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

[SearChart]

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

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by Ruud Van Driver

This, to my simple mind, is nuts. I’m not criticising, I’m just having trouble wrapping my head around it.

If you’re served by an obnoxious waiter and the food is garbage and you know you’re going to get struck down with botulism, you tip 15%. If waiter is exceptional and the food is exquisite, you tip 20%. Sorry, I just get that.

If the food and server is bad, they get nothing. If the food and service are excellent then it’s 20 to 25%.

I do not believe in or agree with tipping for the sake of it and I point blank refuse to do it.

I agree fully.

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by SearChart

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.

That's a good question. But, regardless, as explained before, a tip in the U.S. isn't really a "tip" (in your sense of the word).

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by Ruud Van Driver

This, to my simple mind, is nuts. I’m not criticising, I’m just having trouble wrapping my head around it.

If you’re served by an obnoxious waiter and the food is garbage and you know you’re going to get struck down with botulism, you tip 15%. If waiter is exceptional and the food is exquisite, you tip 20%. Sorry, I just get that.

If the food and server is bad, they get nothing. If the food and service are excellent then it’s 20 to 25%.

I do not believe in or agree with tipping for the sake of it and I point blank refuse to do it.

Agreed in principle, but it's also about picking your battles. last time I tipped under 10% in the US was due to the waitress blatantly ignoring our table and being condescending & rude. Granted this was 5 years ago

After we had left the premises and were a full block away, she chased us down and shouted that we were spoiled brats, trust fund babies, etc.

I kept walking and pretended not to hear or see her -- unfortunately, my buddy actually engaged this idiot and argued with her for 5 more minutes

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

Agreed in principle, but it's also about picking your battles. last time I tipped under 10% in the US was due to the waitress blatantly ignoring our table and being condescending & rude. Granted this was 5 years ago

After we had left the premises and were a full block away, she chased us down and shouted that we were spoiled brats, trust fund babies, etc.

I kept walking and pretended not to hear or see her -- unfortunately, my buddy actually engaged this idiot and argued with her for 5 more minutes

And this is why it's not really a "TIP" in the true sense of the meaning

I've only ever had one occasion where I did not leave a tip and its was similar to yours above and the food was horrid

[Old Expat Beast]

I've had waiters and waitresses follow me down the street in Japan and China a couple of times . . . to return the tip.

[Tony64]

While I agree that "tips" are necessary to supplement employee salary in the service industry, I find it unfathomable that they should be viewed as some mandatory part of the bill, especially when service is of poor quality.

It's simple really:
Do your job + Do it well = You will be tipped well.
Do your job + Do it poorly = You will be unemployed

[Wahlberg]

So if someone isn't aware he should be tipping, are they ignorant or assholes?

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

I've had waiters and waitresses follow me down the street in Japan and China a couple of times . . . to return the tip.

I believe you!

I wish we did things a little differently here with respect to tipping

[Tony64]

Originally Posted by Wahlberg

So if someone isn't aware he should be tipping, are they ignorant or assholes?

Yes

[Pix]

At least you won't have to ask for ice.

[Chuckred]

Originally Posted by Wahlberg

So if someone isn't aware he should be tipping, are they ignorant or assholes?

Of course it is. No reason to be ignorant in this day and age.

[Rolex_Luther07]

Originally Posted by Ruud Van Driver

This, to my simple mind, is nuts. I’m not criticising, I’m just having trouble wrapping my head around it.

If you’re served by an obnoxious waiter and the food is garbage and you know you’re going to get struck down with botulism, you tip 15%. If waiter is exceptional and the food is exquisite, you tip 20%. Sorry, I just get that.

If the food and server is bad, they get nothing. If the food and service are excellent then it’s 20 to 25%.

I do not believe in or agree with tipping for the sake of it and I point blank refuse to do it.

The food and service would have to be a absolutely terrible to not leave a tip. If you don't tip on a meal and service because you think it was average, you might have a waiter running after you when you leave the restaurant calling you out as a cheap bastard. Waiters survive on tips in America, many of them don't even get minimum wage. I always tip 20% unless there is a really big reason not to. 15% is considered extremely cheap now. 25% is for exceptional service but usually 20-22% is good. Don't be that guy that tips 15% because a restaurant is busy, the waiter has no control over that. If the food is terrible, send it back.

