Stingiest things thread(op for R&R access)

punisher5112 · 20-05-2019 9:43am

Antares35 wrote: »

I had "friends" over from the States a while ago. They were stopping off in Ireland before travelling the rest of Europe. I thought it would be nice to allow them to stay as we've a spare room en suite. Save them on pricey hotel etc. So, that was grand. Got in a few bits and pieces to welcome them - few beers, some stuff for Irish breakfast, snacks etc. Picked them up from the airport and we planned to spend two days together. I had time off so took the opportunity to show then some nice scenic spots and traditional Irish venues for food, drink etc. Had to fill up the car. Fair few taxis around as we had drinks on both nights. Brought them back to the airport when they departed. They literally did not put their hands in their pockets once. Initially I thought it a bit odd but shrugged it off but by the end, I just couldn't believe them. No offer to even put a bit of petrol in the car. On the second night, they got home before us (there were five of us and partner and I had to wait for second taxi). When I got home, they had lashed into the wine etc. On the last night, we (4 of us including my partner) got a taxi home, and when we pulled up to the driveway I made a point of sitting after the meter was tallied and waited and waited... until it got really awkward and my partner paid. I juts couldn't believe them. On top of all that they moaned and groaned about wifi etc. and had the heating and hot water on constantly. Never again. Such stingebags. I didnt want payment from them but to not even pay their share of a taxi or meal/ drinks. I think our friendship has run it's course!

This seems to be a trend and the Germans are just as bad.

Biggest problems were you not actually saying anything or letting them get a meal or something.

It doesn't surprise me though and another thing American people love about here is they don't tip.

The_Conductor · 20-05-2019 9:49am

punisher5112 wrote: »

another thing American people love about here is they don't tip.

I just don't get this.
If we behaved in a similar manner in the US- we'd have bar staff and waiters chasing us out the door?
Its good manners- and it tops up the wages for all the workers in the restaurant/bar (not just your server).
How or why do they think its reasonable to stiff staff- when they wouldn't dream of doing so at home?

Antares35 · 20-05-2019 9:50am

punisher5112 wrote: »

This seems to be a trend and the Germans are just as bad.

Biggest problems were you not actually saying anything or letting them get a meal or something.

It doesn't surprise me though and another thing American people love about here is they don't tip.

That was the funny thing - they were all gung ho about throwing down lavish tips! If someone had told me they would behave that way I would have assumed I would say something, but I found it harder in real life. In the end, I just won't be inviting them again.

sdraobs · 20-05-2019 9:52am

The_Conductor wrote: »

I just don't get this.
If we behaved in a similar manner in the US- we'd have bar staff and waiters chasing us out the door?
Its good manners- and it tops up the wages for all the workers in the restaurant/bar (not just your server).
How or why do they think its reasonable to stiff staff- when they wouldn't dream of doing so at home?

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. As in, in America, wages are lower on the basis that tips are high. In Ireland, wages are higher as tips arent as big. Seems sensible to not tip as much as in USA.

partyguinness · 20-05-2019 9:58am

The_Conductor wrote: »

I just don't get this.
If we behaved in a similar manner in the US- we'd have bar staff and waiters chasing us out the door?
Its good manners- and it tops up the wages for all the workers in the restaurant/bar (not just your server).
How or why do they think its reasonable to stiff staff- when they wouldn't dream of doing so at home?

Dream on if you think all restaurant managers put the nightly tips in big pot for all the staff to share. Especially when the tip is put on a debit/credit card. I have had staff tell me in several different outlets that they do not see those tips at all so I just don't bother as I never carry cash.

It is different here than than the US. Waiting staff in this country are paid at least min wage which is decent. I have no interest in letting bad paying restaurant owners off the hook or to be guilted into tipping.

I do not agree that it is good manners. We are happy to let delivery guy get paid less but do we tip him as he races around trying to delivery whatever rubbish bought online?

Be careful- in some countries it is deemed insulting to tip.

valoren · 20-05-2019 10:12am

Antares35 wrote: »

I had "friends" over from the States a while ago.

