Thailand Tipping - when is it a definite NO?

[NeverSure]

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.

Not really that many places. A sit down restaurant yes but never where you stand at a counter to place your order. A taxi but never a bus.

Never a store clerk if you just go in and buy something. Yes for your barber. No buying gas and most other things.

15% seems to be the rate if the service is good. Never tip if the service isn't good.

[Sally Salvatore]

It is your money do what you please with it.

I myself Tip, I come from the service business and I also lived in Las Vegas and now in South Florida where a majority of people live on tips. But it is up to you.

BUT do not get upset when you see someone getting better service then you do, I see it all the time when I am in Thailand, guys will complain why does he get special attention and they do not, well it is simple, he tipped and earned that right. Some will say he paid for it and it can be looked at it that way but do not complain that you do not get the same attention, from the server that always gets him his order fast, to the line he cut going into the clubs or the table full of girls at the beer bar as you are sitting there alone.

When in Thailand I will admit I do not tip the same as I do here, this because of the prices being different for foreigners but I still do tip the food cart people, taxi and tuk tuk drivers all depending on the service they provided.

What really pisses me off is when the drunk at the bar yells out don't give them anything extra, it is none of their business.

But this reminds me of a scene from a movie, it is a bit crude but still funny.

http://youtu.be/Z-qV9wVGb38

[Neeranam]

^^^^^, 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.

Exactly.

About 15 years ago I used to got to the hairdressing school on Suk. Soi 103/2 and got a haircut for 20 baht. Full of young eager ladies/girls. maybe it should have been free.

Tipping a barber in Thailand is akin to tipping a dentist in the UK.

[fey]

at the barber or hairdresser got mine cut 50 baht if i remember correctly gave him a 100 once as i felt bad coming from the states where i used to get $50 haircuts it shook him and he have it back overall uncomfortable but we worked it out also usually had to recut parts on my own after at home thats when i started going only to women places and paying the 100-150 baht with shampoo its worth the extra to have s woman do it as they put more importance on beauty no tip there either given or expected

thais dont tip get used to it hovered st sn upscale bar recently thai waitress mnows whats going on and comes and takes the tray straight off before i get ghe change stashed she knows whats up i dont think they pocket tips it all goes in the register here get used to it stop tipping you wont feel a bad vibe so you know its not expected bad habits fo die hard though still feel like i have to tip even now though i never liked doing it in the states now have a great reason not to give the tip to the beggars i dont mind that at all and it does some good some bar charging 100 baht for a glass of beer dont deserve any tip thats two full meals at local eats

sorry about the ramble and lack of punctuation but you read it anyhow what do i care if its an eyesore im not here to write poetry

Edited December 12, 2014 by fey

[Neeranam]

^^

well said - I suppose you don't give a toss about being Thai Visa poster of the year as well.

Going to women's places is more but they are nicer to look at. Mind you the last one I went to, a girl came out the back and pleaded for me to go through the back for a 'massage'.

[frankwhite]

If u dont tip and help Thai's earn a better living wage you are scum and only here to take advantage of thai people.

[notmyself]

Thai tipping is the purported activity of sneaking up on an unsuspecting upright Thai and pushing them over for entertainment. The practice of Thai tipping is generally considered an urban legend, as Thais do not sleep standing up, and the implication that a Thai can be pushed over and not stand up again is incorrect, as, unless injured, Thais routinely lie down and can easily regain their footing. The implication that rural citizens seek such entertainment due to lack of other alternatives is also generally viewed as a stereotype.[1]

Here

[Baa_Mango]

ive seen rich thais tip the <deleted> out of EVERYONE. but they were maintaing some hot shot celeb face.

give a tip if your happy, or if you want attention. service industry people (note: not sex service industry) make super low wages so small tips go a long way. 20b. or what not. meals and stuff. use your judgement. I probably wouldn't tip if someone made me upset or angry.

[benalibina]

If u dont tip and help Thai's earn a better living wage you are scum and only here to take advantage of thai people.

In other words....the no tippers adapted well into thai society....one way or another....

Jeeezzz

[kannot]

Sometimes I give the guys at the gas station a red fanta when filling up but mostly NO tip, often "service" really isnt there.

[kannot]

If u dont tip and help Thai's earn a better living wage you are scum and only here to take advantage of thai people.

OK I admit it IM SCUM so what!

[geronimo]

I think we can all agree that in each case, it is up to the individual. The posters who cry out that we tippers are changing the culture are way off the mark. You might change an individual's attitude by rewarding them for good service. That's about as far as it goes.

I see Thais tipping all the time for certain things. A reward for a good job is OK in my book. As far a s the barber is concerned, mine lives off his tips.

[mamypoko]

I tip how much and when I want to. Making rules about tipping is what ruins it for me.

Edited December 13, 2014 by mamypoko

[alfalfa19]

actually 66.6 percent of the bill

[BKKdreaming]

I tip the clean up staff by hiding coins in the cushions and dropping coins on the floor

If the money for the "service fee" and tips went to the workers as "extras" that would be great ,

But at least in the USA a "tip" is so the Boss can pay a low wage , often below minimum wage and we make up for them being cheap !

