Tipping in Thailand and SE Asia in general

[CLW]

Wrong! The minimum wage is 300++ per day/8h work.
 
do you really think the whole nation work in 7-11?

What do you mean by 300+?
Do you really think there is more?
Probably if you work an additional day to their 6 day week.

And yes, a large percentage of the population work for this money.
Not only 7-11 but all service and retail businesses.
Outside Bangkok is not much more businesses except the above mentioned and agriculture.

[VBF]

2 hours ago, BMW Overlander said:

The fact that OP asking such question shows how cheap people can be.

If you are happy with service what is wrong tipping whether they accept or not? it is common courtesy <deleted>.

It's not a case of being cheap or otherwise and it's certainly not a common courtesy  - that would be treating the staff politely. Tips are for when you get especially good service or when you feel like offering them - as you say "if you're happy".

if the service is lackadaisical or worse, no tip and no return - simple.

 

I've said this before on TV  "Tips are for me to offer, not for them to expect"

[impulse]

13 minutes ago, VBF said:

It's not a case of being cheap or otherwise and it's certainly not a common courtesy  - that would be treating the staff politely. Tips are for when you get especially good service or when you feel like offering them - as you say "if you're happy".

if the service is lackadaisical or worse, no tip and no return - simple.

 

I've said this before on TV  "Tips are for me to offer, not for them to expect"

 

You ever notice a slight taste of spit in your food?   Especially on your 3rd or 4th visit without leaving a tip?   Just asking.  No reason...

[sanemax]

12 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

You ever notice a slight taste of spit in your food?   Especially on your 3rd or 4th visit without leaving a tip?   Just asking.  No reason...

You are suggesting that chefs routinely spit in customers food if you dont leave a tip for them ?

   That is just what you imagine will happen , in the real world it doesnt happen

[Tofer]

3 hours ago, tryasimight said:

Most Thais?  30 baht an hour?  Really? You need to meet a better type  of Thai people. I know many earning over 200,000 a month. 

Working in a restaurant?

[Tofer]

1 hour ago, 1dayumay said:

Wrong! The minimum wage is 300++ per day/8h work.

 

do you really think the whole nation work in 7-11?

You think a restaurant worker, shop assistant taxi driver work an 8 hour shift - in your dreams!

[The manic]

52 minutes ago, sanemax said:

You are suggesting that chefs routinely spit in customers food if you dont leave a tip for them ?

   That is just what you imagine will happen , in the real world it doesnt happen

Oh yes it does. Read Down and Out in London and Paris.

[smotherb]

3 hours ago, Vacuum said:

In what way are your "better-type-of -Thais-with-200k/month" better than other Thais?

Well, that seems obvious to me. Requests for money to pay for sick buffaloes should decrease if your Thai girl makes B200k/mo. And even better, if she realizes you do not make that kind of money, but still wants to be with you.

[sanemax]

20 minutes ago, The manic said:

Oh yes it does. Read Down and Out in London and Paris.

Will do............just ordered the book from Amazon, should be here next week

[NoshowJones]

11 hours ago, Spaniel said:

I'd say you are pretty observant to pick all that up while composing your post!

 

Here in Thailand if the restaurant adds a service charge then I won't leave a tip other then the few odd coins in change.     

If a restaurant adds a service charge, I will and have walked.

[NoshowJones]

6 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

What if no service charge in a Thai restaurant?

Tip expected? 

What %?

 

Bahh humbug - thought I was escaping the tipping culture.

"Bahh humbug - thought I was escaping the tipping culture."  Why? Just don't tip if you don't want to. Do not let other folk decide what you do.

[NoshowJones]

4 hours ago, tryasimight said:

Most Thais?  30 baht an hour?  Really? You need to meet a better type  of Thai people. I know many earning over 200,000 a month. 

Would you care to tell us what jobs these "better type" of Thais do. 

Let me start you off, A Lt/Col, or Maj/Gen in the police force.

[NoshowJones]

4 hours ago, sanemax said:

No one has suggested that ALL Thais earn 30 Baht an hour, but this thread is about tipping and places where some people leave tips  , like restaurants , the workers there do earn 30 Baht an hour .

