November 12, 2024 • 38 mins
Have you ever wondered why tipping in the US seems complicated, or whether it's even necessary in some situations? Join us as Amber and our resident bartender, Nikki, navigate the intricate world of tipping culture, sharing insights across borders from the USA to Japan and South Korea, where tipping can be frowned upon. With firsthand tales from the service industry trenches, Nikki paints a vivid picture of the challenges faced by service workers, especially in the wake of COVID-19, where tipping practices have drastically evolved. Discover how pre-added gratuities in places like Miami can leave patrons in a tipping conundrum, and the financial tightropes walked by those reliant on tips to make ends meet.
We dive into the quirks and controversies surrounding tipping in unexpected places like fast food chains and coffee shops. Ever tried cooking a meal using AI recipes? Uncover creative alternatives to dining out as we share stories of experimental cooking triumphs, like a vodka sauce lasagna crafted with limited ingredients. Together, we engage in a lively debate on the appropriateness of tipping in situations where customers often serve themselves, challenging conventional wisdom and exploring the fairness of tipping across various service settings.
Finally, we shift gears to explore the power of kindness in the service industry. Through memorable anecdotes, we highlight the subtle art of tipping, from leaving a symbolic penny to writing heartfelt notes on receipts. It's an invitation to approach each interaction with empathy and recognize the unseen struggles of service workers. As we reflect on the transformative potential of small acts of kindness, we urge listeners to embrace positivity, turning every dining experience into a rewarding one, not just for themselves but for those who serve them as well.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, welcome back to small town big mouse.
This is Amber.
You're one and only, and Nikkiyour resident bartender.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Today, we're going to be talking about something near
and dear to my heart.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
We're going to talk about the service industry and
how we tip in the USA comparedto other countries.
Yes, so I found someinformation that in Japan and
South Korea it is actuallysometimes seen as offensive to
tip, which in the CA, inCalifornia, united.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
States yeah, it's offensive not to know no In in
the United States it's offensivenot to tip Wait a minute.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
What did I say?
Yeah, but yeah.
And here sometimes it's alreadyadded onto your bill before you
even tip in.
Sometimes waiters or waitressesdon't even tell you that it's
added and then you just go aheadand leave a tip on top of
they're already 18%, right, um,cause that's, I think, about 18%
(01:02):
.
I think Miami was 20% when Iwent um everything, it didn't
matter if you're in a largegroup or not.
Um, they included the tipeverywhere you went.
Everywhere you went, tip wasincluded.
See, that's so wild, yeah, sobasically, they're tipping
themselves and it's not like umI, it's just like I know I'm
going to get it, so I don't haveto be of service to you.
(01:25):
And that's the hardest thingwith today is I want to tip
somebody.
Sometimes they'll even, likeI've noticed on receipts it'll
say, like certain amountsalready on there, like you just
check the box.
And I'm like, well, I don'twant to check the box, I want to
write in what I want to writein.
And sometimes it's more or less, or um, even group, group
(01:47):
dinners, where they add on thegratuity.
I'm like, well, I would havetipped you more than that, but
okay, you know what I mean.
I'm just signing away.
I know I could probably I couldadd it on there yeah, um, but
I'm just like I don't want tohave to count.
Yeah Right, no, I get it.
I'm like I don't want to count.
Yeah Right, no, I get it.
I don't want to count Um.
(02:08):
So what about for you, though,because you work um in an
industry where you're tipped ona on a regular basis.
What we hope, fingers crossed,right?
So what do you see as far as um2024 or after COVID, pre COVID?
That's what I want to know.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Okay, so immediately after COVID, it was really good,
like it was really good Really,yeah.
Immediately after, because Ithink people had that extra
money.
They felt bad that like the barwasn't open.
They felt bad for me because Iwasn't working.
Whatever the case may be, nowit's not as much.
It's definitely declining.
(02:45):
There's definitely a whole likegroup of individuals who feel
like they don't need to tip.
Um, I'm paid to do my job,which I am.
I am paid to do my job, but I'malso providing you a service
and also, if you come in on a,you know, slow night and I'm
talking to you, engaging withyou, all the things, I'm doing
(03:09):
those things because I work inthe tipping industry.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Okay, so I don't know if this is true, but I've
always heard before I don't knowif this is still a standard
waiters waitresses wages areless than, because they do get
tips with that.
Is that true or do you in?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
certain States, it is true, in the state of
California, it is not Okay.
There are States, um, I think,like Arizona is one of them.
Might maybe Nevada, I'm notsure, but I know because I'm on
a lot of forums on Facebook too.
Um, and I know for a factArizona was one.
It was like $2 and 85 cents anhour was the wage.
Holy moly, yeah.
(03:49):
But what happens is, when thesepeople are getting their tips
and they're reporting them, itsomehow has to work out to be
the federal national average,which is, I think, minimum wage
is like $17 an hour or whatever.
Right.
So if it doesn't work out to bethat, then the company you work
for has to make up the extrapercentage that it isn't.
(04:11):
It's probably very rare thatthat happens, but I'm sure it
does happen.
Um, when I what year was it1990 something and red lobster
had just opened and I worked atRed Lobster and I literally only
worked there for two weeksbecause it was horrible, really,
(04:31):
yeah, um, people were waitingin line for like two hours to
get in cause.
It had just opened and theywere mad at the server when they
got inside and they weren'tleaving tips.
I waited on this whole party.
Yeah, I waited on this wholeparty their.
I waited on this whole party.
Their bill was like 200 andsomething dollars.
They didn't leave a tip at all,nothing.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
And you guys are busting your ass and it's super
busy because it is just openingand places like that.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
that are corporations these people cannot clock out
until they um claim their Ithink it's like 8% of their
sales or whatever.
So that night I literally owedmoney for working.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Oh my goodness, that was the last day I worked there.
Yeah, I wouldn't want to work.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
That was the last day I worked there and it was a
group of I'm Armenian, but itwas a group of Armenians.
They came in and they ordered,like a party platter, and they
ordered some of this and some ofthat.
And I was just like, okay, andI'm I'm Armenian, so I'm like
trying to, you know, work it.
Yeah, but they were not havingit and they were mad and they
ordered a party platter whichwas like a special item.
So the kitchen had to make thisspecial item for them.
(05:39):
They were mad because it wastaking so long and they were
magazine waited so long.
I'll never forget and I wasjust like when the bill came, it
was $217 and the guy left $217in cash and when he pulled it
out, he had a whole bunch ofcash in his hand and I was just
like, wow, okay, yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
I want to know what our listeners, our viewers, have
to say about tipping in today'sday and age.
Um, for me, I think that, um,especially lately, with the cost
of everything, the food priceshave gone up.
That means the tip goes up,which kind of sucks for me as a
(06:18):
consumer, cause now you'repaying more all the way around.
Now I'm paying more all the wayaround, so which is all the way
around, so which is going tostop people from going out?
it definitely has.
I feel like I don't want to goout one because everything's
just too expensive and I'm likeI've actually been cooking a lot
more and um, I've been comingup with good recipes.
(06:40):
Um, actually, what I've beendoing here's a little cheat is
um putting it in chat, gpt, chat, gpt.
I'm like I only have theseingredients.
Oh my god give me a recipe.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
You guys, anyone who doesn't have chat gpt, you need
to get on it, because this islike crazy, the things that this
thing can do.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
It's so crazy and my daughters can be super freaking
picky and they have likedeverything that chat GPT has
told me to cook.
So like I'm not mad at it, likeI did it two nights in a row
cause I had like differentthings and I'm like I know this
could probably go together, butlike how, yeah, and sure enough
(07:21):
it worked.
And I said in the crock pot, soeven better, last night I did a
vodka sauce lasagna in thecrock pot with Italian sausage,
super good, although Michaelasaid that too much cheese.
Who says too much cheese?
Speaker 2 (07:41):
What the fuck?
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
She's like there's no noodles, but I'm like I, but
I'm like I had enough.
I had enough noodles, butanyways, that's besides the
point it.
You know, I, I do feel likeI've been cooking more just for
the simple fact of um, you knowhow much it costs.
Hi, dad, you're, we'rerecording right now what's going
(08:04):
on.
Hello, hello Well.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
I'm going to get something myself, I know but he
dialed me.
We we actually had calledcalled Amber's dad to get his
input on some of this Cause.
You know he's a person thatgoes out as well.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Yeah, I mean pretty frequently they.
He had um, uh, what did he?
He said, okay, so he, my dad,likes to call me, we have a
really good relationship.
Um, he'll call me withdifferent ideas and you like, I
do try to write them down, um,but sometimes he calls me at the
randomest times and I'm notlike ready to.
