USA tipping culture

[Telstra]

we do not tip here or hardly any tipping.

So over there:
what sort of places do you guys tip and how are u going to tip with electronic cards as tipping is NOT compulsory?

In certain circumstances tipping is like begging.

 

[Telstra]

Why don't they make that tipping fee is compulsory so it doesn't sounds like begging.

Its good for both sides. The customer know the total amount they have to pay and the worker don't need to ask or wait for tips.

 

[justsimon]

Why don't they make that tipping fee is compulsory so it doesn't sounds like begging.

Its good for both sides. The customer know the total amount they have to pay and the worker don't need to ask or wait for tips.

It doesn't sound like begging.

 

[Telstra]

It doesn't sound like begging.

ok, say the hotel worker brings the bags in and waiting for tips, what if a overseas people doesn't know and say thankyou and shuts the door ...

 

[bankside]

Why don't they make that tipping fee is compulsory so it doesn't sounds like begging.

Its good for both sides. The customer know the total amount they have to pay and the worker don't need to ask or wait for tips.

Just imagine that it was standard practise to bill people 20% less than the actual cost of their product or service, and everyone knows that you have to put in 20% more to fully pay off the bill. It sounds insane, but if everyone knows the rules, it would still work really well.

Then go one step further, and allow people some control to vary the 20% up or down depending on the quality of the service they received. That is the idea behind tipping - it does serve as a bit of an incentive for better service because the final amount is not totally guaranteed, and the person hoping to earn a larger tip is aware that they really do have to earn it.

I imagine in Australia that if I got mediocre service at a restaurant I would wish that I had the power to pay somewhat less. I'd keep the money in my pocket and spend it at a different restaurant to tip someone else extra who truly worked hard to make the entire meal a pleasure.

 

[Telstra]

Because if the tip was already added to the bill, then you wouldn't get excellent service because they already know they'll get the tip no matter what. At least this way, they can work for it without expecting a set amount of money afterwards.

excellent service depends on the work place and its owners/bosses.

How can a telemarketer get a tip if he/she sweets talk you and make u wet.

 

[The_Reaper]

I usually tip...But then again, I am a Canadian.

Delivery personnel, given that I used to be one, usually get about two dollars from me.

As for dining in, I use the standard refill/service scale. If I've gotten 2+ refills, without having to ask for them, you start off at $3.

If the service is really good, the waitress/waiter is personable, etc...Then I can go as high as $6 - $8 in some cases.

Of course, if the opposite happens, I start subtracting. Although, I've yet to find a server willing to have to tip me for their bad service...

 

[NineOfClubs]

This has got to be the biggest misconception I know.

I've worked in both situations, viz., tip not added vs. tip added automatically, and I'm here to tell you it makes no difference at all. After all, we still get in as much trouble as ever if a customer complains.

In fact, I think tipping-at-will increases bad service: waiters will hover around people who are known to be big tippers, and give so-so tippers mediocre service. If you don't believe me, try this a couple of times.

I disagree here.

I've been to countries where an automatic 15% or 20% service charge was added to the bill, and the service was terrible, nothing like you'd receive in the US.

 

[Telstra]

This has got to be the biggest misconception I know.

I've worked in both situations, viz., tip not added vs. tip added automatically, and I'm here to tell you it makes no difference at all. After all, we still get in as much trouble as ever if a customer complains.

In fact, I think tipping-at-will increases bad service: waiters will hover around people who are known to be big tippers, and give so-so tippers mediocre service. If you don't believe me, try this a couple of times.

i'm not saying they are begging but looks like begging to me sorry.

 

[Mattzrider]

I got a tip for you, don't stand too close to an open flame.

 

[belamy]

Both the statements of Bi and Nine and of Johan are totally true, and I agree with Telstra ( ) to some point: quality service is just like quality products in general, you just don't get it anywhere and you are plain delusional if you expect so. You can get good and bad service irrespective of the price and depending only on the place.

In Barcelona you can have a coffee for like $1 to $1.5 and it basically will vary according to the location of the place (that is, more or less affluent, tourist-oriented or business district neighborhood) and to whether you take it in or out in the terrace, but it will have NOTHING to do with the product or the service. You can't expect a better coffee and service if you pay more or if it is in a posh neighborhood, and even less if you are not a regular.
There may be particular places where you can find a quality product and service for the same price you would pay anywhere else, but it would cost you time, which is ultimately money, to find such places, so if you want to be served excellently by default, you just go to the Palace Hotel and you will be charged $8, but it would be excellent coffee, excellent professional service and they will include a few tasty cookies

I honestly don't expect, WON'T expect much from people who are just earning a living. It always seemed to me a pretty spoilt, conceited, miserable, ridiculous attitude to expect to be waited on hand and food for a couple miserable coins because you take yourself for Mr. Client as if you were Mr. Marquis of High-Maintenance, like my father used to do. When I want to be comfortable I'm at home or with friends *ahem*, not with someone who just needs the money. It's funny how the prejudice people usually have about whores as not being capable of delivering a "good service" because they are just interested in the money, it's precisely the rule in just any other "decent", "professional" job.

 

[Telstra]

waiters here expects NO tips and they provide excellent to more than excellent service ... its true.
It should be the boss or owners to look after the waiters/workers and not the customers.

 

[Jory]

waiters here expects NO tips and they provide excellent to more than excellent service ... its true.
It should be the boss or owners to look after the waiters/workers and not the customers.

What's the Minimum wage in Oz?

 

[Jory]

*Note to self do not tip the go-go dances in Australia*

 

[Telstra]

What's the Minimum wage in Oz?

about AUD $15 per hour (not sure)
$1 AUD = 65 cent us

 

[Jory]

about AUD $15 per hour (not sure)
$1 AUD = 65 cent us

That would be around $10.18 US

Here the Federal Minimum wage is $6.55 or 9.65 AUD

However each State can pay higher

 

[belamy]

As for the supposed/-ly rational rationale behin tipping, I'd like to know what is the rationale behind five or six-figure salaries and bonuses for managers of businesses in which those ultimately providing direct better or worse service to the client are left to beg their living to the will of that client.
I'm not implying anything about "fairness", only, if tipping is such a well-thought and optimizing business practice, I'd like to know how do you decide the exact amount of money someone deserves for being in a job, beyond justifications with vague, weasel concepts like "higher responsibility" or "value added" .

It always amazed me how people with higher income would lecture on paying only to people "really working hard" for the money, when they often are themselves the perfect example of people spoilt by their luck, their contacts and their position who would ask to be paid literally a fortune for doing a bad job and not taking any responsibility for the consequences of their pillage. Only NOW (we know why) some people seem to start caring about that.

 

[Telstra]

That would be around $10.18 US

Here the Federal Minimum wage is $6.55 or 9.65 AUD

However each State can pay higher

i viewed tipping system in a negative way, i don't know why but it is kinda cheap.
Waiters surrounding rich people because of big tipss.

I prefer waiters to see all customers as equals no matter that customer is rich or not.

 

[belamy]

i viewed tipping system in a negative way, i don't know why but it is kinda cheap.
Waiters surrounding rich people because of big tipss.

That sort of client ass-licking is exactly the same whether you live on tips or on chunks of a sizeable portfolio.

 

[Telstra]

That sort of client ass-licking is exactly the same whether you live on tips or on chunks of a sizeable portfolio.

an extreme example of tipping is a US citizen goes to Africa and throws lollies to kids, thats fine but if they throw lollies to adults, thats not fine.

And it is similar here, customers throwing afew dollars to waiters as tips.