The whole tipping culture in western countries is unfair and totally wrong!

[BuNga_cute]

I don't live in the US, but I have heard of their tipping culture and it's becoming a must every time people will pay for dine in or avail for such services.

But it seems that most workers are expecting tips even if the customers are not comfortable giving that to them and hasn't received good service from them.

It should be out of kindness and voluntarily because they're paid to do their job and whoever started it making it as a responsibility as a customer, well, it's on you folks if you're feeling that you want to give the tip, give it. However, it should not really be a mandatory.

I don't live in the USA but giving tips is also common in my country, it is like rewarding people who do their job more than they are required to do, or if we know for ourselves that they have been outstanding to provide us with a better service we deserve. I usually give tips only when I know I troubled the staff too much with too many question or we know the price that I paid is too low for the item or service done. It is not required but it can help a bit to the staff. It will still depend on us, we are not required to give tip especially if we feel they don't deserve it or the price we already pay for the item is already high to cover their service.

It seems that the culture of giving tips already exists in many countries and it is indeed a common thing that we often find in everyday life.
So I don't have a problem with that happening, like you said giving tips is not a must for us to do. If indeed we are satisfied with the services
provided, there is nothing wrong with giving rewards to workers by giving a few tips. I also often do it when I eat at a restaurant or stay at a hotel,
I will give tips if I think the service is satisfactory. If I think the service of the worker is bad, I will not give tips, I usually complain to the manager
at the restaurant or hotel I visit. So in my opinion the culture of giving tips is not wrong and should not be eliminated. It is very good to
motivate workers to show their best service to customers.

[Ultegra134]

I find it hard to understand tipping culture like it is in US. For example two situations, you order your menu at the McDonalds, go to the table and wait for a guy to bring your food. And you go to any restaurant of café, make an order and wait similarly for the food. In first case the guy brings you food, and maybe a balloon for your kid. In the second case also a person simply brings you food, but expect 10-20% tip. Both of them get more or less similar hourly payment. Both of them run here and there whole day, but a waiter gets tipped, McDonalds employee dont.

I dont understand the idea of tipping a bartender. He can cheat you with pouring less, he can give you dead beer for example (no bubbles, or give a glass filled half with foam), he can even bring his own bottle of whiskey (I've seen such guys) and in general sell this bottle 5x its cost (you buy 15-20 EUR worth whiskey bottle, sell each 50ml drink for 5-7 EUR). Not all bartenders are like that, but I've seen how bartenders cheat on drunk people and receive tips from them...

I think that tipping goes well beyond food and catering businesses in the USA. You're expected to tip your hairdressers, assistance employees, taxi drivers, beauty salons. It's a generally widespread practice. While I'm not against tipping a reasonable amount of money if the service was great, charging huge amounts of over 15-25% is outrageous.

Dining outside and services are generally a lot more expensive in the U.S. compared to Europe, and especially Greece in my case. Dinner for two ranges from 25-40 euros here. Most I've spent is about there, in the U.S. though, it's way more than that, and you also have to pay sales tax if I'm not mistaken and to leave an approximate 20% tip.

I am not against tipping either, but sometimes it is hard to understand the culture, why one employee class should or must be tipped, but others dont. For example I can go to an electric appliance store and get a 30min consultation, then other guy involved, that will get my item from warehouse to cash desk, and I am not suppose to tip those two. But it is a good manner to tip a guy that will deliver a pizza for me. He will just pick up pizza and give it to me. Two employees perhaps get same $/hour rate, but in first case I think it is ok to give consultant some tips, because his knowledge and experience was useful. But in second case, why should I give tips of guys work is basically walking or driving. I am confused.

Yeah, totally broken logic. A sales assistant will spend his time and usually may not result in a sale, but he's not expecting a tip. Certainly, he's probably getting paid more from his employer than a waiter, but how is it any different for us?

