I always over tip. I guess it's because I've worked for tips before but not

[GregfromGa]

in the food industry. The thing is I go in and order my food and take good care of the young lady. When I come back to the place if the lady see's me then she usually gives a big smile and goes out of her way to give good service. In America you can still get good service most of the time. In Ukraine costumer service is still a work in progress. Why do so many men overlook these beautiful girls working in the cafe's but had rather try to date some girl from a website where she has went out with 50 different guys and expects the sushi on the first date. Any girl that wants to take you to an expensive place to eat on the first date should be dropped then and there. It actually took me a couple of trips before my wife felt comfortable about eating out and spending or wasting money as she called it. Now when I return to a place after I've taken care of some waitress and she doesnt greet me with a smile or warm hello then I'm asking for another server. They figure it out quick. The Ukrainian grivna is almsot 9-1....That means on Sept 23rd the bottom will fall out of the dollar and it'll be back to 4.6 where it was last year. My luck traveling is just not that great.

[mies]

i also tip.
In Ukraine customer service is a whole different world. There was an article recently. A ukrainian journalist went to eat in a "fancy and upscale" dining place in Kyiv. Upscale meaning it was close in a price range to sushi-places. She ordered a soup. She asked for some particular soup from the menu and the waitress reassured her that they have this soup. Then woman paid in advance because she was in a hurry. When soup arrived - it was a different soup, and the waitress said "it's all we have". The woman/customer asked to return her money and said she does not want to eat this soup. The waitress told her "please wait". In 20 minutes came the manager of the pub, sipping coffee from a cup in his hand, and he told her reluctantly "well, yes - indeed, the wrong soup. We will need to change the menu. But you already paid and we will not return your money." Journalist (and I do not approve her actions) then turned the bowl of soup upside down, on the table. Then the manager spilled his coffee on the back of her white jacket, and left the scene.

[ECOCKS]

I would usually tip 10-15% and my wife would be concerned about "wasting" money over there. Over here she doesn't say a thing. I suspect she's still coping with the completely different level of attention, attitude and service.

She has remarked several times that Americans seem to be much more interested in their jobs than people in the FSU. She is always intrigued when they open up and chat for a minute or two and is a bit uncomfortable with how "open" we are with others. That's changing though, she's coming around to understand.

Just the other day a neighbor came over and asked if she wanted to go to a girl's night out with a couple of others in the neighborhood. They did a light dinner and then a chick flick movie. She had a great time and was talking all the next day about how the gals talked and got to know each other over tea and coffee. She was very worried about what was okay to talk about and my impression is she mostly listened, but baby-steps work just fine.

[Shadow]

A tip is in Europe and in the FSU an extra to be paid for exceptional service or quality.
It is not supposed to be a lage part of the income for the staff.

When you like the food, or the service do give a tip, but anything over 10% will be seen as showing off your wallet.
If there was nothing special, think about if anyone has ever paid you extra for just doing your normal job.

[JR]

TIPS:
To
Insure
Proper
Service
It was given 'before' the meal to make certain you were treated properly.

I always tip and my ex would always get pissy sayint "it's too much." I use a sliding scale based upon my perception of the service I recieved.

Overtipping, especially in countries where tipping isn't normal runs the risk of upsetting the local norms. So when in a country where it is not an established norm I tend to be a bit more conservative.

[ECOCKS]

I reward good service. If it isn't up to par then they get nothing, when it's "acceptable" I'd tip 10%, exceptional would see the 15%.

I had two students who worked at Friday's (in Kyiv) and they indicated that it was well understood that the more personality and attention they gave, the more money they made. Newer employees generally had to gain a more clear understanding of how the system worked and there were occasionally those that "idn't get it" and continually griped about the differences in what they made.

Unfortunately, the whole country is struggling with service standards. It's a shame, because there is so much to see and enjoy when you get past the (what appears to us) superficial rudeness. They are still learning to function in a system where choices are becoming more common everyday. Loosening of visa restrictions is having a significant impact on their tourist industry, with more and more Ukrainians opting for vacations in Poland, Bulgaria, Egypt and Turkey.

[Shadow]

I reward good service. If it isn't up to par then they get nothing, when it's "acceptable" I'd tip 10%, exceptional would see the 15%.

I had two students who worked at Friday's (in Kyiv) and they indicated that it was well understood that the more personality and attention they gave, the more money they made. Newer employees generally had to gain a more clear understanding of how the system worked and there were occasionally those that "idn't get it" and continually griped about the differences in what they made.

