Worst tippers

[Himeno]

It's almost like you're all (most of the most recent posters) confused by the fact that a "tip" in the US hospitality industry means something different to a "tip" in Australia.

Please just stop eating in the US if you can't get your head around it rather than try to pass it off as some human rights initiative.

No one here is confused about anything.
You appear to be the only one confused about the facts.

 

[trixydoza]

No one here is confused about anything.
You appear to be the only one confused about the facts.

Nice try, dude, but... yeah, nah.

 

[nickykim]

With news in Portland Oregon last week suggesting Portland may move to a minimum adult hourly rate of $15 an hour, it will be interesting to see what service staff tipping expectations are then.

 

[chelzmalee]

With news in Portland Oregon last week suggesting Portland may move to a minimum adult hourly rate of $15 an hour, it will be interesting to see what service staff tipping expectations are then.

Agreed -

I always tip in the USA, because I don't think I've ever received bad service. If service was so bad I felt like I shouldn't tip, I'd be speaking with the manager first.

 

[Foreigner]

Tipping in the US starts no sooner I land and catch transport to hotel. The usually beneficiary is the driver or porter at $1 per bag.

 

[BettyB]

Tipping in the US starts no sooner I land and catch transport to hotel. The usually beneficiary is the driver or porter at $1 per bag.

Is this actually tipping? I'd have thought it was paying someone to do more than they are required to do. That is, in Australia I wouldn't expect the driver to carry my bags.

 

[chelzmalee]

Is this actually tipping? I'd have thought it was paying someone to do more than they are required to do. That is, in Australia I wouldn't expect the driver to carry my bags.

It's the same as tipping your server.

 

[harvyk]

Is this actually tipping? I'd have thought it was paying someone to do more than they are required to do. That is, in Australia I wouldn't expect the driver to carry my bags.

Sure is tipping, given there is no set amount or price, and the payment is "optional".
Of course if you do optionally forget, the driver may also accidentally forget which freeways run smoothly and which freeways turn into car parks at that time of day.

 

[BettyB]

It's the same as tipping your server.

Except I don't do that. No one in my family does that. Why would I tip someone for doing their job? That what wages are for.

 

[JessicaTam]

Except I don't do that. No one in my family does that. Why would I tip someone for doing their job? That what wages are for.

Which has become the crux of this thread.

 

[Ausbt]

Many of the people in these jobs do the least amount needed, then feel like they are entitled to a bribe.

Seems like a bit of a generalisation, and incorrect as well. If you believe that though, simply don't tip. In my experiences, US waitstaff are generally attentive and helpful (as you would expect, they are seeking their 'wage' because their employers to are too cheap to pay it). In the UK, polite, sometimes dysfunctional but generally helpful. In Australia, you have to go high-end to to similar levels of service. Are café waitstaff really that helpful in Australia? Hell no, on average. I hate tipping in Australia simply because I don't believe it is warranted. I also support penalty rates - Oz waitstaff should get Sunday loadings. George Columbaris is completely wrong on this score and comes across as greedy (I tipped at The Press Room, by the way, and got good service there).

I'm writing this from a UK Maccas (yeah, limited choices this morning). I was a bit surprised earlier when I went looking for a serviette in the wrong spot and a staff member approached me cheerily and then suggested I take my seat while she fetches them. I've been observing the staff here for a while while I bludge off their Free Wi Fi - so friendly, talking to people at the tables. You are simply not going to see that in a high street café in Oz, let alone Maccas.

In the US, I'm a fair tipper.
In the UK, I'm a non-tipper (45p to the AUD, come on)
In Oz, I feel like picking up the tip jar and taking it outside to the nearest homeless person

 

[TomVexille]

The sense of entitlement is rife in this thread.

Australians telling other countries they're doing things wrong. Get over yourselves.

 

[opusman]

The sense of entitlement is rife in this thread.

Australians telling other countries they're doing things wrong. Get over yourselves.

The elephant in the room that the "non-tippers" are ignoring is that, if the US "did it right" then the cost of service would simply be added to the menu prices. They would be paying for it anyway, just without the option to be a cheapskate and rip off the people who are serving them.

 

[Himeno]

The elephant in the room that the "non-tippers" are ignoring is that, if the US "did it right" then the cost of service would simply be added to the menu prices. They would be paying for it anyway, just without the option to be a cheapskate and rip off the people who are serving them.

Maybe, but it would likely only be the 8-10% that the IRS expects tips to be, not the 15-20% these people seem to think they are entitled to for doing the basics of their job.

 

[amaroo]

<snip>

Australians telling other countries they're doing things wrong. Get over yourselves.

Makes for a lovely role reversal

Agree with all comments about tipping in US. No doubt it's a third world wage accord in a first world country but it needs to be respected ... however, no need to go overboard and tip a huge amount if you order a $$$ bottle of something.

 

[TomVexille]

Makes for a lovely role reversal

Agree with all comments about tipping in US. No doubt it's a third world wage accord in a first world country but it needs to be respected ... however, no need to go overboard and tip a huge amount if you order a $$$ bottle of something.

A sensible attitude. People don't have to like it but they should darn well respect it.

 

[seanpodge]

I hate tipping but I think that in the US, given the system in place, diners are pretty much obligated to tip. Given that it's clear that for many, if not the vast majority of wait staff, their employer provided wages are nowhere near a fair or livable one, then customers have little ethical option but to tip in the current circumstances. I would much prefer that US wait staff (and all workers, for that matter) got a decent wage from their employers, but protesting the lack of such a system by not tipping underpaid workers isn't a good way to go about it.

The elephant in the room that the "non-tippers" are ignoring is that, if the US "did it right" then the cost of service would simply be added to the menu prices. They would be paying for it anyway, just without the option to be a cheapskate and rip off the people who are serving them.

Emphasis added

Which would be much better in so many ways:

*Assurance that the staff were actually getting paid properly
*A simple, all inclusive price on the menu rather than a mini maths exam every time one dines out (excluding the sales tax issue, another pet hate of US life for me)
*Ability to easily compare apples with apples, i.e. no tip restaurants vs tip required restaurants
*A probable improvement in service. After I've received my meal, I'd rather be left alone to eat it in peace rather than having my newest best buddy checking up on me every few minutes/nanoseconds. If I need something, I'll call you!

Really, besides for some egotistical reason of having the power to decide if your waiter can possibly afford both food and rent this week, then I don't really see what the benefits of the US system are in its current form.

 

[opusman]

 

[Duffa]

Pay your waitstaff living wages. ( and penalty rates on holidays and weekends.)

Paying some spotty teenager $45 an hour to clean tables on a Sunday is not my idea of a living wage

 

[moa999]

Interesting chart opusman. Was particularly interested on a recent US trip on shuttles (both hotel complimentary and paid). From my observations, all the foreigners tipped but only about half the Americans.

Similar half tips at Admirals Club despite obvious hawking (leaving dollar bills on bar)

Also interested to note that a number of hotels (including Hilton) no longer appeared to have doorman