this post was submitted on 24 Nov 2024
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[–] Navarian@lemm.ee 1 points 21 minutes ago

Tips aren't included in the meal prices over here (Wales), our servers just get paid actual wages for the actual job that they're doing.

[–] KSPAtlas@sopuli.xyz 30 points 13 hours ago

Tips included in the price of the meal? You mean the meal being the actual price instead of the tips being part of the payment for the meal?

[–] nifty@lemmy.world 16 points 16 hours ago

These places typically tell you that’s the deal, and have the servers tell you that too

[–] madjo@feddit.nl 150 points 23 hours ago (7 children)

European here. Tipping is not already included in the price of the meal. Living wage is included in the price of the meal.

Tips is completely voluntary, if you think the service was excellent then you really just round up to the nearest nice round number (something like 22.85 becomes 25)

[–] ThirdConsul@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 hour ago

Well, a lot of restaurants add a few percent tip to large parties in my experience (and some try to start that shit for tables of 4).

[–] underwire212@lemm.ee 28 points 15 hours ago (4 children)

American here. I understood most of what you said, except for the phrase “living wage”. Could you explain this to me? I’ve never heard of it before.

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[–] Aqarius@lemmy.world 30 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

Tipping is not already included in the price of the meal. Living wage is included in the price of the meal.

That is the tip. In the US, "tipped" labor often has a reduced minimum wage, under the expectation that they make the difference up in tips.

Yup, something like $2.50/hr, when federal minimum wage is ~$7.50. If a server doesn't make minimum wage, the restaurant is required to step them up.

It's a stupid system IMO, because not leaving a tip is a giant slap in the face, when it really should just mean "you did just okay." If the service is really that bad, I will complain and expect a comp or something on the bill, so the bill should reflect "good enough" service. I'd actually like to pay tips if it actually meant "fantastic service," like putting up with my screaming children, convincing the cook to make something off-menu, or still providing good service when we're not spending much (we don't drink, and that's like 50% of the bill). I'd prefer to tip based on the service, not on the size of the bill.

Oh, and if we had such a system, not taxing tips would make a ton of sense since it's pretty literally a gift.

[–] Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world 2 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

In the US, if you are never going to return to an establishment, why tip?

[–] idiomaddict@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Because you care about other people?

So tipping is for charity? Why should the wait staff get priority over the Tibetan koala sanctuary (or any other charity of your choice)?

There are many more people in the world who deserve greater care than 1st world plate carriers.

[–] zakobjoa@lemmy.world 21 points 22 hours ago (2 children)

My guy/gal/pal.

We do things differently in different parts of Europe.

[–] madjo@feddit.nl 16 points 22 hours ago

You’re right, I made the same mistake as OP. There is no “European system of tipping”.

[–] pixeltree@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 16 hours ago

Pittsburgh has the slang term "Yinz" which is used like "y'all" and I've taken to using the singular "yin" for a gender neutral replacement for "guy" in the phrase "my guy", because "my yin" still carries that condescending tone that's vital (to me, anyways). Not telling you what to say or anything just fun to come across some grappling with the same language problem

[–] kamen@lemmy.world 25 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

To add to that I'd say there's no drama attached to not leaving a tip.

[–] madjo@feddit.nl 17 points 23 hours ago

Totally, waiters don’t expect a tip at all. So if it’s given, it’s appreciated even more.

[–] SuspiciousCatThing@pawb.social 2 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

But that means if I don't tip they'll think I thought the service wasn't excellent :(

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 9 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

In the US, sure. But in Europe, a tip isn't expected, so any tip you give means "better than average service." As in, what tips should've been all along.

I have no problem giving tips, I have a problem with tips being expected.

[–] nomen_dubium@startrek.website 3 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) (1 children)

someone once told me tips where invented to skip the queue at the bar... and apparenty its also some witty acronym for that as well (the brits supposedly invented the concept and they famously like to play with their words)

edit: "To Insure Promptness", but apparently that's just a backronym that someone made later... damn, i enjoyed that factoid, never should've checked it xD

[–] idiomaddict@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Ensure would be the right word here, but tep doesn’t sound as nice

[–] nomen_dubium@startrek.website 1 points 52 minutes ago* (last edited 52 minutes ago)

haha now that you say it... maybe i didn't question it cos it involved money to ensure xD

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[–] pruwybn@discuss.tchncs.de 52 points 23 hours ago

increase prices

people have to pay more money

How has no one thought of this

[–] Frog@lemmy.ca 178 points 1 day ago (19 children)

Tipping culture should die.

I'd rather have meals on the menu be what I pay. Include tax, service fees, and other garbage fees.

I went to Japanese restaurant in NYC. They took my card and they returned it. I asked about the tip. They said it was all included. Fucking dream.

[–] RegalPotoo@lemmy.world 106 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Not being an American the whole idea of not including tax in the stated price just seems so alien. You expect me to work out what 12.5% of my bill is on the fly as I'm shopping? Fuck you, that's your job. You are the one actually paying the tax to the government, you work it out

[–] SatyrSack@feddit.org 69 points 1 day ago (8 children)

Also "They took my card". That is apparently an American thing.

[–] Frog@lemmy.ca 8 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

In Canada, they have the wireless chip readers everywhere. It was nice since a large chunk of stolen credit cards are when employees scan it before charging it.

Some places in the USA is starting to do the same thing. But yes, the US is way behind.

They have had wireless chip readers for years, but many restaurants still take your card anyway. Some places bring the payment device to you, which is nice, and some have it there always so you can see exactly what's on the bill (sometimes you order on it too).

But taking the card is a cultural thing, not a tech thing. Even back before wireless readers were a thing, they still had portable payment terminals and could have you swipe there or have you pay up front on the way out. It's not an issue at all.

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We generally tip 15% or 20%, depending on quality of service, 10% if it's bad but not atrocious. And that's pretty easy:

  • 10% - just move the decimal place once
  • 20% - move the decimal place once and double
  • 15% - in the middle of the first two (or move decimal place once, cut in half, and add that to the 10% figure)
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[–] nutsack@lemmy.world 7 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (1 children)

wouldn't this mean less profit? unless you steal all the tips

Yup, that's the joke. And it happens more than you likely think.

[–] Sprokes@lemmy.ml 11 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

The tipping culture is very rooted in Americans. I was at restaurant in Europe and there was a customer (certainly American). He ate during 30 minutes or less, the waiter was nice but he wasn't doing it for tips and the customer only saw him when he ordered the food and at payment. The prices are high end.

When he paid he was surprised that there was no tipping options (unfortunately we started seeing them in some European countries) and asked him to pay another 10€ as a tip.

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[–] FilthyShrooms@lemmy.world 16 points 1 day ago

There's literally no profit? Like aside from already running a successful restaurant (hard), doing this will earn the business owner no extra income.

It is still based af because then the wait staff gets paid a lot more

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