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surabi
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[*] posted on 2-10-2020 at 04:51 PM


Quote: Originally posted by airmech  

As far as Cabo —- if you choose to live in a tourist city it will ALWAYS be more expensive whether you tip or not. No matter what country you live in. Deal with it; you choose to live there. Don't down other people for tipping just because it was your culture in some other country that you grew up in not to tip. It is the Mexican culture to tip; just like the US. Min wage is not even $7 A DAY here. In many of these small towns they only work off of tips. Dive masters go out all day catering to customers (sometimes saving there lives) to come back after a long day not earning a dime because they didn't get one tip. If you cant come down here and respect the culture go back where you came from.


I haven't seen anyone on this thread advocate for not tipping at all. The question is how much is appropriate to tip. That is something that foreigners travelling in other countries, no matter what the country is, should inform thmselves about. What may be an insultingly low tip in one place may be considered generous in another. Those who are so arrogant as to think that it should have nothing to do with the local economies, average wages, and normal customs but is only dependent on how much they are able and want to leave are exactly that- arrogant. And disrepectful of the culture, rather than the opposite.
Of course any Mexican will be quite happy to receive a 30% tip, when the norm is 10%. Who wouldn't? Does that mean they will think of you as generous? Not necessarily. They may very well consider you to be a fool. Or it may lead them to assume that everyone from your country is wealthy, expect to receive those sorts of tips from all the rest of your countrymen, whether they can afford to tip like that or not, and be resentful when those high tips are not forthcoming. Whereas before, they were happy and grateful to receive 10-15%.
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[*] posted on 2-10-2020 at 05:14 PM


Quote: Originally posted by Man_With_Gas  
Quote: Originally posted by dravnx  
I tip well because I can. The difference between $1 and $5 is negligible to me and means a lot to the low wage worker I just tipped.
I learned an important lesson once about this.
I stopped at a small border town to buy some planters. I don't remember where it was but there were a lot of pottery shops along the road. We picked out about 5 pots and I started negotiating with the owner. It must have been a slow day because he sold these 5 gallons pots for very cheap. I payed him and started loading the camper and my truck with the pots. The owner loaded his 3 kids and wife into their beater car and drove off. We loaded the pots and then took a break to eat our picnic lunch. Just as we were finishing up, the guy came back and everyone piled out of the car with groceries. I thought to myself "self, you could have easily given more then you did and look what they did with the little you did give". That ended my "I can drive a hard bargain" days.


You want to feel good about yourself? Give to charities that are supporting disabled people, what about charity for returning soldiers who lost limbs etc etc, orphans etc etc...

Don't stuff up the Mexican economy so you feel good about yourself. Give where it is TRULY needed for those who CAN'T earn due to their disabilities.


What makes you think I don't give generously to various orgs?
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MrBillM
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[*] posted on 2-10-2020 at 07:01 PM
An EASY Choice !


" ......... They may very well consider you to be a fool. Or it may lead them to assume that everyone from your country is wealthy, expect to receive those sorts of tips from all the rest of your countrymen ......... "

In such situations, I would much rather be considered a well-intentioned fool than a P-nche Gringo.

And, IF doing so influences inflated gratuity expectations from Otra Norte Americanos, OK. I hope so. Over the decades of travel in Mexico, I've encountered more than a few situations in which the bad behavior of other Gringos have caused me discomfort or occasioned poor treatment.
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surabi
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[*] posted on 2-10-2020 at 10:37 PM


Quote: Originally posted by MrBillM  
" .........

And, IF doing so influences inflated gratuity expectations from Otra Norte Americanos, OK. I hope so. Over the decades of travel in Mexico, I've encountered more than a few situations in which the bad behavior of other Gringos have caused me discomfort or occasioned poor treatment.


