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Important Information: US Tariff Import Changes

Random Rants

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  • M
    Matt
    見習いボス
    @Giles
    Joined: 4 Oct 2011

    @Giles said in Random Rants:

    The whole US travel experience is stressful and annoying

    last edited by 3 Apr 2024, 13:37 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
    • G
      Giles
      IHUK Crew
      Joined: 22 Sept 2009

      Good edit......

      "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

      last edited by 3 Apr 2024, 13:39 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
      • T
        Tobi
        Haraki san Prodigy
        Joined: 12 Aug 2022

        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....)

        last edited by 3 Apr 2024, 13:47 T G W 3 Replies Last reply 3 Apr 2024, 13:49 Reply Quote 2
        • T
          Tago Mago
          Mod Squad
          @Tobi
          Joined: 16 Jan 2021

          @Tobi said in Random Rants:

          stress-free empty roads, friendly service, constant friendly personal contacts, and amazing nature and scenery.

          So you're travelling to Canada?

          last edited by 3 Apr 2024, 13:49 T 1 Reply Last reply 3 Apr 2024, 13:54 Reply Quote 3
          • G
            goosehd
            Mod Squad
            @Tobi
            Joined: 8 Apr 2016

            @Tobi ...no need to worry, only the most insane batshit crazy ones will be at the party... 🙂

            "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

            last edited by goosehd 4 Mar 2024, 13:49 3 Apr 2024, 13:49 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • G
              goosehd
              Mod Squad
              Joined: 8 Apr 2016

              I don't even know how to classify myself anymore. Former US, Current Canadian, potential Jamaican or other small Caribbean Island that just doesn't give a fuck...

              "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

              last edited by 3 Apr 2024, 13:50 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • T
                Tobi
                Haraki san Prodigy
                @Tago Mago
                Joined: 12 Aug 2022

                @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 🙂

                last edited by 3 Apr 2024, 13:54 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                • W
                  WhiskeySandwich
                  啓蒙家
                  @Tobi
                  Joined: 1 Mar 2023

                  @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 😉

                  "The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today...The whole future lies in uncertainty: Live immediately."
                  -Seneca

                  last edited by 3 Apr 2024, 14:00 T 1 Reply Last reply 3 Apr 2024, 14:10 Reply Quote 1
                  • T
                    Tobi
                    Haraki san Prodigy
                    @WhiskeySandwich
                    Joined: 12 Aug 2022

                    @WhiskeySandwich exactly my point...

                    last edited by 3 Apr 2024, 14:10 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • L
                      long_john86
                      Iron Heart Deity
                      @Giles
                      Joined: 30 Oct 2023

                      @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 🙂

                      6'4". Wingspan of Phelps.

                      WTB:
                      IHSH-399-ORA - Tag XXL
                      IHSH-260-PPL - Tag XXXL
                      IH-888S-SLBod - Tag 36

                      last edited by 3 Apr 2024, 14:12 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • T
                        T4920
                        見習いボス
                        Joined: 27 Apr 2022

                        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 😆

                        “𝑁𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏 𝑦𝑜𝑢. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑒𝑒𝑡 𝑖𝑡, 𝑖𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜, 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑡𝑜𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑎𝑟𝑚 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡.”

                        last edited by T4920 4 Mar 2024, 14:30 3 Apr 2024, 14:30 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
                        • M
                          Matt
                          見習いボス
                          Joined: 4 Oct 2011

                          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.

                          last edited by 3 Apr 2024, 14:46 T 1 Reply Last reply 3 Apr 2024, 14:48 Reply Quote 2
                          • T
                            Tago Mago
                            Mod Squad
                            @Matt
                            Joined: 16 Jan 2021

                            @Matt said in Random Rants:

                            lite beer

                            initial mistake right there

                            last edited by 3 Apr 2024, 14:48 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                            • G
                              Giles
                              IHUK Crew
                              Joined: 22 Sept 2009

                              QFT

                              "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

                              last edited by 3 Apr 2024, 14:52 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • M
                                Mizmazzle
                                見習いボス
                                @WhiskeySandwich
                                Joined: 29 Jun 2021

                                @WhiskeySandwich sounds to me like a genuine concern on his part about taking your money and not being able to share it out due to how many different people were on the job over various days.

                                Meaning, thanks for the gesture, but tracking down all the workers and dividing up the cash is going to be more trouble than he’d like to take on.

                                By that logic, kudos to him for not just taking it and pocketing it himself.

