New - The things that really annoy you

[Deutsch Wolf]

Only ever tip if I think someone has gone the extra mile. One of the things that irritates me is the person you tip doesn't necessarily get the cash. The cafe my daughter worked in while she was at college, all tips went in the till.

Easy one these days in restaurants. Pay the bill by card and hand some cash straight to the waiter(ess).

Places adding on 10% by default get it crossed out, don't assume.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Tbf most places I go say the staff get the tips (kitchen staff too) as that’s also one thing that isn’t fair. Why is pot wash not getting a tip when they are just as important. They aren’t going to be getting paid any more

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

The tips situation is completely out of hand now. Thought we were into something by just adding service charges to the bill but they are regularly at 13% now and have noticed a 15% recently - that’s frankly ridiculous.

We’re trying a cruise ship for the first time in September and you can actually buy a bolt-on ‘Tip package’ to cover everything over the duration. I mean, I’ve never really been comfortable with any tipping whatsoever as it just seems to facilitate arsehole bosses paying shit wages, but fuck me, 15% service charges and ‘tip packages’ at 100’s of pounds are really out of order.

The only person I tip these days is the Kurdish guy at the barbers, but even then, 15 quid for 15 minutes work then 3 quid tax fee cash in the back pocket doesn’t feel right either and only do it as don’t want to feel the shame of a tight arse walking out.

Getting fed up with the whole mullarkey and it’s really pissing me off be honest

We always pay for tips ahead of time when we cruise as otherwise you just get hammered putting down money every time you get a drink or have a meal. Works out cheaper doing it in advance.

If you're going on a Royal Caribbean cruise, defo get a drinks package too. Cheaper than bar prices

 

[EpsomWolf]

Buying a tips package feels like you are getting the worst of both worlds - it removes the ‘tipping someone for good service/going the extra mile’ element altogether. You’re then tipping in advance in the assumption of good service (which seems a bit daft) or because you know the staff are paid shit wages. Propping those wages up with tips feels a bit like you are supporting the staff but also complicit in allowing the employer to pay shit wages. Not sure what the answers to that one are.

Will no doubt buy a drinks and tips package which will ultimately be because it’s advantageous financially, but that’s at odds with the tipping principles too.

I suppose if the money reliably finds its way to those who deserve it then that’s something, but it all seems very muddled to me.

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

I like to think it covers all members of staff, including those who wouldn't normally receive tips- as in the stateroom attendant, the guy at the pool giving out towels, the dealers in the casino, the kitchen porters, the chefs, the lads working in the laundry room, the actors and musicians from the shows, the engineers etc.
Yes they probably arent well paid and whenever I've spoken to them, most of them work for 9 or 10 months straight, literally 0 days off, and they do a good job so I've always felt validated by tipping in advance.

 

[The Bear]

I like to think it covers all members of staff, including those who wouldn't normally receive tips- as in the stateroom attendant, the guy at the pool giving out towels, the dealers in the casino, the kitchen porters, the chefs, the lads working in the laundry room, the actors and musicians from the shows, the engineers etc.
Yes they probably arent well paid and whenever I've spoken to them, most of them work for 9 or 10 months straight, literally 0 days off, and they do a good job so I've always felt validated by tipping in advance.

But that's when it stops being an actual tip, and becomes an out and out wage subsidy.

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

Yeah I get that but it's still preferable than leaving a couple of dollars every time I eat or drink.
My wife has the Royal Caribbean app which tracks your charges and usage of the drinks package card, and on our last cruise I had 17 drinks one day, everything from cocktails at the pool to beer and wine at dinner and then shots in the club later on. If I was tipping cash, that works out at:
17 x 2 = 34
Plus 20 at dinner
That's 54 dollars in tips in one day for just me. And most going to the barmen.
So I'm totally fine with prepaying tips as it gets added to the entire crew and the service is always good anyway so I've never felt ripped off

 

[leedswolf]

Not too hot!, it’s like fucking February.

February?

 

[leedswolf]

There's a restaurant in St Brelade's, Jersey that neither adds a service charge nor allows tipping. They pay their staff well.

The hotel I stay at in Jersey add 10% service charge if anything goes on the room (drinks, food) but not if you pay directly at the bar/restaurant!

