Agree with the need to abolish tipping, but it's very, very complicated. In theory it should be up to the restaurants to pay living wages, but restaurant margins are extremely thin–-even the expensive ones! I think it's only possible if they raise prices, which consumers also don't want. Americans will have to get used to paying a lot more for their meals if we want to abolish tipping, which I'm fine with and think eventually is the route many restaurants are starting to take, but it's not going to happen overnight. (Of course, this would all be A LOT easier and cheaper if we had universal health care and other social services!) In the meantime, tips are how a lot of people make money so I hope everyone in the U.S., whether those living here or visiting, tips appropriately.
I am perplexed how the wages for this one particular restaurant job have become completely uncoupled from the restaurants responsibility, and I confess to being extremely annoyed by the out-of-control tip inflation, at least in the Seattle area. I agree with you that the solution involves a systemic change, which means things are never going to change, which is too bad for both the servers and their customers. But the tip inflation has simply got to stop. That's making things worse, not better.
(Also, I'm not sure Americans will be paying "more" -- they'll just be paying it differently. The prices on the menu will rise, yes, but tipping will disappear, along with all the resentment and confusion, so everything will be clearer and more pleasant.)
Bravo! Having spent 5 of the last 12 months in Europe, I avoid eating out at all when back home in the US. And the out-of-control tipping culture that you perfectly summarize is a big reason. My wife and I have wondered out loud what Europeans must think when they dine out while visiting the US - usually more expensive food with usually lesser quality....and then being asked to add 25% on top???
Yeah, living in London this winter (what a city! 😍) Then returning to the US was a real eye-opener. No point in eating out while back in US, since I know I'll soon get a much better experience upon leaving the country. And yeah, another reason why non-Americans are baffled by America. 🤣
It doesn’t even improve service. That’s the bit that really gets me. That said I always tip a large amount. A vestige of my own time in a restaurant. I also tip on to go orders which seems odd.
Yeah, I still refuse to tip on take-away or counter service, in most instances. The longer I live outside of America, the stranger that becomes. (I do tip for good service -- cabs, drivers, servers, maids)
Right now, I am at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico, where you never see a bill , and excellent service is provided by literally dozens of people a day who are serving food, cleaning rooms, providing transportation around the grounds, handing out towels, and on and on. I have only seen a couple of people tipping. I have no idea whether to tip at all, or how to tip in these circumstances. I would appreciate any guidance!
It's typically optional, with most people doing something at least some of the time. I would ask the resort for guidance. Some places discourage it. But of course it's always appreciated in less wealthy countries like Mexico.
Thanks for your response, Brent. The all-inclusive resort where I’m staying says on its website that tipping is included as part of the overall price. Frommers says that at such all-inclusive Mexican resorts, guests should still tip 10 percent to 15 percent of the estimated value for really great service.
YES. Servers often hate Brits because Brits don't tip. As a waitress in a burger joint in the UK in the early 80s, the most I ever got was just over three quid in a day. Mind you, I was also paid very badly, and could have used 20%
It really is "just a bit extra" in the UK, whereas here in the US the cost of paying the server is shifted to the customer: Servers here are taxed on the assumption that they're being tipped 20%, so not tipping them this much really does hurt them., but nobody gives Brits a brochure explaining this .... Btw, my boss in Britain in the 80s was hiring underage teenagers and paying us £5.50 a *day*, so I think he would have loved the system over here. 🤬
Yes, I didn't feel the pressure in the UK, and our UK friends were very casual about it. Very different cultures! And none of this tipping for EVERYTHING nonsense.
As with many systemic changes I fall squarely into a don’t hate the player, hate the game category. It’s hard to say who and how this kind of seismic shift could happen. Young cute girls will always make the big tips (I know, I was one once making $2-300 a night in 1977!). Employers will ALWAYS opt for minimum wage when they can. And I will probably continue to uphold the tradition of Americans overtipping overseas. It’s a hard habit to break.
I can't imagine how it can change either. OTOH, the toxic tip creep can't continue forever, and if anything changes things, that might do it. I found eating out simply unaffordable in the US. Maybe if/when ppl stop eating out so much there, things will change. Seriously, it seems 20-50% more expensive than Europe, and 80%-90% more expensive than Mexico and Asia, all things considered.
Thank you. And yes yes yes!! After having just lived in London for two months, followed by Seattle for a month, I totally agree that the US is way more expensive right now! And taxes and tips make it worse. It's absolutely crazy in America -- I don't see how anyone can afford to eat out.
