What should i do if my tip was returned to me by the waitress? Will offend her if i give it back?

Question

On our way to our plantation in Tuguegarao, we stopped over a small restaurant along the high. After eating i left a 50 pesos tip. Upon stepping out the door the waitress called back and gave me back the 50 pesos i left for tip, i was stunned and she smiled at me. i turned my back and sat in the car... I felt guilty i should have left the tip but i was afraid i would offend her...

Answer 1

I came from the Philippines and it is customary to tip there, 15% standard, 10% is acceptable, and for the locals, leaving no tip is also ok. A couple of reasons why the waitress returned your 50 peso tip, is that it was way too much and she didn't think it was for her; another reason is that they don't accept tips, but they usually post it on the wall that no tipping is allowed, but usually if you insist, they will gladly take the money. Another thing to remember about Filipino culture is that people are generally very hospitable and honest and genuinely show it when dealing with foreigners. I would say that the tip was returned to show honesty, just in case you just accidentally left it. I'm sure if you've said it was for the waitress, she will gladly accept it, with a wider smile. Filipinos are also timid in dealing with foreigners, specially Caucasians, because we have that "colonial mentality" after more than three centuries under Spanish rule, so not accepting the money is a way of showing it. Despite the alleged widespread corruption in the Philippine government, Filipinos are generally honest and hard working people.

Answer 2

Boy, sometimes Yahoo Answers users need to pay better attention to the story / question before answering... You have gotten a LOT of good answers, but from reading the answers, some folks need to actually READ the post and know what they're talking about before putting in their 2 cents. Some either assumed that this happened in the states, or are oblivious to the fact that other countries have their own standards and customs and don't follow Americans in everything just because they have a McDonald's or want Levis.

You named a city - very helpful, relevant info - Google it people, it's in the Philippines, not Argentina, not Mexico, not the U.S.
You clearly said "pesos," yet a few people assumed that you insulted the waitress by leaving 50 cents. I checked.... in the Philippines, 50 pesos = 1 U.S. dollar (link below). Perhaps in the Philippines, that would be a very appropriate tip... IF tips are customary there.

....and to the offended American waitresses, just because 15-20% is the standard in the U.S. doesn't mean squat in other countries. In impoverished countries, I would imagine that THEY would have the civillity to appreciate even a 5% tip because they need it even worse than you do, and because their own countrymen prolly don't have the money to ever tip

I'd go with what many OBSERVANT people said: 1. it may not be customary to tip in the Philippines - I wouldn't presume to know; 2. she returned it because she was being honest; 3. consider it a favorable sign that she SMILED and was friendly; and 4. be sure to investigate the customs when visiting another country so you'll know what to do next time. Happy travels!

Answer 3

it is customary to tip there, 15% standard, 10% is acceptable, and for the locals, leaving no tip is also ok. A couple of reasons why the waitress returned your 50 peso tip, is that it was way too much and she didn't think it was for her; another reason is that they don't accept tips, but they usually post it on the wall that no tipping is allowed, but usually if you insist, they will gladly take the money. Another thing to remember about Filipino culture is that people are generally very hospitable and honest and genuinely show it when dealing with foreigners. I would say that the tip was returned to show honesty, just in case you just accidentally left it. I'm sure if you've said it was for the waitress, she will gladly accept it, with a wider smile. Filipinos are also timid in dealing with foreigners, specially Caucasians, because we have that "colonial mentality" after more than three centuries under Spanish rule, so not accepting the money is a way of showing it. Despite the alleged widespread corruption in the Phili

Answer 4

t is customary to tip there, 15% standard, 10% is acceptable, and for the locals, leaving no tip is also ok. A couple of reasons why the waitress returned your 50 peso tip, is that it was way too much and she didn't think it was for her; another reason is that they don't accept tips, but they usually post it on the wall that no tipping is allowed, but usually if you insist, they will gladly take the money. Another thing to remember about Filipino culture is that people are generally very hospitable and honest and genuinely show it when dealing with foreigners. I would say that the tip was returned to show honesty, just in case you just accidentally left it. I'm sure if you've said it was for the waitress, she will gladly accept it, with a wider smile. Filipinos are also timid in dealing with foreigners, specially Caucasians, because we have that "colonial mentality" after more than three centuries under Spanish

Answer 5

The best thing you did was try to tip, the second best was take the guilt on yourself. Imagine if you had left it there and she felt it was her fault because you were foreign and didn't understand how much you were paying.

