Tip Now

[actiondell4]

Is tipping now expected?

It seems like i am obliged to tip now more than ever.

Took my clothes to the laundry,the staff begged me,in front of the owner,who said nothing,for a 20 baht tip.

I felt embarrassed and gave it to him,but will not take my clothes back.

I then yesterday went to a cafe in soi bukcow that specialises in sandwiches only to have the girl abuse me for leaving her a 10 baht tip,after waiting 25 minutes for a sandwich and not even talking to me.

I would rather tip the nice staff in family mart stores.

I use to be one of those farangs who would say "Just pay it " ,whats 20 baht anyway?

I remember once arguing with a friend who complained about being overcharged for a motortaxi,and I told him ,"just pay it mate,whats 50 baht to you,just pay it,stop complaining."

But now they snub their noses at even a 20 baht tip,I feel guilty .

its not like their doing anything special for me,sometimes not even a hello on arrival.

I tipped 200 baht to a waiter personally the other night which i know is stupidity but he went out of his way for me .

But i really dont think its good for business to have your staff demand tips and not even greet the customer on arrival and EXPECT a tip.

As for a laundry demanding a tip well.....I just should say no i guess,but i started to feel guilty.

I just do go back to these places but i wonder if the owners know that staff demanding tips hurts their business.

Do you feel guilty and give a tip if the staff ask for it during your meal?

[anothertorres]

this is all probably my fault. it's not tipping i believe in so much. it's overtipping. i have hundreds of bahts in my pocket right now. i like to play Trump and throw down an added 20 for the extra smile.

i always have one rule to overtipping. only do it at a place you will come back to regularly. otherwise, it's pointless. it's what i like to call, putting a deposit down for my next meal from that restaurant.

[johnlexo]

Unfortunately it has become an integral part of the Thai/Tourist society to openly demand tips. I get comments all the time, if i leave "only" 20 Baht for a 50 Baht cup of coffee. For good service I feel 10-15% is adequate. But let's be honest, when do we receive good service in any place in Thailand/Pattaya? Most of the staff are unqualified, lazy, have an attitude and they hardly know their own menu. Compared to the US, Philippines and many other places, Thais hardly ever deserve a tip. But these days even the staff at the dentist's office opens their hands. Amazing, but true!

They don't even realize how they piss off most of us! JL

[tropo]

Here's an easy way to overcome your embarrassment for not leaving a tip.

They're being exceptionally rude by asking for a tip, so not leaving one is a good repayment for rudeness.

When people are rude enough to ask for a tip don't leave one. It just makes the situation worse when you reward bad behaviour.

My Filipino gf taught me this because in her country they never ask for tips and she considers it very bad manners.

Edited July 23, 2009 by tropo

[Jingthing]

When people are rude enough to ask for a tip don't leave one. It just makes the situation worse when you reward bad behaviour.

Agreed 100 percent. Yes, I generally tip at modest levels and rarely hear any kind of complaint about the tips (nor do they make anyone's day), but I can't stand surly staff begging for tips.

The point about being expected to tip 20 baht minimum on any purchase, even 50 baht, is something I have noticed. Not this farang.

Edited July 23, 2009 by Jingthing

[LennyW]

Here's an easy way to overcome your embarrassment for not leaving a tip.

They're being exceptionally rude by asking for a tip, so not leaving one is a good repayment for rudeness.

When people are rude enough to ask for a tip don't leave one. It just makes the situation worse when you reward bad behaviour.

My Filipino gf taught me this because in her country they never ask for tips and she considers it very bad manners.

Absolutely spot on Tropo.

I have no problem giving a tip for good service, but i am dammned if i will give a tip just because it is the "norm" !

[bojo]

Rule number 1 in my book - never leave a tip if they ask for one.

It's got so bad in some areas that even the cheeky gits at the petrol stations ask to keep the change. Some OTT tourists must have made the mistake of leaving their change and tipping has reached a whole new level.

