+100

Never, not in a million years, would I pay for a meal that I did not get and with such crappy service to boot. They won out on that deal, and probably ate the meal you paid for.

The restaurant staff probably didn't eat the meal.. they probably spat in it, and realized TrojanHorse was out of the restaurant and cleared the bill.. The staff probably wished they didn't vandalize the tantalizing one a half hour to cook meal.

It's not what I say that I do that counts, it's what I do in the field.

And the only source of information anyone has for that is: well, they could hire a private detective to have me followed.

Those who tip less than me will claim I'm stupid or encouraging an inefficient practice. Those who tip more than me will claim I'm cheap and depriving someone. Either way, the most vehement response to what I tip, or what I claim I tip, isn't from the server. Tipping isn't only and perhaps not even mainly about the interaction between server and me, but the interaction between me and my fellow diners, both real and virtual.

A lot of interesting, different perspectives here.

I have worked as a waiter a couple of times. The last time, I was trained well and expected to perform well. I did. As a result, I earned excellent tips. I made more as a waiter than I had as a salaried state employee (the job I lost prior to becoming a waiter). My wage as a waiter was $2.35/hour plus tips.

As others have mentioned, I did not expect much (if any) tip if I didn't perform my job well. Because I worked hard and made people genuinely happy, they paid me well. That's the way it should work. My point? If someone deserves it, tip 'em well! If not, don't feel guilty about not tipping them.

A short aside-- I live in Japan, where tips are not expected and often returned/refused. I still tip people if they help me out or do a particularly good job. This includes restaurants, hotels and taxis. Folks usually try to refuse the tips, but I insist. They are invariably pleasantly surprised.

FWIW.

Kento

This is a very good perspective to adopt. ^.. well done

^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^

A new FT symbol.. Looks sort of like a smiley airplane.

With all the "I don't know what's normal 'over there' comments", may I solicit some replies defining normal and where.

Starting with Kento's comment about zero in Japan, and, of course, the 15+% in the US, what's normal where you live?

In my experience:

Australia - zero
UK - zero
Ireland - zero

It's all in the sticky at the top of the forum:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ry-region.html

You might want to take those numbers with a grain of salt. As per the comments in the thread, many of them are incorrect and/or stated in the wrong way (percentages rather than "round to nearest X").

Something else to keep in mind is that in most countries tips are generally only given in the case of (well) above-average service, rather than as a matter of course like they are in the US.

Just from eyeballing the countries on that list I have spent enough time in to know the locals, the numbers are nearly all well and truly higher than I've ever seen any of them tip. My impression is that list is either a) coloured by and for American expectations and/or b) created by consulting the people being tipped, rather than the people doing the tipping.

Ha ha, good luck finding a porter in Sweden, never seen one and I live there. I never tip taxis, taxi service in Sweden is one of the most expensive in the world. No need for a tip. Just swipe the credit card and sign.

10% on a restaurant seems ok if service was ok AND service charge is not already on the bill.

But as numerous posts already stated, US is not Europe or Asia. You do as the locals and tip where expected, otherwise, don't travel. I always give a daily tip to hotel maid in the US. Why? She handles my personal stuff and I want her to be happy and take care of me.

You make a good point. Whilst I definitely do not like the US-style tipping system, when I visit the US I adopt it, because that's the way it's done there.

I'm wondering how many Americans, when visiting a non-tipping culture, disrespect it by not being able resist the natural urge to tip (or try to tip), which may well be offensive to the person they're trying to tip. And how much that habit, over time, may change the culture there. Quite a few, I suspect.

I'm not really too concerned by it, just pointing out that it is a two-way street.

yah you are true... but it's difficult to handle...

I'd say for the UK it varies - 10% or just under seems "convention", but never if service is bad, and you won't be resented if you don't as some people never tip.

In principle in the UK I'd say you don't talk about the tip - you just leave it quietly if you are going to, and it is only acknowledged in passing. I have complained about waiters who openly ask for a tip, stating clearly that asking for a tip is a guaranteed way not to get one.

Neil