Hiya All
Here I am bloggin my thoughts, ideas, journals and ofcourse my inevitable ramblings. Greatly appreciate you'll stopping by and add comments if you will. See ya!
Here I am bloggin my thoughts, ideas, journals and ofcourse my inevitable ramblings. Greatly appreciate you'll stopping by and add comments if you will. See ya!
Tips and More
Posted 10th April 2008 at 01:30 PM by Anandchitra
Recently my husband and I went together for a haircut.When we paid together I took the total amount and gave 10% of it. I could easily sense that the hairdresser was not very happy and impressed. So I had to walk away wondering how I could have done something different. For me this is the most confusing of all tasks. I always wish they would charge us the total amount inclusive of tips. This is not to imply they charge us more since they are including the gratuity as well. It really should be the managements responsibility tot ake care of their employees. In restaurants I always want to tip based on service rendered. But even still you could not satisfy all. How about the takeout places?? Do we tip the waiter who just brought the prepared food to the counter??
My husband feels its good to tip well in a place where we might frequent more. But really no one is that consistent anymore and more difficult to see the same service person again. How about public officials? In our own dear country I know for a fact the mail will start to disappear if we forget to tip the postman.
I remember there was an old gatekeeper at my parents flats. The only times anyone would even see him was during festival days only. Like clockwork he would make his appearance and we better give him his due. or else.. A few years back when I was visiting Bombay every single person who I came across from the driver to the person who opened the door to the person who brought our luggage to our rooms.. everyone except to be tipped. Then what for I wonder we pay the hotel. Would it not make it easier if these matter are taken care of by management. Not again at the cost of us tax paying community.
One other practice that I say prevalent today is gift giving to teachers during festival times. I amnot sure if this is prevalent thru out the world but its definetly here. And you should only see the gifts people get for others. And again there is no limit to this. This is also a form of tipping and one is obligated because everyone else is doing so.
Though I would ideally like not to do any tipping at all I think we live in a society which expects this, dont you?
My husband feels its good to tip well in a place where we might frequent more. But really no one is that consistent anymore and more difficult to see the same service person again. How about public officials? In our own dear country I know for a fact the mail will start to disappear if we forget to tip the postman.
I remember there was an old gatekeeper at my parents flats. The only times anyone would even see him was during festival days only. Like clockwork he would make his appearance and we better give him his due. or else.. A few years back when I was visiting Bombay every single person who I came across from the driver to the person who opened the door to the person who brought our luggage to our rooms.. everyone except to be tipped. Then what for I wonder we pay the hotel. Would it not make it easier if these matter are taken care of by management. Not again at the cost of us tax paying community.
One other practice that I say prevalent today is gift giving to teachers during festival times. I amnot sure if this is prevalent thru out the world but its definetly here. And you should only see the gifts people get for others. And again there is no limit to this. This is also a form of tipping and one is obligated because everyone else is doing so.
Though I would ideally like not to do any tipping at all I think we live in a society which expects this, dont you?
Total Comments 26
Comments
 | AC, Another wonderful write up from you. Tips!! there is no end to this. I think this whole tipping thing is the tip of the iceberg. No one is happy with what we give them. When we were in Mumbai, everyone expected special " bakshis" during Holi, ganesh chaturthi, Diwali and Sankranthi. And whatever we give them, they are not happy at all. This was like 15 years ago. don't know if things have gone from bad to worse. Tips here: we generally follow the rule of 15% and if very happy then 20 %. No we do not tip for take outs. But usually if we pay cash, then all the left over small change and dollar bill will go into that tip bowl they have. For haircuts, we just tip 15% ... nothing more( cost is 13 bucks here so we make it 15 even) As it is with three men , and three haircuts a month , I sometimes feel its worth it to get the haircut kit and give them all a haircut myself. As it is Hubby keep saying that i make him mottai after every shopping trip!!  Giving gifts to teachers, thats not tipping, its called gurudakshinai. |
  |
| |  Dear Anandchitra, Ac apt topic for todays time. Money talks,Honey!!:)) Well when we visit restaurants that we frequent my husband tips them very generously, and yes we reap the benefits . We get the poolside tables, music of our choice, the accompaniments with drinks are excellent ,stewards hovering and pampering..infact you can say we end up being the envy of other diners. Well even my sweeper or my gardener, the moment they see the crisp note they work so well. Infact if you dont pay them they wont do.Well some might argue that we are putting them into the habit , but then the truth is if you dont give them that extra they will not work that diligently ,and someone else would probably jump into the gun and shoot. You must see these domestic helps during Diwali time .Thats when they wake up from hibernation and realise all that they have left untouched over the past one year.Well they know a hefty bonus is on its way. Tips Bribes etc are the order of the modern day .You pay that little extra, you enjoy those wonderful privileges ,else youre merely one in the crowd. Well nowadays a good tip is also a status symbol like the latest gizmo that you own! Could go on and on AC but wouldn't want to bore you. But a great topic I must definitely add!! Love, Devika |
| |
| |  Vandhana trust you to make me smile after a long day.. This happened this morning and had to write imm.. really irksome .. can imagine your plight.. you're right no one is happy all round:) |
| |
| | Devika you write so well that to just get that invaluable comment i could keep writing blogs:) please dont say you bore or your reply is too long..cos u know by now many might visit my blog just to read ur reply:).. you said so very right..and I couldnt agree more.. |
| |
