Korean Job Discussion Forums

jg · Joined: 27 May 2003

I'm in the U.S.

For the third time in the last few months, I had the discomfort of eating with students who didn't tip, or tipped an insulting amount. There was nothing wrong with the food or the service. These are otherwise reasonable, fairly mature people and I have to interact with them later, so I'd like to be pleasant about it. Some of them seemed pained when I asked for more contribution, and I will not keep making up the difference myself, especially on the larger bills. Can someone recommend a polite yet firm way I can get my point across?

I have thought about just mentioning it myself but I have a sore spot for people who don't tip or are ultra-cheap, at least when they are part of my dining party, and I would probably come across a bit harshly if I just ad-libbed. You know, flashbacks to all the people who stiffed me when I was a server. One guy was fairly arrogant about not tipping; another student said something to him and he invoked Korean culture (even though the other student was also Korean) as a reason not to tip in the US, though he did try to run the waiter ragged. Fine, I don't need to eat with that fool again anyway. But short of avoiding eating with certain nationalities, I need a remedy.

BTW, I generally like to end a term with a trip to a restaurant/bar and I besides the tipping I doubly don't want someone souring the staff on me when I come in the next time. And I've had waiters tell me that they definitely keep tabs on who the cheapos are, I don't want to be part of that camp.

Let me preempt those who don't believe in tipping by saying I am not interested in hearing it, plz don't hijack my thread, save that for another discussion.

Bon Appetit.

dutchy pink · Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Location: Incheon

It's a cultural thing.

to the guy who said something about Korea blahblahblah... mention it is a cultural thing and you should do it because of that fact.
Mention how in America it is not a cultural thing to take your shoes off when you enter somebody's house, but in Korea you do it, because it is a cultural thing.

Ask him to imagine how he would feel if somebody came into his house and did not take his shoes off?

Tell him it's the same thing, and cough up 3 bucks.

BTW, as a former server..... rectify the situation ASAP

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I think this is best handled in the classroom during the planning stages. Go over the cultural norms-Don't shout 'Yo-gi!', don't slurp...and do pay 15-20% on the tip.

Then take over the divvying up the bill part yourself and add in the tip.

The Bobster · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Don't tell the students the total amount on the check, just tell them a number that is 15% higher. The dinner is a social event, so don't fret much about making it venue to teach American culture. Save that for some specific class lesson devoted to restaurant behavior in general.

Anyway, that's how I'd handle it.

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

Young FRANKenstein

newton kabiddles · Joined: 31 Mar 2007

Corea way best. Why so stupid from two things? There no law for tip, we have choice. If you come my home with dog sheets on shoes and I say take off shoes or not come my home then you wear shoe inside and my rug I can sue for this.

Beej · Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Location: Eungam Loop

Tipping in the USA is not mandatory anyway. Just dont leave a tip.

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 11:56 pm Post subject:

dogshed · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

There is a good discussion on tipping at the beginning of Reservoir Dogs.

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

Tipping is something I definitely don't miss about back home. Servers who expect a tip for bringing food to the table without being a bitch about it. Sorry, but that's one of the basic job descriptions. Or when some guy at the Red Roof Inn expects a tip for bringing a 2-liter bottle of coke and a hoagie. Sorry, but when your job is to deliver room service, then it's your job to deliver room service. Delivering room service is not above and beyond the call of duty. Or when the cab driver expects something for driving from point A to point B without getting carjacked.

If somebody does it exceptionally well then I see the point behind tipping, but I'm not going to pick up the slack because your employer pays you below minimum wage or because you're economically disadvantaged. I don't understand why that burden is passed on to the consumer.

I know this thread isn't to debate the merits of tipping, but . . .

happeningthang · Joined: 26 Apr 2003

I'm not big on tipping either. Why do we need to pay extra for someone doing their job?

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

I people took even half a minute to actually think about it, tipping is really stupid and completely inefficient to society. Having said that, it is the system we currently have set up and people do depend on it, so I always tip and others should too, especially those cheap ass Korean friends.

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

I refuse to tip. Its a "cultural" thing? Then its a stupid culture. Sorry.

1. The waiter is already paid. Its not much? Well, then get another job. OR better yet, why doesnt the owner of the restaurant pay more?

2. Say I go to eat some steak. The meal is gonna run me over 40 bucks. I doubt very much that it cost 40 bucks to prepare my food for me. I bet it costs more in the range of 10 bucks, ingredients + labor. The restaurant owner is making 30 bucks profit on my meal alone. Im sure he can afford to give the waiter a bit more

Tipping is stupid. If I wanted to pay waiters for their services id run a restaurant. But Im not interested. I will pay for my meal..ONLY.

seoulsucker · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:21 pm Post subject: