To tip or not to tip that is the question

#35... Definetley reading us wrong. I have american relations according to my family tree and thats just going on google. Ones a Red Indian. My Fathers cousin emigrated to Canada and joined the NWCMP, he must have slipped over the border at some time I reckon. The subject was tipping, politics as regards the USA the average person has no idea and that includes me, we only see the results, and are still confused. Most on here have all spent time in the States, I have preferences on which States I prefer, but thats another subject, the same as UK prefer certain parts of the UK. Cheers John S

The States and Canada are very similar in tipping. However I know for a fact that I was told re. the States their Tax system automatically takes off them the taxes they assume they get, regardless of whether they receive or not. I dont think Canada is so strict, but maybe wrong, know that some of the restaraunts we used to go out for breakfast was not compulsory and we were with Canadian citizens at the time. This to me is a false economy when the general public have to tip to support various branches of the work force. Reminders of the Middle and Far East. JS

Thanks for all the replies, For Ivan moktay stands for Michel or Keith Taylor, (Keith being my son who lives with me). Yes I agree with you a lot of Americans are very insular but a lot of people forget how vast the US is and as seamen are contact has probably been the Port Cities on West or East Coast which are more liberal in their politics than most of the parts of the US including the Gulf ports and the ones on the Great Lakes, e another generalization I know. So lets get back to the original thread on tipping. My first ship was the Warwick Castle, Deck Boy POs Peggy, one thing I did notice that none of the British crew were adverse to tipping. I dont know if it was taken out of the passengers fare or you relied on their good nature. One last comment that was first and last Passenger ships I worked on.

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Originally Posted by Keith Tindell

I have never been on a cruise, and have no intention of doing so, but when do you get to decline to pay the tips?, is it something you tick at the beginning of the trip?. If its at the beginning of the trip, does your steward know that you will not be tipping?, in which case service may not be good, maybe soup doctored etc, perhaps this is why they have an outbreak of sickness on these ships from time to time, in otherwords a passenger list of tight sods!!!. I think tipping is a degrading system. Most of the above is in jest, but as an ex fireman, we used to carry out what was termed *special service*, maybe , to supply a hydraulic platform to assist a builder in a difficult location, there was a charge by the authority for this, but we were not allowed to receive tips, and if the builder were to give money, it was donated to a charity, and he would receive a receipt for this, KT

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Keith, it all depends on the company. With Princess and P&O they do not include and leave it up to you who and waht you tip. Some of the more American companies such as Royal Caribbean and Celebrity attempt to get you to sign up when you book telling you it will save you time and trouble later. It is at that point you tick the do not charge box, or if you miss that you inform customer service when you board the ship. All very simple and easy to understand.

Another profession that always get tipped here is the barber,and most of the time the guy who you are giving the tip to owns the shop. I'm going for a haircut today rate for pensioners £5.00 Mon-to-Fri.full rate Saturday I give the girl 50p tip.
Regards.
Jim.B.

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Originally Posted by Jim Brady

Another profession that always get tipped here is the barber,and most of the time the guy who you are giving the tip to owns the shop. I'm going for a haircut today rate for pensioners £5.00 Mon-to-Fri.full rate Saturday I give the girl 50p tip.
Regards.
Jim.B.

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####nearest hairdresser to me is in boroughbridge.......name of ali barber......5quid for oaps any day...always give him a tip......good bit of patter in the shop regards cappy

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Originally Posted by moktay

Thanks for all the replies, For Ivan moktay stands for Michel or Keith Taylor, (Keith being my son who lives with me). Yes I agree with you a lot of Americans are very insular but a lot of people forget how vast the US is and as seamen are contact has probably been the Port Cities on West or East Coast which are more liberal in their politics than most of the parts of the US including the Gulf ports and the ones on the Great Lakes, e another generalization I know. So lets get back to the original thread on tipping. My first ship was the Warwick Castle, Deck Boy POs Peggy, one thing I did notice that none of the British crew were adverse to tipping. I dont know if it was taken out of the passengers fare or you relied on their good nature. One last comment that was first and last Passenger ships I worked on.

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Thanks Michel, I think a lot of us have broadened our experience of the USA since our seagoing days so are perhaps a little more familiar with the hinterland than hitherto and as you will notice none of us have any angst regarding our cousins across the pond, just commenting on their, to us still, their curious ways.

Never had a job where-in I was tipped for doing it, all the tipping I do comes out of my personal funds and always has done, I am not averse to tipping if the service warrants it. I do not tip in self service restaurants where they now have a box on the counter for tips, which practice is also appearing in garages, pubs and other establishments Why?

I don't tip in glasses or boxes put on the counter either, but I do tip in restaurants and bars were I get personal service the % varies depending on service but never lower than 10% except for very poor service. On cruises the people I tip are the ones I see every day Room stewards, and wait staff.

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Originally Posted by cappy

####nearest hairdresser to me is in boroughbridge.......name of ali barber......5quid for oaps any day...always give him a tip......good bit of patter in the shop regards cappy

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I can just imagine the tip you give him.................. don't let your grandmother catch you with fish fingers

I must admit, I do not like Tipping,
When at sea and ashore I have done some of the most dangerous, horrible, filthy jobs and No Tips,
If an employee takes on a job at a certain pay then that should be it. Let the Unions get them a decent livable wage enforced by the Government. As regards good Service, the employee should give you the best possible service anyway, if they do not like the job go somewhere else,
If I get a Taxi , the driver always expects a Tip. If I get the Bus the driver does Not expect a tip. what is the difference?
My Pension does not cover me for giving tips to people who earn more than I get from a pension.
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So still being a sucker I do tip. but the custom should be banned.
Cheers
Brian.