Anyway, this isn't my main concern. My main issue is that I'm a middle class citizen. How am I supposed to pay for someone else's wage? With these increasing costs, I can barely afford to eat outside, let alone tip huge amounts. If the service is good, I usually round up to the nearest euro or two.

[stomachgrowls]

Yeah, totally broken logic. A sales assistant will spend his time and usually may not result in a sale, but he's not expecting a tip. Certainly, he's probably getting paid more from his employer than a waiter, but how is it any different for us?

Anyway, this isn't my main concern. My main issue is that I'm a middle class citizen. How am I supposed to pay for someone else's wage? With these increasing costs, I can barely afford to eat outside, let alone tip huge amounts. If the service is good, I usually round up to the nearest euro or two.

That is one of the reasons we have stopped dining out. I have difficulty understand and digesting that I have to tip no matter what.
last night while eating out - I felt so bad when the waiter just stood in front of us staring at us because  he just wanted money.

You could actually able to understand on just seeing their facial expressions or just their gestures that they are really expecting something which is that "tip".Some are really that too sensitive when it comes to this

manner.No one could really force you on giving up tips because it is something not that mandatory or obliged on doing so.If you do find yourself get stressed then you shouldnt be dining at all.

We can really feel up somehow that their wages are short or not enough but thats how reality works and there's nothing we can do on that, this is why they are really
longing on getting tips for them at least have something for that day but its not really that necessary honestly.

[bakasabo]

I find it hard to understand tipping culture like it is in US. For example two situations, you order your menu at the McDonalds, go to the table and wait for a guy to bring your food. And you go to any restaurant of café, make an order and wait similarly for the food. In first case the guy brings you food, and maybe a balloon for your kid. In the second case also a person simply brings you food, but expect 10-20% tip. Both of them get more or less similar hourly payment. Both of them run here and there whole day, but a waiter gets tipped, McDonalds employee dont.

I dont understand the idea of tipping a bartender. He can cheat you with pouring less, he can give you dead beer for example (no bubbles, or give a glass filled half with foam), he can even bring his own bottle of whiskey (I've seen such guys) and in general sell this bottle 5x its cost (you buy 15-20 EUR worth whiskey bottle, sell each 50ml drink for 5-7 EUR). Not all bartenders are like that, but I've seen how bartenders cheat on drunk people and receive tips from them...

I think that tipping goes well beyond food and catering businesses in the USA. You're expected to tip your hairdressers, assistance employees, taxi drivers, beauty salons. It's a generally widespread practice. While I'm not against tipping a reasonable amount of money if the service was great, charging huge amounts of over 15-25% is outrageous.

Dining outside and services are generally a lot more expensive in the U.S. compared to Europe, and especially Greece in my case. Dinner for two ranges from 25-40 euros here. Most I've spent is about there, in the U.S. though, it's way more than that, and you also have to pay sales tax if I'm not mistaken and to leave an approximate 20% tip.

I am not against tipping either, but sometimes it is hard to understand the culture, why one employee class should or must be tipped, but others dont. For example I can go to an electric appliance store and get a 30min consultation, then other guy involved, that will get my item from warehouse to cash desk, and I am not suppose to tip those two. But it is a good manner to tip a guy that will deliver a pizza for me. He will just pick up pizza and give it to me. Two employees perhaps get same $/hour rate, but in first case I think it is ok to give consultant some tips, because his knowledge and experience was useful. But in second case, why should I give tips of guys work is basically walking or driving. I am confused.

The difference is that the sales assistant has, as a rule, a direct and understandable motivation. The buyer advised by him, having bought the goods, will automatically form an additional% for him. You should know that in most chain stores, the seller's rate consists of a fixed part and a % of the sales that he "warmed up" with his advice or recommendation. And for example, a hairdresser, taxi driver, waiter - as a rule, there is only a rate, and the subject of a tip is mentioned during employment. In a word, the reason for the presence of tips is the peculiarities of the formation of the wage fund. In many restaurants / pubs / cafes, a % is necessarily included in the check to pay for the work of waiters.

