# Am I the only one who likes the tipping culture in the U.S.? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 23, 2002, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555 "2002-12-23T17:03:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f04885/32.png) [@dil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dil)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/21 "2002-12-23T22:30:46Z")
It’s more like each waiter contributes 1% (of sales) to the host/hostess and 1% to the bartender. So leaving a lousy tip still has the greatest impact on the waiter’s pocketbook. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/22 "2002-12-23T23:08:00Z")
Thanks Arnold. I’ll check with a mod before I post another excerpt. Sorry if I caused any hassle. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/23 "2002-12-24T00:08:39Z")
I like tipping because it gives me a chance to do something nice (I’m a generous tipper). ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/24 "2002-12-24T00:42:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Restaurants frequently pool all the tips and divide them between the kitchen staff[.] Regardless, when the tip is pooled, the entire waitstaff coos over my table because the entire waitstaff stands to benefit from my tip. The tipping mechanism doesn’t fail simply because the reward is divided equally among the effort. Aside: I’d be interested to know how many restaurants do this, I suspect they are the exception and not the rule. My personal data suggests that it is mainly the ethnic restaurants that do this, not our beloved Greasy American Spoon (GAS) places. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/25 "2002-12-24T03:15:28Z")
i find it laughable that anybody thinks that i should consider anybody else’s financial situation. be assured that the waiter/waitress who probably spit in my food thinks very little of my financial problems while they are in the back of the restaurant ignoring me. as a matter of fact, the waitstaff is affecting not only my life, but that of my CHILDREN!! the waitstaff want me to PAY MONEY TO EAT! not only that, they will call a man with a GUN to drag me away if i don’t PAY MONEY TO EAT! how can i support my family if a man with a gun drags me away and puts me in a cement room with iron bars if i HAVE TO PAY MONEY TO EAT! are all waitstaff that cruel? ---
**Author:** ![barton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@barton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barton)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/26 "2002-12-24T03:31:44Z")
Tipping is something I find intensely socially awkward, like I’d just become a character in a Shirley Jackson short story. I’d much rather pay a higher fixed price for a meal than deal with that little bit of unpleasantness at the end - the evil fortune cookie. I hate it when I find a place that doesn’t look like it takes tips, a fast-food-sorta type thing, and then the waitstaff is standing there staring at me, much like a traffic cop examining my unused seat belt. I don’t like being forced to be generous - I’d rather come up with the idea myself. Even then, I hestiate because it feels too much like a bribe. This is probably why I’m such a cheap bastard. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/27 "2002-12-24T04:20:44Z")
i am also amused by the places popping up now…high prices for a sandwich, you go to counter to order and pick up, and they have a jar up at the counter that says “tips”. ---
**Author:** ![perspective](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f475e1/32.png) [@perspective](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perspective)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/28 "2002-12-24T05:45:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blowero \*Whether it’s the restaurant or the customer making up the difference is six of one or a half-dozen of the other. Why does the restaurant industry have to be different than any other service industry? The customer is in a much better position to know whether or not they are satisfied. Many restaurant managers are simply happy if their employees show up for work. If the waitstaff doesn’t make a customer mad enough to complain then the manager is probably satisfied. They generally have no idea whether any one of hundreds of people who eat in their restaurant each night have had a good experience or not. > [@](#): > > When I go to a department store, I don’t need to tip the salesman for assisting me with my purchase. How many people is that salesperson helping simultaneously? Waitstaff often have ten different people wanting ten different things at the exact same time. If one of those people is a regular who tips well, you can bet they will get their needs met first. > [@](#): > > If (s)he does a poor job, I can complain to the manager, and (s)he will be reprimanded or fired. If (s)he does an exceptional job, I can praise her/him to the manager, and (s)he might get a raise or be promoted. When was the last time you went to a manager and praised an employee? :rolleyes: Compare that to the number of times you were at least expected to tip. There are a wide variety of experiences that come between complaining about and praising an employee. Tipping covers them better. > [@](#): > > In many industries, it is left up to the management to ensure that good service is provided. It’s certainly in their best interest to do so, since they will lose customers if they do not. There’s no reason the restaurant industry couldn’t do the same. Restaurant managers aren’t paid as well as many managers in other fields. They often do a correspondingly worse job. > [@](#): > > I disagree. A restaurant with bad service would lose customers, and would quickly rectify the situation. Unless of course the other restaurants also had bad service. Or alternately the ones that do have good service are too expensive. > [@](#): > > We would pay more for the food, but save money on the tip, so it would even out, AND be less hassle. Good waiters could still be rewarded by the management, but wouldn’t be _penalized_ by cheapskate customers. riiiiiight > [@](#): > > Think about this, too: How many times have you gone to a restaurant where the poor waiter is obviously overworked, but trying very hard, so you leave them a good tip? Where’s the incentive for the owner to do anything about their poor treatment of the waiter? They get their help for cheap and run them ragged. If the customers express their displeasure by not tipping, it only hurts the waiter, who will then have to redouble his/her efforts until the job becomes so difficult that they end up quitting, which leaves the management free to hire a new waiter to run ragged. You should express your displeasure by not coming back or by following your earlier praise/complain method and tell the manager directly. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/29 "2002-12-24T13:53:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*You’re right, Shah, the online script I copied it from had the names reversed. I should have read it more closely before I posted it. \*\* The dialogue is inaccurate anyway; it differs from the film in a lot of lines. It may be an earlier version of the script, they do get changed a lot before (and often during) shooting, which would explain the name switch. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/30 "2002-12-24T14:47:06Z")
There is one little-appreciated side benefit to being in the habit of tipping. I’ve found that, even in countries that have major complaints about U.S. foreign policy, the ordinary people still love American tourists. Why? Because, according to them, we’re the best tippers of all. In effect, tipping becomes a relatively cheap insurance policy. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/31 "2002-12-24T16:53:41Z")
Tipping causes way too much anxiety to me. I can’t afford to just tip indiscriminately, so when do I do it? Like was earlier mentioned, everwhere expects a tip now, even sandwich shops and ice cream parlors. When I was in Italy, it was simple. If the menu said 5.00, that’s exactly what you pay, no tax, to tips, nothing. Here, when you see 4.99 on the menu, you still really don’t know what you’re going to end up paying. Not only is there a fixed tax, but then there’s an additional mystery amount that you have to decide yourself. How much is too much, how much is too little? I dont’ know! I just want a sandwich, not a tacit judgement of my generosity! Then you go outside and some old lady is asking you to help the homeless! ARRRGGH! ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/32 "2002-12-24T18:45:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by perspective \* > The customer is in a much better position to know whether or not they are satisfied. Many restaurant managers are simply happy if their employees show up for work. If the waitstaff doesn’t make a customer mad enough to complain then the manager is probably satisfied. They generally have no idea whether any one of hundreds of people who eat in their restaurant each night have had a good experience or not. But you didn’t respond to my question: Why does that only apply to the restaurant industry, and not other service industries that do not have tipping? > [@](#): > > How many people is that salesperson helping simultaneously? I suggest you go to a department store today, Dec. 24th, for an answer to your question. > [@](#): > > When was the last time you went to a manager and praised an employee? :rolleyes: Compare that to the number of times you were at least expected to tip. There are other ways of evaluating employee performance as well. A big part of the manager’s job is to observe how well the employees are working, and that is taken into consideration when it comes time for a raise. If that system is so ineffective, how is it that it is implemented successfully in most other industries? By your logic, I should have to tip the factory worker to make sure he puts the headlights on my car correctly. > [@](#): > > Restaurant managers aren’t paid as well as many managers in other fields. They often do a correspondingly worse job. The solution to that would be to pay them more. Besides, on the rare occasions when I have had to speak to restaurant managers, they have seemed quite competent to me. > [@](#): > > Unless of course the other restaurants also had bad service. Or alternately the ones that do have good service are too expensive. That’s relative. If it’s more expensive, but you save 15% on the tip, then it’s a wash. > [@](#): > > You should express your displeasure by not coming back or by following your earlier praise/complain method and tell the manager directly. Exactly my point.😃 ---
**Author:** ![reprise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/33 "2002-12-24T21:02:01Z")
I’d just like to point out that in countries such as Australia where tipping is not **expected** and is not intended to be part of the employee’s base wage, people do still tip for above average service - so while employees are guaranteed their award wage no matter how well or badly they carry out their duties, those who go the extra mile definitely benefit financially from doing so. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/34 "2002-12-24T22:38:34Z")
A tip is what the waiter should get for extra prompt service, and not something that they should feel entitled to. If they expect that extra 15%, they should just raise the price of food and not have a hidden cost… ---
**Author:** ![perspective](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f475e1/32.png) [@perspective](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perspective)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/35 "2002-12-24T23:54:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blowero \*But you didn’t respond to my question: Why does that only apply to the restaurant industry, and not other service industries that do not have tipping? It is a matter of tradition. I’m sure people started tipping to get extra consideration, if extra consideration isn’t necessary or noticably desired in the other industries, then people didn’t see a need to tip. > [@](#): > > I suggest you go to a department store today, Dec. 24th, for an answer to your question.? Ha! If I can find any salespeople to begin with. Maybe we should start tipping them. No knock against retail sales, but generally people come to them when they need something. Waitstaff come to you and must anticipate your needs beforehand. If you got up to find the waitstaff, they’ve already done a bad job. Whereas when I go into a store my experience isn’t ruined when I look for a salesperson. > [@](#): > > There are other ways of evaluating employee