America - Tipping

[red hander]

I don't mind tipping for a proper service but the expectation of a tip at the self service petrol station is the biggest joke of all.

Agree. Been in bars in NY and Chicago, and just left dollar on counter in front of me with every round, allowing wee pile to stack up. Bar staff appreciate that, give you good service, and most times in my experience they won't let you leave without them buying the last round.

[armaghniac]

I don't mind tipping for a proper service but the expectation of a tip at the self service petrol station is the biggest joke of all.

Agree. Been in bars in NY and Chicago, and just left dollar on counter in front of me with every round, allowing wee pile to stack up. Bar staff appreciate that, give you good service, and most times in my experience they won't let you leave without them buying the last round.

Which means you need a rake of single dollars and the buy a round model only works if there have a been a lot of rounds before.

[Jell 0 Biafra]

Standard in Irish bars (at least in Queens, less so in Manhattan or Brooklyn) is every 4th beer is on the house.

You don't need a rake of single dollars, as the staff make sure to give you those in your change from each round.

[Puckoon]

Main issue with tipping nowdays in the US is the increasing lack of good service, while still in full expectance of a 20% tip.

Efficiency, helpfulness and courtesy, the x3 essentials should determine the tip level, not just being alive.
 

Last time I was in NYC was Christmas 2016 and one day we were eating in a sandwich shop in Brooklyn. Order, pay, iPad flip around to select your gratuity (probably got 20%) and it was a collect at the counter job.

After about 20 mins when we were close to finishing up, girl who'd taken the order called out "when you guys are done you can just drop your trays back to the counter". My now wife, who never gets riled up, told me that in no uncertain circumstances was I to even consider lifting the tray.

I hate tipping culture but I've no bother with it in the States where it's accepted as the societal normal in hospitality and is by and large known and understood enough for travellers to factor a tip into the true cost of a meal. However, I refuse to tip where the service role has been automated. The petrol pump shown previously is a disgrace. Who receives that gratuity like?!

A lot of this is being driven by the point of sale hardware as well - but there's no doubt that places like the Deli you mentioned above, or even the local Starbucks where they've opened a packet with a pastry inside and stuck it in the oven for a few seconds and they flip the ipad around and sure enough there's a request for tip - are chancing their arm.

Stood in line for a few hours recently at a few concerts in LA and Seattle to grab some posters and t shirts and the like. The merchandise selling folks had a tip option on their ipad once you finally got to the front of the queue and got your stuff. They play on your emotions and fully expect 50% of the people coming through are going to leave some percentage. It's quite outrageous.

Then you go inside to the show and the concession prices are about $18 for a beer - and the same tactic is applied after standing in line to grab a few drinks - the ipad flips around and there's a tip option. Again, most folks go on automatic pilot and leave something. It's also outrageous

Food however is a different beast. The margins in food are pretty thin for many places unless they're doing a routine roaring trade. Food costs, chef costs, power costs, rent, server costs - it really has little room for error.

[gawa316]

Paying for say a $6 pint in a dive bar, you throw the 'lady' a $10 bill and the bitch doesn't come back with any change!

[Puckoon]

Paying for say a $6 pint in a dive bar, you throw the 'lady' a $10 bill and the bitch doesn't come back with any change!

Been swimming in dive bars for 22 years and never once had my change not set down back in front of me. Because that would be theft.

[gawa316]

Paying for say a $6 pint in a dive bar, you throw the 'lady' a $10 bill and the bitch doesn't come back with any change!

Been swimming in dive bars for 22 years and never once had my change not set down back in front of me. Because that would be theft.

Happened me in Hampton Bays 24 years ago and in Clovis about 2 years ago.

[red hander]

Paying for say a $6 pint in a dive bar, you throw the 'lady' a $10 bill and the bitch doesn't come back with any change!

Been swimming in dive bars for 22 years and never once had my change not set down back in front of me. Because that would be theft.

Love a wee American dive bar, been in a few. Kenosha has some great ones.

[AustinPowers]

How would you describe  a dive bar?

Only time I ever heard of it  was in a pet shop boys song

[Jell 0 Biafra]

Long, narrow, dank.  Either full of oul fellas, or hipsters.

[Puckoon]

How would you describe  a dive bar?

Only time I ever heard of it  was in a pet shop boys song

Dark, long, pool table in the back, juke box. Toilet door that doesn't lock. Big stainless steel tub full of ice cold long neck beer bottles where the label just slides off as they pull the beer out of it. At least one of Pabst Blue Ribbon or Miller High Life on tap. Usually have a beer and a shot special for about $8 and they can't keep Jameson Proper 12 now on the shelf.

[Champion The Wonder Horse]

How would you describe  a dive bar?

Only time I ever heard of it  was in a pet shop boys song

Dark, long, pool table in the back, juke box. Toilet door that doesn't lock. Big stainless steel tub full of ice cold long neck beer bottles where the label just slides off as they pull the beer out of it. At least one of Pabst Blue Ribbon or Miller High Life on tap. Usually have a beer and a shot special for about $8 and they can't keep Jameson Proper 12 now on the shelf.

If anyone knows, Puck knows.