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To tip or not to tip?
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Seoulman69



Joined: 14 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2013 7:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
It's only Americans, huh? Or was that a silent jab at my posts? For if you had taken the time to read before you posted, then you would have seen this:


It's usually Americans, yes. They usually have American-centric viewpoints too, and are very sensitive.
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War Eagle



Joined: 15 Feb 2009

PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2013 7:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Seoulman69 wrote:
Quote:
It's only Americans, huh? Or was that a silent jab at my posts? For if you had taken the time to read before you posted, then you would have seen this:


It's usually Americans, yes. They usually have American-centric viewpoints too, and are very sensitive.


Shocked
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cj1976



Joined: 26 Oct 2005

PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2013 7:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

FDNY wrote:
There is no tipping in Asia. Period. End of story. If you want to throw away your money, go ahead.


I thought the Philippines has a tipping culture. I always leave a tip in poor countries, because the way I see it, a dollar probably means a lot more to them than it does to me.
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b-class rambler



Joined: 25 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2013 7:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

War Eagle wrote:


To be clear: I am speaking for the service industry standards outside Korea.



But that isn't very clear. Probably your clarification ought to be that you're speaking for the service industry standards of North America (or maybe even more specific than that.)

Across most of Asia, it is not the norm to tip. And in Europe too, the continent I spent nearly 30 years in, I haven't been to any countries there where tipping is expected. It sometimes happens, but in the 20 or so European countries I have experience of, it's nothing like what I understand the situation to be in the US.
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FMPJ



Joined: 03 Jun 2008

PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2013 7:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I tip because I've known a lot of servers in my life and that job sucks.
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Seoulman69



Joined: 14 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2013 7:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
My fault. What I meant was that I wasn't speaking about the situation inside Korea.


Where are you talking about?
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War Eagle



Joined: 15 Feb 2009

PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2013 7:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

b-class rambler wrote:
War Eagle wrote:


To be clear: I am speaking for the service industry standards outside Korea.



But that isn't very clear. Probably your clarification ought to be that you're speaking for the service industry standards of North America (or maybe even more specific than that.)

Across most of Asia, it is not the norm to tip. And in Europe too, the continent I spent nearly 30 years in, I haven't been to any countries there where tipping is expected. It sometimes happens, but in the 20 or so European countries I have experience of, it's nothing like what I understand the situation to be in the US.


My fault. What I meant to say was that I was not speaking about the situation inside Korea.

I haven't traveled to as many European countries as you have, but I remember tipping in all of them. Also, this article lists a lot of European countries as those where tipping is the norm. 77 Countries and How to Tip
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Zyzyfer



Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?

PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2013 7:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

HapKi wrote:
At Craftworks I've given my tip money directly to the waitress who served me.


Ditto - though not at Craftworks necessarily. I've never gotten terrible service at a bar in Itaewon for not tipping, but the occasional tip - or buying a drink for the bartender if they would like one - does get me a bit better treatment than normal.

It's great how a thread asking about tipping at one particular bar or in one particular neighborhood is turning into a debate about the merits of the tipping culture.


Last edited by Zyzyfer on Mon May 06, 2013 7:55 pm; edited 1 time in total
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War Eagle



Joined: 15 Feb 2009

PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2013 7:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Seoulman69 wrote:
Quote:
My fault. What I meant was that I wasn't speaking about the situation inside Korea.


Where are you talking about?


What are you talking about?

See how that works?
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Seoulman69



Joined: 14 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2013 7:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I haven't traveled to as many European countries as you have, but I remember tipping in all of them. Also, this article lists a lot of European countries as those where tipping is the norm. 77 Countries and How to Tip


Ok. So you are talking about America and the expectations Europeans have of American tourists.
I love the fact your link is to usatoday. Also, what is a porter? Where I'm from that's a kind of beer.

Quote:
What are you talking about?

See how that works?


Yes, I see how that works. You don't want to answer the question related to where you are talking about in relation to tipping, therefore you are asking a question to deflect from my original query.


Last edited by Seoulman69 on Mon May 06, 2013 7:56 pm; edited 1 time in total
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b-class rambler



Joined: 25 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2013 7:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

War Eagle wrote:


My fault. What I meant was that I wasn't speaking about the situation inside Korea.

What to tip in 77 different countries


Interesting link. And, to be fair, I'm sure there's similar info in many other countries of the world that gives equally misleading info about countries outside their own.

And that is misleading, because it seems to make no mention whatsoever that in many of those countries listed, even if it's not unheard of to tip, there's very little expectation that you should.

