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.
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???
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.
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!
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%
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.
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.
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???
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.
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!
agree!
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.
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%
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.
As Meg Ryan so eloquently put it in When Harry Met Sally: “Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!”