Tipping System

[Liebling:-)))]

Well, I know here in Germany, Switerzland, Austria, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, France, Holland and British culture. "Service charge including" doesn't mean that the employers have to pay % additional service charge to their employees since they paid their employees decent wages. They receive decent wages every month, no matter how many customers visit in their resturants... It's owner's decision either they can afford to keep waiter/waitress or not...

Here in Germany: "Trinkgeld" (little tip) if you want waiter to keep the change then you have to say "Stimmt so" ... The tips are not expected in Germany but it would be great appreciate to them, no matter what... To them, this is only voluntary with no offence, anything like hotels, maids, toilet cleaner, hairdresser, etc...

The service charge & VAT (value added tax) in bills is an obligation to every Europe countries. Depend on difference % service charges accord employer's decision in different resturants but there're 15% service charge at most resturants in France.

In Italy, the % of service charge is not included but additional. (careful, if you are in Italy then please check how much % service charge additional until you agree before go in resturant. The additional service charge is an obligation, not voluntary). They add service charge in the bill. Example: we went Lake Garda, Italy last August 2006. They bill us €2.50 extra per person for use knife/fork/spoon, glass & table, etc as service charge... which mean is we have to pay €10 together for 4 person extra. We check some resturants and realized that there're difference % and charge per person. Depend on their decision.

In England, some employers or employees are skeptical when they receive generous tips from Americans. They feel that Americans "feel sorry for them" or too flashy and show off that they can afford anything... Little tips would be great appreciated to show your kindness. I know Americans doesn't mean to put them down with that generous tips that's just they are humans from different cultures.

I recommend Americans who want to visit Europe to limit their tip - Don't have to tip them or give them little tip (Trinkgeld) to any resturants. In Italy, you don't have to tip extra. In England, limit with tips.

To me, I do not consider "Service Charge" as tip but price of the meal including utilities used, VAT, decent wages for waiter/waitresses... It's waiter/waitresses's job to be friendly to customers, no matter what. If I'm not happy with waiter's behavior then inform the owner or not happy with foods or whatever then inform waiter/waitress then they inform the owner... The owner serve us drink or ice cream gratis as "apology".

 

[Tousi]

But, Leibling, I thought K75 said that a 15% tip is automatically built-into the final food bill in most of Europe?

 

[Reba]

...does this include Germany?

Berlin Life and Travel Tips: Tipping in Berlin - Berlin, Germany
Tipping is quite discretionary, with taxi drivers usually being given a small gratuity which may be no more than rounding up the fare to the nearest Euro - although this is not essential. Restaurants usually include service charges and these are always clearly stated on the menus. If you were particularly pleased with the service it is customary to round up this figure. You should always pay tips in cash, as this way you can be sure that the person it is intended for receives it fully.
Berlin Life, Travel Tips, Tourism, Tipping: Life, Travel Tips in Berlin Area, Germany

It seems that a German "service charge" is like mandatory tipping. They don't call it "tipping" but it serves the same purpose. Even American restaurants add service charges for large groups.

 

[Reba]

... "Service charge including" doesn't mean that the employers have to pay % additional service charge to their employees since they paid their employees decent wages.

So who gets the service charge money? The people performing the service get the money, right?

In Italy, the % of service charge is not included but additional. (careful, if you are in Italy then please check how much % service charge additional until you agree before go in resturant. The additional service charge is an obligation, not voluntary). They add service charge in the bill. Example: we went Lake Garda, Italy last August 2006. They bill us €2.50 extra per person for use knife/fork/spoon, glass & table, etc as service charge...

They actually charge you to use utensils? Suppose you eat pizza with your fingers--is that a free service?

Thanks for the warning, Leibling.

talian restaurants always charge an expense called "coperto" or "pane e coperto", which includes the cost for the use of the table, the tablecloth, napkins and cutlery and the cost of the bread. If you feel the service has been really exceptional feel free to leave a tip of up to 5% of the total cost of the meal.

That is so weird to Americans. We consider those expenses to be "overhead" that the restauranteur is responsible for.

To me, I do not consider "Service Charge" as tip but price of the meal including utilities used, VAT, decent wages for waiter/waitresses...

