Service charges / tipping in restaurants

hayser

Sorry if this is not in the right section but I was just out for lunch and a service charge was added to the bill. None of us were sure should we leave a tip aswell. We did leave 10 for a tip just in case as the service was very good but I was just wondering does anyone know was this necessary? Thanks in advance

phasers

It's personal choice really, I personally don't tip if there's a service charge already included.

stovelid

I usually discreetly ask one of the waiting staff if the service is actually given to them. If not, I leave a tip.

phasers

stovelid wrote: »

I usually discreetly ask one of the waiting staff if the service is actually given to them. If not, I leave a tip.

Don't you think the waiting staff could be lying to get more money?

stovelid

phasers wrote: »

Don't you think the waiting staff could be lying to get more money?

Lol, never thought of that. I'm pretty trusting.

DazMarz

I usually refer to this sage advice from Mr. Steve Buscemi on this topic. Haha.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5ODhIFawfs

(couldn't embed the vid, unfortunately)

judas101

hayser wrote: »

Sorry if this is not in the right section but I was just out for lunch and a service charge was added to the bill. None of us were sure should we leave a tip aswell. We did leave 10 for a tip just in case as the service was very good but I was just wondering does anyone know was this necessary? Thanks in advance

was your party 6 or more?

if so then its normal

scudzilla

4 of us went for a meal in Cape Greko in Malahide last summer, it was a tuesday night and the place was relatively quiet, Bill came to around 150euro as far as i can recall, and they'd addd a 15% service charge!!! Apparently upon checkin the menu, it was in small print at the bottom, tables of 4 or more have this added.

IMO that's taking the piss, i'll leave a tip if i've had good service, i hate having it forced upon me, My wife and i used to go there a lot and didn't notice it as it didn't apply for tables of 2 (we always left 10% or more)

They sure lost our custom by doing that

Diddler1977

scudzilla wrote: »

4 of us went for a meal in Cape Greko in Malahide last summer, it was a tuesday night and the place was relatively quiet, Bill came to around 150euro as far as i can recall, and they'd addd a 15% service charge!!! Apparently upon checkin the menu, it was in small print at the bottom, tables of 4 or more have this added.

IMO that's taking the piss, i'll leave a tip if i've had good service, i hate having it forced upon me, My wife and i used to go there a lot and didn't notice it as it didn't apply for tables of 2 (we always left 10% or more)

They sure lost our custom by doing that

You should email this restaurant and let them know you won't be returning to their restaurant because of this practise.

Bonito

stovelid wrote: »

I usually discreetly ask one of the waiting staff if the service is actually given to them. If not, I leave a tip.

I know a couple of restaurant where the service charge is actually given to the cleaners and porters in the kitchen seeing as they don't get tips :rolleyes:

eightyfish

scudzilla wrote: »

IMO that's taking the piss

Taking the piss maybe, but fairly common. I much prefer to decide myself how much I want to tip, which is usually at least 15%, rather than have it decided for me. For this reason, I never add a tip on top of a service charge.

Do the restaurant not have to give the service charge to the staff?

helimachoptor

Bugs me so much, I bought a spa voucher for a the GF there a couple of years ago, €250, service charge was 10%. Whats the service charge for am I not paying €250 for the service:mad::mad:

Kearnsie

We would usually be happy paying the service charge if the food / service was good.

Equally if the food / service was bad we would not hesitate in saying so and explaining that this is something we will not be paying the full price for. Then carry on with the rest of the meal.

It may bring about the need for the Irish to be a little more vocal / polite when it comes to something that we do not like while dining.. then the compulsary charge will not matter as it is worth paying for.

Do not pay for what you dont get! Be it service or quality food & Beverage & if you get a service charge, do not add to the tip! Unless you really really want to! Its not required!

arybvtcw0eolkf

Moved from DCF.

Service charge = no tip. Its one or the other, not both.

Noopti

I have noticed in a few places (in the U.S) where it says "For parties of 6 or more we add a service charge of 15% onto your bill. Feel free to increase or reduce this as you see fit", which I think is pretty decent. Afterall, if the service isn't good then why should you pay for it?

Naos

One or the other if the service is good.

I don't tip if the service is sh1t, what's the point in that?

Similarly, I'd make a bit of a racket if I was forced to pay a service charge when the service was terrible. Actually I just wouldn't pay it.

HalloweenJack

I prefer the Dick Solomon method of tipping.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1ZZWhSvOMI

OutlawPete

I don't tip because society says I have to.

If someone deserves a tip, if they really put forth an effort, I'll give them something a little something extra.

But this tipping automatically, it's for the birds.

As far as I'm concerned, they're just doing their job.

eightyfish

OutlawPete wrote: »

As far as I'm concerned, they're just doing their job.

