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Old Jan 4, 2011 | 8:38 pm
  #37  
QueenOfCoach
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Ah, ha, I just thought of a good example. Grocery bagging.

In the US, grocery store employees bag the customer's groceries. (Excepting cut-rate grocery stores.)

In Europe, customers bag their own groceries.

When I visit my neighborhood Vons or Ralphs, I stand there and let the baggers bag my groceries, thank them pleasantly and go on my way.

When I go to Europe and visit a Real or Sainsbury or LeClerc, I grab a bag and bag my own groceries, with a pleasant expression on my face. I thank the clerk after getting my change, grab my bags, and go on my way.

I don't stand there demanding a grocery store employee bag my groceries because THAT'S THE WAY WE DO IT IN AMERICA AND OUR WAY OF GROCERY BAGGING IS FAR SUPERIOR TO YOUR WAY OF GROCERY BAGGING. If I did that, I would be a big jerk.

Similarly, I would consider someone to be a big jerk if they stiffed a tip in an establishment in America where tipping is usual, customary and expected as part of the employee's compensation, citing the European (or Australian or Japanese or whatever) system as superior.
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