Tipping the taxi man

Melisandre121

I got a taxi tonight and it came to €12.20. I handed him €20 and politely told him to just give me back €7 change. He handed me a fiver and paused, as if he expected me to let him keep the rest. I awkwardly waited and he then gave me the €2.

Was I wrong not to tip more, or was he wrong for expecting more? I've always wondered about this. I find getting a taxi a luxury enough as it is, so I tend to tip a euro or so, never much more than that. Is this bad taxi tipping etiquette?

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

If my taxi is on time, the driver is nice and doesn't try to engage me in conversation and doesn't drive deliberately slow, I'll tip them. Else I don't bother

Penny Tration

I usually tip at least 2-3 euro, sometimes more, up to a fiver.


I think it's absolutely fine to not tip, because tips are optional and there's no necessity to tip in Ireland (unlike in some industries in America where wages are made of tips). But 80 cent is kinda insulting. I'd rather be tipped nothing rather than 80 cent tbh.

GBX

Taxi fares are set so they are paid enough that they shouldn't expect a tip.
And you shouldn't feel obliged to tip any more.

Tilikum

I haven't tipped a taxi in yrs. The prices they charge are extortionate.

I'd have told him to round it up to 15.

Can't say it's right or wrong but usually I tack on about 10% and round it up to the next euro figure.

Melisandre121

Penny Tration wrote: »

I usually tip at least 2-3 euro, sometimes more, up to a fiver.


I think it's absolutely fine to not tip, because tips are optional and there's no necessity to tip in Ireland (unlike in some industries in America where wages are made of tips). But 80 cent is kinda insulting. I'd rather be tipped nothing rather than 80 cent tbh.

The 80 cent was more-so to round it up so he wouldn't be fiddling around for change.

Atlantic Dawn

I usually tip €2-€3 if the car is above poverty spec.

andekwarhola

My usual taxi fare home from city is usually between 23 or 26 so I always settle it with 30.

The conversation thing is moot because I always sit in the back seat and if I don't want to have a chat, I just fob them off. It's not hard. Most just get the message after a few gambits.

timthumbni

Melisandre121 wrote: »

I got a taxi tonight and it came to €12.20. I handed him €20 and politely told him to just give me back €7 change. He handed me a fiver and paused, as if he expected me to let him keep the rest. I awkwardly waited and he then gave me the €2.

Was I wrong not to tip more, or was he wrong for expecting more? I've always wondered about this. I find getting a taxi a luxury enough as it is, so I tend to tip a euro or so, never much more than that. Is this bad taxi tipping etiquette?

Tipping.. The American disease raises its head again. It's creeping in more often now when in restaurants etc.

Very annoying.

Smondie

No I don't tip taxis and I will wait as awarkardly long as it takes for them to count out every last cent.

I've been ripped off by enough of them over the years.

pauliebdub

It depends on the taxi driver, occasionally they are nice and friendly then I tip them 10 % maybe or round it up. If they are bitter and scummy they get nothing.

eeguy

I round up to the euro.

More because I don't want the extra change than any obligation.
I hate this tipping culture. It makes sense in the US when things are cheap as employees are paid $2 an hour. Here it's just an extra charge for the same service.

It's not even like anyone will work for the tip. They'll give you the same service tip or no.

timthumbni

eeguy wrote: »

I round up to the euro.

More because I don't want the extra change than any obligation.
I hate this tipping culture. It makes sense in the US when things are cheap as employees are paid $2 an hour. Here it's just an extra charge for the same service.

It's not even like anyone will work for the tip. They'll give you the same service tip or no.

In restaurants it does my ballix in. A wee girl or guy brings your food over and a few drinks. Is that not their job? Does the restaurant not pay their wages. It's all a load of American balls. It should not apply over here. It's nothing to do with being cheap as I often do tip.

However often I don't and I don't see why I should feel bad about it. I've worked plenty of jobs that paid feck all and I never expected a tip.

I did a business trip that involved the M50 toll and a one hour wait, I told him to stick an extra tenner on the receipt, we had a nice chat while on the road so I was happy. I would have even tipped him if I had done the journey personally.

timthumbni

Deleted User wrote: »

I did a business trip that involved the M50 toll and a one hour wait, I told him to stick an extra tenner on the receipt, we had a nice chat while on the road so I was happy. I would have even tipped him if I had done the journey personally.

