Tipping customs: U.S. vs. other countries.

[azbackpackr]

In other countries it has become customary to pay wait staff and tour guides more than in the US, and tipping is no longer customary. Some think that should happen in the US as well, but it hasn't.

My take on it, having been a tour guide, and having gone on river trips, is that you are in the US now, so follow our customs. We tip, so get over it and tip! Or don't go!

I led several Salt River paddle raft trips, where we hired a commercial outfitter. I basically told the folks that if they could not tip the raft guide $20 each (or $10 minimum) then maybe they should plan on staying home. I feel strongly about tipping river guides. If there are 8 people in the boat on a day trip, and each tips $20, that is a pretty good day for that guide.

As a van tour guide I run into all kinds. Some say they "loved the tour" but don't tip at all (especially Australians), most tip $20 to $40 for a tour, some tip a lot more. Yesterday I received a $5 on a $500 tour. That was pretty bad manners, I thought. Better to not tip at all! But I smiled and said thank you very much!

[chumley]

Yesterday I received a $5 on a $500 tour.

Sometimes I don't tip well when I'm not satisfied with the service.

[The_Eagle]

@chumley

[azbackpackr]

Yeah, but then you would maybe have said something. These people were raving about the tour, it was great, they learned so much, they had so much fun, it was so beautiful, the food was so good, and blah blah blah. I think the guy had forgotten to bring any cash with him, and that's all he had in his pocket.

Anyway, the discussion was supposed to be about whether or not the US should start to follow what's become customary in Europe and Australia, which have moved away from tipping. But in Arizona, wait staff at your favorite restaurant make only $4.80 per hour, so they are living off tips. Here is info from the state of Arizona as to which types of employees can be paid $4.80 an hour:

"A tipped employee is an employee who customarily and regularly receives tips, including
the occupation of waiter, waitress, bellhop, busboy, car wash attendant, hairdresser,
barber, valet, and service bartender."

How many of you knew that? Do you think it should change? I was hoping for a serious discussion, not some BS from Todd about the quality of my tour, or lack thereof. plz:

[gummo]

What amazes me is when I go on scuba tours, they'll ask you sometimes to put your wallet and other valuables in a locker or in your car, and then at the end of the tour, they'll ask for a tip, even though very few people brought money on the boat with them.

[SpiderLegs]

I'm Dutch, it takes a miracle for money to leave my wallet. Read somewhere that the Dutch are considered the worst tippers in Europe, especially the province that all of my family is from.

[chumley]

Tipping is a US "custom" across a variety of services and the pay scale for tipped employees isn't going to change. It's hardly worth discussing.

I think people should tip generously when they feel compelled to do so. However, to me something much more inappropriate than an individual who doesn't tip is somebody who instructs other people when, where, and how they should spend their money. No matter how strongly they feel about it.

[azbackpackr]

Hmm, maybe. But let's just use the example of river trips. You may not like me to "tell" you to tip the river guide if you were to participate in my Salt River commercial rafting outing. However, many people have never heard of tipping a river guide. They've never been on a river trip, so it has never occurred to them that many people do tip river guides.

In the brochures with many of the outfitters there is often mention of tipping the guide, because (to reiterate) many people who might be willing to do so are not aware that it's customary. Needless to say, if you don't feel like tipping the river guide that is your option. But what about people who have never heard of the custom? I feel it's okay to tell them about it. If they do not wish to tip, that's their option.

Just today I've looking into doing a 7-day kayaking trip in Florida this coming winter, with a commercial company. I noticed on their website in the list of things to bring: Money to tip your guide! So, these companies are not shy about "educating" people about tipping.

[FOTG]

@azbackpackr
Normally I would blame poor service for lack of tip, but as pleasant as you are on HAZ I could not imagine someone not tipping you, you right must be a cultural gap ;)

[azbackpackr]

Why are we talking about me? I get lots of very big tips, so I do notice when someone says they loved the tour, then tips only $5. I think that particular guy was just short of cash. I am talking about whether the custom should start to change. I would delete this whole thing if the website would allow it, because I do not want to talk about me, I would like to talk about issues.

[chumley]

Needless to say, if you don't feel like tipping the river guide that is your option.

Except apparently if I'm on a boat with you.

I basically told the folks that if they could not tip the raft guide $20 each (or $10 minimum) then maybe they should plan on staying home.

[chumley]

I do not want to talk about me,

[azbackpackr]

Yeah, because I'm going to tip the guide (assuming she or he does a good job) and I don't want to be the only one doing so!! I went on a trip with TRACKS, a whole bunch of little old ladies from Pinetop, the first time I went on one of those trips. Someone else organized it. At the end of the trip I tipped $20. A few minutes later, while we were still there, I asked a couple of people if they had tipped our guide. I was not the leader of this trip, mind you. They had seen me tip and said, "We saw you tip, so we didn't tip." And they didn't offer to even it out by giving me $5 each either. Cheapskates.

That was what really pissed me off to start with. So, I decided, if I am going to organize these trips with that particular company, they are going to remember us! And they do! I make sure the guide gets a good tip. (So far I have not had any guides who didn't "deserve" a good tip, with that company.) What really bugged me the most was that each and every one of those people could afford a $20 tip better than I could.

[mazatzal]

"Tipping customs"
Putting $20 inside your expired passport is a bad idea

[PatrickL]

Reminds me of the opening scene from Reservoir Dogs.

[azbackpackr]

"Tipping customs"
Putting $20 inside your expired passport is a bad idea

That's funny!

[FOTG]

@Patrick L
That's funny I was just about to say that myself

[Bradshaws]

I didn't want to get involved in this but I made the mistake of reading it And now I'm stewing over it

I consider myself as a heavy tipper and I ALWAYS tip. I think more can be said with a bad tip rather than no tip at all.

In this day and age, when someone in the service industry provide excellent service, their service should be acknowledged with a tip and if not a tip at the very least a THANK YOU! The service industry is a TOUGH gig. Low pay, long hours and rude customers is a short list of obstacles these people have to overcome everyday. The ones that can take this everyday and still provide outstanding service are rare.

Working for The government(which I do) tips are a NO NO [-X but when a police officer takes the time to simply say "Thank you" it can change the way my day is going

[azbackpackr]

Yes, and because of what happened on that Salt River trip, with the little old lady group from Pinetop (the one where I wasn't the organizer) I learned something. And ever since then I have been a pretty good tipper when tipping is called for. And I personally take my own advice, if I can't afford to tip, I don't go (or I don't eat at that place, etc. etc.)

Also hate people who want to split restaurant bills equally, and tell you they want to do that after you have already eaten your half a grilled cheese sandwich and a cup of soup with a glass of water, while they have ordered a full meal with several glasses of beer, and dessert! I actually had that happen to me one time. I paid what I owed, plus estimated tax and tip, and left them to figure it out.

[FOTG]

Isn't there a game from the movie Wedding Crashers involving tips or tipping? I can't remember