discussion European tourist goes viral for US trip; pans obesity, tipping culture and more

[Robert]

Kind of a dumb take to base his depiction of the US on two cities which are vastly different to the rest of the country.

[Mezik]

1 minute ago, Joey307 said:

1. I am more than capable of doing my job properly for those who aren't there to waste my time 

 

2. No, it's not $10 actually, because servers have this thing called tip-out. At the end of each of our shifts, we all have to give a pre-determined amount of our tips to bussers, hosts, bartenders etc. Who and how much you have to tip out is dependent upon the restaurant but it's always mandatory. 
 

For example my tip-out is 4 percent, so your 10 on 100 is actually 6 after tipping out. We as servers have to pay others' wages just like you customers do, believe it or not, even if you don't tip. We're literally paying to wait on you at that point. 
 

3. "tIpPiNG iS OpTioNaL" okay and it's optional for me to give you horrid service in exchange. You get what you (aren't) paying for. Is it "classist" to say you don't deserve a nanny if you can't pay the nanny? 
 

STOP TALKING ABOUT INDUSTRIES YOU CLEARLY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT. 
 

Be like your fave

If I cannot afford a nanny, I am not going to get a nanny. Simple as that.

 

If I can afford to go out and eat dinner, and pay the taxes - I will do that because I can afford it. I am not spending an extra $20 because you are unhappy with your job and clearly do not want to do the roles your job requires. Acting like a horrible server only brings your co workers down when people ask for every other server to help them - because you are purposely ignoring a customer simply because they are *check notes* paying their bill in full?!?!? 

 

The two situations are not even comparable. 

[Joey307]

4 minutes ago, Mezik said:

If I cannot afford a nanny, I am not going to get a nanny. Simple as that.

 

If I can afford to go out and eat dinner, and pay the taxes - I will do that because I can afford it. I am not spending an extra $20 because you are unhappy with your job and clearly do not want to do the roles your job requires. Acting like a horrible server only brings your co workers down when people ask for every other server to help them - because you are purposely ignoring a customer simply because they are *check notes* paying their bill in full?!?!? 

 

The two situations are not even comparable. 

Okay babe, you're clearly not here to understand which is why you have no argument other than saying the employer should pay a higher wage when you know that's never been how this works. 
 

Again, TIP 20% or as Fergie once said, take your broke ass home. 

[Mezik]

1 minute ago, Joey307 said:

Okay babe, you're clearly not here to understand which is why you have no argument other than saying the employer should pay a higher wage when you know that's never been how this works. 
 

Again, TIP 20% or as Fergie once said, take your broke ass home. 

20% is just being completely greedy.

 

Be grateful for any tips, as they are not mandatory.  

[Joey307]

22 minutes ago, Mezik said:

20% is just being completely greedy.

 

Be grateful for any tips, as they are not mandatory.  

There are restaurants and bars with automatic 20% gratuity, no ifs, ands, or buts. I can't wait til it's like that everywhere, though I always make over 20% anyway it will finally shut all you brokies up 

[Vermouth]

On 8/22/2024 at 3:57 PM, Joey307 said:

There are restaurants and bars with automatic 20% gratuity, no ifs, ands, or buts. I can't wait til it's like that everywhere, though I always make over 20% anyway it will finally shut all you brokies up 

Recent trip to Florida 18% seemed the norm to be automatically added on for tips.  
 

Now, as I stated upthread, I understand that, given no minimum wage in the US, and accept it totally. As a foreigner, I think it's a weird set up but I get it, account for it, and when in Rome do as the Romans do and all that.

 

However, specifically at least in the bits of Florida I was in, there seemed to be an unadvertised (until the check arrived that is) 3% surcharge on paying by card. Why is that not stated upfront?

 

Then there is the also (to my mind) ludicrous nonsense of not adding the tax to the cost until the check arrives (again). What the actual f*** is all that about America? Please enlighten me.  Doesn't seem to happen anywhere outside of North America. It's nuts.

 

So your lasagne (let's say) is advertised at $18 - so in Europe maybe add 10% rounded up is $20 max. Florida $18, plus 6% (approx) tax, plus 18% tip (is the tip on the tax?  is another wholly local US debate that baffles foreigners), plus 3% surcharge adds up to something north of $23 and the tourists feel confused, and a bit ripped off at the spivvy way it all adds up by sleight of hand.

 

And yes I really enjoyed my trip despite the constant mental arithmetic gymnastics a meal out in the US entails(!)

 

 

Edited August 23 by Vermouth

[makeme]

I just got back from Europe and was asked to tip multiple times. This also happened when I visited Europe earlier this year in May. Seems like yall are slowly adopting the tipping method or at least in major cities. 

