Tips

[steelpe]

We ended up at L'Isola last night for dinner. It was not our original intent but it was a nice meal.
We were a little under dressed and felt a little our of place but the staff was prompt and the food was very good.

When it came time to pay the bill I handed them my CC. As I went to sing the merchant copy I noticed a section on the bottom of the slip that said "tips". It almost looked like it was stamped on the bottom and not computer generated.

I thought it was illegal to ask for tips as service was included? Now, we left a very good gratuity as the staff was very prompt and accommodating.

Now I almost feel taken advantage of.

 

[MIke R]

it is a European custom to leave a pour boire to the server of anywhere from 5 to 10% in a restaurant where service is included.....period

it is an American custom, as you know, to tip 15-25% to the server depending on the level of service and food....period

you re either one...or the other....make a choice

thats my message to the SBH restaurants who are trying to be both..its tacky and insulting ( but not illegal )...like it or not they are not American.......yet

 

[andynap]

Not illegal at all. I leave a tip most of the time anyway.

 

[tim]

Many Europeans leave no tip when dining on St. Barth.

 

[JEK]

Ah tips! One of our favorite topics. Many people tip 10-15% above and beyond the included service fee, but I think we all hate the TIPS line on check.
It is not illegal to leave a pourboire as it is called.

 

[KevinS]

Andy Hall's 2002 replay to this post on tipping is still pertinent. Link

My opinion on tipping has varied over the years, some might say depending on which way the wind is blowing at that particular hour, others might suggest that it has varied depending on my appreciation of the wine list. What hasn't varied is that I tip on SBH. Depending on the experience, the amount might vary from a pourboire to an "American" tip. I feel no guilt about either, and I decide which is appropriate.

One thing that I can say is that blatant begging/trickery by writing, stamping, or printing the word "Tips" on a bill is a sure way to guarantee that I leave nothing more than a pourboire, if that. If you’re French you won’t find “Tips” stamped on your bill. It’s put there to “encourage” (guilt trip?) American-style tipping.

 

[JEK]

Many Europeans leave no tip when dining on St. Barth.

And some Canadians

 

[JEK]

Andy posted this 9 years ago:

I think that everyone should forget about French laws. As you know in SBH, we don't follow them exactly, thank god. The waiters are paid a fixed wage in some places, and on a percentage in others. If the waiter is paid on a percentage, it normally means part of that 15% we talk about, divided between all of the service staff. (on a quiet night 15% of not a lot, is very little). So a tip helps them. If a waiter is paid a fixed wage, it is the thought of tips that will keep him eager to please on a very busy night. Most staff have very high rents to pay, and as you all know, the cost of living is very high. My staff are well paid and work hard, but they still need tips to be able to enjoy life.
If you leave 5% everyone is happy. I leave 20% wherever I go, but that's just to buy popularity, as I'm such an unpopular guy.
The bottom line is, leave what you are happy to leave if the service was good, and zilch if it was bad.
Cheers
Andy

 

[didier]

Yes, that is insulting to put that on your dinner check. If I am in a restaurant here, I leave 5 percent normally, so if the bill is 40 euros, the tip is 2 euros.

If I go into a restaurant that has the tip stamped on the check, I leave nothing other than writing something on the check itself, such as thanks for the warning.

as I consider that they just insulted me and tried to "rob" me, so why would I reward that kind of behavior?

The economy is not the greatest anywhere on the planet right now, and to insult or con your customers is a surefire way to kill your business.

 

[zp]

The fact is that most of the visitors to Saint Barth are Americans, and most of them leave additional tip. As Andy Hall said, some Saint Barth residents leave tip as well. It is more part of the culture than in France. (whether or not we agree on the level of tipping, the former is true).

The problem is that their card machines are supplied from France, with no line for tip. So they often stamp the additional line. In other restaurants that do not do this, you have to give tips in cash, which is inconvenient to many. So you can think of the stamped line as a convenience to North American visitors, not an insult.

(I have often been taken aback by the lack of tip line, having to scramble for cash.)

 

[didier]

The fact is that most of the visitors to Saint Barth are Americans, and most of them leave additional tip. As Andy Hall said, some Saint Barth residents leave tip as well. It is more part of the culture than in France. (whether or not we agree on the level of tipping, the former is true).

The problem is that their card machines are supplied from France, with no line for tip. So they often stamp the additional line. In other restaurants that do not do this, you have to give tips in cash, which is inconvenient to many. So you can think of the stamped line as a convenience to North American visitors, not an insult.

(I have often been taken aback by the lack of tip line, having to scramble for cash.)

I have added my tip many times on the card machine, it does not have to say tip, for you to tell your server to add tip onto the machine, so this does not wash, I think it is a blatant excuse to confuse the american into thinking they need to tip more than they should.

 

[Petri]

it is a European custom to leave a pour boire to the server of anywhere from 5 to 10% in a restaurant where service is included.....period

There's no single European custom for such a thing.

"American influenced touristic french custom", "modified french custom", .. something

 

[zp]

it does not have to say tip, for you to tell your server to add tip onto the machine, so this does not wash,

I am sure you are right on this. I must say though that at least this one american has gotten confused many times... I ask for the check, receive a piece of paper to sign with no line for tip... scramble in my pockets... don't have any cash... etc.

 

[MIke R]

it is a European custom to leave a pour boire to the server of anywhere from 5 to 10% in a restaurant where service is included.....period

There's no single European custom for such a thing.

"American influenced touristic french custom", "modified french custom", .. something

yeah I get that...but you get my point....

semantics

 

[Petri]

yeah I get that...but you get my point....

Yep.. I know you know how it is, just making sure no one thinks there's a single European anything (as we can see in the recent news .

 

[andynap]

One of the reasons I get euros at the ATM is for tips.

 

[JEK]

That is one of the reason I do too, but the number one is to buy stuff, including groceries and lunch and dinner. I like cash. Cash is king, IMHO.

 

[MIke R]

One of the reasons I get euros at the ATM is for tips.

yep... and other small things I dont want to put on the credit card

 

[andynap]

That is one of the reason I do too, but the number one is to buy stuff, including groceries and lunch and dinner. I like cash. Cash is king, IMHO.

Yes but I like FF miles on my cc too.

 

[MIke R]

me too..but the shops take care of that for us..

I only use cash for small purchases... and of course Select