Comments on: Tipping Rant

By: Carnival of Money Stories #73:Best in Show | LivingAlmostLarge

Carnival of Money Stories #73:Best in Show | LivingAlmostLarge — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:08:13 +0000

[...] conundrum in Tipping Expectations posted at Another Personal Finance Blog. I had to laugh since I ranted about it recently as [...]

By: Something to keep you occupied over the weekend | Counting My Pennies

Something to keep you occupied over the weekend | Counting My Pennies — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:03:25 +0000

[...] Tipping Rant [...]

By: Livingalmostlarge

Livingalmostlarge — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:09:35 +0000

Tipping is a very strange thing in the US. It seems to be expected even with bad service. Might as well add it in already if people want it without working for it and make it “salary” instead of tip.

By: cla

cla — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:25:53 +0000

Well I agree there’s a lot of tipping opportunities available but you don’t HAVE to do it either.

At a restaurant you do of course, but if I receive bad service I do NOT tip 20%! On the other hand if I receive great service I often tip more.

Those tip jars at 7-11 etc? Ignore them if you like – but when the young gal at coldstone sits and give my kids a million tastes to decide and lets them change their mind fifty times and spends forever with us making a few small ice cream cups you’d better believe I put something in that tip jar LOL.

I agree there’s too many folks with their hand out – but you don’t need to to tip in many situations where the opportunity is ‘available’

By: LivingAlmostLarge

LivingAlmostLarge — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:09:55 +0000

In most Asian cultures the service is impeccable and they don’t tip. I would also say the same in Switzerland, Germany, Greece, etc. France might be the exception, I’ve never heard a good thing even from French people about the service.

So perhaps it’s not all European countries.

By: Meg

Meg — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:29:54 +0000

After my recent trip abroad, I have a newfound love and appreciation for our tipping culture. In France there is NO tipping at restaurants, in cabs, or anywhere else – and the service is TERRIBLE in comparison with what we are used to in the US. [And no it' s not just because I'm American and was treated with bias. We dined with French people a lot, and they verified the standards of service - which seemed ridiculously low to me].

What bugged me most about the slow and inattentive level of service in France was that I felt powerless – the service-people and I both knew there would be no gratuity, so they have basically NO incentive to be friendly, quick, or accurate.

Plus I enjoy tipping well when someone goes above and beyond and really impresses me. I found a new pedicurist (is that a word?) who was excellent and thouough and explanatory, and I happily gave her a tip over 20%. Same thing when my conceirge recently offered to change my air filter – I not only left him a $10 top but baked him cookies as well.

On the flip side, I take comfort in knowing my tip will NOT be very generous when service is sub-standard. It’s actually kind of a relief and takes the bite out of the bad service. Perhaps I’m a bit vindictive, though, or maybe I’m just really gung-ho about our system after spending time in socialist Europe.

By: Sense

Sense — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:52:37 +0000

Funny enough, I’m also writing from NZ, the land of no tipping. It is nice, but is AWKWARD to NOT tip when someone gives you very good wait service. I always feel like I’m stiffing someone!

Although prices are insane here, NZ is sooo nice in terms of price clarity–their tax (Goods and Services Tax, 12.5%) is included in every price you see. So there’s little guessing at the register if you are keeping track carefully!

By: Chaucey

Chaucey — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:07:47 +0000

I’m from New Zealand and it is very uncommon to tip. However, we have minimum wage rates legislated by government, so no one is counting on tips to get by.
I prefer the transparency of paying the stated rate, with an option of tipping if I feel the service was ABOVE average.
But this would be tricky in a culture where tipping for even substandard service is expected.

By: chris

chris — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:21:00 +0000

I tip based on service no matter what. I guess I’m fairly generous, as the places where we eat on a regular basis, the long term servers always let us know they have a table available if we ask for it.

Now, for that insightful post, please leave $5.00!

By: Another Personal Finance Blog

Another Personal Finance Blog — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:08:34 +0000

I am not fully against tipping, but I definitely try to tip based on the service provided. If the service was substandard or exceptional, I will tip accordingly.