Unfortunately, the whole country is struggling with service standards. It's a shame, because there is so much to see and enjoy when you get past the (what appears to us) superficial rudeness. They are still learning to function in a system where choices are becoming more common everyday. Loosening of visa restrictions is having a significant impact on their tourist industry, with more and more Ukrainians opting for vacations in Poland, Bulgaria, Egypt and Turkey.

I just hope that the people can be allowed to stay genuine under the pressure of 'improving service'.
You are standing in a shop for 8 hours without anything to do most of the time, your husband is drunk and your children are pests. But unless you smile and be friendly  you may get fired.  :noidea:

[docetae]

Mandatory reference..

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-qV9wVGb38[/youtube]

[Daveman]

I overtip fairly regularly as well.  I've noticed that within the last couple of years, a gratuity is included in the price of the bill in some Ukrainian restaurants.  I still add quite a bit more if the service was up to par as I think that add-in figure is only like 8% (but I could be mistaken as I really don't pay much attention to it).

Anywhere over there where there is some kind of "service", dropping a few Hrn/Rub is well appreciated.  For example, in the billiard rooms, I think I dropped a paltry 100 hrn to the ball racker (ouch, even thinking of that phrase is difficult) and the next time in we were treated like royalty, bumped immediately over to the best table when it became available, etc...

I'm with Greg on this one.. the people remember you quite well when you give a decent tip. I have yet to have a same waiter/waitress NOT remember me and treat me very well on the return (of course, using toothpicks as fangs and hissing at them a time or two probably helped cement that memory forever with some excellent surprise laughs and strange looks). 

[Stirlitz]

A tip is in Europe and in the FSU an extra to be paid for exceptional service or quality.
It is not supposed to be a lage part of the income for the staff.

You are wrong, at least about the FSU. In most places waiters’ wages are very low and tips are their main income.

Having said that I believe that you should not give more than 5-10% as a tip.

[Shadow]

You are wrong, at least about the FSU. In most places waiters’ wages are very low and tips are their main income.

Having said that I believe that you should not give more than 5-10% as a tip.

You speak of course of places where the local Ukrainians and Russians work and visit ? Then why do most Russians and Ukrainians have a negative attitude to tips ?

[Stirlitz]

I speak in general. In the downtown of Odessa it is both locals and tourists who visit the places.

Please specify: most of Russians/Ukrainians or most of Russian/Ukrainian women? Women never want you to waste money unless you give it to them, then things drastically change! Why tip a waitress when you can give this money to her (they think)?

The negative attitude can be sometimes justified because in the FSU there is no such thing as customer service. I do not like to see a waiter get a tip for a bad service either. It should be deserved. Many of them are not really professional and do a bad or quite common job. Even in expensive restaraunts they do not seem to know the basics of waiting.

Most business owners in the FSU, and restaurant owners are no exception, see salaries as the best way to save. It is difficult to get out of paying taxes but if you offer a low salary you will still have someone happy to be hired even if previous employees go away which is unlikely (most people put up with a salary cut because they believe that they have no choice/alternative). If you offer an even lower salary you will have someone anyway. My wife used to work as a waitress many years ago but from what I see and hear I do not think the situation has changed since then.

[Faux Pas]

You are wrong, at least about the FSU. In most places waiters’ wages are very low and tips are their main income.

Having said that I believe that you should not give more than 5-10% as a tip.

Not more than 5-10%? Thats a paltry sum if the bill is little yet the service could have been excellent. I am a gracious tipper if the service is good. 15% is my minimum for adequate service. Many times I look well beyond the 15% if my service person made my meal ect. enjoyable. By the same token if they made it a bad experience I would be inclined to leave a few pennies and a note. I find in the FSU nice tips are appreciated and usually shown  in some way when/if I return.

[BC]

Not more than 5-10%? Thats a paltry sum if the bill is little yet the service could have been excellent. I am a gracious tipper if the service is good. 15% is my minimum for adequate service. Many times I look well beyond the 15% if my service person made my meal ect. enjoyable. By the same token if they made it a bad experience I would be inclined to leave a few pennies and a note. I find in the FSU nice tips are appreciated and usually shown  in some way when/if I return.

Most places whether EU or FSU we'll give a tip.

Germany we'll just round up to the next EUR, quite normal there.  A couple of EUR over if exceptional.
Other places 5 or 10% if service good to exceptional, nothing for bad service. More if it's a celebration type arrangement that went well.
All of course in cash, not on the credit card slip..  (very uncouth IMHO)

[Stirlitz]

Not more than 5-10%? Thats a paltry sum

You speak as if you were the only customer this day. 5% you, 5% someone else… 15% some extravagant tourist — and you have something in your pocket. I have nothing against overtipping — except that it should be well derved and if you spoil waiters too much they would end up looking down upon you. Be reasonable.

