What is the general rule for tipping?

[VBF]

19 hours ago, Tchooptip said:

The term for tip in Thai is tiip ทีป  or ngeun tip เงินทีปม no offence but I would really like to know where did you find 

prahyat is the Thai word for tip or who is the person who told you that?  

I just re-read my post where I said:

 

"I think the Thai word for it is  Prah̄yạd (ประหยัด) - or in English - parsimonious"

 

Meaning that the word I chose means parsimonious,  not tip - I think.  It was my tongue in cheek self-description. Possibly a little ambiguous, but that was what I meant.

Edited August 24, 2018 by VBF

[KMartinHandyman]

90 posts and the answer to the OP is conclusive, up to you!

[Tchooptip]

48 minutes ago, VBF said:

I just re-read my post where I said:

 

"I think the Thai word for it is  Prah̄yạd (ประหยัด) - or in English - parsimonious"

 

Meaning that the word I chose means parsimonious,  not tip - I think.  It was my tongue in cheek self-description. Possibly a little ambiguous, but that was what I meant.

OK,  of course, it was parsimonious, frugal or cheap,  chan bpràyàt : economy class. But also stingy, LOL : bpràyat mâak

I thought you understood it means tip too, sorry 

[baansgr]

46 minutes ago, KMartinHandyman said:

90 posts and the answer to the OP is conclusive, up to you!

Yes its upto the Patron to decide. Many posters quoting USA or Europe, the fact is, in those countries you mostly receive good service, however Thailand is the opposite with blatant rudeness, staff too busy on their phones, wrong orders, bills incorrect etc etc...Thats why I decided never to tip here. Dont care and never care twice if people think Im tight...oh and thats another thing, so many times, the service has been absymal and when you dont leave a tip its"farang kineeow"  

[55Jay]

2 hours ago, Mike West said:

Exactly,  "in the USA" keep your customs there, don't bring them over here. The Thais actually laugh at you guys behind your backs, as they can't comprehend how you pay more, they find it totally ludicrous. But they will happily accept your money. 

You should hear what those laughing Thais you claim to be on side with, are saying about YOU after YOU've gone. ?

 

Yeah, you bloody Yanks and that tipping nonsense youz cum up wit.

Quote

Tipping in the United States began just after the American Civil War in the late 1800s. Lynn suggests that wealthy Americans traveling abroad to Europe witnessed tipping and brought the aristocratic custom back with them to “show off,” or prove their elevated education and class.

 

Tipping—which may have originated in the taverns of 17th Century England, where drinkers would slip money to the waiter “to insure promptitude” or T.I.P for short—wasn’t embraced by all Americans when the custom began to make its way into our country’s taverns and dining halls. A movement against tipping began in the late 1890’s as many Americans believed that tipping went against the country’s ideals and allowed a clear servile class that would be financially dependent on a higher class.

http://www.foodwoolf.com/2010/08/history-of-tipping.html

Edited August 24, 2018 by 55Jay

[dick dasterdly]

Personally, I only leave loose change at restaurants (and even then, only if they have provided a good service) - unless I intend to use them again, in which case I'll leave 20 bht.  After all, who wants a disgruntled employee spitting in their food ?!

 

BUT, I do tip obviously badly paid staff in other areas of work if at all possible - if they provide a 'good' service.

 

e.g. Petrol pump attendants.  If they put the cap back on my 'bike petrol tank after filling - I'll try very hard to ensure that the money I give them results in some change, which I'll leave as a tip.  If they can't be bothered to put the petrol cap back on - no tip.

 

The staff at supermarkets that try very hard  to take your trolley back to your vehicle, and unload the items.  Obviously, their help is un-needed, but they are very badly paid, so I'm more than happy to let them do so and give them a 20 bht tip.  (Unlike some FAR wealthier friends I know, who begrudge giving them a tip, so refuse to let the staff take their trolley to their car...☹️).

 

Even when riding my 'bike (which has a large box on the back to hold a fair amount of shopping), every now and again a 'trolley collector' provides (un-necessary) help by unloading the items into the 'bike box - and I'm always pleased, as this provides me with an excuse to tip him 20 bht.  A tiny amount to me, but worth far more to the extremely badly paid person whose job is to collect trolleys.

