[dailydriver]

One very pertinent thing I have noticed is that tipplers are the best tippers. They tip before, during and after the service. The off repeated definition of To Insure Prompt Service is nowhere more relevant than in a watering hole. And every paise that they give out, they give out happily.

On a personal level, I don't have a set rule about tipping. If I feel like, I do tip; if I don't, then I won't. After all, I am a paying customer and if the service is good, i let my happiness pull lose the strings of my stingy purse. If the experience is nothing to write home about or borders on the bad, my coins sit tight and refuse to be handed over!

I once had a cousin (may his soul rest in peace) who would, based on his practice in Mumbai, handover a tenner to the hairstylist at my place (a small town) and very jovially ask him to keep the change. The cost of a haircut at that time was a mere four rupees!

I also have colleagues with incomes that put them in the top tax bracket and yet they never leave behind even a buck in change; not to speak of supplementing the bill by 5-10%.

Living somewhere in the middle of the above two extremes, I have observed that I am generous when the expectation of tip isn't obvious and overt. When it gets forced or demanded, I somehow recoil and hold back. This, despite my long time practice of not saying no to anyone who truly entreats me for help.

Somewhere, I seem to be subconsciously demarcating my transactional experiences from ones with a tinge of altruism.

It might not be erroneous to assert that any form of tips should ideally be in appreciation of service rendered and therefore be earned by the recipient.

Some of the foregoing posts cite instances where tips have been given away not in recognition of service but as an act of charity.

This, I feel, is best avoided.

[udzgodfather]

I follow this simple rule of thumb in my life, "ऊपर वाला सर देखकर सरदारी देता है" moreover the more you live, more the life makes you humble, most of this people are poor folks, daily wage earner, forced to choose between food or school fees so your small amount makes an impact in there life so its money well spent.

I once tipped a security guard 50 Bucks in Udiapur, the good service that I got was so overwhelming, so even if I talk in rational terms, tipping can move things faster than you expect.

[SnS_12]

I always look at the situation from the angle where in if I was in that position would I expect a tip or not. In life not everyone is fortunate and these guys earn nowhere near to what we white collar or business men earn and I believe that if we earn or get more in life then it is for to give more back to the society and not to be greedy and keep the whole thing for our self’s.

I tip Ola and Uber guys as well because these guys are really struggling to make ends meet and especially in a city like Mumbai which is expensive and has so much traffic where you might do one ride which takes hours to complete only to make a few 100 bucks. Even guys who own and drive their own cars I insist they accept it when they refuse to take it so that i can put a smile on their face after all the hard work that they do.

[ashis89]

I tip for good service but only after I get the service so the money doesn't influence their work.

I tip when someone does more than the expected job.

I tip someone who's working late hours and delivering food or driving me home.

I tip that security guard who's standing outside on a hot sunny day


All others can keep expecting but I can't meet their expectations unless they meet mine.

[Theyota]

Originally Posted by DCEite

Scenario 1:
The waiter is eager to serve food (even though there is a self service counter)

Scenario 2:
Couple of years back we were getting our house moved.

Scenario 3:

3-4 unknown men come from nowhere

How do BHPians cope with such situations? Tips (Pun intended) and suggestions welcome.

Although I don't like forced tipping. I would tip fairly in scenarios 1 and 2. Blue-collar labour in unorganized industry in India is paid exploitative salaries. They rely on chai-paani money for their basic livelihood.

Scenario 3 is a scam and I would do everything to avoid that situation.

[aayusht]

I generally tip (8-10% of the value of the bill, rounded to the nearest multiple of 50) at restaurants and of course whenever service charge is included, I don't include the tip. I have lately started including a small tip with my Swiggy orders (these delivery agents ride in the miserable Delhi NCR heat). I order from Swiggy very frequently.

I tip drivers (for outstation trips) at the end of the trip and in some exceptional cases include a tip with my intracity Uber rides.

Interesting incident: about 2 months back, I had tipped Rs300 to our daily cook after she prepared a good meal for a few guest visiting us, but what surprised me was that she took the money, turned around and left for the day. No thank you, no smile, no acknowledgement. While such cases are far and few, I wonder if there are other people who have faced such instances. Have never tipped her since.

[TurboOnTarmac]

I have a different take on this topic.

