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I have a Philisophical Question for all..... by Sir Lox Elroy2002-12-27 01:32:15
  View from Finland by ak762002-12-27 03:22:20
    I truly enjoyed your view points they are very by Sir Lox Elroy2002-12-27 03:47:48
      worst thing is tipping by ak762002-12-27 04:36:28
        Tipping is just as common in Europe by crash_ 2002-12-27 06:41:51
Not sure what planet you come from, but when I was in Europe it was expected that I tip just like in US. Same with South America. We were told not to tip more than necessary which was strange since I had some really good service from a few folks and fully intended to pay them well for it. Tipping is a cultural thing. By saying that the US shouldn't tip is like saying that Russians shouldn't drink wine at every meal.

As a rule, the people in the line of work that receive tips are not paid well. Unfortunately the standard in restaurants is that wait staff only get paid half the minimum hourly wage. For example, the current minimum wage in the US is $5.25/hour. That means that a waiter will be paid only $2.63/hour and he has to make the rest in tips. I suppose it was done that way so that your wait staff will be sure to bend over backwards to take care of you. If you don't like the service, you can speak your mind with a tip. Leaving a penny for a tip is considered a bigger insult than not tipping at all. The standard for meals is 15% of your meal. At a very expensive nice restaurant you should consider 20%. The standard tip for other services such as a nice haircut, a taxi, or getting your pizza delivered is 10%. Having a bellboy carry your bags to your motel room or a skyhop carry your bags at an airport is $1 per piece of luggage. Tipping more than necessary is a way to compliment the person who provided the service. Sadly, the reason a lot of foriegners are treated badly here is because they don't tip well. In fact Canadians have a bad reputation for being the worst tippers :P Once again a cultural issue--Canadian wait staff is paid better than American.

I realize that to many of you foriegners, the minimum wage must sound great and that if you are making that much an hour then you don't need a tip. But keep in perspective inflation and the cost of living in this country. A person who only makes $5.25/hour for 40 hours a week is actually living below the poverty line. Hence the reason for tipping. So why don't we pay people enough so that they don't have to get a tip you ask? If everybody in this country were paid what they deserve, then you couldn't afford to get your hair cut or take a taxi or eat a meal or have a bell boy take your bags upstairs. Not to mention every time the minimum wage is raised to meet the cost of living, then the cost of living rises because now the items that were cheap to produce are costing more. No wonder US manufacturers like to go to third world countries to produce goods.

BTW, a well mannered person does NOT flash the money they tip with. That is rude and shows an incredible lack of class and breeding. That is a parody you see in Hollywood, but in reality a tip is usually given in a discreet manner. That is why most restaurants use folders for your meal check. You then slip the tip in the folder before you leave. At a hotel you may leave a tip in an envelope on the counter. The point is that you don't make a show of tipping.

Most Americans are not rich though we are incredibly wealthy by other country's standards. I can go to Peru and buy whatever I want since the dollar is worth so much more there. But here I am doing good to pay my rent each month. Meanwhile I see a lot of poverty in my town of Macon, Georgia. I also see a lot of wealth up the road. There are two types of wealthy folks (and this is true in other countries as well): the old money and the noveau riche. Old money is not showy and they prefer not to flash their wealth and status (such as the duPont, Vanderbuilt, and Bush family). New money likes to make a big show of their wealth and power. They lack class and are quick to flash their wealth (Clintons, most Hollywood actors/actresses, most singers, most sports stars, etc.) Sadly, foriegners see the new money more than the old money and think all Americans are as shallow as those select few.
[ Reply ]
          About that "rich" comment by rapido752002-12-27 07:43:23
            Old money may own it all by crash_2002-12-27 10:14:37
              Loads of money, no class by RoboMonkey2002-12-27 12:15:45
                Well... by rapido752002-12-27 19:42:49
          "To many of you foreigners" by RoboMonkey2002-12-27 08:39:09
            Perhaps I should add... by RoboMonkey2002-12-27 09:01:34
              minority report by sunflow2002-12-27 09:58:21
                My turn... by RoboMonkey2002-12-27 12:00:08
            I am sorry, I didn't mean to insult by crash_2002-12-27 09:08:47
              None taken, don't worry! (n/t) by RoboMonkey2002-12-27 11:56:40

 

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