PS. But if you don't like the service, you have the right not to pay a tip

Ok, that might be a bad example from me. But what about the job of a secretary and a job of waitress. Both jobs are not highly paid jobs. What a waitress do - get an order, bring order, bring bill, get tips, clear table. What a secretary do - greet customers, lead customers to specific place or person, give little consultations, works with correspondence and etc. Same "rate only job", but no one tips a secretary. In order words, why someone that works for a rate get a tip, others dont. Never seen someone tips janitor for example.

[arwin100]

Yeah, totally broken logic. A sales assistant will spend his time and usually may not result in a sale, but he's not expecting a tip. Certainly, he's probably getting paid more from his employer than a waiter, but how is it any different for us?

Anyway, this isn't my main concern. My main issue is that I'm a middle class citizen. How am I supposed to pay for someone else's wage? With these increasing costs, I can barely afford to eat outside, let alone tip huge amounts. If the service is good, I usually round up to the nearest euro or two.

That is one of the reasons we have stopped dining out. I have difficulty understand and digesting that I have to tip no matter what.
last night while eating out - I felt so bad when the waiter just stood in front of us staring at us because  he just wanted money.

You could actually able to understand on just seeing their facial expressions or just their gestures that they are really expecting something which is that "tip".Some are really that too sensitive when it comes to this

manner.No one could really force you on giving up tips because it is something not that mandatory or obliged on doing so.If you do find yourself get stressed then you shouldnt be dining at all.

We can really feel up somehow that their wages are short or not enough but thats how reality works and there's nothing we can do on that, this is why they are really
longing on getting tips for them at least have something for that day but its not really that necessary honestly.

This is to bad on service industry since it will just push people to give bad service to those people who they think it will not give any tip in return. So its really not good to give some tip so that the what so called tradition will be stop on this and they trait all people who will dine in on the restaurant fair.

This is not issue about their wages because this is sad part of reality and they should provide good service so that people will be happy on what they experience on the restaurants they eat since all of people deserve fair treatment without giving any compensation to the staff.

[trendcoin]

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And its also because the guys in the restaurant will remember you don't give tips to them, they will spit and piss on your drink which I'm sure you won't like it.  This is why I also give tips to some waiters who will serve me on a restaurant because I've seen it first hand what they did to someone's food.
...

I think if there is such a possibility, we shouldn't eat at that restaurant. "The possibility of the waiters to put something dirty in my drink" makes me a mentally ill. :) Such a possibility does not disappear with a good tip. I think such a possibility is always extremely dangerous. :)


I think the topic title is a bit provocative. If we choose more gentle expressions on regional and cultural distinctions, we will protect our common life culture.

I'm not a rich person. When I give a tip, I'm give it by specifying it. There is a word in our lands: Az veren candan, çok veren maldan verir.

People who are not rich have few assets, but their few assets are very valuable for them. It is a great sacrifice to give a small piece from valuable assets. People who are rich have many assets, and their assets are always less valuable for them. It is less sacrifice to give a small piece of less valuable assets.

It was very difficult for me to explain this. I hope it is understood.

[cabron]

...
And its also because the guys in the restaurant will remember you don't give tips to them, they will spit and piss on your drink which I'm sure you won't like it.  This is why I also give tips to some waiters who will serve me on a restaurant because I've seen it first hand what they did to someone's food.
...

I think if there is such a possibility, we shouldn't eat at that restaurant. "The possibility of the waiters to put something dirty in my drink" makes me a mentally ill. Such a possibility does not disappear with a good tip. I think such a possibility is always extremely dangerous.


I think the topic title is a bit provocative. If we choose more gentle expressions on regional and cultural distinctions, we will protect our common life culture.

I'm not a rich person. When I give a tip, I'm give it by specifying it. There is a word in our lands: Az veren candan, çok veren maldan verir.