However I would say that having worked in the frontline of the restaurant business in Koh Samui for many years, that some foreigners are an embarressment to their country. I have seen on many occasion outright rudeness and the 'I'm a superior foreigner' attitude towards decent, genuine and hard working employees, but it's amazing how their attitude changes when I appear from out the back.

It's no surprise that some Thai's have taken to asking for tips (I do condone this). I have also seen my staff working like slaves and really making an effort only to be met without even a 'thank you' from customers.

The best tippers in my experience have always been Brits, Americans and drunks, with the worst being French, Israeli, Indian and Italian. Surprisingly, Australians tip very badly and I have asked many of them about this and they say, that most just don't tip. I find that rather hard to believe as I have always seen them failing at the bartering game and paying the most for produsts as they say they feel sorry for the street vendors.

Personally, I tip generously if the service is good and leave nothing if the service is bad.

Regards Bojo

[tropo]

The best tippers in my experience have always been Brits, Americans and drunks, with the worst being French, Israeli, Indian and Italian. Surprisingly, Australians tip very badly and I have asked many of them about this and they say, that most just don't tip. I find that rather hard to believe

Allow me to fill you in.

The Australian Government's Department of Tourism promotes a no-tipping policy in Australia. Tourist brochures state that it is not customary (or necessary) to tip in Australia.

Unlike in the US, Australian restaurant staff are paid a full wage and don't rely on tips.

Despite this, many Australians (myself included) do tip, but not excessively as most Americans do. IMO percentage tipping is absurd.

Edited July 23, 2009 by tropo

[Tolley]

Rule number 1 in my book - never leave a tip if they ask for one.

It's got so bad in some areas that even the cheeky gits at the petrol stations ask to keep the change. Some OTT tourists must have made the mistake of leaving their change and tipping has reached a whole new level.

However I would say that having worked in the frontline of the restaurant business in Koh Samui for many years, that some foreigners are an embarressment to their country. I have seen on many occasion outright rudeness and the 'I'm a superior foreigner' attitude towards decent, genuine and hard working employees, but it's amazing how their attitude changes when I appear from out the back.

It's no surprise that some Thai's have taken to asking for tips (I do condone this). I have also seen my staff working like slaves and really making an effort only to be met without even a 'thank you' from customers.

The best tippers in my experience have always been Brits, Americans and drunks, with the worst being French, Israeli, Indian and Italian. Surprisingly, Australians tip very badly and I have asked many of them about this and they say, that most just don't tip. I find that rather hard to believe as I have always seen them failing at the bartering game and paying the most for produsts as they say they feel sorry for the street vendors.

Personally, I tip generously if the service is good and leave nothing if the service is bad.

Regards Bojo

Tipping is not really the norm in Australia as it is in the US or in some parts of Europe so that probably explains why Ozzies dont tip much plus many are complete tight asses .

I do tip a bit in Thailand but nothing excessive ususally 20 baht but sometimes less and sometimes nothing if the service is really bad.

Most Thais don't say anything but I have had the occasional Thai make out I wasn't tipping enough but this is rare and I only laugh at their rudeness.

Some of the Thais working in Pattaya anyway are real trailer trash so i wouldn't get my nose out of joint if you get a bit of lip from someone like that.

[IanForbes]

The tip? hel_l, I give em the whole thing.

[cigarchuck]

The tip? hel_l, I give em the whole thing.

How much do Thai's tip?

[barrybike]

tip if your happy to and if your not happy dont tip simple as that. as tha thais say" up 2 u"

[actiondell4]

I will give you a tip "Kiss me before you rape me",should be a great t shirt slogan.

I had to say this to a waitress un Soi Buokhow recently too.

Here I was expecting a nice quiet breakfast of sausages bacon and toast and a good cuppa and the morning newspaper to relax to, only to have her sit down opposite me and tell me she needed a good tip because she had this problem and that problem and all i wanted to do was read my newspaper so i ended up trying to tell her my personal problems but she seemed to not want to listen.

