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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: murphycpcu]
#118604
01/24/2017 08:52 PM
01/24/2017 08:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,143 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
islandgem
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Posts: 13,143
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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I would suggest you send an e-mail to Bruno, the owner of Dreams, and he will inform you of the policy there.You will not get a true answer by asking the waitress.
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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: islandgem]
#118605
01/24/2017 09:30 PM
01/24/2017 09:30 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 415 Quebec, Canada
extreme
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Posts: 415
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All I can say is I have been having lunch at Dreams and in other restaurants on the french side with locals french friends and they always leave at least a 10% tips ....So , so do I !
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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#118608
01/24/2017 11:28 PM
01/24/2017 11:28 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 415 Quebec, Canada
extreme
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Posts: 415
Quebec, Canada
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they don't add a 15 % on the bill !! And they don't have a menu for the locals and one for the tourists ! I don't understand what you are saying....I have many french friends who leave on the island and each time we have dinner or lunch together , they always leave a tip ...I think they know what they are doing...
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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: extreme]
#118610
01/25/2017 11:33 AM
01/25/2017 11:33 AM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,799 Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman
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Posts: 18,799
Auburn, WA
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extreme said: they don't add a 15 % on the bill !! And they don't have a menu for the locals and one for the tourists ! I don't understand what you are saying....I have many french friends who leave on the island and each time we have dinner or lunch together , they always leave a tip ...I think they know what they are doing... I was responding to Motown's post. "On top of the 15 percent they already charge that's a pretty healthy tip."
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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#118611
01/25/2017 11:59 AM
01/25/2017 11:59 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,541 Ohio
ruralcarrier
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Posts: 17,541
Ohio
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SXMScubaman said:extreme said: they don't add a 15 % on the bill !! And they don't have a menu for the locals and one for the tourists ! I don't understand what you are saying....I have many french friends who leave on the island and each time we have dinner or lunch together , they always leave a tip ...I think they know what they are doing... I was responding to Motown's post. "On top of the 15 percent they already charge that's a pretty healthy tip." As has been discussed many times, on the French side the menu reflects a service charge built into the price of the item. I may be wrong but I took it that "MotownTim" was referring to the 15% already built into the menu price. " Already charge" and " They probably don't put the 15% on the locals bill." are two different things.
J.D.
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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#118613
01/25/2017 01:26 PM
01/25/2017 01:26 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,852 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Posts: 82,852
Central Florida!
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Regardless of how you interpret Motown's post, Dreams does NOT add 15% to the menu prices for service charge.
Carol Hill
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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#118615
01/25/2017 02:06 PM
01/25/2017 02:06 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,852 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Central Florida!
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Other than the now-departed Baywatch/Andy & Cheryl's place, I personally don't ever recall going to a restaurant on the French side and having the proprietor add a tip on the bill.
Carol Hill
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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: SeaStar]
#118619
01/25/2017 10:46 PM
01/25/2017 10:46 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 391 San Antonio
sumbeach
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Posts: 391
San Antonio
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seastar, you are not the only one who's head is spinning. I have been a member of TTOL for several years, and I think this is the most discussed topic of all. And I think the whole discussion is totally ridiculous. According to many posts, we spend anywhere from $4000 to $10000 to take this trip - depending on airfare, accommodations, restaurants, etc...and we seem to to be eaten up with whether we spend $5 on a tip/service charge/whatever, or $10. Really, what the hell difference does it make? We spend so much money on this trip - thankfully we seem to be able to afford it - then we go crazy over getting "ripped off" for a couple of bucks by people that are are simply trying to survive, and in my opinion, are a whole lot nicer than their counterparts in the good ole USofA (and maybe Canada, I don't know) That DEMAND a good tip whether or not they actually deserve it. Sorry for the rant, but really, can't this space be used for something more enlightening?
Dan
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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#118622
01/26/2017 06:12 AM
01/26/2017 06:12 AM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,587
MotownTim
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Posts: 1,587
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Yes, the 15% service charge is already in the menu price. So if you pay a 10% tip on top of that you are paying a total of 26.5%. I'm like Georgia. I leave a couple extra bucks if the service is good.
Last edited by MotownTim; 01/26/2017 06:15 AM.
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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: islandgem]
#118623
01/26/2017 08:31 AM
01/26/2017 08:31 AM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 229 Cincinnati
murphycpcu
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 229
Cincinnati
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islandgem said: I would suggest you send an e-mail to Bruno, the owner of Dreams, and he will inform you of the policy there.You will not get a true answer by asking the waitress. I did email Bruno. No response. I also had a discussion with the owner of a restaurant in Gran Case. Salary of the weight person is built into the price of the food. They do not rely on the Tips except for exceptional service and out the option of the patron. There was a comment on the board expressing the opinion that the small cost of tiipping is minute compared to the cost of the entire trip. No disagreement here but I believe when the French attempt to take advantage of Americans it is not acceptable. In this case I confronted the waitress stating that the tip is included In the cost of the food.. As stated she said it was not him that you could not live without having 15% on the bill.
