tip charges (19)

I was with a group of 8 for lunch the other day. When the bill came the waitress said - they normally charge an 18% gratuity but she hadn't and left it up to us.
I thought that was nice.

I understand the tipping process and thats how a lot of servers get there spendable cash, and some have to share with other staff.

But first off 18% - give me a break..
Secondly an automatic charge (plus this goes on before the taxes so you get charged tax on top)

I am a firm believer of good service = good tip, great service = better tip, crappy service = average tip.

Do you think this automatic should be the norm - of do you feel that better service deserves better tip?

better service better tip. I agree totally.

Automatic tip?? Maybe, the owners should consider raising the wages instead.

I worked as a waitress for a long time and never thought that a 'forced'tip was a good thing and I still don't.
I believe in tipping according to service recieved.

Just my two cents.......or would that be 18%

this is a problem in my opinion...

My co-worker & I went for breakfast yesterday morning (his car broke down & I went to rescue him) ANYWAYS, the waitress barely acknowledged us, we had to flag her down to get drinks etc - meanwhile she is chatting with all the people who are obviously regulars. We found her to be rude etc...

If a tip is an automatic thing where is the encouragement for good service????

I tip according to service. If I'm going to a bar for the evening, I usually tip very well the first time I buy a drink, mainly because I hate going dry If I get good service after that, I continue to tip well but if I don't, I will go to another section and try again.
Automatic tips are nonsense and when I come across that kind of charge, I never go to that establishment again.
Just my nickles worth

I don't agree with added on tips.
For one it depends on the service and another personal choice.
Sorry if don't like it get a different job.

The tip started out as a gratuity for good service! A reward if you will. To have to audacity and add it on automatically is straight out rude and i would have not paid a tip right of the get go!

My take on the whole thing is this. It should be up to the people to decide if they want to give a tip or not.
I for one don't get anything free and even for work well done i don't get a tip as a cleaner or a truck driver and just because some woman/man is a waiter and run around all day to serve people i am not about to pay a tip.
Every job out there is in one way or another to serve others and why doesn't a bus driver get a tip or the cashier at the supermarket? Should we add on a tip there too???

No! I don't get nothing for free so i don't give anything for free! I pay what i owe and leave the restaurant. I tell the waiter if the food was good or the service was great and be done with it.

I may sound cheap but that is not the point really. As someone said it is the job that those people chose and i am not responsible to stock up their wages!!! And with everything getting more and more expensive these days and us not making any more money who can really afford to basically throw away their money?
Not me!

I was recently at a coffee shop in a quality hotel for coffee (earlier than the supper hour). The waitress asked for our order - 1 coffee & 1 tea. When we got our order we received no spoons. I asked for one and she brought one and not another for the other person. When the other customer asked for a spoon she finally brought it. There might have been 3 other customers in the restaurant. When I was ready for a 2nd cup I had to hunt for her but found 2 other waitresses that I had to ask. It might have been sarcasm that passed for humor but I ended up feeling like I was begging for coffee.

By the time I got my 2nd cup, I didn't have time to finish it before I left. When I got up to the till I made up my mind to pay for just the beverages, no tip.

Our first waitress waived our bill. Wow! I think she must have realized what poor service we'd had.

That actually did impress me. I might just give it another chance next time and then decide rather than racing immediately over to my beloved "Timmy's" (T.H's)

It's good to now I'm not the only one that feels this way..but what can we do about it - other than not frequent that resturant again. Should we ask upon entry---do you add on gratuity???