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The New Coffee Room

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  2. General Discussion
  3. History of Tipping in the USA

History of Tipping in the USA

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  • X xenon

    Tipping is such a curious, cultural thing.

    I tried to tip a cab driver when I was on a trip in India. He was insulted. (I think he saw it as a young western kid trying to give a grown ass man charity)

    I overtip - but hate the concept of tipping. I'd rather pay more and have an agreed upon up-front price.

    George KG Offline
    George KG Offline
    George K
    wrote on last edited by
    #3

    @xenon said in History of Tipping in the USA:

    I overtip - but hate the concept of tipping. I'd rather pay more and have an agreed upon up-front price.

    Same here.

    Sadly the quality of service that one sees might be a result of what one tips.

    Many people tip their sleeping car attendants on the train before the trip ends, hoping that will provide better service. Others think that, if they delay the tip until the end of the trip, it will "incentivize" the attendant.

    At restaurants, I think the "incentivization" theory works well. For taxis, etc, it's probably not a consideration.

    At hotels, I always tip the housekeeping staff by the day, not at the end of the stay.

    'Tis a puzzlement.

    alt text

    "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

    The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

    Aqua LetiferA 1 Reply Last reply
    • George KG George K

      @xenon said in History of Tipping in the USA:

      I overtip - but hate the concept of tipping. I'd rather pay more and have an agreed upon up-front price.

      Same here.

      Sadly the quality of service that one sees might be a result of what one tips.

      Many people tip their sleeping car attendants on the train before the trip ends, hoping that will provide better service. Others think that, if they delay the tip until the end of the trip, it will "incentivize" the attendant.

      At restaurants, I think the "incentivization" theory works well. For taxis, etc, it's probably not a consideration.

      At hotels, I always tip the housekeeping staff by the day, not at the end of the stay.

      'Tis a puzzlement.

      alt text

      Aqua LetiferA Offline
      Aqua LetiferA Offline
      Aqua Letifer
      wrote on last edited by
      #4

      @george-k said in History of Tipping in the USA:

      At restaurants, I think the "incentivization" theory works well. For taxis, etc, it's probably not a consideration.
      At hotels, I always tip the housekeeping staff by the day, not at the end of the stay.

      That's it, precisely. People like Ax like to conflate "this system doesn't work" with "I don't like this." But it really depends on the business, service, and environment. In many scenarios, tipping is better for all involved. In others it's ridiculous.

      Please love yourself.

      1 Reply Last reply
      • George KG Offline
        George KG Offline
        George K
        wrote on last edited by
        #5

        Mrs. George and I tip $20 per night when we travel in a sleeper. I tip the attendant as we depart Chicago. Of course, beds will be turned down that night, and made the next morning. That's the job. However, "Hey, Jim, we could use some ice. Next time you pass the diner, can you bring some back for us?" always works when tipped up front. It's also a question of how "available" they are, how often they check in and ask if there's anything they can do.

        We had one guy, back in 2017, who introduced himself when we left Portland. Didn't see him at all for the next 48 hours, other than when "bed detail" was being performed. He got $20 when we left, and that was it. All the other attendants got tipped $20 per night, every night.

        Taxis, as I said are a captive environment. My rides in a cab are usually short. But on a $10 ride, I'll tip $5, especially these days when these guys are hurting. Ditto Uber and Lyft.

        In the case of Amtrak, without a tip to "incentivize" service, it's a rush to the bottom, with service being what's required and little more.

        "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

        The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

        1 Reply Last reply
        • Doctor PhibesD Offline
          Doctor PhibesD Offline
          Doctor Phibes
          wrote on last edited by
          #6

          Tip sounds so much better than bribe, but if I took a 15% cut of one of our projects, apparently that's what they'd call it.

          Personally, I dislike the concept enormously. It's an extremely patronising way of saying 'Hey, asshole, thanks for doing your minimum wage job without fucking up too badly!". I still tend to overtip because I don't want people to realise I'm a douche.

          I was only joking

          1 Reply Last reply
          • CopperC Offline
            CopperC Offline
            Copper
            wrote on last edited by
            #7

            While in school, I worked at Fenway Park as a vendor for 8 years.

            I can only remember 1 tip, I think the guy was drunk.

            Nobody ever got tips there, then.

            Now I bet that tips are a significant part of the pay.

            I demand reparations.

            Catseye3C 1 Reply Last reply
            • taiwan_girlT Offline
              taiwan_girlT Offline
              taiwan_girl
              wrote on last edited by taiwan_girl
              #8

              I hates tips, and for me at least, I really dont think that they improve service in a restaurant.

              Tips have been slowly been growing stronger in Asia, which is unfortunate.

              I agree with Xenon, I would rather have the list price higher and have no service charge.

              KlausK 1 Reply Last reply
              • taiwan_girlT taiwan_girl

                I hates tips, and for me at least, I really dont think that they improve service in a restaurant.

                Tips have been slowly been growing stronger in Asia, which is unfortunate.

                I agree with Xenon, I would rather have the list price higher and have no service charge.

