UK here, that's exactly what I would have done. $300 even is more than fair. The problem is, the staff would still see that as an insult, because American culture has conditioned its citizens into believing that restaurants not paying their staff a livable wage is acceptable.
I would pay to watch a group of Dutch people argue the toss over paying a tip in the US. Straight to the point no bullshit tolerated vs syrupy sweet insincerity. Carnage.
That's... weird. And uncommon. Tipping isn't standard here but its definitely common. just not the amounts that Americans are used to. A 288 bill would commonly be 300 in the Netherlands.
I'm the Netherlands. Not in the US. Servers are taxed on their sales and not paid a livable wage per hour/on the clock. They literally survive on the Fuqd up tipping system
Bill is 256 ⏠and you are willing to pay 285 � Thought you were rather tikkie-stingy?
If you didn't involve different currencies, I'd doubt you'd be able to pay less than the check's amount anywhere.
As a German, I'm, for better or for worse, almost always paying about 10% as a tip - so in this case about $310-$320, paying $289/$290 on a $288,52 bill, I'd almost consider rude..
It works the other way, too. "Store should be paying the workers, not me." Not realizing that the store having more expenses in higher wages would raise the prices they paid for their food.
Edit: Tipping culture is definitely bad. And we should normalize not having to tip. But people need to realize that in that becomes a law then the cost of items on the menu will go up. The problem is the most people are against tipping because they don't want to have to pay more than what's on the menu. Most people just don't realize that the menu price would end up going up, anyways. If you think a store is going to start paying each person on the wait staff several times higher wages without making those changes you're a fool.
I mean, just 10-12 years ago when I was in college I could get 2 Big Macs for a total of $3. Now they're almost $6 each.
But yeah, people don't want to tip because they feel like it's paying more. But the point is that if tips are removed, entirely, then they'll have to pay more anyways to cover the restaurants increased expenses.
I don't necessarily disagree. But that's the point. They start with adjusting prices for wages, but then get greedy and just keep going. If a restaurants expenses for wages go up 20%, do you really think they're only going to raise their prices by exactly that amount? Or would they decide to raise prices by 25% and pocket the extra 5% difference?
The less people in the middle, the better. In an ideal world, tipping wait staff directly is best. But when people refuse to do that and insist on the store paying those wages, entirely, they'll pocket a little extra for themselves at the same time. Then the customers end up paying more than if they just tipped properly in the first place.
You are paying 4 times, what you paid 10 years ago and the minimum wage stayed more or less the same. But stop tipping will make prices go up. I don't get it.
Minimum wage for fast food (which isn't tip based wages) has gone up. Back then it was around $7, now it's almost $15. At least in my state
But yeah. It's gone up anyways "because of the cost of ingredients" even for places that use tip based wage systems. Imagine how much more it'd go up if they had to properly pay their wait staff. It's like you're saying "It's already bad so it can't get worse." That's poor logic.
Just closed the app. In Germany I pay âŹ6,19 per BigMac. The people who would serve me this burger get something around 15⏠per hour with health care and all the other communist stuff that's law in Germany. In a lot of McDonald stores you would get paid more (~18), because they do not find staff.
There is a point, after which the prices will no longer go up.
My state only changes it's minimum when the federal rate changes so no changes in ten years and a server is allowed to be paid below regular minimum with their pay starting at $2.13. Our food costs have skyrocketed just like the rest of the country and like the rest of the country has decoupled from the inflation rate because their prices raises are about greed alone, not paying workers properly.Â
"Store should be paying the workers, not me." Not realizing that the store having more expenses in higher wages would raise the prices they paid for their food.
European here, we totally know that?
The standard is "price all fees and taxes included", which is a staple of being able to compare prices.
If I can't afford 80 bucks to eat at a restaurant, I can make food at home.
Billing me "65 +20% tip" vs "60 +25% tip" breaks the free market.
Yeah. I understand in other countries they get paid living wages. So rounding up to 300 is quite generous. Here though it's a slap in the face. Even more so if it's a big party. 15% will always be the go to until they are paid properly. 20% if they are exceptional/we're a big party.
Ok but itâs annoying with Europeans come here and stiff servers to âstick it to the owner.â The owner does not care, the server is losing money on your table. The only person youâre sticking it to is someone likely struggling financially. Everyone wants a living wage but thatâs the culture here. You stiffing low wage workers wonât change a thing.
I donât know why people think itâs ok to go to the U.S. and disrespect the culture here. My husband is English btw. Weâve had to top up his relatives tips bc itâs legitimately so embarrassing.
Yeah, when I went to the US, we tipped the 20% and didn't cause a scene. A tourist should try their best to follow local customs, you aren't helping anyone by refusing to tip.
Thank you, people donât realize itâs actually a huge social faux pas here not to tip. Weâll all complain about tipping culture but if you donât do it you look like a huge dick. Euros have a reputation for not tipping, & arrogant attitudes here.
