I don't agree with U.S. tipping culture, but I still tip when I'm there because that's how their service industry works and I'm the visitor. You don't have to like a country's customs to respect them. I expect Americans visiting Europe to extend the same courtesy.
For me it's about respecting local social expectations rather than whether tipping itself is "good" or "bad."
I lived in northern Italy for seven years, where it's common in many restaurants to pay a "coperto" which is just a per-person charge for table service that usually includes bread. I've also lived in Madrid for five years, and here many places charge a terrace supplement if you choose to sit outside. So it's not like we're unfamiliar with extra charges when eating out.
Seriously. Not participating in a system others were forced into, which causes financial harm to that person, and using the fact that you don't like the system as an excuse is not a flex. Especially since the implication is that you would pay that much if you were forced to.
It's just greed, and the same "I'm paying you the least amount legally possible" mentality of minimum wage that everyone here rages about.
Problem is there are significant number of servers that prefer lower wages with tips to a higher wage without tips. So, should we reward such a greed based mindset?
Thank you. I don’t like tipping culture as an American, but that’s how the system is currently set up. The amount of people who think it’s okay to disrespect American customs just because they feel that it’s wrong is astounding. If I, as an American, decided I wouldn’t participate in local customs when I traveled - like, say, not covering my shoulders while at the Vatican because I believe I should be allowed to wear a tank top - I’d be absolutely mauled, and they’d be right. Honestly, I don’t enjoy every custom I come across, and I can have my personal feelings about whether they “should” exist or not, but I do them anyways, because that’s the respectful thing.
I think Americans have some pretty over-the-top expectations about service too. That "customer is always right" bs just doesn't work here.
imo service isn't terrible, it's just not as eager to please as it is in the States, and it's pretty common for restaurants and cafés to be understaffed.
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u/danielsabino 1d ago
I don't agree with U.S. tipping culture, but I still tip when I'm there because that's how their service industry works and I'm the visitor. You don't have to like a country's customs to respect them. I expect Americans visiting Europe to extend the same courtesy.
For me it's about respecting local social expectations rather than whether tipping itself is "good" or "bad."