  Your 200 000 a month friends will not require a 20 Baht tip

No! 500Bt tea money more like.

[tryasimight]

22 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

Would you care to tell us what jobs these "better type" of Thais do. 

Let me start you off, A Lt/Col, or Maj/Gen in the police force.

Engineers In the petro/ chemical industries in Rayong for example. 

[Nice Boyd]

3 hours ago, 1dayumay said:

Wrong! The minimum wage is 300++ per day/8h work.

 

do you really think the whole nation work in 7-11?

Mostly 12 hour, my exgf work Rai and she get 200b for 8 hours

[Nice Boyd]

I’ve been here 12 years , I never heard a thsi nake 200,000, I know some Farang working here and they make 120,000 a month

[khunPer]

7 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

What if no service charge in a Thai restaurant?

Tip expected? 

What %?

 

Bahh humbug - thought I was escaping the tipping culture.

Some tips are expected, as many waiters, and restaurant staff in general, has a low salary that is based on little extra tips – it's also depending of the service – but round up between 5 and 10 percent is fair; however a huge bill might be tipped with up to a couple of hundred bath. If 10-15% service is added to the bill, just leave a little round up, or put some coins in the tip-box by the cashier; a tip-box signals that the staff will be happy to get a small acknowledgement when delivering good service.

 

In street kitchens and the like you can escape the tipping culture.

 

Mind you, that Thais tip a lot more than foreigners, as they make face when tipping – well, some foreigners also make face by tipping – however, don't overtip, as my friends with long-time Thai-experience learned me that if you overtip, the prices are just higher next time you come, since everybody pay extra the price must be too low.

 

In hotels it's a good idea to daily leave a 20-baht note on the bed pillow – or two, if more than one service staff cleaning your room – you'll get an excellent service in return; including extra towels, if needed.

 

In pubs and bars some tipping are expected when paying the "bin". If you pay by drink – which I prefer – then a tip with first order; usually a 20-baht note, less will make you look stingy; if a huge order, then little more. Again, that little tip can improve the service level.

 

A taxi driving you on the meter should be tipped – again a 20-baht note is like a fair minimum, and up to 5-10% of the meter charge – whilst a taxi, and tuk-tuk, driving you on a fixed price don't need a tip.

?

[khunPer]

50 minutes ago, Nice Boyd said:

Mostly 12 hour, my exgf work Rai and she get 200b for 8 hours

Official minimum wage in 2018 is over 300 baht per day for 8-hours work, ranging between 305 baht to about 320 baht, depending of province.

?

[The manic]

Some staff work for food and space on a floor. They need your tips. It gives them money and prestige and the chance of a job with a wage. Always tip if you plan to return to a place. If you are dissatisfied with a place. Leave a one baht tip. 

[The manic]

10 minutes ago, khunPer said:

Some tips are expected, as many waiters, and restaurant staff in general, has a low salary that is based on little extra tips – it's also depending of the service – but round up between 5 and 10 percent is fair; however a huge bill might be tipped with up to a couple of hundred bath. If 10-15% service is added to the bill, just leave a little round up, or put some coins in the tip-box by the cashier; a tip-box signals that the staff will be happy to get a small acknowledgement when delivering good service.

 

In street kitchens and the like you can escape the tipping culture.

 

Mind you, that Thais tip a lot more than foreigners, as they make face when tipping – well, some foreigners also make face by tipping – however, don't overtip, as my friends with long-time Thai-experience learned me that if you overtip, the prices are just higher next time you come, since everybody pay extra the price must be too low.

 

In hotels it's a good idea to daily leave a 20-baht note on the bed pillow – or two, if more than one service staff cleaning your room – you'll get an excellent service in return; including extra towels, if needed.

 

In pubs and bars some tipping are expected when paying the "bin". If you pay by drink – which I prefer – then a tip with first order; usually a 20-baht note, less will make you look stingy; if a huge order, then little more. Again, that little tip can improve the service level.