So say you and your partner go for a meal. The food is good, the service is friendly and you have a good time, but nothing beyond expected standard. There is no obligatory service charge. You wouldn't leave a tip?

OutlawPete

eightyfish wrote: »

So say you and your partner go for a meal. The food is good, the service is friendly and you have a good time, but nothing beyond expected standard. There is no obligatory service charge. You wouldn't leave a tip?

No, if they don't make enough money, they can quit.

Naos

Either that or go block O'Connell Street.

IvySlayer

I will not tip someone for doing their job. Only if they went out of their way to do something that wasn't specifically part of their job description.

Why waiters/taxis are only tipped? Do I need the bus driver if he actually arrives early? Do I tip the lads in Spar?

WesternNight

It would have to be some kind of outstanding service for them to get a tip as well as the service charge.

OutlawPete

IvySlayer wrote: »

I will not tip someone for doing their job. Only if they went out of their way to do something that wasn't specifically part of their job description.

Exactly, I was in a place the other night and I only got two cups of tea.

The waitress walked passed twenty times and wouldn't refill my cup.

Maybe she ws busy but the words "too busy" shouldn't be in a waitress's vocabulary.

Not if they want a tip anyway.

IvySlayer

Wow Pete you must be rich, you always seem to out about in cafes

OutlawPete

IvySlayer wrote: »

Wow Pete you must be rich, you always seem to out about in cafes

No, just cinema cafes

Spook_ie

22 posts before taxi and tips mentioned, you lot must be slipping, I certainly wouldn't tip AH given that shoddy standard

Bonito

Spook_ie wrote: »

22 posts before taxi and tips mentioned, you lot must be slipping, I certainly wouldn't tip AH given that shoddy standard

You don't tip AH. AH tips you.

Spook_ie

OutlawPete wrote: »

Exactly, I was in a place the other night and I only got two cups of tea.

The waitress walked passed twenty times and wouldn't refill my cup.

Maybe she ws busy but the words "too busy" shouldn't be in a waitress's vocabulary.

Not if they want a tip anyway.

Maybe you still had some in the cup? Which do you prefer a forward member of staff who pesters you to have more tea/coffee or a reserved member of staff who wait's until you look around for a refill?

Ruu_Old

IvySlayer wrote: »

I will not tip someone for doing their job. Only if they went out of their way to do something that wasn't specifically part of their job description.

Why waiters/taxis are only tipped? Do I need the bus driver if he actually arrives early? Do I tip the lads in Spar?

"Thank you for a pleasant trip, bus driver!" *slip €10 in shirt pocket*

I tip when I'm allowed to eat my food in peace and in good time, not food thrown on the table and someone checking on me every few seconds in any attempt to hurry me out. Food service folk make feck all in the US and majority of them do a great job.

Spook_ie

Bonito wrote: »

You don't tip AH. AH tips you.

AH, Tip , Taxi, nah never in a million years

OutlawPete

Spook_ie wrote: »

Which do you prefer a forward member of staff who pesters you to have more tea/coffee or a reserved member of staff who wait's until you look around for a refill?

She should have known my cup was empty.

Look, these chicks aren't starvin to death.

They get at least minimum wage right?.

When I worked for minimum wage, I wasn't lucky enough to have a job that society deemed tipworthy.

Bassboxxx

Is the service charge optional??

I asked a waitress in a restaurant after receiving bad service once. She didn't know so I said I wasn't paying it, and didn't.

I think it's something we need to do more of or else we'll have to put up with the bad service we get in a lot of places.

christina_x

OutlawPete wrote: »

She should have known my cup was empty.

Look, these chicks aren't starvin to death.

They get at least minimum wage right?.

When I worked for minimum wage, I wasn't lucky enough to have a job that society deemed tipworthy.

Dear Jesus... im a waitress and if i came across a customer who just expected me to know what he was thinking, id avoid him like the plague.. a few euro isn't worth the hassle, we have plenty other customers to look after and things to be concentrating on. If you want something, just call them over and ask them and i'm sure they will be more than happy to help you, but dont just sit eyeballing your empty cup, how is she ment to know you wanted a refill?! If she automatically did it you could turn around and bitch about the pushy waitress who wouldnt leave your empty cup alone

OutlawPete

christina_x wrote: »

a few euro isn't worth the hassle, we have plenty other customers to look after and things to be concentrating on. If you want something, just call them over and ask them and i'm sure they will be more than happy to help you, but dont just sit eyeballing your empty cup, how is she ment to know you wanted a refill?!

Look I was there a long fcuking time and she'll didn't refill my cup.

When I order tea I want my cup refilled at least three times.

WesternNight

OutlawPete wrote: »

Look I was there a long fcuking time and she'll didn't refill my cup.