That really is the definition of stinge for me; Knowingly taking full advantage of people's generosity and hospitality. If it was a single night then there might be some leeway but over two days it was very deliberate. I'm sure there was no balancing offer either as in "If you're ever Stateside for a visit, look us up....".

partyguinness · 20-05-2019 10:14am

punisher5112 wrote: »

This seems to be a trend and the Germans are just as bad.

Biggest problems were you not actually saying anything or letting them get a meal or something.

It doesn't surprise me though and another thing American people love about here is they don't tip.

I think a factor which we may not realise in Ireland is that in a lot of countries when you have guests the custom is to treat the guest which includes taking them around etc and making sure they do not pay for anything. Eg I know from experience that the Indian/Asian community are like that. I have been asked on trips/boozy weekends away and when I was trying to pay for things I was told to 'Eff off'. In fact one guy took me aside to explain how they work and to stop it..I was their guest.

Antares35 · 20-05-2019 10:52am

valoren wrote: »

That really is the definition of stinge for me; Knowingly taking full advantage of people's generosity and hospitality. If it was a single night then there might be some leeway but over two days it was very deliberate. I'm sure there was no balancing offer either as in "If you're ever Stateside for a visit, look us up....".

There was a kind of "we better say this as we depart" comment about us going over to them but I would have no interest to be honest. I couldn't behave in the same way if the situation was reversed. I'll chalk it up to experience and try to keep the faith that not everyone would take advantage of hospitality in the same way. if they get in touch again for coming over I will just say, "that's great, there's a nice Maldron down the road" :P

Tacitus Kilgore · 20-05-2019 11:58am

Antares35 wrote: »

I had "friends" over from the States a while ago.

You need to go over and visit & rinse them, only fair.

punisher5112 · 20-05-2019 1:27pm

Oh jebus do I hate stingy people......

Even the offer to pay for a meal or a box of chocolate or some bottle of wine but no just arrive with nothing and end up leaving with more then you arrived with.....

Oh American people.....

amcalester · 20-05-2019 1:31pm

Antares35 wrote: »

I had "friends" over from the States a while ago. They were stopping off in Ireland before travelling the rest of Europe. I thought it would be nice to allow them to stay as we've a spare room en suite. Save them on pricey hotel etc. So, that was grand. Got in a few bits and pieces to welcome them - few beers, some stuff for Irish breakfast, snacks etc. Picked them up from the airport and we planned to spend two days together. I had time off so took the opportunity to show then some nice scenic spots and traditional Irish venues for food, drink etc. Had to fill up the car. Fair few taxis around as we had drinks on both nights. Brought them back to the airport when they departed. They literally did not put their hands in their pockets once. Initially I thought it a bit odd but shrugged it off but by the end, I just couldn't believe them. No offer to even put a bit of petrol in the car. On the second night, they got home before us (there were five of us and partner and I had to wait for second taxi). When I got home, they had lashed into the wine etc. On the last night, we (4 of us including my partner) got a taxi home, and when we pulled up to the driveway I made a point of sitting after the meter was tallied and waited and waited... until it got really awkward and my partner paid. I juts couldn't believe them. On top of all that they moaned and groaned about wifi etc. and had the heating and hot water on constantly. Never again. Such stingebags. I didnt want payment from them but to not even pay their share of a taxi or meal/ drinks. I think our friendship has run it's course!

Book a return trip, take from for all you can and then never speak again.

fitzparker · 20-05-2019 3:30pm

Antares35 wrote: »

. On top of all that they moaned and groaned about wifi etc. and had the heating and hot water on constantly. Never again.

If someone had the neck to touch my heating or hot water they would be booted out. there is a line, and the immersion is one of them!

Deise Vu · 21-05-2019 9:23am

punisher5112 wrote: »

This seems to be a trend and the Germans are just as bad.

Biggest problems were you not actually saying anything or letting them get a meal or something.

It doesn't surprise me though and another thing American people love about here is they don't tip.

That reminds me (although the gent in question was Austrian not German - not a whole lot of difference!), my sister is on a school board which takes boarders as well as day pupils. The boarders are booted out of the school one weekend a month and for the two mid-term breaks so there are host families who get, I think, about €1,000 to take the boarder in during these times.

Being on the board, and always willing to make an extra few bob, the sister put her name down and got an Austrian kid. The parents dropped him to the house the first weekend before school. The kid's father brought up the subject of money (which is supposed to be paid direct rather than though the school), the sister, typically Irish, said something on the lines of "don't worry about that now".

