Tipping is very much a part of American culture and one which creates a problem for most foreign travelers when they arrive for a holiday who are not familiar with the custom. They are at a loss as to how much to tip and to whom. Often they tip too much and to the wrong person. Or else, they may tip not at all. In general, we give a tip in appreciation for a service rendered. Tipping is a courtesy, and not an obligation. One should not feel it is necessary to tip if the service is bad or indifferent. Unfortunately, one reason for tipping also lies in the reality that those who work at these jobs usually have a base pay well below the average. They need to supplement their income in order to meet life's expenses.
The history of the practice, however, dates back to England in the mid-seven- teenth century. At that time there were coffee houses which were frequented by men to discuss politics and literary affairs. Customers of the coffee houses were expected to drop coins into a box on which was written "to insure promptness." "T.I.P.", the initials of that phrase are said to be the origin of the modern word "tipping."
The question, of course, is whom do we tip and how much is considered a fair amount. Usually waiters and taxi cab drivers expect to get a tip. In a hotel, the bellhop and chamber-maid also expect some gratuity. The amount, of course, depends upon the nature of the service requested and the quality level of the hotel. Hairdressers and barbers can also merit a small tip. Even sky-cap porters at airports who may carry your suitcase to the checkout counter expect a dollar tip per bag.
Although the amount may vary according to the kind of service and the quality of the restaurant and hotel, generally, a ten percent tip is considered adequate. In New York and larger metropolitan cities they may expect as much as fifteen or twenty percent.
In restaurants, the tip is left on the table and the bill is paid separately. The tip should never be given directly to the waiter but it can be added onto a check if one is paying by credit card. In tipping a cab driver, the tip can simply be added to the total amount of the fare.
Tipping, of course, is not mandatory in any situation, and one should not feel under any obligation to give one. If a waiter is not prompt and attentive and noticeably lacking in courtesy and manners, it would be perfectly acceptable not to leave a tip. It would also not be out of order to register a complaint with the management. Likewise, if a cab driver does not take a passenger to his destination by the shortest route, he also deserves to forfeit his tip. Also, if the room of a hotel is not well-cleaned and the room service is lackluster and slow, a guest should not feel obliged to leave a gratuity.
Ushers in theaters whose job it is to see you to your seat and service help in fast food restaurants do not expect a tip. At the end of the year, however, it has become the custom to give a tip or small gift to newspaper boys who deliver the paper to your home throughout the year. The same may be true for garbage collectors or anyone who may have provided a special service.
Most Americans dislike tipping and find it a nuisance. If a poll were taken, the consensus would favor just adding the tip to the total of the bill as is the custom in Japan and other Asian countries.