The Chinese Don’t Tip
Chinasmack's Diaspora blog has an interesting piece about how Chinese tourists fail to tip waiters in the US:
China’s economic boom has seen foreign tourism expand to unprecedented numbers; stereotypical peace-sign-waving Japanese no longer dominate the Asian tourist population. China’s rising middle class are young, educated and crave luxury goods, international travel and all the consumer amenities that “first-world” citizens enjoy. They are polite, refined, boast near-impeccable English…and do not tip. The ABC (American-Born Chinese) that frequent the restaurant as well as the Korean and Japanese customers all contribute their 15-20%. It is the increasing volume of tourists from the People’s Republic that are tipping the scales of understanding into the red.
I've met a number of non-Americans who have told me that the one thing they disliked most about traveling in the States was the culture of tipping. Americans in turn often vociferously defend the practice, arguing that our waiters provide superior service because they work for tips. I for one don't buy this argument and would be happy to adopt a European-style system in which tax and tip are included in the list price, provided that we actually start paying waiters a decent wage.
The odds of that happening anytime soon are slim to none. In the meantime, the onus is on travelers to the United States to know that they're expected to tip waiters at least 15% even if they're not overly thrilled with the service. As the author of the piece says, it really is the only way that waiters can put together a living wage. Hopefully when the practice of mainland Chinese traveling to the US becomes more established, they'll get the hang of it.
August 5th, 2011 - 14:01
I frackin hate tipping — the last frigin’ thing anyone wants to do when the bill comes is sort out 15% of $86.49. That said, I loathe the idea of including the tip as an unchangeable sum along with tax. All that does is make the cost of the meal seem artificially low when purchased, and higher when paid for (don’t even get me started on the stupidity of buying airline tickets).
I shouldn’t have to pay a mandatory 15% “service charge” for having my food brought a few feet from the kitchen. That’s their job. Put the price (including labour) on the menu. How is anything other than that not deceitful to the consumer?
Having F&B service industry wages artificially low to account for (what should be arbitrary) tipping was stupid to begin with. They should be raised to a more appropriate level for the type of work (just like every other industry) and tipping is done away with. I don’t tip my dentist, I don’t tip my lawyer, I don’t tip my proctologist…
There are a lot of things that get on my nerves in China, not having to tip is a cool salve.
August 7th, 2011 - 12:22
Oddly, Chinese tour agencies think that it’s appropriate tips into pricing for tours for all inbound travelers. Their argument is that most “western” countries culture accept this as normal. As in this case it’s my own agency (not tours) I made them realize that tipping is not a Chinese phenomenon, nor is it a lot of Western.
Their answer: Build it into the pricing. Not good for the extra 2-30 USD for tour fees. As expected, the response is cultural and money making. All inclusive counts with tourists, but it seems the double standard with Chinese doesn’t.
August 18th, 2011 - 21:42
Just an interesting side note. I know from personal experience that in Japanese culture, they do not tip, it is considered impolite, even embarrassing! I think it’s a result of the fact that in Japan, no job is very “low” or looked down upon (like waiters or room service) such that the worker must be tipped “in pity.” In Japan overall, even “low-class” workers are treated with respect, and in turn, they work as professionally as doctors or businessmen.
I wonder if it’s anything similar in China, but I doubt it considering my own heritage (I’m Chinese!). I think that most middle-class Chinese (I doubt any poor Chinese can travel to America) will want to show they are very “ke-qi” and tip decently, so the article surprised me a little.