International fans visiting the US for the World Cup have become frustrated by the culture of having to tip servers, telling the BBC that tipping fatigue has set in.

Many international fans visiting the US for the World Cup have become frustrated by the culture of tipping servers, telling the BBC that tipping fatigue has set in.

England supporter Geoff Pryor said he understood tipping for good service, but he found it “weird” when buying a bottle of water and “they try to get a tip for doing nothing”.

In the US, staff at some restaurants and bars are paid just over $2 (£1.50) an hour, and they expect customers to tip about 20% of the total cost of the bill so they can earn a living.

Frustrations have also been shared by hospitality staff, with one bar owner telling the BBC that many World Cup tourists have been bad tippers.

  • Schmuppes@lemmy.today
    0·
    3 days ago

    Kinda weird that US culture tends to demonize handouts, yet handouts in the shape of tips is expected and you’re a bad person for not providing them.

    • pachrist@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      2 days ago

      Aha, but the great old USA love to think it’s a meritocracy, and since tipping is something that was originally merit based, it’s a very American expression. You work a little harder, you get a little extra.

      But also, in a uniquely American way, capitalism turned tipping a moral dilemma.

      • skisnow@lemmy.caEnglish
        0·
        2 days ago

        Also, tipping is a way to legalize paying marginalized groups less. It enables a system where young attractive White people make more money for the same work.

    • PhoenixDog@lemmy.world
      0·
      2 days ago

      Handouts are accepted based solely upon how much money you make.

      If you’re poor? You’re a leech on society.

      If you’re rich? You clearly know money and you’ll obviously invest that back into the economy and it’ll trickle down to the poor people any minute now.

    • NotAnonymousAtAll@feddit.org
      0·
      3 days ago

      Handouts to people are demonized.

      Handouts to companies are perfectly fine.

      Tips get a pass because everyone (at least instinctively) understands it is benefiting the company more than the people officially receiving it.