tipping

ducharme5 · Jun 8th, 2005, 20:47

going to india in feb for the first time would it be appropriate to tip in us $$?
thanks, ducharme5

rab · Jun 8th, 2005, 20:59

Good question but I think there are huge cultural variations on this one.

I am British living in Australia and I never ever tip; I don't tip in UK, I don't tip in Aus and I don't tip in India either. I have never had a complaint from a hard-up taxi driver, barber or waitress - I pay no more or less than asked and I simply don't tip and enjoy thanking people with a genuine smile and an exchange of conversation or whatever, even buy them a drink or something.

I have not been to America but get the impression from what I have read or heard that there is a big tipping culture there.

If you tip in any currency you proliferate the expectation that may well be the norm for you but not for others.

I say it is unnecessary. Save your money.

Merchant · Jun 8th, 2005, 21:01

Indians can't really use dollars as tips. Tip in rupees.

cyberhippie · Jun 8th, 2005, 21:22

This is a personal thing, that becomes superfliuos in such a cheap country. If your heart tells you that the person running around making things easy for you has done a good job then a token of thanks comes quite easily in India.

For instance tipping a "waiter" at a cheap Dhaba 5 rupees makes for a packet of bidis (ciggaretes) or 5 more in the "spaar pot"
Same goes for rickshaw drivers, room boys, and people that helped you along the way!
10 rupees singley isn't much but along the way it can mount up to a days free eating for the people involved!

This isn't required of course and people hassling you for tips are probably best ignored but then did he really make your visit a pleasant one?? Whatever, tip when and where you feel the occassion warrents it and always tip what you feel is just!!

shpatel · Jun 8th, 2005, 21:39

I think it's very important to reinforce positive service by giving a tip, especially in India where there will be a large number of touts, rickshaw drivers and whoever else trying to cheat you out of your money.

So whenever I met someone who was genuinely being nice and honest about what they were charging, I would tip them handsomely and tell them that I appreciated them not trying to rip me off and thus I am giving you a large tip.

Next time this person meets a tourist, he'll realize that he will be better compensated by being honest rather than trying to weasel a person out of their money.

Thus, I say tip those who are honest and genuine, and for those who try and fleece you, leave them with nothing or very little.

shpatel · Jun 8th, 2005, 21:43

I don't think it would be appropriate to tip in $$$ dollars and it would also get rather expensive if you were to do so. You'd be giving away 44 rupees to everyone you tipped which is much more than you need to give in most places.

bijapuri · Jun 8th, 2005, 21:58

yes, there is tipping in India. It's called Bakshish. it's usually for a job well done over time, not for stuff like food service. Sometimes it's to get something done in advance, but not often.
If you are American, like me, go ahead and tip like there's no tomorrow

. Don't buy this "traitor to your class" stuff about not tipping. We are programmed to do it, and will feel great, as well as feeling awful if you don't. it doesn't cost diddly, and the locals can always use it!

Merchant · Jun 8th, 2005, 22:13

Note that the OP is asking about tipping in US dollars and not about tipping in general . . .

04274108 · Jun 8th, 2005, 22:40

Tip in rupees. Many times, I had room boys (I hate the term because they are actually men) come up to me and ask if I would exchange a couple of Euros or USD for rupees.

In Mumbai, two of them told me that they had to go to the airport to exchange foreign currency as banks wouldn't let them in or wouldn't exchange such a small amount. Afterwards, after I returned home, I thought about why they didn't exchange at local Thomas Cook or the hotel desk, etc. For the former, I suspect it was because the airport was actually the closest exchange to the hotel. For the latter, I suspect because they'd have to give a cut to the hotel management.

Merchant · Jun 8th, 2005, 22:48

If I recall, Indians can't just exchange foreign currency by walking into a bank. You have to register or be approved or something. Anybody know?

ducharme5 · Jun 8th, 2005, 23:25

thanks for the tips . i have always tipped in us currencey and thought it was better because maybe they would do better with the exchange rate. never thought about the ease of changing!

Merchant · Jun 8th, 2005, 23:31

Some countries have a shadow economy is dollars. India doesn't.

beach · Jun 8th, 2005, 23:33

beach eats for Rs50, tip rs5
beach eats for Rs100, tip rs5
beach and friend eat&drink for rs 300, tip rs20
beach gets a hair cut, tip rs0
beach checkout of a hotel, tip rs10
beach catch a taxi, tip nearest round off

etin · Jun 8th, 2005, 23:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merchant

If I recall, Indians can't just exchange foreign currency by walking into a bank. You have to register or be approved or something. Anybody know?

Indians should have a NRI Account in that bank to deal with foriegn currency. As far as I know if you are not a NRI and only a resident Indian, you will be needed to submit your passport at the money exchange and it will be entered in it, i dont know specific details tho. Resident Indians are not supposed to have any foriegn currency with them in general.

Nick-H · Jun 9th, 2005, 00:10

Why would you expect to pay anything in India in USD? The currency is the Ruppee, and, outside of big shops, nothing else is accepted. Why should it be?

Change your money and carry Rs around with you, makeing sure that you have coins for tips, gifts, etc.

If you want to be generous, give lots of Rs!

Rab; you failed to tip a London taxi driver? And lived?