I even starting delving deep into my personal problems and she just kept nodding her head and cutting in on me about how shes got 4 kids and needs money etc,at least the farang owner sitting nearby was listening,i suppose i should of tipped him.

I went in there relaxed and came out a emotional wreck.

I felt like abusing her and calling her selfish as she didnt want to hear me,only hear herself talk.

I didnt even finish the breakfast.

i got jack of it at checkbin time and told her i have a tip for her "At least try to kiss them before raping them."

Another thing is last tuesday night here I am walking thru the sois and its raining and like a ghost town and no one around,I go into a small bar,no customers,I order a beer,and decide to play pool,no girls seem interested,so i play by myself only to hit the black ball accidently into the hole and a girl approached and said the papasan,thai owner said game was over,put another 20 baht into pool table and start again.

I thpought this is being ridicolois so i just paid for the beer ,half of it i left,and waited for my 20 baht change,beer was 80 baht,but they kept me waiting so i decided to use reverse psychology and smiled at them and thanked them and was surprised they were surprised i was leaving a tip.

Next minute the thai man owner told one of the girls that i could have next pool game free,if i bought another drink,which if he haDnt said anything aboUt me sinking the black ball,i probaly would of been there at least 5 games and 5 drinks later.Anyhow they thought they deserved a tip.

I often wonder how i would go if i lived here,i wouldnt be able to afford TIPPING EVERYONE.

Actually i took my spectacles to Charaoen the other day because of a broken lense,it came out and when i offered a tip to the lady she refused,same with 711 staff,they wont accept tips.

Edited July 23, 2009 by actiondell4

[syd barrett]

The most outrageous experience I had was in the Bookazine in Big C where the boys had installed a tip box. I bought a magazine for 180 baht and was waiting for my 20 baht change (with my hand out) when the boy stuffed it into the tip-box.

I was speechless, he just said goodbye in a friendly and confident voice.

I have never been back to that branch of Bookazine and now I use the Royal Garden Branch.

However I was at Bookazine Royal Garden two days ago and guess what? The staff have just installed a tip-box!

Watch this space!

[tropo]

The most outrageous experience I had was in the Bookazine in Big C where the boys had installed a tip box. I bought a magazine for 180 baht and was waiting for my 20 baht change (with my hand out) when the boy stuffed it into the tip-box.

I was speechless, he just said goodbye in a friendly and confident voice.

I have never been back to that branch of Bookazine and now I use the Royal Garden Branch.

However I was at Bookazine Royal Garden two days ago and guess what? The staff have just installed a tip-box!

Watch this space!

Unbelieveable! This is taking a demand for a tip to a whole new level.

If he tried that on me I would demanded that he take the 20 baht out of the tip box and I would have used some suitable expletives during the process.

[Jingthing]

I love that Bookazine tip box story! If they ever pulled that one on me, they would be opening that tip box to return the stolen money. There is a line of ridiculous and they have crossed it. Bookazine is a rather big company. Does the top management know about this and how offensive it is to customers?

I think this is a very revealing example. We did corrupt Thailand with our tipping practices. Now some fools think they are copying our tipping practices by installing tip demands almost EVERYWHERE where farangs gather. It is ignorant and we should not support these delusions any longer. If bookstore clerks want a better wage, give them a tip, speak to their boss, get more skills and get a better job, or get a job that is traditionally tipped (plenty of those in Pattaya).

Edited July 23, 2009 by Jingthing

[syd barrett]

I love that Bookazine tip box story! If they ever pulled that one on me, they would be opening that tip box to return the stolen money. There is a line of ridiculous and they have crossed it. Bookazine is a rather big company. Does the top management know about this and how offensive it is to customers?

Seeing a 'tip-box' in a well known bookshop in a shopping mall just seems amazing to me.

If the staff did that in Waterstones bookstore in Trafalgar Square, London, they would be sacked then prosecuted under mendicant and vagrancy laws, circa 1834.

