Tipping in Great Britain (or more specifically, England).

[Ryujin]

The gaming cafe model is a popular one, albeit one with a very high failure rate. It's a harsh world for small independent games stores and for small independent eateries! I've seen so many come and go.

Yeah, I expect so. They start in a niche industry and I thing the cafe thing might be an attempt to become less niche in a way? I wonder what the failure rate difference is between the cafe model and a regular LFGS.?

These guys started in a single storefront, under the name Friendly Neighbourhood Comic Shop. After about 5 years they expanded into a much larger, though small warehouse location. They originally called it Comics Cafe and had the local trucker business, as well, in the coffee shop area.. They later renamed it Comics Warehouse. They lasted almost 30 years, before the death of the second original founder.

EDIT - Oh, during the time that they had the warehouse, they also opened a satellite location in a major mall. They sold that and it's still open.

 

[Morrus]

Yeah, I expect so. They start in a niche industry and I thing the cafe thing might be an attempt to become less niche in a way? I wonder what the failure rate difference is between the cafe model and a regular LFGS.?

I dunno but eateries are as hard to make a success as game stores are.

 

[Ryujin]

I dunno but eateries are as hard to make a success as game stores are.

In the specific case that I mentioned having the cafe likely propped them up, at least to some degree. I don't know how it is in England but in North America industrial parks are pretty much wastelands, when it comes to eateries. The ones that do exist do huge business, as long as they open early enough.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

In the specific case that I mentioned having the cafe likely propped them up, at least to some degree. I don't know how it is in England but in North America industrial parks are pretty much wastelands, when it comes to eateries. The ones that do exist do huge business, as long as they open early enough.

They tend to have big chain naff pizza places here. Plus Ikea meatballs.

But regular high streets: cafes and nail bars are pretty much the only small businesses still going.

 

[Maxperson]

From the same artist and shop with apprentices or different ones? I can see not tipping if you go to a different place and a different artist each time. If you're never going to use their services or see them again, what's the point.

I think the point of a tip is to give extra for good or above and beyond service, which isn't dependent on whether you return to use them again. My wife has had several tattoos done as well, and by different artists, though she did repeat with a few of those artists. She has tipped every time.

 

[R_J_K75]

I think the point of a tip is to give extra for good or above and beyond service, which isn't dependent on whether you return to use them again. My wife has had several tattoos done as well, and by different artists, though she did repeat with a few of those artists. She has tipped every time.

I suppose that's dependent on if its cash up front or not. If its cash up front then yeah, I would definitely tip them, but then what's your recourse if the artist is a hack and butchers you? I have never had to pay up front for a tattoo so it's not something I've ever thought about or considered.

 

[Maxperson]

I suppose that's dependent on if its cash up front or not. If its cash up front then yeah, I would definitely tip them, but then what's your recourse if the artist is a hack and butchers you? I have never had to pay up front for a tattoo so it's not something I've ever thought about or considered.

I've never gotten a tattoo myself. If I did, though, any tip would happen after the service. The tip is for good service and I don't know what the service will be like until it's over.

 

[R_J_K75]

I don't know what the service will be like until it's over.

...Thats what they said...

 

[Clint_L]

When we were in England last summer I decided just to tip like I would in Canada. I know it's a different culture, but I supported myself as a bartender all through university, and not tipping just feels like bad karma.

 

[jian]

When we were in England last summer I decided just to tip like I would in Canada. I know it's a different culture, but I supported myself as a bartender all through university, and not tipping just feels like bad karma.

Agreed. While I tip more here in Canada (15-20%) than I do in the UK (10-15%) I think it’s just rude not to tip for food, drink, and taxis at the very least. Sure, I don’t always know if the tips go to the staff, but if I don’t know, it’s still much better to tip than not.