Tipping Is Not A City In China

The Tipping Jar

     In America, we are constantly tipping for everything.  From the hair stylist giving us that cutting edge do to the barista making that exceptional cup of coffee that gets us through the morning.  We consistently tip for the most basic of services, and if we do not tip enough, we are looked down upon.  It's funny how ingrained this thought process is for us, because in other parts of the world, tipping is not an expectation, but based on merit.  Thus, tipping is used as a reward for exceptional service, as it should be, and not a requirement.  In fact, some cultures even view tipping as rude.  Thus, our idea of tipping is not a universal concept.

     In India, tipping is expected for absolutely everything.   If you have your bags brought up to your room, which is typically not an option, you are obligated to tip.  If you go out to a restaurant for a meal, you tip.  If you take a photograph of someone, you tip them.  When you enter a mosque or a Hindu temple, you tip the guy who watches your shoes.  When you enter a bathroom, you tip the janitor to keep the place clean and full of supplies.  So when you travel to India, you are required to tip for every single thing you do, and for every minor service you receive.

     In Continental Europe, the concept of tipping is much different.  Here you only tip when a service truly merits it.  When you dine out in a nice trattoria or a bistro, you only need to tip when the service was impeccable, and then only a small amount should be given.  Most European restaurants employ family members who are already given a fraction of the bill as is or if the employee is unrelated, then the tip is already included in the bill.  This insures that the waiter gets his due.  Also, unlike in America, waiters and waitresses are payed a much better wage, and thus are not reliant on tips for their survival.  That's why in Europe, you should only tip if services were outstanding, and not out of obligation.

      Now In Australia, tipping is not just frowned upon, but thought of as just plain rude.  This is another case of the servers getting a livable wage for the work they do as well as the fact that they do not need your generosity.  They feel that only a jerk would throw around money like that, and ultimately, they feel demeaned by receiving a couple of dollars from a perfect stranger.  Who would want to feel like a beggar getting charity?  So to avoid making the locals angry and coming off like a total fool with holes in their pockets, just avoid tipping in Australia.

   So, you can clearly see that the custom of tipping is not a universal idea and depending on where in the world you are, tipping has a completely different meanings.  Oh, in case you are wondering, in America, I typically tip my servers around 15 percent for a meal, a couple of dollars for a hair cut or a taxis ride, and I never shell out anything extra to a barista for making my coffee, unless they provide exceptional customer service.

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