You are making a valid point, but with respect, you are taking it a little too far. I agree with the principle of 'When in Rome ...' so when I was in the USA, even though I was in my mid teens, and had very little money, I tipped at what I understood was the customary rate of 20%. But I do not think Makedde is being an ugly Australian in questioning the practice of absurdly low rates of pay, necessitating a form of charity from paying customers. I realise that the US is gripped by a seemingly inviolable capitalist ethos, and it is difficult for some Americans to see the inequity of such a system, but it does leave disadvantaged employees at the mercy of people who may reasonably have no interest in their personal welfare. I am commenting upon a practice which is not unique to the USA, so I am neither America-bashing, nor am I telling Americans how to run their society. By my values, tipping should be a gratuity earned by exceptional service, and I would have no problem whatsoever with that. Such a practice has the added advantage of making the waiter feel special, not just the recipient of his due. But this is only possible where the staff is paid a decent living wage. And there, M'Lud, rests the case for the prosecution. Just as a matter of interest, where is the legal requirement for tipping? Which statute or act designates and codifies gratuities? Your good lady wife would have been equally funny, engaging, and popular with diners, in a system which paid a decent wage - that had to do with her personality and abilities, not the system of remuneration. It appears to me to be a considerably less than perfect system which works magnificently - for employers. Good advice, which most people would follow. It does not, however, preclude an opinion upon the desirability of this particular custom. It depends far too heavily upon the generosity of strangers, and the only people who will suffer when that generosity may not be as fulsome as expected - are the waitresses and waiters. The economic arguments for such a system do not hold water. Let us say a moderately priced meal costs $50, and the standard rate of tipping is 20%, thus effecting an overall cost of $60 to the diner. Why cannot the establishment charge $60, and pay the staff accordingly? 20 meals served per day, per staff member, would net the establishment a further $200, equaling $1,000 per 5 day working week, by which amount the staff member's salary could be increased. So someone being currently paid $5 an hour = $200 per 40 hour week - could be paid $1,200 per week (a 500% wage increase). An annual salary of $62,400 would provide the staff member with a living wage, and no one need depend upon charity. Just some thoughts from an 'ugly Brit'.
Philadelphia, New York and Boston are the most interesting places to visit in the US. Most of the south and Midwest is pretty boring and not worth the time and money spent to get there. There's a few exceptions, but the East Coast from DC to Maine is where it's at. Your sister should do what I've done anywhere I've travelled: by a tour book, study it before I go there, and know about the customs of the people who live where you travel. Keep the book with you and have fun with it.
The East Coast is very interesting for sure but I wouldn't stop there. Florida or at least central Fla. for the amusement parks at least. New Orleans and Louisiana (I must admit my only visit was pre-Katrina but everyone should experience the hangover from a Pat O'Briens' hurricane). Texas - a microcosm of the US in one state. The southwest - Monument Valley, Four Corners. Southern Colorado - Mesa Verde and the mining towns around the place. Utah - Bryce Canyon and other amazing natural places. Washington State - a drive up through the Cascades. Oregon with the scenery. Northern California for the redwood forests and the splendid houses in Eureka. San Francisco. South Dakota, not just for Mt Rushmore but to see bison wandering around and those little prairie dogs that pop up next to your car. Wyoming and Montana, just splendidly beautiful places and Little Big Horn for the history and the education. And yes, Southern California, flashy and trashy but you have to experience it, not all flash and trash of course, San Diego is a great place to visit. I think I'd better quit now. Point is that a visitor could wander around for a year and still need to come back for another year.
If someone, let's say a foreigner, wants to experience the United States, why would you exclude the bulk of it? Yeah, the Northeast is nice, but it's a lot of the same. And don't tell me otherwise because I lived there for awhile. Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Miami all offer a unique experience and are critical areas to explore if someone wants to take in America.
Again, I am not paying the wages of your employees. It is not my problem that someone cannot pay their bills. I wouldn't expect you to tip our employees here because they can't pay the bills. Not even I would do that. You can honor our customs, but if you wanted to do something against the norm, I probably wouldn't give a crap.
Very nice post and well written - thank you. You know, you're really a nice, thoughtful person .... are you sure you're from Australia?
Oi! I'm in Australia at the moment, and it is full of really a nice, thoughtful persons (as is your own country). And don't diss the Aussies, they are your most faithful allies - even more so than us.
I'm not nice, just like to be honest about things - been lucky enough to visit many times and carried back many happy memories. I have three nationalities - I like to be flexible
I prefer to think of us a remora or perhaps one of those clever little birds that pick the teeth of sleeping crocs - we're small but agile!
Makedde to Dothrakis: You can come to Australia and rape girls here, since that's how your culture is.
Thank you for the tip. In that case we'll take them to the outback and introduce them to the local wildlife
In fairness the tipping system does work well in some cases because there are many restuarants where waitresses can make upwards of 70k a year well above the average in any country and what many professionals with advanced degrees make like engineers. It may not appear as an "inequity" to some Americans for this reason and the invioloable capitalist ethos seem reasonable because it rewards hard work and initiative and those servers without that are compensated accordingly in America.
No..not at all. My wife knew how to make the customers happy- and sell the restuarant- to make better tips. Everyone won in her case. Waiters who didn't get this- who treated Customers indifferently made less money, and the restuarant made less money and the customers weren't as happy. My wife knew her business, and regularly racked up the highest sales where she worked- and she loved doing it. It was frankly one of the best paying customer service jobs there is. This is where you don't get it- Americans who work as waiters prefer this system- they will make more than any restuarant can afford to pay them. Anyway- I don't go to France and then complain that they don't do things the way I think they should be done, I don't go to Australia and complain that Australia doesn't do things the way I think- I go there and go with the local customs. That is how you avoid being the "Ugly American", "Ugly Australian" and "Ugly Brit".
In case you haven't noticed, this is a discussion board, and two of the topics being discussed are tipping, and the pay rates of waiters and waitresses. Partaking in this discussion is not the equivalent of coming to your country and complaining about the way you do things - don't imply that this is so. I have visited your country and I complied with the local customs, but this does not mean I may not have an opinion on the matter.
Exactly, and with our system, you cut out the middle man with all the expenses of payroll, so the server makes way more money while you still get to eat for a reasonable price. If the restaurant had to charge you more for the food to increase the hourly wage for a server, everyone would lose, including the server. As I said before, the entire system rides on the notion that customers understand the economics of the industry, and that tipping for good service IS the decent thing to do. For the most part, it works. A few rotten individuals will still mess it up sometimes though.
Don't be so snarky. The OP expressed her opinion in context of her sister visiting the U.S.- I participated in that discussion- and I am participating in this. I am not telling you that you can't have your opinion, I am giving my opinion on how to avoid the "Ugly" label that is often justifiably given to Americans and others.
