You can't do this. 45 baht tip on 8000 baht bill

[SanukDii]

Tipping should be up to the individual, not mandatory. I know that when I lived in California it is a significant extra cost if you eat out a lot. Say menu items add up to 100 bucks: You have sales tax and a (15%) tip on top of that. NYC is worse. It has got totally out of control in the US.

But....the level of service in the USA cannot be compared to the appalling excuse for service here in Thailand. I do tip but if the service is terrible (the norm) then I generally won't. Incidentally I am not sure that servers get the service charge that's added to bills over here. Knowing Thailand I expect the owners pocket that.

And 8000 Baht... Decent restaurant, bottle of wine or two in Bkk and you'll easily hit that for 3-4 people.

[phutoie2]

A bit ago now, but one time in a Patpong bar (there for research purposes), a girl handed me my change in one of those black folders and then showed me the palm of her hand with the word TIP written on it.

I thought it was so funny I gave her a whole twenty Baht note.

[true blue]

just digressing,anyone been to that bar at the very top of maya,1000bht for a small bootle of belgian beer,how much you tip for that,lol.

[tropo]

A bit ago now, but one time in a Patpong bar (there for research purposes), a girl handed me my change in one of those black folders and then showed me the palm of her hand with the word TIP written on it.

I thought it was so funny I gave her a whole twenty Baht note.

From the girls' point of view that's good business as what have they to lose by being rude and demanding tips? The worst that can happen is you say no.

We could say don't encourage them, but we all know it works well and many customers tip them well. The girls in Patpong are vultures - probably the worst in the country for demanding tips (that I've ever met).

[RustBucket]

A lot of the time the tip goes straight to the boss and not the worker.

tipping the equivalent of that persons entire evenings wage is crazy.

This is also one of the reasons that Thais wrongly perceive us as walking ATM machines.

[thailiketoo]

A lot of the time the tip goes straight to the boss and not the worker.

tipping the equivalent of that persons entire evenings wage is crazy.

This is also one of the reasons that Thais wrongly perceive us as walking ATM machines.

Kind of depends on what the evenings wage is doesn't it? BTW what is the difference between a tip and a commission? For example there are low cost brokerages that offer no advice and don't charge a commission similar to a fast food restaurant and there are full service brokerages that offer advice and service that do charge a commission or no load mutuals and so on (you get the idea). What is the difference between fast food and fine dining? Is it the same as load or no load mutuals? Is the old axiom you get what you pay for true in the stock market as well as the hospitality industry?

[steven100]

Tipping is up to the individual. It's not demeaning in any way if no tip is given just as much as it is not being seen as the big man if you do tip.

Last week I went to an exclusive seafood restaurant for dinner ... the bill was 3,470 baht including a couple of wines.

I gave 200 baht as the tip which I do most nights if the food is good and the service is similar.

It's each to his own .....

oh BTW ....... the lobster was excellent !!

Edited December 16, 2014 by steven100

[CarlTyson]

I tip so the Thai people will pretend to like me.

[The Deerhunter]

A bill that big would indicate they are registered for VAT and probably already include the 10% service charge. 8,000B is an outrageous amount for 4 people or even 8 people in most places in Thailand. Some have said kind-hearted. I say soft headed hearted.

[TheSpade]

Another reason for me tipping is if the staff are friendly and chatty, it's rare but it happens on occasion. My local has one staff member that will always stop for a chat and ask how your day was etc and sit down for a few moments if not busy.

I'll always leave her a tip if she's serving me but the other staff I don't as they don't interact with me at all even if I try and be cordial with them.

[NiwPix]

A lot of the time the tip goes straight to the boss and not the worker.

tipping the equivalent of that persons entire evenings wage is crazy.

This is also one of the reasons that Thais wrongly perceive us as walking ATM machines.

"A lot of the time the tip goes straight to the boss and not the worker."

A lot of the time the tip goes to the staff. Fact. However, if they usually have a lot of tips, some owners reduce their base salary.

"tipping the equivalent of that persons entire evenings wage is crazy."

The tip, most of the time, gets split among all staff working. Even the ones you do not interact with. For example the person that will prepare your meal or wash your dirty plates after you leave. If the restaurant has only 10 staff working that evening.....please split the 300 baht among them and tell me how you come up with an entire evening wage.

"This is also one of the reasons that Thais wrongly perceive us as walking ATM machines."

May be true, but Thais tip as well, why are they not seen as walking ATMs? My guess is because most Thais do not marry prostitutes and buy them land and a house on it with a nice car all under the wife's name.

