Am I A Cheap Charlie If I Don't Tip?

[tropo]

EDIT:

I recall having a dinner with a business friend of mine in Pattaya, more than 30 years ago in a fancy restaurant.

There was a bunch of Arabian looking guys with expensive designer clothes dressed Ladies of the Night. Thai ladies.

One of the chaps was clearly the man in charge, watching the way he behaved very dominant, not only to the girls but also his assistants.

When they were finished eating (including lots of alcohol...Allah is not watching now, far away) he commanded something in Arab to one of the guys who took a small briefcase, opened it and took quite a bit of money out and threw it on the table and said to the very polite and kind waitress: "keep the change" which amount was HUGE in comparison the the bill, so it seemed.

She left and 2 minutes later the owner of the restaurant came back and gave all the extra tip-money back because they felt highly insulted about the way they tipped but also the way they HANDLED the money, throwing the money on the table with the face of HM The King on the notes....

They felt he seriously insulted HM The King and staff the way they expressed the difference in haves and haves-not.

That made all people, watching the scene in horror about so little respect for money, applaud the way the owner handled the situation!

We applauded as well.

BRAVO

That's a cute story, but I doubt many restaurant owners would be rushing to give back a substantial tip these days. Times they are a Changing.

Edited December 19, 2012 by tropo

[poanoi]

It's good to see

France brought freedom & democracy to USA,

as for bad manners & tips, take them back with you to hollywood, and stay there

An Expedia poll from 2009 found that the French are the worst behaved travelers, being bad tippers, cheap, rude and averse to foreign languages.

Thanks, here's another quote from that site

(The worst offenders in both those categories were — wait for it — Americans, who were also designated most likely to complain.)

I can confirm even thai prostitutes don't bitch as much as americans,

and TV prove they can't keep it to them-self online either.

Agree french have poor education, at least when it comes to languages,

but americans are equally unimpressive

Edited December 19, 2012 by poanoi

[LaoPo]

EDIT:

I recall having a dinner with a business friend of mine in Pattaya, more than 30 years ago in a fancy restaurant.

There was a bunch of Arabian looking guys with expensive designer clothes dressed Ladies of the Night. Thai ladies.

One of the chaps was clearly the man in charge, watching the way he behaved very dominant, not only to the girls but also his assistants.

When they were finished eating (including lots of alcohol...Allah is not watching now, far away) he commanded something in Arab to one of the guys who took a small briefcase, opened it and took quite a bit of money out and threw it on the table and said to the very polite and kind waitress: "keep the change" which amount was HUGE in comparison the the bill, so it seemed.

She left and 2 minutes later the owner of the restaurant came back and gave all the extra tip-money back because they felt highly insulted about the way they tipped but also the way they HANDLED the money, throwing the money on the table with the face of HM The King on the notes....

They felt he seriously insulted HM The King and staff the way they expressed the difference in haves and haves-not.

That made all people, watching the scene in horror about so little respect for money, applaud the way the owner handled the situation!

We applauded as well.

BRAVO

That's a cute story, but I doubt many restaurant owners would be rushing to give back a substantial tip these days. Times they are a Changing.

I agree; GREED has taken over and "we" as farang are at least for a part guilty to that greed since "we" spoilt them ourselves.

Thai didn't change the system, farang tourists did.

[Tolley]

EDIT:

I recall having a dinner with a business friend of mine in Pattaya, more than 30 years ago in a fancy restaurant.

There was a bunch of Arabian looking guys with expensive designer clothes dressed Ladies of the Night. Thai ladies.

One of the chaps was clearly the man in charge, watching the way he behaved very dominant, not only to the girls but also his assistants.

When they were finished eating (including lots of alcohol...Allah is not watching now, far away) he commanded something in Arab to one of the guys who took a small briefcase, opened it and took quite a bit of money out and threw it on the table and said to the very polite and kind waitress: "keep the change" which amount was HUGE in comparison the the bill, so it seemed.

She left and 2 minutes later the owner of the restaurant came back and gave all the extra tip-money back because they felt highly insulted about the way they tipped but also the way they HANDLED the money, throwing the money on the table with the face of HM The King on the notes....

They felt he seriously insulted HM The King and staff the way they expressed the difference in haves and haves-not.

That made all people, watching the scene in horror about so little respect for money, applaud the way the owner handled the situation!

We applauded as well.

BRAVO

That's a cute story, but I doubt many restaurant owners would be rushing to give back a substantial tip these days. Times they are a Changing.

I agree; GREED has taken over and "we" as farang are at least for a part guilty to that greed since "we" spoilt them ourselves.

