Tipping up front

[tim gabbott]

My mate done it once on a Christmas drink up in the pub,,
He ordered loads of drink told him to add £50 on for himself and to look after us all night ... best service I have ever seen...
Until they got suspicious about how generous he was with the card behind the bar...

O forget to say someone found the card on the floor

 

[PaddyJames]

When you order drinks in Spain always leave a couple of euros tip. Your tapas will go from a jarg bag of plain tortillas to a full on buffet (think Gran Torino when the Koreans keep turning up with platters of food for Walt)

 

[Alanbileysfeathercut]

DCL injured?

 

[verreauxi]

I waited table for many years throughout high school and college. The only times people would tip upfront was very important things like anniversaries or marriage proposals where they wanted everything right. And on these occasions it wasn't just the wait staff who was aware of it, but all the staff.

But otherwise tipping upfront seems a bit weird as you are putting the server in a position where they can only respond kindly despite the implication that their service would have been crap had it not been for the up-front tip. The sarcastic response would be, "oh gee, thanks, I was gonna treat you like crap but now that you tipped me in advance I'll treat you well."

 

[anton66]

could you take good care of me and my frend?"

 

[atrottel]

Actually... I'd be interested to hear thoughts on this from anyone who's actually been on the front line waiting tables... good idea or not?

I worked as a cocktail barman in the States for a while. Absolute best way to get fabulous friendly service from the cocktail waitresses was to tip early and big (*). Not sure it would work as well in the UK, mind, partly because you don't pay each round and partly because it is just different.

(* and obviously not be a creep about it)

 

[collymcd]

There's nothing worse that lousy service when you're out on a dinner date, right?

Well.. try this next time...


When you really want good service in a restaurant - let's say you're out on a date or you're taking someone to lunch who you want to leave a good impression on - do not wait until the meal is over and the bill is in front of you before adding the tip..

Instead, when you are first shown to your table and your waiter/waitress hands over the menu to you, politely confirm that they're the one who will be taking your orders, and then hand them a generous cash tip there and then, along with a friendly "Here's a 10/20 bucks...could you take good care of me and my frend?"

It makes an instant impression, and almost guarantees the attention of your server for your duration of your visit. It's the same tip, it just leaves a better impression.

here endth today's etiquette lessons.. now shoot my upper class Tory ass down

Errr, will your waiter be bringing your date home or something?

Give the tip to your date instead. Much better results 100% guaranteed*

*No returns. Subject to T&C's

 

[Melba Toast]

Would prefer all hospitality to pay their staff correctly.

You'd love Japan!

 

[longers]

What if the waiter doesn't want your advanced tip and would rather just continue to be a slacker doing the minimum to get by without being sacked ?

You're effectively forcing them to not be slack in a job they probably hate, slackers lives matter.

 

[Boss_Blue]

Proper Tory thread, this.

 

[PITA]

US tipping culture annoys me. DisneyIand hotels - you get the bill and are then invited to select your tip. Few years back but your choices were, if I recall correctly, 15%, 18% or 22%. I also remember once being in the Business Lounge in JFK. Free drinks but still the customary plate for tips.

 

[riddick]

I've done this at a couple bars up front when the place is crowded, it gets me taken care of for pretty much the rest of the night.

 

[KaiserEFC]

Tipping the 17 year old worth the social skills of a flattened hedgehog working behind the bar achieves absolutely nothing.

 

[larbert toffee]

Only did this once when given the option to at a steakhouse in Orlando, did wonder what the service was going to be like, turned out the waiter guy genuinely bust a gut and couldn't have done anymore for us.