Then why is it listed seperately as a "service" charge? The other costs aren't listed, are they? Does the bill actually list the utilities and wages costs? "Service" means serving, right?

 

[Reba]

Hubby didn't remember a restaurant service charge when he was in Italy but that was many years ago.

 

[Liebling:-)))]

So who gets the service charge money? The people performing the service get the money, right?

of course, the employer. It´s them who pay waiter/waitress decent wages, utitlied used, foods, etc. I thought you know because your hubby is self-employer or what?

They actually charge you to use utensils? Suppose you eat pizza with your fingers--is that a free service?

Thanks for the warning, Leibling.

Of course we can get piece of pizza from pizza store to eat with our fingers... without charge... We have to pay the charge if we use their table and chair to sit and eat...

Quote:
talian restaurants always charge an expense called "coperto" or "pane e coperto", which includes the cost for the use of the table, the tablecloth, napkins and cutlery and the cost of the bread. If you feel the service has been really exceptional feel free to leave a tip of up to 5% of the total cost of the meal.

This is not my post. I don´t know where you get it from. Of course there´re alway have breads/rolls to prepare on the table for customers to feel free but we still pay additional charge service or charge per person for that. 5% tips? I never heard.

Anyway I only tell you what I know because I visit Italy often and know their custom. We have to pay additional service charge or charge per person - no service charge included

That is so weird to Americans. We consider those expenses to be "overhead" that the restauranteur is responsible for.

Well, this is Italy custom.

Then why is it listed seperately as a "service" charge? The other costs aren't listed, are they? Does the bill actually list the utilities and wages costs? "Service" means serving, right?

It seems that a German "service charge" is like mandatory tipping. They don't call it "tipping" but it serves the same purpose. Even American restaurants add service charges for large groups.

Service charge
service charge definition - Dictionary - MSN Encarta

tip
tip (3) definition - Dictionary - MSN Encarta

Service charge and tip are not the same thing. Service charge is an obligation to pay which tip not.

Tip is a volunartily - it´s like a gift to thank them for their kindness service...

Every businesses who want to profit themselves ... they have to work out how much they have to pay utilities, foods, decent wages for their employees, VAT, etc. (service charge) to fix the price for a meal because they have to pay and profit themselves.

 

[Liebling:-)))]

Hubby didn't remember a restaurant service charge when he was in Italy but that was many years ago.

I would suggest you & your hubby to visit Italy for vacation to fresh his memory...

 

[Liebling:-)))]

But, Leibling, I thought K75 said that a 15% tip is automatically built-into the final food bill in most of Europe?

K75 only say what he knows and I only say what I know.

 

[Kuifje75]

Liebling, many waiters earn very little here in the US, so they really work for their tips. We feel "obliged" to live a good tip for good service.

In Europe, since the service charge is included already, waiters do not have to work for tips, and therefore, people know that they are paid well. They don't have to pay tips.

Even if tipping is supposedly "voluntarily," you are viewed as "cheap" if you don't leave a good tip in the US. They wont want to serve you again in the future.

 

[Kuifje75]

It seems that a German "service charge" is like mandatory tipping. They don't call it "tipping" but it serves the same purpose. Even American restaurants add service charges for large groups.

Yes, I see it as mandatory tipping. I agree with you, about larger groups, they will include the tip inside the bill and label it as service charge as well.

 

[Liebling:-)))]

Liebling, many waiters earn very little here in the US, so they really work for their tips. We feel "obliged" to live a good tip for good service.

In Europe, since the service charge is included already, waiters do not have to work for tips, and therefore, people know that they are paid well. They don't have to pay tips.

Even if tipping is supposedly "voluntarily," you are viewed as "cheap" if you don't leave a good tip in the US. They wont want to serve you again in the future.

Yes I aware it. I learn from this whole thread here... It´s good for us to prepare for visit America.

*curious question*

As you said that the resturants without service charge in America... or without tax? including tax?

How much a meal cost? Example: Steak, french fries & salad in American resturant? Just estimate...

Here in Germany: Steak, french fries & salad between €10 and €15 including service charge.

