What about racial categories in tipping patterns?

Question

I just answered a question I feel I need to clarify. Many waiters and waitresses complain that black people are cheap tippers. I'm sure that's not true of all, but I've heard it too often to suspect there's an element of truth to it. But to what extent is it self-fulfilling prophecy? The waiter expects a lousy tip, so he gives half-hearted service. The customer feels he's being a racist, and leaves a very small tip, or even none at all. Are there black people willing to answer this one?

Answer 1

I also answered in that question, but will answer yours too.

The problem most people have with questions like 'why are black people bad tippers?' is because it is too broad and too generalised to be taken for anything more than a racist or negative stereotyped question.

It is ridiculous to conjure the notion that ALL black people are bad tippers. It offends many people, white and black because it's just not true. When someone says 'black people' the context is taken as all black people.

If you really wanted to examine tipping patterns based on race you would have to do a survey of the worlds restaurants in all countries and produce statistics on every single person's colour, nationality, ethnicity and tip amount in those restaurants over a specified amount of time. Only then could you form some kind of statement based on color, etnicity, locality against statistical tipping habits.

So since such results would almost certainly prove 'black people' per se are not bad tippers, what we then have to look at is the true reason why this negative sterotyping has come about. What you will find is the idea perpetuated is a local one and based heaviliy on a few peoples personal experiences which through fustration or anger or unintentional repetion have help formed an opinion which has then been passed on.

You may find no basis of truth whatsoever in the opinion other than spite or personal hate.

Lastly one thing about 'hearing things often', by human nature the opinions we give will circulate between our peers and friends and their peers and friends and so on until it becomes 'opinionated fact' if said or heard often enough.

Let me give you a quick example, someone says iphones are great, someone else says they are great, someone else says they heard iphones are great, someone else says they've heard lots of people say iphones are great. The next thing you know everyone is saying iphones are great when in actual fact the statement has no bearing on actual truth and is only someone's or a few peoples hearsay passed on from person to person.

Also as i did say in the other question, these things can be a vicious cycle:

1. reluctant service = bad tip
2. bad tip = racist stereotyping
3. racist stereotyping = reluctant service
4. repeat stage 1

Sorry for my babling I hope your question has been answered well enough.

Answer 2

I would have though that Australians would have the reputation as the worst tippers as we don't have a tipping culture. People in Australia are paid adequate wages and tipping is not necessary. Taxi drivers will give you change. You can tip if you want to for very good service but there is no requirement or expectation that you will. Some people such as bar staff and hairdressers who, I understand, are tipped in the USA never get tips in Australia.

One big problem is that so many tourists come here from the USA and give gratuities to everyone and anyone that locals in service industries think that tips are to be expected. Please don't encourage them.

If tipping is required then the employer is not paying an adequate wage. The cost of the service should cover fair wages for staff. If it doesn't, it should be between the staff and the employer, not up to the customer to make up the difference.

If there are people in the USA who are resisting the tipping culture, more power to them. Let's all stop tipping and get rid of this evil. Force employers to start paying proper wages.

Answer 3

Race would not exist, and additionally you're remarkable. it rather is a social build using fact us human beings made it up. i don't think of this is needed using fact on the tip of the day i'm in simple terms as human as you or anybody else strolling this earth. And if race did not exist interior the minds of maximum folk i've got faith this worldwide could be a lots extra beneficial place.