315
Non-Americans who have been to the US.. What is the weirdest thing about America that Americans don't realize is weird? (lemmy.world)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml
687 comments fedilink hide all child comments
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 8 points 2 years ago (2 children)

There's actually a loose set of rules to it. Im not sure where the specific numbers came from, but 22% of the bill as a tip is considered "excellent service", 18% or so is considered "mid" or "acceptable" service, and anything below that is a sliding scale of how bad you think they did. 0% is either you being rude and/or saying "i dont believe in tips", but giving a $0.01 tip is basically saying "fuck you, you piece of shit," (because fishing out a penny or writing it in takes more effort than opting out).

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 29 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Those numbers used to be 12, 15 and 18. They've increased, but I'm not sure why, since they're percentages. They keep up with increased food prices automatically. Not sure why tip growth has outpaced food prices.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 10 points 2 years ago* (2 children)

    Yeah but how do you consult those rules? How often are they updated? How do you get notified of updates?

    The fact that there are no answers to these questions and therefore everyone is working with mismatching rule sets makes the whole thing useless. You can be totally well meaning and still piss off a server because somehow you don’t know what the currently acceptable magic number is.

    I recently visited the states for the first time in a decade and didn’t find out until afterwards that 15% is now considered by some people to be “low”. Sorry everyone who I tipped, I shafted you without realizing it. 🤷‍♂️

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 4 points 2 years ago

    We don't even get this memo. I thought it was still 15, 18, and 20. And I'm wholey against mandatory tipping, but always do so because I don't want the underpaid staff to starve. I have enough friends in food service who can barely pay their rent with multiple roommates.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent