discussion I do not understand America’s tipping culture. Someone convince me.

[Moloko Plus]

Just now, Marvin said:

Tipping is similar to what a lot of other countries know as a service charge. I agree it’s gotten out of control in the US but it’s not the only place where it happens. 

Agreed it’s gotten out of control, i’m not tipping my barista for a damn iced coffee and microwaving a croissant 

[brooklyndaddy]

Just now, byzantium said:

Because you are choosing to go to a place to accept their service?  If you don’t want to tip, go to a counter service restaurant.  Why is it so hard for you to follow local customs when traveling. 

Because I don’t have a reason to, frankly. I don’t make enough money to throw around for an optional fee for being handed a plate of food. I just don’t understand. 
 

a small service charge of 5-10% I get but that’s rare

[brooklyndaddy]

1 minute ago, byzantium said:

You don’t sound like you are genuinely trying to understand. 
 

 

How is this my problem and not the employee and their employer? Don’t work somewhere where a fee is optional. Or choose a restaurant to work at that pays fairly. Once again, not my issue. It’s optional. 

[Kummercell]

you're kinda rotten to the core if you don't tip knowing servers can barely survive without tips 

in a capitalistic hell like the USA you gotta support your fellow workers

[byzantium]

6 minutes ago, brooklyndaddy said:

How is this my problem and not the employee and their employer? Don’t work somewhere where a fee is optional. Or choose a restaurant to work at that pays fairly. Once again, not my issue. It’s optional. 

It’s also optional for you to not go to a restaurant.  Not sure why it’s so hard for people to follow local culture when they are traveling. 

[OnikaSlays]

Don’t eat out or use services where you’re expected to tip then, it’s simple.

 

Unfortunately waiters/waitresses, and other service workers rely on these tips, and everyone knows this. You refusing to do your part as a patron just because “their employers should be paying them” is a bit of a selfish way to go about it.

 

Their employers aren’t paying them at a livable wage, so now what? They just don’t get paid for the time they spent catering to YOU? 

Edited February 3 by OnikaSlays

[KFC]

2 minutes ago, Kummercell said:

you're kinda rotten to the core if you don't tip knowing servers can barely survive without tips 

in a capitalistic hell like the USA you gotta support your fellow workers

By supporting this broken system Americans are directly contributing to making their country a capitalistic hell

[byzantium]

4 minutes ago, KFC said:

By supporting this broken system Americans are directly contributing to making their country a capitalistic hell

The workers living off tips are not the people you need to punish for living in a capitalist hell.  
 

 

[Swirl900]

32 minutes ago, KFC said:

It's a horrible system and I do have sympathy for all workers who rely on tips to survive however I refuse to contribute to the problem. I will only tip for exceptional service and even then only like $5-10, not 20 or 30% or whatever the norm is  

 

I'm sure servers hate me whenever I visit the US but it's literally not my problem, take it up with your employer. 

You should not be visiting the US then. This imperialist attitude you have is wild.

 

Either adopt the basic principles of etiquette when you visit a country, or do not go at all.

[nostalgic]

You're overthinking it. Tip, don't tip, who cares? No one is holding you at gunpoint demanding you pay up. Pay for your food and leave if you're so inclined. 

[flower moon]

6 minutes ago, byzantium said:

The workers living off tips are not the people you need to punish for living in a capitalist hell.  
 

 

if people couldn't support themselves because of not receiving tips, they'd be forced to find better employment. this could force the employers who have been exploiting tipping "culture" to change.

 

[KFC]

12 minutes ago, byzantium said:

The workers living off tips are not the people you need to punish for living in a capitalist hell.  
 

 

And patrons who simply want to enjoy a meal and pay the price that the menu says shouldn't have to be punished either 

[Into The Void]

42 minutes ago, brooklyndaddy said:

How is that my problem? Genuinely trying to understand. Why would someone take this job then… a tip is not guaranteed. 

I'm not a server Idk id never take a job where tipping is my main income. Maybe ask one of them

[duybeeGAshantiGA]

The fact I just watched this video 2 mins ago and then came here seeing this thread

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1zJGdgaEhb9MNmft/?mibextid=jmPrMh

[Into The Void]

The hostility over tipping in this thread 

[harwee]

I blame OF

 

 

[WhateverYouWant]

Your waiter is underpaid under the assumption they will make money off tips. Which at least here in Canada, if your good at your job you can make bank. Some of my friends make more money than me at my government job. But going out to a restaurant you understand how the system works plus your tipping for good service and being waited on. At the end of the day unless your racking up a crazy bill your not tipping a crazy amount. I only tip 20% unless it’s amazing service. So its really not that much more on your bill. Plus going out to eat at a restaurant that asks for a tip is a luxury. Don’t do it if you can’t afford it/don’t want to tip. It’s also normal not to tip or to tip a low % if your aren’t satisfied with your service. I’ve personally never not tipped but a lot of people won’t if their unhappy. 
 

what’s annoying is places like subway asking for tips where you have to ask six times to add more of a item to your sandwich. I don’t tip there. Plus subway workers are usually paid more than minimum wage so it doesn’t make sense to tip for 5 minutes of service. 

Edited February 3 by WhateverYouWant

[Mr_campbell]

I travel to the US alot from Australia and, despite my dislike for tipping, I consistently do so to avoid being "that" person. However, it frustrates me that some individuals make over $100 per hour solely from tips, overseeing a section of around 10 tables with turnovers of 3-4 times a night, earning $500+ for a 3-4 hour shift. Wtf is that about? Y’all just waiting on tables not programming for NASA. 

[Rotunda]

I don’t see a functional difference between tipping your server vs. the owner banning tips and raising prices 20%. With tipping, you can at least exercise some discretion when you have a completely negative experience.

 

The real issue for me is the proliferation of tipping at venues that previously did not take tips, and the increase in weird service charges at American restaurants that sound an awful lot like tips but apparently aren’t. 

[Gagaast]

I too never understood this culture. Saw this culture growing fast in India too.

[KFC]

37 minutes ago, Swirl900 said:

You should not be visiting the US then. This imperialist attitude you have is wild.

 

Either adopt the basic principles of etiquette when you visit a country, or do not go at all.

Well unfortunately for you, my stance on tipping doesn't impact whether I'm allowed into the country or not so I will continue to visit and spend my hard earned money how I choose

[fauxtography]

I mean it sucks and it shouldn’t be that way but it is. Stopping tipping won’t stop resteraunt owners from underpaying servers because they’re legally allowed to. 
 

That said, it’s gotten out of control. There’s so many tip options now for people working regular wage jobs, there’s even online tipping options for consumer goods, like wtf 

[WhateverYouWant]

19 minutes ago, Gagaast said:

I too never understood this culture. Saw this culture growing fast in India too.

You tip maids on vacation right? Cause their waiting on you. Why wouldn’t you tip a server at a restaurant who’s also waiting on you? I don’t see how it doesn’t make sense that waiters should be tipped 

Edited February 3 by WhateverYouWant

[fauxtography]

1 hour ago, brooklyndaddy said:

Except I DO eat out. Because I pay the full price of the food. As is required. A tip is optional. Very simple. A backwards system has corrupted you. 

Except you don’t, because most restaurants operate at a loss.

[harwee]

its those card readers being ubiquitous and tipping just naturally became part of it. Its not necessarily part of the culture. Nobody cares if you skip the tip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 3 by harwee