Anything to gain by tipping?

[impact]

I am of the western mind set that tipping employees gets you some positive reward on future visits. Not even sure how true that is. I used to be a waiter and appreciated tips but if I saw a reliable tipper down the road, I did try a little harder to be jovial with them.

I tip at my local massage shop if the massage is outstanding but I notice that in future visits, the employees that I tipped seem completely indifferent to my visit. There is no huge smile, nod, or increased level of service compared to the employees I haven't tipped.

So it begs the question, is there any evidence that tipping is beneficial here?

[jizzybloke]

That is just because no one likes you!

[bobo746]

don't be a tight arse give the girls a tip.

[impact]

don't be a tight arse give the girls a tip.

Why should anyone if the recipients don't appreciate it? Read my OP again.

[geoff]

You should have stuck to being a waiter. !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[meat]

I never tip. What a waste of baht.

[WujouMao]

I never tip. What a waste of baht.

Too true. What a waste of time. Seems america brought something else over to Asia. If they paid the staff more money, you wouldn't need to tip. Unless of course you DO give them a tip, IE find another job . Seriously though, i never tip in Philippines either and they get right narky about it too. I'm no septic. I pay the bill, then chip.

[ENT]

I am of the western mind set that tipping employees gets you some positive reward on future visits. Not even sure how true that is. I used to be a waiter and appreciated tips but if I saw a reliable tipper down the road, I did try a little harder to be jovial with them.

I tip at my local massage shop if the massage is outstanding but I notice that in future visits, the employees that I tipped seem completely indifferent to my visit. There is no huge smile, nod, or increased level of service compared to the employees I haven't tipped.

So it begs the question, is there any evidence that tipping is beneficial here?

Some employees appreciate the tips, but generally, it doesn't make any difference in service, in fact, I've found that regular tipping causes the cheeky staff to just be plain rude.

[bobo746]

I don't always tip but if have recieved good service with a nice smile and atitude then i will.

[robuzo]

It seems to me that Niels Mulder wrote something about this in "Inside Thai Society," to the effect that Thais don't expect that the next tip will be the same as the previous, and are not offended if it isn't. The logic of social interactions is not the same in every society, a fact which seems lost on many of the farangs posting on TD. A Westerner might leave a big tip to demonstrate satisfaction with the service and in the expectation of a repeat the next time, whereas a Thai might perceive the large tip as the customer showing what a big shot he is. If the Westerner doesn't tip as much next time it might be taken as evidence of a change in his personal fortune- suddenly he can't show off because he isn't rich anymore- rather than a hint about disappointing service.

[jamiejambos]

If i receive good service i will tip,if i do not, i dont..Simple

[withnallstoke]

don't be a tight arse give the girls a tip.

Why should anyone if the recipients don't appreciate it? .

It might make the giver of the tip feel better, but see robuzos post above.

[taxexile]

tipping just increases the greed, laziness and the sense of entitlement inherent in those members of the thai lower class who work with foreigners.

ultimately it will, if it hasnt already, lead to resentment, derision and lower standards of service as they come to see those who tip as borderline insane, for who in their right minds would give money away, what sane person would pay more for something when not asked to. as the thai sees it, only the deranged would behave like that.

a mere thank you and a smile should be sufficient.

[Cujo]

don't be a tight arse give the girls a tip.

In fact give them the whole shaft.

[Orroz]

I dislike the way the bringer of change hovers over you waiting to see what tip you'll give. I prefer giving slightly more than the bill then telling them to keep the change.

[withnallstoke]

When presented with a bill, try to knock them down at least ten percent, but try for an opening gambit of twenty percent.
If negotiations are successful leave a tip of less than the savings.
Win win.

[CNF55]

What I really dislike is if they want to con you into leaving a bigger tip by returning your 100 Baht change in as many 20 Baht notes and 10 Baht coins as possible.

[Lambik]

^

So much easier for the customer :

a few notes of 20 ThB as tip

or

one 20ThB note as tip

or

a few 10ThB coins as tip

or

one 10ThB coin as tip

or

no tip.

[robuzo]

To me the most annoying of the gratuity issues in Thailand is the practice of many establishments, especially restaurants/bars, to include a "service charge" in the bill that is not in fact distributed to the staff. My wife is managing a restaurant and that is the owner's practice there. She is trying to get the owner to see the light- if there is a service charge noted on the bill the customers are liable to think the tip is included and not leave anything extra for the staff (and I can assure the audience that the staff does appreciate tips and is fond of the repeat customers who give them; tips are shared unless given in hand, and even then sometimes). My wife has worked for foreign restaurant owners in the past who did distribute the service charge, but her current Si-Chi boss doesn't see the problem (greedy bitch).

[bushwacker]

I totally agree with Lambik, they are giving me several options to choose from & the small change is always handy when walking around the markets. I do not like giving a 1000b note to a fruit seller for a 60b purchase.

[meat]

What I really dislike is if they want to con you into leaving a bigger tip by returning your 100 Baht change in as many 20 Baht notes and 10 Baht coins as possible.

When they do that I always empty the silver tray into my pocket. Don't think they expected me to do that..

[Lorenzo]

I ask my girl how much to leave and she says "for what" Thai people not leave extra money. Since then she handles the bill and never a tip. This is real Thai style.

Of course whores like to tip big with farang money.

[DJ Pat]

When I have tipped a decent amount, I expect the same service next time.

In many places in Thailand this creates the opposite effect - they don't make any effort the next visit.

In Pattaya there seems to be the air of 'all falang big money' which is a bad precedent set by the holidaying wide-eyed sex tourists.

Derision is almost shown openly when they realise you live in Thailand. Or that your GF isn't an Isaan whore.

[sunsetter]

I ask my girl how much to leave and she says "for what" Thai people not leave extra money. Since then she handles the bill and never a tip. This is real Thai style. Of course whores like to tip big with farang money.

are you saying your current gf is a tight arsed no tip hooker?

[BobR]

Is there anything to gain by being honest, considerate, polite, decent, or empathetic? Nothing other than a clear conscience. Yes, I have received better service on second visits to restaurants and bars after tipping. Along with our guns, it's one of the nicer American traditions.