Tipping In Your Own Country

[Sailfast 503]

I prefer the USA type system that allows the customer to decide how much to tip as apposed to the "service charge" that I have seen attached to many bills in the UK, and Asia.

[jacko 8,822]

I prefer the USA type system that allows the customer to decide how much to tip as apposed to the "service charge" that I have seen attached to many bills in the UK, and Asia.

Well you would, you grew up with it...

Personally I like to pay what it says on the menu without being hit up for taxes and having to subsidise the staff after the event.

Edited January 25, 2011 by jacko

[BigDUSA 71]

5 Baht is an insult and again, I would hope you get the service you're paying for! They are service employee's not your free slave! I would be ashamed to show my face in an establishment where I left a 5 baht tip....Unless the service was very poor! .... If you left me a 5 Baht tip after giving you good service..... I would give it back to you....Seems you need the money far more than I do!

 

I would take it. When I stop in a bar for one beer. I leave 5 Baht. I generally tip 10% for good service and 15 for excellent service when I eat out in the US. When the restaurant includes a service charge. I leave no tip.

 

When I'm in a bar and playing with the BG, I tip 100 Baht and if I get a BJ on the couch, I tip way more.

Edited January 25, 2011 by BigDUSA

[ServiceMan78 0]

In America, waiters and waitresses are paid a salary ~ 50% of minimum wage. Tipping 15% is expected. I'm guessing in Europe they have a much higher base salary.

 

You might want to re-word the whole salary part. as of january 2009, they only get paid half of minimum wage. me working as a cook i get a SALARY of 11 an hour. As far as tipping goes, depends on service and mood. If I am starving and the delivery gets here fast enough, i tip heavy. Say about 25%. At a bar, my normal rule of thumb is either a dollar a drink or half what the drink costs...depending of course I am not paying happy hour prices. A friendly smile and polite conversation as well as taking care of me in a restaraunt, about 20% tip. I have made many friends with bartenders here and there if I am drunk, the happier they get. Wont go into details but I have been known to drop quite a bit in tips at the end of the night. Especially if I have a tab. Pattaya, I do tend to tip in bars sometimes other places. Cabs and such I tend to round up and add about 5 dollars depending on the driver. Hope thats enoug info lol

Edited January 25, 2011 by ServiceMan78

[PattayaPete 530]

I was raised in New Zealand where tipping was virtually unheard of. It's changing a little now and is more common as this pernicious habit spreads from other countries.

 

I hate the American system and think it is fundamentally wrong. People should be paid a fair wage for a fair days work. Tips should be recognized as a bonus received for exemplary service, not part of making a basic living. If someone is paid half the minimum wage then the whole concept of a minimum wage is a joke. Clearly the minimum wage is not the minimum wage.

 

Once I started traveling I was very uncomfortable with tipping as it just did not feel right to me. I did tip when it was expected but always felt awkward and worried that I'd tipped too much or not enough. In the US I felt very uncomfortable when time came to pay the bill. Sometimes I'd forget to tip and then notice evil dagger looks from the staff as I was leaving. Often causing me to rush back and fix it although sometimes I couldn't be bothered, particularly if I knew I'd never be back.

 

I have now spent more time away from New Zealand than living there and so have a more worldly attitude to tipping. I do it as I understand it's expected and service staff often need tips to earn a minimum wage in places like America. I'd still far prefer the staff were paid a decent living wage and the extra cost was added to my bill. I can't change the world but I don't have to like it.

 

I am quite comfortable with the situation in Thailand. I tip what I want when I want and have never encountered a bad attitude from anyone because i did not tip. People here earn small money and a tip is accepted for what it is (bonus for good service) with gratitude.

 

In the beer garden most people tip and the staff appreciate it. If someone does not tip no one feels bad or angry and the non-tipper will still be welcomed with good service should he return. We have a very wide variety of customers from all over the world and different cultures tip differently. It would be fair to say that Americans are often the most generous. We also have a big mix of Thai customers. Freelancers and bar girls when paying the bill themselves usually do not tip. No one expects them to.

