Tipping the Bar Staff in a Pub?

Old Apr 10th, 2007, 02:23 AM
  #101  
 
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>>The better you are at your job, the more you make.<<

My problem with that is, the better a waiter or barman is at their job, the less I'm likely to notice what they're doing.

But maybe that's another cultural difference about what constitutes a good job....
PatrickLondon is offline  
Old Apr 10th, 2007, 02:32 AM
  #102  
 
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Yes, I agree with Patrick.
A good waiter should sort of materialise when you need something.
I absolutely hate being asked if everything is all right.
In a decent restaurant, the staff just assume that it is.
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Old Apr 10th, 2007, 02:49 AM
  #103  
 
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That's exactly correct, Patrick which is probably why my niece & nephew earned as much as they did.
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Old Apr 10th, 2007, 03:03 AM
  #104  
 
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Sorry robjame but using:
<<that there is a booklet produced instructing wait staff how to increase their tips>> as an argument, is therefore contardicted. you said "Cornell University", implying that it's a good bartending school which has in turn done a study on how to rinse people out of more tips, thus producing this lil booklet as part of its training of course or whatever.. But that's not a scam?? on both parts?

And about the garbage man remark- you want to make a comparison of day-to-day personal human contact to a garbage man lifting rubbish objects? that's a bit daft.

OK here's the thing, yes there is a lot of money to be made bartending, thousands if you like but having worked on both sides of the pond, even tho at the end of the day there is definitely more money to be made from tipping, I strongly prefer getting paid a reliable normal wage than a sometime's excellent and sometimes very flaky wage made up of tips. I'll give you two reasons:

1) That it is an extremely unstable way to be in charge of your finances when you expect one wage and receive the other, thanks to a slow night in the bar, force majeure or whatever affects the amount of customers that come in and that tip. It's the roll of the dice and not a great way to plan your future, even tho on the whole yes you make a lot more money than you would in the UK.

2) Relying on tìps changes the way you work behind the bar and I think, actually lowers the standard of service. If you have to prioritise on being unnaturally nice to people, favouritize service to those you know will tip and more or less be reduced to begging, all the time, as part of the job, it takes away from your experience and knowledge and ability as a good bartender or waitress and your professionalism towards the job. The job is not about getting tips from people its about hospitality, but unfortunately this gets misplaced when you have to make your wage.

Mucky- <<by paying tips you are probably doing the staff out of wages they would have otherwise had if there was no tipping culture.>> becomes little bit of a dangerous comment..If people start acting like that, when the issue isn't addressed at the top, only the bartenders and waitresses will lose out.

Bartenders and waitresses in the UK do appreciate tips! I say again. It's nice to be treated nice in a sea of jostling drunk people. Once more..

europesthebest is offline  
Old Apr 10th, 2007, 05:34 AM
  #105  
 
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"converting uk wages to US dollar is completely useless unless said wages are spent entirely in the US. the weak dollar does not make UK barmen any wealthier."

Drop the attitude walkinaround! My post was intended to make two points a) that unlike in the US hospitality staff in the UK are covered by minimum wage legislation and tips are not expected to bolster industry sectors who want to pay below minimum wage and expect the public to subsidise that choice. b)That minimum wage is the equivalent of $10 per hour. The fact that many US posters travel to the UK and will be be aware of how far that amount of money will go in UK terms may be helpful to them in their tipping decisions.

wellididntknowthat is offline  
Old Apr 10th, 2007, 08:38 PM
  #106  
 
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Wow--this pub tipping debate has really heated up. Lots of talking but no one has answered my question about tipping in hotels, cabs, etc. Waiting patiently for a reply--Cheers, BMK
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Old May 31st, 2007, 06:02 PM
  #107  
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Just returned from London and Dublin!

I did not tip at the actual bar...unless I was in a hurry and it was only minimal change coming back.

I am still confused at the table service tipping piece. There was usually a "service charge" of 12 - 17%. When I asked at each of the restaurants - I got different resonses...it goes to the wait staff, it goes to the restaurant, it goes to both. Which is it?

I only met one really wonderful bartender (in Dublin) which we did buy a drink for.

Loved the area. Visited over 40 pubs in 11 days. Wonderful

8-)
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Old Jun 1st, 2007, 12:36 AM
  #108  
 
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Seems to me like you handled it pretty well.

Sevice charge is a racket and goes into the profits or probably pays the staff their salary.

Many restaurants are doing this especially if its a group of 6 or more dining.

I remember going into a restaurant that wanted £3.50 pp before anything was ordered !

I got up and walked out.



Muck
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Old Jun 1st, 2007, 01:31 AM
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I like it when people report back. Thanks, cwojo.

I think the reason you got different answers to your question about service charges is simple: practices vary. I always ask, and by far the most common answer is that it goes into a pool that is divided between all staff according to a formula. I approve of that, because the kitchen staff are also responsible for my meal.

If I learn that the service charge is taken by the house, then I am unlikely to visit that place again. Any restaurateur who treats staff in such a mean way seems does not deserve my custom.
Padraig is offline  
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