Do you tip in France? (1 Viewer)

May 8, 2011
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In France or Spain I always tip about >10% despite being told that "servis est compris". This week in Paris have asked the question and been told an emphatic "Non, servis is not included".

So, does anyone have a definitive answer? Should I tip or not, don't want to be tight ass Limey!

Maybe a question for Yodelli if you are watching?
Thanks.
 
Apr 27, 2008
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I am a tight arse I agree, but in France or Spain I will add around 10%. Usually servis is non compris. If the service has been crap I pointedly don't leave a tip of course, but this is rare.
 

Pikey Pete

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In France or Spain I always tip about >10% despite being told that "servis est compris". This week in Paris have asked the question and been told an emphatic "Non, servis is not included".

So, does anyone have a definitive answer? Should I tip or not, don't want to be tight ass Limey!

Maybe a question for Yodelli if you are watching?
Thanks.


I don't tip anyone, unless they provide service over and above that which one would normally expect, no matter what country I am in.

Pete:Cool:

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Feb 27, 2011
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I always tip 10% or enough to get a decent drink.
For example a taxi driver charges me £5 I will give him £8. If the charge is £50 I will give a fiver. Unless the taxi driver is a mardy twat or behaves inconsiderately he get nothing.

In restaurants I do the same. I am more aware of tipping in restaurants as they tend to rely on tips to make their wages liveable.

If the service is substandard they get the tip but no repeat business.
 

Pikey Pete

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What does "service not included" (in which ever language you choose) actually mean?


Does it mean that the waiters are not paid?

I don't think so!


If the waiter wants a tip, he or she should go out of their way to provide memorable service.

How many times does that happen?


If you ask me it's just a con.




Pete:Cool:
 

Snowbird

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Always, regardless of country.

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motorhomer

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I lean more towards Itinerant than Snowbird, tipping is often OTT.

I find it very refreshing in Japan where tipping is definitely not expected - the price you see is what you pay, including in taxis.

Elsewhere, if service is clearly included I do not tip as well.

If service is not included I tip - 10% - if the service has been good.

In the US service staff get paid very very little so tipping is important to them, trouble is when americans travel they assume its the same elsewhere and tip as they would at home. This spoils it for everyone else who would not otherwise need to tip so much.
 
OP
OP
Nirvanauk
May 8, 2011
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As said in my OP I believe in tipping, however when you see 15% added to your bill then you think again. I live in York and know of at least one up market restaurant that adds 15%to the bill. I asked a member of staff if they get that money and they said "no way", so I now deduct it from the bill and give the waiter that amount in cash for which they are extremely grateful .!

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Aug 18, 2011
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I am fed up with tipping the Government 20% every time i purchase a non food item!
 
Jul 2, 2011
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Had a discussion the other day as we are considering opening a cafe.

My suggestion is that tips are kept by the staff concerned so they have a incentive to try that bit harder.

My wife and the two friends present all argued that all tips should go into a fund that is divided among the staff at Christmas.

Part of my argument against that is that there is no incentive for staff who might be thinking that they will not still be working there by Christmas. Also you then have to have a system that gives more to the people who have been there for a long time and less to those who might have been there for a very short time.

Their argument is that it can then be shared out among the kitchen staff too.

Is there a better way?


Steve
 

Jaws

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Always do in Greece and Greek islands, usually do in Spain.. Rarely do in France ( but the reason for that is simple.. We ALWAYS seem to get a bell end for a waiter !!! )

Waiters wages in Greece are bloody awful. Little more than a retainer. They are expected to live off the tips gained. Not a bad idea in one way as they do seem to go out of their way to try and give top notch service :thumb:

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scotjimland

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Had a discussion the other day as we are considering opening a cafe.

My suggestion is that tips are kept by the staff concerned so they have a incentive to try that bit harder.

My wife and the two friends present all argued that all tips should go into a fund that is divided among the staff at Christmas.

Part of my argument against that is that there is no incentive for staff who might be thinking that they will not still be working there by Christmas. Also you then have to have a system that gives more to the people who have been there for a long time and less to those who might have been there for a very short time.

Their argument is that it can then be shared out among the kitchen staff too.

Is there a better way?


Steve

You have to pay Income Tax on any tips you get, and sometimes National Insurance contributions as well.

Read this before deciding .. https://www.gov.uk/tips-at-work/tips-and-tax


as for the OP , never tip here or abroad..
 

Philiphall

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I tend to eat & drink in small village bars in France and over the years have mainly had good service. (Paris cafes are different and in my opinion crap as are the waiters!) I usually tip about 10% - most small places in France are family run and most of the smaller bars are struggling to survive - just like British pubs. However the more I drink the more I tip......e.g lunchtime 1 carafe of wine 10%, dinner: aperitif, wine, digestive 15%-20% after dinner god only knows what I tip!:ROFLMAO:
 
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In France or Spain I always tip about >10% despite being told that "servis est compris". This week in Paris have asked the question and been told an emphatic "Non, servis is not included".

