable them to pay a proper wage to their staff and tips will go back to being what they should be, an occasional reward for individuals who go the extra mile for a customer.

In effect, the staff don't see the extra money, the schemes are just a means businesses have evolved for stealing the tips from their employees for their own pockets rather than let gratuities be an extra amount on top of wages for those employees that manage to impress the customers.

In some ways, a fixed service charge is more honest, but it should form part of the advertised price, not added at the end as an extra.

 

[Jasminebed]

There is at least one restaurant here in town (fine dining) where the wait staff are paid well above minimum wage, and the owner pockets all the tips. I should not know this, employees sign a confidentiallty agreement.

Revenue Canada knows however, and the employees are not expected to pay taxes on non-existant tips. I suspect the owner doesn't declare all the cash tips either.

Here in Canada, we are expected to report all taxable income, which would include barter, such as I babysit your kids and your husband fixes my screen door. Both of us are expected to declare that.