 

A taxi driving you on the meter should be tipped – again a 20-baht note is like a fair minimum, and up to 5-10% of the meter charge – whilst a taxi, and tuk-tuk, driving you on a fixed price don't need a tip.

?

A good tip

[khunPer]

45 minutes ago, Nice Boyd said:

I’ve been here 12 years , I never heard a thsi nake 200,000, I know some Farang working here and they make 120,000 a month

I was surprised to learn that my next door neighbor, a Thai man, made 325,000 baht – surprised, because I would have expected he made slightly more with the life-style his family could afford – then I realized it was his monthly salary.?

 

I have a Thai friend that makes little more than 800k baht – a month – but I think the most "normal" folks are paid between 15,000 and 30,000 baht a month, excluding the many working on minimum salary little over 300 baht a day that often become 8,000 to 9,000 baht a month, depending of 5 or 6 working days a week.

 

There is a comprehensive Thai 2018 salary guide here.

?

[whaleboneman]

6 hours ago, Vacuum said:

In what way are your "better-type-of -Thais-with-200k/month" better than other Thais?

Some people associate money with a better class of people - he should fit in well in Thailand.

[pattayahenry]

most thais are very generous in giving money to orphanages, homeless, amputees and other really needy people, but they never give tips to normal working people with a normal salary in restaurants or hotels. why should they give to strangers, their own grandmother has less monthly income. btw, in japan tipping is an insult, its below ones dignity.

 

[Enoon]

3 hours ago, khunPer said:

Official minimum wage in 2018 is over 300 baht per day for 8-hours work, ranging between 305 baht to about 320 baht, depending of province.

?

 

Oh well, if it's "official" it must be happening.

 

No wonder joy and happiness permeate the fields and sweatshops, bathed in the benevolent rays of light that emanate from the glorious "sun" who has made of the land........Prayutopia.

 

It's "official".

 

 

 

[JimmyJ]

6 hours ago, possum1931 said:

If a restaurant adds a service charge, I will and have walked.

Unfortunately, the service charge seems to often not be mentioned until it is applied to the bill.

 

I ordered a bottle of water at my Bangkok hotel' s outside bar after asking the waitress the price.

She opened it, then asked for an amount 20% higher than she'd stated a moment earlier.

"Service charge".

The bill confirmed that.

 

I looked at a few online restaurant reviews and one knocked a restaurant here (in Bangkok) for adding on to the bill a 10% service charge not stated on the menu.

 

 

[heybuz]

my thai mate says for tipping,no less than 50 no more than 100 bht.

[NoshowJones]

10 hours ago, tryasimight said:

Engineers In the petro/ chemical industries in Rayong for example. 

Yes, I'll give you that.

[NoshowJones]

4 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

Unfortunately, the service charge seems to often not be mentioned until it is applied to the bill.

 

I ordered a bottle of water at my Bangkok hotel' s outside bar after asking the waitress the price.

She opened it, then asked for an amount 20% higher than she'd stated a moment earlier.

"Service charge".

The bill confirmed that.

 

I looked at a few online restaurant reviews and one knocked a restaurant here (in Bangkok) for adding on to the bill a 10% service charge not stated on the menu.

 

 

It is usually in the small print.

Should it not be 17%?

As for asking more than the price on the menu, I just would refuse to pay it.

 

[gmac]

8 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

It is usually in the small print.

Should it not be 17%?

As for asking more than the price on the menu, I just would refuse to pay it.

 

That's the ++ and I avoid restaurants that practice it like the plague, 10% service 7% tax.  Unfortunately it seems fairly general in Bangkok these days.  If they want to charge 17% more just be honest about it and show the inclusive price on the menu.

[smutcakes]

6 minutes ago, gmac said:

That's the ++ and I avoid restaurants that practice it like the plague, 10% service 7% tax.  Unfortunately it seems fairly general in Bangkok these days.  If they want to charge 17% more just be honest about it and show the inclusive price on the menu.

7% is VAT, which they are required to charge by law. If they showed the inclusive price, people would whinge that they wanted an exclusive price.