How much of a Tip should I leave?

MadsL

enda1 wrote: »

It's rude. Try show even the tiniest bit of respect to people's culture when visiting them. You don't tip in China. Much like Japan or NZ.

Yeah, I used to have to put up with that attitude in Prague in an ex-pat bar. Having read the guidebooks, people wanted to show how 'respectful' they were by only leaving the customary rounding up few crowns. Despite being in an English-speaking bar with biligual and sometime tri-lingual staff, being given US levels of service, tourist directions and help, and great advice. Oh, great, you left me a bit of loose change. Thanks, man, have a lovely time with the amazing advice I just gave you about the best sights, beer, food, clubs, safety tips and general helpfulness. Thank you, have a nice trip. Thank you for respecting the culture, sir.

You respect the culture of where you are, not what country. A four star Western hotel chain is very different to a local hostel. Guidebook inane instructions about how to behave do not apply in obviously western hotels. A bit of cop on should make that obvious.

Typically the response is that it's cheap not to tip. How predictable. It's not tipping that's an American custom, it's the steam-rolling of local culture and lack of tact that is.

So, Americans steam roller local culture and have no tact.

Are you are aware of how crass you sound saying that? The US has one culture does it?
The ironing is delicious.

jmayo

enda1 wrote: »

Many of us have managed a very happy life without treating staff with such fawned pity that we need to show them how much better we are than them by giving money.

Why is it American's need to show their crassness everywhere they go?

Have you been in the US ?

They consider tipping to be something normal because it is it part of the way staff actually earn.
In fact it greatly adds to the service levels offered because staff try and make sure they will get a decent tip.
Perhaps if this custom was used in some other countries (e.g France) people might get a hell of a better service instead of being insulted and treated like sh**.

diomed

I thought I was weird for tipping room staff. I always leave a thank you note stating the amount of the tip just in case they might be accused of stealing.

enda1

jmayo wrote: »

Have you been in the US ?

They consider tipping to be something normal because it is it part of the way staff actually earn.
In fact it greatly adds to the service levels offered because staff try and make sure they will get a decent tip.
Perhaps if this custom was used in some other countries (e.g France) people might get a hell of a better service instead of being insulted and treated like sh**.

I do tip in America. Like I said, some respect for the local customs and understanding.

I hate American style service though. The staff act like lapdogs looking for treats. I much prefer the sincere French style. Thanks all the same.

MadsL

enda1 wrote: »

I do tip in America. Like I said, some respect for the local customs and understanding.

Do you tip in McDonalds? After all the guidebook tells you 15-20% is normal in restaurants in the US. Or do you adapt according to your circumstances?

Son Of A Vidic

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I used to always leave it on the pillow, but I was told not to by a concierge once because apparently there is a sexual connotation attached to doing that.

Which begs the question, what was the concierge doing in your bed?

MadsL

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Which begs the question, what was the concierge doing in your bed?

Earning her tips of course

I always leave tips for cleaning staff on the bathroom counter, labelled as such on a scrap of paper with the local word for maid or cleaner. Less likely to get appropriated by a passing porter before the room is serviced that way.

enda1

MadsL wrote: »

Do you tip in McDonalds? After all the guidebook tells you 15-20% is normal in restaurants in the US. Or do you adapt according to your circumstances?

Guidebooks??

I actually lived and worked in America. I even worked in a restaurant shock horror and still believe that tipping is ridiculous. It certainly does not improve service as Japan can simply attest. It just brings out the slime-balls and encourages low level corruption.

enda1

enda1 wrote: »

Guidebooks??

I actually lived and worked in America. I even worked in a restaurant shock horror and still believe that tipping is ridiculous. It certainly does not improve service as Japan can simply attest. It just brings out the slime-balls and encourages low level corruption.

Yes, you're honourably fighting crime and corruption by not tipping.

I wish I was as upstanding as you are.

MadsL

enda1 wrote: »

Guidebooks??

I actually lived and worked in America. I even worked in a restaurant shock horror and still believe that tipping is ridiculous. It certainly does not improve service as Japan can simply attest. It just brings out the slime-balls and encourages low level corruption.

Dodging the question?

Let me answer it for you; you do not tip in McDonald because you can differentiate the level of service.

In China you would not tip a food stall but you should be tipping in a Western style five star with European/US levels of service from staff who are probably bi or tri-lingual.

The determination has NOTHING to do with country and EVERYTHING to do with the levels of service.

Saying you are 'respecting the local culture' by not tipping whilst staying in a Best Western is about as crass and idiotic a statement as you can make. If you want to 'respect the culture' don't stay there AT ALL.

MadsL

I'm yet to meet someone who was offended by a tip.

Just sayin'

enda1

MadsL wrote: »

Dodging the question?

Let me answer it for you; you do not tip in McDonald because you can differentiate the level of service.

In China you would not tip a food stall but you should be tipping in a Western style five star with European/US levels of service from staff who are probably bi or tri-lingual.

