tipping used to be for great service

Personally I think that it's because people in the "service industry" have come to expect a tip regardless. I fully realise that a lot of waitresses will be working on minimum wage and more or less rely on the tips. But I think it's quite another matter if you are using a buffet. I mean it's not like your actually being waited on and attended to is it? It's not like you order something that a chef has to prepare to your specifications. So I don't see why you would be expected to tip in the first place in such an establishment. And I'm pretty sure that I certainly do not like the idea of having to pay first! I think it's outrageous.

It happened when employers started to count tips as part of the server's wage. Service went to pot because tipping became standard operating procedure. The tables have turned. It used to be that servers knew they had to work for the extra money. Now, we, the consumers, are looked upon as cheapskates if we do not tip. I know what you mean about that advance tipping - and in a buffet, at that. I live in an entertainment town and tipping is expected everywhere. At one of the hotels here, as we stood in line, I noticed you could pre-pay at a machine. I too was a little shocked to see it ask me how much tip I wanted to add to the ticket. Unless I have a large party where they insist on adding gratuities up front, I will always tip after checking out the service. Sadly, some servers do not even earn minimum wage from their employers because they are depending on the tips from customers to bring their wage up to a decent pay scale.

I would be inclined not to gove a tip if it was asked for anyway, when I have paid by bankcard I have always left a tip in cash, I would never pay a tip on my card and I would only leave a tip if the services was good.

It's a shame that you didn't get the good service you expected. I would never tip before the service, as you don't know the kind of service you'll get. I think in part that wait staff get paid a very low wage and expect these tips to make up the difference for their hours of service. When they get used to this happening regularly, their efforts go downhill unless they have a special need for some extra money. Then, or at the start of the day, you might get some good service.

Ihave got to the point where I only tip for extra good service as I feel the restaurantshould be paying better wages than that and I am on Social security so every penny really counts for me. if the service is lousy' why should I leave a tip? when I worked Igot no tips only my pay check. I am a sort of scrooge I guess but I do 'wish that employers would pay decent wages so that' waitresses would not have to rely on tips. lol

I know what you mean. I think some of them think that it's customary to leave a tip even when the service is bad. Sometimes some shop includes the 10% service charge to the bill without even asking and their service is not that good even. Where are the days when you can voluntary give a tip because the service was great? I don't give tips in advance, some of those who receive their tips early don't give it their best to serve you, although there are some exceptions. I also don't give tip through credit I always give it in cash depending on how their service is. ~

that is really weird... i never being asked to tip upfront when i go to a restaurant... i will not give it when it happens... i haven't receive the service yet... so why should i give a tip??? what if the service is horrible??? it is not an obligation for us to leave a tip anyway... it is voluntary... if we are satisfied with the service, then we give it... otherwise, we don't have to... take care and have a nice day...

I won't tip a horrid waiter/waitress! I leave the tip according to their service provided. An average service deserves an average tip, perhaps 12%. An outstanding service deserves the comparable tip and I generally give 20%, sometimes more, for an outstanding server. The only time I will pay an up front tip is when I'm bringing a party to the restaurant and we have a specified server the entire time. They deserve a tip if we're their only customers.

I wouldn't put a tip on my credit card. I thought a tip was supposed to depend on the quality of the service, too. I don't think that is right.

Well, if you paid upfront with a credit card, they may have assumed you didn't have the cash for a tip. Some people leave tips just for the sake of leaving a tip. I'm picky with my tips. Good service gets you the full 15%, average service gets you 10%, and crappy service gets you a couple pennies and a fortune cookie paper with a message about improving your attitude. The only time I left this kind of tip was when I went to a Chinese buffet and found the waitress to be way too resentful towards us. I don't like it when the serving staff glares at me through the window when they think I'm not looking, nor do I like it when they try to rush me out when it's not even closing time. Both actions will earn them a tip on how to improve themselves - nothing monetary, though. I get that being a waiter or waitress can be trying - but I do my best at my job, even on the worst of days. It wouldn't kill them to do the same. If they don't even try to be okay at their job, I'm not going to try to be a nice customer, either.

I only give tip when the service is good.

I am assuming that you are American? I have heard a lot about Americans thinking that tipping is a necessity and not optional, because waitresses and stuff do not think that they are paid enough without tipping. Over here in the UK, we don't have to tip and no one ever asks for tips, tipping here is completely optional and you only tip out of politeness or good service and usually I just tip the change.

if i don't get good service they don't get a tip, plain& simple.

I have a standard tip I generally leave, and if I am impressed with the service I leave extra.

I agree with you. I don't tip at all, anymore, because it is so EXPECTED, that if service is exceptional, people won't know it. There are a few places that I go regularly, and I ind other ways to show my appreciation for the staf....like bringing back souveniers for them from my travels!!

In some places, they just include it in your bill. I was in a restraunt once and I left cash on the table and later inspected my recipt and saw the tip was figured in...I double tipped. I was travelling so I just let it go but they did not say anything when the brought me the bill. I just paid it.

I totally agreed. It is sometimes very odd to see that even at buffets they expect a tipe for the same amount of what you would pay your server at a sit down and dine place too. Though it is the first for me to hear that they want tip ahead. Odd but anything is possible these days. i hope you enjoyed your vacation.

i would never tip up front. my tip depends on the service i grt. if it's bad service they don't get a tip. if it's good service i leave a nice tip.to me that's what tipping is all about, the service you get.

I won't pretip. That's why I won't go on cruise ships with freestyle dining (well not just that reason) because they pretip the waiters and the service stinks!! In the ones with scheduled dining, we get great service and tip well, too.

I was just talking about this yesterday. I went on my first cruise last fall and the first night on the ship I ordered a drink. When I got the bill there was a 15% gratuitiy automatically added in, then there was line for me to write in an extra tip. What!? That is absolutely ridiculous. Needless to say, I didn't order any more drinks the entire trip. I completely agree that you should tip based on service, not just because you're there.