Jun 8th, 2005, 20:47	#1
ducharme5 Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: blackstone, ma usa Posts: 10	tipping going to india in feb for the first time would it be appropriate to tip in us $$? thanks, ducharme5

Jun 8th, 2005, 20:59	#2
rab Honorary Mod Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: McLaren Vale, South Australia Posts: 1,217	Good question but I think there are huge cultural variations on this one. I am British living in Australia and I never ever tip; I don't tip in UK, I don't tip in Aus and I don't tip in India either. I have never had a complaint from a hard-up taxi driver, barber or waitress - I pay no more or less than asked and I simply don't tip and enjoy thanking people with a genuine smile and an exchange of conversation or whatever, even buy them a drink or something. I have not been to America but get the impression from what I have read or heard that there is a big tipping culture there. If you tip in any currency you proliferate the expectation that may well be the norm for you but not for others. I say it is unnecessary. Save your money. __________________ IndiaMike Mod Team (The Honorary One)

Jun 8th, 2005, 21:39	#5
shpatel Made in India Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chicago, USA Posts: 109	I think it's very important to reinforce positive service by giving a tip, especially in India where there will be a large number of touts, rickshaw drivers and whoever else trying to cheat you out of your money. So whenever I met someone who was genuinely being nice and honest about what they were charging, I would tip them handsomely and tell them that I appreciated them not trying to rip me off and thus I am giving you a large tip. Next time this person meets a tourist, he'll realize that he will be better compensated by being honest rather than trying to weasel a person out of their money. Thus, I say tip those who are honest and genuine, and for those who try and fleece you, leave them with nothing or very little. __________________ Let the world change you...and you can change the world -Ernesto Guevara de la Serna

Jun 8th, 2005, 21:58	#7
bijapuri Lord of Kalinjar Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: the real surf city Posts: 2,646	yes, there is tipping in India. It's called Bakshish. it's usually for a job well done over time, not for stuff like food service. Sometimes it's to get something done in advance, but not often. If you are American, like me, go ahead and tip like there's no tomorrow . Don't buy this "traitor to your class" stuff about not tipping. We are programmed to do it, and will feel great, as well as feeling awful if you don't. it doesn't cost diddly, and the locals can always use it! __________________ lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

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Jun 8th, 2005, 21:01	#3
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,211	Indians can't really use dollars as tips. Tip in rupees.

Jun 8th, 2005, 21:22	#4
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	This is a personal thing, that becomes superfliuos in such a cheap country. If your heart tells you that the person running around making things easy for you has done a good job then a token of thanks comes quite easily in India. For instance tipping a "waiter" at a cheap Dhaba 5 rupees makes for a packet of bidis (ciggaretes) or 5 more in the "spaar pot" Same goes for rickshaw drivers, room boys, and people that helped you along the way! 10 rupees singley isn't much but along the way it can mount up to a days free eating for the people involved! This isn't required of course and people hassling you for tips are probably best ignored but then did he really make your visit a pleasant one?? Whatever, tip when and where you feel the occassion warrents it and always tip what you feel is just!!

Jun 8th, 2005, 21:43	#6
shpatel Made in India Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chicago, USA Posts: 109	I don't think it would be appropriate to tip in $$$ dollars and it would also get rather expensive if you were to do so. You'd be giving away 44 rupees to everyone you tipped which is much more than you need to give in most places.

Jun 8th, 2005, 22:13	#8
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,211	Note that the OP is asking about tipping in US dollars and not about tipping in general . . .

Jun 8th, 2005, 22:40	#9
04274108 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 295	Tip in rupees. Many times, I had room boys (I hate the term because they are actually men) come up to me and ask if I would exchange a couple of Euros or USD for rupees. In Mumbai, two of them told me that they had to go to the airport to exchange foreign currency as banks wouldn't let them in or wouldn't exchange such a small amount. Afterwards, after I returned home, I thought about why they didn't exchange at local Thomas Cook or the hotel desk, etc. For the former, I suspect it was because the airport was actually the closest exchange to the hotel. For the latter, I suspect because they'd have to give a cut to the hotel management.

Jun 8th, 2005, 22:48	#10
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,211	If I recall, Indians can't just exchange foreign currency by walking into a bank. You have to register or be approved or something. Anybody know?

Jun 8th, 2005, 23:25	#11
ducharme5 Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: blackstone, ma usa Posts: 10	thanks for the tips . i have always tipped in us currencey and thought it was better because maybe they would do better with the exchange rate. never thought about the ease of changing!

Jun 8th, 2005, 23:31	#12
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,211	Some countries have a shadow economy is dollars. India doesn't.

Jun 8th, 2005, 23:33	#13
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	beach eats for Rs50, tip rs5 beach eats for Rs100, tip rs5 beach and friend eat&drink for rs 300, tip rs20 beach gets a hair cut, tip rs0 beach checkout of a hotel, tip rs10 beach catch a taxi, tip nearest round off

Jun 9th, 2005, 00:10	#15
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,180	Why would you expect to pay anything in India in USD? The currency is the Ruppee, and, outside of big shops, nothing else is accepted. Why should it be? Change your money and carry Rs around with you, makeing sure that you have coins for tips, gifts, etc. If you want to be generous, give lots of Rs! Rab; you failed to tip a London taxi driver? And lived?

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