Tipping Advice

Ok, it's simple logic. If the service rendered has been useful then think of a number, say $2, and ask yourself would you give that much. If the answer is yes then treble the number first thought of, to $6, and ask the same question. If the answer is no then increase the first number, $2, by 2. This is invariable the correct amount. You will feel good about this because it is more than what you might have given but less than what you wouldn't have given. You see, it's easy. Add 10% for a toothy smile.

Just be careful at the hairdresser though. If they have set light to you hair whilst under the dryer I would definitely keep the tip to a minimum. You may think that a tip would not be deserved at all, but one must show a certain degree of superiority to these servile service providers by being above mere emotional anger. Same applies to the gas station. If the attendant was smoking whilst filling up with gas and you car has exploded, tip him anyway but make sure he knows that you will personally sue him for every cent he has.

Hope you enjoyed the humour. If not, well, tough...

Laurence of Australia

Would you really tip a hairdresser???? Not sure about Greece, but I've never heard of any country where it's customary to tip hairdressers (same for gas station people, btw - anyway many gas stations are self-service anyway).

Yes, here in Quebec, Canada it is customary to tip the hairdresser $3-$5 cad and the hairwasher about $2 cad.

When I was in Crete 3 years ago I was sure we were doing something wrong when trying to tip. Often the person outright refused the tip or tried to give something in return (ie. handcrocheted doily when we tipped the owner/hostess at a small restaurant). At other times the tip was accepted without any reation.

I was just hoping for some pointers to clarify what is customary and expected.

#3 tipping is not customary (in my own experience) in Greece, certainly not on Crete. Your experiences on Crete are consistent with local habits. Of course if you're at a very touristy area where all the foreigners bring their foreign habits, then the locals are used to the tipping.

I suppose it is customary to round up a bill, eg in restaurants, in the form of leaving small change. But even that can be a struggle sometimes, certainly not expected. I've had people round DOWN in my favour simply because they can't be bothered with small change.

I once rounded up at a barber shop in Chania and the guy seemed utterly bewildered .. and so on ...

Aribo, when you come to the United States it will be expected that you tip your hairdresser or any other personal-service staff for that matter, including restaurant wait staff, spa attendants, hotel concierges, golf caddies, room service attendants and taxi/limo drivers to name a few. Some, like a concierge, would be tipped once when you leave. The others are tipped as you use their services. Logic will tell you when.

Don't know about Greek hairdressers but in England it is customary to ALWAYS tip your hairdresser (even if you go home and cry about their handiwork). However, I don't think anyone ever ever tips the "gas" attendant in Greece, nor would I tip an apartment house keeper. I usually tip in restaurants there but lots of Greeks don't. I tend to tip about 10% but if they were rude or the food was awful I might not tip at all.

Tipping differs by country. You have not said what country your question is in regards to.

#5, I should have written "any EUROPEAN country", I'm aware that tipping is much more widespread in the States. Sorry for any confusion. I was just surprised to hear that even in the US and UK people tip hairdressers, but maybe that's because there is little about my own hair style to mess up, so I never see the difference between good service and bad service when having a haircut and wouldn't think of giving a tip.

Given that you posted this on the European branch the answer is: nothing.

You never ever have to tip- people get paid salaries here (unlike in some other countries).

It is a very Northamerican obsession to fret about tipping. NOTHING bad will happen in any of the situations above if you don;t tip. (unlike in the US where I know of foreign visitors who have been accosted by waiters demanding a higher tip after they left a european-style tip)

And please don;t spoil it for us who live here by bringing your tipping habits with you. just adapt. (like Europeans should when they travel to NA)

of course there are cases where people will gladly accept a tip but it is never mandatory. in restaurants in France you can leave one or two euros on a bill of 50-60 EUR. In taxis i usually round up to the next euro. Even when the charge was 9.80, this will always result in a polite 'thank you sir'
I have never tipped at a gas station (they're all self-service these days anyway, and if they're not they will charge a higher price per litre), at the hairdresser or for hotel room cleaning.

Logic will tell you when.

#5, there is NO logic to US tipping habits. Why would you tip to a place you never return to? why would you still tip 10% even if the service was bad (I don;t know any Americans who would dare to withhold a tip). Why would you tip a hairdresser when you are already paying for the service of having your hair cut (at least in a restaurant you could argue you are just paying for the food and not for the service) and not the person who bags your groceries? there is no logic.