We look like the dog for not leaving the tip and the Boss blames "cheap" customers ,

to me a bad way to run a business , no one hands me 10-20% bonus because I just did my job !

[Tchooptip]

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.

''shrapnel''. LOL

[neverdie]

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.

''shrapnel''. LOL

Charlie is talking about the brass stuff.....as he certainly wouldn't give away a full baht....he's tight as a fishes bum hole......especially when it's his shout....so I'm told

[Tchooptip]

^^^^^, 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.

Exactly.

About 15 years ago I used to got to the hairdressing school on Suk. Soi 103/2 and got a haircut for 20 baht. Full of young eager ladies/girls. maybe it should have been free.

Tipping a barber in Thailand is akin to tipping a dentist in the UK.

Why, really you do not tip your dentist?

[h90]

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.'

My Thai wife always tips heavily. You don't tip owner, only staff, but that is obvious.

[12DrinkMore]

Sometimes I give the guys at the gas station a red fanta when filling up but mostly NO tip, often "service" really isnt there.

Service levels have gone down.

15 years ago the "dek puump"s would remove and replace the tank cap on my motorcycle. Now they stand with the filling device and wait for me to remove the cap, and then walk off afterwards without replacing it.

[theonetrueaussie]

If u dont tip and help Thai's earn a better living wage you are scum and only here to take advantage of thai people.

^^ Obviously American, Rest of the world don't tip normally!! Sometimes I will give them my shrapnel just because I don't want to carry it around but have yet to find a place that offers Excellent not trying to rip me off service even worthy of contemplating a tip!!

[konying]

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

Try visiting all of the above in the cities instead of remote villages in Isaan.

Dentists, barbers and everyone else has a tip jar at front desk.

Do you think they would be insulted if you gave tip or if you did not give one ?

Tipping is not only an American thing , despite what so many like to believe .

Go into any decent club or restaurant in UK or OZ and tipping is a must, otherwise you would be waiting indefinitely for your next drink.

By decent I do not mean a pub or every joe's place.

Tipping is a gratitude for good service received or/and way of receiving little more than usual.

The usual know it all expats in thailand , many of whom are simply tight asses do not seem to grasp that tipping is a must in thailand .

Staff serving them are not impressed by their few words in thai.

Anyone who has worked in Thailand with thai or has a business or socialises with Thais above bar girls and taxi drivers also knows tipping is a must.

Tipping a chicken on the stick seller is not required because there is no service provided other than the stick , tipping 40 baht on 60 baht purchase is also stupid.

Barbers get a tip for doing good job and good wash with good massage, tip also ensures you are remembered for your next visit.

Edited December 13, 2014 by konying

[elgenon]

I tip the Malong sob for cleaning bed and spiders for cleaning bugs

[NowImEasy]

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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.
.

40 baht is 66% of 60 baht.

[stoli]

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.

You must try a different class of restaurants if the servers at your favorite place would do that to you. Having owned a restaurant, there are many people that do not tip, many that tip small, and some are very generous. My employees would not react any differently, understanding that everybody is different, and live in different situations. If you want to believe the jokes that the cook or server is after you, that is up to you. However, in America, my tipping is limited to 15%. I know there are those that say it has been at 15% for so long that the servers now should receive 18% to 20%. Why they don't realize is that every time the restaurant raises its prices, the bill goes up. and the 15% becomes larger. They are automatically getting an increase even at the standard 15%. You want to give an extra tip, give it to the cook that prepared your food correctly. They are the ones that get the short end of the stick.

[Hatyaier]

I left around 60 baht for a tip at a Muslim restaurant here in Hat Yai because it was great food and service. Just as we reached my truck about a block away the young girl that served us came running up, saying "You forgot your money."

[Bluetongue]

I tip the golf caddie because I know how much she makes and I only play 9 holes but usually this takes her out of the queue

for the rest of the day. Haven't used a taxi for a long time but I know from many years of casual taxi driving that the tip is dying out due to cashless transactions where they most often don't give a tip.

Maybe the "keep the change" is not really a tip it's just someone doesn't want the shrapnel, small money etc, but I don't do

it. At one of the cafe's at the airport they have a tip jar which the cashier informed me goes to the owner, so I tip a small amount directly. Wife likes to tip in restaurants, but when we haven't had good service I make sure she doesn't. My

hairdresser no, she would be insulted. So 40bht for a cut, shave and a bit of a neck and arm massage.

[1BADDAT]

Be careful you don't insult some by giving a tip, ie dentists, barbers, clothes menders etc

Barbers? Why would that be insulting? That is a standard person to tip in USA.

I the lady who does my laundry because she does a great job and charges very little. I dont give her extra money but every once in a while I bring her a bottle of Blend 285. That is what her and her friends drink at night outside her shop.

[daveAustin]

Thailand Tipping - when is it a definite NO?

Always.

But definitely not a roadside vendor. All the guy did was make himself look stupid and senseless; certainly not generous and he definitely did not gain any face.

[PJcm]

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.

.

As long as it's her money fine, but if she has support from family and friends it's really not her money, so like most women why would she care.