[A.R.L]

4 hours ago, makeme said:

I just got back from Europe and was asked to tip multiple times. This also happened when I visited Europe earlier this year in May. Seems like yall are slowly adopting the tipping method or at least in major cities. 

In what part of Europe? In the country where I live, this is a great no here, it is considered begging, unless people want to tip voluntarily.

 

I was in Venice this year and the same thing, they never asked me to give a tip.

 

 

[Joey307]

8 hours ago, Vermouth said:

Recent trip to Florida 18% seemed the norm to be automatically added on for tips.  
 

Now, as I stated upthread, I understand that, given no minimum wage in the US, and accept it totally. As a foreigner, I think it's a weird set up but I get it, account for it, and when in Rome do as the Romans do and all that.

 

However, specifically at least in the bits of Florida I was in, there seemed to be an unadvertised (until the check arrived that is) 3% surcharge on paying by card. Why is that not stated upfront?

 

Then there is the also (to my mind) ludicrous nonsense of not adding the tax to the cost until the check arrives (again). What the actual f*** is all that about America? Please enlighten me.  Doesn't seem to happen anywhere outside of North America. It's nuts.

 

So your lasagne (let's say) is advertised at $18 - so in Europe maybe add 10% rounded up is $20 max. Florida $18, plus 6% (approx) tax, plus 18% tip (is the tip on the tax?  is another wholly local US debate that baffles foreigners), plus 3% surcharge adds up to something north of $23 and the tourists feel confused, and a bit ripped off at the spivvy way it's all adds up by sleight of hand.

 

And yes I really enjoyed my trip despite the constant mental arithmetic gymnastics a meal out in the US entails(!)

 

 

I've been serving/working in general in Florida for years and I've never heard of companies charging credit card fees. That's shitty when like 99% of people pay by card but it's probably locally owned places trying to save a buck. As for taxes, yeah it's just apart of American business. 

Edited August 23 by Joey307

[makeme]

36 minutes ago, A.R.L said:

In what part of Europe? In the country where I live, this is a great no here, it is considered begging, unless people want to tip voluntarily.

 

I was in Venice this year and the same thing, they never asked me to give a tip.

 

 

I've had the tip option in London, Athens, Santorini, Dubrovnik, Budapest, Paris, Prague, Barcelona to name a few. 

Edited August 23 by makeme

[A.R.L]

25 minutes ago, makeme said:

I've had the tip option in London, Athens, Santorini, Dubrovnik, Budapest, Paris, Prague, Barcelona to name a few. 

I've been to Barcelona, Paris and London, that's strange! 

[makeme]

2 hours ago, A.R.L said:

I've been to Barcelona, Paris and London, that's strange! 

This was all last year it probably getting more and more common this decade 

[Vermouth]

4 hours ago, Joey307 said:

I've been serving/working in general in Florida for years and I've never heard of companies charging credit card fees. That's shitty when like 99% of people pay by card but it's probably locally owned places trying to save a buck. As for taxes, yeah it's just apart of American business. 

Family owned ( I presumed) restaurants in Miami Beach.

Edited August 23 by Vermouth

[A.R.L]

2 hours ago, makeme said:

This was all last year it probably getting more and more common this decade 

As someone who lives in Spain. I can confirm that the tipping culture has no place in society. I don't even see it coming. However, people can voluntarily tip if they want or pay an understandable percentage of additional tax, but not this extremely high fee that can cost the same or more than your actual order.

[KillingYourCareer]

He's only been to two amusement parks in the US (Vegas and NYC) so he saw nothing but he's right about tipping culture. It's just ridiculous, it's not my responsibility to pay your salary. I recently found out that in the US it's normal to tip at the barber shop and the nail salon wtf

[KillingYourCareer]

15 hours ago, makeme said:

I've had the tip option in London, Athens, Santorini, Dubrovnik, Budapest, Paris, Prague, Barcelona to name a few. 

And hopefully you hit no tip in all of them  as an Italian (no concept of tipping here), I was never presented the tipping option on the other hand, they just know who to target.

Edited August 24 by KillingYourCareer

[KillingYourCareer]

15 hours ago, A.R.L said:

In what part of Europe? In the country where I live, this is a great no here, it is considered begging, unless people want to tip voluntarily.

 

I was in Venice this year and the same thing, they never asked me to give a tip.

