Medellin Reports

[NCal2014]

Sure lots of various tipping stories, so I will get into the waters with of few of my experiences. Today I visited my favorite centro casa, I always buy the mamasan there a beer. Today in the midst of bliss we ran 10 + minutes over the 60 minutes. I stopped at the desk to see mamasan on the way out, she gave me a big smile and a wave. That sure beats having your time cut short that I have seen many times at other casas. When I get average or better service I always tip the chica, if I was going to tip the chica and she asks for a tip before I give her one, I give her half of what I was going to give her, and she is put on my possibly no return list. In my fav panaderia in centro, cafe con leche is 1000 cop, I always give the chica 500 cop when I get even only one smile, no smiles no tip One sweetheart, she is younger than my grandaughter, there runs her hand over my shoulders when she walks by me so she gets 1000 cop tip, that is 100% and that is from a canuck and we are known for not tipping In restaurants I tip 10%, if no smiles and lousy service, no tip. Maybe some of you have not heard the joke in Florida about snowbirds from canada. What is the difference between a canadian and a canoe, a canoe tips.

Yes, I do the same with the merchant girls. If they treat me with a smile and a little carress I also leave 1 k tip. Also on the other hand if I agree with a chica for 1 hour limit and we get into 2-3 hours then yes I give a little extra. Rhis happened to me a few times in CTG. Mostly with the LDV girls. A SW automatically asked for a tip I told her it was in the price. And good bye.

[Socker]

I only tip chicks that have already showed me their appreciation.

Chicks that come over for an hour and end up staying 4 or 5.

Chicks that are very popular and break dates to be with me and answer their phone 24/7.

Doesn't really make much sense to tip chicks that you don't plan on seeing on a regular basis.

I just made an observation and a guess at why it happens. I am trying to help other guys not make the same mistakes I've made.

I only tip for good service and after more than a few cocktails I can get pretty happy and over tip. I am also enamored w / some of these gals and so I want to give.

More to show my appreciation for the magic they provide. My observation is that tipping appropriately or over tipping are usually accepted w / a polite thank you or nod.

I would love it to hear a big laugh of joy and the little babe jumps up into my arms and says THANK YOU SOCKER!! Planting a big kiss on my cheek. Jaja.

Over tipping just isn't worth it, appropriate tipping is, IMO.

Cheers!

[Bart1]

Sure lots of various tipping stories, so I will get into the waters with of few of my experiences. Today I visited my favorite centro casa, I always buy the mamasan there a beer. Today in the midst of bliss we ran 10 + minutes over the 60 minutes. I stopped at the desk to see mamasan on the way out, she gave me a big smile and a wave. That sure beats having your time cut short that I have seen many times at other casas. When I get average or better service I always tip the chica, if I was going to tip the chica and she asks for a tip before I give her one, I give her half of what I was going to give her, and she is put on my possibly no return list. In my fav panaderia in centro, cafe con leche is 1000 cop, I always give the chica 500 cop when I get even only one smile, no smiles no tip One sweetheart, she is younger than my grandaughter, there runs her hand over my shoulders when she walks by me so she gets 1000 cop tip, that is 100% and that is from a canuck and we are known for not tipping In restaurants I tip 10%, if no smiles and lousy service, no tip. Maybe some of you have not heard the joke in Florida about snowbirds from canada. What is the difference between a canadian and a canoe, a canoe tips.

[Member #4287]

The funny thing is most times when you give a really big tip to a hooker she's not going to gush her appreciation for your generosity, no she's going to take it quickly and gesture w / a nod of appreciation. I always thought this odd. I gave this big tip and she barely acknowledges it. As a result I started to force myself to tip much less and I would get the same or better response.

And then it occurred to me, maybe these ladies thought I made a mistake w / their currency, hence over tip and took the money quickly w / out a fuss. That's what happens sometimes when over tipping, you get zero in return in the form of appreciation. I have learned over time to not over tip.

I only tip chicks that have already showed me their appreciation.

Chicks that come over for an hour and end up staying 4 or 5.

Chicks that are very popular and break dates to be with me and answer their phone 24/7.

Doesn't really make much sense to tip chicks that you don't plan on seeing on a regular basis.

[Manny51]

A few years ago I was passing thru the Terminal de Transportes in Cali and saw a middle aged woman had a barbershop nook. So I stopped in and got a $3 haircut. It wasn't anything special just a regular haircut. But as I was paying her, she had that look on her face like she wanted a tip. Being the cheapskate that I am, I didn't tip her. But was a plagued with guilt pangs afterwards as I walked off. Should I have tipped her?

Sorry to say, but yes.

