I do not like to tip, but i do love to brag about how much money I have..

Please look at my Rolex it is a fake, but it was on sale...

Nothing Cheap about me, and I do deserve all the free service I can get.

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All depends where you are. I tip or don't in accordance with local practice. It's not fair to say that if you're from Western Europe where a tip is small and added for outstanding service that you don't need to tip in the USA where it's part of the process and expected.

I don't judge other societies for their choices.

That said, if you don't want to trip the bellman at a hotel in the USA, don't use him. If you don't want to tip the waiter at a restaurant, eat take out. The token booth attendant for the Subway in NYC doesn't expect a tip, but the cab driver does.

+1

That's what I do when I'm in the US, I put in my bags in and out of an airport shuttle, I eat only take out, I don't use bellman.

I don't like the fact that a hotel is offering something like 'complimentary' shuttle, when it's not really complimentary. I saw shuttles with big writing inside it saying 'We appreciate your tips' or something like that, then it's not as 'complimentary' as it really should be.

I agree. Even though the service itself is free, the obligation to tip is pretty heavy. And coming from the US, I really don't mind tipping at all. But sometimes I'm stuck in a situation where I'm not holding cash or appropriate bills, and now I'm the jerk who didn't tip. Sometimes those shuttles have to come get me at 5am, and the last thing on my mind is the cash in my wallet.

I wouldn't say I avoid tipping, more like I only tip professions where it is customary and make sense. I only tip at sit down restaurants, taxis or airport shuttles, and my local barber. I wouldn't normally tip any other barber but I have been going to the same place for 10 years now so it is just a habit. I wouldn't tip a barber at another place. I pack light so I am always able to carry my own bags (usually just one bag and even just a backpack at that) so I have no need for hotel bellhops, and I take public transportation at my destination whenever possible so valet parking and an airport shuttle or taxi usually doesn't apply. When going to my local airport I mostly drive my own car but in the occasional case where I take the airport shuttle I tip.

When I was in high school I had a job at a country club carrying and loading golf bags and cleaning clubs so having worked a service job where tips are appreciated I am understanding and a generous tipper when a tip is needed.

One thing that just grinds my gears and just bugs me to no end is when you go to a takeout or fast food joint and there is a tip jar on the counter, and/or the recept has an option for tips.

So I place my order at the counter, wait a bit, they call out my number, and I pick up my own order and either walk out with it and eat it at home, or stay in the restaurant and eat it there and throw my own trash out. That deserves a tip why? :confused: That makes as much sense as tipping the cashier at the grocery store for ringing up my items. :td:

I'd worry just a little less about what other people think, if I were you. If anyone thought you were a "jerk", then why should this be your problem?

I heard a New Orleans restaurant and food critic say many years ago that if you decide to tip well before you walk into the restaurant, you'll get better service. I've found that to be the case (with very rare exceptions) ever since in everything from neighborhood joints to the finest white tablecloth places.

Believe it or not, but try it and I think you'll come to the same conclusion.

While I agree with you, one thing that I find interesting is this:

If you go into a "mom and pop" burger joint you tip the waitress who gives a percentage of the tips to the cook. In other words you're tipping the cook (by proxy).

If the same guy was working in a fast food place cooking your burger he would not get a tip from you. Same guy, same burger (sort of), same customer but different tip....

+1 With the caveat that I regularly tip for the food delivered to my door (obviously) at the same rate that I would tip a waiter (18-20%, more if it's from a cheap place, where a $5 tip to the delivery guy just feels like the right thing to do). If I am picking up take-out, I will also leave a tip, as the folks who prepared my order (usually the gentleman behind the bar and a waiter or busboy) are going to be charged on their taxes as if I had tipped, so . . .

That said, ITA. When in Europe, I don't go around saying how much better things would be if only they did things the way we do them back home.

If you don't want to tip in the US, minimize the circumstances in which tipping is culturally expected, and move on.

Yeah, that's one of those local customs that the bellmen hate. ;)

Mike

The problem is, if you haven't spent extensive time in a tipping culture, knowing "the circumstances in which tipping is culturally expected" (and an appropriate amount to tip) is a major difficulty (and quite stressful).

(Near as I've been able to deduce, "the circumstances in which tipping is culturally expected", are typically "when you know someone is getting screwed by their boss and you feel guilty about it".)

If that were the case, I'd NEVER tip. Unless I'm the boss or they're using slave labour why should I feel guilty because someone willingly accepted a crappy job? If anything their parrents and teachers should feel guilty for not better preparing them for life, not me.

So do you tip a dentist like you do a masseuse ?

Nope. I avoid dentists (will go when needed but they're my one phobia) and tip a masseuse as per local custom.

The point I was making is that, under normal circumstances, I don't feel guilty about a person's CHOICE of employment. They made their bed, they lie in it.

I know many people in dead end jobs use them as a means of survival while they get the education, etc to get better ones and I totally understand that. I did the same. I flipped burgers, worked as a security guard, etc and do you know how many people felt guilty over my choice of jobs? To my knowledge, none. Do you know how many people tipped me? None. No sour grapes from me, it was a means to an end.

However, those who take on dead end jobs and look at them as a career get no sympathy from me. You made the choice, not me. I will, and do, tip as per local custom and based on service level but I will not be bullied or guilted into tiping. Don't want a tip from me? That's the best way to achieve your desired result.