Countries where tipping is frowned upon – 07/16/2023 – Market

The eternal debate about the tipping culture in the United States returned to the news after employees at the first unionized Apple store in the country defended receiving tips from customers.

The announcement raised intense debates about the practice, where it remains very ingrained.

Many people believe that tipping culture is getting out of hand.

Expressions such as “guilt tipping,” “tip fatigue,” “tip shudder,” and “tip inflation” have become commonplace among Americans.

This controversial practice has spread around the world, but not all countries embrace it with the same vigor as the United States.

The custom of tipping has recently sparked discussion in Spain, while in France, service compris (“service included”) means that the tip is already built into the bill. Elsewhere, particularly in East Asia, the lack of tipping tradition is a point of pride.

To exemplify the age-old dilemma of whether or not to tip, here are some places with their own characteristics. They were selected based on the culture of approval or disapproval of this practice and show how tipping behavior reflects broader aspects of society in each country.

JAPAN

Popular wisdom says that Japan is a kind of cleanliness paradise, where there is no garbage. There, imperfection (wabi-sabi) is respected and social conscience valued as an art form (don’t eat while walking; stay silent on public transport; don’t point with your hands or chopsticks; don’t blow your nose in public—the list is almost endless).

In Japan, tipping isn’t just uncommon either. They are considered unpleasant and embarrassing. And this Japanese culture of providing service without tipping really needs to be communicated to the foreign visitor with a caveat: if you tip, you will offend someone.

“Even when visitors are told that tips are not allowed in Japan, some people are still willing to show their appreciation with cash, but that’s not how it works,” says James Mundy of British tour operator InsideJapan Tours.

“It’s common to see people leave money for waiters at the restaurant and then be followed on the street and get their money back.”

“Many fail to understand that people do their work with pride and that [dizer] oishikatta (‘it was delicious’) or gochiso sama (‘thank you for preparing the meal’) will be very well received. Money doesn’t always bring dialogue.”

The Japanese revulsion to tips is noticeable. Shokunin kishitsu — something like “craftsman spirit” — seeps into many aspects of Japanese life. It’s a philosophy honed by many people in the tourist service industry, from hotel receptionists to salespeople to sushi chefs.

Service provision means, in this culture, doing the bare necessities of a job with pride. It is more common for recognition to be shown with greetings (preferably in Japanese) or with bows.

But there is an exception: the ryokans, the traditional tatami-covered inns. There, visitors can leave money for the nakai san—the kimono-clad attendant who prepares your food and your futon (upholstery).

But you have to use the proper form: don’t give the tip in person; leave new, unopened bills in a specially decorated envelope.

EGYPT

A deeply ingrained custom in North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia is the concept of baksheesh, which is a tip or alms for charity.

It may be openly solicited by a taxi driver or tour guide, or suggestively whispered in a street corner bazaar.

But the two forms have the same meaning: what is being asked is a gift or a small tip, regardless of the service offered.

If misinterpreted, the baksheesh can be translated as a request for alms.

But giving alms to the poor is one of the pillars of Islam. Understanding this point will deepen the visitor’s knowledge of that part of the world. And the benefactor is supposed to become a holier person by this action.

In Egypt, these gratuities are common for hotel and restaurant staff, taxi drivers and tour guides, as well as porters, bathroom attendants, security guards and shop assistants.

A deeper look at baksheesh it also reveals that the custom is part of an informal advance payment system.

Tour guides and hotel concierges from Cairo to Aswan can provide preferential treatment, ensure top-notch service, and do favors if tipped in advance.

US dollars or Egyptian pounds are welcome: US$1-2 (about R$5-10) is enough to be welcomed with a smile.

In circumstances like these, it is not uncommon in Egypt to miraculously obtain the key to a locked temple in the Valley of the Kings or to have an inaccessible bathroom in a museum suddenly reopened to visitors.

And tourists will not find this recommendation in tourist brochures.

CHINA

Even in China’s most modern metropolises, such as Beijing and Shanghai, tradition and superstition still have a strong hold on society.

In China, people don’t expect to receive gratuities.

And while it may seem hard to believe in a country obsessed with technological advances and the world of the future, tipping has been banned in the past.

One of China’s commandments is that all people are equal and no one is the servant of another. Insinuating superiority over another person has long been taboo.

And, although the Asian giant is increasingly a country of large hotels and huge restaurants, tips continue to be frowned upon, sometimes even interpreted as bribes, especially in smaller cities that receive fewer visitors.

But the growth of Chinese tourism and the assimilation of many Western customs is slowly changing that culture, according to Maggie Tian, ​​China general manager at Australian tour operator Intrepid Travel.

“Tipping in China was historically considered offensive, but times are changing,” she explains.

“The Chinese are still not in the habit of tipping, but tips are now acceptable, especially in larger cities where there are many locals and foreign visitors.”

“If you’re a visitor, tipping doormen, tour guides and waiters for exceptional service or specific help is well received. Despite the history, locals will appreciate it,” according to Tian.

U.S

Few countries take the tipping culture as seriously as the United States. Tips are as ingrained in the national psyche as the Super Bowl.

And sometimes it can be difficult for the foreign tourist to measure or explain this spirit.

Currently, 20% to 25% must be added to the final bill. Tipping inflation brings difficulties for locals and visitors alike.

In fact, the value offered or expected has increased exponentially in recent times and the development of digital tipping options has made this practice even more complex.

There are cases where service professionals are poorly paid and rely on the daily cycle of rewards.

As a result, more and more retailers — from gas stations to coffee chain Starbucks — are adding optional service fees to over-the-counter sales, which were previously net.

The point is that almost everything, including or not the provision of services, can end up having higher costs.

There are many ways to get it wrong (not tipping a drink when sitting at a bar can get a customer turned away, for example), but only one way to get it right.

“America has a tipping culture that doesn’t exist elsewhere,” says Peter Anderson, managing director of Knightsbridge Circle travel concierge service.

“Recently, in New York, I bought a bottle of water in a store and, when it was time to pay, they asked me for a tip”, he says.

“But I got the water myself, took it to the counter and paid. Still, they expected me to leave 20%.”

“In many places, it’s just a way to pay lower wages to employees and pass more costs on to the customer,” explains Anderson.

The United States has seen a movement against tipping and a shift to more equitable compensation methods for employees, but progress has been slow.

At this point, you need to understand that while tipping is legally voluntary in the United States, salaries for attendants and other professionals in the travel industry are often below the minimum.

And it always pays to be pleasant, especially when traveling as a representative of your own country.

DENMARK

In a country often cited as one of the happiest in the world for its egalitarian society, benevolence towards others and communal generosity, it may come as a surprise to learn that the Danes are largely a country of non-tipping people.

Basically, there are two reasons: the country’s citizens benefit from a higher per capita GDP (Gross Domestic Product, or sum of goods and services produced by a country) and a better welfare system than most other countries. .

This means that service professionals, taxi drivers and frontline professionals are not dependent on tips in the same way as elsewhere.

In addition, the service charge is usually included in the bill at Danish hotels and restaurants.

But even if tipping is not a tradition, the norm in Denmark — and other Scandinavian countries — is to round up the restaurant bill as a symbolic gesture.

And, as in most places in Europe these days, above-standard service is often rewarded with a cash tip or loyalty and frequent visits, which is also very valuable.

ABOUT TIPS

Each country has its own rules on tipping. At times, this practice can feel like a minefield.

But the important thing is to always respect other cultures when traveling.

So be sure to research local customs about tipping before traveling to any destination to avoid offending people.

read the original version of this report (in English) on the website BBC Travel.