                                In the easy chair with my boots on, melted whiskey in my hand. Could'na been asleep for more than three hours...time to go to work again...

                                last edited by 3 Apr 2024, 15:02 W 1 Reply Last reply 3 Apr 2024, 15:09 Reply Quote 1
                                • W
                                  WhiskeySandwich
                                  啓蒙家
                                  @Mizmazzle
                                  Joined: 1 Mar 2023

                                  @Mizmazzle That was actually my first consideration on the intent of his meaning. He was a very professional and respectful guy and I didn't instinctively go to "you snot". I should have mentioned in my initial rant, cuz thats what I said to my wife at the time. thats straight shootin, Miz, thanks for pointing that out

                                  "The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today...The whole future lies in uncertainty: Live immediately."
                                  -Seneca

                                  last edited by 3 Apr 2024, 15:09 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                  • E
                                    EdH
                                    Iron Heart Deity
                                    Joined: 2 Jan 2022

                                    By contrast, I love how tipping culture has evolved in Dubai. Since covid, everywhere now uses QR codes on the table to take you to a website where your bill is calculated and you pay. During checkout, they ask if you'd like to add a tip. Pre-suggested percentages are 5, 8 and 10%, or you can enter any amount, or your own %. Most people choose 8% as it is in the middle. The waiting staff in the places my dad is responsible for love it as it's seen their take home pay go up ~30% (he knows the numbers). I think he told me that its illegal for the workplace to take from that pot too - the tip pot has to go to the staff. Another benefit is that the staff aren't all fighting over the dinner shifts, where tips used to be bigger, as the tip is spread across all staff pro-rated according to their overall hours worked, not which shifts they were on.
                                    On the flip side, it's totally optional from the customer's perspective so there is no awkward moment with the waiting staff where you either refuse to tip or ask for a service charge to be removed from the bill.
                                    Best of both worlds if you ask me.

                                    Take the dive...

                                    last edited by 3 Apr 2024, 15:16 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • M
                                      Mizmazzle
                                      見習いボス
                                      Joined: 29 Jun 2021

                                      Tipping discussion aside...(I agree the tipping culture has gotten out of control)

                                      I think the "Hard, honest, work" ethos in The States is a cornerstone foundation this country was built on. (Other countries as well) The old adage of "your word and handshake being your bond." I think that was a serious point of pride for many blue collar workers over the decades. Sadly, it seemed that trustworthy ethos was in a serious decline in the 80's-00's....Fear of being taken advantage of or ripped off was replacing the heed of "Honest and Reliable."

                                      But, I really feel like we as a nation are starting to value that earlier mentality of Pride in our Work...and Integrity. I feel like I'm seeing it more with smaller businesses. A back to what's important type of philosophy.

                                      Obviously, there are more than enough pieces of shit out there to leave a bad taste in all our mouths over plenty of day to day interactions. But never the less, I take a lot of pride in supporting small businesses that hold those values high...I think we all do around this Forum as well.

                                      In the easy chair with my boots on, melted whiskey in my hand. Could'na been asleep for more than three hours...time to go to work again...

                                      last edited by 3 Apr 2024, 15:37 W 1 Reply Last reply 3 Apr 2024, 15:46 Reply Quote 3
                                      • W
                                        WhiskeySandwich
                                        啓蒙家
                                        @Mizmazzle
                                        Joined: 1 Mar 2023

                                        @Mizmazzle well put. I will always favor a business who takes pride in their work, and tend to lean toward small and local businesses as a result. Rather than those who've become too big for their britches. Some of the businesses that have blown up out of viral use, such as DoorDash, have zero substance and offer a subbed out service, with zero guarantees. On these things I "vote with my dollar".

                                        "The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today...The whole future lies in uncertainty: Live immediately."
                                        -Seneca

                                        last edited by 3 Apr 2024, 15:46 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                        • W
                                          Walery Smirnoff
                                          The Unwoven
                                          @WhiskeySandwich
                                          Joined: 15 May 2023

                                          @WhiskeySandwich Here in Russia the situation is completely unique. People who know how to work with their hands have disappeared somewhere. All around and everywhere everyone is buying and selling. But there are no specialists. And if you want to give a tip, there’s no one and there’s nothing for it. Finding a builder is a problem. Finding a carpenter is a problem. Finding a locksmith is a problem. Every second person is either a policeman or a military man. With a life like this, I'll tip myself.

                                          last edited by 4 Apr 2024, 07:07 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
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