<When you hear people, by which I mean Republicans, talking about people who pay no tax, bear that in mind. >
Same goes for most illegal workers, - if they have a social security number (fake or not) - they are paying tax - and supporting the system with no expectation to get benefits later. Taxation without representation so to speak -
In general waiters and waitresses in the US are poorly trained. There are exceptions though and I have had service from waiters and waitresses that deserve 30% tip, but these people are rare in this country. I have found exceptional service in France, Italy and Germany, but these people look at the job as a profession, they devote their life to their profession, you rarely see this in the USA. But I have seen some exceptional people here and I would not doubt that some of these make $50 an hour or more.
I would think that if a young person today would take the job seriously and look at it as a profession he or she could make very good living, but few do.
Here is some great information for waiters:
http://www.make-better-tips.com/waiter-waitress-tips.php
http://www.gratuity-ingenuity.com/
http://www.schonwalder.org/helmut_so.htm
Here is some interesting information form the waiters point of view:
http://waiterrant.net/
NYSeptic I had absolutely no objection to paying tips - I only wanted to do the right thing but lacked the experience to know what that was. I read as much as I could about tipping etiquette, but some situations are just not covered, or I could not remember what to do in that circumstance (eg the coach driver on a tour, or the pilot on a $250 helicopter ride).
As for Australian culture (the europeans say that is an oxymoron) - as Bob Dylan sung:
"When ev’rything I’m a-sayin’
You can say it just as good.
You’re right from your side
I’m right from mine ..."
As for furriners - um - well, until recently Lonely Planet was an Australian company. (insert big grin)
OK, now, just to spite NYSeptic, I'm going to tip 30% when I get there
Any of you ruffians wanna push me to 35?
There's what makes sense and what's stupid. Tip like a local. Hold the stories about living wages. Hold your born sense of moral/ cultural superiority at the door. That's my best advise.
Nyseptic why so much anger? Most of the posts about tipping less than standard were from your countrymen. Most posts from overseas posters were about how broken your political and social security system is but supported the unfortunate low income earners in your country who depend on higher earners to keep one foot in front of another. There was no moral or cultural superiority. You want an expression of superiority, how about giving us a strenuous defence of 'the greatest democracy on earth' where theaverage income of your elected reps is 7 figures, where basic improvements to health and living standards are continually blocked by these so called representatives and where you exploit a massive number of immigrants to do your lowly paid service and labor to drive the economy for those lucky enough to self fund the american way. I myself will tip as recommended by the posters...yes I am visiting your country, yes I will follow local custom, but maybe opening your eyes to how your country may be improved instead of closing your mind down into aggressive righteousness might be something you should consider......
I've just been reading through the wealth of information in this thread with interest, horror (at the injustice of the appalling working conditions of some Americans) and amusement at some of the comments.
With a trip to the States imminent, I think I've got my head around all the rules now. I just hoe that my antipodean education is sufficient for me to calculate 18% of a $97 meal in my head after several glasses of wine!
Just one further question - what about services other than wait staff and cab drivers? Hairdressers? Staff in hotels? Beauticians? .... the list goes on - and what are the rules when the service provider is the owner of the establishment not an employee? And how do I know?
I just hoe that my antipodean education is sufficient for me to calculate 18% of a $97 meal in my head after several glasses of wine!
You can round it up to 20% for simplicity, if you're in a large urban area. Or down to 15%. Another option...before your meal, ask if there's a sales tax or meals tax that applies and what the percentage is. Often it's then just a matter of doubling or tripling that tax to determine a reasonable tip.
Just one further question - what about services other than wait staff and cab drivers? Hairdressers? Staff in hotels? Beauticians? .... the list goes on - and what are the rules when the service provider is the owner of the establishment not an employee? And how do I know?
Search the Web for
tipping guide salon hotel
or something similar...you'll see a range of suggestions. Of course, the easiest thing is to bring your own bags to the hotel room and skip getting your hair done for the duration of the trip.
#48 --
Why would they want to keep one foot in front of the other?
#49 --
#49 --
I just hoe that my antipodean education is sufficient for me to calculate 18% of a $97 meal in my head after several glasses of wine!
Round $97 up to $100. Round 18% up to 20%. If you can't figure out 20 per cent of 100, stay home.
Get your haircut before you come.