Call It How It Is.. Its not a Tip... Its a Tax
In America, when you get a drink, something to eat with table service and lots of other particular things you pay 15%-20% on the price to the person serving you.
The position here is that a lot of service people only get paid about $2 an hour. So tips keep them alive.
It is called "gratuity" in the US and here is the definition:
1. Something given freely or without recompense; a free gift; a present.
2. Something voluntarily given in return for a favor or service, as a recompense or acknowledgment.
Now, if you go and have a drink at a bar it is expected that you leave 15%-20%. Thats just for normal service. It is "expected" and even though a lot of people say they leave a smaller tip if service is unbelievably bad but 98% of the service is just normal service you would expect from a business tyring to get your patronage.
So, lets call it as it is. It is a "service tax" because the American employers do not pay their employees above around $2.50 an hour. So the customer is expected to pay not only the price of the goods or services but also for the wages of the employees.
This possibly could be the rudest thing in the world.
In the rest of the world, gratutity is what the definition states. A "voluntary" acknowledgement.
In the US, if you go to a restaurant and get adequate and normal service - which you should if you are going in to buy a product - and try to walk out by just paying the bill the staff will approach you before you leave and ask that you pay a tip.
I did this in New York. I was stopped at the door by two waiters and they first said that I must have forgotten a tip. I asked to see the manager. He came out and was the owner as well. I said the service was normal but I paid the price for the meal. He told me that it is "customary" to pay a tip to staff. I asked "Why ? Dont they get a wage from you from the money I am paying you ?" He said, "No, they only get about $2.10 an hour" As he said it he realized how stupid it sounded.
So I asked, "You expect me to come and pay you for food and also then cover the cost of the service ?"
He stumbled and then said, "Its just the American way."
I dont mind paying a tip... I dont like the slimey way that is passed off as a "tip" when it is a tax. Its sneeky, skecty and unprofessional.
The biiger problem is that it keep the award wage at an absolute minimum. So in areas where they dont get tips they are continually are kept poor. Have fun working in a corner deli or a dry cleaners where there is no tipping.
Call it how it is... If it was gratutity, a tip would be given voluntary for great service.
It is not a tip... It is a "service tax" and anyone in the States or coming into the USA should keep in mind that you are going to have to pay 15%-20% on top of most things that people serve to you.
This makes your dollar closer to the same value as the pound.. Perhaps the UK could be a better option... and it doesnt have all the guns.
The position here is that a lot of service people only get paid about $2 an hour. So tips keep them alive.
It is called "gratuity" in the US and here is the definition:
1. Something given freely or without recompense; a free gift; a present.
2. Something voluntarily given in return for a favor or service, as a recompense or acknowledgment.
Now, if you go and have a drink at a bar it is expected that you leave 15%-20%. Thats just for normal service. It is "expected" and even though a lot of people say they leave a smaller tip if service is unbelievably bad but 98% of the service is just normal service you would expect from a business tyring to get your patronage.
So, lets call it as it is. It is a "service tax" because the American employers do not pay their employees above around $2.50 an hour. So the customer is expected to pay not only the price of the goods or services but also for the wages of the employees.
This possibly could be the rudest thing in the world.
In the rest of the world, gratutity is what the definition states. A "voluntary" acknowledgement.
In the US, if you go to a restaurant and get adequate and normal service - which you should if you are going in to buy a product - and try to walk out by just paying the bill the staff will approach you before you leave and ask that you pay a tip.
I did this in New York. I was stopped at the door by two waiters and they first said that I must have forgotten a tip. I asked to see the manager. He came out and was the owner as well. I said the service was normal but I paid the price for the meal. He told me that it is "customary" to pay a tip to staff. I asked "Why ? Dont they get a wage from you from the money I am paying you ?" He said, "No, they only get about $2.10 an hour" As he said it he realized how stupid it sounded.
So I asked, "You expect me to come and pay you for food and also then cover the cost of the service ?"
He stumbled and then said, "Its just the American way."
I dont mind paying a tip... I dont like the slimey way that is passed off as a "tip" when it is a tax. Its sneeky, skecty and unprofessional.
The biiger problem is that it keep the award wage at an absolute minimum. So in areas where they dont get tips they are continually are kept poor. Have fun working in a corner deli or a dry cleaners where there is no tipping.
Call it how it is... If it was gratutity, a tip would be given voluntary for great service.
It is not a tip... It is a "service tax" and anyone in the States or coming into the USA should keep in mind that you are going to have to pay 15%-20% on top of most things that people serve to you.
This makes your dollar closer to the same value as the pound.. Perhaps the UK could be a better option... and it doesnt have all the guns.
posted by TTB at 1:35 PM
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