I read a piece in the Sunday Times today (by Louise Eccles) about tipping.
This is a bugbear of mine.
I detest the idea of automatic or menacing tipping in restaurants and elsewhere. I detest even more the scandalous approach to tipping, making the customer feel guilty about not leaving an additional amount to the serving staff. CUSTOMERS AIN'T THERE TO SUPPLEMENT THE STINGY PAY PAID BY EMPLOYERS!!!! America, are you listening? Elsewhere too?
I am more than happy to tip hospitality serving staff if the service has been mind-blowingly out of this world. If the service has been average or below, forget the tip.
I approve of voluntary tipping. 100%.
Once, in a self-service restaurant somewhere near Sacramento, a friend and I served ourselves at the buffet. On finishing our lunch, we noticed a table clearer looking crest-fallen that we had not left a couple of dollars. He hadn't done anything to serve us. It was his expectation that we would leave a tip. FOR WHAT?
I hate the service/gratuity message at the end of restaurant tabs. The customer, mostly, can ask for any automatic amount to be removed. But why hassle the customer?
I hate the idea of the restaurant calculating a percentage tip. F*** off!!
A friend of mine, on a trip to Florida, was so disappointed with his restaurant experience, that he chose not to leave a tip. On leaving the restaurant, outside, he was challenged by his waiter who said that he relied on tips to live. HELLO! EMPLOYER, PAY THE GUY A LIVING WAGE!!
The Sunday Times piece said: "In America, a gratuity of 15 to 20 percent is typical for service, with up to 25 per cent given for excellent service. In the UK, 10 per cent to 12.5 per cent is more common." The piece also said that some online retail companies are encouraging customers to leave tips. FOR WHAT? FOR WHOM?
Disgusting that even a percentage is expected because miserly restaurant owners cannot cough up a decent wage for employees.
Hospitality employees - the customer is not your banker!
Blow my mind with excellent service and I will dig deep. Otherwise, nada.
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