performance as well. A big part of the manager’s job is to observe how well the employees are working, and that is taken into consideration when it comes time for a raise. If that system is so ineffective, how is it that it is implemented successfully in most other industries? By your logic, I should have to tip the factory worker to make sure he puts the headlights on my car correctly. I actually question how effective that methodology really is. Honestly, few of my bosses in any industry have been as acutely aware of my performance as a customer. > [@](#): > > The solution to that would be to pay them more. Besides, on the rare occasions when I have had to speak to restaurant managers, they have seemed quite competent to me… I’m not saying they’re incompetent, just not the best or best motivated. They also have plenty of other pressing issues that keep them busy already. So now we’re not only paying the waitstaff more, we’re also paying the managers more. I doubt there’s any way to reliably put numbers on this, but you still haven’t convinced me we’d get see restaurants with no tipping policies already if it worked as well. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/36 "2002-12-25T13:00:25Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by reprise_ > I’d just like to point out that in countries such as Australia where tipping is not expected and is not intended to be part of the employee’s base wage, people do still tip for above average service - so while employees are guaranteed their award wage no matter how well or badly they carry out their duties, those who go the extra mile definitely benefit financially from doing so. I’m glad tipping isn’t expected in Australia. I think it’d be a nightmare having to do a performance evaluation on the staff who served me at the end of every meal. This way, staff get paid well, I know exactly what something’s going to cost me before I sit down and if I do get surprisingly good service, I can show my gratitude. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/37 "2002-12-25T15:19:57Z")
That’s getting awfully uptight calling it a “performance evaluation”. Do you run a mental “performance evaluation” every time somebody does something for you before you can know whether or not a “thank you” is in order? Leaving a tip is simply expressing gratitute or thanks in a more tangible way. Not to mention that leaving a 100% tip is a good way to hit on your waiter/waitress 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Ash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b3f665/32.png) [@Dragon\_Ash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Ash)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/38 "2002-12-25T18:25:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shah Jehan \* > Anyway, I like tipping, particularly in restaurants. The few times I’ve been to Europe, I though that service was absolutely horrible no matter where I went. IMHO it’s because the waitstaff has no real motivation, since they get paid the same either way. \*\* I don’t understand this logic - why should anyone need ‘extra motivation’ to do their job? I lived in Japan on and off for over 15 years. Tipping is unheard of, and customer service is beyond extraordinary. Yes, Japanese waitresses are indeed paid normal wages similiar to other jobs requiring similiar skills/education background. But ultimately it comes to the fact that in Japan, you are expected to do a good job, work hard, and make your clients happy. I would much rather pay 15% more for the meal and generally forget about the tip (unless the service was really outstanding) and I would definitely frequent restaurants that paid staff minimum wage or better. I have always felt that the waitress at my local diner works a lot harder than the waiter at the somewhat up-scale Italian restaurant we frequent, and the level of service is the same (pleasant, smiling, got our order correct, gave good suggestions on what was good that day, frequent water/coffee refills, etc). Why should the Italian restaurant waiter get a $20 tip while the diner waitress is lucky if she gets $5, just because my overall bill was higher at the first place? I hate the idea that you are expected to tip just to get basic, bare-minimum service. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/39 "2002-12-26T19:28:08Z")
I **hate** the 15% “rule”. I tip at $7 an hour, period, as a base tip and then add extra as I see fit based on the quality of service. This doesn’t go over well with many people, who somehow imagine that carrying a steak over to the table is somehow more work than carrying a stack of pancakes at almost one tenth the price. Once I was at a little diner, I was there for about 45 minutes and decided to tip $5. My bill was something like $3.60. The lady who filled out my reciept _scoffed_ at me when she saw the tip was $5. But I took up that waitress’ time asking for coffee refills even when I wasn’t eating. Why should free refills ruin a waitress’ tip? Ridiculous. Tip for the work, not for the price of the food. ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Ash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b3f665/32.png) [@Dragon\_Ash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Ash)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555/40 "2002-12-26T20:28:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by erislover \* > \*\*I **hate** the 15% “rule”. I tip at $7 an hour, period, as a base tip and then add extra as I see fit based on the quality of service. > > This doesn’t go over well with many people, who somehow imagine that carrying a steak over to the table is somehow more work than carrying a stack of pancakes at almost one tenth the price. Once I was at a little diner, I was there for about 45 minutes and decided to tip $5. My bill was something like $3.60. The lady who filled out my reciept _scoffed_ at me when she saw the tip was $5. But I took up that waitress’ time asking for coffee refills even when I wasn’t eating. Why should free refills ruin a waitress’ tip? Ridiculous. > > Tip for the work, not for the price of the food. \*\* **erislover** you are my new hero. I think I love you. I am definitely going to follow your “rule” from now on. God, I wish I had thought of that… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-likes-the-tipping-culture-in-the-u-s/144555.md?page=3)