Thai didn't change the system, farang tourists did.

Greed was well entrenched in Thailand long before Thialand became a popular mass tourism destination.

In fact I find Thais in general more money hungry than most other nationalities I have encountered. They seem to be prepared to do more for money than many other peoples with even lower standards of living.

They have an obsession with showing off and trying to outdo each other .

I have a diary of my first trip back in 79 and one of my observations was the obsession with money that Thais had.

[LaoPo]

EDIT:

I recall having a dinner with a business friend of mine in Pattaya, more than 30 years ago in a fancy restaurant.

There was a bunch of Arabian looking guys with expensive designer clothes dressed Ladies of the Night. Thai ladies.

One of the chaps was clearly the man in charge, watching the way he behaved very dominant, not only to the girls but also his assistants.

When they were finished eating (including lots of alcohol...Allah is not watching now, far away) he commanded something in Arab to one of the guys who took a small briefcase, opened it and took quite a bit of money out and threw it on the table and said to the very polite and kind waitress: "keep the change" which amount was HUGE in comparison the the bill, so it seemed.

She left and 2 minutes later the owner of the restaurant came back and gave all the extra tip-money back because they felt highly insulted about the way they tipped but also the way they HANDLED the money, throwing the money on the table with the face of HM The King on the notes....

They felt he seriously insulted HM The King and staff the way they expressed the difference in haves and haves-not.

That made all people, watching the scene in horror about so little respect for money, applaud the way the owner handled the situation!

We applauded as well.

BRAVO

That's a cute story, but I doubt many restaurant owners would be rushing to give back a substantial tip these days. Times they are a Changing.

I agree; GREED has taken over and "we" as farang are at least for a part guilty to that greed since "we" spoilt them ourselves.

Thai didn't change the system, farang tourists did.

Greed was well entrenched in Thailand long before Thialand became a popular mass tourism destination.

In fact I find Thais in general more money hungry than most other nationalities I have encountered. They seem to be prepared to do more for money than many other peoples with even lower standards of living.

They have an obsession with showing off and trying to outdo each other .

I have a diary of my first trip back in 79 and one of my observations was the obsession with money that Thais had.

I came to LOS even before '79 and do not have the same observations as you have; serving staff wasn't greedy at all and did NOT expect tips at that time but maybe we visited diffeferent places.

I recall Patong Beach/Phuket when it was still paradise with just 1 hotel and very quiet...

Serving staff was very gentle and kind and no greedy observations whatsoever.

[poanoi]

I'm convinced tipping leads/contributes to a depraved & corrupt society,

not much of a difference between a crook demanding tea money at a road stop

and a waitress demanding whiskey for mama money at a bar

[tropo]

since "we" spoilt them ourselves.

Not guilty of that.

[tropo]

In fact I find Thais in general more money hungry than most other nationalities I have encountered. They seem to be prepared to do more for money than many other peoples with even lower standards of living.

They have an obsession with showing off and trying to outdo each other .

I have a diary of my first trip back in 79 and one of my observations was the obsession with money that Thais had.

I totally disagree that Thais are greedier than any other nationalities

Greed is a universal human trait found in every single corner of the Globe in equal quantities.

Of course it will vary from individual to individual, but to peg a single nationality as being greedier than another is ridiculous.

[Jayman]

It's good to see

France brought freedom & democracy to USA,

as for bad manners & tips, take them back with you to hollywood, and stay there

An Expedia poll from 2009 found that the French are the worst behaved travelers, being bad tippers, cheap, rude and averse to foreign languages.

Thanks, here's another quote from that site

(The worst offenders in both those categories were — wait for it — Americans, who were also designated most likely to complain.)

I can confirm even thai prostitutes don't bitch as much as americans,

and TV prove they can't keep it to them-self online either.

Agree french have poor education, at least when it comes to languages,

but americans are equally unimpressive

Clearly you must be american.

[rgs2001uk]

In fact I find Thais in general more money hungry than most other nationalities I have encountered. They seem to be prepared to do more for money than many other peoples with even lower standards of living.

They have an obsession with showing off and trying to outdo each other .

I have a diary of my first trip back in 79 and one of my observations was the obsession with money that Thais had.

I totally disagree that Thais are greedier than any other nationalities

Greed is a universal human trait found in every single corner of the Globe in equal quantities.

Of course it will vary from individual to individual, but to peg a single nationality as being greedier than another is ridiculous.

I know most on here wont believe me, but here goes anyway.

Last week in Pattaya I tried to give a tip (not because the service was good, it was in fact crap but the girl had a nice personallity and good attitude) she said no need.

