4 ms·

Personally I am not a fan of "pay-what-you-want" products. It sounds very utopian but it neglects the cost of a guilty conscience. I try to derive a fair price

Personally I am not a fan of "pay-what-you-want" products. It sounds very utopian but it neglects the cost of a guilty conscience. I try to derive a fair price in my head but it's still a balancing act between feeling like I underpaid and I'm a jerk or I overpaid and I'm a chump. Overall, pay-what-you-want feels more like marketing than a socialist ideal.

corin_ 15y ago
I suspect this is very similar to tipping - many people say that it's illogical, or that they hate it, or it makes them feel awkward... but personally I love tipping, it's something I am actively happy about when in America (not so much tipping here in the UK). Personally, if the service is terrible I'll leave no tip, if it's standard, as expected, I'll leave a generic tip (something like 10-20% in restaurants, depending on the total price), if it's great I'll leave a generous tip. I often feel good being able to thank someone by tipping well, and the only times I have ever felt bad about it were when I wanted to tip more but didn't have the change on me and there was no way to add the tip to a card payment. So I guess it's just different people prefer different situations socially.
- darklajid 15y ago
  That's a good point that can support both your position - and the gp. I'm totally with you regarding tipping. Coming from DE this is something you're doing voluntarily, for good service and as much as you like. It's a 'well done' or 'thank you'. Now I'm in IL and here it is - for all intents and purposes - mandatory. The bill says 'SERVICE NOT INCLUDED' (yes, often in caps. Some waiters like to make sure that foreigners 'get it' by saying it again once or twice or using a marker to make it even more prominent on the bill). You are expected to give a tip of 10%. Service is shitty, food was crap? If you don't give the tip, people might come after you and discuss it. Since I loathe that custom I could understand if the gp has a similar mindset, feeling _forced_ to pay up.

corin_ 15y ago

I suspect this is very similar to tipping - many people say that it's illogical, or that they hate it, or it makes them feel awkward... but personally I love tipping, it's something I am actively happy about when in America (not so much tipping here in the UK). Personally, if the service is terrible I'll leave no tip, if it's standard, as expected, I'll leave a generic tip (something like 10-20% in restaurants, depending on the total price), if it's great I'll leave a generous tip. I often feel good being able to thank someone by tipping well, and the only times I have ever felt bad about it were when I wanted to tip more but didn't have the change on me and there was no way to add the tip to a card payment. So I guess it's just different people prefer different situations socially.

darklajid 15y ago
That's a good point that can support both your position - and the gp. I'm totally with you regarding tipping. Coming from DE this is something you're doing voluntarily, for good service and as much as you like. It's a 'well done' or 'thank you'. Now I'm in IL and here it is - for all intents and purposes - mandatory. The bill says 'SERVICE NOT INCLUDED' (yes, often in caps. Some waiters like to make sure that foreigners 'get it' by saying it again once or twice or using a marker to make it even more prominent on the bill). You are expected to give a tip of 10%. Service is shitty, food was crap? If you don't give the tip, people might come after you and discuss it. Since I loathe that custom I could understand if the gp has a similar mindset, feeling _forced_ to pay up.