Perspective About Tipping

The more individuals travel, the more they influence each other, good or bad. That's just how it works. If that isn't desirable, then a country needs to cut themselves off from all outside influence. I never believed in the "When in Rome, do as the Romans". I do believe in respecting a culture to a certain extent, but I will not become someone else with different values when I am in a different country. When I travel, I try and balance the two. And yes, I tip if I am in a culture where it is not considered an insult. Europeans know that I am from America and that American's tip. So am I insulting the waiters more by not tipping when they know it is my culture to tip or are they insulted when I tip, following my culture more than theirs which I am not a part of? And nothing states that Europeans need to adopt what they do not like from Americans since they are not American.

Okay, I admit, I'm getting very tired of the Americans ruining the world mindset that seems to be a common theme on this forum. Especially around tipping as if the European way of life is ending due to this practice.

Everyone likes to make more money it's a no brainer. It was reported that there was hotel in Rome that placed a line on the credit card receipt for customers to write in a tip, but it is uncertain if it was going to the service staff. The wait staff non tipping culture are happy to see those tourists that tip and probably prefer them over native customers. Nothing stays to sames with new generations being born. Even spoken English is more prevalent you probably noticed compared to the 1960's.
I just round the bill up when paying cash in Europe and don't tip.

And nothing states that Europeans need to adopt what they do not like from Americans since they are not American.

I wish you had been there to explain this to the waiter in New York who chased me down the street when I only left 15%.

When an American tips in Europe, it adds to one's income. When a European does not tip or pays a lesser amount in America, it removes from their expected income. So, yes, waiters will not be that happy with you. But it is your money and your choice regarding the tip.

In Europe I almost always round off or tell the server how much the total is. In Germany and Austria I hand over that amount in cash, no credit use there. In France likewise , then usually pay with the credit card. I determine the amount and the reasons, regardless.

Do we know for sure that the reason that tipping is more expected in Europe is because American tourists have over tipped in the past? Or solely that?

It's also possible that Europe has had its own cultural shifts around tipping, independent of the direct influence of Americans. Their cultures are capable of changing after all.

Can you leave a little bit of a tip in Austria and Germany for instance. I'm not sure that American tourists invented that norm and Germans just picked it up.

I usually follow the norm of thre country I am visiting. If a tip is expected, I tip. If not, I don't.
There are a few exceptions.

But tipping has gotten out of hand in the USA. Every retail store, every food establishment, every place now has a tip jar.

And it's spreading. My local hardware store here in London has a tip jar on the counter. I purchased a product online in the UK last year from a small company. At checkout I was asked if I wanted to leave a tip for the staff.

So, I've decided, it's time to tip here. Why don't people asking questions tip the people providing answers? We're providing a service just like the person taking your money in a retail store and has a tip jar sitting on the counter. Our service and knowledge should be worth as much.

Then there is the comment that "they dont tip in _____________ because _____________ pays a living wage" which presumes that 1) there was always a living wage throughout history or 2) with the implementation of a living wage tipping ceased to occur.

I sort of think that the considerations of income are secondary, and it more of a cultural expression of appreciation or at least acknowledgment of the work being performed on the behalf of the customer.

E I'm confused too, my assertion isn't anything like what you say it's like as far as I can see?

All I noted was maybe part (or most) of the reason for more tipping in Europe nowadays has to do with changes in European cultural practice independent of what American tourists are doing. Simply pointing out that assuming that American tourists are causing and increase in tipping culture in Europe doesn't necessarily have to be so.

But maybe I'm not following? :)

Hank, my apologies. I started one thought but typed a second thought. I guess my mind is slipping away a little faster these days. I fixed it.

Oh no worries there, my potato sack is going just as fast down the same slide!

Having just spent almost a month in the London area, and going to several restaurants, I was surprised that many now add a service charge of 12% or more. So no need to tip more, because the establishment has already done it for you.

I don’t believe this was commonplace very long ago, and what made this happen, I’m not sure. If it was to “copy” customs in the U.S.A. , though, the U.K. needs to increase it a bit, to reach the standard American 15-20% range.

@Cyn - Feel free to ask for the 12% service charge to be removed in the UK as it's usually a discretionary charge only. It's been creeping in over the last few years and restaurants now see it as a way to extract more money from their customers because they expect most people will not feel confident in asking for it to be removed. There is a lot of murkiness as to what establishments pass on the service charge to their staff and what ones pocket the money.

I would rather deal with the guilt of not tipping than with the situation of sending back a bill that had a service charge on it that I did not want to pay.

Tipping I can deal with, service charges are tacky.

At present service charges on the UK are collected for the restaurant or owner. They may well share them out in full or part but can legally keep them all too.

From 1 July they will have to be be distributed all to the staff without deduction as a result of a change in the law. Some restaurants however have already renamed this addition from being a service charge to something else so the owners can continue to trouser it. Remains to be seen if this will become a widespread practice or not (and whether it will stand up legally).

IMHO,I would do this. Buy a gyro in Greece, price is €3.50. I would pay at least $9 in the US. So I give the owner €12 to cover all the difference to what I am used to paying plus a tip. Why should I get any deal in Europe as against the usual at home? I am not there for a deal but the culture and the sights. I should be willing to pay. Same as paying €12 at Epidaurus as against the EU price of €6.

So tipping bad, forced extaction of a service charge good? I think I prefer tipping to service charges.

Fortunately service charges are not real common in the US in low cost establishments.

But tip pooling is taking over and thats sort of a commie practice (from those with ability - good servers - to those in need - bad servers).

Since they dont tell you they are pooling the tips I cant do much about that, but when ever there is a service charge, here in Europe or in the US, I dont tip.

Actually here, in Hungary, when I have offered a tip on one ocassion i was told it wasnt necessary because there is a service charge on the bill (that I didnt notice). So in that instance I presume the server got the service charge (or servers as i assume it is pooled).

When I travel, I attempt to get as close as I can to local custom, so if I'm in Austria or Germany I round up to a close euro, to a total of 5-10%, in the UK, I add 10% or a little more, unless there is a service charge, etc. If I know people that live there, I ask them, to make sure I am doing the proper thing.

I assume that any culture that has a special word for a tip, like trinkgeld in Germany or pourboire in France, has probably got a long history of some form of tipping that precedes Americans traveling in large numbers. I know I was taught in the early 90's to tip in change, but not very much, when visiting restaurants in France (Alsace).

"When in Rome" is a good guideline.

jturnerbc, when in Rome, yes. The problem is that there has been so much wrong posted that many will find themselves in Rome, Georgia.