It’s been a few weeks, and I am still not used to tipping. Tipping in the States is a lot more than just showing appreciation for particularly good service; it is expected in many situations, and at a higher percentage than in England.
When to tip can be a bit confusing, though. Even before I came out here, for some reason I was thinking about the shipping company and if I should tip when they deliver my boxes from the UK (I didn’t).
On numerous occasions I have had to check with my wife as to whether I should tip. From the FedEx guy (no), to the hairdresser (about 20%), to the cable guy (no, and apparently offering him a cup of tea or coffee would be quaint and hilarious…), it can be a minefield.
Tipping is generally such a big deal here because, in a lot of states, the minimum wage for tipped employees is so low. In a restaurant tips are expected to be between 15%-25%, and in bars it is normal to tip $1 per drink.
If buying drinks at the bar (or if there is table service but you are charged for each drink as it comes, instead of a tab) you literally tip $1 for every drink you buy. If this is the case, the barman or waitress will generally make sure you have plenty of ones when they give your change, to make this easier. Once you have ordered a few sitting at the bar, the barman will also sometimes give you a freebie, which is nice.
10% or lower for a tip is actually generally considered a sign of displeasure at service (which in itself can seem very odd to a Brit… surely poor service just deserves no tip?)
Until I find a convenient reference table to keep in my wallet, I will just keep asking the locals.
(Photo by 401kcalculator.org)
Chops says:
Just pay people properly and charge the amount you want customers to pay. Seems easier. I would find it hard to be expected to tip bad service.
September 28, 2016 — 9:52 pm
Matt says:
Yeah, a decent minimum wage across the board would make things a lot easier, but I think it is too engrained in society now to really change. It isn;t like you are forced to tip, but in a situation where you didn’t want to tip at all it would be expected that it would be bad enough that you would take it up with management before leaving.
September 28, 2016 — 9:57 pm
Theresa says:
Some restaurants add a mandatory tip, and other places are trialling the idea of paying their employees a living wage. The times they are a-changin’!
That said, having lived abroad for so long, I reeeeeeally don’t enjoy remembering when/how to tip when I visit. It’s stressful!
September 29, 2016 — 5:37 am
Matt says:
A friend on Facebook recommended a podcast (“The No-tipping Point” by Freakonomics Radio) which talks about a restaurant that added the tip to the cost of the menu items and paid staff accordingly. I am going to give it a listen, sounds interesting!
September 29, 2016 — 4:03 pm
Nicky says:
We found it very difficult to know how much to tip and where when we were in America. Luckily we had our American friend to guide us, but sometimes it made eating out quite expensive!
September 30, 2016 — 6:31 am