A_7
New member
Could someone please clear up once and for all whether it is necessary to leave a tip after having a meal in France? Ta. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif <font color="blue"> </font>
Tipping
- Thread starter A_7
- Start date
sphero
New member
Not expected, but in general we tip if the service is outstanding
A_7
New member
OK. But do the French leave a tip?
TigaWave
New member
No....that was easy.
(my credentials are I worked for French companies for more than two years, some of the time in Paris)
(my credentials are I worked for French companies for more than two years, some of the time in Paris)
tcm
...
Service compris
Nope, they might leave the odd pennies if paying cash, but in my exp there's none of the should we/ shouldn't we tip-worrying as in the uk. I have never ever been left an open credit card slip in france and in my exp what they ask for is what you pay. Of course, i suppose you can pay more, in which case they would know for sure you are not french. I bet JohnM knows more about this...
Nope, they might leave the odd pennies if paying cash, but in my exp there's none of the should we/ shouldn't we tip-worrying as in the uk. I have never ever been left an open credit card slip in france and in my exp what they ask for is what you pay. Of course, i suppose you can pay more, in which case they would know for sure you are not french. I bet JohnM knows more about this...
Gunfleet
New member
Re: Service compris
I don't eat out more in France than tcm does, I bet! It was consolidated into the price of the meal during the Mitterand period. You might leave the bit of loose change that comes after paying in cash, but that's it. I wonder if that bar just pass the converted mill qualifies for outstanding service and a tip from Plouerman!
I don't eat out more in France than tcm does, I bet! It was consolidated into the price of the meal during the Mitterand period. You might leave the bit of loose change that comes after paying in cash, but that's it. I wonder if that bar just pass the converted mill qualifies for outstanding service and a tip from Plouerman!
Robin
Well-known member
Service is always included these days but if the meal and/or service was really exceptional you could always leave a small tip as an extra thank you.
We have just returned fron 3 weeks in the USA where they really know how to extract tips! One restaurant said on the menu that an AUTOMATIC 18% gratuity would be applied to all bills where the party was 8 or more persons. Personally I would have expected a DISCOUNT for a large party not a penalty payment but then I'm just a mean old Brit according to my Yanky SWMBO when I suggested we split into 2 tables of 4.....
We have just returned fron 3 weeks in the USA where they really know how to extract tips! One restaurant said on the menu that an AUTOMATIC 18% gratuity would be applied to all bills where the party was 8 or more persons. Personally I would have expected a DISCOUNT for a large party not a penalty payment but then I'm just a mean old Brit according to my Yanky SWMBO when I suggested we split into 2 tables of 4.....
snowleopard
Active member
the americans tip in all sorts of circumstances where we wouldn't even think of it. that can sometimes cause trouble for brits who are seen as stingy for not tipping barmen for example.
i notice that bars in the international terminals at heathrow always have saucers for americans to leave tips!
now restaurants here are switching to chip & pin payments, they have lost the ability to beg for a tip on the credit card slip. add that to the fact that you tend to enter your pin at the till on the way out and it's easy to end up not tipping. i'm sure they must have found a reliable way of extracting money in more 'sophisticated' parts of the country, so what's the answer?
i notice that bars in the international terminals at heathrow always have saucers for americans to leave tips!
now restaurants here are switching to chip & pin payments, they have lost the ability to beg for a tip on the credit card slip. add that to the fact that you tend to enter your pin at the till on the way out and it's easy to end up not tipping. i'm sure they must have found a reliable way of extracting money in more 'sophisticated' parts of the country, so what's the answer?
mirabriani
New member
I do not know about France.
However, on my first trip to America, when dining out
I paid by card. My waitress who had a "Suzy" badge pinned
to her left breast returned and asked if I was displeased with her service because I had not added the tip.
I was slightly taken aback by this and after some discussion,
I now understand that it is usual to add 15% to the tendered bill
rather than leave a cash tip.
I had to kick my son, who's idea of a tip was to present her with another badge marked "Saucy" for "the other one" /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Sorry, I should have begun this post with.........
"That reminds me of a story"
Regards Briani
However, on my first trip to America, when dining out
I paid by card. My waitress who had a "Suzy" badge pinned
to her left breast returned and asked if I was displeased with her service because I had not added the tip.
I was slightly taken aback by this and after some discussion,
I now understand that it is usual to add 15% to the tendered bill
rather than leave a cash tip.
I had to kick my son, who's idea of a tip was to present her with another badge marked "Saucy" for "the other one" /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Sorry, I should have begun this post with.........
"That reminds me of a story"
Regards Briani
tcm
...
chip and pin tips
individual restaurants can set up the software in the little machine thingy so you are given the amount, then add a tip, and then type in the pin. I went bonkers the first time i saw this, and toldem to gimme the bill properly pls - not a device for transferring unlimited amounts from my bank to theirs...
individual restaurants can set up the software in the little machine thingy so you are given the amount, then add a tip, and then type in the pin. I went bonkers the first time i saw this, and toldem to gimme the bill properly pls - not a device for transferring unlimited amounts from my bank to theirs...
tcm
...
Re: Tipping in the USA
yeop, utterly appalling first time ariound. I don't mind tipping, but near-mandatory tipping when the service is rubbish is bizzarre.
yeop, utterly appalling first time ariound. I don't mind tipping, but near-mandatory tipping when the service is rubbish is bizzarre.
snowleopard
Active member
Re: Tipping in the USA
and often the worse the service the more vocal they are in demanding a tip.
and often the worse the service the more vocal they are in demanding a tip.
tcm
...
this thread has drifted. No "tip" necessary in france, nor expected. Being a waiter is a proper job done by trained people in france.
Sybarite
Well-known member
About 25 years ago, given the confusion about whether service was included or not, the law was changed to include a 15% service charge. Therefore the price is labelled - somewhat confusingly for an English speaker - as "prix nets". This means service IS included.
However certain people continue to leave a little extra. I sometimes do it if the service was over and above an average level. It is just a way of acknowledging this extra. However I believe the amount is a token. I usually leave somewhere between 2 and 10 euros depending on the overall bill.
It is or should not be expected and I certainly leave nothing when the service was not up to standard.
John
However certain people continue to leave a little extra. I sometimes do it if the service was over and above an average level. It is just a way of acknowledging this extra. However I believe the amount is a token. I usually leave somewhere between 2 and 10 euros depending on the overall bill.
It is or should not be expected and I certainly leave nothing when the service was not up to standard.
John
Norman_E
Well-known member
I lived in America for three years. 15% tipping is normal, partly because the IRS (U.S. version of the Inland Revenue) charge all restaurant workers tax on their salaries plus an amount for tips received (even if they did not get any). I think the amount taxed is based on 15% of restaurant turnover divided by number of staff.
I am just surprised Gordon Brown has not come up with something similar, and as France is one of the most highly taxed places in Europe, a bit surprising that they do not do the same, even though tipping there is usually limited to exceptional service, or small change.
I am just surprised Gordon Brown has not come up with something similar, and as France is one of the most highly taxed places in Europe, a bit surprising that they do not do the same, even though tipping there is usually limited to exceptional service, or small change.
