Quote Originally Posted by splott parker View Post
As blue matt implies, a tip is a personal thank you of varying amounts depending on quality of service, a standard percentage included in the bill means bugger all to the staff I’d imagine. Is the 10/15% added to their hourly rate or does it become discretionary to the proprietors whether it’s paid, passing the decision to tip onto them despite them already having the money? I’ve slipped a waiter/waitress a cash tip on times, meaning I’ve, in effect, tipped twice
The 10% surcharge will be shared between all the staff, so the kitchen team aswell, the old style tipping ( you give the server a fiver ) was s.posedly flawed as the server would either keep that money or decide to share some of it with the kitchen staff, the runner, even front of house ( in higher end places, it wasnt uncommon for the maître d' to give the customers who looked like they would be big spenders to the servers who gave them some of the tip
so I that aspect its fair for all

but as I pointed out, if the server knows they are getting the 10% anyway, why go that extra mile to provide a good experience

then of course we have the " double tip " dilemma , so we know the above, everyone gets 10%, so if the server does a great job, goes above and beyond, you feel, oh they need something extra, so the double tip comes out, you tip them
anyone would think its all a con to extract more money out of you for a tip

Of course, while as its not so bad in the UK, the US with its 20% - 25% - ( 30% thats creeping in ) the issue magnifies , I once had a server who used to be the manager of the restaurant when it first opened ( Disneys Sanaa for people who care ) after his contract was up, he dropped down to be a server as he saw how much they were making in tips and it was more than her as earning, thats when you know its out of control