(08:46):
Yeah, and so he calls me theother day and he was like he
must've been out buying lunch orsomething.
And you know, we all know, intoday's day and age everybody's
paying with a card and they turnthe machine around and you're
ordering at the counter, so areyou supposed to tip?
My dad feels like if he doesn'ttip they're going to spit in
(09:07):
his food and I'm like, dad,that's not what's going to
happen.
It's kind of like to me.
I feel like if you go through adrive-thru, are you tipping
Like you go through?
Speaker 2 (09:17):
McDonald's, you're not shipping when, if the people
do tip, who gets the tip?
It's split amongst everyonethat works there.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Yeah, it's probably split among everybody.
That's what I see a lot of now.
I feel like a lot of tips arebeing split between everybody.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
I mean we split our tips behind the bar but we are
all working equally as hard.
But to me, if I did leave a tipat McDonald's or wherever, it
would be because that persontaking my order gave me
excellent service, not becausethe guy back there flipping the
burger came up and said hi to me.
You know what?
Speaker 1 (09:52):
I mean Right, but the chef's the one that's cooking
the food, and maybe the quarterpounder with cheese was super
good.
What if it's not right?
Speaker 2 (10:00):
I mean, but that's what I'm saying.
Yeah, but I'm tipping theperson that I'm speaking to and
now that I know that it's beingdistributed amongst all these
people there, like it's okay.
So what did you do for me?
You were over there working thedrive-thru.
I didn't even see you.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
I don't, we don't tip in the drive-thru, that's just.
There's not an option to dothat.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
You pay, you roll up person is still going to be
included in that tip, if it's,if it's distributed to everyone
working.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Well, no, this is like you know, these smaller
chains not chain, they're noteven chains, they're just these
restaurants that you walk up tothe counter, you pay, you walk
up to the counter and you grabum, I'm only asking because I'm
trying to figure it out LikeChipotle right.
You walk in, you order yourfood, they make it in front of
(10:46):
you, you.
You get it.
You know they're not bringingit out to you.
Are you supposed to tip them?
Speaker 2 (10:53):
I feel like places like that I do.
I also tip it like Dutchbrothers, where I kind of draw
the line, is like when I go toseven 11 and see, but I pay cash
, but I'd been with people andthey have their card and, like
the dude at 7-Eleven, you useyour card and it asks if you
want to leave a tip and I'm likefor what For what?
I went over there and got my ownSlurpee poured.
(11:14):
My own Slurpee, brought it uphere.
All you did was rang it up, Tipme bitch, Like I just made my
own drink.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
We might as well tip the grocery clerks too.
Yeah, I mean, it's getting.
The tipping to me is gettingout of hand.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
No, it really isn't.
It's unfortunate for peoplelike me, yes, who work in an
industry where tipping has beenthe norm for years.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Yeah, so like for you , I tip you better than I would
another bartender.
Like I'm only giving a dollar adrink, that is like, but that's
still a great tip.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Yeah, I mean, I guess it is, I'm, I'm telling you
it's a good tip.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
I mean, maybe if I'm ordering like five shots for
everybody, maybe I just do a fewbucks or like three bucks or
something.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
But you, I'm just like because I know, I know, but
at the end of the day, evenwhat, whatever you tip someone
else, that is still a good tip,because there are plenty of
people out there that do not tipat all.
This is a crazy story.
I worked at Perco's.
I was a company trainer forthem.
I was friends with my manager.
(12:24):
Her dad came in every day andhad coffee.
Now normally she poured hiscoffee.
One day he came in and shewasn't there.
Now, normally she poured hiscoffee.
One day he came in and shewasn't there.
She was offering an errand.
So I got him his coffee, I gothim.
I got him his coffee, broughtit out, poured it.
You know he had refills.
He was a businessman.
When he left he didn't leave atip and he also doesn't pay for
his coffee because he's thisperson's daughter who runs the
place.
(12:44):
Okay, so I said something likeher name was Lydia.
I said Lydia, your dad doesn'ttip.
And she's like yeah, well, hejust feels like because he goes
these places every day and he'sout eating, you know, three
meals a day.
And I said I don't care, that's, that's not my problem, because
to me, if you're going out allthese places, you're not tipping
(13:06):
anyone and you're coming in andgetting free coffee.
I'm just like, and you'retaking up a booth cause you
didn't sit at the.
It was a place that had like itwas a breakfast place, we had a
counter and booths, and you'resitting at a booth where one of
my fucking customers could sitand be tipping me.
So then I'm just like, okay,it's kind of the same thing Like
at work, when the bouncers comeearly and they want to sit at
(13:27):
the bar and have like a soda, myanswer is no, take, take that
outside, go stand over there.
You're not sitting at the bar.
And I've had people likebouncers like get mad at me and
I'm like this is reserved forpeople that are sitting buying
stuff and tipping.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
That's true.
I mean, I feel like with thedad, especially because he is
getting his coffee for free,like and it's not even his
daughter serving him you wouldthink at least a buck right,
like a dollar.
I feel like if I get somethingfor free or different price or
whatever, like I'm definitelygiving somebody more of a tip to
(14:07):
show that I appreciate you fortaking care of me.
So yeah, I don't know, I thinkI learned my tipping from my dad
because I know he's verygenerous and he'll he'll pay for
somebody's meal or he'll dodifferent things.
Um, but at the same time itI've also dated somebody and it
(14:28):
was a conversation when the billwas a hundred dollars and he
left $5.
I was like I called my dad.
I'm like what am I supposed todo?
Because what did dad say?
Speaker 2 (14:38):
He's like tell him I'd have been like quit dating
that fucker.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
He was like, well, you need to have a conversation,
and I did.
And the guy was like I tip whatI feel is justifiable and I was
like if you can't afford toleave 15, you shouldn't be going
out to dinner, because that's Imean, I get that from my dad
like, if you can't tip, don't go, that's.
(15:02):
I feel like that too you know,I feel like it's an a hundred
dollar bill and you leave fivedollars.
I feel like that's an $100 billand you leave $5.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
I feel like that's an insult.
Yeah, I mean, I'd rather youleave nothing and I feel like
you and then think that youforgot.
Then leave me $5 and make mefeel like my service wasn't good
.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Now, if your shit, your service was shitty and I
left you $5, then you'd probablybe like well, I probably
deserve that, you know what Imean.
But like, if your service isgood, then why not?
Well, it happens all night longat the bar.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
You know, like these kids, they'll close out and
their tab will be like $200.
There was one I canspecifically remember.
His tab was like 180 somethingdollars.
I took him his thing, I walkeddown there, he signed it.
I walked back and I picked itup and it just I could not help
myself.
I leaned across the bar and Isaid was everything okay?
Yeah, oh, everything was great.
(15:54):
I'm like did someone here makeyou mad?
No, I like you guys.
I said, really, because youbought all your friends drinks,
you spend $180 and not you orany of your friends left a tip.
Yeah, like that's rude to me.
It was.
And now and he knows who he iswhen he comes in, I don't help
him, yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Does he tip at all?
No, oh, so he's just not atipper.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
His brothers, though, come in and I love them.
They all take care of me.
They're super nice.
This guy not only is a dick, hedoesn't tip, and that's just
like I find.
A lot of the times these thingsgo hand in hand.
I'll be like at the registerringing someone up, or at the
cat at the credit card machineclosing someone out, and I get
the excuse me, excuse me, excuseme.
And when I turn around, can Iget it?
(16:39):
And I'm like, okay.
I'm like when I turn around,I'm like I try and sweetly be
like okay, here's the deal.
If you're talking to my back,it's probably not your turn, and
all of us are really good atmaking eye contact with you, so
you know when it's your turn.
And when you're yelling at theside of my face or my back, I'm
probably not going to be apt tohelp you.
So then it's, it's 95%.
(17:01):
Those people don't tip, 95%.
Every.
It's always the people thatdon't consider what I'm already
doing, that I'm helping someoneelse, that it's someone else's
turn.
Those are the people thatusually don't tip.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
It's an.
It's crazy, like I think.
I don't remember what thecircumstance was, but I remember
this had to have been like.
I want to say it was probablybefore kids, or Michaela was
like a baby that I went out toeat and I left a penny.
The service was that bad Iwanted her to know.
Do you know what a penny?
Speaker 2 (17:32):
means though?
No, it's a well, it's.
It's could mean bad, but if youleave like, let's say, you left
her 20% and a penny, that meansthe service was excellent.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Oh, I didn't know that I'm going to start carrying
an old thing.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
You know what I mean.
But that was like when I workedin that place where the, the
dad that didn't even leave meand not even one penny.