If it was business then surely that was put down as a business expense though.

If a taxi driver is friendly I sometimes tip a small amount. Depends on my mood too and what the journey is. Again though I think tipping as a religion like the yanks do is silly.

timthumbni

timthumbni wrote: »

If it was business then surely that was put down as a business expense though.

If a taxi driver is friendly I sometimes tip a small amount. Depends on my mood too and what the journey is. Again though I think tipping as a religion like the yanks do is silly.

It was a business expense, normally that doesn't include tips, but I said to add it to the bill. he won. I didn't care as I quit that job soon afterwards.
But if a personal journey I would have still tipped as we had such a good chat. I usually don't tip.
I'm the type that take the front seat.

timthumbni

Deleted User wrote: »

It was a business expense, normally that doesn't include tips, but I said to add it to the bill. he won. I didn't care as I quit that job soon afterwards.
But if a personal journey I would have still tipped as we had such a good chat.
I'm the type that take the front seat.

So you told him to add on to the bill on the business expense account. That's not really tipping to be honest.

Do you tip much on a personal level say at a restaurant?

johnnyskeleton

Why do people tip taxi drivers and not bus drivers? Both are doing their jobs and bringing you from A to B.

I was in Malaysia recently and in a lot of places tipping is actually discouraged, and that makes sense. It could be percieved as currying favour / a kind of corruption which might encourage them to bend the rules etc.

timthumbni

timthumbni wrote: »

So you told him to add on to the bill on the business expense account. That's not really tipping to be honest.

Do you tip much on a personal level say at a restaurant?

It is tipping, just using someone else’s money, that's business. (Just ask any politician)
Only if the service is good, otherwise I just pay the bill.

Yamanoto

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm the type that take the front seat.

Middle class guilt in action right there.

MadDog76

Every Taxi Driver gets a tip the second you sit in the car, you can see the meter instantly goes to x amount of euro depending on how many passengers, bags, time of day/night etc. ........ there's no need to tip again at the end of the journey, although I usually do just round it up to the nearest euro.

Yamanoto

Yamanoto wrote: »

Middle class guilt in action right there.

Nah... some of my best friends are taxi drivers.
No I don't use them as they're in different towns to where I use Taxis.

Lucy8080

When I was a kid the school asked for kids to volunteer to sell programmes outside a G.A.A. match. There was a few bob in it for the schools that sent pupils.


I'll never forget the advice given from what I would say was the most honest teacher/person I ever met. Well regarded and and deservedly so.

" If it starts raining take your time looking for the change, fiddle about in your pockets for change , they'll leave it to ya, unless they are mean".

Kerry man, warning me about Cavan men (maybe,or their like).

Or more seriously, teaching me something about human nature, and our impatience/pride or a little bit of both.

Well, the school got it's little bit of money...and I learned how to make tips.

I did nothing dishonest...and that Kerry man did not encourage me or any pupils to do anything dishonest.

But, patience is a virtue...you might even receive change!

MadDog76

Lucy8080 wrote: »

When I was a kid the school asked for kids to volunteer to sell programmes outside a G.A.A. match. There was a few bob in it for the schools that sent pupils.


I'll never forget the advice given from what I would say was the most honest teacher/person I ever met. Well regarded and and deservedly so.

" If it starts raining take your time looking for the change, fiddle about in your pockets for change , they'll leave it to ya, unless they are mean".

Kerry man, warning me about Cavan men (maybe,or their like).

Or more seriously, teaching me something about human nature, and our impatience/pride or a little bit of both.

Well, the school got it's little bit of money...and I learned how to make tips.

I did nothing dishonest...and that Kerry man did not encourage me or any pupils to do anything dishonest.

But, patience is a virtue...you might even receive change!

That can work both ways though ......... if I get a take-away, for example, delivery and the driver fiddles around for an awkwardly long time with the change then I'll take it all ........ but if he hands over the change promptly with no fuss then I'll take 3/4/5 euro out of the change and hand it back to him.

KungPao

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

Why do people tip taxi drivers and not bus drivers? Both are doing their jobs and bringing you from A to B.

I was in Malaysia recently and in a lot of places tipping is actually discouraged, and that makes sense. It could be percieved as currying favour / a kind of corruption which might encourage them to bend the rules etc.