Last Mon night I came home in a taxi, fare was 150 baht, I got this taxi in the farang ghetto of Suk Rd Bkk, an area where taxis are notorious for refusing fares and quoting extortionate rates, this guy had no problems, spoke perfect English and was polite.

We reached the house, I gave him 150 baht, he handed back 41 baht, I gave him the lot, he handed me back 20 baht and said too much, I gave him back the 20 and thanked him for his driving and politeness.

No doubt I will be called a CC for not tipping enough.

[tropo]

That reminds me of an incident a few weeks ago when I wanted to tip the DHL courier for waiting at my house for about 15 minutes for me to arrive. He emphatically refused the tip.

[Tolley]

In fact I find Thais in general more money hungry than most other nationalities I have encountered. They seem to be prepared to do more for money than many other peoples with even lower standards of living.

They have an obsession with showing off and trying to outdo each other .

I have a diary of my first trip back in 79 and one of my observations was the obsession with money that Thais had.

I totally disagree that Thais are greedier than any other nationalities

Greed is a universal human trait found in every single corner of the Globe in equal quantities.

Of course it will vary from individual to individual, but to peg a single nationality as being greedier than another is ridiculous.

Yes there are greedy people everywhere but I have travelled to many countries and never seen the lengths at what people get up to here to get money.

The scams, the lies, the corruption, the infighting etc and the keeping up with the Joneses seems more pronounced here than in other countries I have visited.

Maybe I am wrong and Thailand is no different from any other country but that is my impression.

[tropo]

Yes there are greedy people everywhere but I have travelled to many countries and never seen the lengths at what people get up to here to get money.

The scams, the lies, the corruption, the infighting etc and the keeping up with the Joneses seems more pronounced here than in other countries I have visited.

Maybe I am wrong and Thailand is no different from any other country but that is my impression.

It's pretty bad in Australia too. The only difference is that there are stricter laws preventing scams and ripoffs. The greed and love of money is still just as strong.

Big casinos in every city. TABs in every suburb. Everyone is into Lotto. Make no mistake, Australians love money just as much as the rest of them.

Edited December 19, 2012 by tropo

[LaoPo]

In fact I find Thais in general more money hungry than most other nationalities I have encountered. They seem to be prepared to do more for money than many other peoples with even lower standards of living.

They have an obsession with showing off and trying to outdo each other .

I have a diary of my first trip back in 79 and one of my observations was the obsession with money that Thais had.

I totally disagree that Thais are greedier than any other nationalities

Greed is a universal human trait found in every single corner of the Globe in equal quantities.

Of course it will vary from individual to individual, but to peg a single nationality as being greedier than another is ridiculous.

It's not about Thai being greedier; the topic at hand was/is about the tipping system in Thailand which was NOT excisting some 30+ years ago.

It is now

[Tolley]

In fact I find Thais in general more money hungry than most other nationalities I have encountered. They seem to be prepared to do more for money than many other peoples with even lower standards of living.

They have an obsession with showing off and trying to outdo each other .

I have a diary of my first trip back in 79 and one of my observations was the obsession with money that Thais had.

I totally disagree that Thais are greedier than any other nationalities

Greed is a universal human trait found in every single corner of the Globe in equal quantities.

Of course it will vary from individual to individual, but to peg a single nationality as being greedier than another is ridiculous.

It's not about Thai being greedier; the topic at hand was/is about the tipping system in Thailand which was NOT excisting some 30+ years ago.

It is now

Thailand didnt have mass tourism 30 years ago either so what.

[uptheos]

Last week in Pattaya I tried to give a tip (not because the service was good, it was in fact crap but the girl had a nice personallity and good attitude) she said no need.

What was the service?

[poanoi]

The answer is that ill mannered tourists brought the tip bitching here.

[Tolley]

Yes there are greedy people everywhere but I have travelled to many countries and never seen the lengths at what people get up to here to get money.

The scams, the lies, the corruption, the infighting etc and the keeping up with the Joneses seems more pronounced here than in other countries I have visited.

Maybe I am wrong and Thailand is no different from any other country but that is my impression.

It's pretty bad in Australia too. The only difference is that there are stricter laws preventing scams and ripoffs. The greed and love of money is still just as strong.

Big casinos in every city. TABs in every suburb. Everyone is into Lotto. Make no mistake, Australians love money just as much as the rest of them.

Stricter laws and enforcement could be implemented in Thailand yet there is an unwillingness to do so. Why is that i wonder?

Corruption is a way of life in Thailand and many Thais see nothing ethically wrong with it.

Also there is a complete lack of community spirit with many only concerned with what goes on directly in front of them and happily ignore what is going on all around them.

