Why are some people so cheap when it comes to tipping?

Hello, hisbabydoll. Here in Brazil, it is not usual to tip the waitress. Though it is possible, it is rare to see people doing it. I heard that there are countries in which the workers will get angry if you tip them. And, stopping to think about it, if you are tipping them they can take it as an offense, like if you were saying they need those extra dollars. I do not know why you get so mad when people do not tip. Here where I live you'd be glad to get the thirty cents that the lady gives out everyday. Respectfully, Munhozmib.

I always give at least 18% to 20% of the bill if our service was good. Now, on the other had if the service was so-so then they get about 10% - 12%. And if the service is just horrible, and I have had my share of pathetic, rude, awful service, then IF I tip them then it is maybe 5% of the bill. I know that may sound severe, but I don't think that a poor server or rude waitress deserves to get a great tip. I don't ever skimp on the tip when the server is polite, and does their job. If I were a waitress I know I would be polite, friendly, helpful, and remember my tables. No one would be sitting there without a refill on their drinks, everyone would have silverware, there would be plenty of extra napkins, full ketchup bottle, etc. If not, then I would not expect to get a very good tip, if one at all. Have a great day and happy myLotting!!!

I used to waitress so I know how important it is to tip. I usually give 15-20%. I'm not sure why people don't. In fact, when I went on vacation with someone, it was a source of strain, because she didn't tip and and becuase she didn't I felt I has to give more, which I felt was unfair to me, but I didn't want the servers to get less money. The worst tip I ever received was not only no tip but they didn't even leave enough money for the whole bill.

It is interesting for my to run into this topic today as I was just listening to a discussion on this topic this afternoon on "Talk of the Nation" (National Public Radio), and I was rather amazed to learn that I have been under tipping for a few years, because I have only been tipping 15% in general, 20% if I was extraordinarily pleased with the service. Today on NPR they mention general tipping had gone up to 20% a few years ago. I felt really, because, I never want to short change servers. Waiting tables is really hard work and not to be paying my fair share is embarrassing. Needless to say, I will remedy my ways right away. I always tip, becuase those people who do service jobs do not make very good wages in my country and frequently they do so very nasty job. It would be nice if we paid them living wages and we did not need to tip them, unforeturnately we do not. Cheers, Happy Holidays!!!

Great discussion topic! Thank You. I am a good tipper even in these economic times. I can count on one hand the times I tipped poorly and that was due to really bad service. And you have to do a lot to piss me off. Even if the food is bad or cold I tip well because it is not the servers fault. I have on occasion gone to the manager if this was the case and told them that my tip was meant for the server and nobody else and why. As most places have the server share their tips as well. I know someone like that woman as well and am embarrassed to go out to eat with them. I think it is habit for some people and they are so out of touch with the rest of the world that they don't get that the server is there to earn a living too. TIP the server or stay home and make it yourself!!

I tip my servers 15% or sometimes more if it's a small order. I frequent the same cafe and have the same group servers all the time. By now they know my quirks and are dilligent in meeting them. Once in a while I'll have a meal, but frequently I might only order a cup of coffee. I love water and they give me a big pitcher so I tip them well for that. It's more work for them and takes their time.

Everyone likes to go out and eat once in a while if not often. Some people would like to go to a expensive restaurant to eat once a month or often. Well some people tip and some dont. Quite a personal decision on the same. I have always tipped the person serving. Sometimes rounding the bill of a number like if the bill is 239 then making it 250 or more. It just depends. But have always tipped. People who do not tip. I assume there are some people who think tipping is a waste of money or an extra expense. As stated by you that some peoples salary or wage is the tip or else they have to put it from your pocket. These things all people are not aware of. Even me. I wasnt aware of such a thing. Its the job of the person to serve and whether or not someone tips its an individuals choice. One cannot call then miser or insane or any other word be used.i agree with your emotions on the same. But then one should put it across to the person or the customer as well. So that they know that the services eed to be rewarded. Maybe one shud put it on the menu card as well to make sure that no one goes in a loss and if a person cannot pay then they might as well look for another place to go. Normally people who are working which nearly all of us are have this attitude that if we have paid for the food then why pay for the services.The cost of the food should take care of the other heads included. Infact people should add a certain amount or percentage to the bill so that no one suffers. Also we all work for ends to meet. So even if one is moving to another country legally or illegally its the same ...for earning.

I think it really depend on culture. I have not been to the states but I do understand that tipping is a small gesture to service providers that is a norm in many countries. In Singapore, we do not expect to be tipped. For some reason, we were shocked to receive a tipping from foreign guest visiting our country. Sometimes we return it to the customer as it was not within the company's policy to accept tippings. With this concept in mind, some people from my country do not know that they should tip while touring overseas. Maybe they are more open to tip the bellboy but not beyond that. Maybe my country will also have to start teaching people to accept tips and in turn develop the culture to tip others.

