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Non Americans and Tipping/Should you EVER tip less than 13 to 15%

I work at a restaraunt and had a $400 table at lunch the other day and the two gentlemen were "kind" enough to leave me $20. That didn't even cover tip for the bottle of wine he ordered.  If you can't afford to (or don't want to) tip, WHY are you eating out?  I understand that these men were German (they spoke German at the table) but they also spoke English well enough to lead me to believe that they definitely would know better.  I know it's not customary to tip in other countries, but New York City isn't a part of Europe.

I don't understand why people feel it's ok to go to another country and completely ignore the fact that here, we need those tips to so much as pay our rent.  Not only that, but we have to tip out our support staff based on our sales. So if you don't tip, I lose money.

 My thoughts: if you're going to another country, be familiar with the customs there.  It's not like I could go to Europe and start driving on the right hand side of the road and not worry because "well, that's how we do it in the US."  A 5% tip is disrespectful.  I would never visit another country and do something that is blatantly disrespectful in that culture, regardless of how we do things here in the US.

 

What are your thoughts?   Unless the service was AWFUL (and in that case, it's not always the server's fault, so speak to the manager) is it EVER ok not to tip at LEAST 13% in the US?


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  • # Posted 7 months ago
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kiwiguy
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In NZ we never tip and, when travelling it is probably the last thing I would think of. In alot of countries what Americans pay for in a tip is paid for in the price of the meal and the staff are paid enough to live on. On the rare occasions I do tip people it is because I believe that I have received exceptional service.

I personaly was not aware of how much Americans customarily tip, but will keep it in mind if I ever travel to the USA. 
Posted 7 months ago ( permalink )
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And I totally understand that, but I suppose, then, my question to you is: when people know about tipping, why do they feel they still don't have to?
Posted 7 months ago ( permalink )
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kiwiguy
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Well for me Id just never think of it, when youve never done it before its not something that youd think of. I am sure that there are numerous things that you have heard before, but dont think of.

As for your analogy of driving on the right hand side of the road in Europe and you wouldnt do it, I dont think anyone would intentionaly do it. But NZ has had numerous fatal accidents caused by American tourists driving on the right side of the road, its not that they set out to drive on the wrong side of the road its just a habbit thats is so deeply inground for you guys to drive on the right that it takes a large concious effort to remember not to.

I feel that tipping is the same, its not something people set out to do to offend you, its just something that peopledont realise to the extent that they are meant to tip, and in some cases dont know about it. And in others just plain dont think about it, especialy if its something that theyve never done before.
Posted 7 months ago ( permalink )
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A poor mistake, they probably haven't done any reading yet. Nevertheless keep in mind that tipping isn't a law yet therefore as a person working in such a business you should know that the customer is always right. If you want to make it clear do charge your tip automatically or something right down in your menus. They are tourists then why are you so mad.....?

 
Posted 6 months ago ( permalink )
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Verra was invited by Yedda to answer this question.

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kiwiguy
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If your going to make tipping compulsory, then why dont you just do away with it and make it part of the cost of the goods, and pay staff more. In fact hell just do that any way its a far easier way of doing things.
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