Tipping etiquette and Jamaica.

[Mike_D]

Mike...below is a link to an earlier thread about service charge/tipping...it should help clear things up.
http://negril.com/forum/showthread.p...ice-charge-tip

Thanks! That certainly cleared things up for me.

I think my initial confusion started when my wife and I ate at the 100 Candles at Ivans. This was the ONLY time during that trip that I used a credit card, strictly because the bill was well over $100 and also because I trusted the staff at Catcha. When I got the credit card slip back to sign, I noticed that there was no spot to add a tip. I did see that the Service Charge was added in but there no placed for me to add a tip on credit card (I didn't have enough cash on me for a tip either). When I asked the server if I could give a tip on my credit card she seemed a little surprised and said that they would have to run the tip through on a separate transaction. No big deal for me - I just had to sign 2 slips. However, I thought the reason there was no space on the CC slip to add a tip was because the restaurant considered the Service Charge to be the tip.

[Blake]

they are not up front in contact with customers like the servers.

Unless I'm missing something this is irrelevant.

In the US:
Servers are paid a minimal amount by the restaurant+the majority via tipping
bussers//foodrunners are paid hourly by the restaurant+a portion of the tipout by the server.
bartenders are paid a minimal amount by the restaurant+tips from the bar and a tipout by the server.
Hostesses, cooks, managers are all paid hourly or salary by the restaurant.

Unless Jamaica is drastically different in how the restaurant pays the employees, people shouldn't feel obligated to tip the chef separately, the restaurants should be paying reasonable wages to their staff, unless you're saying that in Jamaica they don't, which then makes me wonder where the restaurants get off charging the same amount as US restaurants AND also add a service charge.

[captaind]

Unless I'm missing something this is irrelevant.

Unless Jamaica is drastically different in how the restaurant pays the employees, people shouldn't feel obligated to tip the chef separately, the restaurants should be paying reasonable wages to their staff, unless you're saying that in Jamaica they don't, which then makes me wonder where the restaurants get off charging the same amount as US restaurants AND also add a service charge.

Things are different!

Most on salary are making less than a babysitter in the States.

"I don't think we're in Kansas anymore Toto"

[Blake]

Things are different!

Most on salary are making less than a babysitter in the States.

"I don't think we're in Kansas anymore Toto"

That doesn't put it in perspective, babysitters in the States can actually make a pretty decent amount!

At the end of the day what exactly is the meal paying for in Jamaica if it's so different?

If the prices were a fraction of the price of a US meal your argument about employee pay being so low might hold water.

[captaind]

That doesn't put it in perspective, babysitters in the States can actually make a pretty decent amount!

At the end of the day what exactly is the meal paying for in Jamaica if it's so different?

If the prices were a fraction of the price of a US meal your argument about employee pay being so low might hold water.

After 40 years in Jamaica with a home and two adopted children it's possible that I have a different perspective.

Your perspective is appropriate for you.

[Blake]

After 40 years in Jamaica with a home and two adopted children it's possible that I have a different perspective.

Your perspective is appropriate for you.

How is my perspective different from yours? What is your perspective? That people should be charged twice for service?

Do you really believe restaurants shouldn't pay their employees fairly and charge accordingly?

I run three businesses in the US and we take care of our employees, a lot of business owners don't in the states and their sales inevitably suffer.

Turning to the government to mandate customers pay the employees properly is a cop out for a business owner.

[SLP]

Here is one, Jackie and I were unsure of when we were down in Jamaica.

We pretty much tipped everyone we would tip here in America. Cab drivers, Bartenders, Food servers, Baggage handlers etc... I usually leave a 20% tip here on a bill in the USA. If the service is great I will leave more. If the service is terrible, I will generally leave 15%.

I understand that many people visit from Europe and Canada, and tipping etiquette may not be the same.

I'm Canadian and our tipping practices are the same as yours. I do vary my tip for the quality of service however.

[Jenn]

Every other year, I am fortunate enough to be able to make a trip to the paradise that is Negril. We work hard and save to go, so when we get there we can enjoy ourselves and not fret about 500J here or there. I tip in the States and I tip in Jamaica. If my tips make someone's (read: cook, bartender, server, gardener etc) day a little better or a little easier...fabulous! After all, I am able to leave my country to visit theirs while many there are working to make ends meet. If you don't want to tip, don't. If you don't want to go to places with service charges, don't. It's your choice. There are LOADS of things I don't like, yet have to pay for, in the States. But pay for it, I do. This just seems like something silly to dispute. It's the way it is in Jamaica. If it bothered me that much, I'd probably go somewhere else. But, that's just me.

[captaind]

How is my perspective different from yours? What is your perspective? That people should be charged twice for service?

Do you really believe restaurants shouldn't pay their employees fairly and charge accordingly?

I run three businesses in the US and we take care of our employees, a lot of business owners don't in the states and their sales inevitably suffer.

Turning to the government to mandate customers pay the employees properly is a cop out for a business owner.

At 70 I've reached the point where dollars aren't that important. I feel blessed to be able to do what I can.

My perspective is "Lord let me help where I can and not try to change that which I cannot... and the wisdom to know the difference"

[Beebeluv]

Help where you can and stop over analyzing a situation you cant change. Only factor you have control over is that "extra" tip. which isnt an extra tip but pepole are very close minded and dont look at it from the other side of the fence. so... I agree that this is a pointless point to be debating. It was done for the beautiful pepole of Jamaica the place you all love to visit you spend thousands getting there and staying there but a tip is the kicker...lol I'm just a youngin' and I get it. I don't understand the entitlement some pepole feel they have in a DIFFERENT COUNTRY. lol. ahhh to be ignorant must be bliss........BTW Im not directing this at any one person at all nor am I trying to argue with grown adults that should already have learned the FACTs of life by now... SO to sum this up no matter if theres a service charge or not if you like the "face" (the pepole you see) service, tip that person what you can... They will apreciate it ...unless you say something insulting when you give it to them like" you need this more than me" or something horrid like that... One pepole. One love. and everything IS going to be alright so relax man. Just enjoy your vacations... whats the point of worring on a vacation... you might as well have stayed home