"Un-potting" pickups

Mr Grumpy said:
I've only ever done that once, because of terrible service in a pretty expensive restaurant, and they were not happy - tried to argue with me that I had to pay the service charge...

There is a feeling among many around the world, and I'm not offering a position on this, that US tourists that heavily tip in cultures where there is no tipping (because it's built into the salary in a different way, for example) is a real problem and it'd be better if it wasn't done. Cultures are different and the local culture should be respected. I've heard this point of view very often, though I am not offering a point of view myself. :D
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I always read up on stuff like that in advance whenever I'm going somewhere new. I hate the idea of being "that tourist".
 
I usually tip what is expected (given that I'm happy with the service) and I try to find out what the local practice is. But my general view is that tipping is bad. If a person working in any given job is dependent upon tips to make a decent living, the pay is too low to begin with.

There has been a debate about this here in Norway lately. In general, people don't pay taxes from their tips. This is technically illegal, but there has been no control mechanism to make people pay the correct taxes. This has sparked a discussion about tipping in general. I understand why people working jobs where tips are a big part og their income are afraid to lose their tips, but it is also highly problematic that the wages these people get are too low.
 
Gahr said:
I usually tip what is expected (given that I'm happy with the service) and I try to find out what the local practice is. But my general view is that tipping is bad. If a person working in any given job is dependent upon tips to make a decent living, the pay is too low to begin with.

There has been a debate about this here in Norway lately. In general, people don't pay taxes from their tips. This is technically illegal, but there has been no control mechanism to make people pay the correct taxes. This has sparked a discussion about tipping in general. I understand why people working jobs where tips are a big part og their income are afraid to lose their tips, but it is also highly problematic that the wages these people get are too low.
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Until a few years ago in England, restaurants were allowed to include tips in the minimum wage pay. Then it became public knowledge, and parliament pretty quickly made that illegal, so tips came on top of wages. One particularly obnoxious owner was interviewed, and he was complaining bitterly that as the restaurant belonged to him, any tips were his property. Unfortunately for him, many local people saw this, and he went out of business soon after.
 
Mr Grumpy said:
I've only ever done that once, because of terrible service in a pretty expensive restaurant, and they were not happy - tried to argue with me that I had to pay the service charge...

There is a feeling among many around the world, and I'm not offering a position on this, that US tourists that heavily tip in cultures where there is no tipping (because it's built into the salary in a different way, for example) is a real problem and it'd be better if it wasn't done. Cultures are different and the local culture should be respected. I've heard this point of view very often, though I am not offering a point of view myself. :D
Click to expand...

I certainly agree that local cultures should be respected. I haven’t traveled for about twenty years, but on those occasions where I did, I tried to be sure I behaved in a respectful manner towards people.

I would never have guessed that a heavy tip could be a problem.
 
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