Just another reason to hate the French

[Florin]

OMG this tragic incident completely alters my views on the French. Let's nuke em from orbit, it's the only way to be sure. :?

 

[Fred]

When in Rome...

But yea its true, typically in Europe one doesn't leave 18% tip like in America.. Its more of a gesture of politeness than anything significant.

I think there was a good economist article several years back about the pros and cons of tipping.

Generally speaking, a worker will nearly always prefer the tip system. For one it rewards tangible work, and its nearly always more lucrative than a salary or hourly wage. Waiters and bartenders typically make quite a nice living, even if their base rate is near minimum wage.

I like the tip system, assuming it wasn't an expectation, but rather more an indication of job performance w.r.t the customer.

 

[Nick Spolec]

Glad to hear you didnt feel that way at all beforehand. Your initial post seemed to indicate you had previous previous reasons for negative feelings for the French.

I never said I DIDN'T dislike or hate the French people in general.

What I said was, while I was serving THESE FRENCH I didn't think ill thoughts about them, because they weren't the generalized idea of "Stupid French Poeple", but real people who hadn't done anything wrong to me (until they didn't fucking tip me).

While disliking some generalized groups of people, that doesn't mean that when I meet people from these groups that I will cop and attitude and get violent with them.

 

[pax]

No but you could subconsciously have given them a bad vibe. Thats what I meant previously by non verbal tho I should have added the term subconscious.

 

[Nick Spolec]

Or maybe it was the urine I put in the juice































Juuuuust kidding.

 

[L233]

Tipping is uncommon in Germany except in restaurants, cafes and pubs and even there you usually just round up to the next full Euro and then some if it the tip turns out to be extremely small. I've observed a slight tendency of increasing tips in recent years, though. There are a few more instances where tipping is expected but not too many.

If you're not used to tipping, it feels kinda awkward.

 

[DemoCoder]

I understand. I feel awkward not giving a tip. My first time in Japan, even though I had read not to give tips, I couldn't resist offering them, even though it was embarassing and even insulting for some. I simply felt bad not to.

I figured out later that people always find a way to get their money. In the case of Italy, for example, it's the increased charge for the guy to bring your expresso to the table instead of drinking it at the bar. It's also the "cover charge" and increased prices for things that should almost be free (steamed rice, ice water, etc) In France, it's the service charge at some restaurants, and the all around expense eating out compared to the US.

 

[zurich]

Worked as a waiter in a 'gay' restaurant in Toronto's 'gay' neighbourhood one summer at University.. heh, 18% average tip you guys are talking about? Try closer to 30 or 40% - no joke. Ofcourse, it's expected to be extra friendly with the clients (ie: put your arm around them when serving, walk around shirtless, play along with dirty jokes, etc.).. yeah yeah make all the jokes you want, it was all innocent 8)

And Pride weekend? Hooboy In one 16 hour day I walked away with close to $1000 CDN cash. Eventually I got burned out on the whole 12-16 hour days + partying and all the drugs everywhere so I quit, but I have to say, that is definitely where the money is.

So to all you aspiring waiters out there.. if you're pretty good looking and don't mind flirting/playing along with 30-40 year old, wealthy homosexual gentlemen, perhaps you shoud drop off some resumes around your neighbourhood gay ghetto

 

[L233]

I understand. I feel awkward not giving a tip. My first time in Japan, even though I had read not to give tips, I couldn't resist offering them, even though it was embarassing and even insulting for some. I simply felt bad not to.

I figured out later that people always find a way to get their money. In the case of Italy, for example, it's the increased charge for the guy to bring your expresso to the table instead of drinking it at the bar. It's also the "cover charge" and increased prices for things that should almost be free (steamed rice, ice water, etc) In France, it's the service charge at some restaurants, and the all around expense eating out compared to the US.

Water is a commodity in most of Europe, you don't get it for free - it's bottled water though, not tap water. There are no free refills either.

The prices in Italy's tourist areas are nothing but cutthroat and I simply refuse to pay another 15%+ tip on top of the €14 for my 0.3l beer or my €8 coffee. You become much less inclined to tip if you feel ripped off in the first place.

The tipping issue is a bit of a culture shock for Europeans in the USA (and vice versa). I've also seen Americans getting particularly annoyed because soft drinks are served without ice more often than not in Germany.

One thing that extremely annoyed me in the US were the people snatching your baggage unasked to take them to the taxi stand for a tip. The first time this happened, I would have kicked the guys ass if he hadn't been black and like 2.20m. I thought I was being robbed

 

[Sage]

So to all you aspiring waiters out there.. if you're pretty good looking and don't mind flirting/playing along with 30-40 year old, wealthy homosexual gentlemen...

oh I'll do plenty of playing with them if they treat me right