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

[Harrier]

American restaurants are an actual sham. Like you'd think given many are not paying their workers a living wage, they'd be cheaper than restaurants elsewhere in the developed world, but they're NOT, even before tips  Where is all that money going? The owners, of course.

 

Now I know that not every restaurant is super profitable despite low wages and high prices. But to me that means those businesses are not successful enough and should fall of the market. Pay your workers, abolish this unstable anti-consumer tipping nonsense, and if you can't afford it: close!

[OnikaSlays]

5 minutes ago, dumbsparce said:

This is the most insane thing i've ever read  

 

For a country known for its "democracy", it's such a hyprocritical thing to say to someone "you HAVE TO tip. Waiters rely on that tip and that's just the way it is". How about taking that up to your politicians and employers? It's almost insulting to waiters to paint them as beggers basically. They're doing their job. A job they wouldn't have if "we didn't go out to eat" as you suggest. 

My point is that the system is currently broken, and while it’s not fair, it’s just the way it is. 

 

You can complain all you want about it, but it’s not going to change a thing. You refusing to tip is only hurting them.

[RideOrDie]

just another broken system in america like their health care, lack gun control, college debts etc. etc.

the system makes it your responsibility to make up for its brokenness so you are not seen as a "bad" person 

people saying they are providing you a service... yeah and their employer is hiring them to provide that service, not me like? it's absurd. 

if i lived in america ofc i'd have to conform to their stupid tipping culture but i don't so no thanks. i only tip when i get exceptional service here and want to show my gratitude  

 

[Eternal220]

1 hour ago, Komet said:

I don't understand the logic behind 'mandatory' tipping. It's another thing when somebody goes above and beyond and does something extra worth rewarding, but just for doing your job without messing up? Like congrats on not pissing in my soup while you were brining it from the kitchen to my table, here's money ??? That's like tipping a postman for delivering package to you instead of idk throwing it in the river, or the guy from the cable company for not breaking your TV while installing it.  Just not failing at your tasks is not worth a tip. 

Apparently to some here we should be tipping everyone that does a service for you. Taking a bus or train to work? Dont forget to tip the driver. Buying something at a retail store? Don’t forget to tip the sales assistant too as we all know they don’t make much. 

[dumbsparce]

1 minute ago, Eternal220 said:

Apparently to some here we should be tipping everyone that does a service for you. Taking a bus or train to work? Dont forget to tip the driver. Buying something at a retail store? Don’t forget to tip the sales assistant too as we all know they don’t make much. 

Exactly. Every worker offers a service by default. If I tip everyone then who's gonna pay my bills? That's not the way a first world country's citizens should go by.

[OnikaSlays]

Just now, Eternal220 said:

Apparently to some here we should be tipping everyone that does a service for you. Taking a bus or train to work? Dont forget to tip the driver. Buying something at a retail store? Don’t forget to tip the sales assistant too as we all know they don’t make much. 

Bus drivers and sales assistants are typically paid minimum wage or well above, so that’s not actually necessary.

 

Servers are notoriously paid under minimum wage, because their expected tips are supposed to make up for the difference.

 

Same thing with delivery service, ride share, etc.

[Flanders]

7 hours ago, Insanity said:

If ur not American, I wouldn't expect you to understand but servers literally make like $2.31/ hr or so. Tips are basically how they survive. Its just how it is.

That’s well below the legal minimum wage?

[May]

the only time in my entire life that i have tipped is if im in an Uber and he agrees to stop down a back alley so i can get out and have a piss on the sidewalk

 

i will never ever tip . spit in my food for all i care . extra seasoning

[pisuke]

8 hours 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

Maybe if they unionize and fight for their rights?

In this whole thread NO ONE has even mentioned the responsability of the restaurant. 

It should not be if you cannot/want to tip, you dont deserve to go to a restaurant.

If you cannot pay your workers fairly, you do not deserve to have a business.

 

[KFC]

7 hours ago, fauxtography said:

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

If you're paying your employees so little that you expect the customers to pay then for doing their job and you still can't turn a profit then why have you opened a business?

[NumbSoul]

Yeah, I totally understand your point, but unfortunately, like many said, it's the problem of the system, so we should be sensitive to the workers, who are opressed by it. I wish this wasn't the case, but it's also kind of become part of the culture of eating out, so what can we do.

