Tipping in Italy -- a refresher course needed
Aug 29th, 2017, 09:56 AM
#81
I haven't been to Italy in several years, but we had a couple of experiences where waiters said to us pointedly, at the end of the meal, "tip not included". Both of these places were in Rome. This was uncomfortable, and I gathered that making us uncomfortable was their objective.
Aug 29th, 2017, 12:58 PM
#83
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<<What is a "shame" is that some poster on this board actually believes that "My name is Bruce" is an example of begging for a tip in the U.S.>>
In a sense it is or its called hustling for better tips, numerous studies have shown that by introducing yourself by name increases the amount of the tip, there's plenty of other psychological tricks wait staff use, even just repeating the order back to you has been shown to have a positive effect on the size of the tip.
Even the physical attributes of the wait staff, most notably amongst waitresses have been shown to increase their tips, so if you are thin, with big breasts, blond hair and wear something in your hair, you're going to receive more cash than someone who is the opposite
In a sense it is or its called hustling for better tips, numerous studies have shown that by introducing yourself by name increases the amount of the tip, there's plenty of other psychological tricks wait staff use, even just repeating the order back to you has been shown to have a positive effect on the size of the tip.
Even the physical attributes of the wait staff, most notably amongst waitresses have been shown to increase their tips, so if you are thin, with big breasts, blond hair and wear something in your hair, you're going to receive more cash than someone who is the opposite
Aug 29th, 2017, 09:27 PM
#84
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"we had a couple of experiences where waiters said to us pointedly, at the end of the meal, 'tip not included'".
A pathetic attempt to fool tourists from North America to whom tip and service charge are one and the same. A European would have laughed at him (or required a talk with the manager). As I said above, the tip is not the service charge. It is a voluntary addition that the guests are free to give or not. Obviously, naturally, logically the "tip" in European terms is never included in the price on the menu.
A pathetic attempt to fool tourists from North America to whom tip and service charge are one and the same. A European would have laughed at him (or required a talk with the manager). As I said above, the tip is not the service charge. It is a voluntary addition that the guests are free to give or not. Obviously, naturally, logically the "tip" in European terms is never included in the price on the menu.
Aug 29th, 2017, 11:37 PM
#85
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Making people feel uncomfortable to coerce them into paying a gratuity is as stated above an acknowledgment of the fact that many US tourists will tip.
So a few waiters feel like they should try.
The more people will accept to pay for something free the more this behaviour will happen.
Btw gratuity means free. Which is a good summary. We don't pay for something that is or should be free.
But I am a curmudgeon.
And a Belgian one.
So who cares.
So a few waiters feel like they should try.
The more people will accept to pay for something free the more this behaviour will happen.
Btw gratuity means free. Which is a good summary. We don't pay for something that is or should be free.
But I am a curmudgeon.
And a Belgian one.
So who cares.
Aug 30th, 2017, 04:53 AM
#87
Not cynical, fact. Do a search on "how servers improve tips"
http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/20...se-their-tips/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurash.../#3b277ce57d02
"“If servers can establish a social connection with their customers, they’ll get better tips,” says Michael Lynn, a professor in food and beverage management at the Cornell School of Hotel Administration, who has been studying tips for years."
"Simply saying, “My name is …” boosted waitresses’ average tips from $3.49 to $5.44 — a jump of 56% — at a Charlie Brown’s restaurant in southern California."
http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/20...se-their-tips/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurash.../#3b277ce57d02
"“If servers can establish a social connection with their customers, they’ll get better tips,” says Michael Lynn, a professor in food and beverage management at the Cornell School of Hotel Administration, who has been studying tips for years."
"Simply saying, “My name is …” boosted waitresses’ average tips from $3.49 to $5.44 — a jump of 56% — at a Charlie Brown’s restaurant in southern California."
Aug 30th, 2017, 06:01 AM
#89
I would expect them to be VERY different, assuming you can find any. I redid the search adding first Europe and then UK, and then using google.co.uk instead of duckduckgo, and still just turned up US sites.
Aug 30th, 2017, 06:53 AM
#90
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"Not cynical, fact."
Please. Publishers need to publish stuff. Studies need to offer conclusions to justify their expense. Polls are mostly worthless. Some professors just like to see their name in print. I'm not foolish enough to fall for other people's "facts." I don't believe everything I read, especially on the internet.
I've been dining out for most of my adult life, and it never occurred to me to tip more simply because my waiter was courteous enough to introduce herself. Common courtesy is something your mother was supposed to teach you as a child. It most definitely is cynical to think that a common courtesy is the act of begging for a tip.