Agree with the need to abolish tipping, but it's very, very complicated. In theory it should be up to the restaurants to pay living wages, but restaurant margins are extremely thin–-even the expensive ones! I think it's only possible if they raise prices, which consumers also don't want. Americans will have to get used to paying a lot more for their meals if we want to abolish tipping, which I'm fine with and think eventually is the route many restaurants are starting to take, but it's not going to happen overnight. (Of course, this would all be A LOT easier and cheaper if we had universal health care and other social services!) In the meantime, tips are how a lot of people make money so I hope everyone in the U.S., whether those living here or visiting, tips appropriately.
I am perplexed how the wages for this one particular restaurant job have become completely uncoupled from the restaurants responsibility, and I confess to being extremely annoyed by the out-of-control tip inflation, at least in the Seattle area. I agree with you that the solution involves a systemic change, which means things are never going to change, which is too bad for both the servers and their customers. But the tip inflation has simply got to stop. That's making things worse, not better.
(Also, I'm not sure Americans will be paying "more" -- they'll just be paying it differently. The prices on the menu will rise, yes, but tipping will disappear, along with all the resentment and confusion, so everything will be clearer and more pleasant.)
Bravo! Having spent 5 of the last 12 months in Europe, I avoid eating out at all when back home in the US. And the out-of-control tipping culture that you perfectly summarize is a big reason. My wife and I have wondered out loud what Europeans must think when they dine out while visiting the US - usually more expensive food with usually lesser quality....and then being asked to add 25% on top???
Yeah, living in London this winter (what a city! 😍) Then returning to the US was a real eye-opener. No point in eating out while back in US, since I know I'll soon get a much better experience upon leaving the country. And yeah, another reason why non-Americans are baffled by America. 🤣
It doesn’t even improve service. That’s the bit that really gets me. That said I always tip a large amount. A vestige of my own time in a restaurant. I also tip on to go orders which seems odd.
Yeah, I still refuse to tip on take-away or counter service, in most instances. The longer I live outside of America, the stranger that becomes. (I do tip for good service -- cabs, drivers, servers, maids)
Right now, I am at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico, where you never see a bill , and excellent service is provided by literally dozens of people a day who are serving food, cleaning rooms, providing transportation around the grounds, handing out towels, and on and on. I have only seen a couple of people tipping. I have no idea whether to tip at all, or how to tip in these circumstances. I would appreciate any guidance!
It's typically optional, with most people doing something at least some of the time. I would ask the resort for guidance. Some places discourage it. But of course it's always appreciated in less wealthy countries like Mexico.
Thanks for your response, Brent. The all-inclusive resort where I’m staying says on its website that tipping is included as part of the overall price. Frommers says that at such all-inclusive Mexican resorts, guests should still tip 10 percent to 15 percent of the estimated value for really great service.
Honestly, if that's what they say, I wouldn't tip (unless maybe it was really exceptional service).
agree!
Thank you!
You've just summarized everything we've been thinking about tipping these days. Canada isn't as bad as the US but we're certainly hot on your heels.
Thanks! Yeah, sorry, America always seems to infect Canada, doesn't it?
YES. Servers often hate Brits because Brits don't tip. As a waitress in a burger joint in the UK in the early 80s, the most I ever got was just over three quid in a day. Mind you, I was also paid very badly, and could have used 20%
It really is "just a bit extra" in the UK, whereas here in the US the cost of paying the server is shifted to the customer: Servers here are taxed on the assumption that they're being tipped 20%, so not tipping them this much really does hurt them., but nobody gives Brits a brochure explaining this .... Btw, my boss in Britain in the 80s was hiring underage teenagers and paying us £5.50 a *day*, so I think he would have loved the system over here. 🤬
Yes, I didn't feel the pressure in the UK, and our UK friends were very casual about it. Very different cultures! And none of this tipping for EVERYTHING nonsense.
Agree with that. I hate being asked to tip for counter service, and know it's to save the employer from paying properly.
As with many systemic changes I fall squarely into a don’t hate the player, hate the game category. It’s hard to say who and how this kind of seismic shift could happen. Young cute girls will always make the big tips (I know, I was one once making $2-300 a night in 1977!). Employers will ALWAYS opt for minimum wage when they can. And I will probably continue to uphold the tradition of Americans overtipping overseas. It’s a hard habit to break.
I can't imagine how it can change either. OTOH, the toxic tip creep can't continue forever, and if anything changes things, that might do it. I found eating out simply unaffordable in the US. Maybe if/when ppl stop eating out so much there, things will change. Seriously, it seems 20-50% more expensive than Europe, and 80%-90% more expensive than Mexico and Asia, all things considered.
Thank you. And yes yes yes!! After having just lived in London for two months, followed by Seattle for a month, I totally agree that the US is way more expensive right now! And taxes and tips make it worse. It's absolutely crazy in America -- I don't see how anyone can afford to eat out.
Haha perfect!