 

Similarly, I frequently get a few take-aways from a small (owner plus one assistant), local street vendor/'restaurant' - and the assistant invariably goes out of her way to be helpful by carrying the food to my 'bike and loading it.  Embarrassingly, it took me a while to realise that even though it was 'only' a street vendor, there would be no problem with giving the (no doubt) poorly paid assistant a 10 or 20 bht tip.

 

I could go on - but it boils down to my being happy to tip very poorly paid staff a small amount of money - knowing it is a small amount of money to me, but helps someone trying to survive on a pittance.

 

Incidentally, my local 'bike repair shop (a very small enterprise - again, owner and assistant) always provide an excellent service at very small cost.  They never have any problem coming to my house to collect/fix and then return 'bike or samlor to my house, and so I always give a tip by rounding up to the nearest '100 bht'.  A friend (who has lived here far longer than me and uses another 'bike shop) said that I was making a mistake by tipping them, as it would result in higher prices.  Happy to say it hasn't - and my friend agreed when we compared costs recently.?

[Mac98]

Taxi driver wanted 200. I said 180 plus 20 baht tip. When we got there I gave him 200 and said "keep the change". Now if he helps carry bags up to my room, of course a tip. Also if he sits outside the hospital two hours waiting for me, a tip. Use your good judgement.

Edited August 24, 2018 by Mac98
Spelling error by autocorrect.

[Fairynuff]

6 hours ago, Mike West said:

Sorry to upset you, but you live in a fantasy world, tipping is NOT required in Thailand. You made all that up. 

You didn’t upset me at all, it’s a very real world I live in where people appreciate the tips I give for their good service. The upside of that is called mutual respect, probably an unknown concept to those who think tipping isn’t “required”

[Ks45672]

36 minutes ago, Fairynuff said:

You didn’t upset me at all, it’s a very real world I live in where people appreciate the tips I give for their good service. The upside of that is called mutual respect, probably an unknown concept to those who think tipping isn’t “required”

Tips are not necessary or expected in Thai and that's a good thing

 

Yanks just can't understand other society's function in different ways because they think the whole world runs like good ole 'murica

[suzannegoh]

Tipping NOT have normal ewerywere, not thailand not around world, but usa idiot land have because all usa restaurant owner have idiots and not pay normal good salary to waiters, and poor workers need tippi can live normal,have idiot system and only stupid poor restaurants at usa and true stupid owner used thats and not give tip to worker at thailand too.if i has good service sometime i yip traught at worker/waiters hand not to restaurant owner.

It's always impressive when illiterates call other people idiots.

[Nyezhov]

1 hour ago, Ks45672 said:

 

Yanks just can't understand other society's function in different ways because they think the whole world runs like good ole 'murica

If it did it wouldnt be so f'd up now would it....:) Start choosing world, ya got a choice between the Chinese and the US.....

 

I treat people like I like being treated. I, even at my old age in the USA , have been offered tips fer helping grannies with their groceries. Some chick offered me $20 for changing her tire.

 

I always refuse, because I dont need it. If its insisted on, I pass it on to one who does.

 

I dont understand why folks get their panties in a wad over the simple elements of respect and helping out. Why does the simply act of tipping have to turn into a America bashing session? Why do internet warriors need to screech about their Thai bonafides in telling us how to live our lives? It isnt about Thailand and the US...its about the fact that the dude that carries my groceries in the heat has helped me out...now, for 60 old US cents or so, I can help him out. Its pure capitalism and kindness.

[Ks45672]

7 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

If it did it wouldnt be so f'd up now would it....:) Start choosing world, ya got a choice between the Chinese and the US.....

 

I treat people like I like being treated. I, even at my old age in the USA , have been offered tips fer helping grannies with their groceries. Some chick offered me $20 for changing her tire.

 

I always refuse, because I dont need it. If its insisted on, I pass it on to one who does.

 

I dont understand why folks get their panties in a wad over the simple elements of respect and helping out. Why does the simply act of tipping have to turn into a America bashing session? Why do internet warriors need to screech about their Thai bonafides in telling us how to live our lives? It isnt about Thailand and the US...its about the fact that the dude that carries my groceries in the heat has helped me out...now, for 60 old US cents or so, I can help him out. Its pure capitalism and kindness.

