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Service Charge and Gratuity (off topic!)

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    Service Charge and Gratuity (off topic!)

    Being a Norfener and now contracting in the Sarf, London to be exact, I have a general question about restaurant tipping.

    Quite often on the final bill there will be a 12.5% service charge added (optional but still added to the bill). Immediately under that there is usually a gratuity box. Isn't it one and the same thing? The thing is I'm sure the poor waiter(ress) is not getting that service charge and they look pissed off when you don't leave a gratuity. I have thought about asking for the service charge to be taken off and then add it as a tip but that just seems like hassle when all you want to do is pay and get out of there!

    Up Norf generally you get the bill (no service charge) and just add a tip. simple.

    Anyone got any tips (excuse the pun)?

    #2
    If service charge is included, do not tip on top unless you have received above and beyond excellent service.

    If no service charge, then tip if warranted.

    Alot of places pool tips anyhow...

    Always deduct SC or no tip if service is poor.
    If you think my attitude stinks, you should smell my fingers.

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      #3
      If there is a SC charge added to the bill as seems normal in London, do the waiting staff get this? That's what I'm unsure of.

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        #4
        It depends - some restaurants use this to "cover the cost of table cloth and glasses", others divide the service charge up amongst restaurant and staff while additional cash grats are paid direct to the waiter/waitress under a certain size of service.

        Some only pay out a percentage of the SC to staff or some pay only the cash tips to staff direct while card based gratuities are dividied up.

        Best to ask if you feel pangs of socialist induced guilt

        Personally, I pay cash gratuity in a cafe/pub and card in an exclusive restaurant.

        I have asked for SC to be removed on some occaisions. I've also refused to pay once or twice although fortunately not that often nowadays.
        If you think my attitude stinks, you should smell my fingers.

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          #5
          Originally posted by oxtailsoup
          If there is a SC charge added to the bill as seems normal in London, do the waiting staff get this? That's what I'm unsure of.
          It depends. In most places it seems that the service charge is shared out among the waiting staff, although some of it will go towards the bonuses of the managers and owners as well.

          Don't ever feel obliged to pay the service charge AND leave a tip. I have had meals where the individual bill has been taken away from me before I have been asked whether I wan't to leave a tip (by the card reader machine) and due to the amount of wine that I have consumed I have forgotton that they have already had the service charge

          Most waiting staff will be quite happy if you give them the cash directly, but take note, don't do this in a very smart restaurant, in those places just pay the service charge.

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            #6
            Ask the waitperson whether they'd prefer the service charge or a cash tip.

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              #7
              This man left a tip : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6586879.stm

              Ouch!

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                #8
                Originally posted by PRC1964
                Wrong kind of tip
                Why the hell did he do that, that too in a restaurant

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                  #9
                  On a related note, is it customary to tip hairdressers in this country?

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                    #10
                    Originally posted by GeorgeGregan
                    On a related note, is it customary to tip hairdressers in this country?
                    No idea, but I do tip the barber.

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