Eating out with close family and friends is considered to be one of the most socially rewarding experiences that we are able to engage in.
For many, this is more than just a get-together, but an opportunity for loved ones to fellowship after not seeing one another for long periods of time – and what better way to bond than over a plate of food served by a friendly waiter?
But what happens when the time comes for you to pay the bill?
Many people find themselves struggling to decide on whether to reward waiters with a tip they can afford or stick to the ten percent rule of paying 10% of your bill as a tip.
Last month BONA reported on a customer who received positive feedback from the internet after he paid a R26 tip after spending R824.00 on his meal.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) a user @Lush_Beuauty1 asked others their thoughts on the matter.
Is it compulsory to tip?
According to Wendy Alberts of the Restaurant Association of South Africa who told the culinary publication Eat Out, “There is no such thing as a compulsory tip, but if you spot a service fee on your bill, you’re within your rights to refuse to pay it.”
Wendy further states that if you do decide to go ahead, it would be up to you to decide how much you would like to tip your waiter while bearing in mind that 10% is considered to be the norm.
Meanwhile, another award-winning consumer journalist, Wendy Knowler, further elaborated on the matter in an interview with Cape Town-based radio station Voice of the Cape, explaining that the idea of paying a service or gratuity tip was introduced for large groups of 8-10 people.
“However, some restaurants around the country have started introducing it like a set thing, be it one person or 20.”
She explains that this does not mean that you are obliged to pay.
“If you were not told about it and then suddenly you see this service fee included in your bill then you would be in your right not to pay.”
Also see: A customer’s R26 tip receives positive reactions from the internet