Although tipping varies from country to country, even here in the USA, where tipping is most deeply ingrained, there are some industries where you classically tip. Barbers / hair stylists are one of them. Normally, you can just read a Lonely Planet book or something to get an idea of when to tip.

In general, you tip lower level service jobs where the person is paid by an employer. In these settings, the salaries are kept low because the expected tipping income is figured into the employer's mind as part of his salary. He wants it that way, to encourage workers to give good service. In return, the worker gets unrecorded, tax free income.

Any job where you negotiate directly with the provider is NOT a tipping job. For example, it is appropriate to tip a cab driver. But if you negotiate and agree on a price with a personal driver, you generally should not tip him. There are other ways that you can "tip" him, like buying him a beer at the strip club, but not direct cash. It jimmys the deal.

Other people may do differently, but this is general tipping etiquitte. Guys who tip ladies, then get amazed when they demand a tip, need to realize why that is the case. It is psychology 101. Just watch those old high school videos about rewarding monkeys for doing this or that.

[MdeJohn]

I don't buy the whole, "these girls are making plenty of money as it is," argument against tipping. Unless you're pulling the girl off the street or through Facebook, she's likely getting only 50% of what you are paying. Yeah, it's not a bad per-hour wage but the job isn't exactly a 9-5 gig either. Ask yourself how much you would want to let 10+ nasty fat chicks hump around on you every day.

I don't tip extravagantly or every time but throwing a girl an extra 5 k or 10 k isn't that big of a deal. I don't tip for some huge gush of appreciative emotion afterwards, I tip because I got better service. Build a report with these girls and reward better service and you will see it.

[BayBoy]

A few years ago I was passing thru the Terminal de Transportes in Cali and saw a middle aged woman had a barbershop nook. So I stopped in and got a $3 haircut. It wasn't anything special just a regular haircut. But as I was paying her, she had that look on her face like she wanted a tip. Being the cheapskate that I am, I didn't tip her. But was a plagued with guilt pangs afterwards as I walked off. Should I have tipped her?

[Manny51]

The funny thing is most times when you give a really big tip to a hooker she's not going to gush her appreciation for your generosity, no she's going to take it quickly and gesture w / a nod of appreciation. I always thought this odd. I gave this big tip and she barely acknowledges it. As a result I started to force myself to tip much less and I would get the same or better response.

And then it occurred to me, maybe these ladies thought I made a mistake w / their currency, hence over tip and took the money quickly w / out a fuss. That's what happens sometimes when over tipping, you get zero in return in the form of appreciation. I have learned over time to not over tip.

I was going to pass this by, but this topic is sticking around and it irks me.

Tipping is stupid. Tipping is for workers in service related industries, like waitresses, cleaning ladies, and cabbies, who are paid very low wages by their employer and you tip them to supplement them for good or friendly service, for going the extra mile.

In most countries, punting is one of the highest paying jobs per hour around. You may laugh, but its true. Also the price you pay for punting is negotiated. You are paying her directly. Tipping is just giving her more money. Pure and simple. Generous tipping by some members of the community makes the chica respect the negotiated price less. It raises her expectations that you should just give her more and more money for no reason. Then the lack of tipping is considered an insult.

The other poster had it right. Generosity (if you want to call it that) is not the same as tipping. Be a gentleman. Be polite and treat her with discretion. But paradoxically, in the long run, lots of tipping in general makes the girls less happy.

[Socker]

The sayings involving "papaya" basically mean to not be an idiot and bring unwanted attention on yourself or be taken advantage of. It doesn't mean never tip, unless that's what you want it to mean, so you don't have to tip LOL.

I tip when I deem appropriate, and I don't tip like a fool. Even a small tip to show appreciation goes a long way.

If someone stands over me with a hand out asking for or expecting a tip, I don't tip.

Everyone appreciates a little extra, rewarding their good service.

I don't condone over-tipping like a fool, but tipping to not only show appreciation but to also set yourself up for even better service when you return.

It works and a lot of it's in the delivery too.

Bottom line, tip if you want, don't if don't want to, it's an individual decision.
Don't be a fool or taken advantage of, and don't flash bling or money.

Good luck!

The funny thing is most times when you give a really big tip to a hooker she's not going to gush her appreciation for your generosity, no she's going to take it quickly and gesture w / a nod of appreciation. I always thought this odd. I gave this big tip and she barely acknowledges it. As a result I started to force myself to tip much less and I would get the same or better response.

And then it occurred to me, maybe these ladies thought I made a mistake w / their currency, hence over tip and took the money quickly w / out a fuss. That's what happens sometimes when over tipping, you get zero in return in the form of appreciation. I have learned over time to not over tip.