 

Wealthy Thais on the other hand are often very generous particularly if they have attractive women with them. I think Thais that can afford it, like to flaunt their wealth a little particular to impress the girlfriend.

 

There is one rule of tipping here which I have noticed and adhere too and that is in go go bars. If you have been taking extreme liberty with a go go dancer- kissing - diddling etc. then you should tip 100 baht or more. No tip is acceptable but a 20 baht tip is viewed as an insult. I have seen girls throw a 20 baht note on the floor and walk away. So don't tip at all or dig a little bit deeper and come up with 100. Apart from that I think its very acceptable to tip as much or as little as you feel comfortable doing.

 

A last thought on service charges added to the bill in Thailand. In just about all cases these charges are just bill padding and the staff do not receive anything from it. It's not very prevalent here but its becoming more common, particularly in up market establishments. When I see it done I try to avoid ever going to those places again and if possible tell management why I won't be back. So far no one seems to care

[Emil 0]

Regarding tipping in LOS. I was told that when one leaves a tip on the tray it will be split among the entire service staff. If you like the service provided and want that person to receive the entire tip then put it in their hand.

[alias 111]

I don't know about that. I believe waiters make whatever the state's minimum wage or at least the Federal min wage per hour

 

There is a special category for tipped employees in the US, and they make far less than min wage.

[teelack 9,645]

I was raised in New Zealand where tipping was virtually unheard of. It's changing a little now and is more common as this pernicious habit spreads from other countries.

 

I hate the American system and think it is fundamentally wrong. People should be paid a fair wage for a fair days work. Tips should be recognized as a bonus received for exemplary service, not part of making a basic living. If someone is paid half the minimum wage then the whole concept of a minimum wage is a joke. Clearly the minimum wage is not the minimum wage.

 

Once I started traveling I was very uncomfortable with tipping as it just did not feel right to me. I did tip when it was expected but always felt awkward and worried that I'd tipped too much or not enough. In the US I felt very uncomfortable when time came to pay the bill. Sometimes I'd forget to tip and then notice evil dagger looks from the staff as I was leaving. Often causing me to rush back and fix it although sometimes I couldn't be bothered, particularly if I knew I'd never be back.

 

I have now spent more time away from New Zealand than living there and so have a more worldly attitude to tipping. I do it as I understand it's expected and service staff often need tips to earn a minimum wage in places like America. I'd still far prefer the staff were paid a decent living wage and the extra cost was added to my bill. I can't change the world but I don't have to like it.

 

I am quite comfortable with the situation in Thailand. I tip what I want when I want and have never encountered a bad attitude from anyone because i did not tip. People here earn small money and a tip is accepted for what it is (bonus for good service) with gratitude.

 

In the beer garden most people tip and the staff appreciate it. If someone does not tip no one feels bad or angry and the non-tipper will still be welcomed with good service should he return. We have a very wide variety of customers from all over the world and different cultures tip differently. It would be fair to say that Americans are often the most generous. We also have a big mix of Thai customers. Freelancers and bar girls when paying the bill themselves usually do not tip. No one expects them to.

 

Wealthy Thais on the other hand are often very generous particularly if they have attractive women with them. I think Thais that can afford it, like to flaunt their wealth a little particular to impress the girlfriend.

 

There is one rule of tipping here which I have noticed and adhere too and that is in go go bars. If you have been taking extreme liberty with a go go dancer- kissing - diddling etc. then you should tip 100 baht or more. No tip is acceptable but a 20 baht tip is viewed as an insult. I have seen girls throw a 20 baht note on the floor and walk away. So don't tip at all or dig a little bit deeper and come up with 100. Apart from that I think its very acceptable to tip as much or as little as you feel comfortable doing.

 

A last thought on service charges added to the bill in Thailand. In just about all cases these charges are just bill padding and the staff do not receive anything from it. It's not very prevalent here but its becoming more common, particularly in up market establishments. When I see it done I try to avoid ever going to those places again and if possible tell management why I won't be back. So far no one seems to care

 

 

If I was a fast enough typist or a good enough speller I would have liked to have written most of what Pete has very well expressed.

