I rest my case ...
Feb 6th, 2017, 06:40 AM
#11
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bvlenci - curious as to the reply as both you and I are familiar with Italian tipping experience.
However, as a frequent traveller to the US it is extremely stressful to load up one's wallet with appropriate bills to deal with all of those thrusting hands.
Comments about about Trump are frankly pathetic and better left to other forums.
However, as a frequent traveller to the US it is extremely stressful to load up one's wallet with appropriate bills to deal with all of those thrusting hands.
Comments about about Trump are frankly pathetic and better left to other forums.
Feb 6th, 2017, 06:51 AM
#12
"However, as a frequent traveller to the US it is extremely stressful to load up one's wallet with appropriate bills to deal with all of those thrusting hands."
I live in the US. Aside from checks to my chiropractor, my cleaning lady and my lawn service, I pay for everything by credit card. It's true I rarely stay in a hotel in the US, but when I do I don't have a car or I stay somewhere I park my car myself, and I carry my own bag. (Though it is true I had to come up with some cash last week to tip the guys who delivered my new mattress.)
I live in the US. Aside from checks to my chiropractor, my cleaning lady and my lawn service, I pay for everything by credit card. It's true I rarely stay in a hotel in the US, but when I do I don't have a car or I stay somewhere I park my car myself, and I carry my own bag. (Though it is true I had to come up with some cash last week to tip the guys who delivered my new mattress.)
Feb 6th, 2017, 07:05 AM
#14
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thursdaysd - as a European one arrives in the US without cash or high dollar bills. Assuming one has no dollars, one goes to an ATM and the minimum notes are $20 bills. So immediately one has to go to an airport outlet to buy a stick of gum or whatever to have some change - i.e. small bills.
Hopefully the taxi can accept a credit card which allows a tip - but not always.
At the hotel your cab door is opened for you - do you tip?
Before you put your hands on your bags they are whipped away from you - do you have to tip to get them back?
When you check in you are pressured to assign your bags to someone who will deliver them to your room. This person will then explain to you the minibar (often empty), how the lights work (are we so stupid?), and other remarkable features of the room as if we have never travelled before. Again how much do you tip?
This has to STOP!
Pay hotel staff a decent wage as in Europe.
Hopefully the taxi can accept a credit card which allows a tip - but not always.
At the hotel your cab door is opened for you - do you tip?
Before you put your hands on your bags they are whipped away from you - do you have to tip to get them back?
When you check in you are pressured to assign your bags to someone who will deliver them to your room. This person will then explain to you the minibar (often empty), how the lights work (are we so stupid?), and other remarkable features of the room as if we have never travelled before. Again how much do you tip?
This has to STOP!
Pay hotel staff a decent wage as in Europe.
Feb 6th, 2017, 07:11 AM
#15
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<This has to STOP! >
For your convenience?? Not bloody likely, as they say across the pond.
You know, Americans who don't travel much find the hotel tipping situation confusing, too, and inconvenient.
And most of us are not opposed to paying workers a living wage--although restaurant servers fall into a different category from bell staff in hotels.
For your convenience?? Not bloody likely, as they say across the pond.
You know, Americans who don't travel much find the hotel tipping situation confusing, too, and inconvenient.
And most of us are not opposed to paying workers a living wage--although restaurant servers fall into a different category from bell staff in hotels.
Feb 6th, 2017, 07:27 AM
#16
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I guess I should add, for clarity, that restaurant servers are legally paid less than the minimum wage, on the assumption that most of their income comes from tips. A crazy system, IMO, but there it is.
Other people in the service industry who receive tips, such as the people who take your luggage to your hotel room, are paid at least minimum wage. Which isn't enough, IMO, as it's not actually livable, and there is a movement dedicated to raising the minimum wage, but it's a struggle and won;t get any easier under the current administration.
There are a few restaurateurs across the country who have raised wages for servers and outlawed tipping, but it has resulted in a net loss of income for their staff. It remains to be seen of the experiment is successful.
Other people in the service industry who receive tips, such as the people who take your luggage to your hotel room, are paid at least minimum wage. Which isn't enough, IMO, as it's not actually livable, and there is a movement dedicated to raising the minimum wage, but it's a struggle and won;t get any easier under the current administration.
There are a few restaurateurs across the country who have raised wages for servers and outlawed tipping, but it has resulted in a net loss of income for their staff. It remains to be seen of the experiment is successful.
Feb 6th, 2017, 07:39 AM
#17
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Nochblad- if the taxi driver says he does not accept cards, he's probably lying. I'm not guessing here- almost every time I've said, ok, I'll ask the next driver in queue and turn to walk away, their machine magically comes back online.
