Originally Posted by Archer
Tipping is more sought out in India than in other countries but the amounts are lesser. Staying in India (and being local), I generally go by the guidelines:
1. At airports, I move bags to trollies myself and do not allow airport porters and other hanger ons (they are in abundance) to touch the trolley. They usually have absurd demands and are real pains in the a**.
2. At the car, I do not tip the driver since he gets tipped at the end of the day.
3. I do not tip public taxis. They may expect it but it is not practised at all in India. Only full day hired cars of private operators who are wating on you for 8-9 hours need to be tipped (about Rs. 50-Rs.100) per day depending on his efficieny and demeanour. I also offer them about Rs. 50 for lunch which suffices.
4. At hotels, the bell desk gets tipped small amounts (Rs. 40 for 2-3 bags)
5. Restaurants, if the bill amount is < Rs. 1000, I tip 10%. For bill amounts of Rs. 1000-2000, I tip about 7% and above that not more than 5%.
I also regard (as mentioned in some of the postings) tipping also as a means of creating rightfully earned income for the poorer sections in a country with high wage inequalities.
I'm glad you mentioned this about the annoying people at the airport. I had a ?porter? in Kuwait who refused to let go of my trolley. He was an immigrant from one of the poorer Muslim countries. I told him no time and time again and even forced his hands off the bar, but he put them right back on and refused to let go. I didn't want to cause a scene, so I ended up just using his services, but I was not happy about it. What can I do if they are like this? I see my only options as:
1-Drop kick them (probably getting myself arrested in the process).
2-Call the police over (will they actually do anything?)
3-Use them and then pay them a few pennies or something (would this work?)
I don't like using service people like this because I'm perfectly capable of doing these things myself. I don't need or want someone to open a door for me, carry my bags to my room, etc. I tip in restaurants because the wait staff are performing a service, but other than that, I don't like tipping because I always feel like I'm being ripped off.