He, he, um, that was a thingamong waitresses Cause I was
like, why did that guy leave mea tip and then plus a penny?
And then one of the olderladies was like, oh, that means
your service was excellent.
I'm like, oh, okay.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
So it's like a good luck, penny.
Another thing I'll do is I'mnot afraid to write on receipts.
Yes, I will say if you're good,I will tell you.
If you're bad, if you'reaverage, you don't get nothing.
But if it's really good andsomebody really puts an effort,
like I, will write like keep,keep up the good job, keep
smiling, whatever it is.
Because we don't always want tohear the bad things, right, we
(18:24):
want to hear the good things,things, and it's that usually is
.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
What happens is people hear the bad things.
When we were in vegas thisweekend, we went to hash house,
a go-go in the plaza.
I've never been there, okay,that is one of my favorite
places to eat.
The breakfast there is out ofcontrol.
That's what I've heard yeah andthere's one in like san diego
too, so I love the one in sandiego too.
So go there.
Our server was amazing,probably the best service.
(18:50):
It was the best service of thetrip, for sure, and we ate at a
nice steakhouse, but it was thebest service I probably had in a
very, very long time.
Nice, yeah, and he was reallygood and we told him and we
tipped him very well.
I think we tipped him like Idon't know, 30%.
Yeah, it was good, it was great.
The service was.
He was on top of it, he tookcare of us.
(19:11):
Our food came out hot, we allcame out together.
You know, everything happenedthe way it should have happened.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
See, and I think servers or waitresses like that
are probably more recognized andthey do make more money,
because when you make somebodyelse feel good, you know what I
mean they're going to want torepay you.
Yes, um, and I've never workedin the service industry.
My dad says I, I should havebeen, I still could be.
(19:39):
He was like, why not have aside, you know and make that?
Yeah, he goes, and you know,supposedly, either either
presidential candidate, we'renot going to have tax on those
tips anymore.
I'm waiting to see that.
Right, we'll, we'll see whathappens.
But, um, I mean, I think,because I am so social, I could,
(19:59):
I would probably be good at it,but then again I have low
tolerance for bullshit.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
So it's a.
It's a very hard, fine, thinline.
I know Catch 22.
It is a catch 22.
And I think, like for me, I hadthe same.
Lydia was her name, the ladywhose dad was not a good tipper.
I worked with her at severaldifferent places and I had her
tell me one time she said youcould sell ice to an Eskimo, and
(20:25):
I said I was young, I was like20.
What does that mean?
I to an Eskimo?
And I said I was young, I waslike 20.
I go, what does that mean?
And she goes, she goes.
The second.
We would be back in the backand I'd be mad at another server
or one of the cooks and I'd belike you, fucking motherfuck.
But the second I stepped out onthat carpet of the restaurant.
Oh my God, hi, how are you guys?
Where have you been?
You know she goes.
You would never know she goes.
Your best friend could be inthe back, you know dying and you
(20:47):
would never know that.
And she's like.
And that's what makes you agood server.
And I feel like I am a betterserver than I am bartender,
which is weird because I've beenbartending for so very long.
But I dynamics to that though.
Yes, it's more one-on-one timewith this table and you get more
of a bet, an easier reading,and most people aren't drunk at
dinner.
So, and most people aren'tdrunk at dinner or lunch or
(21:07):
breakfast or whatever the fuckyou're serving, so it's a whole
better experience for bothparties.
You know what I'm saying andyou can get a vibe Like, if some
people are cool, you can talkto them and have a conversation.
If you feel like, oh, thesepeople are fighting or they just
want to be left alone, you justdo the.
You know the things that arerequired.
I'm going to bring your water,I'm going to fill this, I'm
going to come back and check onyou, but I'm not coming over for
any extra bullshit, andsometimes that makes you money
(21:29):
too.
You know we were.
I was out to dinner with autumn,my daughter, my daughter, uh,
tina, and her wife, autumn, andwe went out to dinner and we
were someplace and I saw someoneI knew and the people he was
with we were kind of over.
Autumn was like this they werebehind us, they I'm like Autumn,
(21:50):
what's going on?
She goes.
I can't believe what's going onat that table over there and I
was like what's going on?
She goes, the people, yourfriend, the guy with him is
being so rude to the server andI'm like what do you mean?
I guess the server came overand was like can I?
And he goes.
You know what you can do.
You can leave us alone, you canstop coming over here.
(22:11):
And I was like, see now thatjust like she's doing her job
Right.
And how do you think you justmade her right day to me?
I'd have been like okay, fucker, you don't want me to come back
, cool Right, I'm never comingback over there.
Find another server to comewait on you, yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
That is so rude.
I don't you know, we never knowwhat other people are going
through.
So I mean, maybe it was areally shitty day for him, but
still, it's no excuse to treatsomebody bad.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
You know why make someone else's day shitty, right
Cause you're having a shittyday.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Well, misery loves company.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
So I think we both like opened up our phones and
printed out a little, or openedup a little something, something
.
Yeah, autumn's bottoms gotautumn on my brain.
Amber's was internationalversus the United States, yes,
right.
And so mine was tippingpractices in the United States
Um, it's kind of like a win totip when not to tip.
(23:10):
So should I start?
Or you want to start ahead andstart?
Okay, so mine was umrestaurants, it says 15 to 20%
if you sit down for the of thetotal bill.
Oh, okay.
Okay, if it's a buffet, it's10%, because that person still
is coming over clearing yourplates, checking on you, okay,
bars, one to $2 per drink, or 15to 20% of the tab if running a
(23:34):
bill.
Coffee shops and cafes this onewas kind of like um, I consider
Denny's a coffee shop.
So I don't know how, I don'tknow if maybe this is like,
cause it says optional butappreciated.
So I would never likeoptionally tip at a coffee shop,
because a coffee shop to me islike Denny's um country waffle,
(23:58):
see, those are restaurants to me, see, and that's like a.
Well, denny's is a coffee shop.
Perco's was a coffee shop,that's where I worked it was a
coffee shop.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
You sit down in restaurant.
A coffee shop is like Starbucks.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
It says coffee shop, slash cafe Interesting.
So yeah, it says optional butappreciated.
10 to 15% of you receivedexceptional service or have a
large order.
Delivery services food andgrocery 10 to 20%, depending on
the distance or the size of theorder.
Tip a bit more If the weather'sbad interesting.
Well, they got to carry it inthe rain or wind or snow or
(24:31):
whatever.
Hair and beauty services 15 toto 20 of the total service cost.
So is that what you tip when Idon't go get my hair done
anymore?
So I like it's what would itsay 15 to 20.
15 to 20 of the total servicecost it?
Speaker 1 (24:50):
I don't think so.
I kind it's like reallywhatever I can afford.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Cause hair, get it.
Look, I'm not trying to be rudeto hairdressers, cause we love
you, but my God, your serviceshave went up and I'm having to
sit there for freaking.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
I feel like it takes way longer and I'm like, I feel
like I'm doing the same thingRight.
So like it's $50 for a haircutnow and honestly, I think, too,
it also depends on how muchconversation we have and like
what's going on, or I meanespecially because lately I feel
like I used to be able to getmy hair done in two hours.
I feel like it takes almostfour hours now and that's a long
(25:29):
.
Like you know, it's a chunk ofyour day.
Yeah, I'm like I got to go atlike nine, so I'm out of there
by one.
Yeah, like that's my day.
No, thank you, it's kind ofhard to do that.
So, and even this last time Iwent, I was like, can we just do
a partial Cause I didn't wantto be there as long and I was
still there as long you know,okay, I got, I got more here.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
I got taxis and ride shares 10 to 15%.
Hotel staff.
So housekeeping two to $5 anight.
Bellhop one to $2 a bag.
The concierge you tip forspecial services, like if they
got your reservation somewhereor did something for you.
Five to $20.
Reservation somewhere or didsomething for you.
Five to $20.
Valet two to $5.
Movers I've never had someone.
(26:21):
I guess I've only had myfriends over and I'm just giving
them beer and fucking pizza.
It says 10 to 20% of the movingcost, or 20 to $50 per mover
depending on the job'scomplexity.
Okay.
Personal services massagetherapist, nails 15 to 20%.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
You know, I just went the other day and I got a
massage and I was not happy withit and I still I felt like all
I got was elbows, and I was.
I left a $10 tip.
Okay, my bill was 60.
So I mean, I guess it's stilldecent, but that's.
That's about 12%, yeah.
But I'm like God damn, yeah, itwasn't even worth it.
(27:00):
I really didn't want to leave atip, I tipped just to get the
hell away.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Tour guides five to $10 per person for a half day
tour.
10 to $20 for a full day tourper person.