Once I gave a tip in Rio to a waiter, old fella, got a very Italian eyyy thank you my friend reaction. Expected on copacabana with all the gringos, they are used to getting tips.

Gave another tip in a small city near São Paulo..waiter chased me out the door trying to give me the money back. Wasn't havin any of it!

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

Your Face

They should pay me for listening to them.

Chuchote

I almost always tip, but I don't think a society where people are paid so badly that one feels obliged to tip is doing things right.

riclad

The point of tipping is to reward good service .
At least if you tip a taxi driver, you know he gets it as opposed to tipping
using a credit card in a restaurant where who knows where the tip goes,
Tipping is big in america where in some jobs wages are very low ,
people rely on tips to pay their bills ,rent.
i always tip taxi drivers , its a tough job,
they can wait 20mins or more in between fares .
AS far as i know everyone over 21 is paid at least the minimum wage,
unless they are working as an intern .

iamtony

Another Taxi driver hate thread nice!

I'm a Dublin Taxi driver. Drivers generally don't expect tips, although they are nice to get, usually when they are looking for your change they are generally just looking for your change, not trying to embarrass you into leaving your change.
I normally round down the meter to the nearest euro to make life easier for everyone.
I tip everyone personally, the takeaway driver, the waiter, the hairdresser, the taxi driver and will always put something into a tip jar in a coffee shop or whatever. Personally I don't try and judge how much that person is making before I decide to tip, if they are making good money well good for them. To me it's only an extra euro or two but to them it all adds up to help them have a better life so why wouldn't I, it's called being a nice person.

Chuchote

@iamtony but you only tip someone who's acting as your servant, it's a superior-to-inferior thing to tip. You don't (I don't mean you don't, I mean generally one doesn't) tip State employees, or the guy who does your taxes, or the solicitor who organises the sale of your house.

Creol1

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

Why do people tip taxi drivers and not bus drivers? Both are doing their jobs and bringing you from A to B.

I was in Malaysia recently and in a lot of places tipping is actually discouraged, and that makes sense. It could be percieved as currying favour / a kind of corruption which might encourage them to bend the rules etc.

Your relationship with a bus driver is less personal, as you are one of a number of passengers; also, bus drivers are unionised and employed on a fixed (and quite good) wage, whereas taxi drivers are self-employed and their income is more uncertain.

I tip barbers and wait staff (on the rare occasions I'm in a restaurant), but never taxi drivers. I only ever end up in a taxi when something has gone wrong, never by plan, and I am always too furious with myself that I have to fork out so much money to tip on top of that. Interestingly, they never seem to mind.

iamtony

Chuchote wrote: »

@iamtony but you only tip someone who's acting as your servant, it's a superior-to-inferior thing to tip. You don't (I don't mean you don't, I mean generally one doesn't) tip State employees, or the guy who does your taxes, or the solicitor who organises the sale of your house.

Maybe that's how tipping started but I tip in businesses where it's normal to tip. I wouldn't think that much into it and it's definitely not a superiority complex for me anyway it's just not being a miserable git. Using your logic, everyone who I pay for a service is my servant be it a taxi driver or a solicitor they are both working for me because I'm paying them.

I would round up by one or two euro.

I wouldn't go further than that, as my experience is that most taxi drivers sweat every bit of cash out of you in the fare.

Winterlong

I would normally give them 10% unless they are 'you show I go' merchants.

Chuchote

iamtony wrote: »

Maybe that's how tipping started but I tip in businesses where it's normal to tip. I wouldn't think that much into it and it's definitely not a superiority complex for me anyway it's just not being a miserable git. Using your logic, everyone who I pay for a service is my servant be it a taxi driver or a solicitor they are both working for me because I'm paying them.

Yes, that's why I'm saying it's a superior-to-inferior thing; you don't tip the solicitor. I think people should be properly paid and there should be no need to tip. There should be enough pride in the job and enough status in the job that a tip would be insulting.

Sam Kade

iamtony wrote: »

Another Taxi driver hate thread nice!

I'm a Dublin Taxi driver. Drivers generally don't expect tips, although they are nice to get, usually when they are looking for your change they are generally just looking for your change, not trying to embarrass you into leaving your change.
I normally round down the meter to the nearest euro to make life easier for everyone.
I tip everyone personally, the takeaway driver, the waiter, the hairdresser, the taxi driver and will always put something into a tip jar in a coffee shop or whatever. Personally I don't try and judge how much that person is making before I decide to tip, if they are making good money well good for them. To me it's only an extra euro or two but to them it all adds up to help them have a better life so why wouldn't I, it's called being a nice person.

