A few "tips"(English)
Posted: 2006年04月24日（月）04時10分30秒 | カテゴリー: 英語学習by Phil Taylor
Tipping: a nice idea, but a terrible reality. For many people it can be a nightmare, especially perhaps in the UK. It’s not like America where the rule is simple: tip everyone who even smiles at you. In the UK, a tip is a small thank you (usually in the form of cash) for good service, and so the decision is completely up to you, the customer. There is one basic rule: if you are not happy with the service, then do not tip!
But, if the service is at least satisfactory, then there are still other questions to answer: Who do I tip? When do I tip? How much should I give?
Here are some simple guidelines:
Pubs
Never actually tip, even if food is served. However, if you have been in the pub for quite a long time, or you think the bar staff is particularly helpful, then you can offer to buy them a drink. When you are ordering your drinks at the bar, just say something like “and have one for yourself” or “and whatever you’re having”. The bar staff will understand, and usually take a little extra money from you – just enough to buy a half pint or a small drink. They probably won’t actually get a drink for themselves, especially if the pub is busy.
If they say no, don’t worry. Some pubs have a policy, so don’t be offended. You can always put some extra money in the charity box that pubs almost always have on the bar.
If you are just having one or two drinks, there is definitely no need to worry about tipping. Just say a friendly “thanks!” on your way out of the pub.
Restaurants
Tipping is a good idea in restaurants, but remember that tipping is a thank you for service, not the quality of the food or toilets. A tip is usually between 10 and 20%, so perhaps you can use this system:
- the waiter or waitress did a very, very good job: 20%
- the waiter or waitress did their job to a usual standard: 15%
- the waiter or waitress made a mistake but were polite: 10%
It is rude not to give any tip at all – only do this if you feel they treated you very badly, or you are not planning to go back to that restaurant again!
But, read the menu or bill very carefully! Many times you will see something like “10% service charge included”. This means the restaurant has automatically added a 10% tip. You can add a little more if you want. But you don’t have to!
Cafes/Tearooms/Coffee shops
It is not usual to tip in places like this. Sometimes there is a jar or box for tips on the counter – if you want to, you can put some of your spare change in there.
Taxis
At the end of the journey, it’s good to add at least 10% to the fare. You can wait until the driver has given you change, and then give him the tip with a “thank you very much!” Or, before you pay, add on the tip and round up the fare to the nearest 50p or pound. This makes it easier for both of you as you don’t have to bother with change. If you don’t have the right money and need change, make it clear to the driver how much you want him to take, by saying “Make it…”
For example, let’s say the fare is ￡8.75. Add on 10% (88p), so the bill becomes ￡9.63. Then round up and give the driver 10 pounds exactly.
Or, imagine the fare is ￡3.75. Add on 38p and round up, and the bill becomes ￡4.50. Give him a 5 pound note, and say “Thanks! Make it 4.50!”
Hotels/B&Bs
In small hotels or B&Bs, tipping is not done. In a larger hotel with a porter who carries your luggage to your room, you can give him from 1 to 3 pounds, depending on how many bags he had to carry! If you don’t have much luggage and want to avoid worrying about a tip, tell them you can carry your bags yourself when you check in.
You don’t need to tip any other hotel staff, but if someone did a very good job for you then it’s a good idea to tell the hotel manager.
Also remember that a tip does not have to be money. When you leave the hotel you could give a helpful concierge an unused phone card or even a lottery ticket!
The customer is,usually,right
In the UK, although we say that “the customer is always right”, maybe we should say “if the customer is polite, they are right”! If you are polite, you will get better service. So remember these points to help give a good impression.
Unlike in Japan, there is not a standard way for staff to speak in shops. Often the staff will not say very much to the customer. But if the worker does talk to you, remember that this is more special than it is in Japan, so never ignore them!
When you walk into a shop, you might not hear any special greetings from the staff. Don’t worry, it is not expected! However, in some shops, especially smaller ones, the shopkeeper or staff might say “hello” as you enter. If this happens, it is very important to answer them! Smile and say “hello” or “hi” and then start browsing. In other shops, the worker might not say anything, but if they catch your eye and smile, then nod and smile back.
If you are asked “can I help you?” or “are you looking for anything in particular?”, then it is normal to say “no, I’m just browsing” or “no, I’m just looking”, if you don’t need any help.
And when you leave a small shop, it is polite to say “thanks” before you leave – don’t wait for the staff to say it to you first!