I dont see the same thing on the same level in Australia or many other poorer countries for that matter.

Edited December 20, 2012 by Tolley

[Kilgore Trout]

In fact I find Thais in general more money hungry than most other nationalities I have encountered. They seem to be prepared to do more for money than many other peoples with even lower standards of living.

They have an obsession with showing off and trying to outdo each other .

I have a diary of my first trip back in 79 and one of my observations was the obsession with money that Thais had.

I totally disagree that Thais are greedier than any other nationalities

Greed is a universal human trait found in every single corner of the Globe in equal quantities.

Of course it will vary from individual to individual, but to peg a single nationality as being greedier than another is ridiculous.

I know most on here wont believe me, but here goes anyway.

Last week in Pattaya I tried to give a tip (not because the service was good, it was in fact crap but the girl had a nice personallity and good attitude) she said no need.

Last Mon night I came home in a taxi, fare was 150 baht, I got this taxi in the farang ghetto of Suk Rd Bkk, an area where taxis are notorious for refusing fares and quoting extortionate rates, this guy had no problems, spoke perfect English and was polite.

We reached the house, I gave him 150 baht, he handed back 41 baht, I gave him the lot, he handed me back 20 baht and said too much, I gave him back the 20 and thanked him for his driving and politeness.

No doubt I will be called a CC for not tipping enough.

I do not believe your taxi driver spoke perfect english,therefore you must be lying

Sent from my GT-S5660 using Thaivisa Connect App

[uptheos]

In fact I find Thais in general more money hungry than most other nationalities I have encountered. They seem to be prepared to do more for money than many other peoples with even lower standards of living.

They have an obsession with showing off and trying to outdo each other .

I have a diary of my first trip back in 79 and one of my observations was the obsession with money that Thais had.

I totally disagree that Thais are greedier than any other nationalities

Greed is a universal human trait found in every single corner of the Globe in equal quantities.

Of course it will vary from individual to individual, but to peg a single nationality as being greedier than another is ridiculous.

I know most on here wont believe me, but here goes anyway.

Last week in Pattaya I tried to give a tip (not because the service was good, it was in fact crap but the girl had a nice personallity and good attitude) she said no need.

Last Mon night I came home in a taxi, fare was 150 baht, I got this taxi in the farang ghetto of Suk Rd Bkk, an area where taxis are notorious for refusing fares and quoting extortionate rates, this guy had no problems, spoke perfect English and was polite.

We reached the house, I gave him 150 baht, he handed back 41 baht, I gave him the lot, he handed me back 20 baht and said too much, I gave him back the 20 and thanked him for his driving and politeness.

No doubt I will be called a CC for not tipping enough.

I do not believe your taxi driver spoke perfect english,therefore you must be lying

Sent from my GT-S5660 using Thaivisa Connect App

Well, in fairness I guess the taxi driver could have thought the passenger was a bit thick and didn't quite understand how much the fare really was? Though, I'm sort of curious why he would wait at the final destination for the driver to sort out and hand back 41 baht. I would have thought just give him 150 Baht and jump out.

[tropo]

Stricter laws and enforcement could be implemented in Thailand yet there is an unwillingness to do so. Why is that i wonder?

Corruption is a way of life in Thailand and many Thais see nothing ethically wrong with it.

Also there is a complete lack of community spirit with many only concerned with what goes on directly in front of them and happily ignore what is going on all around them.

I dont see the same thing on the same level in Australia or many other poorer countries for that matter.

I'll tell you why it is. It's a developing country decades behind countries like Australia. It took a long time to start implementing all the laws and regulations which make scamming less common in Australia. Do you recall the Fitzgerald Inquiry in Queensland? Corruption in the Bjelke-Peterson government was epic.... that was 30 years ago.

It takes time. Thailand has not been out of the jungle for long. Most modern democracies went through dark ages on their way to their present incarnations which you admire.

It takes a long time to weed out corruption.

[rgs2001uk]

Last week in Pattaya I tried to give a tip (not because the service was good, it was in fact crap but the girl had a nice personallity and good attitude) she said no need.

What was the service?

Dek serv in Sailor Bar.

[rgs2001uk]

In fact I find Thais in general more money hungry than most other nationalities I have encountered. They seem to be prepared to do more for money than many other peoples with even lower standards of living.

They have an obsession with showing off and trying to outdo each other .

I have a diary of my first trip back in 79 and one of my observations was the obsession with money that Thais had.

I totally disagree that Thais are greedier than any other nationalities

Greed is a universal human trait found in every single corner of the Globe in equal quantities.