 

One point however that I would like to emphasise is as follows. The old idea of a TIP (To Insure Promptitude) seems t have long since gone. It is used in so many places as an excuse for NOT paying a liveable or basic wage. This is a dreadfull situation in 2011 and all that pay tips simple extend this slave like situation. Whats the difference from a slave in the fiels receiving nothing for their work and having to rely on "The Masters" handouts in order to be able to live. Grow up world. Less tips means less exploitation. Imagine if all tipping was banned by law, suddenly people would have to be paid a living wage. The cost would end up with the consumer but its not being grovelled for.

[gaijin 146]

That depends on what State you are in, when we owned a business in California you paid ALL employee's no less than minimum wage. But we now have a restaurant in Missouri and here the law states that tipped employee's are to be paid no less than 50% of the required minimum wage (Right to work State), providing they make at least half of the State wage in tips. Our waitresses get paid $3.63 per hour....as long as they make at least $3.63 per hour in tips (which they always do). Tips are earned and not a given, if you get good service the tips will always be there....Bad service, then no tip is expected! same rule should apply anywhere in the world...That's why it's called gratuity! we do not require our wait staff to split any tips with bus boys or dishwashers, but if they choose not to, then don't expect any help when you need it! Our bus boys and dishwashers are all paid the State minimum wage. A tip of 10 or 20 baht is fair as long as your tab is 200 baht or less...If not, you are a "Cheap Charlie"! and I would hope the staff remembers you on your next visit! would you bust your ass for 10 baht? I wouldn't! unless of course your bill is only 100 baht! by the way, standard gratuity is at least 15 to 20% unless you get shitty service.

 

 

One more thing.....Managers NEVER get a tip split.......That would create a conflict of interest!

 

 

Listen, being a waiter/waitress is not exactly a glorious job, which is why I never did it and never will. They have a job to do and they should do it without a dirty look. The fact you pay your staff $3.63/hour is hideous. What if there are no customers for a period of time? You can go on and on about how much people should tip, but the fact is the people that tip a lot are usually not very well off themselves. It's all a front to show people they got money when they really don't. Here in CA, the richest state in the country, we have restaurants where managers DO get a split off the tip. I don't know if that's fair or not, and it's not my business. If waiters don't like it, there are other jobs. But the whole tipping system is getting out of control, used to be 15% would be a very good tip, now the bastards are expecting 20-25%. And then they tell you if you can't afford to tip then don't go out to eat. Well, how about I can afford to go out to eat, but can't afford to tip what they want? HAHAHA! Whoever holds the money is the boss, simple as that.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

The old idea of a TIP (To Insure Promptitude) seems t have long since gone. It is used in so many places as an excuse for NOT paying a liveable or basic wage.

 

The fact you pay your staff $3.63/hour is hideous.

 

A lot of confusion in this thread. I'll to clear up some of it. First the easy part: TIPS does NOT come from To Insure Prompt Service or similar. That is a myth, based on what is often called a "backronym." You can read about it here.

 

Secondly, everyone who works in the U.S. gets paid the equivalent of minimum wage, whether you work in a restaurant or elsewhere. If an employee in any branch is not getting the equivalent of at least minimum wage, the employer is in violation of the law.

 

The confusion occurs because in most states in the U.S., restaurant owners are allowed to pay less than the minimum wage in direct compensation to the waiter, waitress or bartender if the TOTAL compensation per hour, including gratuities, is equal to or above minimum wage. Should the employee not get enough tips to bring hourly compensation up to the minimum, the employer has to make up the difference. So waiters, waitresses and bartenders don't work for less than minimum wage, but the portion of their compensation paid directly by the employer can in some states under some circumstances amount to less than the minimum wage. Total compensation, with or without tips, has to meet the minimum wage.

 

The reasoning behind this system is that tips are seen in the U.S. as part of the waiter or waitress' compensation. In fact, gratuities are by far the most important part of their compensation. A few restaurants in the U.S. have tried to do away with tipping and substitute a mandatory service fee like in Europe, but that hasn't been successful. The wait staff has moved to other restaurants simply because they make more money with tips than without.

