Maybe I missed something.

IMO, those who habitually "stiff" taxi drivers and waiters should take the bus and eat at fast-food outlets.

And, those who habitually tip 20% even when service isn't up to snuff should also take the bus and eat at fast-food outlets.

I know what you mean Oscar1. It's not that you are mean, it's just that tipping can add quite a lot to your holiday budget if you are not used to it.We travel from the UK to the US quite a lot, so therefore put money aside for tips. When in New York myself and my friends tip everyone, from the Hotel Commissionaire hailing us a cab, to the room cleaners. In one bar in New York we tipped the staff generously each night of our holiday, then on our last night before leaving for home, they said all our drinks were on the house that night, so it does sometimes pay off. The name of the bar? Ha Ha, that would be telling!

My apologies, Oscar. My reply to your question made two mistakes, and I will now correct each one.

Your question was
> What I want to know is WHY I should tip.

When I pointed out that failing to tip makes you as greedy, stingy, hard-hearted, and mean-spirited as employees who fail to pay employees the wages they deserve, I should have added, "And it is WRONG to be that way." The reason I tip generously is simple: it is the right thing to do. People who are blessed with enough wealth to travel across an ocean have a moral obligation to share that wealth, and tipping those whose wages depend on tips is one way to do so. That's the best reason I can give for tipping.

If the concept of "right" and "wrong" is unfamilar to you, then feel free to ignore my reasoning.

Your second question was (and I quote):
"I would like to know the consequences of not paying tips." I mistakenly thought you were a person who cared about someone other than yourself. Thus, I decided to mention the consequences of not tipping, for those of your nationality who visit after you do. If you are a person who cares nothing of consequences to OTHERS because of your choices, then (again) feel free to ignore what I noted.

If paying servers the tips they have earned, while pointing out the greediness of those who don't, makes me nastier than those who don't pay servers what they deserve, then I'll continue to be nasty.

What's the point of a minimum wage if people get paid less then it?

Take a course in economics.

Thanks again to the few of you who gave me a small smattering of what each of you think is the reason a tourist should tip. It would appear that there are no historians among you. I am still unaware of the real reason you allow, encourage and perpetuate such a blatant "RIP OFF" in your country. Hiding behind "custom" or blind non-thinking habit, is not the answer.

As for the contributions of Paul Rabe, or is it "Paul Rabid", what a sad person he must be. If I was a frail and brittle person, his rantings might be hurtful. As it happens, I am neither of those things and feel a great amount of sympathy for him. I sincerely hope that he receives the care he requires.

Again, thanks to the people who came closest to helping me. They know who they are. I have thanked them already.

To those of you who have nothing better to do than concoct insults, keep taking the tablets and have a good lie down"!

Kindest regards

Oscar1

PS My wife and I want to go to NYC more than ever!

Oscar,

You will be so welcome in the U S of A as we like to call it.

Yes, it is sad about Paul. He must be off his meds, and I'm so glad you didn't let it get to you.

Do have a jolly time here, htty

Dear happytrailstoyou

I like a person who is helpful and has a sense of humour. You qualify. Thank you also for your contribution on my other "thread"! I think I know what thread means now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oscar1

oscar - you have posted hundreds of words on two threads about a very TEENSY part of travel in the States. You seem fixated on this topic.

Ya know - there are other things you should be more concerned about (w/o spending so much energy telling us how we should do things here)

I was also thinking - you don't sound like any of my friends from Oz. They are mostly REALLY laid back and easy going.

Oscar1 and the Mrs:

I hope you enjoy your trip to the United States. I know I certainly enjoyed my trip to Australia. A wonderful country. Melbourne had some of the best restaurants I have ever been to

I'm not sure I understand tipping and I've lived here all my life. I bartended when I got out of college.

My philosophy is to tip 15% for good service. If the service is terrible, I leave less or possibly none for terrible service. If it's a nice restaurant with great service or if I take up a table for a long time, I leave more.

If I plan to be somewhere for a long evening or many times during a trip, I tend to tip big up front and get great service all along. If it's a busy night, they'll take care of me first instead of someone else.

This works best someplace like Vegas where the drinks are free. The cocktail waitress doesn't really need to help you out and survives on tips. I'll give her 5 dollars for my free drink and she'll be by many more times.

Add 15% to your food budget and enjoy!

Grantham Mommy

I smell a troll.

Oh, and here's your history lesson (from Yahoo!). Now maybe you can find something else about the country you are going to be a guest in to bitch about.


"Etymologists trace the word "tipping" back to the street language of the medieval era, when it meant "hand it over." (It sort of means the same thing today.)
In 1972, an anthropology professor linked the words "gratuity" and "tip" in various languages to the act of imbibing. Each can be literally translated into terms that pertain to drinking -- tringeld in German, pourboire in French, for example. The Dutch word tippen (calling for service by tapping on a table) and the Latin word stips (meaning "gift") may also be related.

Whatever the origin of the word, the practice probably goes back to the first time one Neanderthal held a rock open for another Neanderthal. Or at least, as some evidence suggests, to the Roman Empire. The term has also been linked (though not by all word historians) to 18th-century England, where eating and drinking establishments put out brass urns inscribed with the phrase "To Insure Promptitude" (T.I.P.) for customers to leave money in.

According to this article by The New Yorker's James Surowiecki, tipping spread widely in the U.S. after the Civil War, despite those "who considered it a toxic vestige of Old World patronage." Back then, the practice was actually banned by six states.

Not so today. Last week we spotted a tip jar sitting on the counter at our dry cleaners. What's next? Sending in a little something to underpaid web writers who pen useful daily editorial features?

Nahhh. "

hmmm. I told Oscar why he should tip, and what the consequesnes of not tipping might be. Exactly what he asked for, and I was neither rude or insulting.

Yet I didn't even get a thank you, much less a tip.

Sniff, sniff.

These arguements are ridiculous. When you buy a meal in a sit-down restaurant anywhere in the world, you are responsible for paying the waitstaff. In some countries the amount is baked into the cost of your meal - you have no choice. A certain percentage is automatically added to the cost of your food to pay the service staff. In other countries, most notably the US, the service charge is left off with the expectation that you, the diner, will leave an appropriate amount. Said another way, under one system tipping is mandatory; under another system one is on their honor.

As to which system is better, I leave that up to you to decide.

why is everyone falling for this troll thread?

lcuy
aren't you in Vietnam yet? I'm jealous!!!!!!!

Aloha!

To anyone interested.

I will not be participating in this forum again. For details, refer to my final missive on my inadvertent other thread. "Tipping in the USA".

Oscar1

You have contributed nothing of value to this site...
You obviously think pretty highly of yourself.
I can assure you, you will not be missed.

Oscar, Please don't go away. You will be missed. I like your moxie. HTTY

We leave Wednesday, HT!