Ultrathread II: BF free since 83.

[Twizzle]

The parts of Thailand that I visited had a lot of ladyboys, but thats because hey came from all over Asia to have the op done and they could make a living there.

I must have hung out in all the seedy spots, as you do.

 

[Misanthrope]

Muzby raised an interesting topic in the Agree or Disagree thread.

Where do you stand on the concept of tipping at restaurants and bars?

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

It should never constitute part of a wage, it is referred to as gratuity for a reason.

I give tips for going "beyond the call of duty" so to speak. Just because you can pull a beer, deliver a pizza, or drive me to my destination doesn't mean you're automatically entitled to some kind of additional reward.

 

[Misanthrope]

It should never constitute part of a wage, it is referred to as gratuity for a reason.

I give tips for going "beyond the call of duty" so to speak. Just because you can pull a beer, deliver a pizza, or drive me to my destination doesn't mean you're automatically entitled to some kind of additional reward.

I tend to agree that it shouldn't be the customer's responsibility to make a direct contribution to a person's wage. I mean, we all indirectly contribute by patronising a business.

As I said in response to muzby though, that incentive to deliver good service does translate into an infinitely superior customer service experience. I find Australian servers tend to be courteous at best and dismissive/rude at worst.

In the US, 99% of servers will make you feel like the centre of their universe whenever they're within eyesight. Sure, it gets annoying being asked 3-4 times if everything is okay, but I like that they make the effort rather than have you frantically waving for their attention when you have a problem.

 

[Bazal]

I don't tip as a rule. At least in Australia...it's not a thing here, as far as I'm aware, and it shouldn't be because we have a minimum wage. That said, if a bill comes to $43 I've got no issue leaving $50 and leaving the change.

 

[Eelementary]

I was raised to tip if the service received warrants it.

It's both an incentive for other staff go lift their game, and a personal thank you to the server.

I recall getting an $80 tip from a dude when I drove for Domino's because I was simply courteous to him but didn't have change for $100, and hr said it was cool.

Mind you, the f**king franchisees didn't believe I got an $80 tip and kept my money for themselves.

 

[Misanthrope]

I don't tip as a rule. At least in Australia...it's not a thing here, as far as I'm aware, and it shouldn't be because we have a minimum wage. That said, if a bill comes to $43 I've got no issue leaving $50 and leaving the change.

Yeah, tipping isn't necessary in Australia for two reasons:

- We pay a more than fair minimum wage (although this is necessary given the cost of living);
- The service rarely warrants it.

 

[Apey]

Yeah I think it's kind of dumb a lot of the time, especially if the service is just basic. Here is some more money for doing your job at an expected standard.

 

[Misanthrope]

Yeah I think it's kind of dumb a lot of the time, especially if the service is just basic. Here is some more money for doing your job at an expected standard.

I guess it depends on the expected standard. There's a pretty sizable gulf in terms of service quality between countries with tipping and countries without.

On a slightly unrelated note, it's bloody embarrassing being an Australian in countries where they do tip. They even have a joke about us in Namibia and South Africa:

Q: What's the difference between a canoe and an Australian?
A: A canoe might tip.

 

[Bazal]

Meh. We haven't got a tipping culture...why expect us to suddenly tip overseas? It's not a habit we're in...some of us consciously think about it, lots don't.

 

[Misanthrope]

Meh. We haven't got a tipping culture...why expect us to suddenly tip overseas? It's not a habit we're in...some of us consciously think about it, lots don't.

I've no problem with us not having one at home, but it's cultural ignorance bordering on cultural insensitivity to not practice it when traveling in countries that do it.

You're basically f**king over your guide and service staff in Africa if you don't do it, as many of them are being paid next to nothing in the belief that foreign tourists will tip.

 

[Bazal]

Yeah but because it's a cultural thing, it's often not advertised as necessary. I tip overseas where it's customary and I'm aware of it, but I don't feel like it's a huge crime not to either. Cultural sensitivity goes both ways to an extent, and while you should always respect the culture of the place you visit I don't feel like tipping culture is anything like as important as many other aspects.

 

[Misanthrope]

Yeah but because it's a cultural thing, it's often not advertised as necessary. I tip overseas where it's customary and I'm aware of it, but I don't feel like it's a huge crime not to either. Cultural sensitivity goes both ways to an extent, and while you should always respect the culture of the place you visit I don't feel like tipping culture is anything like as important as many other aspects.

Tell that to be the people having to subsist on next to nothing :lol:

Any traveler worth his or her salt should do at least cursory research before leaving their country, and while it's easy to 'miss' tipping culture in said research, it's one of those things that you should really be aware of being traveling.

I've been guilty of missing it in my pre-trip research (for Namibia), but I made a point of quickly clarifying the expectation and makin good on it.

 

[Bazal]

I do agree, but so many people go places for a holiday...which I believe is different to travelling. And they don't do research as in depth as a traveller.

In Vietnam, for example, tipping is very much on a place by place basis. Those places that would prefer tourists to tip remind them, very cordially, in their various materials....whether it's hotel booklets or on the menus or whatever. I reckon if you don't do that, you can't really complain too much

 

[Misanthrope]

I do agree, but so many people go places for a holiday...which I believe is different to travelling. And they don't do research as in depth as a traveller.

In Vietnam, for example, tipping is very much on a place by place basis. Those places that would prefer tourists to tip remind them, very cordially, in their various materials....whether it's hotel booklets or on the menus or whatever. I reckon if you don't do that, you can't really complain too much

In countries like that, I agree. China is not a tipping country, but a lot of western style restaurants and hotels in Shanghai do expect tips. They make a point of reminding visitors in their menus etc.

In countries where tipping is the norm (such as the US) I don't think its necessary to remind people, since it would be a bit redundant for 95% of their customers :lol:

In our Tanzanian tourist information packs and all of our itineraries, we specify exactly how much should be tipped in ideal circumstances.

 

[Bazal]

In countries like that, I agree. China is not a tipping country, but a lot of western style restaurants and hotels in Shanghai do expect tips. They make a point of reminding visitors in their menus etc.

In countries where tipping is the norm (such as the US) I don't think its necessary to remind people, since it would be a bit redundant for 95% of their customers :lol:

In our Tanzanian tourist information packs and all of our itineraries, we specify exactly how much should be tipped in ideal circumstances.

Yeah, but like you say with your Tanzanian stuff, a lot of countries where it's the norm have it in the tourist info, or should. And there's no reason not to have it in the hotel information booklets, because obviously hotel staff expect tips as well.

I just think it's a reasonably trivial thing overall and a lot of people plain forget, because it's not something they're used to in Australia. We can be rubbish tourists but I don't think it's necessarily fair to have a crack at us over tipping.

 

[Misanthrope]

Apparently we're the worst for it out of the western speaking nations. My friend in Namibian tourism even pointed out that while the British and Canadians are quick to apologize and just start tipping, the Aussies piss and moan about it being unfair.

 

[Skinner]

I don't tip as a rule. At least in Australia...it's not a thing here, as far as I'm aware, and it shouldn't be because we have a minimum wage. That said, if a bill comes to $43 I've got no issue leaving $50 and leaving the change.

Yep, that's basically me as well.

 

[whall15]

I'm with Bazal, the situation in the United States is f**king disgraceful.

The minimum wage for employees that receive tips is $2.13/hour.

http://www.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/002.htm

In that situation I would probably boycott all restaurants that paid such a pitiful wage so I'm not subsidising such a policy.

 

[Twizzle]

My wife is a huge tipper when it comes to my money