David48 Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 (edited) Thailand Tipping - when is it a definite NO? Standing at a Chicken Stick roadside Vendor awaiting my order. The man ahead of me ordered 6 sticks - Bt 10 a stick. Handed him a 100 Baht Note and said 'Keep the Change'. Now, Bt40 ain't that much ... but it's 40% of the Bill. So, for me ... if I'm not 'Opening a Door' ... I'm not tipping. After that ... it's negotiable. If the Taxi Driver is polite, doesn't play political speeches ... that was really annoying a year ago. Has a clean Taxi and doesn't cause me to leave marks in my underwear .. the Fare has a fair chance of being rounded up. If I look at a Restaurant Bill for 4 people totalling Bt 8,000 ... ... I'll be looking for the obligatory '10% Service Charge included'. But I do worry where that goes ... hopefully, in part, to the Staff. So, unless I open a door ... no tip. After that ... it's negotiable. Do you have any rules, in Thailand when you won't tip ... or you will? . Edited December 12, 2014 by David48 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieH Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 Off topic/flame removed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 Must have been a gullible farang who left the 40 baht tip even thought you never said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 If they ignore me and give the change back to the wife - no tip. If the golf caddy doesn't turn her phone off - no tip. If they ask for more, I take back what I already gave them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieH Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 In all honesty, I usually leave whatever coins I have and or given back in change, nothing to do with service, its more about me not liking pockets full of shrapnel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 How many <deleted> times as this topic come up? Simple answer - it's not America, don't tip 10%. If there is a service charge , don't tip. Be careful you don't insult some by giving a tip, ie dentists, barbers, clothes menders etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David48 Posted December 12, 2014 Author Share Posted December 12, 2014 Must have been a gullible farang who left the 40 baht tip even thought you never said. Mate, could have been a newbie to Thailand. Almost definitely a Tourist as opposed to a long term stayer/resident. I remember when my Sister came here for the second time to Thailand. She liked the pineapple. She liked that the Street Vendor always smiled at her and was friendly. When I asked what she pays for the fruit ... it was 30% more then what you or I would. She stills lives with the 'oh, poor Thai people' mentality. For her, she sees it as a Charity Donation. Up to her. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieH Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 Off topic removed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
attrayant Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 Simple answer - it's not America, don't tip 10%. Don't tip 10% in America either, unless you want a loogie in your coffee next time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rangsitreppin Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 cmon you are not acting like an authentic thailand expat more of a naive tourist. i can understand a little bit of thai and its not uncommon for a falang dumb dumb new in town fresh face to tip ridiculous money and the staff picking it up will something translating to "look how much that stupid farsng just gave me" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jdiddy Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 I like to tip my landlord, fruitshop lady, my internet service provider, bums, homeless people, flight attendants and immigration staff I also add on a 15% tip when i bribe my local police officers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slipperylobster Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 This is exactly the reason why dual pricing is running rampant. Well meaning, short stayers/newbees throwing extra money to people that do not expect it. Most vendors are lucky to pull in 500 baht in profits...per day. Here comes Dudley do Right topping off a good deal with an extra forty percent. Probably thinking "Cheap enough, why worry about it." Then he goes back to Bumduck Iowa for the next 11 months. The rest of us, on pensions, are just gritting our teeth....Hoping we get the right, local price on what we buy. I came here for the deals, bubba. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherOneAmerican Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 (edited) I never tip anyone, anytime, for any reason. If I use a songthaew, and the advertised fare is 17bht, I hold my hand out until 3bht is returned. I never buy anything that is unpriced either. Edited December 12, 2014 by AnotherOneAmerican Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geronimo Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 One way I like to make merit is "opposite bartering" when the vendor says thirty baht, I will say "thirty five". Not always but if the seller is polite I like to give a bit extra as I know they don't make much. I always tip my barber, security guard and the guy who looks after my car. It makes things go smoothly and they look after me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gecko123 Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 One way I like to make merit is "opposite bartering" when the vendor says thirty baht, I will say "thirty five". Not always but if the seller is polite I like to give a bit extra as I know they don't make much. I always tip my barber, security guard and the guy who looks after my car. It makes things go smoothly and they look after me. Geronimo: "the guy who looks after my car"? "the security guard"? I'm having a little difficulty reconciling these comments with your avatar. What gives? