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Originally Posted by Almo
(Post 18563636)
When (rarely) in the US, I abide by the when in Rome... philosophy and tip for service at the appropriate level. I would rather pay a higher overall cost for food and have my waiter earn a liveable basic wage and then be able to express my pleasure in exceptional service with a tip but it's not my country and I dont make the rules (plus, I'm sure no one really cares what I think :p).
What does really irritate me is something which has been touched on in the last couple of pages. I abide by the culture of the country I'm visiting, by tipping at the appropriate level and in the appropriate circumstances. I live in a country where tipping is not expected (although I guess it would be standard to round up a bill if it was fairly close), and strongly believe tourists should abide by those cultural norms and not tip as standard (and certainly not at 20%). I do tip for exceptional service and think it's fine for people to do the same, for the record. |
Originally Posted by BadgerBoi
(Post 18564980)
Couldn't agree more. I cringe when I see visitors to my country leaving a large tip. It's disrespectful to my country and my culture, and they are seen as ignorant by the waitstaff.
I had a good time watching it all of course ;) |
Originally Posted by Simpleton
(Post 18565085)
I was just in a nice steakhouse in NYC and sat next to a table of some european guy that was trying very hard to impress his American "date". At the end of their meal he practically shouted at the waiter "Eh, waiter, put a 50% tip on this". After the waiter explained that it it the customer that has to write down the amount of the tip, he literally shouted about his "50% tip" two more times, for the whole restaurant to hear. His "girlfriend" actually seemed embarrassed!
I had a good time watching it all of course ;) I probably would have enjoyed it as much as you did. ^ |
Originally Posted by Trumpkin
(Post 18560321)
...One things that does confuse me when reading posts in this topic is how when people receive really bad service they still give a tip, just at a lower percentage. Why do they do this? How bad must the service be for someone to not tip for the service?
When he left the cafe Dad left a tip of 2 pennies on the table. The waiter actually ran out of the cafe and yelled at Dad on the street. |
Originally Posted by Almo
(Post 18563636)
When (rarely) in the US, I abide by the when in Rome... philosophy and tip for service at the appropriate level. I would rather pay a higher overall cost for food and have my waiter earn a liveable basic wage and then be able to express my pleasure in exceptional service with a tip but it's not my country and I dont make the rules (plus, I'm sure no one really cares what I think :p).
What does really irritate me is something which has been touched on in the last couple of pages. I abide by the culture of the country I'm visiting, by tipping at the appropriate level and in the appropriate circumstances. I live in a country where tipping is not expected (although I guess it would be standard to round up a bill if it was fairly close), and strongly believe tourists should abide by those cultural norms and not tip as standard (and certainly not at 20%). I do tip for exceptional service and think it's fine for people to do the same, for the record. The effort some people put in to justifying not tipping as per US custom and make it look like a moral stance (rather than look like simply being cheap - which it is) is most impressive. If one can't afford, or is simply too cheap to leave a tip, they can go to a fast food restaurant. |
What I hate is the expectation of a tip in a country with little/no tipping just because I am an American. Had someone at the desk of the Hilton Wangfujing call me in my room after arrival and ask if I tipped the bellman (I did not... no small bills). If I had been a Chinese businessman, no way they would have called my room.
Happens in Europe as well. Speak English with a US accent, you clearly have lots of money and are required to pass it out.. |
Originally Posted by LTBoston
(Post 18559354)
Seriously?