He didn't, the subject never came up again and as the year slipped by, the sister never heard from the parents again and hadn't the heart to say anything to the kid (who was nice in fairness and he had made friends with her son). We are way too soft in this country, and too easily embarrassed when it comes to money.

Crock Rock · 15-06-2019 3:05pm

Fella I work with told me he was queueing at the self service checkout in a supermarket and the queue was taking too long ot move so he just wlaked out with his coke and chocolate :pac:

A girl I work with helps herself to a 2L carton of milk from the canteen fridge everyday.

A friend of mine works in a clothes shop and when she was working she found a wad of cash in dollars. Her manager was nearby when she picked it up. She wanted it herself but had to put it at the customer service desk, so she gave her friend a vivid description of it by text (the chrome clip, a stained note) at lunch and her friend arrived and pretended to be the person who "lost it".
Her friend came in and claimer "her" cash and they got $500 each out of it.

sullivlo · 15-06-2019 3:24pm

Crock Rock wrote: »

Fella I work with told me he was queueing at the self service checkout in a supermarket and the queue was taking too long ot move so he just wlaked out with his coke and chocolate :pac:

A girl I work with helps herself to a 2L carton of milk from the canteen fridge everyday.

A friend of mine works in a clothes shop and when she was working she found a wad of cash in dollars. Her manager was nearby when she picked it up. She wanted it herself but had to put it at the customer service desk, so she gave her friend a vivid description of it by text (the chrome clip, a stained note) at lunch and her friend arrived and pretended to be the person who "lost it".
Her friend came in and claimer "her" cash and they got $500 each out of it.

No stinge here. Just plain stealing.

Paddy Cow · 15-06-2019 3:58pm

Crock Rock wrote: »

A friend of mine works in a clothes shop and when she was working she found a wad of cash in dollars. Her manager was nearby when she picked it up. She wanted it herself but had to put it at the customer service desk, so she gave her friend a vivid description of it by text (the chrome clip, a stained note) at lunch and her friend arrived and pretended to be the person who "lost it".
Her friend came in and claimer "her" cash and they got $500 each out of it.

Did the person who lost $1000 not come looking for it?

Dan Jaman · 16-06-2019 11:07am

Crock Rock wrote: »

Fella I work with told me he was queueing at the self service checkout in a supermarket and the queue was taking too long ot move so he just wlaked out with his coke and chocolate :pac:

I've often done that for a single item, but I just sling the cash down as I pass. Nothing to do with me if that screws up the automated stock figures as the item I took wasn't barcode scanned. :rolleyes:

A friend of mine works in a clothes shop and when she was working she found a wad of cash in dollars. Her manager was nearby when she picked it up. She wanted it herself but had to put it at the customer service desk, so she gave her friend a vivid description of it by text (the chrome clip, a stained note) at lunch and her friend arrived and pretended to be the person who "lost it".
Her friend came in and claimer "her" cash and they got $500 each out of it.

Your friend should look up "stealing by finding".

OhHiMark · 16-06-2019 11:26am

Dan Jaman wrote: »

I've often done that for a single item, but I just sling the cash down as I pass. Nothing to do with me if that screws up the automated stock figures as the item I took wasn't barcode scanned. :rolleyes:

It's literally everything to do with you. Never mind though, that's someone else's problem to fix right?

bucketybuck · 16-06-2019 1:34pm

Dan Jaman wrote: »

I've often done that for a single item, but I just sling the cash down as I pass. Nothing to do with me if that screws up the automated stock figures as the item I took wasn't barcode scanned. :rolleyes:

:rolleyes:

Sonny noggs · 16-06-2019 1:37pm

Dan Jaman wrote: »

I've often done that for a single item, but I just sling the cash down as I pass. Nothing to do with me if that screws up the automated stock figures as the item I took wasn't barcode scanned. :rolleyes:

Pretty stingy with your time! (As well as scumbagish.)

Dan Jaman · 17-06-2019 12:43am

OhHiMark wrote: »

It's literally everything to do with you. Never mind though, that's someone else's problem to fix right?

Sonny noggs wrote: »

Pretty stingy with your time! (As well as scumbagish.)

