Random Rants
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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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@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.
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@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
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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.
