Re: n. stiff, the antonym?

Tony Cooper wrote:
On 16 Feb 2006 10:56:57 -0800, "Seán O'Leathlóbhair"
<jwlawler@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

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.

Even the guidelines differ when it comes to cabs. In a place like
NYC, where you take short cab rides, percentages just don't work. I
let them keep whatever breakage there is and add an extra buck or two.
Then I scoot off rapidly. On longer rides from the airport into town,
the tip (from me) varies according to extra services like loading and
unloading my luggage.
It's different with a cabbie since you have to deal with the bills you
have with you. If the fare is $18, and you have a twenty and no
singles, give him the twenty and scoot. If you have singles, give him
the twenty and one two extra bucks.

If the fare is $16, and you give him the twenty, you're lucky if he
isn't scooting himself without offering you change.

In your case, with the tip on the bill, that's sufficient unless (1)
the amount is clearly too high or too low, or (2) extra services were
offered. Sometimes "extra services" can be just good conversation on
the ride.

Thanks.

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.

I have a shelf of guide books for other countries, but none for the
US. I'll look in some next time I'm in Borders.

There seem to be just too many circumstances in which tips are
expected. I get the impression that a comprehensive tipping guide
could fill a book by itself.

Another example, how much to tip a bell
hop who carries my bag to my room even if I didn't want him to?

I don't put up with that. I just say "Thanks anyway, but I'll take
'em". If I do want help, it's one or two dollars a bag.

I would prefer not to put up with that but they are often more pushy
than I am used to and have taken the bags before I can do anything
about it. I wouldn't put up with it at home but I know that it is
reasonable to decline the service here. I do put up with it in Asia
where it may be quite unusual for the guest to carry his own bags. In
the US, I am not so sure and usually while I dither, the bellhop is
already half way to my room.

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

So does my DIL. She doesn't want things brought in on shoes that the
rugrats will eat. But, you need to somehow inform me of your custom
if it's not standard for the area. I'll pick up on a line of shoes at
the door, but it's not something I'd look for in a UK house.

Yes, it is not a common custom here but our social circle contains a
large number of Asians and we have our own microculture. You will see
plenty of shoes by the door. Because we know that we are non-standard,
we tolerate those who don't know our preference or are uncomfortable
with it. We ask children to take off their shoes and we just hope that
the adults will take the hint, most do.

The only likely time that I would be rude enough to ask a guest to do
or not do something is smoking. I would politely ask them to refrain
or step outside to smoke. These days, few people (*) would even ask to
smoke in someone else's house unless it was quite clear that it was
welcome. (*) Among those I know.

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.

You can't go too wrong by tipping the upper-range in NYC and other big
cities, and tipping in the lower range elsewhere. Except for res
taunts; that's pretty standardized.

Thanks again.

--
Seán O'Leathlóbhair

.

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