I sometimes find it mildly irritating when Koreans just assume that their country does things one way and everywhere else does it the same other way. But it's easily forgiveable when you see how much other people, who don't have the excuse of never having left their home country, do pretty much exactly the same.
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War Eagle



Joined: 15 Feb 2009

PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2013 8:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Seoulman69 wrote:
Quote:
I haven't traveled to as many European countries as you have, but I remember tipping in all of them. Also, this article lists a lot of European countries as those where tipping is the norm. 77 Countries and How to Tip


Ok. So you are talking about America and the expectations Europeans have of American tourists.
I love the fact your link is to usatoday. Also, what is a porter? Where I'm from that's a kind of beer.


Rick Steves is a European travel expert. That's the link to his wiki page. In this article he says, "Tipping in Europe isn't as automatic and generous as it is in the United States, but in many countries, tips are appreciated, if not expected." And also, "Restaurant tips are more modest in Europe than in America. At restaurants, check the menu to see if service is included; if it isn't, a tip of 5-10 percent is normal."

Again, I havn't lived in Europe or even traveled there extensively. However, it appears as though tipping is very common throughout Europe, especially if there is no service charge included (which is a tip in and of itself).
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atwood



Joined: 26 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2013 8:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

FDNY wrote:
There is no tipping in Asia. Period. End of story. If you want to throw away your money, go ahead.

Not quite true, at least in Korea. Some people tip at expensive restaurants where they get a lot of service such as drinks being poured and food being prepared/cooked at the table.
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Seoulman69



Joined: 14 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2013 8:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Rick Steves is a European travel expert. That's the link to his wiki page. In this article he says, "Tipping in Europe isn't as automatic and generous as it is in the United States, but in many countries, tips are appreciated, if not expected." And also, "Restaurant tips are more modest in Europe than in America. At restaurants, check the menu to see if service is included; if it isn't, a tip of 5-10 percent is normal."


Is he American by any chance? Because I've spent quite a bit of time in Europe, and so has rambler, and we're telling you that you're wrong.
The tipping expectations of an American tourist and a local are often very different.
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atwood



Joined: 26 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Mon May 06, 2013 8:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

mayorgc wrote:
War Eagle wrote:
mayorgc wrote:
War Eagle wrote:
mayorgc wrote:
War Eagle wrote:
Died By Bear wrote:
optik404 wrote:
I wouldn't tip.




I don't tip because society says I have to. Alright, I mean I'll tip if somebody really deserves a tip, if they really put forth the effort, I'll give 'em something extra, but I mean this tipping automatically is for the birds.


I'm not sure if you imply this is your mentality when it comes to Korea alone, or overseas in other countries as well. Also, I don't mean to start some great debate as to whether or not people should tip. However, you do understand wait staff outside Korea, at least in the US, make MUCH lower wages (in the US $2.15 per hour) because people are expected to tip. And most people tip 15% on average service. 20% and above for people who "really put forth the effort".

To be clear: I am speaking for the service industry standards outside Korea.

It's a customary thing to do when you go out to eat. In my opinion, if you don't want to tip, then don't have someone else serve you.


Ok, I'll open up the can of worms.

But should we tip doctors or policemen?

(has nothing to do with my opinion on tipping)


If people didn't tip, the restaurants/pubs would have to pay the wait staff more money. To compensate, the restaurants/pubs would increase their prices. You, in turn, would have to pay the increased prices. Either way, you pay.

If we tipped doctors, our insuance premiums wouldn't be so damn high Laughing I'm all for it. I've met some shady doctors.


I like your reply, only because other ppl seem to ignore that concept (increased prices).

But, why not let restaurants charge more? In the end, is it a zero sum scenario?

What I mean is, if the end result is the same, then why not go to the non-tip system?

Is it so we could reward those who go above and beyond?


Wait staff can earn much more in tips than an ower would ever be willing to pay. This means they can hire a higher caliber staff.

Many wait staff make $20-$50 an hour regularly. Good bartenders can make upwards of $100 an hour. If not for tips, restaurant owners would be paying their staff closer to minumum wage, and you would have ugly housewives serving you your beer instead of that hot little blonde chick in a low cut top or the muscular guy who can pull off a tight-tee and entertain you with some flair (bottle flipping).

Of course, aside from looks, there's also competent employees vs incompetent ones Razz

EDIT: being a GOOD server or bartender takes a VERY talented person, whether it be someone who is gifted with looks, conversation, or is highly efficient. Bottom line: store owners could never afford to keep these people on their payroll and keep costs/prices down.


Yup, I agree with you. But, in different parts of the world, there is no tip, but good service.

Is this just a matter of culture and "that's just how it is"?

Obviously, you can't reverse 200 yrs of north american tipping culture, so it's there to stay.

I hope you're not including Korea when you mention countries with no tipping and good service.
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