Canada, Tipping, US Dollars
Apr 28th, 2008, 11:46 AM
#22
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You can also leave your tip on the credit card - when you sign your bill, there is a place at the bottom to add the tip. Servers perhaps don't prefer this way, because then there is a paper trail that the taxman can find, but it is done all the time. (And too bad for them, I say - and yes, I have been a server myself and have claimed tips on my tax returns.)
I don't think it's rude leaving a tip in USD (rather than no tip), but I do strongly feel that when you are travelling to another country, you should use the currency of that country, out of basic respect. So by leaving a tip in US dollars, you show that you are either a/ too lazy to exchange your money or b/ lacking respect. Of course, neither of those may be the message you were intending to send.
I find it kind of rude (rude is maybe too strong a word - ignorant and uninformed is more what I mean) when Americans contemplating a visit to Canada ask questions about whether or not they need to exchange money (sorry, I'm not meaning to point at you specifially; this question comes up all the time in travel forums). If you were going to Europe or Japan, you'd automatically do it. Why not Canada?
Maybe we are a bit touchy about this in a nationalistic sense, but one sure way to p*ss off a Canadian is to treat us like we are another state of the union, or to assume that things here are just like in the US. Using US money generally gets you lumped in with some of the negative stereotypes of US tourists.
What IS rude is complaining about the rates of exchange that merchants give; they take USD as a courtesy, and if US visitors don't like the rates, they should exchange their money themselves instead of complaining about it. It costs businesses time and money to accept US currency, and of course they want some kind of compensation for their trouble, so of course their rates aren't going to be as good as the banks'. In my area, some merchants are now opting out of accepting USD because of the flack Americans are giving their staff over the rates. In many cases, their complaints aren't even the extra few percentage points the merchant is taking, it's the basic exchange rate! (Like it's the staff's fault that the USD has fallen in value?)
The other thing that is rude, besides asking "how much is that in real money" is to ask if a price is in Canadian or US dollars, or to expect prices, hotel rates etc. to be quoted in US dollars. This is Canada, the Canadian dollar is the legal tender here. Another annoying thing is cracks about Canadian "funny money"... but those are getting fewer and farther between, now that the US government has realized that adding colour to paper bills helps make them harder to counterfeit and is doing it on USD.
I don't think it's rude leaving a tip in USD (rather than no tip), but I do strongly feel that when you are travelling to another country, you should use the currency of that country, out of basic respect. So by leaving a tip in US dollars, you show that you are either a/ too lazy to exchange your money or b/ lacking respect. Of course, neither of those may be the message you were intending to send.
I find it kind of rude (rude is maybe too strong a word - ignorant and uninformed is more what I mean) when Americans contemplating a visit to Canada ask questions about whether or not they need to exchange money (sorry, I'm not meaning to point at you specifially; this question comes up all the time in travel forums). If you were going to Europe or Japan, you'd automatically do it. Why not Canada?
Maybe we are a bit touchy about this in a nationalistic sense, but one sure way to p*ss off a Canadian is to treat us like we are another state of the union, or to assume that things here are just like in the US. Using US money generally gets you lumped in with some of the negative stereotypes of US tourists.
What IS rude is complaining about the rates of exchange that merchants give; they take USD as a courtesy, and if US visitors don't like the rates, they should exchange their money themselves instead of complaining about it. It costs businesses time and money to accept US currency, and of course they want some kind of compensation for their trouble, so of course their rates aren't going to be as good as the banks'. In my area, some merchants are now opting out of accepting USD because of the flack Americans are giving their staff over the rates. In many cases, their complaints aren't even the extra few percentage points the merchant is taking, it's the basic exchange rate! (Like it's the staff's fault that the USD has fallen in value?)
The other thing that is rude, besides asking "how much is that in real money" is to ask if a price is in Canadian or US dollars, or to expect prices, hotel rates etc. to be quoted in US dollars. This is Canada, the Canadian dollar is the legal tender here. Another annoying thing is cracks about Canadian "funny money"... but those are getting fewer and farther between, now that the US government has realized that adding colour to paper bills helps make them harder to counterfeit and is doing it on USD.
Apr 28th, 2008, 01:53 PM
#23
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"Maybe we are a bit touchy about this in a nationalistic sense"
Please don't lump all Canadians in with your diatribe. I suspect most of us don't care either way.
