cheap charlie

[Texpat]

The beauty of a tip is that it's completely up to the customer. I have no problem giving nothing, though I rarely do.
If the staff KNOWS there is no tip coming, you will most likely get crappy service.
If ever a wait persons demands a tip (or suggests a larger tip) they get nothing.

[UdonExpat]

Tipping isn't part of Thai culture. We've corrupted them with our willingness to give money for nothing. It's kind of like the beggar who's offended if you don't give money.

In 2002 I had wait staff come after me to return the money I forgot on the table. My girlfrient (now wife) was appalled at the idea of leaving a tip, "What for?" At that time she was too polite (the spider getting me into her web) to suggest I give her the money. No such problem, now.

A couple of years ago I ate at one of the upscale Thai restaurants in Udon. Unfortunately, tipping had already become the norm there. The food was lousy and the service was worse. When I paid the bill I told the waiter there would be no tip because of the poor food and service. He didn't see the connection. We had a brief discussion. He had never considered that the tip was predicated upon the quality of the food and service.

I now leave tips in the farang frequented restaurants, not in the places where farangs are seldom seen. I seldom give more than 20 baht. My wife and I play a game by giving the wait person payment in such a manner that they will have to give us 50 baht notes or larger in change. If they aren't smart enough to give us some 20 baht notes, no tip. Over the past few years the wait staff have become smarter about providing smaller notes to facilitate leaving a tip.

It's just another example of us farangs shooting ourselves in the foot.

[plien]

Tipping isn't part of Thai culture. We've corrupted them with our willingness to give money for nothing. It's kind of like the beggar who's offended if you don't give money.

Totally agree with you there UdonExpat

[old-timer]

Tipping isn't part of Thai culture. We've corrupted them with our willingness to give money for nothing. It's kind of like the beggar who's offended if you don't give money.

Totally agree with you there UdonExpat

Yes, totally true, I remember driving down to BKK and stopping at a petrol station to get filled up, anyway, after the guy had filled the tank replaced the cap and wiped around, he also cleaned the windscreen whilst we were waiting, I tried to give him some baht and he refused it, I asked my wife why?, turns out it is not expected.
Another thing that most of you are probably aware of - if you place a tip on the tray when you check bin that money will go to the establishment, however, if you put the tip in the waitresses hand it will go in her pocket.

OT.........