 

I do have to say though, there was one time where the whole tipping thing really pissed me off.

There was this one time my best friend and I went to a restaurant and we decided to not tip, because the service was really bad. We could tell we were not being respected - we were being kind and polite, but everytime we had to interact with the waiter, whether to order or to ask for something, they were being rude. We decided not to tip, we were trying to leave, and they literally stopped us and they MADE us tip... That was a bit much imo, but again, I get it - it's just a thing you kinda have to do now.

[McNulty]

Every 3 months, someone makes the same thread. ENOUGH

[May]

1 hour ago, KFC said:

If you're paying your employees so little that you expect the customers to pay then for doing their job and you still can't turn a profit then why have you opened a business?

LMAO

when you put it like that …  

[Pendulum]

The first thing I'd do when I step foot in the US as a tourist is go to a restaurant and not tip 

 

Also, the fact that they take your credit/debit card away when you pay with a card??? Like, just bring the POS terminal to the table. What is that about?

[WhateverYouWant]

The people in here thinking it’s dumb to tip a waiter…. I hope you stay lonely. 

[WhateverYouWant]

1 hour ago, Pendulum said:

The first thing I'd do when I step foot in the US as a tourist is go to a restaurant and not tip 

 

Also, the fact that they take your credit/debit card away when you pay with a card??? Like, just bring the POS terminal to the table. What is that about?

I’ve never had my card taken away. They bring a machine to your table. 

[WhateverYouWant]

It’s how the system works. Sure, these waiters should be paid a livable wage but they aren’t. Going out to a restaurant you know that you should tip. Unless your waiter is terrible, your the ass hole for not tipping. 

Edited February 3 by WhateverYouWant

[brooklyndaddy]

1 hour ago, WhateverYouWant said:

It’s how the system works. Sure, these waiters should be paid a livable wage but they aren’t. Going out to a restaurant you know that you should tip. Unless your waiter is terrible, your the ass hole for not tipping. 

What if the service is just… what’s expected? They bring me my plate. That does not deserve any extra money. 

[makeme]

What country do you live in? Last year while on vacation in Europe I was asked to tip on various occasions especially in the UK. 

[PoisonPill]

In Europe you’re still paying the difference in the form of high menu prices. I’d rather be given the choice of how much I’d like to compensate my server based on the service.

[C-Amber]

Another dumb American thing, what worse is seeing Americans here defending thos obvious issue and praising it.

[teresaguidice]

3 minutes ago, C-Amber said:

Another dumb American thing, what worse is seeing Americans here defending thos obvious issue and praising it.

not one person in this thread is praising it  

 

they're just pointing out the reality that you're not "fighting" or "protesting" the broken US system by not tipping servers, you're just screwing over the individuals and you're breaking an expected social norm. 

[C-Amber]

10 minutes ago, teresaguidice said:

not one person in this thread is praising it  

 

they're just pointing out the reality that you're not "fighting" or "protesting" the broken US system by not tipping servers, you're just screwing over the individuals and you're breaking an expected social norm. 

The 1st page full of those who attacking anyone saying they ain't tipping or supporting this dumbass american system, they be calling them cheap and snobs, that's called defending the broken disgusting system. Nobody in this world is tipping like that because its pure dumb and stupid, but that 1st class country there is doing it because them companies don't want to pay their workers, and yall here calling out people who don't tip looool put your energy on those companies not regular people sweetie.

[glitch]

53 minutes ago, makeme said:

What country do you live in? Last year while on vacation in Europe I was asked to tip on various occasions especially in the UK. 

Do you mean the card machines asked if you wanted to tip or people actually asked you? Everyone in the UK just skips those tip screens and sometimes the server literally skips it for you because it's so awkward 

[Flower]

Honestly I don't mind the extra cost of tipping. I just wish the cost of a item will shown on the full menu without having to calculate myself everything that I order. Like I don't want my steak to look like it cost $30 but actually with tip and tax it is actually $38.xx. It would be better if 15% tip + tax already included in the price of the item, and people can still tip more if they would like to.

but one thing about this it's that tipping usually isnt required for take out. This is how I save money usually.