[GregfromGa]

You speak as if you were the only customer this day. 5% you, 5% someone else… 15% some extravagant tourist — and you have something in your pocket. I have nothing against overtipping — except that it should be well derved and if you spoil waiters too much they would end up looking down upon you. Be reasonable.

I would never tip 10 or 15% on a beer or cup of coffee.  Thats more like 40 or 50% ..For the record I've never had a waitress run me down to tell me she thinks I tipped her too much. I guess we'll just have to disagree on spoiling them. I've always received better service when I've tipped better than average. At least in Ukraine I think it's more appreciated and not expected like here. You're saying if we tip more then we are looked at as smucks?

[GoodOlBoy]

Several of the restaurants that Marina and I go to here in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and the Florida Keys automatically add between 18%-20% to the bill for a tip.

I don't have a problem with this....as long as the service is good.

Marina doesn't like it though.

I think there is an inherent problem when the gratuity is automatically added to your bill.

Maybe there is less motivation on the waiter's part to provide good service when they know their payment/tip is "automatic" ?

I have gone to the manager a few times over the years and asked them to remove the tip when the service was really terrible (not the food).

Never had an argument about it either.

If the food tastes bad, I just send it back.

To me, bad food has nothing to do with the waiter/waitress.


GOB

[boaterguy]

Several of the restaurants that Marina and I go to here in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and the Florida Keys automatically add between 18%-20% to the bill for a tip.

I don't have a problem with this....as long as the service is good.

Marina doesn't like it though.

I think there is an inherent problem when the gratuity is automatically added to your bill.

GOB

When a restaurant does this(smaller parties) I always make it a point to tell them they would've received a better tip if I wasn't forced to tip!

[thompsongunner06]

On our trips to Shoci and Ukraine I went to tip,,she said if you tip the server can get in trouble,,they get paid to work so tips are not really expected.

[Faux Pas]

You speak as if you were the only customer this day. 5% you, 5% someone else… 15% some extravagant tourist — and you have something in your pocket. I have nothing against overtipping — except that it should be well derved and if you spoil waiters too much they would end up looking down upon you. Be reasonable.

I am the only customer that matters on that day (to me). I guess I am the extravagant tourist even locally. I too have depended on tips both as a bartender and a waiter when I was in college. Long before the days of gratuities being automatically added to the bill (which I never pay). I tip according to my service as they are directly related in my mind. Good service is worth a premium and it is earned, not given. A spoiled waiter doesn't have to look down his nose at me but once. Funny though, thats not a problem I have ever had and I tip very well when it's deserved.

On a side note, my daughter works in a pub/restaurant that specializes in beer. They do a tremendous business. I've noticed all the waitresses there expect 12-15% as does she. I've heard the comments they make toward those who do not tip and there are many of those. I know some of those waitresses aren't worth 5%. Bottom line for me is, I tip accordingly. Those willing to take a chance and give me good service are well rewarded. Those that choose not to receive a different kind of reward. I tip the same whether I am in FSU or down the street. I see it as the same.

[GoodOlBoy]

I've noticed all the waitresses there expect 12-15% as does she. I've heard the comments they make toward those who do not tip and there are many of those.

I would think (these days) with our dreadful economy and unemployment woes, there are MANY more out there who will tip smaller amounts or none at all. 


GOB

[Faux Pas]

I would think (these days) with our dreadful economy and unemployment woes, there are MANY more out there who will tip smaller amounts or none at all. 


GOB

This particular establishment isn't one frequented by patrons low on cash. It isn't the type place you choose to go when scrimping on dollars is in mind. Most know that going in. I've witnessed it myself. A group of people come in, sit down, order food and drinks stay for hours working the wait staff's butt off. Then when the tab comes they all get dodgy over the tab and leave a pittance for a tip. I've been in that scenario myself as the waiter and it sucks not being paid for work performed because someone is a cheapskate.

[Stirlitz]

Whatever — my point is if you tip don’t do it for the sake of tipping (what many people do).

You're saying if we tip more then we are looked at as smucks?

Who is a smuck?

[BillyB]

I always give the food servers tips. "Brush your teeth daily and in between meals!"

Several of the restaurants that Marina and I go to here in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and the Florida Keys automatically add between 18%-20% to the bill for a tip.

Sometimes the tips are automatically on the bill at some FSU restaurants too. I can't read the receipt and was going to add a tip! Luckily the ladies can read.

[SANDRO43]

Who is a smuck?

Schmuck is from Yiddish:

Schmuck entered English as a borrowed pejorative from the common Yiddish insult, where it is an obscene term for penis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schmuck_(pejorative).