A lady taxi driver I presume?

Elliott S

I wish we had black cabs like in the UK. There's that little tray where they leave the full change and you decide what to tip from that. None of this awkward dance we have in Ireland. It's a much more polite system and I always tip more generously in cabs in the UK for that reason.

monkeysnapper

I'm so tight I just walk everywhere or cycle ,

I come home soaked with a smile on my face having had a relaxing walk home listening to music .

As I come in door a tip of the hat to the 3 kids waiting to be wrestled to the ground by the big wet monster .

biko

It depends on how drunk I am.

LordSutch

Giving the Dublin Taxi man a tip (on top of your extortionate fare), tipping the pizza delivery fella in his van, tipping the B&Q furniture delivery lorry driver . . .

What next, tipping the bus driver?

Somebody else mentioned "UK Taxi drivers" which can mean many things, as I probably wouldn't tip a London black cab driver (depending)? yet I might very well tip a late night taxi taking me (lost) along the backroads to a campsite in Cornwall

Elliott S

One thing I don't understand is tipping as a percentage of the meal. If you spend €20 on dinner in one place and €30 in another, ordering just one course, the same amount of work has been done, so why does the latter deserve €1 more? Obviously silver service is a bit different.

Drakares

timthumbni wrote: »

In restaurants it does my ballix in. A wee girl or guy brings your food over and a few drinks. Is that not their job? Does the restaurant not pay their wages. It's all a load of American balls. It should not apply over here. It's nothing to do with being cheap as I often do tip.

However often I don't and I don't see why I should feel bad about it. I've worked plenty of jobs that paid feck all and I never expected a tip.

Ikr?! Steve Buscemi explains it perfectly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-qV9wVGb38

Elliott S

Drakares wrote: »

Ikr?! Steve Buscemi explains it perfectly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-qV9wVGb38

There's always someone who posts this clip on tipping threads as if everyone hasn't seen it countless times before. :P

iamtony

Sam Kade wrote: »

A lady taxi driver I presume?

No why, what makes you think that?

Elliott S

Chuchote wrote: »

I almost always tip, but I don't think a society where people are paid so badly that one feels obliged to tip is doing things right.

The resistance of Americans in general to a change in this system is astounding. Anyone who suggests it is called cheap and people actually get angry about.

There is a small number of people over there who are trying to change things and there are a small number of no-tipping restaurants where the wait staff are paid a living wage. But it is so entrenched that I don't see it changing any time soon. The argument tends to be that if restaurants had to pay a living wage, prices would up. They might but hardly by the 20% you're expected to tip. People don't want to make a stand because it means that the server will go through a few very lean weeks or months before restaurants realise that they can't pay their staff so little. It's a very divisive issue over there and it's hard to change the system now that it's in place and so culturally entrenched.

monkeysnapper

Elliott S wrote: »

There's always someone who posts this clip on tipping threads as if everyone hasn't seen it countless times before. :P

I hadn't seen it ..... ........

Elliott S

monkeysnapper wrote: »

I hadn't seen it ..... ........

Sigh, most people then.

EagererBeaver

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I did a business trip that involved the M50 toll and a one hour wait, I told him to stick an extra tenner on the receipt, we had a nice chat while on the road so I was happy. I would have even tipped him if I had done the journey personally.

Tolls get added on to the the fare so not really sure why that would be a component of choosing to tip?

timthumbni

On the restaurant aspect it would be illegal over here to pay waiting staff anything less than minimum wage. I normally have very limited interaction with waitresses/waiters in a restaurant. The initial handing out of menus, the taking of the order and the delivery. That's it normally it and I really can't see the need why they should revive tips for doing what I assume they are employed to do.

The whole tip culture is seeping across the Atlantic from the Americans and it is not pretty. In some cultures it is considered an insult to tip. Why can't we import that???

People don't normally tip the girl who works at lidl (and they are not slacking I can tell you) about 4 of them running a small supermarket sized establishment jumping off the tills to pack the shelves when they aren't needed etc

In fact maybe I should tip them.....