## Advice on tipping

Post by Cpt Wiggles » Thu Jun 26, 2014 12:00 pm

So after a trip to New York, I realised I have no idea how to tip properly.
Whatever I'm doing, I end up sat there like a berk while the waiter is staring at me. I'm sure I look incredibly British pissing about with dollar bills
"Oh what a to-do! I'm so charmingly befuddle, oh look at your silly green money!"
So anyway, I ended up putting down 5 dollars for a coffee that cost me £3.50 with a free refill anyway.
Whenever we went out to bars, I just put down a note after every drink, because the first time I said "keep the change, mate" like i would back home without realising i'd given him a 20. But to be fair, all the money was the same size and I had a few to drink already.
So in London, you generally put down 15% of the bill or round it up, but only if they've doe a good job.
Shit service = no tip
Some places even have the nerve to add a service charge to your bill. Which is taxed. That is the one thing I do in all countries, make sure I give the cash directly to the guy. I worked as a waiter and I'm not having the establishment take a cut of his tips.
Or have them split with one of the lazy wankers who dossed around with 2 tables.
Anyway, so I was trying to explain to my wife whatever way you tip people here, it's a totally different culture in the states and you have to respect this.
But how much? What do you do in restaurants versus when your in bars?
I would like if from now on when I go out there, I can stop looking like a tit every time we get breakfast.
Cheers all
Cpt Wiggles
(The Captain)
(Cappy)
(El Wiggolo)
There's always time for a nice cup of tea.

### Re: Advice on tipping

Post by Chris12 » Thu Jun 26, 2014 12:08 pm

> Some places even have the nerve to add a service charge to your bill. Which is taxed

In that case they already have your tip whether they deserve it or not and you shouldn't leave anything.
The system were your from seems like the ideal way. Mine is shitty service or long waiting time, no tip. Average service, a small tip and excellent service and friendly staff a generous one.
Leaving a tip isn't something you should do at every place. Only if they earned it.

### Re: Advice on tipping

Post by truly_trussed » Thu Jun 26, 2014 12:49 pm

Captain, you should visit Japan. There is no tipping whatsoever. They're insulted should you offer one.
I don't know about now but several years ago NYC was packed with tourists, especially on the weekends, from the U.K., continental Europe and Canada. The visitors were taking advantage of a weak U.S. dollar and doing lotsa shopping. I heard a tube of toothpaste sold for $1 U.S. was going for about $5 back home so people stocked up.
When I rode a London Taxi the meter said 7 Pounds and I gave the driver a tip of 2 quid. His eyes lit up and he said "Cheers". I suspected I overpaid him. I do love those black taxis however. They remind me of a Rolls Royce.
Moral is when you hit the roadways, the airways, the seaways or the railways best to go to a travel website and research tipping customs at your destination. Travel safe, T.T.

### Re: Advice on tipping

Post by Vulture » Sun Jun 29, 2014 5:41 am

What's the deal with 'jaywalking' too - are you just not allowed to cross anywhere?

### Re: Advice on tipping

Post by Kyle » Sun Jun 29, 2014 9:15 am

I don't live anywhere close to New York, but I assume the tipping etiquette is roughly the same across the entire US.
Theoretically you tip someone for good service. Realistically, leaving less than 15% for anything other than the absolute worst service is seen as very selfish. At most restaurants here, waiters and waitresses are paid an amount they're expected to make a decent amount on tips. I myself have only given less than 15% on very few occasions, usually when the server was outright rude to me.
Gratuity will usually be added to the bill if you have a very large group (usually somewhere between 6 and 8 people is the limit).
I don't know what the etiquette is in bars, as I don't go to those places.

### Re: Advice on tipping

Post by skybird137 » Sun Jun 29, 2014 9:26 am

The BBC website posted an article on tipping. I hope it is of some use.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22846846

### Re: Advice on tipping

Post by truly_trussed » Sun Jun 29, 2014 10:38 am

> Vulture wrote:What's the deal with 'jaywalking' too - are you just not allowed to cross anywhere?

Hi Vulture, in the U.S. it depends on the city or area. Southern California is really strict on jaywalking. Maybe they have to with all the zillions of cars there. Years ago, it might have been the Pasadena area, a young woman parked her car and jaywalked into a Sears dept. store. A police officer spotted that and spent over 30 minutes in the store looking for her to give her a citation.
Other cities are a little more lax. About the only time it's enforced is if you're dumb enough to cross outside a crosswalk or against a red light or "Don't Walk" sign. If you get hit by a car and survive you might get cited in your hospital room.
I remember about 30 years ago hearing that in 1 year Los Angeles issued 44,000 jaywalking tickets. By comparison Columbus, Ohio, 1/6th the size of L.A., issued 50,000 tickets. Ohio's other 2 largest cities, Cleveland and Cincinnati, issued about 5,000 a year.
I do like what they do in Central London. At a crosswalk painted on the pavement is a reminder to "Look Right" Visitors from the U.S., Canada and E.U. continent might automatically Look Left because we're so used to cars driving on the right.
Hope you make it over here someday. When you travel do be alert. T.T.

### Re: Advice on tipping

Post by Vukk » Sun Jun 29, 2014 11:02 pm

In America, tip the person what you feel they deserve as a tip. Remember, a tip is for good service. A decent waiter should make well over minimum wage at the end of the night. If you sit at a small café and just have a coffee with a friend and the bill is $5, a $1 tip is good. If you have a lobster meal and it costs $50, $5-10 would be normal. If you sit at a table for a longer than normal time, a little extra would not be out of place.
I have had poor service where I give no tip. I have had orders messed up with out apology. One restaurant I had to go to the bar to get water as our waitress didn't appear in the lobby for 10 minutes. The last place I was at my party (of 3) waited over half an hour for food, none of which was hard or took long to cook, and the place was less than half full.