It is very popular, soul soothing to follow the socialistic view on this subject. As factually pointed by some in the this thread, the income parity data is a thumping boost to ‘generously tipping’. I am no different either and had followed the popular, socially correct and easy path laid out by tipping where expected but at the same time desisting from giving alms to beggars (a strong NO when children involved). For me it’s an inconvenient situation in negotiating whether to tip or not, how much to tip, how to tackle the expectation of the service provider, facing the embarrassing situation when a person tipping more before you and struggling to match or facing the disappointment from the service provider. Struggling to avoid unwanted service which comes with additional burden of tip negotiation…etc. I personally do not bargain and struggle when I have to buy something from bargain bazaars where the final price is depend how well you bargain with seller.

For the past one year, I have been living in Japan. There is absolutely NO tipping culture here. The quality of the goods and quality of the associated service is expected is priced into the list price. The staff were paid accordingly by their employers and no expectation of ‘additional’ income from tipping. We pay exactly what is written and we get the expected service, period.

The staff don’t expect you to tip. They don’t discriminate the service or show any emotions based on expectations around tips as it is NOT there. Everyone get the same quality of the service and same quality of the goods for the price paid. Here, in general, the attitude of the service providers is tuned towards consistently meeting the expected end quality of the service. There is a pride associated with delivering the quality service per the price, nothing more and nothing less. Its easy for the consumers, easy for the producers and easy for the service providers as there no other variables attached. For the employees, there is no under-cutting of salaries with the expectation of tip income and they know what they are getting each day and expectations set accordingly (no smile more for big tipper or frown for no tipper). For consumers, its easy as they know the price they need to pay and know what they are going to get for it. I personally like this culture and feels so comfortable as I go to any restaurant or any place expecting service and paying the listed price for the same.

I had lived in developed economies and societies like US and Europe earlier and have seen the tipping culture there too. Also seen in emerging economies in ASEAN countries which depend on so much tourism and look for the tipping income (at times they get windfall from some affluent tourists). So it is not about India alone.

I understand that many fellows think it of as greedy behavior or not morally correct thinking. I also fear getting roasted on by this unpopular opinion, on this thread and beyond. For whatever the worth, I have come from the background of extreme poverty (many years our family depended on small countryside dhaba kind of restaurant), days of rationing meals and struggle of clothes/daily needs to current status with a miraculous aid from excellence in education and subsequent luck with job. So, I very well understand the other side of the coin as those old harsh memories never forgotten.

[headbanger]

As shared by fellow members, I also tip the waiters, parking lot guy, valets etc. Truth be told, apart from understanding the macroeconomic differential, it gives me an inner sense of gratitude. I typically frequent a nice dhaba or a minimalist eatery with good food, not much into high end restaurants.

Having said that, I have made a conscious effort to be courteous in behavior while engaging with this strata of society. Many a times, I have observed the vocal tone of a considerable section of privileged folks while dealing with waiters and valets. While they do tip the waiters, there is a sense of bias and arrogance in their behaviour.

While tipping may be not to everyone's choice, saying a Thank you or Sorry or Good Morning doesn't cost anything. A smile with a Thank You accompanied with a tip is my go-to formula. Just my two cents!!!

[deathwalkr]

Originally Posted by TurboOnTarmac

For the past one year, I have been living in Japan. There is absolutely NO tipping culture here.

I guess that word would be the key differentiator. Unlike Japan, in India we do have a tipping culture and I don't think it's going to go anywhere.

We do what we can and I believe it is ok to tip unless it's forced on me to do so. Should be voluntary.

[kaushikduttajsr]

I usually tip 10% of the total bill amount upto Rs 500. Sometimes when I need special attention, I pre-tip, i.e. give 500 in cash when ordering itself. More often than not, this works insanely well. Servers feel a sense of obligation to ensure the food comes quick

I refuse to tip only if someone has been rude from the word go.

[JoshMachine]

I do tip regularly to folks who show a great sense of ownership and integrity in their work and who go out of the way which directly enhances comfort, safety or reliability of the service being rendered - this includes people amongst servers, valets, porters, car hires, daily work service personnel (Urban Company for e.g.).
And I consider it ok even if some of them explicitly ask for it. I usually reserve 7-10% as the tip amount.

