Aggressive tip requests
May 13, 2012 | 2:40 am
#121
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: QFF Gold, Flying Blue, Enrich
Posts: 5,369
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 
).
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.
).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.
May 13, 2012 | 3:22 am
#122
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 208
I had a good time watching it all of course
May 13, 2012 | 3:37 am
#123
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: QFF Gold, Flying Blue, Enrich
Posts: 5,369
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 had a good time watching it all of course
I probably would have enjoyed it as much as you did. ^
May 13, 2012 | 7:29 am
#124
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Seattle WA, USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 3,481
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.
May 13, 2012 | 8:42 am
#125
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 1,424
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 ).
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.
).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.
May 13, 2012 | 9:20 am
#126
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,071
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..
Happens in Europe as well. Speak English with a US accent, you clearly have lots of money and are required to pass it out..
May 13, 2012 | 9:39 am
#127
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: aa
Posts: 212
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.
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 !
May 13, 2012 | 10:05 am
#128
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Shanghai
Programs: BAEC (Gold), PC (Plat), HH (Gold), MR (Gold)
Posts: 2,732
+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.
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.
May 13, 2012 | 10:34 am
#129
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: YWG
Programs: Aeroplan, MileagePlus, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 2,208
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?
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?
May 13, 2012 | 10:51 am
#130
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 615
May 13, 2012 | 10:56 am
#131
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: UA 1P
Posts: 545
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 ?
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?
Last edited by LTBoston; May 13, 2012 at 11:06 am
May 13, 2012 | 10:56 am
#132
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: NOC/LAX
Posts: 444
May 13, 2012 | 11:25 am
#133
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: トロント
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 4,856
As crazy as that sounds, that really is what restaurant/bar owners in the USA are asking us to do today.
May 13, 2012 | 11:53 am
#134
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 40
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?
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?
May 13, 2012 | 12:13 pm
#135
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,443
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.
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.