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

[Novacaine]

Will I tip my hairdresser for spending over an hour shampooing, cutting and styling my hair? Absolutely. 
 

I’m not tipping a cashier for ringing up my items and telling me tap my phone when the green arrow appears.

[supaspaz]

Just now, brooklyndaddy said:

ME? I’m the one punishing them? Explain how it’s me please. 

"Why should I make up for the what the restaurant doesn’t pay? The server should take it up with their boss."

[Asscatchem]

4 minutes ago, brooklyndaddy said:

ME? I’m the one punishing them? Explain how it’s me please. 

avoid those redneck states with $2/hour minimum wage for tipped workers

 

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/tipped

[KFC]

10 minutes ago, Novacaine said:

Will I tip my hairdresser for spending over an hour shampooing, cutting and styling my hair? Absolutely. 

Weird thing to say because it's not like they're doing your hair for free  Are you not paying for the haircut in the first place?

[KFC]

11 minutes ago, supaspaz said:

"Why should I make up for the what the restaurant doesn’t pay? The server should take it up with their boss."

Yes they should. Their boss is the one punishing them by paying them pennies, not the customer who was in the restaurant for two hours and won't ever see them again

[Chris]

What the hell did I just walk into?

 

 

It's like a war zone in here.

 

  

[Novacaine]

3 minutes ago, KFC said:

Weird thing to say because it's not like they're doing your hair for free  Are you not paying for the haircut in the first place?

It’s a medium- to low end salon and I believe she works on commission. She always takes her time too despite the price of the cut being fairly low as opposed to the high end salons that take 2+ hours with a client and charge like $100

[Chris]

This thread reminds of the chaos like that thread about the answer to that math equation.

 

@supaspaz Bring that thread back, please.

 

[Novacaine]

8 minutes ago, Novacaine said:

It’s a medium- to low end salon and I believe she works on commission. She always takes her time too despite the price of the cut being fairly low as opposed to the high end salons that take 2+ hours with a client and charge like $100

I also have long frizz ball hair that takes forever to blow dry and usually she still needs to use the flat iron afterwards lol 

[Bussea]

I’m just confused as to why y’all feel the need to make this thread literally every week.

 

I used to, and to a certain extent STILL, believe that we shouldn’t criticize the consumer because it’s falling into the trap of capitalism, because these businesses have more than enough money to pay their workers a livable wage and the consumer doesn’t need to be ostracized for not tipping,  but non tippers are such annoying and entitled assholes to the point where I can’t even defend them for not doing so lmao.

 

YES, it would be fantastic if they paid them accordingly but we’re not at the point where it is happening and you don’t need to prove a point to your server. so the fact that you KNOW these people make literal dog **** for a paycheck and you still go out of you way to brag about not tipping them and even go as far as to berate them and tell them they need to find a different job is literal dick behavior. How do you know they’re not trying? How do you not know that’s not their last resort? how do you know that’s not their 3rd job to make ends meet because **** is so ******* expensive now that you have to have multiple jobs to pay your rent AND have a cup of ramen noodles to come home to? The part that really blows me the most is that 95% of the time it’s literally $5-10 or even less that would be considered a good tip and y’all still *****. If your funky little five dollars is gonna break you bookie, the server + tip isn’t the problem  

 

And even If they did “find other jobs”, there would be no one to serve you so where does that leave you then?  Just tip the people if you want to, and don’t if you don’t. I don’t understand the spectacle of non tippers constantly bragging about not tipping as if you’re not educated on why you should and we’re supposed to pat you on the back.

 

 

 

Edited February 4 by Cult Leader 𐕣𐕣

[WhateverYouWant]

4 hours ago, Hurem said:

People justifying tipping culture give such pick me energy

 

America is a capitalist country at its core, so it makes sense the rich successfully brainwashed everyone into thinking they're not supposed to pay their employees.

Nobody likes tipping culture. Fix it. Until then we have to accept it for what it is. Waiters shouldn’t live under the poverty line. 

[WhateverYouWant]

2 hours ago, KFC said:

Weird thing to say because it's not like they're doing your hair for free  Are you not paying for the haircut in the first place?

You don’t tip your hair dresser!? I know you look busted 

 

not tipping a waiter is one thing. But not tipping the person who cuts your hair and makes you look good is just stupid. I’ve been going to the same hair dresser for 10 years and I tip that ***** 50% every time. She does exactly what I ask and is also underpaid. 
 

my pp would see allot less attention without a good haircut. 