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geronimo Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 We have a guard at our village and i get my car serviced every few months. Nothing special. Certainly not a wealthy man, far from it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geronimo Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 What goes around comes around and people always look after me. I like to spead it around a little, always buy things at our corner shop when I could pay less at a supermarket. The old lady needs to make a living. When I need help there is always a door that opens. Some people say I am lucky but I don't think it's anything to do with luck. Karma is universal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogandave Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 I only tip if I get good service, and I never tip a lot, but: Wait-staff Mani-pedi girls taxi coffee hotel houskeeping bell staff gardener maid barber deck-hands Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogandave Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 I don't tip cart-staff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgeezer Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 What goes around comes around and people always look after me. I like to spead it around a little, always buy things at our corner shop when I could pay less at a supermarket. The old lady needs to make a living. When I need help there is always a door that opens. Some people say I am lucky but I don't think it's anything to do with luck. Karma is universal.You are absolutely right. I tip the lady at the golf club giving me the guest rate when I haven't found a member to sign me in. Caddy always gets a tip because it is the convention; if she doesn't switch off her 'phone then tell her to. In fact service providers can't be upset if you demand service on your terms, I never ask a taxi driver if he is going my way, I just get in, but I always speak politely to them and I round up the fare. I don't tip in shops or food halls, swimming pool, 711, motorcycle taxis in the soi or buses. Chestnuts are not normal fare for most working people costing 240B per kilo so I have given them to people like the clippy and driver of the bus, taxi drivers, motorcycle taxis on the way home, and once to the cleaning lady at the pool. It's a little easier for me because although I am in Bangkok I am out side the tourist areas, so I don't have to follow any conventions. people can afford to be nice to one another here. When I have ventured South to Sukumwit, WTC I find things to be quite different especially the taxi drivers, so I can understand why people have a different attitude. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A1Str8 Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 I expect to be tipped when i use a service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enuff said Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 . Certainly not a wealthy man, far from it! Only problem is Donald Trump said the exact same thing about a week ago. None o' them rich bastids will say they are rich. "I'm rich compared to what?" The GDP of four or five 3rd world countries all added together? 27 cars and private jet? A&P yachts? I lent "the Donald" US$20 back in the 90s (he claimed he was bankrupt due to divorce) and he still hasn't paid me back which makes him very poor indeed in my book. It's true. enuff said ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geronimo Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 I know you guys would never believe me if I told you that most Thais have more money than I do. Still its not important what people think, is it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RolandRat Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 I only tip the amount to round something off, taxi 180 then I give 200 Noddle stalls small services etc never, nothing nada, the price is the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfokevin Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 I usually tip the bathroom lady an extra couple baht if their were no footprints on the toilet seat... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdanielmcev Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 According to my gf, tipping in Thailand is an insult. Bar girls and the indigent are the only ones to be tipped. Tipping really is an archaic system for bwana to deign his blessings on the 'little people.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teatree Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 Simple answer - it's not America, don't tip 10%. Don't tip 10% in America either, unless you want a loogie in your coffee next time. One of the few things I disliked about America when I have visited. The expectation of a tip no matter what. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 According to my gf, tipping in Thailand is an insult. Bar girls and the indigent are the only ones to be tipped. Tipping really is an archaic system for bwana to deign his blessings on the 'little people.' I've been telling members here for years about that but you can't change their minds, they are too set in their thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 I only tip the amount to round something off, taxi 180 then I give 200 Noddle stalls small services etc never, nothing nada, the price is the price. Why did you decide that a taxi driver deserves a tip but the noodle server doesn't? Taxis have a price, stated on the meter. My grievance is the foreigners who tip barbers even though they don't get a shave. Where I live, I used to get a good haircut and a relaxing long shave and massage for 50 baht or so. Now they've started asking if I want a shave because there are so many farang in town that don't ask for one. All these guys tipping a barber for the sake of it regardless of the service. It insults them and they take it out on all farang including me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgs2001uk Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 ^^^^^, NM, was talking to a Thai guy earlier, he rides the 8 baht bus all the way to HuaLamPong, goes to the hairdressing school, gets his haircut for free, then comes home on the same bus, total outlay about 4 hours of travel, free haircut, total cost, 16 baht, I asked him how much he tipped, he looked at me as if i was crazy. Thankfully I use a barbers shop and not one of these fancy unisex pooftah places in a Mall. Haircut, shave, trim my eyebrows, trim my nostrils, trim my ears, neck massage, total cost, 60baht, NEVER seen the Thais tipping, have been using the same place in BangKapi for years. One wonders how much it is about the "mia farang" trying to gain face and upgrade her staus at someone elses expense. No wonder they laugh at us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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