If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Tipping in USA/Canada
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. 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'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. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Tipping in USA/Canada
In article ,
Qanset wrote: 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. 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'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. This is a big subject for debate. Just check this newsgroup's archives on groups.google.com for what was already said. Here's the short version ... Tipping is not a requirement in the USA; however, if you don't tip in full service restaurants, bars, and buffets, you are screwing the people who serve your food out of their pay. Unlike where you live, restaurant workers in the United States depend on tips for their livelihood. These people are not "expecting free money" from you, they are expecting to be paid for the work they do far you. Knowing this, I suggest you proceed with the golden rule, to treat the waitstaff the way you would want to be treated if the situation was reversed. If tipping poses a financial problem for you, then you have an easy option to avoid it. Do not eat at full service restaurants and bars. Stick with fast food places and take out or buy food at grocery stores to eat. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Tipping in USA/Canada
Shawn Hirn wrote:
In article , Qanset wrote: 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. 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'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. This is a big subject for debate. Just check this newsgroup's archives on groups.google.com for what was already said. Here's the short version ... Tipping is not a requirement in the USA; however, if you don't tip in full service restaurants, bars, and buffets, you are screwing the people who serve your food out of their pay. Unlike where you live, restaurant workers in the United States depend on tips for their livelihood. These people are not "expecting free money" from you, they are expecting to be paid for the work they do far you. Knowing this, I suggest you proceed with the golden rule, to treat the waitstaff the way you would want to be treated if the situation was reversed. Fair enough, but If I was in that situation I would definitely seek more suitable employment. Fortunately here in Australia, Hospitality staff dont always have to rely on tipping If tipping poses a financial problem for you, then you have an easy option to avoid it. Do not eat at full service restaurants and bars. Stick with fast food places and take out or buy food at grocery stores to eat. I did this on my first trip when backpacking around USA. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Tipping in USA/Canada
On Nov 9, 3:45 pm, Qanset wrote:
Shawn Hirn wrote: In article , Qanset wrote: 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. 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'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. This is a big subject for debate. Just check this newsgroup's archives on groups.google.com for what was already said. Here's the short version ... Tipping is not a requirement in the USA; however, if you don't tip in full service restaurants, bars, and buffets, you are screwing the people who serve your food out of their pay. Unlike where you live, restaurant workers in the United States depend on tips for their livelihood. These people are not "expecting free money" from you, they are expecting to be paid for the work they do far you. Knowing this, I suggest you proceed with the golden rule, to treat the waitstaff the way you would want to be treated if the situation was reversed. Fair enough, but If I was in that situation I would definitely seek more suitable employment. Fortunately here in Australia, Hospitality staff dont always have to rely on tipping If tipping poses a financial problem for you, then you have an easy option to avoid it. Do not eat at full service restaurants and bars. Stick with fast food places and take out or buy food at grocery stores to eat. I did this on my first trip when backpacking around USA. Backpacker. That explains it. Here's the reality. Waiters and similar staff are paid close to nothing. They depend on tips to live. Tipping is so complete and common that the IRS assumes they're getting tips and taxes them for it, whether they get them or not. That's just the way it's done in the US. If you can't afford it, stay home. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Tipping in USA/Canada
"Tchiowa" wrote in message
oups.com... Here's the reality. Waiters and similar staff are paid close to nothing. They depend on tips to live. Tipping is so complete and common that the IRS assumes they're getting tips and taxes them for it, whether they get them or not. That's just the way it's done in the US. If you can't afford it, stay home. Is there no such thing as a Minimum Wage in the home of the brave and the land of the free? Here in the UK, the legal minimum wage for workers over age 21 is GBP 5.52 per hour, which is the equivalent of US $11.60 per hour. -- JohnT |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Tipping in USA/Canada
JohnT wrote:
"Tchiowa" wrote in message oups.com... Here's the reality. Waiters and similar staff are paid close to nothing. They depend on tips to live. Tipping is so complete and common that the IRS assumes they're getting tips and taxes them for it, whether they get them or not. That's just the way it's done in the US. If you can't afford it, stay home. Is there no such thing as a Minimum Wage in the home of the brave and the land of the free? Here in the UK, the legal minimum wage for workers over age 21 is GBP 5.52 per hour, which is the equivalent of US $11.60 per hour. Yes, there is a federal minimum wage. From http://www.dol.gov/compliance/topics...imum-wage.htm: The federal minimum wage for covered, nonexempt employees is $5.85 per hour effective July 24, 2007... Some states specify a higher minimum wage. However, tips may be assumed to comprise part of the minimum wage. From http://www.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/002.htm: .... An employer of a tipped employee is only required to pay $2.13 an hour in direct wages if that amount plus the tips received equals at least the federal minimum wage, the employee retains all tips and the employee customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips. If an employee's tips combined with the employer's direct wages of at least $2.13 an hour do not equal the federal minimum hourly wage, the employer must make up the difference. Louis |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Tipping in USA/Canada
Here's the reality. Waiters and similar staff are paid close to
nothing. They depend on tips to live.... That's just the way it's done in the US. If you can't afford it, stay home. Is there no such thing as a Minimum Wage in the home of the brave and the land of the free? There is, but for restaurant workers, it includes an assumed miminum amount of tips. Really, if you don't tip your waiter, it's like you walked out without paying. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Tipping in USA/Canada
In message Col from Shell
wrote: Or instead visit first-world countries where the employers pay their staff a decent living wage. Most of the wait staff I know in Canada and the US are well paid, it's simply that part of that payment comes from the restaurant and part directly from the customer. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Tipping in USA/Canada
DevilsPGD wrote:
In message Col from Shell wrote: Or instead visit first-world countries where the employers pay their staff a decent living wage. Most of the wait staff I know in Canada and the US are well paid, it's simply that part of that payment comes from the restaurant and part directly from the customer. Tipping is institutionalized lying about the cost of product and service. Regards, Greg.P. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Tipping in USA/Canada
On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 21:51:16 +1100, Col from Shell wrote:
Or instead visit first-world countries where the employers pay their staff a decent living wage. Don't listen to this "stay at home" **** from rednecks who doubtless have stickers on the back of their pickup trucks that say "America: Love It or Leave It". You know the type... ******. That's not a reflection on your opinions - I haven't read them. It's for cross-posting this thread to alt.nuke.the.usa. And it applies to the rest of you sorry cross-posters, too. DaveM |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Statistics Canada Admits-Edmonton Is Crime Center of Canada! City Complains | Loaf of Bread | Europe | 0 | March 21st, 2007 07:53 PM |
Statistics Canada Admits-Edmonton Is Crime Center of Canada! City Complains | Loaf of Bread | USA & Canada | 0 | March 21st, 2007 07:53 PM |
Tipping at Pinnacle Grill, was HAL Tipping Policy | RTCReferee | Cruises | 2 | June 16th, 2004 09:18 PM |
Tipping at Pinnacle Grill, was HAL Tipping Policy | Lunyma | Cruises | 1 | June 11th, 2004 11:02 PM |