Ko0K on 1/5/2008 at 04:08
Quote Posted by The_Raven
I'm most likely just being obtuse, but what does nationality have to do with basic human behavior?
Actually, that question isn't for him. It was me who made the assertion that Americans are generally more conscious of self image compared with other peoples.
(edit) Oh, never mind. I forgot that DJK got it started.
D'Juhn Keep on 1/5/2008 at 08:48
Yeah sorry about that but I was curious! Not many other nationalities have chimed in, which I'd still be interested in knowing.
Muzman on 1/5/2008 at 09:29
Australians apparently have a reputation for being cheap in the UK and other places mostly because we don't tip. It's not been part of the culture, we're a good soft socialist type country where people get paid decent amounts (or we were), so it's just not something most of us think about doing. The only people who work for tips are strippers.
It's sort of coming in in the upper middle class foody set, mostly because they're well travelled cosmopolitan types who are used to it elsewhere. I think the hospitality industry subtly tries to encourage its adoption in the culture, not least because they'd really like to drive wages down. I'm against it for that reason, but it's not something I wouldn't do elsewhere because of ideals. It's just not something we're used to factoring in. Here the price is generally the price.
Shug on 1/5/2008 at 10:05
Yeah, exactly. That got me a fair few times in California, the fact that meals looked really cheap but once you'd factored in the sales tax and the tip it really wasn't that great.
jtr7 on 1/5/2008 at 18:37
One night, at a restaurant I was going to to have brainstorming sessions with a friend, a busload of English tourists (about 30 or so) came in for their meal. The server was unable to attend any other customers while taking all their orders, getting their drinks, and making multiple trips for everything. They had called ahead, but not really far enough in advance, and stated that everyone would be eating the same thing, to make it easier. That was cause for trouble when some of the tourists seemed unaware of that arrangement. Gratuity was never discussed, and the manager failed to bring it up at any point. After an awkward hour-and-a-half, the server only made her US $2.13 an hour. She made some sympathy tips from the customers who were aware of the problem, but even more didn't tip her because she wasn't as attentive. The next night, the same tour company brought in a whole different group, and the manager actually made sure none of the previous night's issues were repeated.