The determination has NOTHING to do with country and EVERYTHING to do with the levels of service.

Saying you are 'respecting the local culture' by not tipping whilst staying in a Best Western is about as crass and idiotic a statement as you can make. If you want to 'respect the culture' don't stay there AT ALL.

I forgot that part of the question. I know you don't tip in McDonalds, but I thought they also banned staff from accepting tips. Anyhow...

Why is it you insist that people tip in "Western" style places? Would you tip in top Japanese hotels too? It really does come across as you trying to shove your culture down their throats. No I wouldn't tip in western places (in asia) irrelevant of how many languages they can speak as if that's bears any relevance to the situation

Why are you so offended that people don't carry your american tendencies to other countries?

enda1

Candie wrote: »

Yes, you're honourably fighting crime and corruption by not tipping.

I wish I was as upstanding as you are.

Way to twist my point :rolleyes:

charlie_says

/rant

Tipping in America is only there because business owners don't pay their staff a fair wage and externalize that to the customers conscience, because they are greedy and have little respect for their employees. They tend to see the staff who rely on tips as an income sink rather than source.

Also they have successfully lobbied against a fair minimum wage with bribery and horse trading on many political levels.

I hate it, mainly because you can't quickly see the real world price for certain services. Some staff do manipulate the system to their benefit by providing sub standard service for people who won't or can't tip. In particular bar staff in my experience, even if you are tipping a respectable amount will still give you the cold shoulder if there are others tipping larger amounts than you - even when you are giving them your money. Female bar staff have never done this to me however, it was the guys.

enda1

enda1 wrote: »

Way to twist my point :rolleyes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4sbYy0WdGQ

Tip for good service. Its good manners.

MadsL

enda1 wrote: »

I forgot that part of the question. I know you don't tip in McDonalds, but I thought they also banned staff from accepting tips. Anyhow...

Why is it you insist that people tip in "Western" style places? Would you tip in top Japanese hotels too? It really does come across as you trying to shove your culture down their throats. No I wouldn't tip in western places (in asia) irrelevant of how many languages they can speak as if that's bears any relevance to the situation

Why are you so offended that people don't carry your american tendencies to other countries?

So you apply a blanket tipping level based on "not ramming a culture down people's throats", whilst patronising "western" hotels and restaurants in Asia thus encouraging globalisation rather than eating/staying in local businesses, but because you are so enlightened you give the owner your money, but not the staff.

At the same time in the US, you are clearly capable of dividing your attention about how much to tip depending on your situation.

You haven't really thought through your moral stance have you?

And, for the second time, tipping is an English custom, not an American one.

rubadub

MadsL wrote: »

Let me answer it for you; you do not tip in McDonald because you can differentiate the level of service.

My friend actually did tip in a white castle in NY (similar to a mcdonalds). They were shocked at it, when we got to eat it we discovered they doubled up all our burgers for us free. In the US many certainly do tip for the exact same level of service you get in mcdonalds, e.g. barmen, or in a cafe. I have got stuff brought to my table in mcdonalds several times. I don't see why they should be so different.

In China I got in an argument to leave a taxidriver a tip, they stopped the meter but were on the phone to a chinese colleague and drove me around for ages with no pay. I ended up just dropping it on the seat on the way out, she might well have been offended by that, I saw it as payment for the added journey rather than a tip. Other taxidrivers took it no bother.

My parents in China left a small tip in a pizza place, about the same price as the meal itself, and upon leaving all the staff came out and gave a round of applause. They didn't know what was going on at first and were looking to see someone coming in.

Another guy in China I know had a translator for a week or so and gave a €40 tip, she started crying saying its a months wage for her father, I am not sure if she was paid at all, a chinese business school arranged for students to go to a trade show. She was also utterly disgusted at being brought out to dinner with him & clients, eating meals that would be a few weeks wage.

The Backwards Man

charlie_says wrote: »

/rant

Tipping in America is only there because business owners don't pay their staff a fair wage and externalize that to the customers conscience, because they are greedy and have little respect for their employees. They tend to see the staff who rely on tips as an income sink rather than source.

Also they have successfully lobbied against a fair minimum wage with bribery and horse trading on many political levels.

I hate it, mainly because you can't quickly see the real world price for certain services. Some staff do manipulate the system to their benefit by providing sub standard service for people who won't or can't tip. In particular bar staff in my experience, even if you are tipping a respectable amount will still give you the cold shoulder if there are others tipping larger amounts than you - even when you are giving them your money. Female bar staff have never done this to me however, it was the guys.

Not true.

The average wage for a housekeeper in Vegas is $13.73 an hour, way above the min wage. I still have no hesitation in giving them a tip though.

Lapin

I always leave a couple of bottles of wine for the room cleaners.