Less whinge, more stinge.

Purple Mountain · 17-06-2019 12:55am

I've often toyed with the idea of this but never actually done it so forgive me, but this is just a stingy thought as opposed to action..
When I'm at a chain supermarket store and the person in front of me at the checkout has a massive shop done and is asked by the cashier if they have a loyalty card and they say no.
I've a few times had to stop myself from 'offering' to take their points.

bobbyss · 17-06-2019 5:19am

Antares35 wrote:

I had "friends" over from the States a while ago. They were stopping off in Ireland before travelling the rest of Europe. I thought it would be nice to allow them to stay as we've a spare room en suite. Save them on pricey hotel etc. So, that was grand. Got in a few bits and pieces to welcome them - few beers, some stuff for Irish breakfast, snacks etc. Picked them up from the airport and we planned to spend two days together. I had time off so took the opportunity to show then some nice scenic spots and traditional Irish venues for food, drink etc. Had to fill up the car. Fair few taxis around as we had drinks on both nights. Brought them back to the airport when they departed. They literally did not put their hands in their pockets once. Initially I thought it a bit odd but shrugged it off but by the end, I just couldn't believe them. No offer to even put a bit of petrol in the car. On the second night, they got home before us (there were five of us and partner and I had to wait for second taxi). When I got home, they had lashed into the wine etc. On the last night, we (4 of us including my partner) got a taxi home, and when we pulled up to the driveway I made a point of sitting after the meter was tallied and waited and waited... until it got really awkward and my partner paid. I juts couldn't believe them. On top of all that they moaned and groaned about wifi etc. and had the heating and hot water on constantly. Never again. Such stingebags. I didnt want payment from them but to not even pay their share of a taxi or meal/ drinks. I think our friendship has run it's course!

That was a tough read. The odd paragraph would have helped.

Deise Vu · 18-06-2019 11:44am

On the American thing,it seems to infect Irish people that emigrate over there too. I know someone who emigrated about 25 years ago. She lives in some God-awful scorching part of Arizona so comes home for about a month every year at the height of the Summer to get away from the heat. She brings her children and imposes on friends and relations. She then spends her time lounging around the house complaining about how cold Ireland is and insists on the heating being on full blast. One time, she used a house while the owners, (former!) friends of hers, were themselves abroad on holiday. She rang them while they were away saying the oil had run out and who did they use for deliveries. When the owners came home, they got a statement from the oil company looking for €200 for a delivery. She was long gone.

She is home again in the next week or two. Even relatives refuse to put her up now and she has to AirBnB it.

punisher5112 · 18-06-2019 12:10pm

Deise Vu wrote: »

On the American thing,it seems to infect Irish people that emigrate over there too. I know someone who emigrated about 25 years ago. She lives in some God-awful scorching part of Arizona so comes home for about a month every year at the height of the Summer to get away from the heat. She brings her children and imposes on friends and relations. She then spends her time lounging around the house complaining about how cold Ireland is and insists on the heating being on full blast. One time, she used a house while the owners, (former!) friends of hers, were themselves abroad on holiday. She rang them while they were away saying the oil had run out and who did they use for deliveries. When the owners came home, they got a statement from the oil company looking for €200 for a delivery. She was long gone.

She is home again in the next week or two. Even relatives refuse to put her up now and she has to AirBnB it.

What an absolute scabby cnut.....

Capt'n Midnight · 18-06-2019 9:45pm

I lent my cousin €10,000 so he could have cosmetic surgery.

Now that I don't know what he looks like, I can't get my money back. :mad:

Borzoi · 20-07-2019 12:06pm

Got a phone call in the office, some random punter was looking to see if we had any promotional handwarmers that we could send him. He'd got some 2 years ago from us at an exhibition.

OhHiMark · 20-07-2019 3:26pm

Dan Jaman wrote: »

Less whinge, more stinge.

Well don't give us a story about you being a prick so. That's about as welcome as whinging.

Dan Jaman · 21-07-2019 11:49am

OhHiMark wrote: »

Well don't give us a story about you being a prick so. That's about as welcome as whinging.

You're an utter charmer.
Welcome to the Bozo List, eejit.

OhHiMark · 21-07-2019 4:10pm

Dan Jaman wrote: »

You're an utter charmer.
Welcome to the Bozo List, eejit.