If I could change four things about waiting tables in Thailand they would be this.

1. After you give me the menu and perhaps asked about drinks, bugger off long enough for us to read the menu, particularly if it has many pages.

2. Please give menu to everyone at the table. Why the heck do so many restaurants here give you half of the required menus? (ie. 2 for 4 people)

3. Once you given us our food, please return at least once and find out if we need another coffee, or some other thing.

4. Once we have clearly finished eating, find out if we want anything more. If we don.t please return with the bill at some point in the future. My per hate is hunting down the bill when you want to go.

I know these are western customs, but it's a wish list eh.

1. Agree 100%. Unfortunately I have noticed that Thai customers expect their server to be at the table ( even the wife of a farang ). It is something the server needs to be taught...right at the beginning to "learn" what kind of customer just sat down in front of them and go their pace.

2. I also agree and have no idea / explanation why that happens. Maybe Thai culture only a select few are in charge of ordering for the family?

3. Or find out if the food is tasting ok...and make sure your received what you ordered

4. Also agreed. However, it is something that needs to be trained with the server. I have seen plenty of times where the guest ( also farangs ) finish their last bite, put the fork and knife/spoon down, get up ( still chewing the last bits ) walk to the counter to pay their tab.

But yes, if the guest is finished, has the empty plate in front of them, the table should be completely cleared. While clearing check if the guest needs / want something else. If not, return with check. All that should be left on the table at that point is the full water glass and whatever other beverage they had.

My thought on tipping:

In the US obviously the regular 15-20%. If service was bad, only 10% but management should be informed of this.

In thailand, there is no set rule ( hence why this thread is 9 pages long already ) and they usually have the minimum salary ( 300 Baht per day ). It should be up to the guest. How good was the service and how much can you "afford" to tip. If you spend 8k on dinner, you can afford to leave more than 45 Baht ( assuming food and service was spot on ). I think 5% is a fair starting point. Especially considering that some places already "force" a 10% service charge.

[Chao Lao Beach]

Thai's usually do not tip. It is a farang custom.

Not Aussie

[frollywolly]

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A lot of the time the tip goes straight to the boss and not the worker.

tipping the equivalent of that persons entire evenings wage is crazy.

This is also one of the reasons that Thais wrongly perceive us as walking ATM machines.

Why do many posters have a fixation on how Thais see you? 100 Thais could have 100 different ways of seeing any one individual.

My primary concern is how Mrs Frolly and the Frollettes see me. How my extended family see me, how my friends see me. None of that involves any gifting of money for approval.

A bill that big would indicate they are registered for VAT and probably already include the 10% service charge. 8,000B is an outrageous amount for 4 people or even 8 people in most places in Thailand. Some have said kind-hearted. I say soft headed hearted.

8000 baht. It is a matter of perspective and resources when it comes to deciding what is money well spent. You cannot take your money to the funeral pyre with you. The Frollettes and Mrs Frolly are well taken care of. Should I, we, anyone else in similar circumstances, be frugal with every baht to make people we have never met less irritable?

I do not think of it in terms of soft hearted or kind hearted. It is what I believe the situation warrants, not what other people tell me are the rules of the game. I can make my own rules, and live a better life for it.

Edited December 16, 2014 by frollywolly

[MZurf]

I guess you meant that as a slam. I know because I'm an immoral monger and you have no idea because you are a fine upstanding Bwana type person. Well, shahib most fine dining establishments in Bangkok have already made the transition. When I got to Thailand in 1968 there were perhaps two restaurants in Bangkok where tipping was the norm now I imagine there are a 100.

If on the rare chance that you weren't trying to imply how much better a person you are than I (reference to family and my experience and so on) sorry for the colonial jargon.

How could you possibly pick any offence out of my 2 previous posts? Have a read of them again and get off your high horse. I deferred to your knowledge and experience on the matter of bars across Thailand. If you can possibly take offence to that, so be it.

You wrote, "As for Pattaya. I am not a fan, neither is Mrs Frolly, neither are the Frolettes. So i cannot speak for bars in Pattaya."

For me, I like Pattaya as does Mrs. Thailiketoo and the toolets. So I can't speak to the holier than thou folks that Pattaya freaks out.

I assume you see the sarcasm of my post but feel it is not justified.

Every town in Thailand is a little like Pattaya and Pattaya is a little like every town in Thailand and people who live in Thailand for any long period of time usually figure that out.

