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#61
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Tipping in USA/Canada
On Sun, 11 Nov 2007 08:32:21 -0000, "JohnT"
wrote: "John L" wrote in message ... So the customer has to pay his/her server's minimum wage in addition to paying for the food and the tax. Yeah. Think of it as an implicitly itemized bill. When I was in England earlier this year, I noted the the prices in restaurants in the UK were about the same as in the US, except that the prices were in pounds, so something that cost 20 dollars in the US would cost 20 pounds in the UK. Even after you leave a tip, I think you'll find that restaurant prices in the US are not out of line with prices in other developed countries. I don't argue that often prices in the UK are much higher than in the USA. Prices in London are obscenely high, but tend to be more reasonable throughout much of the rest of the UK. But I do find it very strange that in a highly-developed Society such as the USA whoever serves a meal may well be paid much less than the minimum legal wage. Not quite true. The legal minimum wage for waiters is lower than the legal minimum wage for others. And surely the USA (plus, perhaps, Canada) is the only territory where taxes are not included in the quoted cost. Also Mexico. So, in New York for example, a meal nominally costing $25 would actually cost $25 + 8.25% + 15%, which is more than $31. Yep. -- ************* DAVE HATUNEN ) ************* * Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow * * My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps * |
#62
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Tipping in USA/Canada
On Sun, 11 Nov 2007 15:02:25 -0700, Hatunen wrote:
On Sun, 11 Nov 2007 08:32:21 -0000, "JohnT" wrote: So, in New York for example, a meal nominally costing $25 would actually cost $25 + 8.25% + 15%, which is more than $31. Yep. We should do this in the UK. Our standards of mental arithmetic could do with boosting. DaveM |
#63
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Tipping in USA/Canada
On Nov 11, 5:58 am, Mr Travel wrote:
Robert Cohen wrote: the economics of restaurant patronage and everything else in an often depressing reality a few days ago, an olive garden (owned by darden) had people waiting for a table for lunch, and that estimated 30 minutes of waiting around would be to me a sort of torture other nearby restaurants, including the somewhat more expensive darden's red lobster where we ended up. were not seemingly as crowded (one can also estimate from the number of cars in an eatery's parking lot if too lazy to go inside the bldg) buyers certainly do tend to be price conscious, and it doesn't take einstein (or the "hungrygarian" teller) to perceive a basic simple phenomenon that the "too busy" olive garden is simply perceived as "better value" or considered "relatively cheaper" You could also perceived 1. Food at Olive Garden tastes better 2. Americans would rather eat pasta at lunch than seafood 3. The waitresses at OG are better than RL 4. OG has the biggest sign or the best location. 5. Perhaps RL has bad odors You could base it on a lot of things Why assume it was price?- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - When Red Lobster started 20 -30 years ago, they had a lunch menu that seemingly kept 'em busy for lunch too. Why? Because the meal was perceived as being novel plus good value, I suppose. Hey: it's not that damne ocean mercury fear that is making 'em less busy at lunch; while it surely has some impact too. Granted: consumers admittedly aren't totally basing their restaurant choices upon money/prices. I concur there are many other factors; while holding that price is the major determiner. |
#64
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Tipping in USA/Canada
As a Brit, personally I'm embarrassed to tip. It's not what I was brought up doing. We expect to tip but very discreetly. But that's not the American way. The American way is to brandish the tip like a fiery sword, making sure everybody can see how great a tipper you are. The bigger the tip the greater the guy you are. Staff at restaurants and bars accept the minimum wage knowing that the real wages are in the tips. Restaurant owners know that staff are fighting for the job and would even take the job for nothing, but they are legally compelled to pay the minimum wage. There are some establishments that stop paying even the minimum wage if a certain figure of tips is reached. It's not uncommon for a cute barmaid to make $1,000 a week in tips. Watch out! If she touches you or laughs at your jokes expect to double the tip and don't ever give loose change. The way to think about it is, this is not a tip, this is the cost of service. Welcome to America! But I guess you already know that in UK, Tips for known tipping jobs, i.e. Taxi drivers, hairdressers etc. are taxable, if they don't declare the tips then they are assessed and have to pay tax on whatever the tax man thinks they may earn. Welcome to the UK! |
#65
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Tipping in USA/Canada
Capt. Del wrote:
As a Brit, personally I'm embarrassed to tip. It's not what I was brought up doing. We expect to tip but very discreetly. But that's not the American way. The American way is to brandish the tip like a fiery sword, making sure everybody can see how great a tipper you are. The bigger the tip the greater the guy you are. It might take some practice, but you can learn to be ostentatious, too. Think of it as getting in touch with your inner Yank. Staff at restaurants and bars accept the minimum wage knowing that the real wages are in the tips. Restaurant owners know that staff are fighting for the job and would even take the job for nothing, but they are legally compelled to pay the minimum wage. There are some establishments that stop paying even the minimum wage if a certain figure of tips is reached. It's not uncommon for a cute barmaid to make $1,000 a week in tips. Watch out! If she touches you or laughs at your jokes expect to double the tip and don't ever give loose change. When the waitperson is something other than young and female and attractive, it's your chance to even the playing field a bit by tipping well (discreetly, if you must) for good service. The way to think about it is, this is not a tip, this is the cost of service. Welcome to America! "Howdy," as we say out west. But I guess you already know that in UK, Tips for known tipping jobs, i.e. Taxi drivers, hairdressers etc. are taxable, if they don't declare the tips then they are assessed and have to pay tax on whatever the tax man thinks they may earn. Welcome to the UK! I must admit didn't know that. Who else besides taxi drivers and hairdressers must be tipped? Louis Boulder, Colorado |