I always ask at my hotel, or a natives I know if tipping is OK for the restaurants. I even sometimes will ask the information desk at the airport if they have an English speaking section.

If you did leave it your actions could be seen as offensive as I am reminded here in Japan all the time. It may not have been but since it is done and over, it is just a lesson learn about going abroad. I would say that usually a guide book will tell you if the general area accepts tips. It also might be good to check the Internet before your travels.

Answer 6

As someone in the service industry it's great to hear stories like this. It is a customer in a lot of countries to provide great service just for the good reputation it creates. I know I was floored when on my first night out in New Zealand, the waitress refused my tip. I was taken aback, and tried to talk her into taking it. She again refused telling me that it was just part of her job and that she was more then flattered by my attempt, she could not in good conscience take a tip for something she was already being payed for.

I'm not sure that you would have offended her if you had offered again, and the fact that she smiled probably indicates that she has thankful for the offer, but didn't feel that (for whatever reason) it was appropriate to take more money from you. (even as a tip)

Answer 7

I believe she returned the money because it was too much. 50 pesos is a little more than $1 US. That's a lot of money in some places in the world. There still are countries out there where a man has to support his family of four on $480 US dollars a year. So to be given $1 US as a tip would be considered a mistake because it's too much for the service provided.

Answer 8

am mexican our currency is pesos ,yes , but that place seems somewhere else , a lot of people have been neg. qualifiying the people that answer that you may have left too little for her to feel offended , believe me it happens all waiters and all waitresses as well as all bell boys will expect a tip , most of the places in mexico do not include tips in their bills , and if they do include a tip and you decide to leave some more it's always pretty welcome , we nned more information about where is this place at ?? the porcentage of the tip etc. but with this information i believe that what really happened is that she felt offended by you , by leaving a pretty small tip like if she was a begger on the street asking for a coin , sorry but that is a fact that could happen .
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Answer 9

The way you phrase your concern I can say that you are not a Filipino or maybe, this is your first time to visit the Philippines and is not accustomed to Philippine culture or practices.

Tipping is not always practiced in small town eateries in the Philippines but might be acceptable in restaurants of big cities like Manila or Cebu.

Please do not be offended if the waitress in Tuguegarao gave you back the fifty pesos you left for a tip. She was just being honest. However, if you have told her the money is intended for her good service, she might have appreciated the tip and accepted the fifty pesos.

Answer 10

Tipping tends to be a phenomenon of weathier nations, while in many other countries it isn't integrated into their customs because of the lack of prosperity in these regions. In her mind, she probably thought that you had mistakenly left your money on the table and was doing the polite thing by returning it to you. Had you insisted that she keep it, she may have taken it if you could explain to her it was a reward for her honesty rather than a hand-out for doing her job. On the contrary, many of the more touristy regions are becoming accustomed to tipping and most servers will not attempt to return your left money. The only way to be sure if it is acceptable where you are is to go ahead and leave a tip and if it is returned, take it back; otherwise, continue tipping. Good luck in your travels.

Answer 11

On your way back from the plantation stop in the same place, see if she is there, then tip her 50 pesos again. When she weighs on you state that it is your countries custom to leave a tip when when you are treated good. If you are talking about new pesos thats about $5.00 dollar tip you left. She probably is not paid the mininum. She taught you left it by accident and her intentions were sincere to return it to you. You might have said that is for you and left. Do not feel guilty for leaving a large or small tip.