What is a Gratuity?

Tipping, pinyin xio fèi, refers to a form of remuneration in the service industry where customers thank service staff. It originated in London, England in the 18th century. At the time, the hotel's dining table was in the middle of a bowl that read: to insure prompt service. The customer puts the change in the bowl and will be served promptly and thoughtfully by the reception staff. Connecting the first letters of the above English words becomes tips, which translates into tips. About 5% to 25% of total expenditure.

[xio fèi]

Tipping, pinyin xio fèi, refers to a form of remuneration in the service industry where customers thank service staff. From the 18th century

Tipping is a common way of rewarding service personnel in the service industry. Tips are also called small accounts. According to legend, in the 18th century London restaurant, a bowl was often placed on the table. The bowl said "guarantee prompt service". As long as the guest puts a small amount of banknotes or coins into the bowl, they can enjoy the quality and fast service provided by the waitress. Some people think that this is the origin of the tip "system".

In fact, in ancient China, the habit of giving money has long been given. The reward objects include the shop's second child, slaves, book boys, young men, and heels. At the end of the Middle Ages, hotel owners in Germany usually demanded tips from their guests. They said that (for the waiters) "drinking money", because women's relatives and buddies who worked as helpers in the hotel did not get paid, and tipped them as salary. Later, the scope of tipping continued to expand, and many public officials also received jingling coins. At the end of the 19th century, rich people often bribed influential people and the press in the name of tipping in order to achieve a certain purpose.

About 100 years ago, there was a wave of anti-tipping in the West. At that time, the Anti-Tipping Association considered tipping as a bad ethos, and called on people to resist it. The initial effect was small, because many waiters lived on tips. After the First World War, meals and hotels began to implement a "10% service fee" system, and the price was increased by 10% as a fixed salary for service personnel. Although the income has been guaranteed, the new regulations still cannot overcome the old habits. For the superior service, customers are still willing to take advantage of the tip, and the tipping ethos has never ended.

Tips for restaurants and restaurants

If in the past tipping was based on the attitude of the service and reception staff and the quality of the service, then the situation is different now and tipping has become a rule.

Around the world, waiters in restaurants can be regarded as the industry with the largest number of tips. In Europe, all hotels charge a 10-15% "service fee" (that is, tipping) when calculating their accounts. Tipping methods vary from place to place, and some let the customer write the percentage of the service charge on the bill (usually 10-15%), and then the waiter takes the customer's signature on the bill and takes the money from the collection as the Service fee. At present, more restaurants and restaurants take a 10 to 15% service charge directly on the bill. This extra money is shared equally among hotel staff, including those who do not deal directly with customers.

In addition to the service charge that the customer must include in the bill, in some European countries such as Germany, some wait change (approximately 5%) must be given to the waiter, because about 15% of the service fee may not fall into the hands of the receptionist.

Singers, violinists or musicians playing in restaurants are generally not employees in the restaurant, and they do not have a fixed salary (in some cases, they have to pay to be allowed to perform and tip To the restaurant). Giving them tips or not is entirely voluntary. If you don't sing or sing, you don't have to spend money. The toilets in many restaurants are supervised by someone. If you just wash your hands in the bathroom, you don't have to put money in the tray.

Tips in the hotel

Tipping is always required when staying in a hotel abroad. The larger the hotel, the more types of tipping. In addition to the 10-15% service charge on the hotel bill, there are other extra services that also require tipping.

Just enter the hotel, there are several waiters to carry luggage, you do not have to pay tips one by one; for the waiter who opened the door of your room and put your luggage, you can pay a tip of about $ 1. The waiter will give tips for breakfast, tea and drinks. In addition, tips should be given to the cleaners who clean the room. Passengers should pay more for long stays and less for short stays. In the United States, the custom of high-end hotels is that they leave the cleaners at $ 2 a day, but in Europe, tips for room attendants are placed on the table, and they are taken away as soon as they enter the room. There is a tip equivalent to one pound. As for how much the waiter at the hotel entrance should tip depends on the level of service.

Tips for taxis

In foreign countries, taxi tips usually account for 15% of the fare, and if you refuse to pay the tip requested by the taxi driver, you may be in danger.

One-third of the income of taxi drivers in the United States is tipped, so passengers have to pay more than 15%. Taxi drivers in London are less demanding about tips.

If you decide to rent a car and drive it by yourself, you should keep in mind that when you refuel your car, you usually have to pay a small tip to the worker who refuels and wipes the windshield. The exception is the United Kingdom, where workers at gas stations in the UK do not tip.

Tipping for other occasions

At most international airports abroad, porters receive tips for each piece of baggage at 25 cents per piece of baggage. At New York's JFK Airport, tipping for a single piece of baggage is generally less than $ 1. If there are many pieces, each one is not less than 50 cents. At the train station, porters also tipped pieces.

In European theaters, if you accept the program, you usually give a 25 cent tip to the waiter who distributes the program at the door. Tips for accessing clothing in public places. The person who helps you open and close the door will tip.

Tipping methods In restaurants, hotels, and other places to eat, stay, etc., in addition to the service charges that are publicly listed on the bill, tipping is done privately on many occasions abroad. Tips are usually placed under a tea plate or wine glass; or they are directly tucked into the hand when thanking the hospitality service staff; or when paying, only the whole amount recovered is taken away, and the change is considered as a tip; Money is not taken away. For receptionists who represent the official, because they do not charge tips, they can give small souvenirs as appropriate.

Tipping is a bit more artistic. Too much money, exceeding the general standard or random giving with banknotes, will be seen as deliberately showing off your wealth; too little will be seen as stingy, and even scolded as a miser, some tourists still You will get inferior service by giving less tips. The timing of tipping is also very important. If you give it only when you are parting, you cannot compensate for all the unpleasantness. If you just pass a banknote as soon as you arrive, it is more appropriate to show that you have a little heart for the waiter and encourage him to work. For the waiter who enters the room to clean, you can use polite glances, gestures, or concise phrases to indicate where the tip is placed, so that the other party can understand its meaning.

Credit card tipping method

Credit card spending is a very common situation for foreign credit card purchases. You can write the amount in the tip column of the billing statement. If you do not want to tip, enter "-" or "0" in the tip column. ". Then add the consumption amount to the tip, fill it in the total amount, and sign your name, so you don't need to prepare extra change to tip. In fact, general restaurants usually add a 10% service charge to the consumption amount, so you don't need to fill in another tip. You just need to read the total amount on the total consumption column, confirm that there is no problem, and sign the billing statement Seal the deal. One of the advantages of paying by credit card in a restaurant is that you won't have to find change, and you don't have to feel uncomfortable to pick up the copper plates one by one from the money changer. Even if you need to pay extra tips, you can pay by credit card directly, which is more convenient than using cash.