#66
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Tipping in USA/Canada
On Sun, 11 Nov 2007 20:57:10 -0800 in rec.travel.air, "Capt. Del"
wrote: As a Brit, personally I'm embarrassed to tip. It's not what I was brought up doing. We expect to tip but very discreetly. But that's not the American way. The American way is to brandish the tip like a fiery sword, making sure everybody can see how great a tipper you are. because, unfortunately, if you don't, some judgemental idiot will assume that you're a cheapskate. you have to remember that most americans don't carry the upperclass/lowerclass baggage that many brits do --- or the resentment that aussies & kiwis have about gratuities that's connected with the supposed unequal relationship between server and served. i thnk with the aussies that much of it has to do with the resentment inherited from transported prisoner attitudes. |
#67
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Tipping in USA/Canada
On Sun, 11 Nov 2007 20:57:10 -0800, "Capt. Del"
wrote: As a Brit, personally I'm embarrassed to tip. It's not what I was brought up doing. We expect to tip but very discreetly. But that's not the American way. The American way is to brandish the tip like a fiery sword, making sure everybody can see how great a tipper you are. The bigger the tip the greater the guy you are. Talk about arrogant stupidity. You should be embarrassed for accusing all Americans of acting like this. It would be no different than if I said all Brits are thugs because of what a few football fans act like. Real genius you are. Staff at restaurants and bars accept the minimum wage knowing that the real wages are in the tips. Restaurant owners know that staff are fighting for the job and would even take the job for nothing, but they are legally compelled to pay the minimum wage. There are some establishments that stop paying even the minimum wage if a certain figure of tips is reached. Name one. It's not uncommon for a cute barmaid to make $1,000 a week in tips. Watch out! If she touches you or laughs at your jokes expect to double the tip and don't ever give loose change. Name one. The way to think about it is, this is not a tip, this is the cost of service. Welcome to America! No, in your case, stay home. |
#68
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Tipping in USA/Canada
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#69
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Tipping in USA/Canada
"Martin D. Pay" wrote in message ... On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 14:29:27 -0600, James Robinson mangled uncounted electrons thus: Martin D. Pay wrote: (Dennis P. Harris) mangled uncounted electrons thus: it's an unfortunate fact of life that the american restaurant industry has refused to pay their employees a living wage and expects them to live off tips, to the point that it's actually the law and they will be taxed on tips that the govt expects them to receive even if they don't. That's the bit I find extraordinary! Can the worker reclaim any overpaid tax at the end of the year, if they can demonstrate a lower actual income than the amount on which they've been charged? (Even with the rapacious tax regime in the UK, this is possible.) The tax authority (IRS) estimates what the person should receive in tips based on the total sales of the restaurant, and tax returns filed by other people in similar jobs. If the amount reported by someone varies significantly from the estimates, the onus is on them to prove why they are different than the trend. In many cases, they simply take the easiest course and accept the IRS estimate. Good... grief... @_@ Martin D. Pay Nothing witty comes to mind... In the U.S., the restaurant reports as tips those paid on credit card receipts (which tips can be easily computed). It is up to the employee to estimate additional tips and show them on his/her tax return. |
#70
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Tipping in USA/Canada
"Qanset" wrote in message u... The wife and I are planning at trip to USA/Canada in the near future. Is it true that the Yanks are really hung up on tipping, and that FORGETTING to tip someone is courting disaster??? Like most tourists we will be traveling on a limited budget,this means that anybody expecting free money from us will be advised to look elsewhere. With all due respect, I'd suggest you don't come. When I travel internationally, I buy a guidebook and learn what particular practices and customs are observed in the locality I'm visiting. I don't make judgments about them, and definitely do not arrive with a, "we're superior because we don't do things this way," attitude. I also don't insist that locals observe my customs. I don't think you will enjoy international travel, and I certainly don't think you'll enjoy the U.S. Everyone will probably be better off if you just stay home. A colleague of mine who honeymooned in Hawaii was told by a tour bus operator, that he EXPECTED gratuities for his efforts, because his job was poorly paid. What more can I say.??? I think you've said quite enough. Incidentally, being sheparded around on a tour bus is probably the worst way to visit a foreign county. I'm going to cop a lot of flak on this subject, but never mind I have and open mind on accepting advice on World Travel. Advice given: change your attitude or stay home. You and the rest of the world will be a lot happier. |
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