Originally Posted by
dheese
Would that be disrespectful of local tradition?
Yes, of course, throwing litter on the ground is local tradition
Its not disrespectful to tip, its just not done by Europeans, thats all.
In many places, it is (and 'Europe' certainly doesn't have a single culture). You are paid to do your job, and to do it well, taking pride in the fact that you do. Not everybody is motivated by extra money. I've had more than one public-facing job where accepting a tip will get you fired.
For me to tip in EU hurts no one, gets me better services, and upholds out gernerous American nature.
It gets you better service at the expense of those locals who, if it's commonplace enough in areas with a strong tourist industry, find they now have to tip, on top of higher basic charges (that already include a living wage) to get decent service.
It smacks of arrogance, and little else.