I think we have all found ourselves in situations where the behavior of other gringos is an embarrassment for anyone to think we are associated with simply by virtue of being from the same country. When I have witnessed this, I usually call them out for it, in the moment. Like those who speak loudly and slowly in English to a Mexican shopgirl who obviously doesn't understand English, as if she is simply deaf or mentally handicapped. Or the well-off woman I was sitting next to on the beach who sucked up the time of a vendor of beautiful Huichol tee shirts who was trying to chisel him down to selling her two for half the price he was asking for one.
But I don't feel I have to make up for the behavior of those individuals by overtipping or being made to feel cheap because I give the standard tip that is normal and customary to those who are familiar with the area and the culture.
There are many ways to show respect and appreciation for someone's efforts besides throwing money around. I didn't buy a tee shirt from that man because I neither needed nr wanted one, but I can tell you that that I got a subtle smile and a nod of appreciation from him as he was packing up all the shirts he had spread out for the haggling woman to peruse when I turned to her and said, "For Crissakes, this man trudges up and down the beach all day in the hot sun trying to make enough money to feed his family and you've just wasted his time and insulted him by trying to get him to sell you some for less than the cost it takes to produce them."

[Edited on 2-11-2020 by surabi]

[Edited on 2-11-2020 by surabi]
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MrBillM
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[*] posted on 2-11-2020 at 10:25 AM
A Good Tip North or South


I was responding to the quoted line that any so-called "over-tipping" might make one seem the fool to the recipient.

Better that than an alternative negative view.

It's not a matter of OVER tipping in MY opinion. Which, of course, is the only one that counts in such matters.

As I noted in my earlier post, I have always remained consistent on either side of the border and had more than a few (sometimes strained) debate moments with those (including family members) that I've dined with. I've said to more than one "if you can't afford a decent tip, you should eat at home".

I simply don't agree with the "adjusting to the third-world economy" rationale. It seems like a "cheapskate" excuse to me.

Face it, those in the "service industry" regardless of location are NOT there as a preferred career choice.

Back in the late '60s living on the beach, my oldest sister (straight out of high school with no particular job skills) lived with me for a couple of years and took waitress jobs because they were (due to tips) the BEST (paying) jobs available to a female in her situation. The daily abuse she put up with to earn a living is something that I have been fortunate enough to avoid. I've often commented to a customer-service employee after witnessing said abuse that "I wouldn't last one day in your job".

Given the choice, ALWAYS err on the plus side. Better the fool than the jerk.
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Lee
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[*] posted on 2-11-2020 at 11:04 AM


Quote: Originally posted by MrBillM  

Given the choice, ALWAYS err on the plus side. Better the fool than the jerk.


Any discussion, in my opinion, about ''appropriate'' amounts to tip is an issue in political correctness. Since I'm apolitical, discussions look amusing to me. Should I leave 10% or 15%? Wow. Let's all agree what's appropriate for the betterment of the MX culture. We don't want to ruin things for the poor.

Don't care what people tip. If they're cheap, they're cheap. Doesn't mean a thing to me. And, I don't care what anyone thinks about how I tip. I can afford to be generous, or cheap. Like Bill, I'm choosing generous.

Now, back to the discussion about political correctness.




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What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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mtgoat666
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[*] posted on 2-11-2020 at 11:25 AM


Skin flints that justify their poor tips by claiming that "over-tipping" ruins poor people,... ludicrous!

Let them eat cake!




Woke!

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[*] posted on 2-11-2020 at 11:49 AM


Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Skin flints that justify their poor tips by claiming that "over-tipping" ruins poor people,... ludicrous!

Let them eat cake!


God forbid those poor people earn enough to no longer be poor. What a catastrophe that would be for the world.

John
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[*] posted on 2-11-2020 at 04:02 PM


Quote: Originally posted by Man_With_Gas  
Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Skin flints that justify their poor tips by claiming that "over-tipping" ruins poor people,... ludicrous!

Let them eat cake!


A clueless Californian as always.

Just a reminder once again, the world is NOT just the USA.


I love California :bounce:
Great state!

California Über Alles :bounce:
California Über Alles :bounce:
Über Alles California :bounce:
Über Alles California :bounce:




Woke!

“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”

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mtgoat666
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[*] posted on 2-11-2020 at 04:06 PM


Quote: Originally posted by Man_With_Gas  
Quote: Originally posted by lencho  
Quote: Originally posted by Man_With_Gas  
A clueless Californian as always.

Just a reminder once again, the world is NOT just the USA.
Woah, there hoss-- don't you go blaming the USA for Californians, now...! :P


Yes, I agree.

The US would be an even MUCH nicer place without today's California/New York & their many lunatics.


California, and NYC -- 2 of my favorite places!




Woke!

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