Comments on: Here’s a tip on one of the last great travel mysteries

By: Bill

Bill — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 04:05:55 +0000

I agree with Candice, travellers need to find out what the rules are in the places they are going. I remember going to a nice resort – we were having a family function, and it is amazing how much trouble it causes the waitstaff when the Europeans come and don’t tip. You see, the waitstaff have to “tip out” based upon the gross bills of their tables, so they have to forward tips on to the other workers, such as busboys etc even if they don’t have that income. When you don’t tip in these cases, you actually cost the waiter or waitress money. this “tip out” practice is of course, absurd, but if they didn’t have it, I suppose the other staff would get bilked. And another note about europeans not tipping…on a trip to the UK last year, we had no problems leaving tips with people, they took it graciously. Of course, the British were excellant hosts which made it very justifiable to tip.

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:30:28 +0000

Terry Bee– The main problem with your suggestion is that if this happens (paying service industry workers higher wages and eliminating or reducing tips), you will find that your meal and drink prices are going to increase, maybe by more than the 20% or so that your tip would be. The money has to come from somewhere, and restaurant/bar owners are certainly not going to foot the bill.

By: Amy

Amy — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:13:51 +0000

Terry –

Please lobby your government officials to change the laws that allow employers to pay these service employees paltry wages. Maybe you can make a difference.

Until the laws are changed, however, the situation is what it is. If you are not willing to “subsidize” these hard-working employees through tips, then you must NEVER partake of their services.

By: Candice

Candice — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 02:50:52 +0000

I believe in a “When in Rome” attitude, and whether you like the concept of tipping or not, it’s simply not appropriate to be a cheapskate when you’re in a place where tipping is the norm.

I travel all around the world and always find out what the tipping customs are for that country before I get there. There is tons of tipping information on the internet and on forums. And when in doubt, it’s easy to ask hotel concierges, or others in management and find that I get honest answers.

I love going countires where a tip isn’t expected for everything, but when it is, I go with the flow. Shortchanging (literally) a worker, isn’t taking a stance, it’s just being cheap.

When we stay in hotels, we leave a tip for the maid daily, as opposed to at the end of our stay, because we don’t know which days she works. I’d hate to leave a tip on the 4th day for all the days, when the first 3 days our room was serviced by a different person and the person who worked 3 days got nothing and the maid on the 4th day got a 4 day tip.

To Terry Bee…
Americans can demand all they want, but the system is not going to change. Workers in US restaurants depend on your tips for a living. I don’t love the system either, but it is what is it is so please don’t take out your annoyance on the people who are depending on your gratuity to live.

By: Terry Bee

Terry Bee — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:18:41 +0000

When are Americans going to demand that service people be paid a living wage and gratuity be included in the price of the meal/service? As a consumer, I am tired of subsidizing wages that should be being paid by the employer. Let’s go back to what TIPS were intended for originally – To Insure Prompt Service.

By: Karen Fawcett

Karen Fawcett — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:15:04 +0000

An aside: One reason that EU tourists coming to the US sometimes aren’t well-liked is they’re not in the tipping habit. Cultural differences may be one thing.
Being stiffed is another. K

By: John F

John F — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:55:16 +0000

Good point on the memory of service workers. My advice is to always tip a friendly bartender at an all inclusive resort–even if it is against the rules.

More often than not at Sandals or a SuperClubs property, I will tip a friendly bartender a $20 (discretely of course) and miraculously the word spreads and my glass is NEVER empty.

This also works well in the resorts that mix AI and EP. Typically the bartenders will service the EP guests first hoping for a tip and the AI people last because they are likely not to tip. Cough up the $20 and move to the head of the line!