Please. Publishers need to publish stuff. Studies need to offer conclusions to justify their expense. Polls are mostly worthless. Some professors just like to see their name in print. I'm not foolish enough to fall for other people's "facts." I don't believe everything I read, especially on the internet.
I've been dining out for most of my adult life, and it never occurred to me to tip more simply because my waiter was courteous enough to introduce herself. Common courtesy is something your mother was supposed to teach you as a child. It most definitely is cynical to think that a common courtesy is the act of begging for a tip.
Aug 30th, 2017, 08:43 AM
#91
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Clerks in France in stores not long ago were advised by some Paris business group to be more friendly - to learn something from the American way of small talk - Hello how's it going - Have a good one or a nice day, etc.
To me that is blah - I don't care about small talk just do your job and that's fine - don't hurt to do it but should not be forced -like at my local Kroger the manager ordered all clerks to say "thank you and good bye" or lose their jobs.
To me that is blah - I don't care about small talk just do your job and that's fine - don't hurt to do it but should not be forced -like at my local Kroger the manager ordered all clerks to say "thank you and good bye" or lose their jobs.
Aug 30th, 2017, 08:58 AM
#93
<i>I haven't been to Italy in several years, but we had a couple of experiences where waiters said to us pointedly, at the end of the meal, "tip not included". Both of these places were in Rome. This was uncomfortable, and I gathered that making us uncomfortable was their objective.</i>
I doubt making you uncomfortable was the objective. They probably just wanted your money. Pretty lame. Where were you dining, do you recall?
I have been to Rome a bunch, and what you described happened to me one time, in a restaurant on Piazza Sforza Cesarini (not Trattoria Luigi--the other trat there). Obviously I never went back! Even though the food wasn't terrible, the pointed "there's no tip included" left a bad taste in my mouth. Of course it could have just been our particular waiter.
Had some good meals with no tipping pressure this summer at Retrobottega, Pizzeria Emma, Pianostrada, and those old chestnuts Armando al Pantheon and Hostaria Nerone.
I doubt making you uncomfortable was the objective. They probably just wanted your money. Pretty lame. Where were you dining, do you recall?
I have been to Rome a bunch, and what you described happened to me one time, in a restaurant on Piazza Sforza Cesarini (not Trattoria Luigi--the other trat there). Obviously I never went back! Even though the food wasn't terrible, the pointed "there's no tip included" left a bad taste in my mouth. Of course it could have just been our particular waiter.
Had some good meals with no tipping pressure this summer at Retrobottega, Pizzeria Emma, Pianostrada, and those old chestnuts Armando al Pantheon and Hostaria Nerone.
Aug 30th, 2017, 10:30 AM
#94
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"Simply saying, “My name is …” boosted waitresses’ average tips from $3.49 to $5.44 — a jump of 56% — at a Charlie Brown’s restaurant in southern California."
I'd be curious to know when this study was done. Servers have been introducing themselves for, oh, I don't know -- maybe 20 years? It's hardly a new thing. Pretty much nobody even notices it anymore except those people who are annoyed by it and they're not likely to leave a bigger tip. It's common practice in just about every kind of restaurant except the most formal.
It would also be interesting to know where the survey was done. "a Charlie Brown's restaurant in southern California" is not a huge sample size.
I'd be curious to know when this study was done. Servers have been introducing themselves for, oh, I don't know -- maybe 20 years? It's hardly a new thing. Pretty much nobody even notices it anymore except those people who are annoyed by it and they're not likely to leave a bigger tip. It's common practice in just about every kind of restaurant except the most formal.
It would also be interesting to know where the survey was done. "a Charlie Brown's restaurant in southern California" is not a huge sample size.
Aug 30th, 2017, 11:52 AM
#98
@quokka
"Suggest taking into consideration that a research done in Southern California is of no relevance for Italy."
I didn't say it was. In fact in a later post I specifically said that it wasn't. My post was in response to the suggestion that it was cynical rather than factual to suggest that waitstaff introducing themselves produced better tips.
@bvh
Ah yes. The data doesn't agree with my theory, therefore the data is wrong. (See flat earth, evolution, global warming.)
The fact that you believe on a conscious level that a server's introduction doesn't influence your tip says nothing about your subconscious, or anyone else's.
"Suggest taking into consideration that a research done in Southern California is of no relevance for Italy."
I didn't say it was. In fact in a later post I specifically said that it wasn't. My post was in response to the suggestion that it was cynical rather than factual to suggest that waitstaff introducing themselves produced better tips.
@bvh
Ah yes. The data doesn't agree with my theory, therefore the data is wrong. (See flat earth, evolution, global warming.)
The fact that you believe on a conscious level that a server's introduction doesn't influence your tip says nothing about your subconscious, or anyone else's.