People who are not rich have few assets, but their few assets are very valuable for them. It is a great sacrifice to give a small piece from valuable assets. People who are rich have many assets, and their assets are always less valuable for them. It is less sacrifice to give a small piece of less valuable assets.

It was very difficult for me to explain this. I hope it is understood.

Made me use the google translate which it says "Those who give little give from the soul, those who give much give from the goods."
Probably those who give little means its what they can afford to give.  Giving much means they really are rich.

I'm not very aware of the Turkish Culture but what I've learned from a pastor was that "its better to give then to receive." Acts 20:35

Not all crew of restaurants do that though so don't generalize it. There are good people, restore your faith to humanity. 

[Davidvictorson]

Its not mandatory but we're used to it already.
And its also because the guys in the restaurant will remember you don't give tips to them, they will spit and piss on your drink which I'm sure you won't like it.  This is why I also give tips to some waiters who will serve me on a restaurant because I've seen it first hand what they did to someone's food.

Seem unfair indeed. But for construction crew, it should be the foreman that has to give the tip.

If you ever visited the US from other countries, the first thing you may likely notice when you eat at restaurants is that tipping is the unwritten mandatory rule and when you don't tip, guilt is what comes naturally. Maybe because when compared to construction workers, tipping substitutes for a decent salary and waitresses depend on it to make a little better living wage.

[DrBeer]

Ok, that might be a bad example from me. But what about the job of a secretary and a job of waitress. Both jobs are not highly paid jobs. What a waitress do - get an order, bring order, bring bill, get tips, clear table. What a secretary do - greet customers, lead customers to specific place or person, give little consultations, works with correspondence and etc. Same "rate only job", but no one tips a secretary. In order words, why someone that works for a rate get a tip, others dont. Never seen someone tips janitor for example.

Let's clarify, you most likely do not mean the secretary, but the office manager.
A good secretary costs very good money.

An office manager is a position for young people gaining experience INSIDE THE TEAM. And there the scope of work, schedule, rate are agreed in advance.

But the waiter is a little different. They do not have a guaranteed income, tk. The income of such establishments depends only on the number of visitors. And one of the factors that attract visitors, other things being equal (prices, range of dishes), is the QUALITY of service.

I have several favorite establishments in my city, and I consider it quite normal to leave 10-15% of the bill to the waiter, who: will always find me a table, recommend a new dish according to my taste and preferences, tell me the menu, serve the dish as I like just me, etc. This is already "creative" in his, on the one hand, dull work - come / give / take away.

The same goes for taxi drivers, hotel workers, and so on.

And most importantly - if everyone helps those who need it with a small amount - the world will become a better place :)ter place

[MarjorieZimmermanGinger]

This is something that I can't still understand, why is there so much pressure to tip in restaurant, in taxi, tip to the delivery guy, etc.

You seem to have misinterpreted the tipping, there is no emphasis on giving this, but one can choose who they will give it to.
Restaurants, taxis, delivery people are jobs that offer services, the tendency of people to give tips to these three classes of work is caused by the level of service satisfaction, so people consider it necessary to give a little tip as a reward, but its nature is not as pressure or obligation.

The business model that restaurants have is that they pay very low salaries to their employees and get most of the profit in their own pocket. Why is it socially accepted in western countries? Especially in the USA and Canada?

And I don't think tipping the three jobs you mention, because their pay is low, this kind of thing has absolutely nothing to do with tipping.
In fact, I can assure you, the people who tip these workers don't know for sure what their salary is.
The nature of the tip is not a request made by the worker, so there is no reason to refuse a gift. Although this kind of culture is seen as not good in life.

Instead of social pressure to leave tips, why isn't there pressure on business owners to pay them more?