[Goin2drt]

Sit down restaraunts - 20% great, 15% good and all depends lower than that maybe 10%
Casual dining where you order and then go sit - maybe a few bucks if they are friendly and talkative.
Cabs( well always Uber now) - a couple of bucks
Bellmen based on what they are doing. Getting the door nothing. Lugging a ton of bags to the room $20

Usually nothing else is tipped unless it is like a sightseeing excursion or something but the day to day stuff that’s it.

Enjoy Kalifornia. Great to visit, horrible to live.

[gav329]

Originally Posted by BristolCavendish

Tip at your discretion for quality service(s) and attention to detail while keeping in mind that some individuals aren't worthy of these considerations. Sounds harsh but some employees expect a tip regardless of how well (or poorly) they are performing their duties. A tip is a reward for a job well done and to show your gratitude for their efforts.

I think this is absolutely correct! I'm just back a 2 week trip to California and it was amazing some lovely people (thanks to the Californians on here) however there was (and it was rare to be honest) one or two who expected tips and they didn't get one as it was not deserved. That said I was on a budget and I didn't eat a meal out everyday but the genuinely lovely people worked in shops or coffee shops or just people that chatted in the street. I think there is a mystique about tipping in America that originates from tv otherwise who would know about it and people feel they have too. It's a personal choice.


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[gav329]

Originally Posted by breitlings

I also second the notion that tips are for good service. 0% for unacceptable service, 15 for poor service, 18% for good service, 20% for excellent. in New Orleans or super fine dining you may want to tip more. its also a good custom to let the manager know if you enjoyed the service (or not) as well as the food when they come talk to you with the idea being poor servers shouldn’t represent the establishment. tips are often considered on the pre tax amount. we don’t tip security here but sometimes you may see people tip doormen or maitre d’s and hotel staff. typically you can bring high end wine into high end resraurunts and pay an uncorking fee, if wine or bottle service is a large part of the bill 10% is customary to tip on the portion of drinks. if drinks are individually made the 15-20% rate is typical for both bartenders or waitresses. some sushi places it is customary to tip and greet the chefs on the way out. tips are often shared at many restaurunts with bartenders and hostess.

15% for poor service, that's all you'll get and why would they be nice to you for only another 5%?


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[SG56]

I usually tip 20%, unless it was a bad service.

A few other things, in case no one mentioned:

it is acceptable here to not order a drink. they serve and refill iced water.
it is absolutely normal to ask for a box to take the leftovers home.
you don't need to tip at a fast food place, or when picking up your food. you can, but it's not expected.

remember too that prices are in 99% cases with no tax.

So, remember to calculate the tax.
Not sure about SFO, but chicago has city tax on top of tax, so your 8.99 sammich gets taxed, then city taxed, oh wait, there is now a city soda tax too LOL true story.

[Ruud Van Driver]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

Agreed in principle, but it's also about picking your battles. last time I tipped under 10% in the US was due to the waitress blatantly ignoring our table and being condescending & rude. Granted this was 5 years ago

After we had left the premises and were a full block away, she chased us down and shouted that we were spoiled brats, trust fund babies, etc.

I kept walking and pretended not to hear or see her -- unfortunately, my buddy actually engaged this idiot and argued with her for 5 more minutes

Originally Posted by Rolex_Luther07

The food and service would have to be a absolutely terrible to not leave a tip. If you don't tip on a meal and service because you think it was average, you might have a waiter running after you when you leave the restaurant calling you out as a cheap bastard. Waiters survive on tips in America, many of them don't even get minimum wage. I always tip 20% unless there is a really big reason not to. 15% is considered extremely cheap now. 25% is for exceptional service but usually 20-22% is good. Don't be that guy that tips 15% because a restaurant is busy, the waiter has no control over that. If the food is terrible, send it back.