I think that people are so cheap when it comes to tipping now because it's just getting rough out there with the economy. With that one chick that only tipped thirty cents, rich people have to get rich somehow and that may mean being a super cheap tightwad. I currently work as a busser and I get a percentage of the waitress's tips. It kind of sucks because I only work for like an hour and a half sometimes, so I'll end up with like seven dollars for my tip envelope. It does suck not getting good tips but you have to understand that people don't have the money to throw around any more.

hi there hisbabydoll! wow, that's shocking to learn that there are some employers who make their employees survive only on tips, or make them compensate for unpaid tips. tips are supposed to be a small amount as a gesture of "thank you" for the service provided by your waiter or waitress. and about your experience, i think that customer you mentioned was too much of a cheapskate. and to think that her behaviour (just goofing around the restaurant) costs the restaurant a few potential additional customers (who would've ordered something more expensive other than 5-6 cups of coffee). maybe, despite her expensive clothes and trinkets, she does not have enough good manners. an uncouth, snooty rich woman who is actually a cheapskate. simply unacceptable. in my case, if i like the way the waiter/waitress served me (or friends), i give them a generous tip. for ordinary (yet acceptable) service, i give a tip which is equivalent to 10% of my bill (if it was a $100 dinner, i'd give him/her $10). if service was poor, i won't give a tip. my gesture of goodwill should only be given to those who deserve it. the rude waiter/waitress might continue his/her bad service, thinking that he or she will get a tip anyways. thanks and more power to you! =)

hmm. i used to work in a restaurant too.. and there were customers that drove u nuts.. there were like ppl.. even wen there were 2 cents left they would pick it up and leave no tip.... and sometimes.. a whole group of friends ard 10 of them comes.. and u serve them.. and after sitting for 2 hrs.. they just dont wanna leave any tip.. so one of my friends got pissed .. One of my friends was telling me that once wen a customer left 2 cents and said keep the change.. the waitress got angry and turned the tip plate upside down and threw the 2 coins on the table and said.. no.. u keep the change.. hehehe. taht was funny..

As going to resturants and eating which costs a lot and should give tips to the servents..I once waitresses at a breakfast place,and one popular and particular customer always tipped 3o cents,its doesnt matter how much he ate..but who ever ate should give tips to the servents..this is extra income to the servents for serving..where as when we come across the small fastfood centers we shouldnt give any tips as well as they do niot ask any tips t the customers..

How do you refuse to handle customers who refuse to TIP !!!!! ????? !!!!! From your post, I get a message that TIPPING is mandatory there !!! In my part of the world only a small % of people actually TIP ! I am from the minority who do TIP and that is totally by choice to make sure of better services.

For my country, there is a compulsory charge of 10% for the service in a restaurant. Therefore, every citizen who goes to a restaurant has to pay a charge of 10% to the amount they spend at the restaurant. When you spend more in the restaurant, the charges will be even higher. To add on, the restaurants will have a glass bowl next to the cashier for some customer to leave some change or additional service charge. For your country, the little tips are not fair to the servers.However, the system use in my country is not fair to the customer. There are occasions that I go to the restaurant and the service is really bad. But I will still have to pay for service charge of 10%.

Maybe they don't know that wait staff don't get minimum wage and get taxed on tips whether they receive them or not. I always tip at least 15%. Many times I'll tip more because I only had coffee or cheep things and took up the waitresses time. Wait staff work hard for their money. Granted they should be paid much better, but until that happens, I'll continue tipping.

I can only think of three reasons for tipping or poor tipping: * Maybe they cant afford it (not your particular customer from the looks of it ) * Maybe they just don’t know they should do it ,you may not want to believe this one but some people just don’t know that they should. You might be surprised how many people don’t pay common courtesies like please and thanks to others so it would be even harder to understand the act of tipping. * Some people are unreasonable and don’t value other's effort they argue that you are doing your work and getting paid for it ,so they don’t think you should be paid anything else. I think your particular customer falls in this category. She sounds like the kind of person who has money but think she worked hard for hers and so she shouldnt give it away unnecessarily (which is how she views giving you her money)

I always face the customers who are not very likely to give tips(i am a waiter). But I think in my country only in 1 reason: They unable to afford the payment in their normal life already how they going to give the tips? But I think if dont want give tips just dont go that such place lor... go to mamak stall is the best choice. :P

This question is not easy to answer i think. You know, sometimes people maybe think their sevice is too slow and so on. So they will give little tip. But sometimes their sevice is very good, but they get little tip, too. Maybe they don't have enough money.But i think people usually give enough tips to waiters.

Wow, 30 cents?? And I thought I was bad. I usually tip around five dollars. Since I don't eat out often, I'm not sure if it's a good or bad tip. If I get a rude server I tend to only tip a couple dollars. I feel bad then hurry out of there, haha.

It is really not cheap. It is because we don't want to spend more on the tip. That's it. Also because, we are paying for their goods. If we pay big tips then that would be a great expense on our part. Right? So just don't think about giving small tips would be cheap.:)