Post tip solicitations here!

We had a lovely lunch at Toiny Beach Club yesterday, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our waitress was so sweet and at the end, “would you like to leave a tip for the team? It is not obligatory.”

We did leave her a pourboire in cash, but otherwise, no.

At Eden To Go, there is a tip jar on the counter. I am pretty sure it’s always been there, but this time it felt egregious. It was big and full of US dollars and just felt aggressive. For whatever reason, this year it bothered me.
 
What would your reaction be if, in the States, upon presenting the check, the waiter/waitress asked if you, indeed, intended to leave a tip ?!?!

You'd be like, WTF ?!?!
Actually at most places where I live, the credit card slip has suggested tips starting at 18 % and in some places starting at 20%.
 
I get the bitching about tip requests and jars on St. Barths, but isn't it kinda sad -- and cheap -- to moan about tip slips and jars in the US? Are we so miserly that we can afford to go to St. Barths every year, but fill with rage over a few quarters going to wait staff that are paid shit?
 
Unfortunately it has been a few years since our last visit renting a villa as we did for many years. We always enjoyed either lunch or dinner out every day & night so would do either a lunch in, then go out for dinner & also add in grilling at villa. So we have missed the onslaught of the asking for tips. Thank goodness, since not only is it against French law, but also offensive to ask, being pushy makes it worse. Using the original meaning of TIPS/ToInsurePromptService=tips...do a good job at your job & you will be rewarded, just don't ask me.

And when you took the job you knew what you were getting into money wise whether on St Barths or in the USA or anywhere else in the world.

Not long ago at the post office outpost in a dry cleaning shop, I spotted a tip jar on the post office side, now gone on last visit. And at the oyster/fish company down on our river, a tip jar. Depending on what I purchase, I might give a tip, but I really see picking up a piece of fish, no cutting or fileting, or picking up a pound or two of large local shrimp, just putting in a bag, nope. Steaming crabs, yes.

Dining out recently at the Hilton Head & Bluffton annual Restaurant Week, a fixed price dinner, we all got same check amount(except for those who also got the wine pairing) with the tip included at 18%. Server told us he does better when tip not included on the bill...he didn't need to say that which I found offensive. What I don't recall is whether the tip was figured including the tax which it shouldn't be.
 
My apology, I deleted fill the jars comment. However, I can comprehend a post; JFC is extremely vulgar and offensive to all Christians, some people.
 
Clearly you did NOT read my post. I was referring to the US. If you're gonna be derisive, make the effort to actually read and comprehend a post before sniping. JFC, some people.
Aipotu . . . I appreciate your history of thoughtful Forum posts and insights, but I think that you have overreacted here. dadtosix wasn't "derisive" in his post:

"Everyone is welcome to tip as much as they want on their own. French law says no solicitation for tips, simple enough, price on menu includes service."

The Forum also isn't a place to seek to "toast" anyone for his/her input, without serious basis for doing so. In this case, dadtosix wasn't deserving of your personal attack on him. A couple of deep breaths and an hour or two before responding to something that offends you -- as well as a re-reading of who-said-what -- is a good idea, as I learned in my own postings a number of years ago.
 
Aipotu . . . I appreciate your history of thoughtful Forum posts and insights, but I think that you have overreacted here. dadtosix wasn't "derisive" in his post:

"Everyone is welcome to tip as much as they want on their own. French law says no solicitation for tips, simple enough, price on menu includes service."

The Forum also isn't a place to seek to "toast" anyone for his/her input, without serious basis for doing so. In this case, dadtosix wasn't deserving of your personal attack on him. A couple of deep breaths and an hour or two before responding to something that offends you -- as well as a re-reading of who-said-what -- is a good idea, as I learned in my own postings a number of years ago.
That is exactly the advice that Cheryl gives me constantly. Take a couple of deep breaths and pause. Re-read, relax. Even write your most scathing response. Just don’t send it for two hours. You will certainly end up editing it.
 
My apology, I deleted fill the jars comment. However, I can comprehend a post; JFC is extremely vulgar and offensive to all Christians, some people.

Everyone is welcome to tip as much as they want on their own. French law says no solicitation for tips, simple enough, price on menu includes service.
I deleted my response. Sorry, but your original remarks seemed unnecessarily derisive, and I found that offensive too.
 
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Aipotu . . . I appreciate your history of thoughtful Forum posts and insights, but I think that you have overreacted here. dadtosix wasn't "derisive" in his post:

"Everyone is welcome to tip as much as they want on their own. French law says no solicitation for tips, simple enough, price on menu includes service."

The Forum also isn't a place to seek to "toast" anyone for his/her input, without serious basis for doing so. In this case, dadtosix wasn't deserving of your personal attack on him. A couple of deep breaths and an hour or two before responding to something that offends you -- as well as a re-reading of who-said-what -- is a good idea, as I learned in my own postings a number of years ago.
The initial issue was that his post completely missed my original point and it felt very much like he was attacking me. I felt his response was at best derisive and at least dismissive. From what I have experienced here over the decades is that such comments aren't cool. My original post clearly acknowledged that St. Barths is different from the US, yet his response ignored that point completely because there was an apparent need to put me down. So I responded in frustration. I apologize for the coy initials -- they were used in exasperation. That said, I'll still be honest -- I do find it rich, so to speak, to find people who can afford St. Barths complaining because some college kids working a counter in a U.S. coffee shop put out tip jars. Anyway....
 
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