However strictly no tips or any favors to roadside beggars or folks who are looking to make a fast buck without blinking their eyes.

[digitalnirvana]

Originally Posted by TurboOnTarmac

I have a different take on this topic.

........
I had lived in developed economies and societies like US and Europe earlier and have seen the tipping culture there too. Also seen in emerging economies in ASEAN countries which depend on so much tourism and look for the tipping income (at times they get windfall from some affluent tourists). So it is not about India alone.

Hi TurboOnTarmac, interesting that you mention there is a tipping culture in Europe. What I have read of is that in the US tipping is absolutely expected at a minimum of 18-20% and no tipping or less tipping is frowned upon. Actually it is needed because employees are paid below the minimum wage and the tips actually bring them up to a living wage. Which is a real shame.

But in Europe is that the case? Its surprising to hear this. Excluding the tourist traps, no one asks for or expects tips. Of course truly excellent service deserves tips and I do tip then. I also usually tip if its a large order with a group. But this is capped at 10% of the bill amount with some rounding up.

I'm interested to know your tipping experiences in Europe, and how they went.

I also regularly tip in India, often going way beyond my meager means, because of the reasons outlined by GTO, Narayan sir and Shankar sir.

[ashis89]

Originally Posted by TurboOnTarmac

I had lived in developed economies and societies like US and Europe earlier and have seen the tipping culture there too.

Originally Posted by digitalnirvana

What I have read of is that in the US tipping is absolutely expected at a minimum of 18-20% and no tipping or less tipping is frowned upon.

I have a funny incident to share. On my first visit to United States, I used to take Uber to office everyday. After a few days, I noticed I had a hard time getting cabs and the ones I got were old run down ones but couldn't figure why.

One day, I got a great driver who owned a small start-up and drove his RAV4 on Uber as a hobby/some extra bucks. We chatted a lot and then he pointed out my low rating on Uber app. Drivers usually avoid such passengers as they are expected to be trouble some. I explained that I have always been courteous, polite and punctual if not more. Then we realized I was being penalized for not giving tips. All this time, I had felt weird to hand out a couple of bucks as tips to them but they were expecting all the same. The Uber app didn't allow me to add tips via my corporate card, that's another problem.

Towards the end of my stay in the US, I had installed Lyft as well to meet my travel needs. Such was the "demand" for tips.

[TDIRaghav]

I have faced #1 multiple times and #2 recently when I moved from Noida to Pune. Movers & Packers guys asked for a tip when they packed and loaded goods and again when they unloaded and unpacked goods.

Originally Posted by vinay.sathyan

#3 sounds like a scam. Apart from that, if the service is not good, i do take it personally and ensure that i don't tip.

It may sound like a scam but this happens in IGI airport parking a lot and I have personally faced this when an elderly person came out of nowhere, picked up some luggage and started to keep it in the boot. I asked him multiple times to stop and that I didn’t need help but he didn’t listen and when you have your hands full with stuff you can’t physically stop the other person. I tipped him only because he looked well into his sixties.

An unusual place where I have seen people asking for a tip is IGI airport Terminal 3 washrooms. The cleaning staff will run and hand you the paper towels even when the paper towel dispenser is within an arms distance, then they expect a tip! I faced this multiple times before the pandemic but not sure of the situation now.

[StarBoard]

I always tip unless the service is really pathetic.

An interesting example of pathetic: In January this year I was returning from Ooty with my family on the way to Bengaluru airport. Driver of the rented Innova recommended a big and famous restaurant for lunch in Mysuru, very close to the Mysuru Palace. The waiter seemed least bothered to serve considering the rush. He messed up the order and had to be reminded again and again that we existed. On being presented with the bill I informed him that I would like to pay by card. To which he rudely replies "Can't bring the machine here. Go and pay at the counter. And don't forget to pay the tip directly to me in cash!" Taken by surprise by his arrogance I said I will rather pay in cash that going to the counter. He returns with the change which has a heavily mutilated fifty rupee note neatly torn in half and held together with tape. I reject the note asking him to give me another one. Comes the reply "Go to the counter yourself and get it exchanged, I am busy!" I still decided to keep quiet and start leaving. Then he calls me back and gives his final commandment "Keep your tip here" pointing to the table. This time I lose it completely and give him a big verbal bashing. Needless to say if I tipped him