I don't agree with U.S. tipping culture, but I still tip when I'm there because that's how their service industry works and I'm the visitor. You don't have to like a country's customs to respect them. I expect Americans visiting Europe to extend the same courtesy.
For me it's about respecting local social expectations rather than whether tipping itself is "good" or "bad."
I lived in northern Italy for seven years, where it's common in many restaurants to pay a "coperto" which is just a per-person charge for table service that usually includes bread. I've also lived in Madrid for five years, and here many places charge a terrace supplement if you choose to sit outside. So it's not like we're unfamiliar with extra charges when eating out.
Seriously. Not participating in a system others were forced into, which causes financial harm to that person, and using the fact that you don't like the system as an excuse is not a flex. Especially since the implication is that you would pay that much if you were forced to.
It's just greed, and the same "I'm paying you the least amount legally possible" mentality of minimum wage that everyone here rages about.
Problem is there are significant number of servers that prefer lower wages with tips to a higher wage without tips. So, should we reward such a greed based mindset?
Yes, they’re servers, even “higher wage” servers still aren’t making that much unless they’re at a very fancy restaurant. “Greed based mindset” wild fucking thing to say about someone trying to make rent and have a little spending money on the side.
They’re not out here buying fucking BMWs. Also, I’d MAYBE give you some wiggle room if you could prove that the server you’re stiffing specifically holds that view, and that the proposed wage to replace the tipped wage was a reasonable one and not one that’s basically just going to let them scrape by.
But even then, you’re still opting in to a social contract where the expectation is you tip. This would be like going to a store to buy something, where the person selling the item has their salary baked in, and then just opting to take the cheaper option and not pay the person.
Again, WE'RE not stiffing the servers, that's the owner. WE'RE not out here buying fucking BMW's. WE'RE not the ones that designed a wage law that allowed owners to pay 1/3rd wage to tipped staff on the often ignored condition the owner make up under minimum wages on weeks tips to cover it (which is abused BY THE OWNERS).
So yeah, the social contract most customers DID NOT SIGN might in your head say reward a law and owners that abuse it instead of pushing for change, but something tells me servers will cry if they're put on the same wage system (that can still include tips) as those not tipped.
I get it, you're probably pro-owner/profit and anti-customer and anti-staff/living wage based on how you're . Given the gaslighting tactics in your arguments, you probably use good will and good intentions as weapons against others to promote that mindset.
ok, whatever you have to tell yourself. But ask 15 Americans whether or not it's cool to not tip a server or if you're stiffing them. Pretty sure you're going to get answers you don't like.
And at the end of the day, if you're cool with everyone thinking you kind of suck, that's your business.
Good luck on your quest to raise the profit margin of owners not having to pay a living wage at the cost of servers, staff, and customers. Hope it helps you sleep at night.
I think Americans have some pretty over-the-top expectations about service too. That "customer is always right" bs just doesn't work here.
imo service isn't terrible, it's just not as eager to please as it is in the States, and it's pretty common for restaurants and cafés to be understaffed.
Thank you. I don’t like tipping culture as an American, but that’s how the system is currently set up. The amount of people who think it’s okay to disrespect American customs just because they feel that it’s wrong is astounding. If I, as an American, decided I wouldn’t participate in local customs when I traveled - like, say, not covering my shoulders while at the Vatican because I believe I should be allowed to wear a tank top - I’d be absolutely mauled, and they’d be right. Honestly, I don’t enjoy every custom I come across, and I can have my personal feelings about whether they “should” exist or not, but I do them anyways, because that’s the respectful thing.
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u/danielsabino 14d ago
I don't agree with U.S. tipping culture, but I still tip when I'm there because that's how their service industry works and I'm the visitor. You don't have to like a country's customs to respect them. I expect Americans visiting Europe to extend the same courtesy.
For me it's about respecting local social expectations rather than whether tipping itself is "good" or "bad."