| Author | Message | ||
     nicoleharvard |
Hello, Greetings from America. I would like to share this message with anyone interested in visiting this country, or for those who already do. I am from America and I work as a server at a restaurant in a city where we have huge amounts of Japanese tourists. I would like to say that Japanese are always polite and friendly and respectful. However, I would like to educate you on our tipping customs for both your sake and mine. In the US, waiters get paid very little hourly, only minimum wage, and we depend solely on tips to make our money. Tip is never included in your bill, unless you have a cupon from a tourist board, and even then, it is very little and extra things you get need to be tipped on. In my country, to not tip a waiter is EXTREMELY offensive, and is like saying "you are a horrible server". If you hated your service, you might not tip. Of course, we realize that the custom in Japan is different, so we know that is not what you're saying. But when Japanese ignore the tip cards that we put in the bill, that is still very offensive, and quite honestly, makes me lose money. For example, if I have a group come in and they order beers and drinks from the bar, I must tip out 10% of their sales to the bartender. So, when Japanese don't tip, I am basically PAYING for them to drink out of my own pocket, and when you only tip 10% (that is, 2 dollars on a 20 check), I am only breaking even. This leads to hosility and not wanting to serve Japanese. This makes us give bad service and put you last on our list of priorities because we know you aren't going to give us any tip, and we have to pay our own bills at home. I would greatly encourage Japanese traveling here to respect and follow our customs, and that is to tip 15% to 20% at restaurants. I believe that this will eventually lead to more harmonious relationships between us and the tourists, and will make us want to give you better service because we will feel we are being properly compensated. Please I ask you to share this with anyone you know who will be coming here, and I appreciate if you can try to understand where I am coming from, and I mean this e mail with all due respect. I know that when I travel I behave as a guest in that country and try to educate myself about and observe their customs. I am only requesting the same. Thank you for taking the time to read, and I wish all happy holidays! | ||
| ada |
Oh I didn't know that, I always thought tipping was just being polite... You might want to post a sign (in Japanese) in your restaurant telling tourists about this. Is 15-20% common in America? Good luck! (Strange way of charging customers, though.) | ||
| DEBRA PASTORE' |
HELLO, I AM LETTING FOREIGN TOURISTS TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ORLANDO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER AND I OVER SPRING BREAK. WE LEFT OUR BELONGINGS IN THE BIOMETRIC LOCKERS, THAT USE A FINGERPRINT TO GET INTO. WHEN WE FINISHED THE RIDE AND WENT TO GET OUR BELONGINGS, WE COULDN'T GET IN TO THE LOCKER. WE HAD THE ATTENDANT OPEN THE LOCKER FOR US, BUT IT WAS EMPTY! THE ATTENDANTS OPENED AND SEARCHED ALL THE LOCKERS ON THE SIDE WE USED. OUR BELONGINGS WERE GONE, WHICH INCLUDED MY KEYS, CREDIT CARDS, DRIVERS LICENSE AND MONEY. UNIVERSAL SAID THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR THE LOSS, AND LEFT US STRANDED IN ORLANDO. THE ONLY THING WORSE I CAN IMAGINE IS TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO SOMEONE FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY. IF ANYONE HAS HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I AM TAKING THEM TO COURT. |