When I order tea I want my cup refilled at least three times.

I didn't realise the free refill thing applied in Ireland. Only ever came across that in the US. Or is that where you are?

christina_x

OutlawPete wrote: »

Look I was there a long fcuking time and she'll didn't refill my cup.

When I order tea I want my cup refilled at least three times.

Ask. when i order tea, i can only have one cup. Everybodys different, so keep the blood pressure down and just ask. And i duno about where you go.. but where i work we can refill your teapot with hot water but fresh teabags gonna cost yah, in which case youl be ordering a fresh tea

Spook_ie

christina_x wrote: »

Ask. when i order tea, i can only have one cup. Everybodys different, so keep the blood pressure down and just ask. And i duno about where you go.. but where i work we can refill your teapot with hot water but fresh teabags gonna cost yah, in which case youl be ordering a fresh tea

Nah, makes for much better posts if you lose the cool and firebomb the place for failing to offer you a free refill

Just as a PoI was there a sign saying free refills and did it say to ask or just wait around forlornly?

OutlawPete

WesternNight wrote: »

I didn't realise the free refill thing applied in Ireland. Only ever came across that in the US. Or is that where you are?

Yeah, American Diner called Buddy Cadilacs.

OutlawPete

Spook_ie wrote: »

Just as a PoI was there a sign saying free refills and did it say to ask or just wait around forlornly?

No, but this is about tipping.

I don't tip, don't believe in it.

If she'd refilled my cup three times, I'd tip her.

WesternNight

OutlawPete wrote: »

No, but this is about tipping.

Nah, it's about whether it's necessary to leave a tip as well as an automatically-charged service charge. Not whether you agree with tipping or are in the habit of doing so/not doing so.

OutlawPete

WesternNight wrote: »

Nah, it's about whether it's necessary to leave a tip as well as an automatically-charged service charge..

Yeah, well I think it's not necessary.

I'm very sorry that the government taxes their tips, that's fucked up.

But that ain't my fault, why should I subsidise their pay packet.

It would appear to me, that waiting staff are one of the many groups the government fucks in the ass on a regular basis.

You show me a petition that says the government shouldn't do that, I'll sign it. Put it to a vote and I'll vote for it.

But what I won't do is play along.

Don't make enough? Quit.

I got two words for them: Learn to fuckin type.

Cause if you're expecting me to pay their rent, they're in for a big fuckin surprise.

WesternNight

Woah. You really have a bee in your bonnet about this.

OutlawPete

WesternNight wrote: »

Woah. You really have a bee in your bonnet about this.

God damn right I do.

Society says: "Don't tip these people over here but tip these other people over here" - that's bullshit!

You don't feel the need to tip the minimum wage workers at McDonalds do you?

Why not - they're serving you food aren't they??

Spook_ie

OutlawPete wrote: »

No, but this is about tipping.

I don't tip, don't believe in it.

If she'd refilled my cup three times, I'd tip her.

Ah so there's no sign, but you expect free refills ( theft, seeing as there's no sign ) but not only that, you also expect the waitress to be a mindreader.

Not the most easily pleased customer in the world

cruizer101

I'd love someone to explain the logic behind automatic service charges to me.
You go into a restaurant as a group bringing a nice bit of busisness there way, you are also all seated around one table, making it a much easier job for them then a number of just couples, and they decide to automatically charge you extra.

I really can't get my head around this, if anything there should be a group discount. So if anyone from the industry can explain the logic behind it I'd love to hear.

And no I don't tip if there is a service charge already added.

Spook_ie

OutlawPete wrote: »

God damn right I do.

Society says: "Don't tip these people over here but tip these other people over here" - that's bullshit!

You don't feel the need to tip the minimum wage workers at McDonalds do you?

Why not - they're serving you food aren't they??

But some McDs will give/offer you refills, so why don't you go out of your way to be nice to them? or better still seeing as they do offer refills in other establishments, frequent those instead

eightyfish

OutlawPete wrote: »

It would appear to me, that waiting staff are one of the many groups the government fucks in the ass on a regular basis.

I would definitely tip anybody who brings food to my table if the service is friendly. This makes all the difference to the enjoyment of the experience. The more pleasant the service, the bigger the tip. For the staff, it makes up for the crap they have to take from some members of the public. But to not tip unless the waiting staff refill your tea cup at least three times??? Who's "fuck"ing them in the ass again?

alwaysadub

Not that i eat out too often these day,bar the euro saver menu at Mc donald's, but when i do i don't usually tip if service charge is included. The odd time i might leave a couple of euro on the table if the waiter/ess was really nice.

Good man Mr Brown(or was he Mr Pink?)

beardo81

Just for you, Pete