I like the night life. Mrs Thailiketoo likes the shopping and the toolets like the water park. How could you have a Thai family and not like Pattaya? The movies have bed seating and the waitstaff crawls on their knees to bring you coke and popcorn during the movie; now that's service !

Despite being a long time resident and staunch defender (I like the sound of that ) of Pattaya against all the haters I will readily admit that it's probably not the most family friendly place on the planet (and thank goodness for that!) and not everyone's cup of tea. So if someone with or without a family doesn't like the place then that's perfectly OK, and kudos to "frollywolly" for not resorting to Pattaya bashing - Buddha knows there are enough guys having that as a hobby.

BTW "thailiketoo"; it's a good thing for your children that your handle is not "thaliketoi"!

[seajae]

went to sushi boy in Bangkok on the weekend, they recommended we try the tuna sush as it was very fresh, told us it came with 2 pieces in the serve so we got it, turned out they came as singles and were 500 baht each, we paid the bill and left 20 baht, figured if they charge 500 for a small piece of sushi they must be making enough profit and paying the staff well without us adding to it but I normally leave a reasonable tip if the wait staff are good and the food is too.

[thailiketoo]

went to sushi boy in Bangkok on the weekend, they recommended we try the tuna sush as it was very fresh, told us it came with 2 pieces in the serve so we got it, turned out they came as singles and were 500 baht each, we paid the bill and left 20 baht, figured if they charge 500 for a small piece of sushi they must be making enough profit and paying the staff well without us adding to it but I normally leave a reasonable tip if the wait staff are good and the food is too.

Reminds me of the Bangkok lobster scam where they quote you the per partial pound price instead of the total price when you ask how much the lobster is. It's funny to see all the Farang all turn red and scream at the waiter when they get the bill. I can't imagine why anyone would ever return. The menu of course explained that in fine print in Thai. It happened to me the first week I was in Bangkok. After that I never ate at an expensive Thai restaurant in that town again; only Farang or foreign owned chains. And never had another problem.

[Fab5BKK]

The only thing disturbing about the OP is that the guest demands the host pay more tips and when the host did not as is his custom and right, the guest decides to proceed with his own tip anyway.

Kind of insulting to the host, isn't it?

Beggars belief, that the OP had the audacity to even check what the payer is tipping, i would have asked him for 4000 baht back

100% agreed!

His friend paid the full bill. And then, in order to "thank" him, he managed to insult him. How nice!

Some people can't learn manners :-(

[bkkgooner]

went to sushi boy in Bangkok on the weekend, they recommended we try the tuna sush as it was very fresh, told us it came with 2 pieces in the serve so we got it, turned out they came as singles and were 500 baht each, we paid the bill and left 20 baht, figured if they charge 500 for a small piece of sushi they must be making enough profit and paying the staff well without us adding to it but I normally leave a reasonable tip if the wait staff are good and the food is too.

500 baht for a piece of sushi?

holy shit how big is the piece of sushi?

[maccaroni man]

I agree with the host

[sccc466]

Who the hell tip in Asia? Are u a goondu? You have already automatically been tipped in government tax and service charge.

[CarlTyson]

went to sushi boy in Bangkok on the weekend, they recommended we try the tuna sush as it was very fresh, told us it came with 2 pieces in the serve so we got it, turned out they came as singles and were 500 baht each, we paid the bill and left 20 baht, figured if they charge 500 for a small piece of sushi they must be making enough profit and paying the staff well without us adding to it but I normally leave a reasonable tip if the wait staff are good and the food is too.

500 baht for a piece of sushi?

holy shit how big is the piece of sushi?

Yea. For that price they should be able to afford to cook it!

[sdanielmcev]

went to sushi boy in Bangkok on the weekend, they recommended we try the tuna sush as it was very fresh, told us it came with 2 pieces in the serve so we got it, turned out they came as singles and were 500 baht each, we paid the bill and left 20 baht, figured if they charge 500 for a small piece of sushi they must be making enough profit and paying the staff well without us adding to it but I normally leave a reasonable tip if the wait staff are good and the food is too.

500 baht for a piece of sushi?

holy shit how big is the piece of sushi?

Yea. For that price they should be able to afford to cook it!

Sushi isn't food. it's bait.

[balo]

went to sushi boy in Bangkok on the weekend, they recommended we try the tuna sush as it was very fresh, told us it came with 2 pieces in the serve so we got it, turned out they came as singles and were 500 baht each, we paid the bill and left 20 baht, figured if they charge 500 for a small piece of sushi they must be making enough profit and paying the staff well without us adding to it but I normally leave a reasonable tip if the wait staff are good and the food is too.

