<i>Is simply ridiculous for an unskilled job and encourages me to tip less.</i>

It isn't always an unskilled job.

That is a moot point.

In the US, we get sick of the in your face service, we just don't want it. Just want someone to carry our take our order and carry the plates.....and not top our bloody wine glasses up.

We have had waiting staff sit down with us to take orders. What is that all about?

Just another cultural difference.

We like the general Asian approach which is stay out of the way bit be attentive to customers when needed.

To us the cultural difference isn't just tipping, the difference is in the level of service which is required from country to country. Which probably explains why the high levels of service expected and offered in the US leads to the tipping system...or vice versa.

God, the ipad has a mind of its own tonight.

<i>We have had waiting staff sit down with us to take orders. What is that all about? </i>

There are studies that say waitstaff earn better tips when they stoop or sit down at eye level.

Hi everyone, I am the OP. Wow, this is a very sensitive topic. We leave for the US in the morning and we're very excited! We will be travelling the entire West Coast for 5 weeks, so we will come across many different opportunities to tip. Australians by and large, aren't opposed to tipping, it is just very foreign to us. So, my OP was really to establish the norms so that we would not insult anyone. I hate to think that we might not get good service due to our 'foreign' accents, as we will endeavour to tip just like the locals!

Mms... we plan on having a great holiday and can't wait to explore your beautiful country. Just praying for a little bit more snow. Sad to travel all that distance (not to mention the cost!!) to not have a white Christmas. Oh well, what will be will be. It won't dampen our spirits.
Merry Christmas to all. And... no more bickering! :)

<i>We have had waiting staff sit down with us to take orders. What is that all about?</i>

It is about people who shamelessly do whatever they believe will get them a better tip. It's about people who have no sense of propriety--people who are willing to transgress the accepted boundaries between themselves and those they serve. Blinded by their greed, they don't see the disgust in the eyes of those who are offended by this behavior.

HTtY

Kymjon--Don't worry at all! Here in the PNW you will be absolutely fine, and your accent will intrigue people:) We are super laid back here. Yes, we too are hoping for more snow! We live in both OR and WA, and will be in the WA mountains soon and hope we don't have to venture too far from the cabin for the winter sports.

<<"First of all, the best way to say thank you to strangers who provided you a service IS MONEY">>

Classy

I'm not surprised 20% is now considered the norm, the waitstaff have a lot of mouths to feed.

There's the hostess who needs to be bribed so they get the people who look like good tippers sent to their tables

The barman who pours the drink, he needs his share

The person who brings the food, often different to the waiter

The bus boy who clears the table

Have I forgotten anyone?

Even United airlines had a series of adverts in the UK about the absurdity of the tipping culture in the US

Geordie, When you tip on the bill at a restaurant, behind the scenes it is (usually) divided to cover the hostess, bartender, and busboy. As a customer you do not individually need to tip those people.

<I hate to think that we might not get good service due to our 'foreign' accents>

That's not going to happen :-)

<i>Wow, this is a very sensitive topic.</i>

Only because a handful of Brits like to make a big show of opposing it, even though tipping is common in the UK. You know how they are. Upset about losing the empire. Embarrassed because they make less money than Americans and even the Irish. So they overcompensate by prattling on like idiots about everything that is "wrong" with America. It is tiring, but they don't have much else, so we are stuck with it.

<i>So, my OP was really to establish the norms so that we would not insult anyone.</i>

And I applaud you for that.

<i>I hate to think that we might not get good service due to our 'foreign' accents, as we will endeavour to tip just like the locals!</i>

I wouldn't sweat it. There isn't much you could do about it anyway, so just go with the flow and I suspect you'll get fine service.

<i>Sad to travel all that distance (not to mention the cost!!) to not have a white Christmas.</i>

You could always go to one of the mountains that is always snow-capped.

<i>Here in the PNW you will be absolutely fine</i>

Agreed. I find Oregonians to be about the most friendly people in the US.

<i>Have I forgotten anyone?</i>

Depending upon the restaurant, the expediter. Some really old school places might have a captain. Some waiters will tip out the dishwashers.

<i>The person who brings the food, often different to the waiter</i>

They aren't typically tipped out separately. It isn't usually a separate function, but rather simply other waiters that happen to be in the kitchen when the order is ready.

"prattling on like idiots"

Mmmm.

travelgourmet--That's the problem, our mountains have the lowest snowpack in years. We should have a lot more than we do at this point in time. The OP is headed to the WA mountains, same time as us, and there is very little there.

Even United airlines had a series of adverts in the UK about the absurdity of the tipping culture in the US.

________

In America, we have special chairs for the Brits with holes in them, so the stick doesn't hurt when they sit. It must be wonderful to be part of the perfect culture without its own idiosyncrasies.

I'm curious to see those ads by United on the "absurdity" of the tipping system. Is there a link? Is Absurdity their word or yours? Why would they "advertise"? Is it to say "don't tip like that if you go"? Or is it an honest attempt to educate UK travelers so they don't continue to get the cold shoulder by servers who know of their reputation?

As a general rule, i do between 10 and 20%. 10% is for poor to mediocre service, and 20% is for great service. Rarely do I go above 20%, but will go below 10% if the service is bad... say 5%.

I wouldn't be too worried about it. Aussie's are known for not being great tippers. You win some, you lose some. That's the nature of the business.

Oh, and I refuse to tip on tax. It's just a personal beef of mine. I tip on the amount before tax.

IMD, lol. Nice shot across the bow.

Kymjon, have a lovely trip! You've been a good sport about this thread--of course it's not about you, this bickering about tipping is a time-honored tradition on these boards. I find that the topic spurs many to new heights of hyperbole, which I find entertaining.

Again, happy travels, OP!

Kymjon I started a thread on the exact same topic before our first trip to the US in 2007. Got a similar response!! It's all good, have a fantastic time away. You will get the hang of to all.

<<As a customer you do not individually need to tip those people.>>

I know that's why I said the waiters have a lot of mouths to feed

<<we have special chairs for the Brits with holes in them>>

We also have special chairs for Yanks, its called extra wide, next we'll be incorprating some sort of soundproofing

<<Depending upon the restaurant, the expediter. Some really old school places might have a captain. Some waiters will tip out the dishwashers.>>

I forgot the sommelier, I'm pretty sure he's commission based

<<I'm curious to see those ads by United on the "absurdity" of the tipping system. Is there a link? Is Absurdity their word or yours? >> You decide

http://www.adforum.com/creative-work/ad/player/30051

We also have special chairs for Yanks, its called extra wide, next we'll be incorprating some sort of soundproofing
_______________
I went to what we call public school here in the states, that is for the common folk, so I never learned the word incorprating.