 

Most Americans don't regard the standard 15% gratuity as a reward for excellent service, but as a contribution to the server's basic pay. It is simply the functional equivalent of the service charge that is automatically added to restaurant bills in many other countries. BUT the U.S. system of tipping allows the customer to protest bad service by withholding part of the compensation the waiter or waitress would otherwise have received. A tip above 15% would be a recognition of extraordinary service, anything below 15% would be a reprimand.

 

However, tipping is rooted in the culture and society of a country. What's right for the U.S. isn't necessarily applicable to Asia or Europe. In business entertainment situations, i.e., taking customers or colleagues to dinner, I always try to stick to the local custom regarding tips. But in off-duty situations, like a Pattaya bar, I pay what I deem appropriate at the moment. If it is more or less than others would give, I don't care.

 

Evil

[beerboy 40]

i invariably tip in restaurants, and always the maid at the end of the trip. The ones who often don't get anything are taxi drivers here at home. If i have to give directions to get to my place, or whereever, then no way will they get any form of tip.

[nus01 305]

I think what PP said sums the feelings of most that grew up with the service charges included.

 

$3.63 an hour is ludicrous, id suggest even Macdonalds in Australia pay their Part Time 16 year old staff $12 an hour.

[Fondles 94]

I think what PP said sums the feelings of most that grew up with the service charges included.

 

$3.63 an hour is ludicrous, id suggest even Macdonalds in Australia pay their Part Time 16 year old staff $12 an hour.

 

Which begs the question, McDonalds is considered a restaurant (yikes), in America do they pay the staff 50% and expect them to top up the hourly wage with tips, Is tipping at McD's in the states a typical thing ?

[ZARIS 20]

Interesting thread.

Im an aussie who has travelled to both USA and Thailand in the last 12 months.

 

Here in aust wages are quite high and tipping is pretty much reserved for restaurant, bars and cafes, maybe taxis.It is quite common not to tip also.Levels of service here can be quite poor and robotic.Its not unusual for waiters to forget items regularly. Often bars give you the change on a saucer to encourage you to leave a tip.This totally shits me and I never leave a tip in these circumstances.I always tip in resataurants between 5/10$ depending on service.A chinese gf I have here always chastises me for leaving so much.

 

I knew of course that tipping was expected in US. So I tipped, one , two or three dollars mostly, the highest tip was 10$. Cab drivers, hotel staff, tour guides the typical kinds of people you come across as a tourist. I got used to it pretty quick and I did'nt see anything wrong with it.

What I did notice is that the receivers for the large part were appreciative of getting a tip and often said " thanks, I appreciate it" It seemed genuine to me not a robotic response.

The other thing I notice was I tipped less than americans for the same thing.Eg We were in sears restaurant , union square , sanfrancisco , where the seating was tight for lunch.Can't remember what we had but the couple next to us had the identical meals.I tipped 2 $ and they tipped 4$. I also notice when I gave the valet service say 1$, americans were giving 2$.

 

In thailand I also tip anyone who gives me good service or does something nice. Hotel staff including housmaids, reception , security guys, restaurant staff.Actually im happy to tip them between 100 and 500 bt.I once tipped a security guard at the hotel 2000bt after i stayed there for 2 weeks and he was helpful and understanding a few times.

I tip taxi drivers,tuk tuk drivers, massage girls, bar staff even the girl who runs the interenet cafe I frequented. Any one who made my stay more pleasant.

 

One thing I will say in thailand- if you tip or are know as a tipper, when you have a problem with anything , staff are much keener to help you out.Even if its not the staff you have tipped b4.

[nus01 305]

Which begs the question, McDonalds is considered a restaurant (yikes), in America do they pay the staff 50% and expect them to top up the hourly wage with tips, Is tipping at McD's in the states a typical thing ?

I didnt mean to use Macdonalds as a restaurant example .

 

Macdonalds, KFC etc are pretty well recognised as companies that majority of their staff are low leveled lowly paid exploited employees. Yet some 16yr old is getting 4 times the min wage in the USA and considering the $vs$ is virtualy the same at the moment , you struggle to fathom how someone could survive on the min wage.

Edited January 25, 2011 by nus01

[joekicker 53]

There is a special category for tipped employees in the US, and they make far less than min wage.