                KlausK Offline
                KlausK Offline
                Klaus
                wrote on last edited by
                #9

                @taiwan_girl said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                I agree with Xenon, I would rather have the list price higher and have no service charge.

                Same here. I always feel like a condescending idiot when tipping.

                Doctor PhibesD 1 Reply Last reply
                • KlausK Klaus

                  @taiwan_girl said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                  I agree with Xenon, I would rather have the list price higher and have no service charge.

                  Same here. I always feel like a condescending idiot when tipping.

                  Doctor PhibesD Offline
                  Doctor PhibesD Offline
                  Doctor Phibes
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #10

                  @klaus said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                  @taiwan_girl said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                  I agree with Xenon, I would rather have the list price higher and have no service charge.

                  Same here. I always feel like a condescending idiot when tipping.

                  That's hardly going to change if you stop tipping.

                  I was only joking

                  KlausK 1 Reply Last reply
                  • Doctor PhibesD Doctor Phibes

                    @klaus said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                    @taiwan_girl said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                    I agree with Xenon, I would rather have the list price higher and have no service charge.

                    Same here. I always feel like a condescending idiot when tipping.

                    That's hardly going to change if you stop tipping.

                    KlausK Offline
                    KlausK Offline
                    Klaus
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #11

                    @doctor-phibes said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                    @klaus said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                    @taiwan_girl said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                    I agree with Xenon, I would rather have the list price higher and have no service charge.

                    Same here. I always feel like a condescending idiot when tipping.

                    That's hardly going to change if you stop tipping.

                    The only thing that could stop it would be me whupping your ass 😉

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    • Doctor PhibesD Offline
                      Doctor PhibesD Offline
                      Doctor Phibes
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #12

                      Sorry Klaus, I actually thought Jon made that comment. 'Condescending' doesn't apply to you, at least.

                      I was only joking

                      HoraceH KlausK 2 Replies Last reply
                      • CopperC Copper

                        While in school, I worked at Fenway Park as a vendor for 8 years.

                        I can only remember 1 tip, I think the guy was drunk.

                        Nobody ever got tips there, then.

                        Now I bet that tips are a significant part of the pay.

                        I demand reparations.

                        Catseye3C Offline
                        Catseye3C Offline
                        Catseye3
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #13

                        @copper said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                        I demand reparations.

                        😝 Good luck with that, my friend.

                        Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace. – Mike Ditka

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        • Catseye3C Offline
                          Catseye3C Offline
                          Catseye3
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #14

                          I can't say I've given it as much thought as most of y'all. I used to fret about tipping in restaurants, until I got tired of fooling with it and filed it in the life's-too-short department. Now I'll arbitrarily tip 15% for service that's ordinarily competent, more if it's warranted. If the service is really bad, I'll either stiff him/her or leave an insultingly small amount, and if I'm feeling chatty I might say something to the manager.

                          Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace. – Mike Ditka

                          JollyJ 1 Reply Last reply
                          • Doctor PhibesD Doctor Phibes

                            Sorry Klaus, I actually thought Jon made that comment. 'Condescending' doesn't apply to you, at least.

                            HoraceH Offline
                            HoraceH Offline
                            Horace
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #15

                            @doctor-phibes said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                            Sorry Klaus, I actually thought Jon made that comment. 'Condescending' doesn't apply to you, at least.

                            Here's jon tipping his landscaper. "Hey, José, come over here for a second. Listen, José, I don't want you to feel bad about taking this, because honestly this amount of money is meaningless to someone like me. But for you, I feel like it would be life-changing. And jon-nyc is in the business of changing lives, José. Today, it is my great privilege and honor to change yours. Take this 20 dollars, José, and go buy your five kids a Happy Meal. Tell them it's from uncle jon. There's a good lad. Now run along."

                            Education is extremely important.

                            Doctor PhibesD 1 Reply Last reply
                            • HoraceH Horace

                              @doctor-phibes said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                              Sorry Klaus, I actually thought Jon made that comment. 'Condescending' doesn't apply to you, at least.

                              Here's jon tipping his landscaper. "Hey, José, come over here for a second. Listen, José, I don't want you to feel bad about taking this, because honestly this amount of money is meaningless to someone like me. But for you, I feel like it would be life-changing. And jon-nyc is in the business of changing lives, José. Today, it is my great privilege and honor to change yours. Take this 20 dollars, José, and go buy your five kids a Happy Meal. Tell them it's from uncle jon. There's a good lad. Now run along."

                              Doctor PhibesD Offline
                              Doctor PhibesD Offline
                              Doctor Phibes
                              wrote on last edited by Doctor Phibes
                              #16

                              @horace said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                              @doctor-phibes said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                              Sorry Klaus, I actually thought Jon made that comment. 'Condescending' doesn't apply to you, at least.

                              Here's jon tipping his landscaper. "Hey, José, come over here for a second. Listen, José, I don't want you to feel bad about taking this, because honestly this amount of money is meaningless to someone like me. But for you, I feel like it would be life-changing. And jon-nyc is in the business of changing lives, José. Today, it is my great privilege and honor to change yours. Take this 20 dollars, José, and go buy your five kids a Happy Meal. Tell them it's from uncle jon. There's a good lad. Now run along."