Some of the people I love most in the world are European. I love visiting. I think Europeans in general are great but, damn some of yâall need to realize youâre not U.S. scholars bc you consume American media or went to Orlando once. Iâve had people try to tell me about MY country or say Iâm wrong even if theyâve never been here. The arrogance makes them sound like a moron.
You should visit a new place with an open mind and respect for the people. Iâve never met anyone and decided their character and personality before they open their mouth yet it happens for Americans all the time.
Sorry to rant. I say this to my British husband and heâs like, âI ALREADY KNOW.â đ¤Ł
Ok but itâs annoying with Europeans come here and stiff servers to âstick it to the owner.â The owner does not care, the server is losing money on your table.
The server is on tipped wages and without tips that wage would be below minimum? I think the owner is sticking it to the servers and the customers, not the euros sticking it to whomever..
The only person youâre sticking it to is someone likely struggling financially.
This sucks, but if you do away with the idiotic tipping culture and actually pay a living wage this wouldnt be an issue right?
Everyone wants a living wage but thatâs the culture here. You stiffing low wage workers wonât change a thing.
The owner stiffing the staff* ftfy
I donât know why people think itâs ok to go to the U.S. and disrespect the culture here.
If the culture is fucking shit it doesnt deserve respect.
My husband is English btw. Weâve had to top up his relatives tips bc itâs legitimately so embarrassing.
Why would you be embarrassed for his relatives and not the tipping culture?
Itâs a huge social faux pas here to not tip. You think youâre doing some great moral grandstanding but you look like a cheap asshole đ¤ˇđťââď¸ Iâm just saying bc yall donât realize that thatâs embarrassing here.
We all hate tipping. I think weâll see it be phased out in certain states eventually. I know there are restaurants now that donât allow it. I hope it will be phased out everywhere in the next 15 years. People are very frustrated so many industries are expecting tips now.
Tipping culture is shit or American culture is shit bc letâs be realâŚthatâs not the case. Yâall have no idea how much African American culture specifically has influenced you.
Again, love Europe. But Europeans coming here and complaining itâs different from Europe is actually crazy đ¤Ł
No. It's not acceptable. But neither is stiffing the server. They are in fact taxed on their sales and not paid a livable wage per hour. Tips and tipping, it's how it is.
Stay on the couch if you don't approve. It's all outrageous and too expensive. Don't go out to eat. Learn to cook. It's healthier, or can be... But that would also be on you to reconcile
Its not an insult, it is literally how they earn their living. They make a little over 2 bucks an hour.
I hate tip culture too, but if you canât afford the tip then just cook at home
American here, it's not acceptable, but it is what it is and knowing they get paid crap I feel obligated to tip.
15% used to be the standard. Now receipts suggest 18%-20% as the minimum.
What's worse, is now credit card machines prompt for tips for traditionally non-service related jobs that aren't considered tipped employees - where you're not sitting down and being served, like Starbucks for example. Non-service/non-tipped employees earn a higher wage (not saying it's livable, but it's higher than tipped employees) and you're still trying to get me.
It's nuts. Just raise the prices and pay people properly. I'm already paying the same because of the tip, just don't make me feel guilty about it.
Iâve been a waiter in the UK for 15 years and the standard is 10%.
If i drop a ÂŁ288 bill, iâm tipping out ÂŁ2.88 to the kitchen, ÂŁ1.44 to the bar and around ÂŁ2.00 to the runners and bussers based on that sale. Leaving me just over 5 quid.
So itâs not insulting, itâs just a shitty tip and serving a table that big for that long a fiver would nuke my shift.
Not saying itâs right, itâs just the way it is pretty much everywhere.
I do think if youâre paying that much a lil round up ainât the worse but I wouldnât expect a fucking quarter of 288 thatâs way too much. 12 pounds.
Tbh good service is my expectation. I would tip if the service was more than good or if I had some specific requirements or annoying things that they helped me with delightfully.
Yeah Iâve had waiters in Europe aggressively demand a tip before (maybe because Iâm American?) after literally getting in a fist fight over my tableâŚ.. a server in America would have been fired before they had the opportunity to ask for that tipâŚ.
No idea where in Europe, but as a customer I heard tales of staff scamming americans by profiting from their "tipping reflex".
At least in Belgium, "demanding a tip" would be stupid because we don't necessarily pay at our table, it's flat out illegal to request a payment in cash, and card payments don't allow tipping.
Basically to tip, you need to pay at your table AND have cash on hand so no restaurants can expect that usually. But waiters on one juicy target, on the other hand...
When i waited tables in college, we tipped out 3% of sales to the hostess, bar and bus staff. So $8.64 to the support staff and $3.36 for the 90 minutes. We were capped at 3 table sections. We didn't have health insurance because you had to average 32 hours and the hours weren't available.