As for merchants they don't accept US dollars as a "courtesy" any more than they accept Canadian dollars as a "courtesy" - its called business.
Apr 28th, 2008, 02:20 PM
#24
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Nohomers - I know a lot of Canadians and not one of them would be glad to get US dollars for payment (at least at this exchange rate) for their services. Personally, if I were being tipped in pesos (even if it was at 40%), I would not be happy. I'd have to make a special trip to a bank and hope that they would be able to exchange it for me. I'm not close to the border so it's not convenient for me to "just go shopping south of the border" with my tips. I'm guessing most Canadians would feel the same. If they're planning a trip to the states, they might be happy to get US money; if they live close to the border and cross often, they might be happy to get US money; but for the rest, it would be an inconvenience.
Apr 28th, 2008, 04:04 PM
#25
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Nohomers, if we aren't going to 'lump' all Canadians... I must point out, I never tip less than 20%. And I'm a Canuck through and through. Many of my friends tip the same.. minimum 20%.
As for the US dollars question, I think it's common courtesy to use the money of the country you are visiting.
As for the US dollars question, I think it's common courtesy to use the money of the country you are visiting.
Apr 28th, 2008, 06:03 PM
#26
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"Maybe we are a bit touchy about this in a nationalistic sense, but one sure way to p*ss off a Canadian is to treat us like we are another state of the union, or to assume that things here are just like in the US. "
That's no lie. Canadians base their a lot of their nation's image on "not being american."
That's no lie. Canadians base their a lot of their nation's image on "not being american."
Apr 29th, 2008, 04:41 AM
#28
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"Do you tip for a drink at a bar?" If you are seated at a table and are served by the wait staff - yes you should tip. If you are seated at the bar and the bartender is serving you, probably not.
Apr 29th, 2008, 03:04 PM
#32
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AndrewDavid, it's a deal!! I always hope I'm making someone's job just a bit more pleasant. I hope, once in awhile, I make someone smile and that's what it's all about.
BTW, I sure smiled, and squeeled going under the falls at Iguazu!!!
Trip report still to be done.
BTW, I sure smiled, and squeeled going under the falls at Iguazu!!!
Trip report still to be done.
Apr 29th, 2008, 10:28 PM
#33
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kodi, i'm embarrassed that although i've written at great length about our honeymoon in argentina , i still haven't actually written and posted the last section of my report lol
cheers
AndrewDavid
cheers
AndrewDavid
May 2nd, 2008, 01:09 PM
#34
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Regarding spending paper money before coins - - you should be aware that we have $1 and $2 coins in Canada, so you could have a handful of change that is worth $10 or more. I am always pleasantly surprised when dig the coins out of my wallet and find I have more money than I thought I did.
By the way, the Canadian dollar is nicknamed the Loonie - for the picture of the loon on the $1 coin. When the $2 coin was introduced it was naturally called a Toonie. I remember an American friend visited me and waiting at a bus stop she was approached by someone who asked her "Do you have change for a loonie?" and she didn't know what to think!
By the way, the Canadian dollar is nicknamed the Loonie - for the picture of the loon on the $1 coin. When the $2 coin was introduced it was naturally called a Toonie. I remember an American friend visited me and waiting at a bus stop she was approached by someone who asked her "Do you have change for a loonie?" and she didn't know what to think!
May 2nd, 2008, 05:55 PM
#35
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Northernitalian - that's why I always spend the paper money first. Coming home with $20 in coins provides for a lot of $1-$2 "souvenirs" to give to folks. It's good to be back home, here's a Loony for good luck." 
May 3rd, 2008, 07:12 AM
#36
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Just curious . . .Here in California, when you order a meal, the price is a bit deceptive since tax and tip are not included, so you really need to think that your $10 glass of wine is actually 12 or 13 depending on your generosity and the 8% tax. When you get your bill in Vancouver, are the restaurant taxes already included or is that added on later? Thank you.
May 3rd, 2008, 09:04 PM
#37
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Generally the prices on the menu do not inlcude tax (somewhere, usually on the menu it must be posted whether prices do or don't include tax). Your final bill will detail the cost of your food, the amount of tax charged and a total.