Oh cool. What kind of perks do I get?

Ken. · 21-07-2019 4:24pm

Mod- Knock it off.

Tammy! · 22-07-2019 7:46am

When I was a kid, whenever one of my friends had a packet of crisps or say something like a bag of malteasers, if you asked for one, they'd push one to the top of the bag and offer it to you holding the rest of the bag closed with their hand so you couldn't get more than one. Youd say 'will you let go of it, you little scab' :pac:

siblers · 22-07-2019 7:50am

JeanL wrote: »

When I was a kid, whenever one of my friends had a packet of crisps or say something like a bag of malteasers, if you asked for one, they'd push one to the top of the bag and offer it to you holding the rest of the bag closed with their hand so you couldn't get more than one. Youd say 'will you let go of it, you little scab' :pac:

Wouldn't blame them. You leave the bag fully open and some **** would take half the bag

Tammy! · 22-07-2019 7:54am

siblers wrote: »

Wouldn't blame them. You leave the bag fully open and some **** would take half the bag

:pac: I wouldn't have. You'd only want two or three and they'd practically crush the one they were giving you!!

Sharing is caring siblers!

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5 · 22-07-2019 10:42am

My mother has a big family, her and two of her sisters were all born within about four years and they're the youngest so they were always expected to share.

One of those sisters is a bit odd to say the least, part of which oddness is being OBSESSED with chips and cheese and onion crisps, I doubt I've gone 30 minutes in her company in my life without her either talking about or eating them, including when she was going through chemotherapy. When they were kids if they got a bit of money to go to the shop the other two would get sweets and she'd get taytos and then before opening the pack squash them all up into crumbs to put the other two off asking her for any.

NinjaTruncs · 22-07-2019 10:50am

When I was a kid I used to buy bags of sweets, like maltesers, after spending the little money I had on them my friends would start freeloading off me for my sweets, opting to keep their money until they were on there own. I'd offer the unrestricted bag to a friend, then another friend would want in, then another until I had less sweets left that what others had taken. Eventually I got so fed up with it, but still wanting to be a nice guy, I used to only give my friends a single sweet, then the freeloaders started calling me the scab!

FanadMan · 28-07-2019 2:17pm

Some great stinge here

https://www.boredpanda.com/worst-choosing-beggars

dartboardio · 28-07-2019 2:37pm

The place I work, the canteen tries to charge people to use the cutlery

Whats even worse is they charge people for the little wooden stirrers for the tea/coffee, I mean come on! They are like 200 stirrers for €1!!!

the_pen_turner · 28-07-2019 2:52pm

FanadMan wrote: »

Some great stinge here

https://www.boredpanda.com/worst-choosing-beggars

some of them are shocking. i like the one with the pizza

28-07-2019 2:58pm

the_pen_turner wrote: »

some of them are shocking. i like the one with the pizza

If you like them, most, if not all of them, are from reddit.

rob316 · 29-07-2019 10:38pm

Relative staying with us recently was over from the states for a college reunion. He was telling me his friend was also over from the states with his wife and staying in a friend's house here. Their friend didn't really have the room for them but they said they would sleep on the air mattress and couch in the front room for a week. He was a bit embarrassed by this but he was delighted to have them stay.
Anyway they paid for nothing, all the meals out didn't offer a cent, didn't buy one piece of groceries, drank all their booze. Half way through they were complaining about been uncomfortable sleeping so they actually took one of the children's beds.

This is the kicker on the last night they told there host/friend that they were retiring next year, with 5m in the bank and buying a holiday property. They are very wealthy as is she was a higher up in Amazon close to Bezos and later worked in a hedge fund. They live in the swanky Brooklyn heights.

Oh and here's the parting shot. If you or the kids want to come over anytime to the holiday home we will give you a good rate! The parting gift was also 3 bars of chocolate for the kids and bottle win from lidl. The friend has ignored all communication from his since, disgusted he was.

punisher5112 · 29-07-2019 11:53pm

rob316 wrote: »

Relative staying with us recently was over from the states for a college reunion. He was telling me his friend was also over from the states with his wife and staying in a friend's house here. Their friend didn't really have the room for them but they said they would sleep on the air mattress and couch in the front room for a week. He was a bit embarrassed by this but he was delighted to have them stay.
Anyway they paid for nothing, all the meals out didn't offer a cent, didn't buy one piece of groceries, drank all their booze. Half way through they were complaining about been uncomfortable sleeping so they actually took one of the children's beds.