I'm not mad at all, but you keep using "should" and that's where you are wrong. I work at one of the biggest Bike stores in Germany, I spent a good 30 to 60 minutes with each and everyone of my customers, explain them everything there is to know, let them take the bike for a spin, customize the bike to the smallest detail with them, they pay between 3 to 8k per bike and I rarely ever get tipped, should I be mad? No, because it's my job to do that, I get paid to do that and my surviving does not depend on the customer giving me an extra 50âŹ.
What's the difference between me and the waiter, other then that I spend more time with the customer and you don't get to eat the bike at the end? None, so why should the waiter be tipped extra but not me? Either we all get tipped, or you don't get to be mad if I don't. And you extra extra don't get to be mad if I tip you 10 and not 50âŹ.
Bro, I agree. Not sure what you want me to say. Itâs the culture here. If you donât tip in America, youâre a scumbag. It shouldnât be that way, but it is, and it will never ever ever ever ever ever change.
Some people are ok being scumbags. Personally, I tip well so that people donât judge me, and frankly I make a lot of money (a $50 tip is less than 20 minutes work for me), so I just take it as a tax on being American.
As an Aussie, whoâs worked in many restaurants and ran a cafe - why do people think paying a large sum means you should be more likely to tip? It should be the opposite in non tipping countries.
Big spenders magnify the profit, Theyâre paying for service 10 times over, as itâs priced into each item but they donât actually get much more.
One table of 4 ordering 4 items each, is much much more profitable and easier to serve than 8 seperate guests ordering 2 things each.
When spending big I expect extra accommodations for the stacked profit margins, and not to tip. And I expect the same for my customers, I appreciate the big spenders paying too much for extra avocado - but might expect tips from the person who got their one cup of tea refilled with hot water 5 times, used the toilet, and wifi for an hour spending nearly nothing.
You never run the risk of losing money on your time with big spenders, and no business owner would prefer multiple small spenders.
*this is directed to the non-tipping countries where the staff wages are priced into the costs. We canât tip staff directly in Australia anyway, itâs split across the establishment *
Is tipping normal in Germany? I know it is in the UK, but I have tipped a max of 1/2 euro spare change living in France for exceptional service (not even just better than average). I once tipped 5 but only cuz it was a Michelin star.
But the one time I was in Munich (at an Augustiner mind you), they asked for a tip, and when I said no, I'm European, he got a little pissy about it. He said something like even if you're European we still do a [german word I do not know]. I left a euro or two just in case it was the norm (and I was planning to anyways since the service was very good until then), but I found it weird.
I was gonna say me and my family go for decent sized meals and it normally comes in around the 250-300 mark (there's 8 of us and we usually get drinks too) normally if it's 280, we'll just round it up to 300.
I am from Greece, but I've lived in the states for half a decade. The minimum expected tip is the tax (rounded of course), at least in CA. Nobody is forcing you of course, but it's expected and strongly recommended by friends (who show you the ropes when you are learning how things work).
Personally, I felt almost immediately that the tip culture was absurd. In Greece there is some limited tipping - restaurants, cleaning staff at a hotel, delivery some times, maybe taxi drivers, especially during the holidays, like New Year's - but nothing of this magnitude.
Still, I tipped as people recommended for quite a few years. Essentially paying double the tax, which in practice meant paying an EU style tax, although in the US VAT is supposed to be lower, but it ends up being the same. (Always found that amusing.) And I did that while as an international student things weren't always easy financially-wise.
This stopped during Covid. We were isolating like everyone for quite some time, but slowly things were getting more relaxed, and I remember being at a coffee shop picking up a tea to go and the cushier just turned the monitor on my side for me to input the percentage of the tip... for simply picking a tea to go. It was the last drop for me. I felt so stupid. I did not tip. I remember seeing the cashier being annoyed and that pissed me off even more. I've not tipped anyone since then, even in Greece - period.
I am not implying that my stance is right. There are a lot of people who deserve a tip for their work. But for me that was the end of it, and the result from my experience with American tipping culture.
People should receive a living wage. That's it. Tipping is not a solution, not even a temporary one. It allows the system to continue, and at the extreme it creates a very perverse mentality.
I am suggesting that people should be paid/ tipped relative to the level of effort expended. Not sure why that is controversial. As a side note I think the tip being relative to the cost of the dish being served is incredibly arbitrary. Does server deserve more if I order a $30 glass of wine vs a $10 one? Why is it unreasonable to work out a standard tip based on the tables per hr a person can serve and a good hourly rate - say $50 per hr so a smart restaurant they may only serve 4 tables per hr vs a casual dining where there could be 6...
You are saying servers despise me while I pay then $72 per hr?! Good luck getting that in the real world without any actual skills (speaking as someone who was a server)
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u/Lutzelien Aug 28 '24
Tbh I'm from Germany and if I'm paying 288⏠for a meal I'm at least paying 300 and leaving the rest for the waiter if they were nice