[Hasideas Tao]

IMHO the big problem is fear and speculation. Some people are just cheapskates and that will not change. Some of us just have cheapskate moments and maybe that can be reduced if we are more awake to why we are here. For me it's because of the great attitudes that most of the culture seems to possess. I think we fear that tipping in Colombia will eventually become what it is in the USA An obligation! Many times an obligation to pay for poor service. It's worse than Tax.

I am not convinced Medellin must evolve this way and we as a group have something to say about it. Let us realize that we are kind of organized here. Jeje This is a forum read by many! What we write and do has an effect. This is about us. Tipping in Medellin is currently still at your option as long as we stay cool about it.

As has been said, it's in your delivery. If I can't think of something positive, then they probably deserve the tip as much as I deserve to lose the money. I find this true if someone asks me for a tip or not. In other words, they are no better than me and what I do is on impulse and I may or may not look like a cheapskate.

There are some experts on this board who can speak better than I. I hope they will offer an opinion as well. But to me, simple is best. "Thank you. This is for your excellent service. " Or, "No thank you, I only tip for excellent service. " The words "excellent service," can be interchanged with many things like. Being cool, making me feel comfortable, your great attitude. When I keep my language positive it is difficult to feel bad or uncomfortable if I have decided to tip or not.

I would have agreed with you ten years ago in Colombia but not now. Colombians know that tipping in gringolandia is customary so when a gringo doesn't tip he loses respect because the Colombian knows that you aren't tipping because you think you can get away with it because you are in Colombia, Colombians don't tip but you aren't Colombian and all of the locals sure as hell know it. By the way, standard tip is a whopping 10% in Colombia.

[Ricker]

There are two key sayings in Colombia that explain the entire culture. Both sayings involve the word "papaya" and every Gringo should have a Colombian explain the sayings to them.

The sayings involving "papaya" basically mean to not be an idiot and bring unwanted attention on yourself or be taken advantage of. It doesn't mean never tip, unless that's what you want it to mean, so you don't have to tip LOL.

I tip when I deem appropriate, and I don't tip like a fool. Even a small tip to show appreciation goes a long way.

If someone stands over me with a hand out asking for or expecting a tip, I don't tip.

Everyone appreciates a little extra, rewarding their good service.

I don't condone over-tipping like a fool, but tipping to not only show appreciation but to also set yourself up for even better service when you return.

It works and a lot of it's in the delivery too.

Bottom line, tip if you want, don't if don't want to, it's an individual decision.
Don't be a fool or taken advantage of, and don't flash bling or money.

Good luck!

[Manizales911]

There is an important difference between respectfulness and generosity.

However, I disagree about tipping. Generosity is interpreted differently in Colombia. Do not tip in any situation where Colombian men do not tip, and do not tip greater amounts than Colombian men tip.

I would have agreed with you ten years ago in Colombia but not now. Colombians know that tipping in gringolandia is customary so when a gringo doesn't tip he loses respect because the Colombian knows that you aren't tipping because you think you can get away with it because you are in Colombia, Colombians don't tip but you aren't Colombian and all of the locals sure as hell know it. By the way, standard tip is a whopping 10% in Colombia.

[Orgasmico]

In other words, never tip, because I've never seen a Colombian dude tip.

The problem with gringos is they start rationalizing the value of things in their currency instead of the value to Colombians in Colombia. Why upset the cultural norms?

[Ricker]

Do not tip in any situation where Colombian men do not tip, and do not tip greater amounts than Colombian men tip.

In other words, never tip, because I've never seen a Colombian dude tip.

[The Tall Man]

Spot On! Great info that evry newbie gringo to anywhere in Colombia needs to understand!

Thanks,

The Tall Man.

There is an important difference between respectfulness and generosity.

You are right about respectfulness. Colombians are tired of arrogant Gringos with anger management problems.

However, I disagree about tipping. Generosity is interpreted differently in Colombia. Do not tip in any situation where Colombian men do not tip, and do not tip greater amounts than Colombian men tip.

Generosity makes you a sucker in the eyes of Colombians. Colombians do not respect suckers. Colombians do not appreciate generous people. Rather, Colombians take advantage of generous people.

You would be amazed at how minimal generosity on your part will generate the conclusion that you are a sucker on the part of Colombians. If you show some form of generosity to a Colombian once, then be prepared because that person will expect the same generosity every time you interact with them. Later, the expectations for generosity will increase steadily.

Although there are exceptions, the people that manage casas generally do not own the casas. Do not tip the managers when there are no attractive girls. This creates an incentive to not present attractive girls. Colombian men do not tip the managers of casas, and they certainly would not tip the managers for presenting unattractive girls.

There are two key sayings in Colombia that explain the entire culture. Both sayings involve the word "papaya" and every Gringo should have a Colombian explain the sayings to them.