Only because I never got around to drinking them while I was staying there and the airlines won't let me bring them home in my hand luggage.

enda1

MadsL wrote: »

So you apply a blanket tipping level based on "not ramming a culture down people's throats", whilst patronising "western" hotels and restaurants in Asia thus encouraging globalisation rather than eating/staying in local businesses, but because you are so enlightened you give the owner your money, but not the staff.

At the same time in the US, you are clearly capable of dividing your attention about how much to tip depending on your situation.

You haven't really thought through your moral stance have you?

And, for the second time, tipping is an English custom, not an American one.

And you've managed to avoid answering my questions...

What's this "blanket" tip you speak of?? I tip in certain circumstances. In countries such as Ireland i'll tip a standard of around 10% in a restaurant for normal service. 12.5% for good, 0% for bad. In America obviously more. Minimum of about 15% for table service. Up to about 25%. In bars $1 a drink at the bar. Change from a $20 for a few. Depends. But no in Japan or China I will not tip. It would be like slapping your doctor on the ass and tucking a 20 down her pants. Rude!

CianRyan

I work in HK in a small 4.8 star hotel in Dublin city centre. Tips usually go as followed.
€0 Scabby, very few people.
€2 average, about %90 of people
€5 middle ground, about %8.
€20+ very generous and make our week, wouldn't see it a lot though.

And I'd rather get nothing than the coppers out of your pocket. I'm thankful do anything else.


Edit: I get minimum wage.

MadsL

enda1 wrote: »

And you've managed to avoid answering my questions...

I generally would not tip in Japan or China. I do respect that culture of service as a point of duty and pride. However, in a relentlessly Western hotel I don't see the issue.

What's this "blanket" tip you speak of?? I tip in certain circumstances. In countries such as Ireland i'll tip a standard of around 10% in a restaurant for normal service. 12.5% for good, 0% for bad. In America obviously more. Minimum of about 15% for table service. Up to about 25%. In bars $1 a drink at the bar. Change from a $20 for a few. Depends. But no in Japan or China I will not tip. It would be like slapping your doctor on the ass and tucking a 20 down her pants. Rude!

But you don't tip in fast food chains?

And you vary your tip in the US depending on the location.

Yet you see varying a tip in China or Japan as cultural imperialism and have a "no tip, ever" philosophy and attack it as culturally insensitive even if you are a US chain hotel.

Like I said - I don't think you thought it through.

stefan idiot jones

When I lived in Scotland one of my mates gave a good 'tip' to a waitress once.

'Never serve a Scotsman'

The Backwards Man

stefan idiot jones wrote: »

When I lived in Scotland one of my mates gave a good 'tip' to a waitress once.

'Never serve a Scotsman'

The Scots are actually excellent tippers.

shruikan2553

I never understood tipping, some of the people make sense but others like a pizza delivery dont. The guy who made it probably put in most effort and we dont tip him! I'm hoping to go to the US for a few months next year so will be fun getting fake niceties while they hope for a bigger tip from it.

MadsL

shruikan2553 wrote: »

I never understood tipping, some of the people make sense but others like a pizza delivery dont. The guy who made it probably put in most effort and we dont tip him! I'm hoping to go to the US for a few months next year so will be fun getting fake niceties while they hope for a bigger tip from it.

We used to split tips with the kitchen, so yes you are tipping the chef.

MadsL

shruikan2553 wrote: »

Igetting fake niceties while they hope for a bigger tip from it.

If you call tipping $20 and getting upgraded from a $25 dollar room at Paris, Las Vegas to a $350 a night room on the 34th floor overlooking the Bellagio fountains as "fake" I'd say you'll enjoy such niceties.

TommiesTank

I regularly travel for work including a trip to Beijing recently, I tip well for meals etc but never tip for room cleaning.

To be honest I don't care whether they clean the room during my stay or not, as long as the bed is changed before I occupy the room and there are clean towels. A 5 minute job...

Most US hotels won't change the bed unless you leave the card on the pillow etc so don't really see why a tip is expected.

I also hate all the crap they have on the beds - 6 pillows and that thing at the bottom of the bed. Ridiculous.

Last time I was in Boston my room wasn't cleaned one day, I didn't care, but i hope it wasn't the cleaner being a smart arse about not getting a tip, since that's what they are paid to do.

MadsL

TommiesTank wrote: »

I regularly travel for work including a trip to Beijing recently, I tip well for meals etc but never tip for room cleaning.

To be honest I don't care whether they clean the room during my stay or not, as long as the bed is changed before I occupy the room and there are clean towels. A 5 minute job...

Most US hotels won't change the bed unless you leave the card on the pillow etc so don't really see why a tip is expected.

I also hate all the crap they have on the beds - 6 pillows and that thing at the bottom of the bed. Ridiculous.

Last time I was in Boston my room wasn't cleaned one day, I didn't care, but i hope it wasn't the cleaner being a smart arse about not getting a tip, since that's what they are paid to do.

*narrows eyes*

Not sure if you are complaining about cleaners or interior designers?