500 baht for a piece of sushi?

holy shit how big is the piece of sushi?

Yea. For that price they should be able to afford to cook it!

I eat my chicken noodle soup for 50 baht at my favourite restauant and sometimes I leave a few coins as a tip. 500 baht is lunch for 10 days . We live in 2 different worlds.

[CharlieH]

A troll posts and response have been removed.

[Mr Somtam]

Isnt good service and nice food what you pay for anyway?. doesnt that ensure your return etc which is worth much more than any tip.

Personally, I find 8000 baht for a meal outrageous, but each to there own.

I pay 345Baht for a meal when I go to a restaurant with the wife.

8000Baht would have guaranteed my entrance to the hospital with a heart attack.............................

If the meal is 8000 baht there must be enough profit to pay decent wages to the staff, right? No tip from me for sure. They are payed to serve tasty food and cold drinks! I never tip big "back home" either, when I pay 40 euros for a meal I suppose they are making some profit and can pay decent wages.

Call me Khee-Neeaow ...

[seajae]

went to sushi boy in Bangkok on the weekend, they recommended we try the tuna sush as it was very fresh, told us it came with 2 pieces in the serve so we got it, turned out they came as singles and were 500 baht each, we paid the bill and left 20 baht, figured if they charge 500 for a small piece of sushi they must be making enough profit and paying the staff well without us adding to it but I normally leave a reasonable tip if the wait staff are good and the food is too.

500 baht for a piece of sushi?

holy shit how big is the piece of sushi?

about 2"/6cm. it was bloody nice but not worth 500 baht each, no wonder they dont tell you haw much it is, they just say they want you to try their fresh tuna sushi.

[seajae]

went to sushi boy in Bangkok on the weekend, they recommended we try the tuna sush as it was very fresh, told us it came with 2 pieces in the serve so we got it, turned out they came as singles and were 500 baht each, we paid the bill and left 20 baht, figured if they charge 500 for a small piece of sushi they must be making enough profit and paying the staff well without us adding to it but I normally leave a reasonable tip if the wait staff are good and the food is too.

500 baht for a piece of sushi?

holy shit how big is the piece of sushi?

Yea. For that price they should be able to afford to cook it!

I eat my chicken noodle soup for 50 baht at my favourite restauant and sometimes I leave a few coins as a tip. 500 baht is lunch for 10 days . We live in 2 different worlds.

dinner for the 2 of us at out local restaurant is 190 baht, it was my wifes birthday so I told her to pick someplace nice, normally would even consider paying that sort of price

[arminbkk]

I agree with the posters that say that it is the waiting staff's job to provide good and friendly service and the restaurant's job to provide good food,

that is the normal standard, it sure should be, so why pay extra?

You don't go buy a mobile phone and then pay above the asking price just because it looks nice, do you?

I will only tip if the service was really great, fantastic, super friendly and attentive and welcoming, etc etc.

When that day finally comes, I will post back here............

That being said, I do often leave the coins, or just round up, 20 baht max.

On the other hand, if I really did not like the service, admittedly, by my personal standard, I will even take all the coins back.

For the argument that many waiters depend solely on tips for income from work..........then they should get a better job.

[frollywolly]

The only thing disturbing about the OP is that the guest demands the host pay more tips and when the host did not as is his custom and right, the guest decides to proceed with his own tip anyway.

Kind of insulting to the host, isn't it?

Beggars belief, that the OP had the audacity to even check what the payer is tipping, i would have asked him for 4000 baht back

100% agreed!

His friend paid the full bill. And then, in order to "thank" him, he managed to insult him. How nice!

Some people can't learn manners :-(

Gentlemen, I have mentioned this a few times already in this topic

.

My friend was not insulted. That is the nature of close friendship. Being able to discourse freely and openly without treading lightly in the chance you might offend someone’s delicate sensibilities. Many posters here have a far different notion of close friendship than I do.

The monetary amount is most always announced among the group. The amount of a tip is sometimes discussed when signing a card. With cash, the tip amount. AT the very least it can be seen.

Honesty and openess amongst friends is a sign of respect.

Edited December 19, 2014 by frollywolly

[Melonade]

Your friend generously took care of the bill and you complain about him leaving you to cover the tip!

If you wanna get down to it, your 4% contribution was the cheapest part of the whole deal - both figuratively and literally.