 

[EpsomWolf]

Yeah I get that but it's still preferable than leaving a couple of dollars every time I eat or drink.
My wife has the Royal Caribbean app which tracks your charges and usage of the drinks package card, and on our last cruise I had 17 drinks one day, everything from cocktails at the pool to beer and wine at dinner and then shots in the club later on. If I was tipping cash, that works out at:
17 x 2 = 34
Plus 20 at dinner
That's 54 dollars in tips in one day for just me. And most going to the barmen.
So I'm totally fine with prepaying tips as it gets added to the entire crew and the service is always good anyway so I've never felt ripped off

But that 54 dollars is only 54 dollars if you choose to pay it?

Not advocating this, but do you have to tip? I understand the cultural thing, but Cuba was the same and those Russian fuckers (sorry, I’ll get over them eventually) did not give a shit and walked away quite happily.

I’d honestly feel too awkward to blatantly do that but that in itself undermines the tipping argument in as much as you’re tipping because you feel obliged to and not because you want to.

It all feels a bit different to giving the local Zizi’s staff a few quid because they’ve done a great job despite working like slaves on crap money.

 

[ROVERT47]

February?

Go on then, March.

 

[pagey]

Yeah I get that but it's still preferable than leaving a couple of dollars every time I eat or drink.
My wife has the Royal Caribbean app which tracks your charges and usage of the drinks package card, and on our last cruise I had 17 drinks one day, everything from cocktails at the pool to beer and wine at dinner and then shots in the club later on. If I was tipping cash, that works out at:
17 x 2 = 34
Plus 20 at dinner
That's 54 dollars in tips in one day for just me. And most going to the barmen.
So I'm totally fine with prepaying tips as it gets added to the entire crew and the service is always good anyway so I've never felt ripped off

But when did tipping stop becoming discretionary?

 

[MARKakaJIM]

I remember people making a big deal of tipping when we went on a cruise a few years back, to the point people claimed we'd almost be shunned and find it impossible to be served if we didn't. Think someone may have even recommended tipping a few waiters and bar staff very heavily early doors to curry favour but I don't think either of us tipped at all for two weeks and had no issue. They squeeze enough money out of you as a captive audience on those things anyway, I'm not giving them any extra just because.

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

On cruises, we’ve always requested to have the automatic tips removed from our account and just left our own tips. It didn’t affect the level of service we received.

We’re on a Disney cruise in August though and I will probably leave the tips on for that one.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

We didn't really make all that much use of the ship on our cruise either to be honest. Breakfast was buffet service, only ever there for lunch on the odd day at sea, evening meal we ate in the buffet restaurant at least as often as the more formal one with table service, then we'd probably only have a couple of drinks at most before calling it a night and planning for tomorrow's day out.

 

[EpsomWolf]

I remember people making a big deal of tipping when we went on a cruise a few years back, to the point people claimed we'd almost be shunned and find it impossible to be served if we didn't. Think someone may have even recommended tipping a few waiters and bar staff very heavily early doors to curry favour but I don't think either of us tipped at all for two weeks and had no issue. They squeeze enough money out of you as a captive audience on those things anyway, I'm not giving them any extra just because.

Don’t really want to buy a tipping package and from your comments it looks as though you can get away with not having to. I’m happy to bung a bit here and there for good service but both the tipping package or mandatory tipping every time would leave a bit of a sour taste.

Thanks for the info, very helpful.

 

[The Bear]

Can't you just tell the wait staff that you bought the tip package and do neither?!

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Can't you just tell the wait staff that you bought the tip package and do neither?!

Yeah just like you walk into any hotel and claim you're staying there all inclusive so live for free.

 

[EpsomWolf]

On cruises, we’ve always requested to have the automatic tips removed from our account and just left our own tips. It didn’t affect the level of service we received.

We’re on a Disney cruise in August though and I will probably leave the tips on for that one.

Thanks for that, useful info.

We’re on a Princess Cruises job from Canada to Alaska and to be fair expect to give the food and drink a bit of a caning. Out of curiosity, why would you have a different take and leave the tips on for a Disney cruise?

 

[Wolf Hunting]

I find the whole tipping thing a confusion.
I tip my hairdresser €2. Meals is the only other time I'll tip. Even then, if the service has been good/helpful/pleasant/willing, I'll ask them 'Do you get this tip, or does it go into a pot which all staff get a share?'
Because I'm well aware that the chef or any of the cheffy assistants in the kitchen get anything even though the chef is probably on big money, but all the other people who work to make the place great often get ignored.
But if the money just goes into the till then they can fuck off.
I don't get tipping at the bar, and I don't.
They simply drop a tap or pull a handle, your glass fills up and its done. Pay the bill.