I don't normally stay in the class of the hotel where your door is opened for you...but when I do, I don't tip for that service nor do I know anyone who does.
If they take your bags before you can ask, then don't feel obliged to tip. I tip for excessive luggage, or if I have to wrangle kids or dogs, but that's it.
And that last one happened to me in Italy, never here, but you must really like giving out dollars if you tip for that lesson on how to use the minibar.
I tip valet and housekeeping sometimes. Usually more if I'm there for a few days and see the same faces.
So in short...I think you may be hallucinating those out thrust hands.
Waiters are an entirely different breed, and I suspect that's what you really resent. Heck, I resent that. But the good ones work hard for that money, and being cheap there is just rude if you enjoyed the service and the meal. And I don't see it as an income thing at this point- I tip the same percentage at a place that does pay their waiters fairly as I do at a chain. It's customary. Tons of stuff in Europe doesn't make sense but if an American complains, the locals would say...that's just how we do it here! I don't see how this is different...
I don't normally stay in the class of the hotel where your door is opened for you...but when I do, I don't tip for that service nor do I know anyone who does.
If they take your bags before you can ask, then don't feel obliged to tip. I tip for excessive luggage, or if I have to wrangle kids or dogs, but that's it.
And that last one happened to me in Italy, never here, but you must really like giving out dollars if you tip for that lesson on how to use the minibar.
I tip valet and housekeeping sometimes. Usually more if I'm there for a few days and see the same faces.
So in short...I think you may be hallucinating those out thrust hands.
Waiters are an entirely different breed, and I suspect that's what you really resent. Heck, I resent that. But the good ones work hard for that money, and being cheap there is just rude if you enjoyed the service and the meal. And I don't see it as an income thing at this point- I tip the same percentage at a place that does pay their waiters fairly as I do at a chain. It's customary. Tons of stuff in Europe doesn't make sense but if an American complains, the locals would say...that's just how we do it here! I don't see how this is different...
Feb 6th, 2017, 07:39 AM
#18
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This has to STOP!
Well perhaps we need a serious discussion on this.
Many restaurants are beginning to employ a no tipping policy. And many have been exposed as not fully distributing tips to staff - and let alone the distinction between frontline staff and those in the kitchen.
Hotels are another cesspit of tips. And do not get me into the cc charge for room extras which are non-exisistent - a totally empty mini-bar which is not even frigerated. Recently I contested this charge at a hotel at SFO (arrived at 22.00 with departure at 10.00) and was told that if I was in Las Vegas the charge would have been higher! A charge for what?
Yup - accept the status quo, pay through the nose, feel forced to take the doggie bag because the restaurant wants to reduce their organic waste, etc.
This is not necessarily an Italian rant - but it is certainly an American one.
And how many, truthfully, have experienced such?
Well perhaps we need a serious discussion on this.
Many restaurants are beginning to employ a no tipping policy. And many have been exposed as not fully distributing tips to staff - and let alone the distinction between frontline staff and those in the kitchen.
Hotels are another cesspit of tips. And do not get me into the cc charge for room extras which are non-exisistent - a totally empty mini-bar which is not even frigerated. Recently I contested this charge at a hotel at SFO (arrived at 22.00 with departure at 10.00) and was told that if I was in Las Vegas the charge would have been higher! A charge for what?
Yup - accept the status quo, pay through the nose, feel forced to take the doggie bag because the restaurant wants to reduce their organic waste, etc.
This is not necessarily an Italian rant - but it is certainly an American one.
And how many, truthfully, have experienced such?
Feb 6th, 2017, 07:46 AM
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And what newbe says about the net loss is true. It may be a good for business, but I haven't met a waiter who likes it. Local place that does it still put a tip line on the receipts so one can tip for "above and beyond service" on top of the service charge. This is to keep waiters happy. I have a lot of sympathy for people working minimum wage. It's not livable. ANYWHERE. But I have less sympathy for waiters, because they know it's a gamble and they like it that way. A set tip percentage is usually not in a waiter's favor and they know it.
Feb 6th, 2017, 07:48 AM
#20
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Wanna change the world or been drinking early ?
If you want a serious discussion you should be clearer.
Your rant makes no head nor tail and mixes a lot of different things.
Customs are customs. We got rid of tipping by law. As long as laws don't change why should the habits change ?
I don't tip in Europe. I tip in the U.S.
What is so complicated ?
If you want a serious discussion you should be clearer.
Your rant makes no head nor tail and mixes a lot of different things.
Customs are customs. We got rid of tipping by law. As long as laws don't change why should the habits change ?
I don't tip in Europe. I tip in the U.S.
What is so complicated ?