Edited February 4 by WhateverYouWant

[Bussea]

On 2/2/2024 at 10:39 PM, byzantium said:

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. 

ATRL Europeans are always up here calling Americans ignorant to other people’s culture but then being ignorant themselves is crazy.
 

They act like we’re proud of the fact people aren’t being paid a livable wage and we have to help make up for it

 

Edited February 4 by Cult Leader 𐕣𐕣

[Dante]

if everyone stopped tipping something would have to change cause no one would want to, or could work for that tiny sallary

[Havoc]

It doesn't matter if you agree or disagree with instituion. It is called etiquette. 

[Asscatchem]

3 hours ago, Havoc said:

It doesn't matter if you agree or disagree with instituion. It is called etiquette. 

its called capitalist brainwash baby

[FlyPirate]

On 2/3/2024 at 4:28 AM, 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. 

the fact that you consider that system a local custom IS the problem.

[Cruel Summer]

The American tipping system literally serves the express purpose of causing this exact debate so people don’t actually debate why it’s there and why restaurant owners are legally able to underpay their employees (even if they match the criminally low minimum wage, as required) in the first place. It’s a stupid system. I tip well because I know these people who I depend on for service depend on people like me to actually tip in turn, but it’s a system that needs to be abolished if we manage to establish a real living wage (which I have zero confidence will ever actually happen).

[Badgalbriel]

I hate it but I always tip because I know the server is expecting that. However, it just doesn't make sense. The price of the food is already expensive enough to cover a decent salary for servers. 

 

And I saw someone saying that "they're waiting for you, so you must pay them" except they're waiting for me DURING their working hours! Their employee is the one that should be paying for their work. 

 

I work on Product Management and I take hundreds of call every month with customers to solve their issues and help them improve their usability. It's my time that they're consuming. Should I start asking them to invoice me 20% of the monthly subscription price they pay for my company's product every time we meet them? No right? It's my company that's paying for my time. Not the user. 

[Swirl900]

On 2/2/2024 at 11:29 PM, KFC said:

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

You are not spending any money at all - instead leaching off working class people. Hope that helps!

[The7thStranger]

It's a horrible system, but if you're going to visit or live in the United States, there are certain cultural differences that you have to be willing to except. You're a tourist, and you aren't sending any message by refusing to tip other than "You're a slave, and if this job pays you too little, then stop being poor and work somewhere else." And if that's not something you understand, then maybe your spoiled ass should simply stay home.

 

Withholding your tip from a server is one of the rudest and nastiest things that you can do in the United States. It's like shouting at people in non-English-speaking countries to speak English or walking through a Japanese person's home with your nasty shoes on. If you wouldn't do that, don't withhold a tip.

  

12 hours ago, FlyPirate said:

the fact that you consider that system a local custom IS the problem.

It is a local custom. Nobody said a local custom had to be a good one.

Edited February 5 by The7thStranger

[AaronBryceSufjan]

[bluebirdsforever]

The only thing I have to contribute to this conversation is, as a foreigner who arrived in the US on holiday fully intending to tip, I found the whole process so confusing and hostile to anyone who wasn’t intimately familiar with how it worked for the most part that my local friends almost always had to take over and direct me on how much I was actually expected to pay to ensure I didn’t unintentionally break the ‘rules.’

Yes, I’m terrible at maths, but having to stand there and take out a calculator for your total (what is gratuity? Do I need to give the minimum percentage listed on the docket or higher? How do I calculate that?) is going to make a lot of people actively resist the idea simply because it mildly inconveniences them. It’s sad, but it’s true. When you account for the fact that a lot of visitors also arrive having never encountered the concept before and not understanding its purpose, you have a recipe for disaster.

I don’t know what the solution is, but a more standardised user-friendly approach would go a long way.

[Yawn]

this topic is so tired. you can agree it’s wrong and still tip. yes it’s a really weird system if you aren’t used to it, but be grateful it’s not the norm where we are. 

[Yawn]

11 minutes ago, bluebirdsforever said:

I don’t know what the solution is, but a more standardised user-friendly approach would go a long way.

yeah it’s a heck of a lot easier to just select “10%” “15%” etc on a card reader when paying the full amount rather than writing it on the piece of paper.  that’s the norm in the UK and there’s not even a tipping culture.  the staff then disappearing with your card to run it up and making 2 journeys lol. not to mention if there’s a group of you but you can only pay on 1 or 2 cards maximum. girl that was a struggle…  

 

maybe that’s changed post-covid idk.