Tipping in the U.S. (London: sales, how much, home)

[alienred]

How does it work?

Do I have to tip ten percent even for a coffee in a Diner like Nicholas Cage or should I just promise half my lottery ticket money?

No, seriously what's the rule.

We don't tip in the U.K. 10% is added to the bill before you get it. This saves embarrassment for the customer and the server.

In fact if you try to tip in the U.K. most people will refuse it.

[Paula Lynn]

There is no rule you have to tip.

[Sunnydee]

Where I live in the Midwest, the normal tip is 15% of the total bill for average service and more than that for excellent service. If the service is deplorable you can leave little or no tip.

What you must understand is that wait staff in th US are not even paid minimum wage. Their hourly rate is laughable. The bulk of their earnings comes from their tips, so should you decide not to tip that wait person will suffer financially.

I wish we had a flat 10% added to the bill, like you do in the UK, because it would save me a lot of money, but we don't so tipping is necessary.

[kettlepot]

Originally Posted by alienred

How does it work?

Do I have to tip ten percent even for a coffee in a Diner like Nicholas Cage or should I just promise half my lottery ticket money?

No, seriously what's the rule.

We don't tip in the U.K. 10% is added to the bill before you get it. This saves embarrassment for the customer and the server.

In fact if you try to tip in the U.K. most people will refuse it.

To give you some practical rules, if you go to a counter to either order or pick up your food, generally you don't tip. This would apply to most coffee shops, sandwich places, any place where you, the customer, have to move your butt out of your chair to get what you need.

For regular sit-down restaurants the general rule is 15%, though I've seen and heard stories of people tipping substantially less when they felt the service was subpar.

As for servers making less than the minimum wage, I'm not so sure about that. I know that in the past that was true, but recent revisions (past 20 years) to the minimum wage law may have changed that. And even if it hasn't, servers at any mid-to-higher priced restaurant are making substantial amounts of money above minimum wage with the inclusion of tips. This rule on minimum wage for servers may vary on a state by state basis.

And if you REALLY wanted to rake in the money, when they used to have curbside luggage check-in at airports, some Skycaps were making 100k a year at major airports because of the tips.

[Rats]

If a tip is required, it will say so on the bottom of the menu. Most places charge at least 15% gratuity for parties of 6 or more. If you don't voluntarily tip at least 15% for up-to-par service, no matter how much you eat or how many people are with you, you're an *******. If you insist on not leaving a tip, or leaving less than 10%, make sure it's the last thing you do before you walk out the door and never set foot in that restaurant again.

[straight outta camden]

Originally Posted by alienred

How does it work?

Do I have to tip ten percent even for a coffee in a Diner like Nicholas Cage or should I just promise half my lottery ticket money?

No, seriously what's the rule.

We don't tip in the U.K. 10% is added to the bill before you get it. This saves embarrassment for the customer and the server.

In fact if you try to tip in the U.K. most people will refuse it.

Really? This sounds like France, not the UK. In fact I'm struck by how the UK has gone over to American-style tipping. When it is added to the bill (which is isn't, usually) 12.5% is now standard, especially in London.

The big difference between the UK and the US is that Americans tip in bars. A dollar a drink is pretty standard. If you get through a bit or you're a regular the barman will send the occasional free drink your way, so it evens out, more or less.

[katenik]

Originally Posted by alienred

How does it work?

Do I have to tip ten percent even for a coffee in a Diner like Nicholas Cage or should I just promise half my lottery ticket money?

No, seriously what's the rule.

We don't tip in the U.K. 10% is added to the bill before you get it. This saves embarrassment for the customer and the server.

In fact if you try to tip in the U.K. most people will refuse it.

i didn't find that to be the case when i visited england in 2000. although i knew that the gratuity was included, i was embarrassed to leave only 10% (which is what i normally leave a server who is inexcusably inattentive, but not rude), and i would always add enough to bring it in line with how much i would tip for comparable service at home. no one ever refused it, although on occasion servers did ask if i was aware that it had been included already. most, however, accepted my american-style tipping without remark.

[VillageLife]

For example:
Sub Total $14.28
Tax $ 1.18 You add 1.18 + 1.18 = $ 2.36
That's how much you would tip the waiter

[James T]

Sales tax is more than 8%. More than 16% is too much to tip a waiter.

[greggd]

Originally Posted by James T

Sales tax is more than 8%. More than 16% is too much to tip a waiter.

15% is the minimum anyone should tip a waiter/waitress.

I believe they tax based on the assumption that they will collect a certain % in tips.

If anyone cant afford to leave adequate compensation, they should stay at home and serve themselves.