It's just comical that you haven't progressed beyond a system where you're wondering whether to leave 10% or 15% or 20% depending on some non standardised opinion of how "good" the service  was.... Or wasn't 

[Nyezhov]

5 minutes ago, Ks45672 said:

It's just comical that you haven't progressed beyond a system where you're wondering whether to leave 10% or 15% or 20% depending on some non standardised opinion of how "good" the service  was.... Or wasn't 

Progressed? How? Let the Nanny State take care of things?

 

I just go with the flow. I tip a Casino Valet in Vegas percentage wise less than the old lady who serves me at 3am in Waffle House. I give the maids more than the security guy....maybe. Humping 5 bags upstairs pays more than 1.  Waitresses, Mamasans, Guards, Taxi Drivers...all depends on circumstances...

[mogandave]

I dont understand why folks get their panties in a wad over the simple elements of respect and helping out. Why does the simply act of tipping have to turn into a America bashing session?

Because most of the world are takers...they expect everyone else to subsidize them.

Notice how much better the service usually is at the cheapest Waffle House in goat-<deleted>*k Indiana than at the most expensive restaurant in Bangkok?

Ever wonder why?

[Ks45672]

14 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Progressed? How? Let the Nanny State take care of things?

 

I just go with the flow. I tip a Casino Valet in Vegas percentage wise less than the old lady who serves me at 3am in Waffle House. I give the maids more than the security guy....maybe. Humping 5 bags upstairs pays more than 1.  Waitresses, Mamasans, Guards, Taxi Drivers...all depends on circumstances...

 

14 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Progressed? How? Let the Nanny State take care of things?

 

I just go with the flow. I tip a Casino Valet in Vegas percentage wise less than the old lady who serves me at 3am in Waffle House. I give the maids more than the security guy....maybe. Humping 5 bags upstairs pays more than 1.  Waitresses, Mamasans, Guards, Taxi Drivers...all depends on circumstances...

Paying the waiting staff enough to live on without depending on the gratitude of the patrons would be a good place to start.... 

 

[Nyezhov]

3 minutes ago, Ks45672 said:

 

Paying the waiting staff enough to live on without depending on the gratitude of the patrons would be a good place to start.... 

 

most servers would rather get the tips...

 

Now one class of folks I never tip is strippers ?

[Ks45672]

3 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

most servers would rather get the tips...

 

Now one class of folks I never tip is strippers ?

Most customers would rather not have to calculate what % is appropriate for excellent /good/ok/modest or crap service and leave them with that amount

 

And then if the waiter was good buy the food wasn't great but they share the tips anyway, how much do you leave in a situation like that? 

 

Just give me a bill and I'll pay it but <deleted> figuring out how much tips people "deserve" for doing the job they're employed to do anyway.... 

 

Why should restaurants be allowed to make patrons subsidise staff wages anyway? 

 

 

[mogandave]

Most customers would rather not have to calculate what % is appropriate for excellent /good/ok/modest or crap service and leave them with that amount
 
And then if the waiter was good buy the food wasn't great but they share the tips anyway, how much do you leave in a situation like that? 
 
Just give me a bill and I'll pay it but figuring out how much tips people "deserve" for doing the job they're employed to do anyway.... 
 
Why should restaurants be allowed to make patrons subsidise staff wages anyway? 
 
 

Particularly the pikers..

So all the wait-staff make the same money, regardless of how happy the customers are with their performance, yes?

[Ks45672]

1 minute ago, mogandave said:

 

Particularly the pikers..

So all the wait-staff make the same money, regardless of how happy the customers are with their performance, yes?

 

Some restaurants split the tips even with the guys in the kitchen who wash the dishes etc

[mogandave]

Some restaurants split the tips even with the guys in the kitchen who wash the dishes etc

Most wait-staff share tips with kitchen and buss-staff. It is not that common for the wait-staff to pool their tips, particularly as they get to taxed on their volume.