Mrs Van D and me were out with friends of ours from New Joisey. The service was dreadful and one of the boys told us that we HAD to tip otherwise we'd be chased down the street. Mrs Van D and me laughed in his face and said 'yeah, right, whatever, etc.' and refused to tip. He went into a flat spin and left the tip for all four of us.

I thought he was nuts until I read these two posts above. Now I just think the tipping system is even more nuts than I did ten minutes ago.

[randomguy]

Agree with the general tipping rule 15% - 20%, provided it is not included in the bill.

When staying at a hotel, I leave $5 on a pillow for maid service, on the days I wish to have my room refreshed. Amazing how many extra soaps and goodies they leave then.

[Danny83]

Well if you wont be back 10% is fine

[imperio]

Originally Posted by SMD

Very careful phrasing. Only 2 states have a lower min wage and most states exceed. In any event, min wage is not terribly meaningful for tipped employees. Tipped employees do far better than the people in the kitchen on salary. The reason the all in pricing has been tried and failed repeatedly in NYC is because the tipped employees would need to take a pay cut (and its not because of the hourly wage) in order to properly compensate back of house, and good employees who can make 6 figures (yes you read that right) just leave and go elsewhere.



https://www.theatlantic.com/business...licies/482151/

Wow not sure how the rest of the world gets by without a tipping culture!

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

Try raising a family in California on less and please report back on how "out of hand" is $15/hour.

And not sure why one should tip more at "nice places".

It's doable. Tough, but not impossible. If one wanted to live a comfortable life, one should work for it. Something I notice is people tend to want what they can't truly afford. Is a 50" flat screen TV a necessity because your neighbors have one? No it is not. How many people take loans on cars instead of buying a cheaper, older one for cash? If you can't afford the cost of car ownership (this includes maintenance and repairs), take a bus. I could go on...


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[breitlings]

Originally Posted by gav329

15% for poor service, that's all you'll get and why would they be nice to you for only another 5%?


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Not sure I understand your post.

[breitlings]

Also one other wrinkle buffets are tipped at a lower rate often 10-15%. And golf caddies get tipped.

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by breitlings

Also one other wrinkle buffets are tipped at a lower rate often 10-15%. And golf caddies get tipped.

Unless it was free, I would never go to a buffet in the US

[bayerische]

US tipping is out of hand IMHO.

I do it when I visit, but much more enjoy the free-style tipping of Europe. I leave 20-25% here too, when it has actually been great service, food, everything!

But giving 15% (as a minimum), say easily 30 dollars to a rude, poor service minded individual, who you had to ask twice for the wine list, and three times for that aperitif you ordered once you walked in 20min ago isn't what I would call "sane" practice.

I got an idea...What if US started to do what we do in Europe??? We charge about the same for the same food (at restaurants) we have included tax of 10-25% depending on member country and item, (food about 10-15%, liquor about 19-25%), we pay our waiters, cooks etc a decent wage, minimum about 10 euro/hour, so that they can feed themselves and their families from their work, which is actually appreciated work, not looked down upon.

[Uncle-AJ]

Originally Posted by breitlings

Also one other wrinkle buffets are tipped at a lower rate often 10-15%. And golf caddies get tipped.

Who do you tip at a buffet? After all, you are serving yourself.

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by Uncle-AJ

Who do you tip at a buffet? After all, you are serving yourself.

I tip my hat were you not one of the founders of this forum?

I'd go a step further. OP should avoid any buffet unless it's included with his hotel fee

[Uncle-AJ]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

I tip my hat were you not one of the founders of this forum?

I'd go a step further. OP should avoid any buffet unless it's included with his hotel fee

I was the tenth member, the forum was founded by a guy called Mark. When a lot of us were banned from another forum, I suggested we move here because at the time it was hardly used, there was only Mark and myself posting. The rest is history.

[MonBK]

Here's a tip: Don't bet on dead horses.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

I'd go a step further. OP should avoid any buffet unless it's included with his hotel fee

Buffets are completely unnecessary. Have you seen the size of american portions? Its already all you can eat. Every time i connect from europe to the US the BMI on the plane doubles.