Weegie

Oh this is the stuff! More vitriol please, this is what tipping threadds are all about.

Aduchamp1

When I first started traveling 40 years I was apologetic about American behavior abroad. And there are times when I still am. But there are a couple of things that tire me out.

-Getting pummeled for not adhering to all the customs of a foreign nation and then being berated for our own customs at home by people from other nations think theirs are superior to ours.

-The other thing that drives me nuts is when Americans are criticized for not knowing about the culture and history of a coutnry we are visiting. While this is generally true, it is not true for all. Besides the fact Mrs. Adu and I try to read about that, one reason we are visiting that country to better understand that country. This criticism arises out of both a sense of national pride and insecurity and that their culture is not worthy of attention and admiration.

So now when someone says to me how come you do not know X or Z, I will say that there are over 200 countries and is hard to know about each. And by the way can you tell me who is President of Uruguay and who was the last Pole to win the Nobel for literature?

belted_galloway

When I was a lad......

justineparis

Aduchamp, first , Quebec people are from Canada,, in Canada we tip, it is normal, so if you cannot tell a french speaking person from France from one Quebec, then you are not paying attention to their tipping habits.
Secondly I find amusing that you think you know everything, you have met all the tourists, that visit New York, you can make a judgement about who tips or not, I seriously doubt you have much if any experience in the service industry to begin with ( what you were a waiter in college for one semester 30 years ago ).
Lastly, many countries have a no tipping lifestyle Australia and New Zealand most certainly do, so much so that in Hawaii the restaurants put little notices in them to explain the tipping policies to the customers, and we know thats not for the other Americans to read now don't we,, and yes, they messages are in english,, Hawaii gets a fair amount of Aussies.
So its not just Europe and Europeons.. ( and Germany is really no tipping,, we have German family who I have to sneak money into the bill fold after they leave the table when they treat to a meal out here, its so embarrassing)

Lastly

Grassshopper

Lately in Europe, I notice that when I use a credit card at a restaurant there's a line to include tip.

Aduchamp1

Aduchamp, first , Quebec people are from Canada,, in Canada we tip, it is normal, so if you cannot tell a french speaking person from France from one Quebec, then you are not paying attention to their tipping habits.
_____

Please re-read my posting reagrding my comments about French speaking visitors, I did not mention the word tipping once. It was about general arrogance and dismissive behavior. And as I noted I cannot tell the difference in French accents.

So please find something else to get exercised about.

clausar

Grasshoper
this has always existed, at least in Greece, where i am

justineparis
In Germany there is a tipping habit and waiters are expecting tips ( i have some friends that are working as waiters in Germany)

colduphere

For the last time Adu, Quebecers know the difference between Mickey Mouse and Mickey Mantle.

Aduchamp1

In NYC the vast majority of people who work in the food industry are immigrants. In fact, so many men from Central America have become sushi chefs that a new word has been invented in Spanish sushero. There are over 450 languages spoken here, so we have a rough idea of other people's traditions, cuisines, and cultures. Probably more than any other city in the world.

ABCDEFG

The much bigger problem is the Europeans who come to the US and fail to tip the wait staff. I live in NYC, which is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world, and European tourists have been flooding our streets in the past few years due to the weak dollar.

Europeans who don't tip (or leave something cheap lick 5-10% tip) are considered terribly rude and have thus earned a very poor reputation for all Euros. This non-tipping reputation is a much bigger black eye for Euros than the 'non-language speaking' reputation is for Americans.

Aduchamp1

For the last time Adu, Quebecers know the difference between Mickey Mouse and Mickey Mantle.
____
Man, now I know why Lindros did not want to play for the Nordiques and the team had to leave the country in order to win the Cup. Go Sens!! (Well some times.)

belted_galloway

As a Scot, for 25% I'll go and get the food from the kitchen myself.

Aduchamp1

We were in Scotland last month and you guys are among the nicest people we have ever met. You are welcome in our kitchen.

yougo

I find this topic useful. I am going to Europe for the first time next week and had I not read this conversation, I would have tipped as we do at home. Seems like I would have spent money unnecessarily. Thanks

colduphere

Have a good trip yougo. And please keep your voice down. Especially if you are wearing shorts.

yougo

Keep my voice down?? Huh? Wearing shorts? No quite following you,coldupthere. Thanks though.

FrenchMystiqueTours

Nobody follows colduphere (coldupthere) as they boldly go where no Fodorite dares to go, even while wearing a fannypack.

returntoyourseat

wow I was bored on Sunday afternoon, good ramp here. IMHO it is no one's business how much I tip and where. What difference does it make what nationality you are - if you are in a restaurant and you get good service and it is your style, just do it. And frankly I get really tired of rude behavior being blamed on the North Americans, they better be darn glad they are coming to spend their money in their business no matter what they are wearing, tennis shoes, flip flops or whatever (not that I wear tennis shoes in Europe, just once, first time twenty five years ago, boy those pictures look different). I have been in hotels and awaken at night by loud drunks and trust me it was not the english language. Who makes all these rules anyway, how much you tip, what you wear? Your hard earned money that got you there, do what you want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone.

colduphere

Yougo that is additional useful advice you can find on other threads. People here are great about telling novices how to act in Europe. Don't talk loudly and shorts are for rubes. And learn 10 phrases in each country you will visit. And watch out for pickpockets. And don't ask who won the Aggies game.

thursdaysd

returntoyourseat - so, by that logic, if it is not your style to tip you shouldn't tip, even in North America? Sigh.