Re: n. stiff, the antonym?

Tony Cooper wrote:
On 16 Feb 2006 08:44:26 -0800, "Seán O'Leathlóbhair"
<jwlawler@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I find the tip culture in America a challenge. How much and when to
tip is not obvious to me. For example, sometimes the bill includes a
tip (a weird concept in itself), are you expected to add even more?

There are no rules, but there are guidelines. For restaurant service,
the guideline is 15% to 20% of the amount not including tax. However,
there are other factors. If I have just a cup of coffee and a piece
of pie, I'll tip higher than 20% on the basis that the space I took up
might have been occupied by a person that would have ordered a full
meal. I can't see depriving the waitress of income because I wasn't
hungry. Likewise, if I have a coupon for a free meal if another meal
is purchased, I'll tip based on what the total would have been if both
meals had been charged for.

I just about understand the rules in restaurants but other situations
are not always so clear. For example, once I took a cab from the
airport to my hotel. The driver presented me with a bill and said that
the tip was included (it was itemised on the bill). In these cases, do
you just pay the requested amount and no more or are you expected to
add a further tip?

Normally, the bill only includes the tip if the bill is for the meals
of a large number of people. That's a method of stopping everyone
from thinking that someone else is leaving the tip.

I should have been clearer, the included tip was the cab that I just
mentioned rather than a restaurant.

There are some places that have a basic service charge, and you tip
above that amount. In that case, you would tip to bring up the
service charge plus tip to 15% or 20%.

The whole subject of tipping in the US has been done to death here.
As far as I'm concerned, it's the way we do it and if you are here you
go along with the local custom. It's like taking off your shoes in a
Japanese house: custom. I'll do it in a Japanese house, but I don't
expect you to do it in my house.

I am happy with the concept that it is the local custom and I am not
attacking it, I am just trying to understand it so that I don't cause
offence. I have seen the guide books but like you they often
concentrate on restaurants. Another example, how much to tip a bell
hop who carries my bag to my room even if I didn't want him to?

In our house, due to Asian influence, we prefer guests to take their
shoes off. That is a custom that I like.

If I visit where you live, I'll try to find out what is customary in
your area. It seems you should do the same if you come here.
Most guidebooks on the US contain sections on when to tip who and how
much. It's always voluntary, but you may endure some scathing
comments if you don't follow the custom.


That's what I am trying to do, find out what is customary in your area.


My apologies for raising a tired subject, the subject of the thread
just reminded me.

--
Seán O'Leathlóbhair

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