 

No.

 

There is a special category for tipped employees in the US (by the taxman) BECAUSE they make far more than the minimum wage.

 

$3.63 an hour is ludicrous, id suggest even Macdonalds in Australia pay their Part Time 16 year old staff $12 an hour.

 

McDonald's employees in the US don't get tips and ALL are paid minimum wage or more by McDonald's. All.

 

A last thought on service charges added to the bill in Thailand. In just about all cases these charges are just bill padding and the staff do not receive anything from it. It's not very prevalent here but its becoming more common, particularly in up market establishments. When I see it done I try to avoid ever going to those places again and if possible tell management why I won't be back. So far no one seems to care hairout

 

You don't get out to Thailand much, Pete. Any hotel that isn't a xhithole has to pay VAT, which is currently 7 per cent. About 99% of hotels that pay VAT add a 10 per cent service charge which, as you note, does not go to staff. They also pay a 1 per cent provincial tax. Because there is tax and service, it is referred to as ++. The service and taxes are paid anywhere inside the hotel including restaurants.

 

I think a lot of the anti-tippers here are tipping the hotel owners generously and not even aware of it, although pretty well every establishment charging ++ does itemise the bill, if only in the small print. But an 800 baht hotel lunch buffet will NOT cost 800 baht - it will cost at least 950 baht - because your "service charge" will be figured last, and be on top of VAT and taxes.

 

Restaurants that aren't xhitholes have to do the above also.

 

.

Edited January 25, 2011 by joekicker

[Fondles 94]

Nus01, was not targeting your post but moreso in general asking our American members how the Macca's staff are paid there, is it 50% of the "minimum" wage with the rest expected to be topped up with tips as per previous examples given.

[joekicker 53]

Nus01, was not targeting your post but moreso in general asking our American members how the Macca's staff are paid there, is it 50% of the "minimum" wage with the rest expected to be topped up with tips as per previous examples given.

 

McDonald's employees in the US don't get tips and ALL are paid minimum wage or more by McDonald's. All. Same in Thailand.

 

As in the US, Thais working directly in the service section of nice restaurants or nice hotels are usually paid xrap salaries and make it up very well in tips.

 

.

Edited January 25, 2011 by joekicker

[captcraig2 120]

Listen, being a waiter/waitress is not exactly a glorious job, which is why I never did it and never will. They have a job to do and they should do it without a dirty look. The fact you pay your staff $3.63/hour is hideous. What if there are no customers for a period of time? You can go on and on about how much people should tip, but the fact is the people that tip a lot are usually not very well off themselves. It's all a front to show people they got money when they really don't. Here in CA, the richest state in the country, we have restaurants where managers DO get a split off the tip. I don't know if that's fair or not, and it's not my business. If waiters don't like it, there are other jobs. But the whole tipping system is getting out of control, used to be 15% would be a very good tip, now the bastards are expecting 20-25%. And then they tell you if you can't afford to tip then don't go out to eat. Well, how about I can afford to go out to eat, but can't afford to tip what they want? HAHAHA! Whoever holds the money is the boss, simple as that.

 

 

FYI......My wait staff average anywhere from $80 to $100 in tips on a 4 hour shift.....That's not a bad living where we live. Rent here for a 3 bedroom house is about $400.00 a month.

[captcraig2 120]

I think what PP said sums the feelings of most that grew up with the service charges included.

 

$3.63 an hour is ludicrous, id suggest even Macdonalds in Australia pay their Part Time 16 year old staff $12 an hour.

 

 

McDonalds does not fall under the same umbrella as a tipped employee and are paid minimum wage. There is a big difference between Self Serv and being waited on.

[Fondles 94]

McDonalds does not fall under the same umbrella as a tipped employee and are paid minimum wage. There is a big difference between Self Serv and being waited on.

 

You have self serve Macca's over there, now that shit is awesome, do you get cunts adding like 5 extra all beef patties to their big mac's, how is it policed ??

Edited January 25, 2011 by Fondles

[captcraig2 120]

A lot of confusion in this thread. I'll to clear up some of it. First the easy part: TIPS does NOT come from To Insure Prompt Service or similar. That is a myth, based on what is often called a "backronym." You can read about it here.