Okay, and then it goes intolike when not to tip?
Fast food chains, retail stores, self-checkout, automated
services such as kiosks and apps, government services, medical
(27:26):
professionals like who the fuckis tipping them, doctor, can you
look at this?
Oh, by the way, here's $20.
Right, I mean no, what the hell?
Yeah, by the way, here's $20.
I mean no, yeah, gray areaswhich kind of are optional
takeout restaurants, 10% hotels.
Um, it says limited service.
Like, some people tip inlimited service hotels, motels,
(27:49):
et cetera, but it's not ascommon as in full service hotels
.
This is coffee shops andcounter service.
Tipping isn't mandatory forcounter service but many people
leave a small amount like loosechange or a dollar.
Food trucks and casual diningtipping is appreciated but not
obligatory.
Obligatory, I don't know.
(28:10):
I don't know.
Tipping is a good way toacknowledge service, but it is
not always required in everysituation and it is a personal
choice in many gray areas.
But I also know, and you'regoing to tell me this right now
it's very different in othercountries.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
It is very different in other countries.
So before I go down this list,so there was a night that I had
came in and there was a couplethat I had met earlier.
They were from England orsomewhere there, the UK or
something, and they say they dotips based on the service that
they provide.
(28:45):
And so I'm like, okay, that'sinteresting, cause I had this
conversation with them.
Well then, later on they comedown to the bar and I think I
asked you, did they tip?
And they did tip you.
So I was grateful to know thatthey do that, and I actually
have an app that I follow theirlittle travel, but I haven't
logged in.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
So now I'm now that we're talking about now you're
going to log in and check onthem and check on my friends and
my new friends, cause I makethem everywhere so.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
But in other countries it says Europe,
everywhere so, but in othercountries it says Europe, such
as France and Germany, tippingis generally smaller as service
charges are often included inthe bill.
A five to 10% tip is common,but rounding up the bill is also
acceptable.
Service staff typically earnbetter wages than the USA.
The UK 10 to 15 tip iscustomary.
(29:34):
If a service charge isn'talready included in the bill.
Um Japan and South Korea it'srare and can be seen as
offensive.
Exceptional service is expectedas part of the job and chip
tipping can be consideredunnecessary.
Um, which I mean they say.
(29:55):
People from Japan are, you know, hardworking?
Yes, so to them, that's justwhat they're supposed to be
doing and in a job we aresupposed to, any job we have,
we're supposed to be good atwhat we're doing.
Australia and New Zealandtipping is not customary but
(30:15):
appreciated for excellentservers.
Servers earn higher, higherwages and tipping is usually 10%
or rounded up the bill.
And Latin America Um, it says,like Mexico and Argentina, 10 to
15% is standard in restaurants.
However, in Brazil, service isusually included in the bill and
tipping isn't expected beyondthat.
(30:36):
So tipping in the USA tends tobe more expected in larger
compared to other countrieswhere service charges are are
higher wages reduce the relianceon tips.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
So I've never went to another country and tipped and
had them look at me like I was,you know from another planet.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
They're actually really like oh my gosh, thank
you so thankful.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
It's crazy.
We, when we went to Bali, wegot a driver who I'm still
friends with.
We got this driver and he droveus literally all around for $20
for the for the whole day andthen on top of it we gave him
like I think it was like a 20 or$40 tip and you would have
thought that, like I just gavehim a new house.
(31:22):
Yeah, he was so thankful andprobably why we're still friends
to this day.
You know what I mean.
He's like come back and it'svery much like that in other
countries.
I, you know very a lot ofpeople and even I feel like
sometimes when I'm out of town,I get a lot of people because I
feel like I'm overly generousbecause of what I do.
(31:42):
You know what I mean, but whenthe service is good, the service
is good.
You know what I mean.
And you can't.
I can't not tip someone becauseeven when the service is bad, I
still leave a tip.
But am I?
Speaker 1 (31:55):
happy about it.
No, you know, we'll see, likeyou know.
Back to what my dad was saying,it's like do you leave the tip
Cause?
If you don't, then they'regoing to spit in your food.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
You know if you're walking up and count it's a gray
area.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
So it's hard because, like drive through Dutch, I'll
leave a dollar a drink, justlike I would a bar.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
You know, sometimes they're standing out there in
the hot sun, yes, taking yourorders, um that's just one of
those places, too, where I justwant them to shut the window,
like I give them the money andthen like they're all, what do
you have plans today?
What are your plans?
What are you doing?
And I'm just like nothing, Ijust want some coffee, girl.
(32:37):
Yeah, shut that window, right,or?
Speaker 1 (32:40):
it's all blowing.
I don't want to tell you mywhole life story.
Make my fucking coffee.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Okay, I gave you a tip Go away.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
It's like, uh, you pay her to leave, yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
Yeah, to leave yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
Yeah, yeah, cause they always ask me what are you
doing today?
And I'm just like nothing.
I just woke up.
Yeah, that's why I need thecoffee.
Speaker 2 (32:59):
Oh, my goodness, but yeah for the most part, I feel
like we're really getting intothis whole crazy like with the
tipping because it is going alittle overboard and people like
me are losing out because of it, and that's what sucks is
because everyone now is askingfor a tip everywhere you go.
(33:20):
And so I yeah, I can agree.
And I will say yeah, yesterday Ialready told you guys about my
tattoos when we went to get ourtattoos.
This place is like famous.
It's $10 tattoos in Vegas.
That's their spiel, that'stheir thing.
People, $10 tattoos Of that'stheir spiel, that's their thing,
people, $10 tattoos.
Of course everyone's coming inand asking dumb ass questions.
Right, yeah, right, there's asection that says $10 tattoos.
(33:48):
These are the tattoos that are$10.
You can get it from here tohere or from here to here.
Okay, well, I have questions.
Can I get it in color?
What if I don't like that?
What if I want the end of it tolook like this?
What if I?
You know, I was asking questionsand then I asked the girl.
I said what's your name?
She goes, and she was a chickbehind the counter and I said
she goes cat, and I said okay.
I said cat, do you do tattoos?
No, do you do piercings?
No, oh cool, how long have youworked here?
(34:10):
Long enough.
That was her talking to me andI was like okay.
So I just excused myself andwent and sat down and got on my
phone and I was like for, foreverything that is going on
right now.
I fucking hope the tattooartist is nicer and he was did
you say anything about cat?
Nope, but now I, it's a womanowned Google review.
(34:32):
Exactly, it's a woman ownedbusiness, which was another like
yes, a woman owned business.
And they're doing this andthey're out there like on Tik
TOK with these $10 tattoos, likethey're Tik TOK, famous because
of their $10 tattoos.
So, with people coming to Vegasfrom all over the world,
they're going to ask dumbquestions, yep, and she's
probably sick of it, sheprobably.
(34:54):
Then that's not the job for her, right?
If, if your only job is to notdo tattoos and not do piercings
and you're the customer serviceman cat, you're just a greeter
fail, girl fail.
And all I was trying to do wasmake a conversation with her.
Yeah, when people ask me howlong I worked at the bar, I
don't fucking long enough.
I've been here 25 years andthen it's like Whoa.
(35:16):
And then then we have it's aconversation.
It leads into something.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
She was just dry as hell, exactly.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
And that's.
If that's who you are, hey,great.
Then that shouldn't be your job.
Yeah, you, they need someonewith much more personality.
And when we were leaving, therewas another girl coming in and
she seemed way more bubbly and Iwas like okay, maybe the other
girl was late.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Let's give Kat the benefit of the doubt.
Maybe she was just done for theday.
She wasn't.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
I already know Cause I saw her doing other things.
But yeah, I get it.
Maybe she was having a bad day,Devil's advocate.
It seemed like that was her andthat was her personality and I
was like, all right.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
And personality and I was like all right, and then we
sat down and Cody sat down nextto me and I said did not like.
And Cody goes no, no, did not.
Oh, that's horrible.
Well, is there?
Speaker 2 (36:06):
anything else you want to add for tipping in the
service industry.
I do, I do.
I just want to say, when you'reout and about and doing all the
things that you do and livingyour day-to-day life anyone
who's listening, please youmight be going through something
, your server might be goingthrough something, If it's
genuinely bad service and it's,you know, happens on more than
(36:27):
one occasion.
Or you ask for something andthey don't bring it, or there's
like a general attitude Okay,but right now I feel like we're
all working hard anyone in theservice industry and I feel like
I keep hearing that there's ashortage of servers and this and
that, but I don't really seethat happening anywhere.
But I hear that.
So let's just be kinder, liketo each other all the time, not
(36:51):
just at this moment and not justwhen you're getting something
you know serve to you.
