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Why is tipping not part of irish culture ?

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    #62
    beauf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,651 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    Hollister11 wrote: »
    Why do we not have a culture of tipping in Ireland?
    In places like the states your expected to tip for everything like services in restaurants, cafes, hotels ect....

    We do. Except its called bribery and corruption here.


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    #63
    Hoop66
    Registered Users Posts: 2,300 ✭✭✭Hoop66


    I nearly always tip approx 10% in a restaurant, if the service has been good. If it's been bad, or the restaurant tacks on a service charge then forget it. You can say "but it's the restaurant that decides the service charge, not the waiter" and I will nod, agree and carry on with the way I do it.

    I will tip a lounge girl/boy a couple of euro n the first round.

    Taxi drivers might get the round up to the nearest euro

    Everyone else can get fucked.


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    #64
    Triboro
    Registered Users Posts: 759 ✭✭✭Triboro


    Trigger Happy wrote: »
    I have lived there for 2 years on and off, have been on 2 road trips across the states east west, one north south, and have never seen that!
    Where were you drinking, I need to go there!

    Lived there for 16 years and that was the norm !


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    #65
    Menas
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,318 ✭✭✭✭Menas


    Triboro wrote: »
    Lived there for 16 years and that was the norm !

    Where ? Genuinely interested, have never seen that and God knows I drank in my fair share of pubs over there.


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    #66
    Fr D Maugire
    Registered Users Posts: 633 ✭✭✭Fr D Maugire


    Triboro wrote: »
    Most American bars give a free drink after every 2-3 drinks so it kinda balances out with the tipping.


    Works both ways then as customers start to expect freebies..... in the US that is.

    I worked bar there, very often you ran a tab for regulars and the norm would be to miss putting a drink or two on it along the way. Sometimes customers would notice and tip accordingly, sometimes not if they had a few or were dicks.

    I remember an Irish person who would have had quite a few freebies from me and I randomly bumped into him in a bar a few years later at home. He was half-drunk and started telling his mates how I never gave him any free drink when in the US. I just laughed at him.

    Working bar in the US is a million times better than Ireland. Even though you rely on tips, you still pull in far more money than the usual just above or on minimun wage here. Also had to deal with far less drunken idiots, Bar culture in the US was far more sociable on the whole.

    On the wage thing, I think my bi-weekly wages worked out at $10 take home after tax was deducted. Then supplemented by between $1200-2000 tips over the same period.

    Oh yeah even though I benefited from it, I find the US tipping culture weird. Bottle of Bud please, turn to fridge, get bottle, open, put on bar, Tip. Mad.Still comply when I am there tho.


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    #67
    racso1975
    Registered Users Posts: 5,273 ✭✭✭racso1975


    Trigger Happy wrote: »
    Where ? Genuinely interested, have never seen that and God knows I drank in my fair share of pubs over there.

    Heard about it and had it said to me but like you never experienced it!!! Only place i got free drinks was vegas and infairness could of bought a feckin brewery for what i lost


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    #68
    W1ll1s
    Registered Users Posts: 137 ✭✭W1ll1s


    MadsL wrote: »
    Cheaper in the US, even when tipping a dollar per pint

    Everything is cheaper in US. At least there you are left with something to Tip with...


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    #69
    KungPao
    Registered Users Posts: 4,781 ✭✭✭KungPao


    I remember leaving a tip for a waiter in Brazil and the guy practically chased me out the door to give it back. He just didn't understand that it was a 'gift' for being really helpful and nice to deal with.

    I think there it's actually insulting to give a tip, they probably feel like you're just flashing the cash or have pity for them.

    Here I may give a tip for fast delivered food, a taxi driver who's nice and gets you there fast, and that's it really.

    I certainly wouldnt give a tip as matter of habit. LOL at buying a barman a drink...maybe in the old days when a drink was 1 and tuppence, but certainly not at today's prices.


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    #70
    MadsL
    Registered Users Posts: 20,299 ✭✭✭✭MadsL


    Buybacks are dying off...way to hard to control for the bar management and control is becoming a bigger issue - overpouring and giving away drinks are now being spotted by camera technology.


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    #71
    Triboro
    Registered Users Posts: 759 ✭✭✭Triboro


    Trigger Happy wrote: »
    Where ? Genuinely interested, have never seen that and God knows I drank in my fair share of pubs over there.
    New york !
    You were there 2 years and never got a buyback in all those pubs??


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    #72
    Fr D Maugire
    Registered Users Posts: 633 ✭✭✭Fr D Maugire


    Trigger Happy wrote: »
    Where ? Genuinely interested, have never seen that and God knows I drank in my fair share of pubs over there.

    If you were a 'regular' in some bars, I would be shocked if you didn't get a few freebie along the way.

    Likewise if you spent a substantial amout in an establishment or even just had a big conversation with the bartender, would be surprised you didnt get anything.


