I’ve read posts on the SDMB from people in non-tipping countries, saying that they think it’s a stupid custom and they’re glad they don’t have it in their countries. Fair enough. But I’m an American, and I’ve been brainwashed to think tipping is necessary, although it is not typical in Bulgaria. However, group consensus among the other Americans I know in BG considers tipping to be important because it will improve the level of customer service (which tends to be lousy). Also worth noting is that Bulgarians are really poor, so a little bit of extra money can actually be helpful to the server.
What do you think? I’m especially interested in hearing from people who live in countries where tipping isn’t customary. Am I ruining the unwritten social agreement between a customer and a server when I tip in restaurants and cabs?
Hi, Kyla. We haven’t spoken before, but I’ve been interested in your Peace Corps/Bulgarian experiences. Your recent vacation posts were a bonus. A few years ago I did a stint teaching English at a private language school in Krakow, so your experiences with a much tougher gig have been enlightening.
My usual rule on such matters is when in Rome, do as the Romans, when in Sofia, do as the Bulgarians.
I have heard that in some countries, tipping is considered rude and in fact insulting to the waiter due to the implication that they have to be bribed to do their job. One question to ask is what it will do to the servers/drivers relations with Bulgarian customers if visitors go throwing their money around. What’s appropriate in tourist centers is probably different than where you live (IIRC, your school is kind of out in the sticks).
I understand you’ve been making great strides in learning Bulgarian. Is it good enough to ask Bulgarians you know about this issue?
Hi zagloba, and thanks for your kind post! I could definitely ask Bulgarians what they think, but I already have a pretty good guess: that I’m nuts for tipping. When eating out with Bulgarians, they inevitably roll their eyes or make a small disparaging noise when I do it. I don’t think they think I’m rude, just silly for giving away extra money. I know no one would care if I didn’t tip, I just…well, it’s so ingrained in me that it’s rude not to tip, that I can’t not.