I think we really and I'm goingto go off on something that
doesn't have anything to do withtipping is we really need to be
kinder to each other.
Speaker 1 (37:03):
I think people need to listen, to understand.
I think people um need to thinkmore positively, because we are
all very lucky to be breathingtoday, and maybe today's not a
great day, but tomorrow's a newday.
Tomorrow's a new day to start anew adventure, or new whatever
(37:26):
I mean.
Failures make us.
They make us stronger, Um, sojust keep that in mind.
Today is today and it will pass.
If it is not a good day, ifit's a great day, make tomorrow
an even better day.
And doing something good andnice for someone may change
their whole attitude, absolutelyso with that being said, I
(37:48):
think we can Roger that becausethat was awesome, roger that
because that was awesome, rogerthat.
Hi, welcome back to small town big mouse.
This is Amber.
You're one and only, and Nikkiyour resident bartender.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Today, we're going to be talking about something near
and dear to my heart.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
We're going to talk about the service industry and
how we tip in the USA comparedto other countries.
Yes, so I found someinformation that in Japan and
South Korea it is actuallysometimes seen as offensive to
tip, which in the CA, inCalifornia, united.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
States yeah, it's offensive not to know no In in
the United States it's offensivenot to tip Wait a minute.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
What did I say?
Yeah, but yeah.
And here sometimes it's alreadyadded onto your bill before you
even tip in.
Sometimes waiters or waitressesdon't even tell you that it's
added and then you just go aheadand leave a tip on top of
they're already 18%, right, um,cause that's, I think, about 18%
(01:02):
.
I think Miami was 20% when Iwent um everything, it didn't
matter if you're in a largegroup or not.
Um, they included the tipeverywhere you went.
Everywhere you went, tip wasincluded.
See, that's so wild, yeah, sobasically, they're tipping
themselves and it's not like umI, it's just like I know I'm
going to get it, so I don't haveto be of service to you.
(01:25):
And that's the hardest thingwith today is I want to tip
somebody.
Sometimes they'll even, likeI've noticed on receipts it'll
say, like certain amountsalready on there, like you just
check the box.
And I'm like, well, I don'twant to check the box, I want to
write in what I want to writein.
And sometimes it's more or less, or um, even group, group
(01:47):
dinners, where they add on thegratuity.
I'm like, well, I would havetipped you more than that, but
okay, you know what I mean.
I'm just signing away.
I know I could probably I couldadd it on there yeah, um, but
I'm just like I don't want tohave to count.
Yeah Right, no, I get it.
I'm like I don't want to count.
Yeah Right, no, I get it.
I don't want to count Um.
(02:08):
So what about for you, though,because you work um in an
industry where you're tipped ona on a regular basis.
What we hope, fingers crossed,right?
So what do you see as far as um2024 or after COVID, pre COVID?
That's what I want to know.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Okay, so immediately after COVID, it was really good,
like it was really good Really,yeah.
Immediately after, because Ithink people had that extra
money.
They felt bad that like the barwasn't open.
They felt bad for me because Iwasn't working.
Whatever the case may be, nowit's not as much.
It's definitely declining.
(02:45):
There's definitely a whole likegroup of individuals who feel
like they don't need to tip.
Um, I'm paid to do my job,which I am.
I am paid to do my job, but I'malso providing you a service
and also, if you come in on a,you know, slow night and I'm
talking to you, engaging withyou, all the things, I'm doing
(03:09):
those things because I work inthe tipping industry.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Okay, so I don't know if this is true, but I've
always heard before I don't knowif this is still a standard
waiters waitresses wages areless than, because they do get
tips with that.
Is that true or do you in?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
certain States, it is true, in the state of
California, it is not Okay.
There are States, um, I think,like Arizona is one of them.
Might maybe Nevada, I'm notsure, but I know because I'm on
a lot of forums on Facebook too.
Um, and I know for a factArizona was one.
It was like $2 and 85 cents anhour was the wage.
Holy moly, yeah.
(03:49):
But what happens is, when thesepeople are getting their tips
and they're reporting them, itsomehow has to work out to be
the federal national average,which is, I think, minimum wage
is like $17 an hour or whatever.
Right.
So if it doesn't work out to bethat, then the company you work
for has to make up the extrapercentage that it isn't.
(04:11):
It's probably very rare thatthat happens, but I'm sure it
does happen.
Um, when I what year was it1990 something and red lobster
had just opened and I worked atRed Lobster and I literally only
worked there for two weeksbecause it was horrible, really,
(04:31):
yeah, um, people were waitingin line for like two hours to
get in cause.
It had just opened and theywere mad at the server when they
got inside and they weren'tleaving tips.
I waited on this whole party.
Yeah, I waited on this wholeparty their.
I waited on this whole party.
Their bill was like 200 andsomething dollars.
They didn't leave a tip at all,nothing.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
And you guys are busting your ass and it's super
busy because it is just openingand places like that.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
that are corporations these people cannot clock out
until they um claim their Ithink it's like 8% of their
sales or whatever.
So that night I literally owedmoney for working.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Oh my goodness, that was the last day I worked there.
Yeah, I wouldn't want to work.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
That was the last day I worked there and it was a
group of I'm Armenian, but itwas a group of Armenians.
They came in and they ordered,like a party platter, and they
ordered some of this and some ofthat.
And I was just like, okay, andI'm I'm Armenian, so I'm like
trying to, you know, work it.
Yeah, but they were not havingit and they were mad and they
ordered a party platter whichwas like a special item.
So the kitchen had to make thisspecial item for them.
(05:39):
They were mad because it wastaking so long and they were
magazine waited so long.
I'll never forget and I wasjust like when the bill came, it
was $217 and the guy left $217in cash and when he pulled it
out, he had a whole bunch ofcash in his hand and I was just
like, wow, okay, yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
I want to know what our listeners, our viewers, have
to say about tipping in today'sday and age.
Um, for me, I think that, um,especially lately, with the cost
of everything, the food priceshave gone up.
That means the tip goes up,which kind of sucks for me as a
(06:18):
consumer, cause now you'repaying more all the way around.
Now I'm paying more all the wayaround, so which is all the way
around, so which is going tostop people from going out?
it definitely has.
I feel like I don't want to goout one because everything's
just too expensive and I'm likeI've actually been cooking a lot
more and um, I've been comingup with good recipes.
(06:40):
Um, actually, what I've beendoing here's a little cheat is
um putting it in chat, gpt, chat, gpt.
I'm like I only have theseingredients.
Oh my god give me a recipe.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
You guys, anyone who doesn't have chat gpt, you need
to get on it, because this islike crazy, the things that this
thing can do.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
It's so crazy and my daughters can be super freaking
picky and they have likedeverything that chat GPT has
told me to cook.
So like I'm not mad at it, likeI did it two nights in a row
cause I had like differentthings and I'm like I know this
could probably go together, butlike how, yeah, and sure enough
(07:21):
it worked.
And I said in the crock pot, soeven better, last night I did a
vodka sauce lasagna in thecrock pot with Italian sausage,
super good, although Michaelasaid that too much cheese.
Who says too much cheese?
Speaker 2 (07:41):
What the fuck?
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
She's like there's no noodles, but I'm like I, but
I'm like I had enough.
I had enough noodles, butanyways, that's besides the
point it.
You know, I, I do feel likeI've been cooking more just for
the simple fact of um, you knowhow much it costs.
Hi, dad, you're, we'rerecording right now what's going
(08:04):
on.
Hello, hello Well.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
I'm going to get something myself, I know but he
dialed me.
We we actually had calledcalled Amber's dad to get his
input on some of this Cause.
You know he's a person thatgoes out as well.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Yeah, I mean pretty frequently they.
He had um, uh, what did he?
He said, okay, so he, my dad,likes to call me, we have a
really good relationship.
Um, he'll call me withdifferent ideas and you like, I
do try to write them down, um,but sometimes he calls me at the
randomest times and I'm notlike ready to.
(08:46):
Yeah, and so he calls me theother day and he was like he
must've been out buying lunch orsomething.
And you know, we all know, intoday's day and age everybody's
paying with a card and they turnthe machine around and you're
ordering at the counter, so areyou supposed to tip?
My dad feels like if he doesn'ttip they're going to spit in
(09:07):
his food and I'm like, dad,that's not what's going to
happen.
It's kind of like to me.
I feel like if you go through adrive-thru, are you tipping
Like you go through?
Speaker 2 (09:17):
McDonald's, you're not shipping when, if the people
do tip, who gets the tip?
It's split amongst everyonethat works there.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Yeah, it's probably split among everybody.
That's what I see a lot of now.
