Random Rants
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@WhiskeySandwich American tipping culture fascinated me and my wife when we travelled across America for our honeymoon. The expectations were all over the place and we couldn’t get a feel for it whatsoever. Some people seemed delighted to receive a tip of a certain percentage whilst others were clearly insulted or generally unimpressed by it. My uncle who is American says he withholds tips for explicitly shit service - he’s in his 70s and doesn’t have much patience for incompetence. I can’t imagine how that would go down!?
I also was under the impression that the American tipping culture (which in comparison to UK norms is quite inflated) was at its core a nice thing that was supposed to uplift shit wages - looking after one another. Sounds like it’s not necessarily just that?
Here in the UK I generally tip 10% as standard for most things that fall into the ‘tipping’ category and everyone always seems content with that regardless of where I am. Some places automatically add tips to the bill, which does save a bit of headache - from my experience these tend to fall within the 7-10% bracket.6'4". Wingspan of Phelps.
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The standard here for a very long time was 15% and has crept up to 18% with options of 22-25%. I asked my stylist the other day when she was cutting my hair how tips worked there. If I didn't directly slide her money, then it all went into the general pot to be redistributed to everyone in the business.
I am tipping her directly because I feel she cuts my hair well and get a little pissed off thinking my tip goes to the receptionist who just spent 5 minutes on the phone and couldn't be bothered when I was trying to pay and walk out of the store.
Every time I go now is with some cash in my pocket for my stylist...
"I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)
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@long_john86 thanks for sharing! and i agree. its confusing as hell, even for us americans. it seems these days EVERYONE expects 20% as a standard upcharge for anything they touch. Automatic tipping is usually only included in restaurant bills for larger parties (about 8 or above). When I was younger, I recall 15% being a standard good service tip, and was shocked to hear at some point i was shorting people by 5%. Food delivery also expects a tip, but recently also added a delivery charge. So recently I paid a 5$ delivery fee, and a 10% tip for food that was after-the-fact delivered 40 minutes late and cold. I generally would give someone a piece of my mind for that, but these days it doesn't seem wise to do that to someone who knows where your family lives. Instead I've chosen to not participate in these services any longer. I would prefer to conduct business AT the business and remove unnecessary fees and variables from the equation.
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@goosehd absolutely agree with this
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We have the opposite in DK, where tipping in Restaurants was at least until recently not common (at all). Given generally high prices and wages the effect is often that it is VERY visible that your serving staff does not depend (or expect) a tip. Always positively impressed in the US when you get really friendly and helpful service
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As a non-American, I fucking hate the level of stress that the Byzantine tipping system/culture/expectations gives me when in the US. I'm used to deciding whether I tip or not, and 10% is plenty. The whole US travel experience is stressful and annoying I don't need that shit. I have determined that I will only ever go back to see specific friends or to go to a specific function. The US is now completely off my radar for a relaxing holiday.
"OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011
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@Giles said in Random Rants:
The whole US
travelexperience is stressful and annoying -
I know this is the rant section
In my upcoming US trip, I will try to ignore stress-free empty roads, friendly service, constant friendly personal contacts, and amazing nature and scenery.
Expect report back from crazy encounters with tip-insistent, stressful armed rednecks at the September party... (oh wait.. some of them will be there....) -
@Tago-Mago HA, seen it all.. even those parts of the US where most Americans don't travel (coastal Mississippi anyone?)... For me: the more remote and small-town the better. Real rude and arrogant I have only encountered in NYC and LA
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@Tobi depends where you go....we armed rednecks tend to be pretty easy-going out in the boonies if left alone or in good company
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@WhiskeySandwich exactly my point...
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@Giles Totally. The only two experiences that beat the US tipping confusion/stress for me was haggling culture in Marrakesh or trying to pay for a taxi in Tehran. Both bloody horrible experiences and I will never return to either place as a result
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Automatic service charges of 10/15/20% seem to becoming increasingly prominent in the UK in recent years...
I've always left at least a 10% tip on bills (barring awful service) as it's something I always saw my parents do when I was growing up. The moment it's position as near-mandatory, though, is the moment my defiant tendencies kick in...
I was at a nice steak house in London recent with a friend (who I respect and care for very much) who is admittedly a little clueless socially, and I often find myself dying a little inside at his civil faux-pas' ...
As we were in a bit of a rush, I politely asked the waiter to skip the niceties, and arrange for the food to be bought out as quickly as possible.
After 90 minutes, numerous delays and the wrong dishes being bought out, I've never been more grateful for my friend bellowing 'NOPE, YOU CAN TAKE THAT RIGHT OFF!' when he saw an automatically added 25% service charge
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I will only withhold a tip for egregious bad service, which I hardly ever see by my definition. My standard is 20% unless someone’s asking for a tip when none is warranted (I’m looking at you take out cashier). The most galling is when you buy a beer at a sporting event or concert. I’m not giving a tip on a $20 lite beer.
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