Interesting article on U.S. Tipping

[brsnow]

Ah, the wine list. That's why they have sommeliers. Those are people with deep knowledge of wine who are specifically paid to help with things like suggesting pairings. Some restaurants try to keep their prices low and yet encourage their servers to recommend wines with the most minimal of training. That's often not helpful to us. It's the illusion of helpfulness or the illusion of providing extra service, not unlike the stereotypical fawning server I mentioned.

We did‘t keep our prices low, had mandatory weekly tastings and annual trips to wine country here and abroad. Pretty typically of higher end places in NYC. Sommeliers is used a bit like advanced diving cert, very few are actually worthy of the title.

 

[drrich2]

It’s like sales tax, where is it going to stop?
I remember when 10% - 15% was normal, 15 being the high end. Now the bill is quadruple or more for your meal and they want 20% minimum.
What about the tip jar on every counter at every Starbucks or any to-go style counter food/beverage service place? I thought tipping was reserved for sit down service and for good service at that.

I agree strongly. I dislike 'tip inflation.' Sadly, part of it comes from consumers. I've noticed in online discussions (not just ScubaBoard) some people take pride in being 'good' tippers and aren't above using tipping as an opportunity to virtue signal. So the well-meaning but insecure person sees that someone on the Internet reports always tipping at least 20%, and thinks 15% is stingy.

At some point, the added cost and awkwardness discourages taking the trip. I don't like discussing tipping on my trips, but in recent trip reports I've included rough general tipping as a budget discussion item (mainly what I think a lot of mainstream divers are doing) because I it's important to estimating what a prospective dive trip will cost.

 

[brsnow]

I agree strongly. I dislike 'tip inflation.' Sadly, part of it comes from consumers. I've noticed in online discussions (not just ScubaBoard) some people take pride in being 'good' tippers and aren't above using tipping as an opportunity to virtue signal. So the well-meaning but insecure person sees that someone on the Internet reports always tipping at least 20%, and thinks 15% is stingy.

At some point, the added cost and awkwardness discourages taking the trip. I don't like discussing tipping on my trips, but in recent trip reports I've included rough general tipping as a budget discussion item (mainly what I think a lot of mainstream divers are doing) because I it's important to estimating what a prospective dive trip will cost.

For me it ran the gamut, I didn’t mind when people left a low tip because another person would leave a higher one and at the end of the day as a waiter I ended up with 25% on average of sales. When behind the bar it was closer to 35% of sales. I enjoyed knowing if I did a better job I made more money and took pride in people enjoying the experience. Especially those on a special night that normally couldn’t afford it. Provided a great income to pay for school and travel. For many in larger cities it is a well paying career.

For tourists coming to the USA, always worth taking the time to understand the local customs.

 

[Marie13]

I strongly dislike the appearance of tip jars at places like Subway, etc. If I'm getting my food at a place like that, no tip.

 

[Rob9876]

I agree strongly. I dislike 'tip inflation.' Sadly, part of it comes from consumers. I've noticed in online discussions (not just ScubaBoard) some people take pride in being 'good' tippers and aren't above using tipping as an opportunity to virtue signal. So the well-meaning but insecure person sees that someone on the Internet reports always tipping at least 20%, and thinks 15% is stingy.

At some point, the added cost and awkwardness discourages taking the trip. I don't like discussing tipping on my trips, but in recent trip reports I've included rough general tipping as a budget discussion item (mainly what I think a lot of mainstream divers are doing) because I it's important to estimating what a prospective dive trip will cost.

I also hate "tip inflation". I remember when I was a teenager 10% was the tip *for good service* but not a given. Now people seem to want to virtue signal and throw money for even bad service. I get so tired of hearing people online tell others "remember to tip well" -- frankly that's like telling people to remember to wipe when they go to the bathroom; mind your own darn business.

I don't mind tipping for good service and can be quite generous when I feel that is merited, but merited is the key word - I don't feel the need to act like Daddy Warbucks and throw money at mediocre or even bad service. If I want to give charity (and I do) it will be to orphans or similar real charities, not to bad waitstaff or dive ops who tell me I'm just paying for a seat on the boat and then blatantly ask for tips after literally just doing the bare minimum and providing no individual service at all.

 

[BlueTrin]

I believe HK is probably the only place in SE Asia that tipping is NOT uncommon.
It was really embarrassed when someone asked me why I left some money behind. He/she just burst out laughing when I said "don't you accept tipping"!!! I was not sure if the laugh was on the amount or it was very uncommon for them. I left hurriedly.

I had a waitress run after me and stopping me before I got in a taxi in Japan because I left a tip. She told me I forgot some money on the table.

I learned later than tipping can be considered rude in Japan

 

[Kimela]

I'm writing this BEFORE I read what everyone else has to say - don't want to be distracted and learn something first! Thanks @drrich2 - this is very interesting.

One of the downsides of tipping is that you have to 'face off' with the person providing your service, and if you're a wimp (like I often am) you will give them a minimum EVEN WHEN THEY DON'T DESERVE IT! My son came to visit recently and we went to a Mexican restaurant. We got my least favorite waitress, and when my son asked her if they had any mezcal she hesitated and then said "No, we've been having problems getting inventory". The hesitation was enough to make my son go to the well-stocked bar, where he found out they had THREE different brands, and got a great recommendation.

I find that MOST of the time, in higher priced restaurants, waitstaff will work for a good tip. Middling priced, not so much. Places like Denny's or Waffle House, they work pretty hard. Doesn't make sense to me. If my paycheck depends on me being efficient and nice, why not be efficient and nice? (I've done my time as a bartender).

 

[MaxE]

the American idea is built around a celebration of individual liberty, not any particular ethnicity, religion, or creed.

To be historically accurate as long as you were a white, Protestant, land owning man. In more recent history you may have an argument that has been extended to non landowning white males, white females, and catholics.

 

[Jcp2]

To be historically accurate as long as you were a white, Protestant, land owning man. In more recent history you may have an argument that has been extended to non landowning white males, white females, and catholics.

And we have learned to extend. The idea of a hyphenated American is an acknowledgment of that extension.

 

[Dan]

I’m visiting Thailand for a month. Restaurants in Phuket include 7-10% service charge, so I don’t include any tips on top of what’s is shown in the bill. I paid the bill with credit card. So, no worry about change.

The waiters are always around to be flagged for ordering another beer, billing, etc.

For boat diving there, they leave a tip jar for deckhand & captain. Each diver groups come with their own DMs. On a trip to Racha islands there were 15 divers and 8 DMs, divers / DM ratio of 2. In a bigger cattle boat diving with 30 divers, the ratio could be more. The tip for DMs are left to the each group of divers.