Subtle differences between the US and the UK that baffle me/you/us. - by SubJeff
faetal on 13/12/2012 at 11:38
I don't drive, so perhaps there is something I don't get, but other than the issue of which one is most prevalent, is there any rationale at all for there being a "correct" side of the road to drive on? Like, are there accident statistics which correlate with one side above other variables?
DaBeast on 13/12/2012 at 18:11
Tipping is a bit more than expected in America and it really annoys me.
IMHO its a pretty big difference in attitude for something so trivial. Yes employees in service get a really low wage and have to make their living on tips. Why is that my responsibility as a customer to help someone pay their mortgage or education fees or w/e. Why should a waiter, who could potentially earn a hundred dollars an hour for 5 minutes of work, earn more than a nurse?
In the average diner/cafe, you leave a couple dollars and that's fine, but in the cities like New York, in restaurants they not only expect their 15-25%, they'll come after you to get it. I know a guy who left a $30 dollar tip only to have the waiter chase after him and make a big fuss, because he expected $50.
$50 for bringing a plate of food to a table?
So anyway, the difference in attitude, Americans are not only totally ok with tipping, but see us in the UK and Ireland as cheap, stingy etc.
Pyrian on 13/12/2012 at 19:45
Think of it as in America you're allowed to tip lower than you would by-default elsewhere. In Europe, you can reward a waiter for good service, but can't actually punish them for bad service.
And if you're going to go to expensive restaurants, well, what did you expect? A $20 meal expects a tip of a few bucks, if you can afford a $200+ meal, you can presumably afford a better tip.
SubJeff on 13/12/2012 at 19:52
I leave 10% as standard, more if they are good and less if they are bad. I sometimes leave no tip when people are useless. If they are extra useless I leave an insulting tip to let them know we thought their service was bad. I think the highest I've left is 20%.
DaBeast on 13/12/2012 at 21:37
Quote Posted by Pyrian
Think of it as in America you're allowed to tip lower than you would by-default elsewhere. In Europe, you can reward a waiter for good service, but can't actually punish them for bad service.
And if you're going to go to expensive restaurants, well, what did you expect? A $20 meal expects a tip of a few bucks, if you can afford a $200+ meal, you can presumably afford a better tip.
Just because I can afford to tip more doesn't mean I should, nor that I ought to be expected to. The waiter hasn't put more effort into serving a $20 dollar meal than the $100 meal. Again, working on tips per hour, why does he get paid more than someone who actually works for a living?
You could work in a factory, but that involves effort, nono, better to get a job in a restaurant bringing a plate 15 feet to a table.
When I eat I don't think about who brought me the food, whether they smiled or looked sour, I care if the food is good, thats what I want to pay for. Not some pussy who wants to pay rent without having to break a sweat. Yet I'm the bad guy?
ugh, I really don't know why this, of all the petty things to be annoyed about, gets to me.
Phatose on 13/12/2012 at 21:57
If I received the same level of service in a restaurant serving $200 meals as one serving $20 meals, I'd be pissed. The standards for service in the class of restaurant are considerably higher.
SubJeff on 13/12/2012 at 23:52
Quote Posted by DaBeast
Just because I can afford to tip more doesn't mean I should, nor that I ought to be expected to. The waiter hasn't put more effort into serving a $20 dollar meal than the $100 meal.
You clearly don't eat in nice places. Waiters in upmarket restaurants know the menu inside out, what they have left, whats in fresh, and they know what the stuff tastes like and are able to describe it. If I stuck you in the Fat Duck for a month you wouldn't be able to do that.
They often don't only serve one table at a time and need to manage time pretty well to make sure all the tables they are attending get things in a timely manner. They also have to manage drink orders which by their nature will be asynchronous with the food and even among diners. And then they have to attend to other bs like someone not being happy with the amount of bacon froth on the amuse bouche.
I've worked in factories. Unless you're a skilled machinist it requires 1/4 the skills that being a good waiter does.
Renzatic on 14/12/2012 at 00:29
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
I've worked in factories. Unless you're a skilled machinist it requires 1/4 the skills that being a good waiter does.
This. I spent about 4 months crilling (krilling...I dunno, connecting cables of yarn together) in a carpet factory in my younger days. It was tedious, but not exactly difficult or required any real thought to do. It was just the same repetitive motion over and over and over again.
Waiters and waitresses? I've seen them come out carrying 8 plates down the length of their arms for one table, drop them off, take a couple orders, then refresh three customers drinks all within a 5 minute span then turn around and do it all again while putting up with an overly hostile customer. It is not an easy job.
heywood on 14/12/2012 at 04:16
Quote Posted by DaBeast
So anyway, the difference in attitude, Americans are not only totally ok with tipping, but see us in the UK and Ireland as cheap, stingy etc.
I'm totally OK with tipping in the US where it's factored into wages. Server wages in the US are only $2-4/hour outside of tips. And I like the idea of rewarding workers for better performance. The service tends to be better in the US than Europe as a result. Also, I tip a higher percentage in cheap places than expensive restaurants. I feel bad for the servers who work breakfast shifts in cheap diners who have to deal with families with messy kids, hung-over students, and seniors who order coffee refills for 3 hours, only to be rewarded with 10-15% tips on meals that only cost $5-10 per person.
I'm also totally OK with not tipping in Australia where it's not customary and servers earn a decent wage without tips. You quickly get used to not having to think about it unless the service is unusually good.
I find the UK a bit weird because many people will tip 10% in a restaurant but others will tip token amounts and some not at all. And most people won't tip in a pub, but some pubs have restaurant-like table service. There doesn't seem to be much consensus.
I also agree with SE and Renz that factory work is easy compared to service.
matt4001 on 14/12/2012 at 07:01
Quote Posted by faetal
I don't drive, so perhaps there is something I don't get, but other than the issue of which one is most prevalent, is there any rationale at all for there being a "correct" side of the road to drive on? Like, are there accident statistics which correlate with one side above other variables?
We use the left because historically, as most people are right handed, keeping to the left enabled the right hand to be free if and when you needed to draw your sword. True fact.