| |  Dear AC, This is one point which always confuses me. I always think when the Management is paying them to do these jobs, why should we pay them? But coming from an Hotel Industry background I can understand because these people are paid less as they are getting tips. My contention is when Management takes care of the same, then no need for Tips right. But in the parlour, where I visit they do not take any tips. i just love their services. On the whole, I feel it is like giving bribes for favours offered and I just don't enjoy giving the same. |
| |
| |  Dear AC There you go witha bang.. a very interesting and current topic. Tips Tips Tips.. you get royal treatment if you pay special attention to people who serve you. Once in Udupi Restuarant (Fremont CA) we were told directly .."Please include atleast 10% of the bill amount as tips!" From Vandhana's comment, looks like it has gone up to 15%. Gifting teachers is common here too.I was told that based on the value of the gift the child is given special attention,bonus marks etc..in a class of 60+ students.How's that? Some teachers demand gifts explicitly too.Isn't that sad? Regards Honeybee |
| |
| | Lallu your last line summed it up so well.. After reading your thoughts I can understand the why.. their initial pay is low.. which is not so good to begin with..and then the customer is saddled with the rest.. :) |
| |
| | Sowmya its interesting to read what u say.. As fas as teachers are concerned its always been really a gift and no pressure at all.. I can hear that 15% number..what to do:) |
| |
| | Dear AC Gifting the teachers??? concept is a recent trend in Chennai.Yes.. it is a matter of meeting expectations and peer pressure from other parents who are well off. |
| |
| | Great one AC! I fully agree that management should take care of keeping their staff happy and willing to help us(paying customers) and then pass on the buck to us, in our bills. It is easier when the burden of financially satisfying the person is taken off our shoulders, when we know that it is already included in the bill. And when we know of it beforehand, we can even choose not to patronise the place if it is too expensive. I now live in a country where tips are the rule. They are endearingly termed as 'dash' or Vitamin M. And there are no rules for this like 10% or 15% - it is law of the jungle. I never mastered this art, have suffered for it while I was here. And now that I am about to leave, I am all to happy that everytime I enter a restroom, I dont ahve to start fumbling in my bag for small notes. Gifts to teachers- yes Gurudakshinai. But if grades are decided by that, then definitely a BIG NO,NO. I dont mind giving extra to the priests who come home for rituals, but even they start giving preferential treatment based on that. Oh! for a classless, casteless, tip less society!! |
| |
| | Vidya ..Only you have the skill to make an ordinary reply extraordinary.. hats off.. I have never heard of dash.. thank god.. totally agree with what u say.. but this the world today:) |
| |
| |  Dear Anandchitrra Wonderful topic. Now a days this tip has become a fashion. And yes whenever tips are given these people are never happy. Devika has written well whenever tips are given get the service done by them. apt said........... Here atleast it is so common you go anywhere you have to give tips even if we go to get eyebrows doen we have to pay tip to that lady. Even you park your car for just 2 minutes somewhere you will suddenly see a guy coming and cleaning your car even if it is clean just becoz he wants some money. Resturants even after paying 10 to 15% from top of that they want some tips kept for them. I feel the owner should take care of all this instead of troubling the customers |
| |
| | Aruna thanks for writing in my dear friend..like you say its so very very common these days.. yesterday when i went to a temple after aarthi they brought the tray around and i had to fumble for change.. looks like i was forced to tip..hmm?? you have also said it so well:) |
| |
| |  Dear AC, Whether it is our fav. restaurant or at the temple to tip has become the norm now. They look for big tips too mostly. If you leave less than they expect they refuse to acknowledge you when you go there later. Maamool or bakshish is the order of the day. Looks like there is no relief. Even if the hotel mangement has to pay them more I think they are so used to looking for that extra buck that they will not be satisfied. |
| |
| | Dear AC, it is tips in all the temples here in TN. My hubby is very good in that and would get good treatment or service in temples. But when we go to Kerala, the tip does not do wonders there. Here in Chennai, it is not so bad. We can tip as per our wish.Now even the postman does not come for the tips during the festivals, they are getting good pay and have realised that it is like begging. I have a doubt, are those people not getting paid for the job they are doing? |
| |
| | Janani It doesnt seem fair that service is totally dependent on tips.. If everybody is expecting good tips then where will we go.. why dont our salaries get raised proportionally?? i wonder:) |
| |
| | Varloo about the temples is news to me.. you would think they are above all that?? atleast you are getting relief from the postman.. since there are so many others to take care of! |
| |
| |  Dear AC, nice topic....its often a tricky job to calculate the tip and leave an adequate amount.i too think its generally 15%, and hair cuts are such expensive affairs here.... one restuarant which we go to here adds 15% to the bill and gives the total...this is much better... and of course,in india,come diwali and pongal,it is quite a task to keep everyone frm the postmen to watchman to maids satisfied... one of the maids my mother had even openly stated her displeasure that the diwali saree given to her was not expensive enough to her tastes....hmmm....such is life.... |
| |
| | Inspite of looking at the gift they want to do comparison dont you think thats the problem Sowparnika.. The maid's friend would have gotten a fancier saree some place else so the comparison here.. Its my opinion its difficult to satisfy maids..Thanks for stepping in:) |
| |
| | hmmm, you r rite AC...all the prob is with the comparion...maids are never satisfied...one of our frnds went to India for the annual vacation and the first thing on coming back,she gave me an earful of maid woes... leave the maids, sometimes even those with well paid jobs are unsatisfied....one guy,from my husband's office,wasnt very happy with the co & mgrs...after long talks, he left and found a job elsewhere, only to return within a year and is now back under the earlier manager...hmmm.... |
| |
Recent Blog Entries by Anandchitra
- A simple heaven (7th October 2008)
- Dhal and Chawal Only (23rd September 2008)
- Ribbons, Headbands and More (15th September 2008)
- Nila Nila (10th September 2008)
- Do not pluck the flowers (2nd September 2008)
