Should we tip in restaurants? - BBC World Service, The Food Chain

In some corners of the world tipping a waiter or waitress would be considered an insult. In other countries, the exact opposite is true. So why did these dramatically different cultures of gratuity evolve, and how difficult is it to change them?
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We speak to two restaurant owners on opposite sides of the world struggling to reverse tipping norms - one restaurateur in New York explains why he eventually had to abandon a ban on gratuity, and another in Shanghai describes how difficult it is to convince Chinese customers that they should pay extra.
But is there any relationship between tips and service quality anyway? One academic who’s spent his life studying the custom has found it to be almost non-existent. So why do customers continue to tip? Apparently, it’s all down to guilt.
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[@aarspar]

It's a "tip", that's why it should be voluntary, not mandatory. If it's mandatory it should be called "payment".

[@jeanclaudejunior]

In Japan and South Korea, it is very rude to give a tip

[@biaaayaxan]

could come across as demeaning.

[@clement2780]

as long as tips do Not replace wages and not percentage based fine

[@sabinahertzum9728]

In Denmark tipping is gaining traction - but it is not a requirement! What the restaurant does about the tip varies - some has a ‘personal tip’ policy and others has a tip jar where everything lands and then is shared - either between all or just the waitstaff... As we have a living wage it really doesn’t matter - but it is a way for the restaurant to show their staff that they are doing a great job.... To me the tip shouldn’t be personal - if and when I tip I tip the restaurant - I tip both for the service, the food and the ambiance... If I for some reason find that the waitstaff went above and beyond I would hand that person the tip and specifically say that it’s a personal tip - but I would still tip ‘in general’... What I really have a problem with is the ‘percentage system’ of American tipping... American prices are allready put up without tax and then you also have to add tips so you don’t have a clear idea of what the price is before everything is added together - and when you are from a culture where what is written is the price - the added tax and tip is just confusing....

[@svrestless3425]

No we shall not have "tipping" in Denmark. We have socialism and a social structure in Denmark. The employer shall pay a propper monthly wage.

[@BBCWorldService]

Interesting to hear about the tipping culture in Denmark. Thank you for letting us know!

[@sabinahertzum9728]

S/V Restless - i agree that a proper wage is an essential that we should not loose!!! But - that said - tipping is a great way for both staff and owner of any service establishment to feel appreciated!!! I’m a self employed hairstylist - I NEVER expect tips and even get a little selfconcious if they are offered - but as we DO NOT have a ‘tipping as part of your wage’ culture here they are being used as they should - as a way to show appreciation for a job well done!!! And how much a tip should be should be up to the tipper - NOT the receiver.... I have NEVER been a fan of the ‘percentage tipping’ idea - when and WHY is that even a thing?? As long as the wage is fair and the culture is that tipping is appreciated but NOT needed - it is truely something people do to show gratitude and appreciation... and why should that be discouraged??

[@anton48103]

@@sabinahertzum9728 here in the states the average hourly wage for servers is $2.13 US Dollars, and the minimum wage is $7.25 US Dollars. Both wages are Federally mandated, and if a servers hourly wage combined with tips doesn't equate to the larger minimum wage, then the business owner must increase that employees wage. Sadly, that doesn't always happen. For that reason, we tip our servers and not the business. The trade-off there is to tip great service, and in return they continue that great service which helps the business flourish. That being said, businesses should pay a proper living wage (as some do) for every employee because they shouldn't have to rely on tips. Many businesses are now adding an additional percentage to your bill, which seemingly makes tipping mandatory even though it should be voluntary. I never rely on predetermined percentages to tip, but tip accordingly when we have great service. For example, our bill the other day was only $85.00, but I tipped our server $40 because she had a great attitude and though busy, she made sure we were well taken care of.

[@sabinahertzum9728]

Anton Gauna - i get how it got to where it is, but its really confusing for tourists who are not used to tipping.... Like I mentioned - I’m used to that the price listed ( almost everywhere) is the price I have to pay. So when visiting a place like the us where tax is added at checkout and tips is added as a service charge it gets really confusing.... Here we only have pricing without tax if we are looking at business to business shopping - and even then we have one percentage to remember - and it is ALWAYS really clearly marked if that’s the case... But then again - as a Dane I’m inherently socialist - I’m pro union and like that we have a real safety net and healthcare... that doesn’t mean we don’t have homeless people here - but most of those CHOOSE to live in the street.. And we have poverty, but it’s at a different level than most other places....

[@svrestless3425]

In the EU and other "Western" country.. NO.

[@amitp7275]

In India, no buddy give a damn about tip, it's individual choice.

[@BBCWorldService]

Thanks for all the comments, on what is a surprisingly controversial issue! Check out more from our KZbin podcast series, Busting Food Myths: kzbin.info/aero/PLz_B0PFGIn4ekx8MD3UAALhueWRBV1_7p

[@user-rh2tq1xe1i]

tipping is utter BS. Its extra money you lose as the consumer

[@taarofihri-qo2wn]

That my allaah says thanks for others when they are make good indeed in my Allaah❤

[@clement2780]

why doctors nurses dentists pilots captains

[@kodyshaw985]

Its called common courtesy

[@hiseverest9074]

What if the customer is on a tight budget? When tipping is mandatory, it's a scam and should be illegal. Let the ones who's loaded tip on their own common courtesy.

[@the_formula]

👌🇮🇳🇿🇦

[@gj1234567899999]

Typical poor content from BBC.

[@user-jt1jv8vl9r]

Can you expand your comment?

[@the_formula]

Very good 👍 content BBC👌