Of course it will vary from individual to individual, but to peg a single nationality as being greedier than another is ridiculous.

I know most on here wont believe me, but here goes anyway.

Last week in Pattaya I tried to give a tip (not because the service was good, it was in fact crap but the girl had a nice personallity and good attitude) she said no need.

Last Mon night I came home in a taxi, fare was 150 baht, I got this taxi in the farang ghetto of Suk Rd Bkk, an area where taxis are notorious for refusing fares and quoting extortionate rates, this guy had no problems, spoke perfect English and was polite.

We reached the house, I gave him 150 baht, he handed back 41 baht, I gave him the lot, he handed me back 20 baht and said too much, I gave him back the 20 and thanked him for his driving and politeness.

No doubt I will be called a CC for not tipping enough.

I do not believe your taxi driver spoke perfect english,therefore you must be lying

Sent from my GT-S5660 using Thaivisa Connect App

Fine up to you, the driver was a graduate of Khon Kaen Uni, as I say he spoke perfect English.

Dont assume all taxi drivers are from Issan, one of the best I have ever had was a guy named Joe, a luk kreung from New York, even spoke with a NY accent.

The best story a taxi driver ever told me, he was glad of the finacial crisis in '97, it was only then he saw his wife for the gold digger she was.

He finally ditched his wife and went back to living with his mother, he gave up all the material crap in his life and was content to drive a taxi living a stress free life.

Reason he spoke perfect English was probably he was lucky not to have been taught by the many farangs who masquerade as teachers over here.

[rgs2001uk]

I do not believe your taxi driver spoke perfect english,therefore you must be lying

Sent from my GT-S5660 using Thaivisa Connect App

Well, in fairness I guess the taxi driver could have thought the passenger was a bit thick and didn't quite understand how much the fare really was? Though, I'm sort of curious why he would wait at the final destination for the driver to sort out and hand back 41 baht. I would have thought just give him 150 Baht and jump out.

Wasnt until I reached the destination I knew what the fare was, I was also in the middle of a conversation with the guy, as I have already replied, this was a heck of a nice chap, a credit to his family and to his profession, pity there arent more like him.

[Jayman]

I totally disagree that Thais are greedier than any other nationalities

Greed is a universal human trait found in every single corner of the Globe in equal quantities.

Of course it will vary from individual to individual, but to peg a single nationality as being greedier than another is ridiculous.

I know most on here wont believe me, but here goes anyway.

Last week in Pattaya I tried to give a tip (not because the service was good, it was in fact crap but the girl had a nice personallity and good attitude) she said no need.

Last Mon night I came home in a taxi, fare was 150 baht, I got this taxi in the farang ghetto of Suk Rd Bkk, an area where taxis are notorious for refusing fares and quoting extortionate rates, this guy had no problems, spoke perfect English and was polite.

We reached the house, I gave him 150 baht, he handed back 41 baht, I gave him the lot, he handed me back 20 baht and said too much, I gave him back the 20 and thanked him for his driving and politeness.

No doubt I will be called a CC for not tipping enough.

I do not believe your taxi driver spoke perfect english,therefore you must be lying

Sent from my GT-S5660 using Thaivisa Connect App

Fine up to you, the driver was a graduate of Khon Kaen Uni, as I say he spoke perfect English.

Dont assume all taxi drivers are from Issan, one of the best I have ever had was a guy named Joe, a luk kreung from New York, even spoke with a NY accent.

The best story a taxi driver ever told me, he was glad of the finacial crisis in '97, it was only then he saw his wife for the gold digger she was.

He finally ditched his wife and went back to living with his mother, he gave up all the material crap in his life and was content to drive a taxi living a stress free life.

Reason he spoke perfect English was probably he was lucky not to have been taught by the many farangs who masquerade as teachers over here.

Isn't Khon Kaen in Issarn?

[cobra]

... No doubt I will be called a CC for not tipping enough.

Consider it done, Edited December 20, 2012 by cobra

[tropo]

... No doubt I will be called a CC for not tipping enough.

Consider it done,

If being a money-waster is the opposite of being a Cheap Charlie, then you could consider it a complement.

[poanoi]

Being prudent is a virtue where i come from,

i thought cheap charlie was a compliment the first few months here

[uptheos]

Being prudent is a virtue where i come from,

i thought cheap charlie was a compliment the first few months here

No, cheap charlie is usually included in a statement from someone who is a cheap charlie, but thinks that by calling other's cheap charlies, he/she won't be 'outed' as actually being a real cheap charkie.

[Rimmer]

Off topic post removed, lets not hijack the the topic please which is about tipping not corruption.