                              I'm sure nobody has ever accused you of being condescending, Horace.

                              Not within earshot, at least.

                              (Friday is Insult-the-board day. Or mybe insult-the-bored day.)

                              I was only joking

                              HoraceH 1 Reply Last reply
                              • Catseye3C Catseye3

                                I can't say I've given it as much thought as most of y'all. I used to fret about tipping in restaurants, until I got tired of fooling with it and filed it in the life's-too-short department. Now I'll arbitrarily tip 15% for service that's ordinarily competent, more if it's warranted. If the service is really bad, I'll either stiff him/her or leave an insultingly small amount, and if I'm feeling chatty I might say something to the manager.

                                JollyJ Offline
                                JollyJ Offline
                                Jolly
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #17

                                @catseye3 said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                                I can't say I've given it as much thought as most of y'all. I used to fret about tipping in restaurants, until I got tired of fooling with it and filed it in the life's-too-short department. Now I'll arbitrarily tip 15% for service that's ordinarily competent, more if it's warranted. If the service is really bad, I'll either stiff him/her or leave an insultingly small amount, and if I'm feeling chatty I might say something to the manager.

                                I've been known to leave a penny.

                                “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

                                Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

                                Catseye3C 1 Reply Last reply
                                • JollyJ Jolly

                                  @catseye3 said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                                  I can't say I've given it as much thought as most of y'all. I used to fret about tipping in restaurants, until I got tired of fooling with it and filed it in the life's-too-short department. Now I'll arbitrarily tip 15% for service that's ordinarily competent, more if it's warranted. If the service is really bad, I'll either stiff him/her or leave an insultingly small amount, and if I'm feeling chatty I might say something to the manager.

                                  I've been known to leave a penny.

                                  Catseye3C Offline
                                  Catseye3C Offline
                                  Catseye3
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #18

                                  @jolly said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                                  I've been known to leave a penny.

                                  When my peeps were stationed in Germany, the Germans had a custom of complimenting the server by leaving a shiny new penny in addition to the regular tip. It was intended as a gesture of high praise. The penny had to be very clean and shiny. Don't know if they still do that.

                                  I thought it was a charming habit.

                                  Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace. – Mike Ditka

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  • Doctor PhibesD Doctor Phibes

                                    @horace said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                                    @doctor-phibes said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                                    Sorry Klaus, I actually thought Jon made that comment. 'Condescending' doesn't apply to you, at least.

                                    Here's jon tipping his landscaper. "Hey, José, come over here for a second. Listen, José, I don't want you to feel bad about taking this, because honestly this amount of money is meaningless to someone like me. But for you, I feel like it would be life-changing. And jon-nyc is in the business of changing lives, José. Today, it is my great privilege and honor to change yours. Take this 20 dollars, José, and go buy your five kids a Happy Meal. Tell them it's from uncle jon. There's a good lad. Now run along."

                                    I'm sure nobody has ever accused you of being condescending, Horace.

                                    Not within earshot, at least.

                                    (Friday is Insult-the-board day. Or mybe insult-the-bored day.)

                                    HoraceH Offline
                                    HoraceH Offline
                                    Horace
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #19

                                    @doctor-phibes said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                                    @horace said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                                    @doctor-phibes said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                                    Sorry Klaus, I actually thought Jon made that comment. 'Condescending' doesn't apply to you, at least.

                                    Here's jon tipping his landscaper. "Hey, José, come over here for a second. Listen, José, I don't want you to feel bad about taking this, because honestly this amount of money is meaningless to someone like me. But for you, I feel like it would be life-changing. And jon-nyc is in the business of changing lives, José. Today, it is my great privilege and honor to change yours. Take this 20 dollars, José, and go buy your five kids a Happy Meal. Tell them it's from uncle jon. There's a good lad. Now run along."

                                    I'm sure nobody has ever accused you of being condescending, Horace.

                                    That is correct. Thank you for recognizing my humility. Few people do. In fact it's one of my most-overlooked qualities. The masses have proven unable to recognize many of the things that make me superior to them, but I appreciate your perceptiveness in this regard.

                                    Education is extremely important.

                                    Doctor PhibesD 1 Reply Last reply
                                    • Doctor PhibesD Doctor Phibes

                                      Sorry Klaus, I actually thought Jon made that comment. 'Condescending' doesn't apply to you, at least.

                                      KlausK Offline
                                      KlausK Offline
                                      Klaus
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #20

                                      @doctor-phibes said in History of Tipping in the USA:

                                      'Condescending' doesn't apply to you, at least.

                                      If I were condescending, you wouldn't understand it anyway.

                                      😉

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      • markM Offline
                                        markM Offline
                                        mark
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #21

                                        alt text

                                        LuFins DadL 1 Reply Last reply
                                        • markM mark

                                          alt text

                                          LuFins DadL Offline
                                          LuFins DadL Offline
                                          LuFins Dad
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #22

                                          @mark lol, I was thinking of posting a copycat thread about the history of cow tipping.

                                          The Brad

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