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.
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.
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?
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**.
enda1 wrote: » I do tip in America. Like I said, some respect for the local customs and understanding.
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.
Corvus Maximus wrote: » Which begs the question, what was the concierge doing in your bed?
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?
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.
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.
Candie wrote: » Yes, you're honourably fighting crime and corruption by not tipping. I wish I was as upstanding as you are.
enda1 wrote: » Way to twist my point :rolleyes:
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?
MadsL wrote: » Let me answer it for you; you do not tip in McDonald because you can differentiate the level of service.
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.
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.
enda1 wrote: » 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!
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'
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.
shruikan2553 wrote: » Igetting fake niceties while they hope for a bigger tip from it.
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.
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