Hey Folks!
I’ve been living abroad for over half my life in a country where tipping is not the norm. At most you would round up. 19€ bill? Here’s a 20, keep this change.
Going to the US soon to visit family and the whole idea of tipping makes me nervous. It seems there’s a lot of discussion about getting rid of tipping, but I don’t know how much has changed in this regard.
The system seems ridiculously unfair, and that extra expense in a country where everything is already so expensive really makes a difference.
So will AITA if I don’t tip? Is it really my personal responsibility to make sure my server is paid enough?
American here. Here’s the three common contexts for tipping. Everything else is something someone’s trying to make a thing rather than actually a thing:
Restaurants: If someone is bringing food from the Kitchen to your table
Delivery: If someone’s delivering food. Or they’re personally delivering groceries.
Transportation: If someone’s driving you personally. Like a Taxi.
Some say you should tip bathroom attendants. I’ve never even seen a bathroom attendant, but that seems like such a bizarre job to tip for, even by American standards.
Bartenders are a case that you’ve missed. A standard cash rate is $1 per drink. Bartenders have a lot of leeway when it comes to how quickly you’re served, and how strong your drinks will be, so tipping well may be in your interest.
Yup. I’ve not drank at bars before. I would tip a bartender, but is it considered a faux pas to ask that your drink be at a lower ABV? I have very sensitive taste buds and can taste even 5% ABV.
And barbers/hairstylists. Unlikely to come up during a short visit though.