Brit visiting California - what's the ettiqette with......

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Originally Posted by Cru Jones

Best to not think of it as a "tip".

In the U.S., you have to mentally add the tax and service fee to the price on the menu. Doesn't mean you can't not pay for tax or service....

In France and other European countries, the tax and service is included in the pricing. What you propose would be like going to a café and paying 15-20% less than what is marked on the bill.

But, yes, 25% is a bit extreme....Tipping has increased. 15 years ago, 15% was a normal tip. Now the "normal" tip seems to be 20%.

I think it's also fair to sometimes adjust what portion of the bill you tip on. For example, if wine is a really big portion of the bill, and to not fully tip on tax (or to not tip on tax at all).

If it's included in the price and all added up comparable to what we would pay in Europe then why do they call it tipping?
A tip is just a little extra that you leave for the service and I as a customer think it is very rude to expect a tip all along, you need to earn that.

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

most Americans have never left the USA... they might not recognize your fake German accent, Bas

That might be a problem then