Tipping in the States

[Mtoto]

I've seen a waiter run after a family who didn't tip. It's just the done thing there.

In Amsterdam, a waiter once chased me down the street to give me back the tip I'd left after a very good meal & service. He insisted that service was included and there no requirement to leave anything more. He was really quite angry about it. Very much the norm there apparently.

 

[Mental Lental]

In Amsterdam, a waiter once chased me down the street to give me back the tip I'd left after a very good meal & service. He insisted that service was included and there no requirement to leave anything more. He was really quite angry about it. Very much the norm there apparently.

Same in Japan. No tipping here and you can actually get the staff into trouble if you do. I once tried to tip a waitress in Tokyo Disneyland (thinking it was really just a Yankee state in another country) and the girl chased after me and then when I vociferously insisted she keep it, she shoved the money in my shirt pocket and ran away.

Never tipped anyone in Japan since.

 

[Pinkie Brown]

Same in Japan. No tipping here and you can actually get the staff into trouble if you do. I once tried to tip a waitress in Tokyo Disneyland (thinking it was really just a Yankee state in another country) and the girl chased after me and then when I vociferously insisted she keep it, she shoved the money in my shirt pocket and ran away.

Never tipped anyone in Japan since.

When I went to Japan, I was told offering a tip anywhere would be taken as a personal insult. Funny ol world.......

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Rounds don't really happen as much there for some reason,

Rounds don't happen here either. I had quite an amusing evening explaining round etiquette to a German once. What if people drink at different speeds, what if one drink costs a lot more etc etc were the questions.

 

[BigGully]

Rounds don't happen here either. I had quite an amusing evening explaining round etiquette to a German once. What if people drink at different speeds, what if one drink costs a lot more etc etc were the questions.

Thats the key to why rounds are such great things, you always drink as quick as the quickest person within your round, wonderful !!

 

[Codner's Wallop]

The tipping debacle is symptomatic of a generally disingenuous nation. The American psyche is built around 'you don't get anything for nothing'. That extends to a smile and your grub on time at one of its carb-crushing diners. More so at a swanky Broadway brasserie or bar. The American tipping culture is vulgar and confusing. Surely such an 'advanced' nation can simplify the services it offers its people (and its visitors). You buy a meal, drink or hotel room and you pay for it. There you go, easy really.

Ironically, having visited India on a few occasions and living temporarily among its suburbs of deep poverty, I was always struck by the generosity of its people. Yes they would accept tips, but no-one ever expected them, and the smiles were the same when you left the restaurants, tip or not.

 

[BigGully]

Same in Japan. No tipping here and you can actually get the staff into trouble if you do. I once tried to tip a waitress in Tokyo Disneyland (thinking it was really just a Yankee state in another country) and the girl chased after me and then when I vociferously insisted she keep it, she shoved the money in my shirt pocket and ran away.

Never tipped anyone in Japan since.

I am not a fan of tipping, most of the reasons have already been stated and ultimately we are British and we like to pay without question or decision.

But whether you wish to celebrate the non tipping culture of Holland or Japan whilst lambasting the USA hard-line then its at least worth remembering that if you went to Holland, Japan and the USA and sat down at decent restaurant, which one would cost the least after all the kerfuffle of those tipping cultures, it would undoubtedly be the USA.

So lets start a thread about the owners, landlords and chefs who implement an arbitrary charge on the price they demand for the food they serve.

 

[Cian]

Rounds don't happen here either. I had quite an amusing evening explaining round etiquette to a German once. What if people drink at different speeds, what if one drink costs a lot more etc etc were the questions.

Doesn't surprise me - I was asked in a German bar if the four, different, beers I was buying were all for me. I presume so they could prepare to pick me up off the floor shortly afterwards.

 

[dazzer6666]

I do get it, but owner's ask us to pay his staff wherever you are through the drinks, food, etc etc.

Lets not kid ourselves here, you are likely to get greater value for money in say an American restaurant even with the tipping issue than if you went to most UK restaurants that might be less demanding on the tips whilst just bumping up the charges on their grub.

Go to the States enjoy it, add 20% to most things and relax most thing are 30% cheaper there anyway !!

Pretty much this for me. In my experience service in the US is generally way better than, for example, the UK, so the system kind of works too.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Thats the key to why rounds are such great things, you always drink as quick as the quickest person within your round, wonderful !!

That only works in small groups though. The very worst type of round is the office meal type round where there will be, say, a dozen of you sat round a big table, with the boss's credit card behind the bar and you've finished your drink long before the stragglers have half-finished theirs. In such a scenario I'd much rather just buy my own drinks.

 

[Official Old Man]

I never tip at a bar in the UK and so was very surprised on a visit to USA when our waitress who served us stated 'you don't want the change do you?'. Curry house last night bill was £78 with no service charge and so I handed over £85. On holiday in 'low paid staff' countries I always drop 1$US per 'round' (normally only two of us) and find service gets better as the week goes on.

 

[Uncle C]

Interested to hear what you think would happen. If everybody refused to tip.

 

[dazzer6666]

That only works in small groups though. The very worst type of round is the office meal type round where there will be, say, a dozen of you sat round a big table, with the boss's credit card behind the bar and you've finished your drink long before the stragglers have half-finished theirs. In such a scenario I'd much rather just buy my own drinks.

If the boss's credit card is behind the bar you just order another drink. Simple.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

If the boss's credit card is behind the bar you just order another drink. Simple.

Yeah, I'm surprised THPP hadn't thought of that. Schoolboy error.

 

[Questions]

Big family meals when you go to one of those steakyburgeryteximexigrillyhousey restaurants and you get a round in for 10 at the bar for everyone and then everyone gets escorted to the table and all the drinks then go on the bill. Hold on let's have at least 2 drinks before my shitty lump of charred something and potato wedges arrives.
Then when you see everyone's face when you say put a tip in. Occasional goer-outers......fecking hell.

 

[BigGully]

That only works in small groups though. The very worst type of round is the office meal type round where there will be, say, a dozen of you sat round a big table, with the boss's credit card behind the bar and you've finished your drink long before the stragglers have half-finished theirs. In such a scenario I'd much rather just buy my own drinks.

Agreed, worse still the meal round, just out with couples.

No one daring to go for the cheaper option and when a naive young pup orders something under a tenner, their partner knee nudge and pointing to the previously unseen fillet steak dish coming in at £25.00.

Horrible stuff.

 

[dazzer6666]

Agreed, worse still the meal round, just out with couples.

No one daring to go for the cheaper option and when a naive young pup orders something under a tenner, their partner knee nudge and pointing to the previously unseen fillet steak dish coming in at £25.00.

Horrible stuff.

Obvious, but even worse is the person/couple who count out the cash for EXACTLY what they had.........'we didn't have a dessert, here's our £43.57'

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Obvious, but even worse is the person/couple who count out the cash for EXACTLY what they had.........'we didn't have a dessert, here's our £43.57'

I can empathize with people who don't drink alcohol in such a scenario, with everyone else ordering bottles of wine etc.

 

[dazzer6666]

I can empathize with people who don't drink alcohol in such a scenario, with everyone else ordering bottles of wine etc.

Yeah that's fair enough......we just usually make a sensible adjustment if that happens, doesn't usually need calculators......

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Yeah that's fair enough......we just usually make a sensible adjustment if that happens, doesn't usually need calculators......

Sorry - I can sympathise, not empathise!

But, yes, whenever I'm out and I know i've spent more it's only fair to suggest the others pay less.