Of course, this depends on where you are. In UK pubs you order your drink—and generally food—at the bar. And you don’t tip. Though apparently you can “offer to buy the barkman/maid a drink.”
Took me a while to get used to this. In fact, tipping in general in the UK is still a bit mysterious to me after living here for a year. The guides say tip your Taxi driver around 10%, but why do they so often seem surprised when I do?
As for delivery people, some of them actually refuse a tip, because of rules etc.
If all this means that these people get a reasonably good wage and don’t need the tips, I’m happy to comply; but it still seems odd to me.
In Finland, there’s pretty much never an expectation for you to tip, except possibly in cases where the other person has clearly gone far above the call of duty for you.
Same in Poland; although many people do tip in restaurants. I’m always a little bit confused by the American tipping rituals whenever I see it in a movie or whatever.
In the UK, the only place where it is considered compulsary to tip is in restaurants, and then usually only ones where you are served at a table (some “gastro”-pubs have table service, in which case one should tip). I don’t think tipping taxi drivers is a general thing- I tend to let them keep the change if its sensible, but I don’t believe there is a rule. You certainly don’t tip delivery people of any kind.
In France tips are usually included within the price of the meal. I found this out after going to Paris and tipping at every place we went to..
In France it’s generally indicated on the menu and bill that a 15% service charge is included, but it’s considered good form to leave the small change. If you think the service was bad, you have the right not to pay it. IN the UK this now varies widely, with an increasing number of restaurants adding a 10% service charge, so it’s best to check. Apparently there was a minor “scandal” a few years ago when it was publicised that restaurant owners were often keeping the tips, so I always leave the tip in cash on the table.
Thanks for the info on taxi drivers, I generally have been rounding up, but if the fare is £7.80, say, I often leave £9 which is a bit steep. Maybe I’ll start assuming that £8 is OK.
Pizza delivery guys basically live off of tips in Canada, where I hail from, so it’s a big adjustment not to tip at all.
Of course, this depends on where you are. In UK pubs you order your drink—and generally food—at the bar. And you don’t tip. Though apparently you can “offer to buy the barkman/maid a drink.” Took me a while to get used to this. In fact, tipping in general in the UK is still a bit mysterious to me after living here for a year. The guides say tip your Taxi driver around 10%, but why do they so often seem surprised when I do? As for delivery people, some of them actually refuse a tip, because of rules etc. If all this means that these people get a reasonably good wage and don’t need the tips, I’m happy to comply; but it still seems odd to me.
In Finland, there’s pretty much never an expectation for you to tip, except possibly in cases where the other person has clearly gone far above the call of duty for you.
Same in Poland; although many people do tip in restaurants. I’m always a little bit confused by the American tipping rituals whenever I see it in a movie or whatever.
How about the rest of Europe?
In the UK, the only place where it is considered compulsary to tip is in restaurants, and then usually only ones where you are served at a table (some “gastro”-pubs have table service, in which case one should tip). I don’t think tipping taxi drivers is a general thing- I tend to let them keep the change if its sensible, but I don’t believe there is a rule. You certainly don’t tip delivery people of any kind.
In France tips are usually included within the price of the meal. I found this out after going to Paris and tipping at every place we went to..
In France it’s generally indicated on the menu and bill that a 15% service charge is included, but it’s considered good form to leave the small change. If you think the service was bad, you have the right not to pay it. IN the UK this now varies widely, with an increasing number of restaurants adding a 10% service charge, so it’s best to check. Apparently there was a minor “scandal” a few years ago when it was publicised that restaurant owners were often keeping the tips, so I always leave the tip in cash on the table.
Thanks for the info on taxi drivers, I generally have been rounding up, but if the fare is £7.80, say, I often leave £9 which is a bit steep. Maybe I’ll start assuming that £8 is OK. Pizza delivery guys basically live off of tips in Canada, where I hail from, so it’s a big adjustment not to tip at all.