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    #73
    sbsquarepants
    Registered Users Posts: 11,812 ✭✭✭✭sbsquarepants


    I generally don't tip, it's up to the employer to pay their staffs wages, not the customers. You're being charged for the service, I see no need whatsoever to pay twice.


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    #74
    WellThen?
    Registered Users Posts: 358 ✭✭WellThen?


    Yeah I'm here in NYC on holiday at the moment. Tip a dollar a drink, 20% restaurant. The drinks are extremely strong, like nearly hard to drink so it's definitely worth it.
    Got my first buy back last night aswell which was great. Only place I've sat talking to the bar staff so maybe that's why I got the buyback? Not sure...


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    #75
    byrneg28
    Registered Users Posts: 1,005 ✭✭✭byrneg28


    I don't tip because society says I have to. All right, 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.


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    #76
    The Backwards Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    Buybacks are still big in NY anyway. I got more drink bought to me on a Monday night in Manhattan than I got in my local in twenty years. I made damn sure to tell them that too. :P

    In fact, my first ever drink in a bar in NY was on the house, I'm famous everywhere I go.


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    #77
    KungPao
    Registered Users Posts: 4,781 ✭✭✭KungPao


    WellThen? wrote: »
    Yeah I'm here in NYC on holiday at the moment. Tip a dollar a drink, 20% restaurant. The drinks are extremely strong, like nearly hard to drink so it's definitely worth it.
    Got my first buy back last night aswell which was great. Only place I've sat talking to the bar staff so maybe that's why I got the buyback? Not sure...
    If I ever go to the US, that ****e would put me off going to restaurants and bars. Giving a bloke a dollar for pouring a drink? Go on outta that.

    I think with me being so stingy, I'd end up getting buses, eating in McDonald's, and buying cans to drink in my hotel room.

    Also, why tip a guy to get you a drink, but not the poor soul working in McD's...harder job.


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    #78
    WellThen?
    Registered Users Posts: 358 ✭✭WellThen?


    KungPao wrote: »
    If I ever go to the US, that ****e would put me off going to restaurants and bars. Giving a bloke a dollar for pouring a drink? Go on outta that.

    I think with me being so stingy, I'd end up getting buses, eating in McDonald's, and buying cans to drink in my hotel room.

    Also, why tip a guy to get you a drink, but not the poor soul working in McD's...harder job.

    Yeah that's what I thought aswell! But apparently 10% in a restaurant is if your not too happy, and 20% is for decent service. That's just how they do it. And if you don't tip the barman you'll have trouble getting served again.

    This is what I was told now, being here though, it does seem to be the way of it.


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    #79
    Macker2001
    Registered Users Posts: 53 ✭✭Macker2001


    KungPao wrote: »
    If I ever go to the US, that ****e would put me off going to restaurants and bars. Giving a bloke a dollar for pouring a drink? Go on outta that.

    I think with me being so stingy, I'd end up getting buses, eating in McDonald's, and buying cans to drink in my hotel room.

    Also, why tip a guy to get you a drink, but not the poor soul working in McD's...harder job.



    Because the guy in McDonald's gets paid more!!!!!!!


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    #80
    shruikan2553
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,113 ✭✭✭shruikan2553


    I really dont understand tipping a delivery driver, if there was no fee then maybe but Ive seen it come up on sites with more US users and their reasoning was very weak.

    Also dont understand why some jobs you tip while other similar jobs you dont. Just pay the people a wage instead of relying on glorified begging.


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    #81
    AlanS181824
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,575 ✭✭✭AlanS181824


    We pay minimum wage so you can actually live off a minimum wage paying job whereas in America it is necessary to collect tips to supplement your income.

    If I'm in a taxi and the fare is like €9.30 or whatever I'd give €10 just to save the hassle of waiting, that's as far as I'd go when it comes to tipping.


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    #82
    wnolan1992
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 14,009 Mod ✭✭✭✭wnolan1992


    shruikan2553 wrote: »
    I really dont understand tipping a delivery driver, if there was no fee then maybe but Ive seen it come up on sites with more US users and their reasoning was very weak.

    Also dont understand why some jobs you tip while other similar jobs you dont. Just pay the people a wage instead of relying on glorified begging.

    When I order food and they say "That'll be 40 minutes." but then food arrives in 20, I'll give a few quid extra as a thanks for the good service. I wouldn't tip if the food was just on time though, they're being paid to do a job.


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    #83
    Dayum
    Closed Accounts Posts: 687 ✭✭✭Dayum


    I hate tipping culture.

    In America you buy a beer for 5 dollars which usually turns out to be more like 8!!

    FFS...get the boat.


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    #84
    thelad95
    Registered Users Posts: 7,812 ✭✭✭thelad95


    I've worked part-time in a resturant and it's pretty demoralizing the way Irish people don't tip. €8.65 is a fair wage but you'd often get a group who would ask you for the sun, moon and stars and despite being incredibly polite and helpful wouldn't leave a penny on the table.

