Random Rants
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I live in the woods, so naturally our house is surrounded by gigantic trees of all sorts. There is, of course, a clearing around the house but we still had about 30 large trees (100' tall) within damage distance of the house, and some of them were pretty risky. Usually I handle this myself, but these were too big and too dangerous to do at my level, because they require lifts and a crew, etc. So I hired professionals who have been around for the past week, on a day-rate, and they've removed all of them safely (but expectedly left the yard a muddy mess from the tracked equipment and the rain). These guys were super professional and really hustled to get everything done without having to add more days. I was very impressed, and thought a tip was in order. My wife and I googled "tree removal service tips" and found drastically varying answers: from "not expected, always appreciated" to "20%". 20% would be a massive tip....thousands. Frankly, fuck that, sorry, it's excessive, the rate makes them plenty of money anyway. So, I went to the ATM expecting to pull out a few hundo, but there was a limit of $200, and we gave it to them. The foreman's response was "Aw, thanks but idk how to split it up since we had so many different crew members out on different days." Question is: Insulted? We got a pretty good deal on the job in general and were way under budget. Give more? or let it be? Or take the money and buy some IH?
"The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today...The whole future lies in uncertainty: Live immediately."
-Seneca -
IDK how it is internationally but IMO our economy for 'tips' is getting out of control in the US. Everyone asks for one now, regardless of the 'service'. Tips used to be something offered voluntarily for exceptional service or to supplement woefully low wages for food servers (for example). I think wages ought to be fair, and proportionate to skill, quality, or difficulty, like waitresses shouldn't make 2 bucks an hour and depend on tips. Minimum wage should always be the minimum, and tips should be deserved, not expected.
"The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today...The whole future lies in uncertainty: Live immediately."
-Seneca -
@WhiskeySandwich Same here...I don't mind for certain jobs and professions, but it's getting way out of hand.
Some employers are using the excuse to pay workers less and some are putting all of the tips into a general pot to be divided at the end of the month for all of the employees (including the employer taking their own cut). I'll end up banning myself if I say what I think about that practice...
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@goosehd oh i'm with ya. I guess this is what they mean when they talk about the times changing making you feel old. We're not the first to say "this new generation is taking the world to hell in a handbasket".
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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.
WTB:
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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