So, does anyone have a definitive answer? Should I tip or not, don't want to be tight ass Limey!

Maybe a question for Yodelli if you are watching?
Thanks.

Do you tip in France...NO!

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Jan 27, 2013
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I tip to reflect the service I get. So I have left nothing in some places and I have left 20% in others. It's a choice thing in the UK and Europe.

In America it's horrible - a tip of 15% is seen as mean 17-18% is normal and 20% is good. My US friends sit and work it out with a calculator (how bad is that?) I say serve me well and I'll tip, go to no effort and you'll get nowt.
 
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Bailey58

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I always tip 10% or enough to get a decent drink.
For example a taxi driver charges me £5 I will give him £8. If the charge is £50 I will give a fiver. Unless the taxi driver is a mardy twat or behaves inconsiderately he get nothing.

In restaurants I do the same. I am more aware of tipping in restaurants as they tend to rely on tips to make their wages liveable.

If the service is substandard they get the tip but no repeat business.



Bugger me, that's 60%! :whatthe:

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Vlad The Impaler

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You have to pay Income Tax on any tips you get, and sometimes National Insurance contributions as well.

Read this before deciding .. https://www.gov.uk/tips-at-work/tips-and-tax


as for the OP , never tip here or abroad..

Just remember ignorance is bliss!
Unless your naive enough to think all market traders ,fair workers ,burger bar owners and everyone else who deals in small change,is totally honest. ?
The choice os yours but remember just because others do it doesn't make it right!
You won't get me dumping grey waste or parking without consideration for by laws or land owners.:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:




Vlad
 

Ridgeway

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I always offer a tip in France, although the person taking the order with the headset at the window often gets confused, she just tells me to go to the last window and collect my order...

It really depends where you are:

Village Auberge with low prices and typically good value food vs a Michelin starred place like Bocus in Lyon where the average head is €125.

In Europe I rarely tip unless it's exceptional service, in other countries it's different.
 

Heyupluv

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In France or Spain I always tip about >10% despite being told that "servis est compris". This week in Paris have asked the question and been told an emphatic "Non, servis is not included".

So, does anyone have a definitive answer? Should I tip or not, don't want to be tight ass Limey!

Maybe a question for Yodelli if you are watching?
Thanks.

No... as there is a charge on you bill for service

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Dec 23, 2007
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In some restaurants in Europe the waiters work their own tables and have a share in the profits for that table. My cousin who worked in a number of restaurants advised me that if I want REALLY good service is to tip/bribe before you sit down and order and the balance on completion,it has never failed me.
 

spitfire

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I am a tight arse I agree, but in France or Spain I will add around 10%. Usually servis is non compris. If the service has been crap I pointedly don't leave a tip of course, but this is rare.

Better to leave just one cent . Shows you dd not forget or are tight but thought little of the service

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kaybee

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Had a discussion the other day as we are considering opening a cafe.

My suggestion is that tips are kept by the staff concerned so they have a incentive to try that bit harder.

My wife and the two friends present all argued that all tips should go into a fund that is divided among the staff at Christmas.

Part of my argument against that is that there is no incentive for staff who might be thinking that they will not still be working there by Christmas. Also you then have to have a system that gives more to the people who have been there for a long time and less to those who might have been there for a very short time.

Their argument is that it can then be shared out among the kitchen staff too.

Is there a better way?


Steve


Problem with staff keeping tips they are given is that non customer facing staff ie kitchen staff will never get a tip and are therefore disadvantaged. Just thought I'de throw that in. :Smile:
 

chatter

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At my sisters restaurant and at her beach bar the tips are all put in the respective pot at each place and they are divied up at the end of each week between all the staff by my sister. She by the way does not take anything from the tips even though you will find her serving tables when its busy most days. Her staff are paid monthly but most have enough from tips to nearly equal the monthly wage. There is no 'he has been here longer so gets more' the tips are shared equally between all
 

Ivory55

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hi when our son was working in a restaurant working his way through college and uni.the owner kept the tips till the end of the month then took 50% for himself then split the rest according to rank or how he saw fit. so now we tip less i must admit as it does not go to who you think. ivory55

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Apr 27, 2008
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I didn't mention that I will only tip in cash, so hopefully the provider of the service will get it. I don't go for those who try to add it to the card bill as it will either be divvied up or more likely kept by the boss.
 
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tips

I only tip for great service and will do so whether or not service is included. However, I will only tip the individual concerned in cash.

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