Do you guys understand gratuities are expected in America?
Discussion
I live on a resort island in the Florida Keys and use the hotel pub as my local watering hole.
I'll never understand why some visitors rarely tip the bartender. Yesterday I was sitting at the bar when a UK couple came up, had at least three or four drinks each and then stiffed the bartender. They had to know it was wrong, they sat there for two hours and watched everyone else pay. Not tipping is incredibly rude.
I see this all the time. The Germans, Japanese and Italians are pretty good at tipping but the English and French are horrible about this.
The bartender makes $2 an hour. They live off their tips. If you are taking up bar space and not tipping, that's basically stealing from them.
The minimum expected tip is a dollar per drink or 20% of the tab.
And for the record, here are the people you should be tipping when you visit the US.
Your waiter - 15 - 20% of your check.
Your cab driver - 10% of the fare
Bell man - $1 - $2 per bag
Hotel maid - $2 per day at the end of the stay
I'll never understand why some visitors rarely tip the bartender. Yesterday I was sitting at the bar when a UK couple came up, had at least three or four drinks each and then stiffed the bartender. They had to know it was wrong, they sat there for two hours and watched everyone else pay. Not tipping is incredibly rude.
I see this all the time. The Germans, Japanese and Italians are pretty good at tipping but the English and French are horrible about this.
The bartender makes $2 an hour. They live off their tips. If you are taking up bar space and not tipping, that's basically stealing from them.
The minimum expected tip is a dollar per drink or 20% of the tab.
And for the record, here are the people you should be tipping when you visit the US.
Your waiter - 15 - 20% of your check.
Your cab driver - 10% of the fare
Bell man - $1 - $2 per bag
Hotel maid - $2 per day at the end of the stay
"expected" - as in, not actually required. You are not stealing from them, because they have no legal right to the "expected" monies.
Why would the visitors know about it? it's not the norm in the UK, I've never been to America. If I hadn't read this thread, I'd have no idea that it was the norm in America. If you guys can't organise minimum wages for your staff don't grumble about visitors not knowing every little oddity of your lives. oh, and Zaxxon is right on the money :P
Why would the visitors know about it? it's not the norm in the UK, I've never been to America. If I hadn't read this thread, I'd have no idea that it was the norm in America. If you guys can't organise minimum wages for your staff don't grumble about visitors not knowing every little oddity of your lives. oh, and Zaxxon is right on the money :P
t. I bet the drinks aren't $1 cheaper than they would be in other countries. Davi said:
"expected" - as in, not actually required. You are not stealing from them, because they have no legal right to the "expected" monies.
Why would the visitors know about it? it's not the norm in the UK, I've never been to America. If I hadn't read this thread, I'd have no idea that it was the norm in America. If you guys can't organise minimum wages for your staff don't grumble about visitors not knowing every little oddity of your lives.
Pretty sure every guide book written on America in the last fifty years mentions this. Why would the visitors know about it? it's not the norm in the UK, I've never been to America. If I hadn't read this thread, I'd have no idea that it was the norm in America. If you guys can't organise minimum wages for your staff don't grumble about visitors not knowing every little oddity of your lives.
Joecooool said:
The bartender makes $2 an hour. They live off their tips. If you are taking up bar space and not tipping, that's basically stealing from them.
The minimum expected tip is a dollar per drink or 20% of the tab.
Why doesn't the hotel pay them more and not expect the hotel's guests to have to make up for their poor pay?The minimum expected tip is a dollar per drink or 20% of the tab.
Surely it's the employer that ought to be ashamed.
If you don't get paid enough shouldn't you work harder and get a better job. Isn't that the American dream? Work harder and improve your lot. Not expect customers to supplement your crap wages?
Joecooool said:
Pretty sure every guide book written on America in the last fifty years mentions this.
I know this will come as a life threatening shock to you, but the world doesn't revolve around America. Many people couldn't give a rats arse about America. As such, we're not in the habit of reading guide books on America as a national passtime. America isn't "the world" get over it, get over yourselves.
Zaxxon said:
Do you realise that you have come across in that post as an obnoxious prick?
Read a couple of posts from you on another thread and thought you way off the mark... but this time you're spot on ! 
OP, reel your neck in, people in the UK tip, when the service is good. At least I do. But I don't tip when it's some miserable yank low life who can't even be bothered to smile as they go about their duties.
And as for tipping a bar man/person - genuinely would never cross my mind unless I was a regular or had had some kind of chat with them. They pour a drink and ask for x pounds or dollars, I give them x pounds or dollars. Simples.
DrTre said:
Didn't realise it was 20%, so cheers OP, sort of thought more 15%.
Not sure why he's taking such flak, tbh, it's just cultural sensitivity isn't it?
Because its a requirement of this board to piss on anything and anyone American. Not sure why he's taking such flak, tbh, it's just cultural sensitivity isn't it?
Even those of us born in the UK and living here now.
Joecooool said:
Zaxxon said:
Do you realise that you have come across in that post as an obnoxious prick?
The point of my post was to prevent my fellow countrymen from being perceived as pricks when they visit here. Your real name isn't "Dances with Wolves" by any chance ?
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