BritishCaicos

Besides this OP is about Italy.

Generally, Italian male culture is about how to extract as much as possible out of any given situation. Tax authorities, phone companies, local authorities, banks, the postal service are all at war with the Italian public as to how to avoid being turned over.

Imagine their faces when a yank wanders in with a 20% tip given for no reason at all.

You be regarded as a total fool.

vincenzo32951

>>So, why do you tip?<<

Because you think the person earned it? A terrible concept, I agree. But a concept nonetheless.

>>Nobody in Europe cares any more. <<

This thread would indicate otherwise, but I'm willing to accept that you speak for all of Europe.

>>Since you voted for Trump we have lost all hope<<

The Trump reference took way longer than I thought it would. Nobody in American cares about your hope.

>>You be regarded as a total fool.<<

Pot, kettle, black, etc.

goddesstogo

A. Not everyone who travels to Europe is American.
B. I don't know what a bum bag is.
C. What does hair brushing have to do with anything?
D. Because I ask about tipping does not mean I want to tip 20%. You may be surprised to learn that there are percentages between 0 and 20.
E. Trump? Do you mean that before Trump, no Americans tipped in Europe?
F. The responses on this thread are some of the most stupid I've read since joining Fodors a billion years ago. I have no respect for you. You're idiots.

"What I do know is that if I tip, I certainly don't do so to feel generous, to feel better about myself, to throw my hard-earned money away or to feel superior!"

Yes to annw.

vincenzo32951

god:
Re 'F': You have some catching-up to do. When it comes to tipping, there are comments way more stupid than these. Hard to believe, I know. Still true.

Re 'C': Remember what I said about toenail fungus and s-t-r-e-e-e-e-t-ch associations?

Padraig

Typical form for a tipping thread:
- OP asks for guidance on tipping in a particular country;
- Many early responders with more opinion than knowledge try to guide OP;
- Others, including people with local knowledge based on residing there or being very frequent visitors, try to clarify;
- Debate ensues (sometimes unpleasant in tone) but the attentive reader can filter the discussion and figure out the norms for the country under discussion;
- Somebody or bodies post to the effect "I don't care what the norms are; I'm going to give more that the norm, because... well, because." [This might be accompanied by an effort to claim the moral high ground.]
- That gets on people's wicks, particularly of those who made an effort to be helpful.

PalenQ

Trump would not tip a sous to a toilet cleaner in Paris or anywhere else!

bvh

A wise, wealthy man once told me, "Never turn away money when it's handed to you free of condition."

Restaurants in Italy were once family run and operated. The servers were family members. Things have changed a lot in the past 30 years, especially in larger cities. Many servers are now immigrants.

Is there a restaurant waiter who wouldn't appreciate a little extra money as a gift of appreciation from the person(s) he or she served? I've never encountered one.

Without sounding too cynical, lousy service can feel so commonplace these days. Tourists in a foreign country often require additional help that a local never needs. Italy is not Japan.

I've never met an Italian server who viewed a gratuity of any amount with disdain.

PalenQ

Do what Italians do. Period. When in Rome...

vincenzo32951

>>- Somebody or bodies post to the effect "I don't care what the norms are; I'm going to give more that the norm, because... well, because." [This might be accompanied by an effort to claim the moral high ground.]
- That gets on people's wicks, particularly of those who made an effort to be helpful.<<

I beg to differ. The responses often, and quickly, fall into the curt category that goes something like, "I don't tip. Why should you?"

That doesn't address local customs; it's just a comment on what one person does. Then, when someone else comments something on the order of, "Well, I don't care what [X] does. Here's what I do." And the battle rages. And sooner or later it takes on an anti-American tone by those who have been waiting to release their daily dose of anti-Yank bile.

It's pretty formulaic stuff.

Whathello

I think I answered on post 2

'You mean the USniversal rule ?
I tip 0.'

Answer I got from OP included :

'Still confused about the car tipping issue. Don't know what Belgians have to do with it.'

So yes, if OP doesn't understand a very straightforward answer, then so be it.

Where was the stupidity in my (first) answer ? I should have said
'Dear OP, to asnwer your question no tipping is required in Italy. Please pay attention that I'm Belgian but however the answer concerns Italy : no tipping is required : zero means nothing is expected. However of course you are most welcome to tip on top but I wanted to answer your initial question which is :
Will I be expected to tip the driver? '

Talk about stupidity ?

goddesstogo

Thanks to those of you who responded in a civil tone with some actual information. Varied as it may be, it's still helpful.

Boy, and people say the Lounge is vicious! Loungers are pussycats compared to some people here!

vincenzo32951

>>Answer I got from OP included :

'Still confused about the car tipping issue. Don't know what Belgians have to do with it.'<<

I suppose you haven't considered that the post wasn't aimed at you?

ticino

I actually discussed tipping with a bar/restaurant owner in the Dolomites (in Veneto) some weeks ago.

There I never wait for the waiter to come to the table but go pay myself once we are done. They have a glass jar to leave a tip for those like me. So we discussed the way less and less people use cash and how they are not filling the jar up as fast as they used to. He actually said that it's mostly Italians leaving something. I really don't think anyone leaves as much as 20% but many (Italians) will leave a few EUR.

As for France (in French),
https://www.lematin.ch/navlematindim...story/16168719

goddesstogo

Thanks, ticino, that was helpful. Here we only see the tip jar in the most casual of places but it was a good reminder for me.

bvh

"many (Italians) will leave a few EUR"

I've never been to the Dolomites, but I've had many a conversation with restaurant owners in other Italian cities. They've said similar things to me.

goddesstogo

Gee, see how nice it is to have a normal conversation?
Thanks, bvh, and also to you, vin.

PalenQ

Do as the Italians do!

Who gets that money from that tip jar - restaurant owners or wait staff?

bvh

"Who gets that money from that tip jar"

I've been told by several waiters in Italy that the coperto and the servizio also go to the owner. I'm still looking to find one waiter who says he or she receives it from the owner.

PalenQ

So you are tipping the owners? Why not? Hope they declare it as income!

If tipping why not give it right to the server?

Whathello

Vincenzo

from the post just before from PQ :

'But I think we need to know what Italian residents say about this not some Belgian curmudgeon.

What would Italians do? Not Belgians in Italy.'

Unless OP is more stupid than she thinks others are, it is very clear I am the Belgian.
Or not ?
Or are you the one who doesn't (want to) understand ?