Accepting Tips Graciously
 

Have you ever given an extra big tip to someone who provided you with good service only to have them act as though they didn't appreciate your generosity?

Usually not looking for anything in return. I don't expect them to give me a hug and kiss. ;)

Not sure what you are asking. I've never had anyone do anything bad when I've tipped well. Not always any reaction either.

Are you saying there was no "thank you" at all, or was the gratitude expressed not in proportion to the amount of the tip? If the latter, I used to work in a service industry and I would never look at the amount of the tip in the presence of the customer. I didn't want to seem like the amount of the tip mattered, as any amount was appreciated. If the former, well I can't think of a reasonable excuse for that.

I know what you mean. One time, in Vietnam, I gave a hotel porter a $100 bill because I'm a rich American and he's a poor peasant. He looked at it funny and looked at me funny. I thought for that much he would invite me back to his home for dinner. What a jerk.

What's up with people not reacting as I think they should when I give them money?

Maybe he didn't recognize the 100$ bill. I find in foriegn countries, it's better to give a lot of small bills then one big one. Sometimes the best tip is two 'ones' wrapped around a five or a ten. The discovery of the larger bill is a sweet surprise for the receiver...

I thought that in Vietnam the unit of currency was the Vietnamese Dong. Why should anyone (especially a "poor peasant") understand foreign currencies ?

I don't believe that MeNoSay meant for his post to be taken literally.

Well, maybe if he was a "poor" peasant, he doesn't have a home to come to for dinner.

No way. In my world, everyone has a house.

Surely not. Irony ? Rich Americans ? They never go together.

:)

No.

Satire notwithstanding, the Vietnamese most definitely know what a $100 note looks like. US dollars are the unofficial currency of Vietnam.... most will accept it.

a few times we tried to tip the Taxi drivers in PEK we got
our money back... :confused: turns out Tipping is not encouraged there..
and some people may get offended.

Some took the tips :D

Two taxi stories:

In London, all bleary-eyed after a long trans-Atlantic flight, I mistakenly gave the driver a very large tip for the ride from Heathrow. He chuckled and gave back more than half of it saying what he was taking was more than sufficient.

In New York, on a rainy cold night, I purposely rounded up the fare to include approximately a 25% tip. The driver reached back, took the money, counted it, and said neither "thank you" or "good night."