What happens if you dont tip in New York?

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Cranky Yankee

I know that you rarely tip in England, but in the U.S., it's the norm. In fact, many service workers like cab drivers, waiters/waitresses, hair dressers, etc. depend on tips for their livelihood. I wish that we didn't have this system, but for now, we're stuck with it. So, applying your rules to another country doesn't make much sense.

P.S. Just accept that our countries have different systems of compensation and different customs as I did when I was in England last year or my daughter did when she was in Italy last summer.

harry k

Wow, they talk about American's being obnoxious tourists.

You Brits take the cake.

â‚¬uralalya

Okay, please let me explain something to you British - first of all, every time I'm overseas, I hear complaints of your excessively high standards when it comes to food and bar services, and the fact that you tip horribly doesn't help your reputation.

Here in the States, servers don't make the full wage that other industries earn. Where the minimum wage in New York $7.15 per hour, the minimum wage for restaurant workers is only $4.60. The government cannot require that diners tip, but they don't make up for it when paying servers crap wages. In most European countries, the pay structure is equal or higher to the rest of the industry pay grades - including the UK. So when your server/waiter/waitress is running around like a mad man/woman trying to get you your food because their rent and school tuition depend on your tips, the last thing you should be is greedy. If you can't afford to tip, don't go out to eat. Stop at the nearest Duane-Reade or Key Foods and buy some food and eat it at your hotel. And if you're walking into a restaurant with ridiculously high standards, you should know that "good" service is a server who smiles, gets you your drinks and food on time, and checks back at your table once or twice before the bill is given to make sure you're comfortable and have all necessary condiments and additives. If Russians, Romanians, and Eastern Europeans can afford to visit this country and afford to tip their servers, the Brits, who have 4 times the GDP per capita than Russia, can do the same.

travelmaster

get yelled at! usually in a forgein langaunge

mike d

Nothing directly happens to you if you don't tip, but it is considered rude not to tip for the following:
-Taxi/Cab should get 10-15% depending on service
-Waiter at a restaurant should get 15-20% depending on service
-$1 - $5 for concierges, doormen, bouncers, bathroom attendants, etc
-$5 a day for housekeeping

I realize in most European countries tipping is not part of the culture, but that is not the case in the US. Please keep in mind that the salaries for employees like waiters, bartenders, taxi drivers, etc are set under the understanding they make a portion of their income from tips.

A waiter for example is only paid 1/2 minimum wage through the restaurant and is expected to make the other half through his/her tips.

For that reason you are already paying about 10% less on the service than you would if we adopted the European tipping practices. Personally I like paying 10-15% less and then making up the difference based on service - there is a night and day difference between service in NY and service in Paris thanks to our tipping customs.

NYC Chutzpah

I have been followed outside the restaurant when my European fiends tipped an insulting amount. I no longer let out of towners leave the tip :)

Rogue Angel

a cab ride usually only gets a couple bucks tip...so if you get bad service (gets you lost, gets you somewhere late) dont tip but tell him why...if you get good service (gets you out of traffic, takes the short cut as opposed to the expensive long way) give a dollar or two extra...

..nobody tips if its crap service obviously, whether its taxis, restaurants, bars,etc..just dont get carried away with what you consider "crappy" service...ex, if the bar is packed it might be a few minutes before the bartender gets to you..

farfel

well, you shouldn't have to tip for poor service, BUT, since a tip is almost always expected, then do your part by purposely pointing out the bad service. you might get into an argument, but it wouldn't be fair to just walk away from your service people not knowing why they didn't get a tip...

slipstreamer

Nothing, but if it is at a bar you will likely get treated a bit colder when you order the next round. It will be seen as rude and bad manners. Since the pound is so high against the dollar it seems a bit cheap of you frankly. Generally tips are just a buck or two anyhow. To tip, just double the tax = that is what you leave as tip. Simple. Unless it is an expensive meal, tips are not going to take a lot out of your travel budget.

You don't have to tip if service is bad in the US either, but generally customer service in the US is much better than it is in the UK (sorry, but it's true) so a tip is usually left.

This is just a cultural difference that it would be polite of you to observe. You know how some British people complain about how American tourists expect everything to be like it is in the US when visiting the UK? Well, that is basically what you are doing. Best to adapt and observe the customs of the place one is visiting and not complain about what you would otherwise do back home.

Some NYC bar staff and servers avoid waiting on certain nationalities if they can because they are notoriously bad tippers. I know I did. It is just a very rude thing to do if you have had good service. Most European tourists do know that US servers do not make as much in salary as their European counterparts, so to not tip when the service has been good is a bit callous. This basic information is on every tourist website and in the guidebooks too. In Europe you would be paying more as the tip amount would be included in the initial price. So you are "saving" money at the wait staff's expense. Most waitstaff are students and do not make much money. They count on their tips. Just eat fast food if you can't afford to tip. Even expat British waitstaff in the US avoid British customers because of the bad tips.

Edit - "If Russians, Romanians, and Eastern Europeans can afford to visit this country and afford to tip their servers, the Brits, who have 4 times the GDP per capita than Russia, can do the same."
Well said!

iceman

Nothing will happen, but you will piss someone off.

Typically, unless service is very rude, you are supposed to tip for certain things.

I remember one time I did not tip a cabbie because he was an obnoxious jerk and almost got us killed in accident. Naturally he was middle eastern and probably hated Americans anyway. But I gave him the fare without tip and he muttered something and pulled away. No matter how pissed they are they cant do anything about it.

In restaurants, if you leave less then 5% tip you may get a visit from the Manager asking what was wrong. I

pink

It's common courtesty to tip. I see your point of view but we tip waitors over here even if their service is sub par. We don't tip them a lot but just a little to be polite. The same with taxi drivers, if you don't tip them they will probally curse at you. Even a dollar is better than nothing.

Jamerican Steve

If you do not tip, the next time your service may not go "above and beyond."

But a tip is a tip and not a tax although if you go some places, you are told that it "X" as a tip for you to 7 people and "Y" for 8 and more people.

Dark and Stormy Night

You usually get asked if you were happy with the service or a nasty look by a waiter. A cab driver may be a bit ruder. It is customary to tip in the states. On the hand you are not expected to place a tip in a cup at nearly every deli, ice parlor or coffee shop counter.

T.M

it is considered rude if you don't tip in NY but if the service was rubbish you don't have tip because they did not do there work up to satisfactory level

â™¥ || Brown Eyed Girl || â™¥

If they didn't deserve it, tough! lol But if they did, you may get a dirty look. Tip - 15% - 20% should be more than enough.

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