 

[Liebling:-)))]

No, I do not agree that service charge as mandatory tipping because service charge and tipping are not the same thing.

 

[Liebling:-)))]

I found interesting link

Tip - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tips in the world...

 

[Star]

Let me tell you about me.
I work Casino. I make good pay and I am deaf too. I work in Vault, I do get tips. I make good pay. I make 12.47 an hour and plus I get tips. Can you image it that! Not all resturant are same wages. Its depend what state you live in. We live in Arizona. Here I work casino and they are all different wages.
For example Cocktail waitress make 6.00 an hour and plus tips. That is lots of money. Blackjack dealer make lots of tips. I know I count their tips, cause I work in Vault to count their money. Not all the same. I am deaf too I get pay really well. I have notice Europe is different. My husband from England he told me about it.

 

[Reba]

Tip is a volunartily - it´s like a gift to thank them for their kindness service...

Yes, it's normally voluntary in the U.S. Sometimes U.S. restaurants add the gratuity to the bill for large groups. Then, it's not truly voluntary.

Every businesses who want to profit themselves ... they have to work out how much they have to pay utilities, foods, decent wages for their employees, VAT, etc. (service charge) to fix the price for a meal because they have to pay and profit themselves.

The difference is, a tip pays directly to the server. The customer decides how much the server deserves.

A service charge goes to the employer, and then to the server. The employer decides how much the server deserves. The customer has no control over the value.

I'm not saying one way is right, or one way is wrong. It's just a different perspective in each country.

 

[Reba]

I would suggest you & your hubby to visit Italy for vacation to fresh his memory...

Ha, I wish! He went to Spain and Italy on his Med cruise. He went to Ukraine and Germany for missions work. He went to Okinawa, Hawaii, Guam, and Phillipines on inspection tours. I never went to any of those places.

 

[Reba]

of course, the employer. It´s them who pay waiter/waitress decent wages, utitlied used, foods, etc. I thought you know because your hubby is self-employer or what? [/COLOR]

Yes, he is self-employed, and he has one part-time employee. Hubby doesn't add on a "service charge" to pay his employee. He charges his customers for his service just one fee. He doesn't charge them taxes, services charges, VAT, or anything else. Hubby pays his employee, his expenses, and taxes from his own pocket.

 

[Kuifje75]

I found interesting link

Tip - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tips in the world...

In the link you gave me, it states:

Service charge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the context of banquets and restaurants serving a large group of people, a service charge is often added to the price of food and drink as a mandatory gratuity to ensure that the waitstaff is adequately compensated. This is often heavily criticised, as most responsible companies should include costs in their pricing structure. Hence it is seen as a way of lowering prices (through lower wages) whilst ensuring staff compensation by another method.

 

[Opal]

Liebling, many waiters earn very little here in the US, so they really work for their tips. We feel "obliged" to live a good tip for good service.

In Europe, since the service charge is included already, waiters do not have to work for tips, and therefore, people know that they are paid well. They don't have to pay tips.

Even if tipping is supposedly "voluntarily," you are viewed as "cheap" if you don't leave a good tip in the US. They wont want to serve you again in the future.[/QUOTE]

I would consider it is a blackmail!!! What if many people can't afford the tip, will their resturant close down because they refused to serve to people like us?

It is not up to the customers to support the Waitress's wages, it is the Resturant Manager's responsible to take care of their staff's wages.


It is American's systems, as I don't like this idea.

 

[sillycat]

I would consider it is a blackmail!!! What if many people can't afford the tip, will their resturant close down because they refused to serve to people like us?

It is not up to the customers to support the Waitress's wages, it is the Resturant Manager's responsible to take care of their staff's wages.


It is American's systems, as I don't like this idea.

Im american and Ive been poor--on SSI/gov't assistance in the past. When I went out to eat at resturant and must give tip to have future good service, I usually give $1.00 which is all I can afford. Its better than nothing--giving zero is an insult to the waiter/waiteress. Ive done that too when the service is very bad--give no tip.

Most waiters/waitresses earn low wages and depend on tips to buy things they need. Ive heard that working evenings is best time to get good tips. Those who work at fancy restuarants make good wages and its a custom to pay tip anyways.