jacko Posted April 7, 2003 Report Share Posted April 7, 2003 Well put, I will now cut back on my tipping to barstaff and waiters who obviously have very easy jobs and every time I see a construction worker on Sukhumvit I shall give out a few 20 baht notes. No, better idea, I should start to give out all those 10 baht coins the barstaff keep hoping I will leave on their plate. To be honest I think it is the USA who are screwed up on this one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAYBLOOM Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 "To be honest I think it is the USA who are screwed up on this one!" Screwed up on tipping? I agree, but even us Americans here in the USA are very confused regarding tipping. Tipping used to be illegal in some states, it was considered very low class, but the Supreme Court ruled (I believe in the 1920's) that the anti-tipping laws were unconstitutional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJsushi Posted April 8, 2003 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 Says JAYBLOOM: "<<Who tips the guys and girls who labour 12 hours a day on construction sites for 160 baht?>> Not relevent to jjsushis post." Why do employees of one particular industry deserve tips whereas employees of another industry do not? We do not tip the cashier at the supermarket, but they often provide a lot more service than a waiter does? You can wax philisophical all that you wish about the relativism of one industry vs another, unfortunately food service, nightlife venues, hairstylists are in a business that traditionally expects tipping as part of the compensation. The key difference in your in your supermarket or construction anology where it concerns the USA is that those industries usually are unionized and receive all sorts of health, compensation and other benefits whereas most waiters or bar/club workers do not. Regarding your construction workers vs. service girls in Thailand example. . . when was the last time a construction worker sat and entertained you, refreshed your drink, gave you a backrub, provided you with a towellete to wipe your face and let you pinch her ass? Lazyphil was correct your example was not relevant to my post because I was not cross comparing various low skilled labor occupations in Thailand. I was particularly speaking of service girls in nightlife venues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 There are a lot of things that are unconstitutional around, and probably everything could be construed that way too. I find that the 'rules and laws' between the various states and even counties in the USA are quite a mish-mash. Getting a drink on a Sunday can be a crap shoot for the stranger. I am in Arizona at the moment and am quite amused that the Indians here are allowed to operate Casinos and sell cigartettes at special prices. If the Indian community are outside the regular laws I am awaiting the day they open Bangkok style go-gos where nudity, a bit of touchy touchy, full service and a beer can all be had without an obligatory tip! Well we can dream can't we? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiery Jack Posted April 13, 2003 Report Share Posted April 13, 2003 I know this thread's been just about flogged to death but... I've always held tipping to be an "up to you" affair, at the discretion of the customer and I choose to tip or not to tip accordingly. I certainly don't have much time for "mandatory tipping" ::. I was in Long Gun last night, however, and had a tipping-related experience that left steam coming out of my ears . I was there mid-evening, alone and fairly sober (story of my fucking life ). I enjoyed myself a lot there actually, chatted to a few dancers (none of whom were pushy at all: in fact, to my surprise, I wasn't once hassled for a lady drink: maybe I am an ugly twat after all ) and had a few laughs with the servers behind the bar, near to which I was seated. I enjoyed the on-stage shenanigans, was very happy and fully intended to leave a small tip, 20 or 30 baht (I'd been there less than a hour and only had 2 drinks). Anyway, I'd had just two beers, and asked for the check-bin krap. The bill came to 310 baht. I handed over a 500 baht note and a 10 baht coin so as to round off the change to 200, make the maths easy on the desk gal. I had a couple of 20 baht notes on me I thought I'd pull out for a tip after my change arrived. The serving bird looks at the money I've laid out on the saucer, blinks at me confused and hands me back the 10 baht coin. Before I can say anything, she fucks off with the 500 baht note. Surprise surprise, she waltzes back with a 100 baht note, two 20 baht notes and 50 baht all in bloody 5 baht coins (my "mandatory tip", obviously, all nicely prepared). I'm a bit pissed off but think oh fuck it, so be it. I pull the three notes off the saucer and begin to slide them into my wallet. While I'm doing this (i. e. in a split second) the serving bird, without a word from me or from her, or a glance at me, whisks the saucer away from under my nose, rushes to the bar and empties all the coins into the red tip-box. This is when the steam begins to blow out of my ears . I walk to the bar, where the serving girl is still standing gassing with another punter. I give her the vulcan death glare I usually reserve for Patpong touts or Jehovah's witnesses :: and point to the red box. She scowls at me, noisily opens the box lid and begrudgingly removes 50 baht which she reluctantly hands to me. I smile and say thank you, then turn to leave as she maintains a face like torn shite and mutters something under her breath. This spoilt what had been an enjoyable visit to Long Gun. Do these birds not realise how rude it is to grab a punter's money off the table before he's offered it ? Stroll on... It's a no-win situation for the punter too, because either you do nothing and walk away feeling swindled, or you protest, as I did, and leave the bar feeling like a cheap Charlie . What do others think? Should i have played it differently? Any, erm, "tips" appreciated. There, I feel better now . j Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMAN Z28 Posted April 13, 2003 Report Share Posted April 13, 2003 Nice job FJ. Glad you didn't take their bullshit. You gonna still be there at the end of April? If so, I'll buy you a beer. If the service is great and I have enjoyed their company, then I will usually leave the coin on the tray, even if it is 3 10 baht coins. If not then I usually leave one 10 baht coin for them. That situation has never happenned to me, so I can't say as howd I react. Good on you FJ: ZMAN Z28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted April 13, 2003 Report Share Posted April 13, 2003 Says Fiery Jack: I know this thread's been just about flogged to death but... I've always held tipping to be an "up to you" affair, at the discretion of the customer and I choose to tip or not to tip accordingly. I certainly don't have much time for "mandatory tipping" ::. I was in Long Gun last night, however, and had a tipping-related experience that left steam coming out of my ears . I was there mid-evening, alone and fairly sober (story of my fucking life ). I enjoyed myself a lot there actually, chatted to a few dancers (none of whom were pushy at all: in fact, to my surprise, I wasn't once hassled for a lady drink: maybe I am an ugly twat after all ) and had a few laughs with the servers behind the bar, near to which I was seated. I enjoyed the on-stage shenanigans, was very happy and fully intended to leave a small tip, 20 or 30 baht (I'd been there less than a hour and only had 2 drinks). Anyway, I'd had just two beers, and asked for the check-bin krap. The bill came to 310 baht. I Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 13, 2003 Report Share Posted April 13, 2003 You know, it's funny you should mention this. I have noticed lately that the amount of the "prepackaged tip" (i.e., change returned in coins) has really gone up lately in Bangkok. I don't remember encountering this practice at all when I first came here a few years back. But I got used to the 10-20 baht range and I was OK with it. But now the amount seems to have gone up and I regularly get 30-40-50 baht in coins back. This is happening with some frequency in all 3 entertainment areas in Bangkok. For me the money isn't a big deal but somewhere between 20 and 30 baht a line has been crossed and I start feeling like I'm being disrespected and manipulated. I make a point never to leave more than 20 baht in these cases, taking the excess coins from the tray. I tip quite enthusiastically for good service. I even lower the bar as far as what level of service trips my desire to reward in nightlife areas. Regardless, I dislike being treated like an ATM intensely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
june11 Posted April 13, 2003 Report Share Posted April 13, 2003 Just wanted to commend torneyboy for his excellent reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
june11 Posted April 13, 2003 Report Share Posted April 13, 2003 Seriously, I think what I may do from now on, when they return all these little coins, is to say NO LIKE, point at them, and take them all (somehow letting them now they I WOULD HAVE tipped them if they hadn't left all those annyoing coins). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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