Edited July 23, 2009 by syd barrett

[Jingthing]

I am waiting for some tool to say we must respect "Thai culture" and always tip at bookstores.

[surayu]

If a person, place or whatever else do not deserve your extra sign of appreciation (the "tip", as you are already giving them the "gift" of your custom), just don't give it to them, as someone has already stated, that would be the wrong signal to give and possibly next time they will get even worse, if they don't have your tip or your next custom then hopefully they will try to understand why and have some changes done, which here is likely to be in worse anyway , by the way i am from Italy and i DO tip often(mostly by just leaving behind the small changes), as many of my other countrymans, actually one of them overtip even when receiving a bad service....

[surayu]

I am waiting for some tool to say we must respect "Thai culture" and always tip at bookstores.

Jing you must respect "Thai vultures", in particular those driving a BahtBus did i won anything?

[barrybike]

pay a tip after buying a book for 180 bt ..i wouldnt accept them taking another 20 no way ...it wouldnt be the money but the principle of the thing ,thats just pure stealing...in these recession people should be just glad to get business never mind getting tips too...without the business they wouldnt have jobs....i wonder did they ever think of that ...if people are polite and nice to me when they serve me in a restaurant then they will get a tip every time but ignorant and arrogant people get a big ZERO

[gerry53]

Tipping upon buying a book in a retail store is ridiculous and being coerced into giving one is plain rude. Giving a tip under these circumstances is stupid. Tipping should be for GOOD service and not rewarding poor service, rudeness or strong arm tactics. To give one under these circumstances just encourages any service provider to continue and make it more difficult for everyone else and sends them the wrong message.

For GOOD service, politeness, efficiency, etc a tip encourages these desireable traits. The better the service the more I tend to pay (usually 15 - 20%) but I will not be coerced into giving one for poor service even if they have 4 kids in Isaan, sick relatives, etc, etc.

[redman]

My gf put a stop to my "too mutt" tipping just by taking the money off me before we get the checkbin. She decides what is a decent amount and has actually lifted the money I put down on the table when she thought the service was poor. Just another reason we left Pattaya for greener pastures

[britmaveric]

Yep - ask for a tip and sure way of getting no tip. Make that known to them as you walk away..

[Jingthing]

Yep - ask for a tip and sure way of getting no tip. Make that known to them as you walk away..

That's kind of a difficult to message to give. They will probably just think we are CC's. That's their problem.

[raro]

if the Bookazine guy would have pulled that tipbox scam on me he would have need a good surgeon to remove it from his sorry rectum after...

[Jingthing]

I think some instant karma is in order.

Do they take exact change in SATANGS at Bookazine? I've got a big jar of SATANG coins sitting around, maybe enough to buy Pattaya People or some such. You could always tip 10 or 20 SATANG from their trouble of COUNTING it.

Bookazine top management, clean up your act. We don't like this and we are your customers. Another tip to you: pay your staff more, we won't.

Edited July 24, 2009 by Jingthing

[syd barrett]

I think some instant karma is in order.

Do they take exact change in SATANGS at Bookazine? I've got a big jar of SATANG coins sitting around, maybe enough to buy Pattaya People or some such. You could always tip 10 or 20 SATANG from their trouble of COUNTING it.

Bookazine top management, clean up your act. We don't like this and we are your customers. Another tip to you: pay your staff more, we won't.

Bookazine don't accept satangs, even if the total bill is 101 baht they turn down two 50 satangs for the 'one' and demand to split a 20 baht.

[mr.buffalo]

I like going to the kick boxing bars on the corner of Walking sreet for a few throat openers. After the bout the winner comes round to get his win money from the punters and I normally give 20 baht. This one particular time the winner had a grumble when I gave him 20 baht so I took it back to an even louder grumble so I relented and let him have it ( the 20 baht I mean as there were loads of them about ). Never had whinge since.

[tropo]

Quite a few restaurants are charging a 10% service charge these days. eg Zen, Fuji

Do any of you leave tips in these restaurants?