This is the kicker on the last night they told there host/friend that they were retiring next year, with 5m in the bank and buying a holiday property. They are very wealthy as is she was a higher up in Amazon close to Bezos and later worked in a hedge fund. They live in the swanky Brooklyn heights.

Oh and here's the parting shot. If you or the kids want to come over anytime to the holiday home we will give you a good rate! The parting gift was also 3 bars of chocolate for the kids and bottle win from lidl. The friend has ignored all communication from his since, disgusted he was.

Does seem to be a trend....

the beer revolu · 30-07-2019 7:20am

punisher5112 wrote: »

Does seem to be a trend....

Thing is, the stereotype of Americans is that they are incredibly generous hosts.
Perhaps it is a cultural thing that a guest pays for nothing?

El_Duderino 09 · 30-07-2019 8:32am

the beer revolu wrote: »

Thing is, the stereotype of Americans is that they are incredibly generous hosts.
Perhaps it is a cultural thing that a guest pays for nothing?

Yes. Plus the fact that in Ireland we do the following dance " no, no, no. Put your money away. I'll pay for this. You're the guest. Really, it's grand. I insist" translation: It's your turn to pay.

Other cultures just take you at your word. I'm minded of the Xmas day scene when the mother in law rebuffs every offer of help from the daughter in law and insists she sit and relax. Then recall the situation as "the lazy bitch sat there all day and didn't lift a finger. Had the whole thing handed to her".

heldel00 · 30-07-2019 9:24am

When we were getting married we brought the best man and his partner to our meal tasting. Myself and my husband were "complimentary" but we had to pay for them. 12 months down the line my husband was doing best man and they didn't invite us to their tasting. They brought his mother and father.

That's not the thing that annoyed me though. At the meal we were deciding between roast beef or steak and i asked if they would take one of each and my husband and I would do the same. Straight out "no, i don't like roast beef" so I actually never can got tasting the fecking steak that we were gonna be paying an arm and a leg for 4 weeks down the line!

razorblunt · 30-07-2019 9:41am

heldel00 wrote: »

When we were getting married we brought the best man and his partner to our meal tasting. Myself and my husband were "complimentary" but we had to pay for them. 12 months down the line my husband was doing best man and they didn't invite us to their tasting. They brought his mother and father.

That's not the thing that annoyed me though. At the meal we were deciding between roast beef or steak and i asked if they would take one of each and my husband and I would do the same. Straight out "no, i don't like roast beef" so I actually never can got tasting the fecking steak that we were gonna be paying an arm and a leg for 4 weeks down the line!

At your wedding you wanted to share a plate with someone else?

Noo · 30-07-2019 10:11am

razorblunt wrote: »

At your wedding you wanted to share a plate with someone else?

I think she means at the tasting she wanted 2 of each plate between the 4 of them so they could have a variety of opinion, but they refused even though they werent paying.

Well that's just rude.

Kolido · 30-07-2019 1:16pm

But could the bride or groom not have tried the steak, I still dont get how she didnt test it.

Edit: Im guessing there were more than 3 meals on the menu, that would make sense.

heldel00 · 30-07-2019 2:06pm

We told the hotel that we were trying to decide between beef and steak.
So at the tasting they prepared two roast beef and two steaks (seeing as there were 4 of us) but when time came to eat the other pair nabbed the steaks because they didn't like beef.
Probably just rude as opposed to stingey.

But not bringing us back to their tasting was stingey

gmisk · 30-07-2019 2:16pm

heldel00 wrote: »

We told the hotel that we were trying to decide between beef and steak.
So at the tasting they prepared two roast beef and two steaks (seeing as there were 4 of us) but when time came to eat the other pair nabbed the steaks because they didn't like beef.
Probably just rude as opposed to stingey.

But not bringing us back to their tasting was stingey

I think that is very very cheeky on both counts.....er steak is beef...so its not much of an excuse

Stingiest things thread(op for R&R access)

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