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Culture Guides

The Culture of Tipping Around the World

By Tom Thumb, Posted Jun 11, 2009

tips, gratuity

Just gratuitous

Remember Mr Pink?

Let’s come out and say it: tipping sucks.

It’s the residue of ancient class distinctions when one kind of profession was considered inferior to another and the difference had to be compensated by a financial gift. Hence why when the anarchists took control of Barcelona in the early 30’s they banned tipping, as can be read in George Orwell’s Homage to Catalonia.

At other times it’s an act of pity, a social obligation or even a kind of disguised bribe to make sure you get reasonable service. Here’s a few extra coins to make sure you don’t spit in my soup..

I think the tipping point for me came when a taxi driver in the US got pissed with me when I waited for my $3 buck change from $20. He was making $50,000 a year, about 3 times my income and yet I was the bad guy for not paying him a gratuity on top of a ride I could barely afford.

Not that I’m playing Mr Pink here:

The reality is that all around the world people work exploitative jobs where any extra cents can make a big difference. As a traveler you can make a difference to someone else’s day by leaving a little extra cash. In many countries you’ll be the first person to even think about doing so.

But it still sucks.

First of all, because it’s a nightmare working out where to tip – try to leave an extra quid for the bartender in England and they might well throw you out. Fail to tip the barman in the US and expect to wait half an hour for your next drink.

Second, it allows a currency exchange to replace basic human interaction and kindness. As Paul Theroux noted in Dark Star Safari, tipping all the Egyptian taxi drivers, doormen, waiters, porters, guides and shoe shiners felt like he was paying for smiles.

People deserve to be paid a decent wage for the work they do and not have to rely upon the whim of the customer. Which is why it’s really cool in countries where tipping isn’t common practice – when someone is nice to you it’s because they are nice and genuinely like you. Not because they saw you were wearing expensive shoes and so were likely to leave more than 10%.

Roll on Digital cash.

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    1. profile pic Jun 12, 01:38 AM jim said:

      Look at it from the point of view from the person receiving the tip.

      Tipping is a great way to make extra money as a waiter or bartender, and gave me the extra incentive to please those I was serving.

      What is really ridiculous is seeing tip jars in front of cashiers.

    2. profile pic Jun 12, 06:53 PM Matt said:

      “try to leave an extra quid for the bartender in England and they might well throw you out.” – What?

      Just because it’s not a custom in England to tip at bars, I love it when people tip.
      We get paid shit wages as it is, where did this comment come from?

    3. profile pic Jun 25, 09:26 AM John Q. said:

      I agree with you. Tipping is bullshit. I earn my wages through hardwork, nobody gives me money because of some quasi social more. It’s an antiquated practice and it should be done away with. The real issue should be with your shithole company that is paying you that dismal wage! As a taxpayer, we all already subsidize companies and industry. Why should we be subsidizing the service industry too? It’s all bullshit. And it’s bad for ya

    4. profile pic Jul 4, 05:33 PM Gene T said:

      I agree,, tipping is a shit custom… This coming from someone who has worked the service industry in U.S. for 20 years.

      Unfortunetly,,, the real blame lies upon the U.S. Government, as they are the ones who allow employers to pay less than minimum wages legally,, to certain jobs like waiting tables or delivery.

      If the government is going to allow this B.S. of course the employers will take advantage of that. If the government would simply say,, NOBODY is allowed less than minimum wage,, then it would open the door for ridding us of tipping.

      The problem however at the moment is forgeigners who come to the U.S. and basically say “I don’t tip, except for exceptional service”. Well that’s all well and good in their country,, but seriously. What kind of asshole do you have to be to make your waitress serve you for an hour and then not pay her anything at all. Guess what … she mades just over $2/hr … that doesn’t pay her taxes,,, What right do you have to make her work for free, just because you have some issue with tipping. Make your stand in your own country but not here.

      It’s no different than any other custom. You don’t go to Suadi Arabia and run arond wearing shorts because “I do it at home”… You have to work with the customs of where you are visiting.

      sorry,, I get off on a tangent sometimes because I used to hate it when Europeans would work me for hours and then leave nothing,,, I’m not a slave worker,, and trust me, I was not getting rich from tips.

    5. profile pic Jul 15, 03:17 AM Sam S said:

      I think you have it wrong there Gene. The customer is not making you work for hours, your employer is. Why should the customers be penalised for the crap wage the employer pays? The employer gets to have his cake and eat it too. Some cultural practices are antiquated and just plain wrong. Would you abuse women in a country that has a culture of doing so?

    6. profile pic Jul 20, 11:24 PM Matt said:

      Still, it’s a practice that’s not going to stop. People that are paid minimum wage aren’t suddenly going to be paid any more.

      The people who serve you get paid little because tips are normally expected if they work harder and give you a good service. Some places have a 10 or 15 percent service charge! Think of it this way, if you go out and spend 20-30 quid in a pub, a nightclub, a restaurant, what difference does it make to you to add on a couple bucks more? Hardly a thing, whereas it makes a massive difference to your server.

    7. profile pic Aug 19, 09:34 AM Irish Travel Junky said:

      Unbelievable! Throw in a buck and be gone…

    8. profile pic Aug 27, 02:34 AM Martin said:

      Tip who you want to tip. Not based on profession. Simple as that.

    9. profile pic Nov 16, 01:47 PM Kevin said:

      Tipping? Living in a country where there’s no such thing, I hadn’t even considered it in my travel budget. How do I know who I’m supposed to tip? It may seem obvious to those who live in tipping countires, but not me. Perhaps I should tip every man woman and child I meet just to be on the safe side? Could be expensive.

      It’s sad that people are expected to accept bad wages with the idea that they will get more money through tipping. Australia’s minimum wage may not be the greatest (approx AU$14.75) but at least it’s mandatory (now that we got rid of former PM John Howard).

      Maybe I should just avoid going any country where tipping goes on. Anyone got a list of countries that do and don’t practice tipping? I already have an anxiety disorder – tipping could kill me.


Tom has been traveling non-stop since the age of 18 and co-founded Road Junky in 2004. Follow him @tomglaister

He’s the author of Hand to Mouth to India, an account of hitchhiking from England to India with no money and which will soon be rereleased by Road Junky Books.

Tales of a Road Junky featuring tales of breaking people out of jail in Delhi, selling fake Rolexes in Japan and other adventures in Israel and Brazil will be out later this year.

He also writes fiction for anyone who never really grew up and his latest novel is Bozo and the Storytellerdownload the audio book for free or even buy a copy…

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