3 ms·

Thanks for that, you basically described exactly how I feel about tipping in the US. I'm from Europe myself, and where I live, a tip really is a way to explicit

by w0utert 13y ago

Thanks for that, you basically described exactly how I feel about tipping in the US. I'm from Europe myself, and where I live, a tip really is a way to explicitly express appreciation of service, instead of some kind of unwritten rule you have to tip '10% for mediocre service', '15% for satisfactory service' and 'above 15% for outstanding service'. No tip here, basically means 'satisfactory', anything more is considered a reward for great service and I don't mind tipping big at all when the service is good. I travel to the US every now and then, and recently had a heated discussion about tipping with my (also European) colleague, who insisted on tipping at least 15% even though there was nothing special about the service we received. The premise was that this was considered 'normal' in the US, that we had to 'conform to this culture of tipping', and that it would be considered rude to tip less, say 10%. I vehemently oppose this kind of reasoning, because in my opinion, a tip should reflect appreciation. I'm not opposed to tipping when I'm somewhere where waiters are underpaid and depend on decent tips, but I reject the idea I have to follow some kind of 'table' that says the minimum tip is 10%, even if I get served a raw steak. I'd much rather tip a lot less (say 5 to 10%) for mediocre service, and a lot more (say 20 to 25%) for outstanding service, but apparently, this is 'rude' and 'inconsiderate' according to my collegue. The fact that the tip needs to be a percentage of the check doesn't make sense to me anyway. If I order an expensive bottle of wine, the tip would have to increase much more compared to when I order a cheap wine. That doesn't make sense at all, it's completely unrelated to the performance of the waiter.

Jugurtha 13y ago
Yeah, exactly.. About percentages, it makes sense, hence my 30% sometimes 50%. It depends on what you order. What's funny about that is, I live in Algiers, Algeria.. Where a tip is sometimes considered "rude" :D You'll have to insist, or reframe it as "This is for coffee". But people have a hard time accepting a tip: Everything is included in the price, and I don't want charity. Plus, there are a lot of things people do for free.. Like you go to a shop to fill your tires with air.. You take the air pistol and fill your tires .. The shop owner doesns't even expect you to pay, because for them "it's nothing". But most people would still pay as a courtesy (notice how it's interesting that they're not even supposed to pay, yet pay). And on and on, a lot of repairs and all are done and you ask the guy "How much do I owe you ?" and he goes "We're good." I was on a village once, and there is someone there who carved out from his home and made a toilet available to the public. I used that toilet, and threw money outside to the court of that home, several times. I smile at the thought they wondered "WTH is this ?" since they did it for free, just as a gesture for people to use. My friends do that, too (free stuff). They "lose" some money but when you think about it, it's only tiny, since they get multiple folds the value from referrals: Those very people who got something for free bring their acquaintances and become sort of "evangelists".
Zak 13y ago
In the US, tips are how most servers are paid. In many cases, their hourly pay is only enough to cover the taxes on their tips. A low tip is interpreted as some degree of insult, up to and including "I am so dissatisfied with the service I received that I don't think you deserve enough money to support yourself". even if I get served a raw steak The waiter did not cook your steak. It's his job to try to resolve the problem if you tell him about it, and how he handles that situation should certainly influence his tip. If I order an expensive bottle of wine... it's completely unrelated to the performance of the waiter That's not necessarily true. Attempting to up-sell is absolutely part of a server's job, and the convention of tipping a percentage of the bill aligns the server's incentives with the restaurant's profits. I'm not saying that the tipping conventions in the US are the best way to pay servers, but I will say that to disregard such a convention if you know about it is rude. I dislike the German convention of attendants with tip trays outside almost every public toilet, but it's my understanding that failing to leave them at least 50 cents is considered quite rude, so I do it.
- judk 13y ago
  Of a waiter is upselling because they expect ME to pay commission on their ability to overcharge me, the waiter deserves 0 tip.
slantyyz 13y ago
>> I vehemently oppose this kind of reasoning When it comes to cultural differences, you sometimes need to put aside reason and simply "do as the Romans do", so to speak.

by w0utert 13y ago

Jugurtha 13y ago

Yeah, exactly.. About percentages, it makes sense, hence my 30% sometimes 50%. It depends on what you order. What's funny about that is, I live in Algiers, Algeria.. Where a tip is sometimes considered "rude" :D You'll have to insist, or reframe it as "This is for coffee". But people have a hard time accepting a tip: Everything is included in the price, and I don't want charity. Plus, there are a lot of things people do for free.. Like you go to a shop to fill your tires with air.. You take the air pistol and fill your tires .. The shop owner doesns't even expect you to pay, because for them "it's nothing". But most people would still pay as a courtesy (notice how it's interesting that they're not even supposed to pay, yet pay). And on and on, a lot of repairs and all are done and you ask the guy "How much do I owe you ?" and he goes "We're good." I was on a village once, and there is someone there who carved out from his home and made a toilet available to the public. I used that toilet, and threw money outside to the court of that home, several times. I smile at the thought they wondered "WTH is this ?" since they did it for free, just as a gesture for people to use. My friends do that, too (free stuff). They "lose" some money but when you think about it, it's only tiny, since they get multiple folds the value from referrals: Those very people who got something for free bring their acquaintances and become sort of "evangelists".

Zak 13y ago

In the US, tips are how most servers are paid. In many cases, their hourly pay is only enough to cover the taxes on their tips. A low tip is interpreted as some degree of insult, up to and including "I am so dissatisfied with the service I received that I don't think you deserve enough money to support yourself". even if I get served a raw steak The waiter did not cook your steak. It's his job to try to resolve the problem if you tell him about it, and how he handles that situation should certainly influence his tip. If I order an expensive bottle of wine... it's completely unrelated to the performance of the waiter That's not necessarily true. Attempting to up-sell is absolutely part of a server's job, and the convention of tipping a percentage of the bill aligns the server's incentives with the restaurant's profits. I'm not saying that the tipping conventions in the US are the best way to pay servers, but I will say that to disregard such a convention if you know about it is rude. I dislike the German convention of attendants with tip trays outside almost every public toilet, but it's my understanding that failing to leave them at least 50 cents is considered quite rude, so I do it.

judk 13y ago
Of a waiter is upselling because they expect ME to pay commission on their ability to overcharge me, the waiter deserves 0 tip.

slantyyz 13y ago

>> I vehemently oppose this kind of reasoning When it comes to cultural differences, you sometimes need to put aside reason and simply "do as the Romans do", so to speak.