I feel like a lot of tips arebeing split between everybody.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
I mean we split our tips behind the bar but we are
all working equally as hard.
But to me, if I did leave a tipat McDonald's or wherever, it
would be because that persontaking my order gave me
excellent service, not becausethe guy back there flipping the
burger came up and said hi to me.
You know what?
Speaker 1 (09:52):
I mean Right, but the chef's the one that's cooking
the food, and maybe the quarterpounder with cheese was super
good.
What if it's not right?
Speaker 2 (10:00):
I mean, but that's what I'm saying.
Yeah, but I'm tipping theperson that I'm speaking to and
now that I know that it's beingdistributed amongst all these
people there, like it's okay.
So what did you do for me?
You were over there working thedrive-thru.
I didn't even see you.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
I don't, we don't tip in the drive-thru, that's just.
There's not an option to dothat.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
You pay, you roll up person is still going to be
included in that tip, if it's,if it's distributed to everyone
working.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Well, no, this is like you know, these smaller
chains not chain, they're noteven chains, they're just these
restaurants that you walk up tothe counter, you pay, you walk
up to the counter and you grabum, I'm only asking because I'm
trying to figure it out LikeChipotle right.
You walk in, you order yourfood, they make it in front of
(10:46):
you, you.
You get it.
You know they're not bringingit out to you.
Are you supposed to tip them?
Speaker 2 (10:53):
I feel like places like that I do.
I also tip it like Dutchbrothers, where I kind of draw
the line, is like when I go toseven 11 and see, but I pay cash
, but I'd been with people andthey have their card and, like
the dude at 7-Eleven, you useyour card and it asks if you
want to leave a tip and I'm likefor what For what?
I went over there and got my ownSlurpee poured.
(11:14):
My own Slurpee, brought it uphere.
All you did was rang it up, Tipme bitch, Like I just made my
own drink.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
We might as well tip the grocery clerks too.
Yeah, I mean, it's getting.
The tipping to me is gettingout of hand.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
No, it really isn't.
It's unfortunate for peoplelike me, yes, who work in an
industry where tipping has beenthe norm for years.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Yeah, so like for you , I tip you better than I would
another bartender.
Like I'm only giving a dollar adrink, that is like, but that's
still a great tip.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Yeah, I mean, I guess it is, I'm, I'm telling you
it's a good tip.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
I mean, maybe if I'm ordering like five shots for
everybody, maybe I just do a fewbucks or like three bucks or
something.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
But you, I'm just like because I know, I know, but
at the end of the day, evenwhat, whatever you tip someone
else, that is still a good tip,because there are plenty of
people out there that do not tipat all.
This is a crazy story.
I worked at Perco's.
I was a company trainer forthem.
I was friends with my manager.
(12:24):
Her dad came in every day andhad coffee.
Now normally she poured hiscoffee.
One day he came in and shewasn't there.
Now, normally she poured hiscoffee.
One day he came in and shewasn't there.
She was offering an errand.
So I got him his coffee, I gothim.
I got him his coffee, broughtit out, poured it.
You know he had refills.
He was a businessman.
When he left he didn't leave atip and he also doesn't pay for
his coffee because he's thisperson's daughter who runs the
place.
(12:44):
Okay, so I said something likeher name was Lydia.
I said Lydia, your dad doesn'ttip.
And she's like yeah, well, hejust feels like because he goes
these places every day and he'sout eating, you know, three
meals a day.
And I said I don't care, that's, that's not my problem, because
to me, if you're going out allthese places, you're not tipping
(13:06):
anyone and you're coming in andgetting free coffee.
I'm just like, and you'retaking up a booth cause you
didn't sit at the.
It was a place that had like itwas a breakfast place, we had a
counter and booths, and you'resitting at a booth where one of
my fucking customers could sitand be tipping me.
So then I'm just like, okay,it's kind of the same thing Like
at work, when the bouncers comeearly and they want to sit at
(13:27):
the bar and have like a soda, myanswer is no, take, take that
outside, go stand over there.
You're not sitting at the bar.
And I've had people likebouncers like get mad at me and
I'm like this is reserved forpeople that are sitting buying
stuff and tipping.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
That's true.
I mean, I feel like with thedad, especially because he is
getting his coffee for free,like and it's not even his
daughter serving him you wouldthink at least a buck right,
like a dollar.
I feel like if I get somethingfor free or different price or
whatever, like I'm definitelygiving somebody more of a tip to
(14:07):
show that I appreciate you fortaking care of me.
So yeah, I don't know, I thinkI learned my tipping from my dad
because I know he's verygenerous and he'll he'll pay for
somebody's meal or he'll dodifferent things.
Um, but at the same time itI've also dated somebody and it
(14:28):
was a conversation when the billwas a hundred dollars and he
left $5.
I was like I called my dad.
I'm like what am I supposed todo?
Because what did dad say?
Speaker 2 (14:38):
He's like tell him I'd have been like quit dating
that fucker.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
He was like, well, you need to have a conversation,
and I did.
And the guy was like I tip whatI feel is justifiable and I was
like if you can't afford toleave 15, you shouldn't be going
out to dinner, because that's Imean, I get that from my dad
like, if you can't tip, don't go, that's.
(15:02):
I feel like that too you know,I feel like it's an a hundred
dollar bill and you leave fivedollars.
I feel like that's an $100 billand you leave $5.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
I feel like that's an insult.
Yeah, I mean, I'd rather youleave nothing and I feel like
you and then think that youforgot.
Then leave me $5 and make mefeel like my service wasn't good
.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Now, if your shit, your service was shitty and I
left you $5, then you'd probablybe like well, I probably
deserve that, you know what Imean.
But like, if your service isgood, then why not?
Well, it happens all night longat the bar.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
You know, like these kids, they'll close out and
their tab will be like $200.
There was one I canspecifically remember.
His tab was like 180 somethingdollars.
I took him his thing, I walkeddown there, he signed it.
I walked back and I picked itup and it just I could not help
myself.
I leaned across the bar and Isaid was everything okay?
Yeah, oh, everything was great.
(15:54):
I'm like did someone here makeyou mad?
No, I like you guys.
I said, really, because youbought all your friends drinks,
you spend $180 and not you orany of your friends left a tip.
Yeah, like that's rude to me.
It was.
And now and he knows who he iswhen he comes in, I don't help
him, yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Does he tip at all?
No, oh, so he's just not atipper.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
His brothers, though, come in and I love them.
They all take care of me.
They're super nice.
This guy not only is a dick, hedoesn't tip, and that's just
like I find.
A lot of the times these thingsgo hand in hand.
I'll be like at the registerringing someone up, or at the
cat at the credit card machineclosing someone out, and I get
the excuse me, excuse me, excuseme.
And when I turn around, can Iget it?
(16:39):
And I'm like, okay.
I'm like when I turn around,I'm like I try and sweetly be
like okay, here's the deal.
If you're talking to my back,it's probably not your turn, and
all of us are really good atmaking eye contact with you, so
you know when it's your turn.
And when you're yelling at theside of my face or my back, I'm
probably not going to be apt tohelp you.
So then it's, it's 95%.
(17:01):
Those people don't tip, 95%.
Every.
It's always the people thatdon't consider what I'm already
doing, that I'm helping someoneelse, that it's someone else's
turn.
Those are the people thatusually don't tip.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
It's an.
It's crazy, like I think.
I don't remember what thecircumstance was, but I remember
this had to have been like.
I want to say it was probablybefore kids, or Michaela was
like a baby that I went out toeat and I left a penny.
The service was that bad Iwanted her to know.
Do you know what a penny?
Speaker 2 (17:32):
means though?
No, it's a well, it's.
It's could mean bad, but if youleave like, let's say, you left
her 20% and a penny, that meansthe service was excellent.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
Oh, I didn't know that I'm going to start carrying
an old thing.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
You know what I mean.
But that was like when I workedin that place where the, the
dad that didn't even leave meand not even one penny.
He, he, um, that was a thingamong waitresses Cause I was
like, why did that guy leave mea tip and then plus a penny?
And then one of the olderladies was like, oh, that means
your service was excellent.
I'm like, oh, okay.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
So it's like a good luck, penny.
Another thing I'll do is I'mnot afraid to write on receipts.
Yes, I will say if you're good,I will tell you.
If you're bad, if you'reaverage, you don't get nothing.
But if it's really good andsomebody really puts an effort,
like I, will write like keep,keep up the good job, keep
smiling, whatever it is.
Because we don't always want tohear the bad things, right, we
(18:24):
want to hear the good things,things, and it's that usually is
.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
What happens is people hear the bad things.
When we were in vegas thisweekend, we went to hash house,
a go-go in the plaza.