Every worker knows the contents of the contract that is offered when they are accepted at the restaurant, taxi and delivery officer, with the consequence that they are willing to be paid according to the rules set by the company.
If the job doesn't feel right, then I don't think it's necessary to work there, in the area where I live it is very difficult to find work, things like this should not be ignored.

Back again to each individual, and I think many people also refuse to accept tips, because they think this kind of culture of giving is not appropriate, if applied in social life. Thus we can conclude, that each individual will determine the problem of the recipient or not of the tip.

[Anonylz]

The biggest difference is, if someone does a bad job at any other business, they would be either fired, or warned, or just ignored, but in any job that you are required to get a tip to survive, if you do a bad job, or if the customer is cheap, you are going to end up starving because you are not getting paid enough. That’s the thing, in my nation we have tipping too, it's not as "culture" as it is in the USA for example, and the guy who gets it, gets paid the same amount that 20%+ of our nation does, and that means any guy at a factory making your shirt is getting the same money.

West needs to realize that you can't have a job in the world that says "you either do a good job and good tips, or you are going hungry to bed tonight", that’s not acceptable.

I won't consider myself having a job when my earnings will solely rely on people's generosity and not because I have worked for the money and deserve to be paid. What happens if majority are facing economic crisis and decided to go tipping-less I will be left barely nothing because others are suffering. I honestly don't know why this should be allowed is an advanced country like the United States because it seem like explanation on both customers and workers who have to survive on tips.

[nurilham]

In my place, usually not pegged to give a tip, just sincerity from us and this is not mandatory. If we are satisfied with the service, we can give a tip, if not giving a tip is fine. But indeed there are some merchants who actually do not recommend giving tips.

However, this seems to be different in some countries where tipping may not be mandatory but has become a habit, so when we don't tip it will look strange or be considered something that is not in accordance with the service.

If these tips are not big enough, it might not be a problem, but if they are big and happen anywhere, indeed this may be an unexpected addition to expenses for foreigners who come to the country.

However, the culture of each country is different, so in my opinion, follow what is in that country so that we become more comfortable. So, I will not justify that it is fair/unfair/true/wrong.

[goldkingcoiner]

Tipping culture is fine and just as the way it should be. By which I mean not peer-pressured or otherwise pressured upon you. I have no idea why the US demands tips and looks down upon those that do not tip, but says absolutely nothing about how low the hourly wages are. Are restaurant owners in America so broke that they have to coerce the employee's paychecks out of their customers? But then again this is US "culture". I have never witnessed such coercion in Europe. In many Asian countries like Japan, tipping is considered insulting to the waiter/cook/owner.

[spectre71]

Welp, most employees do the least amount possible as they can get away with. They are incentivized to be good because there take home will be reflected in money. A shining example is bartending.

Pay them more with no tips (Seattle) and they will be lazy.

When SF did it's number on min wage I stopped tipping in SF. I paid  it already.

So when a breakfast goes from 8.99 to 17.99 due to wages, I stop tipping. They don't get both.

[bakasabo]

What is your opinion on this?



I've never been to Hawaii, but tipping there seems to be like a must. I can understand parking valets tipping, as they help to save time, concierges - as they solve your problem, porters, as they also have. But a bartender - pouring drinks seems to be their original work, why it should be tipped ?

[teosanru]

First of all, A few people saying this optional and not mandatory might not know it's mandatory at many places infact some add it into the bill as Service Charge.

Talking about the flawed logic first, you are absolutely right why should one tip someone what they are assigned to do? Also if they are having low pays out of profits of hotels, it's absolutely the hotel's fault who is charging so much from me and not giving enough to it's waiters or staff. They should correct their business model first. Secondly if this is the criteria there a lot of people who are underpaid even in corporates this way to one should tip everyone after completing their task.

[DrBeer]

What is your opinion on this?
I've never been to Hawaii, but tipping there seems to be like a must. I can understand parking valets tipping, as they help to save time, concierges - as they solve your problem, porters, as they also have. But a bartender - pouring drinks seems to be their original work, why it should be tipped ?