They only beg for tips to Americans, many of them have no idea most European countries have no tipping culture, and they're also very generous people in general. Unfortunately, for the same reason, they're also the most targeted in street scams. On the other hand, Italians have zero concept of tipping even when going abroad - as in, if we pay by cash we expect every cent back for the change. When I went to Fuerteventura with my parents as a kid the taxi driver was an old man and he was struggling to find the change (about 2 euros), so they just told him to keep it and went on for a while telling about how generous they were, they truly felt like Mother Teresa for something that's common in most countries  

[fromily]

the argument over the past few pages is EXACTLY why tipping (on top of being a straight up scam that employers use to pay their employees less) only serves to create a negative experience for everyone involved! Service industry employees should be paid to turn up and perform the tasks they are assigned just like literally everyone else. Does the customer service aspect of service work involve approaching customers with a friendly or at least neutral disposition? sure. But that is a task they are expected to perform and they should be compensated accordingly by their employers!

 

The idea that their pay, for their actual job, should DEPEND on the customer's willingness and ability to fork over MORE money than they are legally required? In this economy? Ma'am.

 

Also saying you shouldn't go out to eat if you can't afford to tip 20%... darksided 

[Starshine]

He's RIGHT about In N Out being mid. Their burgers are great for the price, however the fries... the FRIES that complete the whole meal. I don't care if they're real and freshly cut potatoes, they taste like slightly seasoned crumbled up paper. 

[One Rude Boy]

I understand the unhealthy perception from Las Vegas but.. no healthy food... in New York City? Really?

 

The US produces the best produce, grains, and meat in the world via California, the Great Plains, and the South. Then the Northeast monetizes it. We eat welll and have the fattest and fittest people on Earth, I'd bet. And both could top me

[Phaunzie]

Cringe but I agree on tipping. Tipping is shite, pay your workers what they deserve. Also allow your workers to unionize to work toward a  sustainable solution for their pay. Tourist sites have heavy vat rates, don't be surprised at the prices.

 

 If he wanted to be healthy, they are myriad of healthier restaurants and eat outs in NYC and LV. Maybe he should explored the area more instead of sticking to the tourist destined areas. Someone told him several lies about I&O, when you come to America got yourself Popeyes, Wendy's or at least Chickfella, I&O is not great. Also not him acting like obesity in America is dystopian, huh interesting when fascism is on a rise in Europe.The fact that tourists are the reason that LV made it illegal to be homeless, leading to people living in underground tunnels. Not to mention, LV, Hell itself is also making harder and harder for homeless people to get out of their homelessness. So I am sorry America has bigger issues than Obesity. 

 

Anyone who is complaining about portion sizes, never grew up poor. Save the food if you can't eat it all, ask for a doggy bag.  I live in the tourist capital of the world and the surface of the sun called the Caribbean. Be happy you are getting leftovers and bigger portions, more to eat or drink later, less overspending on expensive af groceries.

 

 

Edited August 24 by Phaunzie

[Comedor]

Does anyone else find tipping super confusing?

 

I travelled to NYC when I was in my early 20s and I remember a waiter chasing me down the street because he thought I didn't tip. I don't remember the exact details, but I think I left the tip on the table and he didn't see it.

 

More recently, I was in Vegas last year and opted to tip 20%, but I noticed I wasn't charged. I walked up to one of the servers to ask if they needed my credit card again to process the tip. They explained to me it wasn't necessary, it would be processed later in the day. Apparently they keep the credit card info saved in their system. I was like oh ok. 

In California I was once told to tip in cash and that they didn't take card.

 

It's always different and confusing. If you are going to take our money away then at least try to be consistent. 

[Pikachoo]

he sounds exhausting

[ScorpiosGroove]

On 8/21/2024 at 6:02 PM, Joey307 said:

I don't know when and where this whole "anti-tipping" movement started online, but as a server it's embarrassing watching all you morons who don't understand how restaurants work ***** and moan about a system that has been in place for years and will never go away, because it WORKS JUST FINE and benefits every party involved. 

 

Europeans are a special kind of stupid to complain about Americans not respecting their culture when they visit their countries and then disregarding ours because they're CHEAP. Tip 20% or more or stay the **** home. 

boohoo get a better job 

 

OT : as a european who visited the states multiple times the whole country just feels like a huge theme park, which can be pretty exciting and fun for a vacation but seems very exhausting to live in. also the food is just gross, especially sweets and desserts. idk what y'all put in your cakes or chocolates but they either taste overly sugary and bland or like straight up vomit. putting ice in water is also a chop.

 

I did love the sheer amount of different climates, the wildlife and gorgeous national parks and the people i've met were all very open minded and nice, which isn't something i'm used to as a parisian 

Edited August 24 by ScorpiosGroove

[makeme]

4 hours ago, KillingYourCareer said:

And hopefully you hit no tip in all of them  as an Italian (no concept of tipping here), I was never presented the tipping option on the other hand, they just know who to target.

I tipped in London bc the waitress was STARING me down and it brought out the nervous American in me