I've never been there, okay,that is one of my favorite
places to eat.
The breakfast there is out ofcontrol.
That's what I've heard yeah andthere's one in like san diego
too, so I love the one in sandiego too.
So go there.
Our server was amazing,probably the best service.
(18:50):
It was the best service of thetrip, for sure, and we ate at a
nice steakhouse, but it was thebest service I probably had in a
very, very long time.
Nice, yeah, and he was reallygood and we told him and we
tipped him very well.
I think we tipped him like Idon't know, 30%.
Yeah, it was good, it was great.
The service was.
He was on top of it, he tookcare of us.
(19:11):
Our food came out hot, we allcame out together.
You know, everything happenedthe way it should have happened.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
See, and I think servers or waitresses like that
are probably more recognized andthey do make more money,
because when you make somebodyelse feel good, you know what I
mean they're going to want torepay you.
Yes, um, and I've never workedin the service industry.
My dad says I, I should havebeen, I still could be.
(19:39):
He was like, why not have aside, you know and make that?
Yeah, he goes, and you know,supposedly, either either
presidential candidate, we'renot going to have tax on those
tips anymore.
I'm waiting to see that.
Right, we'll, we'll see whathappens.
But, um, I mean, I think,because I am so social, I could,
(19:59):
I would probably be good at it,but then again I have low
tolerance for bullshit.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
So it's a.
It's a very hard, fine, thinline.
I know Catch 22.
It is a catch 22.
And I think, like for me, I hadthe same.
Lydia was her name, the ladywhose dad was not a good tipper.
I worked with her at severaldifferent places and I had her
tell me one time she said youcould sell ice to an Eskimo, and
(20:25):
I said I was young, I was like20.
What does that mean?
I to an Eskimo?
And I said I was young, I waslike 20.
I go, what does that mean?
And she goes, she goes.
The second.
We would be back in the backand I'd be mad at another server
or one of the cooks and I'd belike you, fucking motherfuck.
But the second I stepped out onthat carpet of the restaurant.
Oh my God, hi, how are you guys?
Where have you been?
You know she goes.
You would never know she goes.
Your best friend could be inthe back, you know dying and you
(20:47):
would never know that.
And she's like.
And that's what makes you agood server.
And I feel like I am a betterserver than I am bartender,
which is weird because I've beenbartending for so very long.
But I dynamics to that though.
Yes, it's more one-on-one timewith this table and you get more
of a bet, an easier reading,and most people aren't drunk at
dinner.
So, and most people aren'tdrunk at dinner or lunch or
(21:07):
breakfast or whatever the fuckyou're serving, so it's a whole
better experience for bothparties.
You know what I'm saying andyou can get a vibe Like, if some
people are cool, you can talkto them and have a conversation.
If you feel like, oh, thesepeople are fighting or they just
want to be left alone, you justdo the.
You know the things that arerequired.
I'm going to bring your water,I'm going to fill this, I'm
going to come back and check onyou, but I'm not coming over for
any extra bullshit, andsometimes that makes you money
(21:29):
too.
You know we were.
I was out to dinner with autumn,my daughter, my daughter, uh,
tina, and her wife, autumn, andwe went out to dinner and we
were someplace and I saw someoneI knew and the people he was
with we were kind of over.
Autumn was like this they werebehind us, they I'm like Autumn,
(21:50):
what's going on?
She goes.
I can't believe what's going onat that table over there and I
was like what's going on?
She goes, the people, yourfriend, the guy with him is
being so rude to the server andI'm like what do you mean?
I guess the server came overand was like can I?
And he goes.
You know what you can do.
You can leave us alone, you canstop coming over here.
(22:11):
And I was like, see now thatjust like she's doing her job
Right.
And how do you think you justmade her right day to me?
I'd have been like okay, fucker, you don't want me to come back
, cool Right, I'm never comingback over there.
Find another server to comewait on you, yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
That is so rude.
I don't you know, we never knowwhat other people are going
through.
So I mean, maybe it was areally shitty day for him, but
still, it's no excuse to treatsomebody bad.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
You know why make someone else's day shitty, right
Cause you're having a shittyday.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Well, misery loves company.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
So I think we both like opened up our phones and
printed out a little, or openedup a little something, something
.
Yeah, autumn's bottoms gotautumn on my brain.
Amber's was internationalversus the United States, yes,
right.
And so mine was tippingpractices in the United States
Um, it's kind of like a win totip when not to tip.
(23:10):
So should I start?
Or you want to start ahead andstart?
Okay, so mine was umrestaurants, it says 15 to 20%
if you sit down for the of thetotal bill.
Oh, okay.
Okay, if it's a buffet, it's10%, because that person still
is coming over clearing yourplates, checking on you, okay,
bars, one to $2 per drink, or 15to 20% of the tab if running a
(23:34):
bill.
Coffee shops and cafes this onewas kind of like um, I consider
Denny's a coffee shop.
So I don't know how, I don'tknow if maybe this is like,
cause it says optional butappreciated.
So I would never likeoptionally tip at a coffee shop,
because a coffee shop to me islike Denny's um country waffle,
(23:58):
see, those are restaurants to me, see, and that's like a.
Well, denny's is a coffee shop.
Perco's was a coffee shop,that's where I worked it was a
coffee shop.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
You sit down in restaurant.
A coffee shop is like Starbucks.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
It says coffee shop, slash cafe Interesting.
So yeah, it says optional butappreciated.
10 to 15% of you receivedexceptional service or have a
large order.
Delivery services food andgrocery 10 to 20%, depending on
the distance or the size of theorder.
Tip a bit more If the weather'sbad interesting.
Well, they got to carry it inthe rain or wind or snow or
(24:31):
whatever.
Hair and beauty services 15 toto 20 of the total service cost.
So is that what you tip when Idon't go get my hair done
anymore?
So I like it's what would itsay 15 to 20.
15 to 20 of the total servicecost it?
Speaker 1 (24:50):
I don't think so.
I kind it's like reallywhatever I can afford.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Cause hair, get it.
Look, I'm not trying to be rudeto hairdressers, cause we love
you, but my God, your serviceshave went up and I'm having to
sit there for freaking.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
I feel like it takes way longer and I'm like, I feel
like I'm doing the same thingRight.
So like it's $50 for a haircutnow and honestly, I think, too,
it also depends on how muchconversation we have and like
what's going on, or I meanespecially because lately I feel
like I used to be able to getmy hair done in two hours.
I feel like it takes almostfour hours now and that's a long
(25:29):
.
Like you know, it's a chunk ofyour day.
Yeah, I'm like I got to go atlike nine, so I'm out of there
by one.
Yeah, like that's my day.
No, thank you, it's kind ofhard to do that.
So, and even this last time Iwent, I was like, can we just do
a partial Cause I didn't wantto be there as long and I was
still there as long you know,okay, I got, I got more here.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
I got taxis and ride shares 10 to 15%.
Hotel staff.
So housekeeping two to $5 anight.
Bellhop one to $2 a bag.
The concierge you tip forspecial services, like if they
got your reservation somewhereor did something for you.
Five to $20.
Reservation somewhere or didsomething for you.
Five to $20.
Valet two to $5.
Movers I've never had someone.
(26:21):
I guess I've only had myfriends over and I'm just giving
them beer and fucking pizza.
It says 10 to 20% of the movingcost, or 20 to $50 per mover
depending on the job'scomplexity.
Okay.
Personal services massagetherapist, nails 15 to 20%.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
You know, I just went the other day and I got a
massage and I was not happy withit and I still I felt like all
I got was elbows, and I was.
I left a $10 tip.
Okay, my bill was 60.
So I mean, I guess it's stilldecent, but that's.
That's about 12%, yeah.
But I'm like God damn, yeah, itwasn't even worth it.
(27:00):
I really didn't want to leave atip, I tipped just to get the
hell away.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Tour guides five to $10 per person for a half day
tour.
10 to $20 for a full day tourper person.
Okay, and then it goes intolike when not to tip?
Fast food chains, retail stores, self-checkout, automated
services such as kiosks and apps, government services, medical
(27:26):
professionals like who the fuckis tipping them, doctor, can you
look at this?
Oh, by the way, here's $20.
Right, I mean no, what the hell?
Yeah, by the way, here's $20.
I mean no, yeah, gray areaswhich kind of are optional
takeout restaurants, 10% hotels.
Um, it says limited service.
Like, some people tip inlimited service hotels, motels,
(27:49):
et cetera, but it's not ascommon as in full service hotels
.
This is coffee shops andcounter service.
Tipping isn't mandatory forcounter service but many people
leave a small amount like loosechange or a dollar.
Food trucks and casual diningtipping is appreciated but not
obligatory.