    Also, it's a shít job by nature with abuse often coming from three or four different sources in one evening and your run off your feet for your whole shift so I understand why a lot of Irish people avoid jobs like that in Ireland.


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    #85
    Rezident
    Registered Users Posts: 1,770 ✭✭✭Rezident


    Firstly, most things in Ireland feel overpriced compared with, pretty much most other countries I have ever been to, primarily because wages are higher here.

    I will not even tip for poor service in a restaurant and I save up all the tips and when I do get really excellent service give a generous tip to encourage and reward good service. Service in Ireland is very mixed, it varies from one extreme to the other, even in our famed Irish pubs, plenty of barmen in Dublin are awful, they leave you standing there for 5 or 10 minutes and serve the pretty girl who bounces up to the bar instead instantly. Tip a euro a pint for that? On top of €5.80 a pint of Guinness?

    I'd tip the odd taxi driver too, rarely because again tit's too expensive already, nearly a fiver just to get into the taxi.


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    #86
    Bootros Bootros
    Closed Accounts Posts: 274 ✭✭Bootros Bootros


    Rezident wrote: »
    Firstly, most things in Ireland feel overpriced compared with, pretty much most other countries I have ever been to, primarily because wages are higher here.

    I will not even tip for poor service in a restaurant and I save up all the tips and when I do get really excellent service give a generous tip to encourage and reward good service. Service in Ireland is very mixed, it varies from one extreme to the other, even in our famed Irish pubs, plenty of barmen in Dublin are awful, they leave you standing there for 5 or 10 minutes and serve the pretty girl who bounces up to the bar instead instantly. Tip a euro a pint for that? On top of €5.80 a pint of Guinness?

    I'd tip the odd taxi driver too, rarely because again tit's too expensive already, nearly a fiver just to get into the taxi.


    But I never tip bar service in ireland. Who does?


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    #87
    Bootros Bootros
    Closed Accounts Posts: 274 ✭✭Bootros Bootros


    Macker2001 wrote: »
    Because the guy in McDonald's gets paid more!!!!!!!

    Yeah. Minimum wage at least.

    The American system isn't bad. It's just something to learn.

    One good thing about tipping bar staff is that good and fast bar staff are rewarded for busy periods.

    Is it fair that a busy barman get paid the same as a guy who serves 2 people an hour?


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    #88
    Bootros Bootros
    Closed Accounts Posts: 274 ✭✭Bootros Bootros


    Rezident wrote: »
    Firstly, most things in Ireland feel overpriced compared with, pretty much most other countries I have ever been to, primarily because wages are higher here.

    I will not even tip for poor service in a restaurant and I save up all the tips and when I do get really excellent service give a generous tip to encourage and reward good service. Service in Ireland is very mixed, it varies from one extreme to the other, even in our famed Irish pubs, plenty of barmen in Dublin are awful, they leave you standing there for 5 or 10 minutes and serve the pretty girl who bounces up to the bar instead instantly. Tip a euro a pint for that? On top of €5.80 a pint of Guinness?

    I'd tip the odd taxi driver too, rarely because again tit's too expensive already, nearly a fiver just to get into the taxi.

    Yeah. To be fair some taxi drivers round down. I always round up.

    I don't agree about dublin bar staff. Generally very good.


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    #89
    djerk
    Registered Users Posts: 162 ✭✭djerk


    Macker2001 wrote: »
    Most bartenders and waitresses would earn $1000 per week in tips so I doubt it had to be an expensive restaurant his cousin worked in.

    $1000 each in tips? if so.. that's almost double the wage of your average chef here, untaxed.

    I was getting payed 11.50ph in a restaurant recently.. not great but better than the min wage. A new head chef took over and was adamant to have the tips split between the kitchen, kitchen porters and the floor staff (not incl himself obviously). Many waitresses fought this hell for leather, I totted up some numbers out of curiosity and found for a basic 40hr week they were earning more than me with the inclusion of their tips.. that didn't seem fair. It was a busy place so the tips were average and consistent. It ended up being split 40:60.

    I was in Berlin last year, was customary to tip at least 5-10% there iirc.. however in bars i frequented as a group we generally got free drinks every couple of rounds and they even slashed a nice chunk off our tab once they got to know us!

    more of this and less of the tipping i say : http://uk.businessinsider.com/a-restaurant-just-banned-tips-2015-1?r=US


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    #90
    RobYourBuilder
    Registered Users Posts: 1,541 ✭✭✭RobYourBuilder


    You forced front of house staff to pool tips with kitchen staff? I hope you're lying.


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    #91
    Flem31
    Closed Accounts Posts: 341 ✭✭Flem31


    RobYourBuilder wrote: »
    You forced front of house staff to pool tips with kitchen staff? I hope you're lying.

    What's wrong with it ?


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