Tipping in Singapore

[mikyman]

Next month wife and I will be spending a few days in Singapore on way to Australia.
Trying to read up on local customs, we are a bit confused on who to tip,when to tip and how much.
Afew years ago we went to Tunisia and took minatures of whisky to tip with instead of local currency. In all cases they were well received.
With the high price of alcohol in Singapore, has any one any views on doing the same, has anyone ever done it.? Or should we stick to money tipping?
Thoughts and advice please.

[Mr Pointy]

Money is king in Singapore & given there's a good proportion of the population is Muslim (although maybe not the working clasess) tipping with alcohol is unlikely to be welcome.

[bongtom]

I thought tipping in Singapore was not necessary or expected unless you are American?

[shirt]

Tipping with alcohol, for real? Bizarre and overthought imo.

Tipping in Singapore is very much like UK, not expected but welcome, and in cash.

[GT03ROB]

mikyman said:

Afew years ago we went to Tunisia and took minatures of whisky to tip with instead of local currency. In all cases they were well received.

Never ever heard of that. Where did you get that idea from? Bit of an over complication in my mind.

[rodericb]

Mr Pointy said:

Money is king in Singapore & given there's a good proportion of the population is Muslim (although maybe not the working clasess) tipping with alcohol is unlikely to be welcome.

Every day is a school day!

[Vasco]

mikyman said:

Next month wife and I will be spending a few days in Singapore on way to Australia.
Trying to read up on local customs, we are a bit confused on who to tip,when to tip and how much.
Afew years ago we went to Tunisia and took minatures of whisky to tip with instead of local currency. In all cases they were well received.
With the high price of alcohol in Singapore, has any one any views on doing the same, has anyone ever done it.? Or should we stick to money tipping?
Thoughts and advice please.

Why do you need to tip ?

I've never felt the need to tip when I've been there and some of the locals may well be embarassed by such an unnecessary 'Americanism'.

[pteron]

I agree with the other comments, in much of the world, especially Asia, tipping is unnecessary except where the Americans have been

I had tips rejected in Japan - 'oh no sir, you don't tip here'.

I was in Singapore in May last year, no tipping expected.

[eein]

No tipping in Singapore at all. I'm there a lot, out and about, drinking, eating, going places, and no-where is it a thing. At all. Indeed if you really wanted to tip you'd have to have cash as the bills rarely have the option to add a tip. And no-one does cash anymore, they look at you funny if you pay in cash, although it is still technically ok.

[phumy]

Unless youre eating off of the streets youll probably get hit with a service charge anyway, so theres your tip....

[LimaDelta]

pteron said:

I had tips rejected in Japan - 'oh no sir, you don't tip here'.

In Japan, it is seen as insulting to tip. As if you are saying, I have far more than you, I can just give you extra money. Like you are pitying them.

[pteron]

LimaDelta said:

pteron said:

I had tips rejected in Japan - 'oh no sir, you don't tip here'.

In Japan, it is seen as insulting to tip. As if you are saying, I have far more than you, I can just give you extra money. Like you are pitying them.

Agree on the insult, but it was explained to me more along the lines of 'I'm proud to do my job, you don't need to bribe me to do it properly'. Thankfully that episode was many years ago and I learned from it.

[RichFN2]

You also pay a sin tax for purchasing alcohol in Singapore, something to bear in mind before you consider tipping.

[Wills2]

Tipping people with small bottles of whiskey? I've read it all now, utterly bonkers.

[Vasco]

pteron said:

LimaDelta said:

pteron said:

I had tips rejected in Japan - 'oh no sir, you don't tip here'.

In Japan, it is seen as insulting to tip. As if you are saying, I have far more than you, I can just give you extra money. Like you are pitying them.

Agree on the insult, but it was explained to me more along the lines of 'I'm proud to do my job, you don't need to bribe me to do it properly'. Thankfully that episode was many years ago and I learned from it.

Totally agree. Many get upset by people who feel that they need to tip - it's a nasty habit from the USA and, ideally, it needs to be stamped out wherever possible.

[ARFBY]

Whilst there isn't a requirement to tip, as has been mentioned already; It is still very much appreciated by hotel cleaners, and although there is usually a 10% service charge at most restaurants, your server will unlikely see any of it, so if you feel you were given an excellent service, they will be most appreciative of a small reward (although probably not a miniature whisky bottle)
I hope you enjoy your stay.

[mikyman]

Thanks for all the comments.
Some posters are quering my useing whisky to tip in Tunisia.
Whilst it is a muslim country,locals do drink alcohol and foreign whisky is prized.The 'gift' of a small minature got us better service than a few coins ever could.
Lower paid workers never see anything of added service charges, so will continue to offer cash for good service.
Will stick to cash in Singapore, but it was interesting to ask the question and see the range of replies.

[mikyman]

[quote=Wills2]Tipping people with small bottles of whiskey? I've read it all now, utterly bonkers.

[Thank you for calling me bonkers. It worked for us in Tunisia and I speak from experience, do you?

[anonymous-user]

Vasco said:

pteron said:

LimaDelta said:

pteron said:

I had tips rejected in Japan - 'oh no sir, you don't tip here'.

In Japan, it is seen as insulting to tip. As if you are saying, I have far more than you, I can just give you extra money. Like you are pitying them.

Agree on the insult, but it was explained to me more along the lines of 'I'm proud to do my job, you don't need to bribe me to do it properly'. Thankfully that episode was many years ago and I learned from it.

Totally agree. Many get upset by people who feel that they need to tip - it's a nasty habit from the USA and, ideally, it needs to be stamped out wherever possible.

I completely agree as well.

[Mr Pointy]

ARFBY said:

Whilst there isn't a requirement to tip, as has been mentioned already; It is still very much appreciated by hotel cleaners, and although there is usually a 10% service charge at most restaurants, your server will unlikely see any of it, so if you feel you were given an excellent service, they will be most appreciative of a small reward (although probably not a miniature whisky bottle)
I hope you enjoy your stay.

Agreed - even in Singapore tips to house keeping & servers is welcome. We used to bung a couple of dollars every round to the Tiger beer girl who served us in the evening & it paid off as we never had to wait to get served.