Obligatory, I don't know.
(28:10):
I don't know.
Tipping is a good way toacknowledge service, but it is
not always required in everysituation and it is a personal
choice in many gray areas.
But I also know, and you'regoing to tell me this right now
it's very different in othercountries.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
It is very different in other countries.
So before I go down this list,so there was a night that I had
came in and there was a couplethat I had met earlier.
They were from England orsomewhere there, the UK or
something, and they say they dotips based on the service that
they provide.
(28:45):
And so I'm like, okay, that'sinteresting, cause I had this
conversation with them.
Well then, later on they comedown to the bar and I think I
asked you, did they tip?
And they did tip you.
So I was grateful to know thatthey do that, and I actually
have an app that I follow theirlittle travel, but I haven't
logged in.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
So now I'm now that we're talking about now you're
going to log in and check onthem and check on my friends and
my new friends, cause I makethem everywhere so.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
But in other countries it says Europe,
everywhere so, but in othercountries it says Europe, such
as France and Germany, tippingis generally smaller as service
charges are often included inthe bill.
A five to 10% tip is common,but rounding up the bill is also
acceptable.
Service staff typically earnbetter wages than the USA.
The UK 10 to 15 tip iscustomary.
(29:34):
If a service charge isn'talready included in the bill.
Um Japan and South Korea it'srare and can be seen as
offensive.
Exceptional service is expectedas part of the job and chip
tipping can be consideredunnecessary.
Um, which I mean they say.
(29:55):
People from Japan are, you know, hardworking?
Yes, so to them, that's justwhat they're supposed to be
doing and in a job we aresupposed to, any job we have,
we're supposed to be good atwhat we're doing.
Australia and New Zealandtipping is not customary but
(30:15):
appreciated for excellentservers.
Servers earn higher, higherwages and tipping is usually 10%
or rounded up the bill.
And Latin America Um, it says,like Mexico and Argentina, 10 to
15% is standard in restaurants.
However, in Brazil, service isusually included in the bill and
tipping isn't expected beyondthat.
(30:36):
So tipping in the USA tends tobe more expected in larger
compared to other countrieswhere service charges are are
higher wages reduce the relianceon tips.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
So I've never went to another country and tipped and
had them look at me like I was,you know from another planet.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
They're actually really like oh my gosh, thank
you so thankful.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
It's crazy.
We, when we went to Bali, wegot a driver who I'm still
friends with.
We got this driver and he droveus literally all around for $20
for the for the whole day andthen on top of it we gave him
like I think it was like a 20 or$40 tip and you would have
thought that, like I just gavehim a new house.
(31:22):
Yeah, he was so thankful andprobably why we're still friends
to this day.
You know what I mean.
He's like come back and it'svery much like that in other
countries.
I, you know very a lot ofpeople and even I feel like
sometimes when I'm out of town,I get a lot of people because I
feel like I'm overly generousbecause of what I do.
(31:42):
You know what I mean, but whenthe service is good, the service
is good.
You know what I mean.
And you can't.
I can't not tip someone becauseeven when the service is bad, I
still leave a tip.
But am I?
Speaker 1 (31:55):
happy about it.
No, you know, we'll see, likeyou know.
Back to what my dad was saying,it's like do you leave the tip
Cause?
If you don't, then they'regoing to spit in your food.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
You know if you're walking up and count it's a gray
area.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
So it's hard because, like drive through Dutch, I'll
leave a dollar a drink, justlike I would a bar.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
You know, sometimes they're standing out there in
the hot sun, yes, taking yourorders, um that's just one of
those places, too, where I justwant them to shut the window,
like I give them the money andthen like they're all, what do
you have plans today?
What are your plans?
What are you doing?
And I'm just like nothing, Ijust want some coffee, girl.
(32:37):
Yeah, shut that window, right,or?
Speaker 1 (32:40):
it's all blowing.
I don't want to tell you mywhole life story.
Make my fucking coffee.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Okay, I gave you a tip Go away.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
It's like, uh, you pay her to leave, yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
Yeah, to leave yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
Yeah, yeah, cause they always ask me what are you
doing today?
And I'm just like nothing.
I just woke up.
Yeah, that's why I need thecoffee.
Speaker 2 (32:59):
Oh, my goodness, but yeah for the most part, I feel
like we're really getting intothis whole crazy like with the
tipping because it is going alittle overboard and people like
me are losing out because of it, and that's what sucks is
because everyone now is askingfor a tip everywhere you go.
(33:20):
And so I yeah, I can agree.
And I will say yeah, yesterday Ialready told you guys about my
tattoos when we went to get ourtattoos.
This place is like famous.
It's $10 tattoos in Vegas.
That's their spiel, that'stheir thing.
People, $10 tattoos Of that'stheir spiel, that's their thing,
people, $10 tattoos.
Of course everyone's coming inand asking dumb ass questions.
Right, yeah, right, there's asection that says $10 tattoos.
(33:48):
These are the tattoos that are$10.
You can get it from here tohere or from here to here.
Okay, well, I have questions.
Can I get it in color?
What if I don't like that?
What if I want the end of it tolook like this?
What if I?
You know, I was asking questionsand then I asked the girl.
I said what's your name?
She goes, and she was a chickbehind the counter and I said
she goes cat, and I said okay.
I said cat, do you do tattoos?
No, do you do piercings?
No, oh cool, how long have youworked here?
(34:10):
Long enough.
That was her talking to me andI was like okay.
So I just excused myself andwent and sat down and got on my
phone and I was like for, foreverything that is going on
right now.
I fucking hope the tattooartist is nicer and he was did
you say anything about cat?
Nope, but now I, it's a womanowned Google review.
(34:32):
Exactly, it's a woman ownedbusiness, which was another like
yes, a woman owned business.
And they're doing this andthey're out there like on Tik
TOK with these $10 tattoos, likethey're Tik TOK, famous because
of their $10 tattoos.
So, with people coming to Vegasfrom all over the world,
they're going to ask dumbquestions, yep, and she's
probably sick of it, sheprobably.
(34:54):
Then that's not the job for her, right?
If, if your only job is to notdo tattoos and not do piercings
and you're the customer serviceman cat, you're just a greeter
fail, girl fail.
And all I was trying to do wasmake a conversation with her.
Yeah, when people ask me howlong I worked at the bar, I
don't fucking long enough.
I've been here 25 years andthen it's like Whoa.
(35:16):
And then then we have it's aconversation.
It leads into something.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
She was just dry as hell, exactly.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
And that's.
If that's who you are, hey,great.
Then that shouldn't be your job.
Yeah, you, they need someonewith much more personality.
And when we were leaving, therewas another girl coming in and
she seemed way more bubbly and Iwas like okay, maybe the other
girl was late.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Let's give Kat the benefit of the doubt.
Maybe she was just done for theday.
She wasn't.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
I already know Cause I saw her doing other things.
But yeah, I get it.
Maybe she was having a bad day,Devil's advocate.
It seemed like that was her andthat was her personality and I
was like, all right.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
And personality and I was like all right, and then we
sat down and Cody sat down nextto me and I said did not like.
And Cody goes no, no, did not.
Oh, that's horrible.
Well, is there?
Speaker 2 (36:06):
anything else you want to add for tipping in the
service industry.
I do, I do.
I just want to say, when you'reout and about and doing all the
things that you do and livingyour day-to-day life anyone
who's listening, please youmight be going through something
, your server might be goingthrough something, If it's
genuinely bad service and it's,you know, happens on more than
(36:27):
one occasion.
Or you ask for something andthey don't bring it, or there's
like a general attitude Okay,but right now I feel like we're
all working hard anyone in theservice industry and I feel like
I keep hearing that there's ashortage of servers and this and
that, but I don't really seethat happening anywhere.
But I hear that.
So let's just be kinder, liketo each other all the time, not
(36:51):
just at this moment and not justwhen you're getting something
you know serve to you.
I think we really and I'm goingto go off on something that
doesn't have anything to do withtipping is we really need to be
kinder to each other.
Speaker 1 (37:03):
I think people need to listen, to understand.
I think people um need to thinkmore positively, because we are
all very lucky to be breathingtoday, and maybe today's not a
great day, but tomorrow's a newday.
Tomorrow's a new day to start anew adventure, or new whatever
(37:26):
I mean.
Failures make us.
They make us stronger, Um, sojust keep that in mind.
Today is today and it will pass.
If it is not a good day, ifit's a great day, make tomorrow
an even better day.
And doing something good andnice for someone may change
their whole attitude, absolutelyso with that being said, I
(37:48):
think we can Roger that becausethat was awesome, roger that
because that was awesome, rogerthat.
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