pie-eater 207 Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 That is extremely bad form indeed! Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted September 6, 2012 Author Share Posted September 6, 2012 Thanks everyone for your replies. It sounds as though in Canada a 15% restaurant tip is the norm but it's more discretionary in Australia, though usually no more than 10%. That seems to mirror the position in the US and UK respectively, which I guess is no great surprise really. Thanks again! Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 A great scene... edit....NOT FOR FAMILY VIEWING!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-qV9wVGb38 Link to post Share on other sites
oo 1 Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 I think the aliens will be very confused by the strange and peculiar tradition of tipping in restaurants and hotels in some countries. They'll have a jolly hard time explaining it to their bosses, that's for sure. Think about it. Yep, it's really stupid. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 I hardly ever go to restaurants o/s, but if I did and I gave a tip, I wouldn't do it by credit card because there is no guarantee that the server is even going to get the money. It's not a restaurant but here is an example of all-too-typical corporate thinking. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/29/cruise-firm-performance-bonuses-tips Link to post Share on other sites
HotMagma 0 Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 That is screwed up. I think that there is a move by companies to try and make the tipping thing a new custom, in places like the UK at least. I'm sure it didn't used to be as prevelant and in your face as it is now. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 It's in their interests isn't it. Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Can hardly believe people would do what you said there just before Mamabear. Honto?!? Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 True! sad, but true! Scoop up the cash, take it to the till and pay just the amount by credit card. Sad sacks, they are! Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Can hardly believe people would do what you said there just before Mamabear. Honto?!? Honto! I know, right!!! Cracks me up, because it is normally people who are not doing it tough. While I am not keen on wastefulness I do prefer to be of generous spirit, will always round up if a bill is being split, usually stick change in the tips jar etc. It is such foreign behaviour to me that I always notice it. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Doing it tough is an interesting concept in Australia now though MB. I heard a women on the radio the other day whose combined household income is in excess of $200k a year claim they were doing it tough!!! God this country is so ****ed up Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Living above her means then, eh, GN! LOL Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Well I hope that the students I am teaching tip me when they get into a better university than expected. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 I'm getting confused because I've had Brit and Kiwi ski instructors, and an Aussie guide on a snowcat outing, and none of them turned down tips. Oh, and the servers in restaurants in Australia too. I suppose they all only accepted because they didn't want to embarrass the silly Yank, and promptly made donations to the local widows & orphans funds. Yes, I'm sure that's it Link to post Share on other sites
oo 1 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Why are you 'confused'? If you're daft enough to give extra money to people when you don't need to.... Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Oh, no denying it was foolish of me. Just confused because ski schools and snowcat ops all politely ``suggested'' tips of 15-20% without exempting certain nationalities. Link to post Share on other sites
oo 1 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 Just confused because ski schools and snowcat ops all politely ``suggested'' tips of 15-20% without exempting certain nationalities. And why would they do that? Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 Di Griz, where were these operations located? I have never had a ski school or snow cat op suggest tipping, but my travels so far are limited (Aus, Japan, France, Italy, Switzerland). When in Rome do as the Romans do...? If an Aussie is working in the US, then they will be working under the conditions of the US. And therefore tips are an expected and required part of employment. If you 'tip' a waiter in Australia, of course they will accept it - but it is a real gratuity, not an expectation with a figure attached. Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 Well, MB, a google search on SNOWCAT, GRATUITIES will yield plenty of suggestions, including Steamboat, San Juan, Whistler, Aspen, Castle & Pacific Crest -- just on the first screen. That gratuities would be most appreciated was in the brochure for the Ski Esprit program at Whistler when I did it sometime back. I just find all the high dudgeon about tipping to be pretty amusing, coming from people who have lifestyles that let them enjoy what is, after all, one of the world's more elitist pastimes. If people can't afford to throw a couple of bucks to a waiter or waitress who's working for minimum wage, maybe they need to cut down on snow days. If they can afford it yet don't...well, maybe it's a high-minded refusal to buy into the culture of extortion. Yeah, and as Bart would say, monkeys might fly out my butt! Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 I just find all the high dudgeon about tipping to be pretty amusing, coming from people who have lifestyles that let them enjoy what is, after all, one of the world's more elitist pastimes. If people can't afford to throw a couple of bucks to a waiter or waitress who's working for minimum wage, maybe they need to cut down on snow days. If they can afford it yet don't...well, maybe it's a high-minded refusal to buy into the culture of extortion. Yeah, and as Bart would say, monkeys might fly out my butt! I used to work in restaurants, and generally tip pretty well when in a country where they are customary, but I honestly find the whole custom rather degrading, for parties on either side of the transaction. I'd rather have the menu price be 20% higher, and the restaurant base wage higher, than to be either a customer or employee under the tipping system. And certainly wouldn't want to encourage the practice to spread. Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 I used to work in restaurants, and generally tip pretty well when in a country where they are customary, but I honestly find the whole custom rather degrading, for parties on either side of the transaction. I'd rather have the menu price be 20% higher, and the restaurant base wage higher, than to be either a customer or employee under the tipping system. And certainly wouldn't want to encourage the practice to spread. Absolutely Mr Oyaji. It's a ridiculous practice that should not be encouraged. Pay the staff to the level of your service. Take a whole lot of stress out of the situation on both sides as well. Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 If people can't afford to throw a couple of bucks to a waiter or waitress who's working for minimum wage, maybe they need to cut down on snow days. If they can afford it yet don't...well, maybe it's a high-minded refusal to buy into the culture of extortion. Do you throw a couple of bucks to the lady behind the counter at 7-11? Or the station man? Or the girl in the shop? (You know, for the sake of argument, the really really really helpful ones who go out of their way to help. The ones on the same minimum wage). If not, whyever not? Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 Steamboat - Colorado USA San Juan - Colorado USA Whistler - Canada Aspen - Colorado USA Castle - Colorado USA Pacific Creat - Tahoe Cali, USA All the above (that you pointed out) are based in cultures where tipping is the norm, and wages are structured that tips are necessary. The employment conditions of everyone (including Aussies and Nzers) would be the same. Therefore yes, they would expect tips. If your US compadres came and worked in ski school in Australia they would be paid more per hour by thier employer, the basic rate (and yes, I know the ski schools try to get staff on the lowest rates, it is biting my boy in the ass right now) - tips would not be expected to be paid, but would be delightfully received with surprise if they are given. It's not 'high dungeon' stuff, whatever that actually means... It is simply that in our cultures we do not use this system. It is foreign to us, we are not sure of the intricate 'rules' of tipping that people in the US grow up with and learn from the cradle. We are used to the old 'fair days work, for a fair days pay' and the price of service is the price printed on the menu, not that plus somewhere in the vicinity, up to your discretion, dependent on your perception of the service given, 10 to 20 % I do tip, even though it is not expected. Not all the time, and as a definite gratuity (awesome service, thanks!). In the US I try and do the right thing with tipping, but you really have to be switched on and thinking all the time - it is like driving in the wrong side of the road .... Doesn't come naturally, especially if you don't know all the intricate rules. Do you tip the barman 15% of drinks each round? If you have stuck your credit card on the bar and paying at the end, can you add the tip to the end payment? What about the kid at Maccas? Do you tip him? I always forget about bus drivers... Restaurants are easy! It's all the other situations!! Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 I drive on the wrong side of the road here in Japan with no problems, and on the wrong side of the road in the US with no problems Fitting into other cultures can be complicated? Sure, agree entirely. I find new complications every damn day. And I suspect that you err, if ever, on the side of generosity when you tip, MB. But don't you feel a bit lonely as the only one here from a non-tipping society who confesses to tipping in cultures where it's expected? Some comments here (the dudgeon -- not dungeon, btw, dungeons are downstairs ) appear motivated as much or more by simple stinginess as by commitment to some theoretically perfect society. And stinginess is despicable. Pies, no I don't tip at the 7-11. Staff there aren't taxed on the tips they don't get, and in general they're not making minimum wage. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted September 9, 2012 Share Posted September 9, 2012 DiGriz, Thank you. You have contributed to my learning of one new thing a day today. I had never heard the term dudgeon! Looked it up - hee hee, new word for the vocab Not sure the motivation is stinginess, more a dislike of a system that makes them uncomfortable. Same reason a lot of people hate shopping in Bali or Phuket - having to barter for the price rather than just pay the price on the ticket unsettles them too much. Have to agree with them though - staff should be paid a wage that sustains them, not rely on tips to pay their bills. Tips should be a nice little bonus, and they shouldn't be taxed in anticipation of them!! What an awful thing that is! Link to post Share on other sites
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