It's clear you've never had to compete at the low end of the wage scale. Tipping is part of the cost of dining out. If restaurant had no tipping and simply paid servers what they'd make with tips, it would be factored into the cost of the meal and you'd end up spending the same amount of money anyway. And complaining about the high cost of dining out. At least this way you have an out. If you don't want to tip, just don't. FYI I did spend three years at $1.25, $ 1.50 perhour pumpng gasin a land where is snowed over 80 inches a year ! This was in the days of full service, wash windshiled, check fluid levels, check fill air in tires....Very few people tipped, yet to just keep your job, you did all that (evertreid taking off your cheap gloves to be able to open valve caps off a tire in below zero ? And no, if one knows the price is high in a NO TIPS ACCEPTED restaurant, he / she can decide before hand whether to patronize it or not. Better that way than face a surly server ! |
Originally Posted by IFlyHarder
(Post 18566000)
+1
The effort some people put in to justifying not tipping as per US custom and make it look like a moral stance (rather than look like simply being cheap - which it is) is most impressive. If one can't afford, or is simply too cheap to leave a tip, they can go to a fast food restaurant. I'm assuming the posts to which you refer and that obviously offend your delicate sensibilities are the ones where people are simply saying what it is they do when they visit the US. Of course it's fine to point out what the cultural norm is in the US, but to go further and start name-calling (i.e. calling people "cheap") is a bit childish and actually detracts from you being taken seriously. In any event none of this is linked to the purpose of this thread, which is about aggressive tip requests, not generally how you should tip in the US. That said I expect that you rub your hands in glee every time you see a new tipping thread as it's an opportunity for you to tell other people how to behave and generally feel superior. |
I don't think that anyone is opposed to the notion of giving service industry staff their due. I think the problem is with the manner in which it is done... it occupies this sort of grey area where it is officially treated as nothing more than a courteous gratuity (in the true sense of the word) but in practice, anyone who does something for you feels entitled to receive 20% of the bill for even the most indifferent service, to the point where some people will give you the stink-eye (or worse) if you don't pay it.
Let's just cut the crap already, jack up the prices a bit, pay everyone a fair wage, and be done with this moronic "custom". The Japanese have figured it out (among others). Why is it so hard for us? |
Originally Posted by Often1
(Post 18562026)
-1 You may not like it, but what DJGMaster1 wrote is the reality. Your post would indicate that you've never worked in the restaurant business.
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FYI I did spend three years at $1.25, $ 1.50 perhour pumpng gasin a land where is snowed over 80 inches a year ! This was in the days of full service, wash windshiled, check fluid levels, check fill air in tires....Very few people tipped, yet to just keep your job, you did all that (evertreid taking off your cheap gloves to be able to open valve caps off a tire in below zero ?
Originally Posted by heraclitus
(Post 18566478)
I don't think that anyone is opposed to the notion of giving service industry staff their due. I think the problem is with the manner in which it is done... it occupies this sort of grey area where it is officially treated as nothing more than a courteous gratuity (in the true sense of the word) but in practice, anyone who does something for you feels entitled to receive 20% of the bill for even the most indifferent service, to the point where some people will give you the stink-eye (or worse) if you don't pay it.
Let's just cut the crap already, jack up the prices a bit, pay everyone a fair wage, and be done with this moronic "custom". The Japanese have figured it out (among others). Why is it so hard for us? |
Originally Posted by heraclitus
(Post 18566478)
Let's just cut the crap already, jack up the prices a bit, pay everyone a fair wage, and be done with this moronic "custom". The Japanese have figured it out (among others). Why is it so hard for us?
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Originally Posted by heraclitus
(Post 18566478)
Let's just cut the crap already, jack up the prices a bit, pay everyone a fair wage, and be done with this moronic "custom". The Japanese have figured it out (among others). Why is it so hard for us?
As crazy as that sounds, that really is what restaurant/bar owners in the USA are asking us to do today. |
Does anyone tip when ordering from a take out counter? Or picking up a phone order?
Was recently in LAS and I would go downstairs and place an order at a burger restaurant and wait on a bench for my order to be made. The order is punched in, when it was ready, someone from the kitchen which was 20-25 steps away from me would deliver it to the counter and I would be on my way. Every time I would sign for the receipt (went twice) there was an option for a tip which I would always cross out. The cashier would roll his eyes at me. As I walked by the restaurant one day, I noticed all of the workers in the restaurant; cashier, waiters, bartenders etc, were wearing t shirts saying, "Be kind, don't forget to tip your server" I usually tip well but why would anyone tip in this situation? |
Originally Posted by Westcoaster
(Post 18565745)
How about a 2 cent tip? My father was usually a generous tipper so I was surprised when he told me about his experience many years ago in Manhattan on the lower east side. He had absolutely terrible service at a cafe. The waiter was aggressive and very rude throughout the meal. Apparently the guy acted like a real jerk. Dad had eaten in Manhattan many times before and said he'd never seen anyone like this waiter.
When he left the cafe Dad left a tip of 2 pennies on the table. The waiter actually ran out of the cafe and yelled at Dad on the street. |
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