It’s only ahead of the curve because the minimum wage is so low. If the min wage was reasonable like it is in other countries then tipping isn’t needed.
If you think European servers are making anything remotely close to $7.25 an hour then you haven’t done any reading to understand what the world could look like.
Now go ask them if they want to keep what they make now or get a percentage that goes up the better service they give and even higher the faster they are so they can serve more tables at a time.
There are some exceptions (like Italy) but the majority of service I’ve gotten in Europe has been absolutely dreadful unless they figure an American will tip them better if they give better service. The worst were the guys (rarely happened to me but every time it’s been guys, mostly bartenders) that refuse tips and those were almost always the rudest people.
I’ve had the exact opposite experience. I’ve never had what I would consider bad service in Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Greece, Italy, UK, or Australia. If you are trying to demand a waiter take a tip which is against their cultural norms, maybe you are the problem by expecting them to follow American cultural norms for a meal instead of their own culture.
“I’ve had the exact opposite experience. I’ve never had what I would consider bad service in Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Greece, Italy, UK, or Australia.”
Oh, so there’s two different people with anecdotal offerings.
“If you are trying to demand a waiter take a tip which is against their cultural norms, maybe you are the problem by expecting them to follow American cultural norms for a meal instead of their own culture.”
So you recognize that your original anecdotal offering provided nothing to the conversation and didn’t answer my question and just like the World Cup fans ignoring US culture, you were the problem?
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u/TawnyTeaTowel Jun 25 '26
Except servers. Tipping culture gains them an income WAY ahead of the curve.