In part, I have been lucky enough to travel a lot and have visited over 40 countries around the world. And to be honest - not a few restaurants and pubs in those countries where I visited, a certain percentage must be included in the check. As a rule, it is called something like "for service".
I did not specify the scheme of remuneration of waiters, but I will assume that they have a base - the lowest rate, and everything else is just the same "tips" or "payment for service". Therefore, the check you provided is not something surprising!

[KennyR]

What is your opinion on this?



I've never been to Hawaii, but tipping there seems to be like a must. I can understand parking valets tipping, as they help to save time, concierges - as they solve your problem, porters, as they also have. But a bartender - pouring drinks seems to be their original work, why it should be tipped ?

Everything have got some reason. Bartender pouring the drinks seems to be easy. Here he need to make the perfect mix and if you ask for something unique he/she needs to make it for your taste. Above all, he is the only person who can understand well about your drinks limit and give accordingly. Another thing, if you're found dozed he too have responsibility to send you home with safety or take you to the lounge for rest. Being a bartender and receiving tips too got some good reasons 

[DrBeer]

What is your opinion on this?
I've never been to Hawaii, but tipping there seems to be like a must. I can understand parking valets tipping, as they help to save time, concierges - as they solve your problem, porters, as they also have. But a bartender - pouring drinks seems to be their original work, why it should be tipped ?

In part, I have been lucky enough to travel a lot and have visited over 40 countries around the world. And to be honest - not a few restaurants and pubs in those countries where I visited, a certain percentage must be included in the check. As a rule, it is called something like "for service".
I did not specify the scheme of remuneration of waiters, but I will assume that they have a base - the lowest rate, and everything else is just the same "tips" or "payment for service". Therefore, the check you provided is not something surprising!

Oh - wow - 40 countries - but how come?
DO you travel on your own or your job takes you to the places. Which country you liked the most among all the 40 countries?
I mean as far as hospitality is concerned and the culture ofcourse.

Not to brag, but to answer a question
USA, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Greece, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Albania , Britain, Ireland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Belarus, Turkey, Egypt, Madagascar, Algeria, Tunisia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Camdoba, Singapore, Indonesia, New Zealand.. Maybe I missed something 2/3 - tourism, 1/3 - work.

The most memorable - Thailand, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Peru. These countries are the most different from everything I visited.
Although most countries also really liked - nature, culture, cuisine, people ...
The only country where there are ambiguous feelings is Cuba ...
I can’t say that somewhere I was met not hospitably, or hostilely. In Mexico, it was interesting to go on my own outside of Cancun, to "authentic Mexico" and not touristy. A little risky, but a lot of memories

[DrBeer]

What is your opinion on this?



I've never been to Hawaii, but tipping there seems to be like a must. I can understand parking valets tipping, as they help to save time, concierges - as they solve your problem, porters, as they also have. But a bartender - pouring drinks seems to be their original work, why it should be tipped ?

Everything have got some reason. Bartender pouring the drinks seems to be easy. Here he need to make the perfect mix and if you ask for something unique he/she needs to make it for your taste. Above all, he is the only person who can understand well about your drinks limit and give accordingly. Another thing, if you're found dozed he too have responsibility to send you home with safety or take you to the lounge for rest. Being a bartender and receiving tips too got some good reasons 

only in Japan - people work hard and don't want to be tipped
I have heard that people dont like to be tipped in Japan

Japan has a very peculiar culture, or rather ethical standards. They say that tipping is somehow insulting or humiliating. To be honest, I did not understand this issue deeply, but there is such a nuance. At the same time, on the other hand, I heard that this is not an absolute rule. But it should be noted that culture and traditions in Japan are revered very seriously. In a word, you don’t need to say that it’s “not right with tips” or “but in Japan they don’t give tips” - at the beginning it’s worth imbued with their culture and traditions