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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: weeks5051]
#118627
01/26/2017 10:04 AM
01/26/2017 10:04 AM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,408 Rhode Island
RonDon
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weeks5051 said: Exactly. We were told by one of the owners of L'Estaminet (when it was still open of course) in no uncertain terms that tipping is not done on the French side, though a few extra dollars for great service is not uncommon. Same for us. Our story is we were naive and left tips beyond the bill until we ate at L'Estimenet and Carole actually said we were tipping too much that it was included in the bill. But I insisted on giving her $20 more. The end result was we never again in the years it was open had trouble getting a table at anytime, any evening even when full. But I learned from her tip included and that any extra is a "pour boîte " translated "for a drink".
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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: RonDon]
#118628
01/26/2017 10:12 AM
01/26/2017 10:12 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 415 Quebec, Canada
extreme
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 415
Quebec, Canada
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I understand whay you are saying, but we had the chance to share lunch and dinners with Carole in retaurants and she would always leave tips ....even on the french side...
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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: billy3]
#118630
01/26/2017 05:05 PM
01/26/2017 05:05 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,541 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
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Posts: 17,541
Ohio
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billy3 said: Has anyone tried to compare menu prices for standard items to see if they are 15% more on the French side? Note sure what "standard items" might be but any restaurant if free to set their price as they see fit. Just like in the US, a burger could range for $5 to $15 or more depending on the restaurant, the quality, location, etc.
J.D.
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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#118631
01/26/2017 05:24 PM
01/26/2017 05:24 PM
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,313 Vancouver, WA
Todd
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,313
Vancouver, WA
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My policy and simple way I deal with it.
French side - Wait staff is paid a living wage, any tip is optional to me which 99% plus of the time I add a tip but rarely American sized.
Dutch side - I look at the bill. Anything over the amount of what I am paying for the food that is listed on the menu counts towards the tip. I completely understand why a business on the Dutch side would add a line item for tip/service as they have a mix of people from countries that do not tip by custom and people from countries that do. Key item in this - As long as they are honest and upfront with the way they do it.
Cheers!
I prefer the Isle seat
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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: Todd]
#118632
01/26/2017 05:27 PM
01/26/2017 05:27 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,541 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
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Posts: 17,541
Ohio
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Pretty much the same here and I seldom if ever ask. You are inviting a problem once you show doubt or question the situation.
J.D.
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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: milo911md]
#118635
01/27/2017 08:43 AM
01/27/2017 08:43 AM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,428 Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,428
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
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Realizing your question was directed to JD, I have experienced the exact scenario you described. We left what we ordinarily would, $5 for a $100+ check, and have not returned. I'm confident that the server is the one who wields that rubber stamp, and I was tempted to leave nothing; but felt like leaving $5 would let that server know that I understood the system.
Last edited by GaKaye; 01/27/2017 08:50 AM.
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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#118636
01/27/2017 11:16 AM
01/27/2017 11:16 AM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,984 Connecticut
The_Lurker
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,984
Connecticut
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ruralcarrier said: I would most likely leave a few $$ (5%) IF service was deserving. Otherwise I would move on. I have found asking anyone, unless you know them pretty well or you are recognized as a repeat customer, is only an invitation for more confusion or rhetoric to extort more $$. I didn't have anything to do with making French laws or customs so I feel it is best to follow what you know to be the norm.
One long gone French restaurant owner, Bruno (not the same owner of Dreams) who owned La Petite Auberge des Iles in Marigot, is the only one I have asked that has been 100% up front with me. I don't make it a habit of asking but after many repeated trips there and discussions with Bruno, he would shoot straight with you.
If service is above average at a Dutch side restaurant we often leave another 5% there, even with 15% added on. I have also found even asking on the Dutch side has pitfalls also. Some servers will imply the 15% is only a partial service charge as 3-5% of it goes for the Turn Over Tax or to the restaurant itself. It may or it may not but that is not my problem to deal with when there is an added 15% service charge. So Bruno told you the tip was included in the price?? We use to spend the whole evening talking to him--what a pleasure it was to eat there. It usually was our first night and maybe one or two more visits during our stay. We do miss them. Funny thing is I'm sure we always tipped 20% plus--not being sure back then and just because they were wonderful people.
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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: The_Lurker]
#118638
01/27/2017 01:16 PM
01/27/2017 01:16 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,541 Ohio
ruralcarrier
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Posts: 17,541
Ohio
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No, he told me the SERVICE CHARGE was included in the menu price. Remember, tip and service charge are two different things on the French side. We would always round the bill up or leave another 5% or better.
I would often ask Bruno about the service charge if I had new people with me so they could see how it was supposed to be handled on the French side.
Bruno was a joy to talk to and put out a really decent meal for a very fair price. His wife was in the kitchen and the dog, Mic Mac, was often hanging around also.
J.D.
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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: Carib_Ian]
#118639
01/27/2017 01:25 PM
01/27/2017 01:25 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,428 Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye
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Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
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Carib_Ian said:
What I don't understand is if you don't have cash and want to leave extra on your credit card, what are you supposed to do? You need to make sure you have enough cash for the pour boire. There is no place to leave it on the credit card ticket because the service is included in France. Makes perfect sense.
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Re: Dreams today .. tipping question
[Re: Carib_Ian]
#118640
01/27/2017 01:28 PM
01/27/2017 01:28 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,852 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Posts: 82,852
Central Florida!
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It shouldn't be a huge amount, regardless. You literally don't carry ANY cash??
Carol Hill
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