[Mike West]

6 hours ago, Fairynuff said:

You didn’t upset me at all, it’s a very real world I live in where people appreciate the tips I give for their good service. The upside of that is called mutual respect, probably an unknown concept to those who think tipping isn’t “required”

Get it through your head, they DO NOT respect you for paying more, got it?  You do live in a fantasy world for thinking that. Leave your customs in the US where they belong. Thais are a totally different culture. 

[Mike West]

2 hours ago, Ks45672 said:

Some restaurants split the tips even with the guys in the kitchen who wash the dishes etc

Why don't chefs get tips then? with this ridiculous logic, they are the ones that are creating the most important part, the meals. 

[Nyezhov]

9 hours ago, Mike West said:

Get it through your head, they DO NOT respect you for paying more, got it?  You do live in a fantasy world for thinking that. Leave your customs in the US where they belong. Thais are a totally different culture. 

Yep it surely is different but like most of us in the US, they respect and appreciate hard working folks and appreciate generosity. But hey, I'll keep tipping despite the purported laughs, because if it helps out one person it's ok in my book. 

 

Sort of like the USA...always handing out money or our lives to folks who don't respect us behind our backs?

[Vacuum]

14 hours ago, suzannegoh said:

It's always impressive when illiterates call other people idiots.

How's your Finnish?

[tropo]

14 hours ago, mogandave said:

Most wait-staff share tips with kitchen and buss-staff. It is not that common for the wait-staff to pool their tips, particularly as they get to taxed on their volume.
 

 

2

And fair enough too. If I'm going to tip, I'd like some of that to go to the poor sods slaving away in the kitchen, cooking, preparing food and washing dishes? They are working harder than the waiter.

[mogandave]

How's your Finnish?

In mouth...

[Ks45672]

6 hours ago, mogandave said:

 

In mouth...

 

A man after my own heart lol

Edited August 25, 2018 by Ks45672

[ChiangMaiLightning2143]

I’m American. I tip there It is part of the economic system there and basically required in certain places. Tipping is one thing that has partially ruined Thailand.

Importing such an alien concept to Thailand has created an economic distortion, and strange racist expectations in a culture with no concept of customer service anyway. I have had many experiences of literally just got in a taxi or sat down at a table where the (Thai males) Immediately and rudely demanded “You no forget give me tip”. What?

And has been explained to me recently by a aggressive. Tuk-Tuk driver “ Have good and bad Farang because they give back to Thailand (large tips) and Asian/Indians tourists just take take take”. So I said to him I said “I’m just like Japanese” and walked away. They tip sweet fa and are much more respected than any white Foreigner or Chinese.

[suzannegoh]

35 minutes ago, ChiangMaiLightning2143 said:

I’m American. I tip there It is part of the economic system there and basically required in certain places. Tipping is one thing that has partially ruined Thailand.

Importing such an alien concept to Thailand has created an economic distortion, and strange racist expectations in a culture with no concept of customer service anyway. I have had many experiences of literally just got in a taxi or sat down at a table where the (Thai males) Immediately and rudely demanded “You no forget give me tip”. What?

And has been explained to me recently by a aggressive. Tuk-Tuk driver “ Have good and bad Farang because they give back to Thailand (large tips) and Asian/Indians tourists just take take take”. So I said to him I said “I’m just like Japanese” and walked away. They tip sweet fa and are much more respected than any white Foreigner or Chinese.

You have a good point about it creating an economic distortion and that “customer service” is not a Thai concept but the chicken & egg paradox is in play.  In the US the tips might be a motivator and might to some degree explain why in restaurants you’ll often see things like one waitress being able to take care of ten tables at a time.  Here you’d need 5 waitress and customers still would have trouble getting the attention of their waitress.  What’s not easy to unravel is whether that is due to something cultural or because a waitress in the US who waits on five times as many tables will get five times the tips.

Edited August 25, 2018 by suzannegoh

[Fairynuff]

On 8/25/2018 at 12:52 AM, Mike West said:

Get it through your head, they DO NOT respect you for paying more, got it?  You do live in a fantasy world for thinking that. Leave your customs in the US where they belong. Thais are a totally different culture. 

You know nothing about me or the life I live here . You can’t even work out where m from from <deleted>. And no I will never GET it. If you persist in your misguided belief so be it but thank goodness I’m nothing like you