 

Secondly, everyone who works in the U.S. gets paid the equivalent of minimum wage, whether you work in a restaurant or elsewhere. If an employee in any branch is not getting the equivalent of at least minimum wage, the employer is in violation of the law.

 

The confusion occurs because in most states in the U.S., restaurant owners are allowed to pay less than the minimum wage in direct compensation to the waiter, waitress or bartender if the TOTAL compensation per hour, including gratuities, is equal to or above minimum wage. Should the employee not get enough tips to bring hourly compensation up to the minimum, the employer has to make up the difference. So waiters, waitresses and bartenders don't work for less than minimum wage, but the portion of their compensation paid directly by the employer can in some states under some circumstances amount to less than the minimum wage. Total compensation, with or without tips, has to meet the minimum wage.

 

The reasoning behind this system is that tips are seen in the U.S. as part of the waiter or waitress' compensation. In fact, gratuities are by far the most important part of their compensation. A few restaurants in the U.S. have tried to do away with tipping and substitute a mandatory service fee like in Europe, but that hasn't been successful. The wait staff has moved to other restaurants simply because they make more money with tips than without.

 

Most Americans don't regard the standard 15% gratuity as a reward for excellent service, but as a contribution to the server's basic pay. It is simply the functional equivalent of the service charge that is automatically added to restaurant bills in many other countries. BUT the U.S. system of tipping allows the customer to protest bad service by withholding part of the compensation the waiter or waitress would otherwise have received. A tip above 15% would be a recognition of extraordinary service, anything below 15% would be a reprimand.

 

However, tipping is rooted in the culture and society of a country. What's right for the U.S. isn't necessarily applicable to Asia or Europe. In business entertainment situations, i.e., taking customers or colleagues to dinner, I always try to stick to the local custom regarding tips. But in off-duty situations, like a Pattaya bar, I pay what I deem appropriate at the moment. If it is more or less than others would give, I don't care.

 

Evil

 

Your post is correct.....If employee's make zero $$ in tips then the employer is required by State law to pay them the required minimum wage. However....If your wait staff is making nothing in tips you better find some new wait staff!

[Fondles 94]

My last trip over there I ordered a pizza for delivery, total came to $18.50, I gave old matey A 20 and told him to keep the change, he got all anal about it so I kept the $1.50 and told him to go fuck himself, stupid cunts.

 

EDIT: just to add, I was on a business trip, no receipt = cannot claim money back......... will they give a receipt for the tip ??

Edited January 25, 2011 by Fondles

[captcraig2 120]

sucks to be you captcraigy, I leave fuck all, if you actually read my post instead of being an all knowing asshole you would notice it's my missus who leaves the 5 baht tip.......sometimes.

 

If your working in a place that only attracts a 5baht tip from my missus it would seem its you who needs the money, not me.

 

Just curious.....What did you wife do for a living before marrying you? if she's Thai I'll bet it was Service related Don't get pissed off at me because you are either cheap or broke!

[Fondles 94]

Just curious.....What did you wife do for a living before marrying you? if she's Thai I'll bet it was Service related Don't get pissed off at me because you are either cheap or broke!

 

Im not married (yet) so I guess there is no need to reply to the rest of your flawed attack but I will, I work here and have done for the past 4yrs (just entered my 5th yr with the same company), Iam on a reasonable expat salary package that affords me to live a reasonable lifestyle.

 

for a taster,

 

Accommodation allowance = Bt,25,000 per month.

Vehicle allowance = Bt.20,000 per month.

health insurance = Full government allowance + full Bupa coverage.

 

actual salary on top of the above = A tidy sum that is equal to a healthy wage in farang land (Australia)

 

might also mention 5 weeks annual leave, 30 paid sick days per year, 8 paid personal days per year, mobile phone expense paid, annual bonus of a minimum 3 months salary, paid yearly trip home (for me and the missus) yada yada yada............

 

 

 

yep my life sucks and Im a cheap cunt without two coins to rub together......... get yourself clue before you attack people in the future.

Edited January 25, 2011 by Fondles