Angeles City

[QUOTE=Rick Rock;1356621]Sorry buddy, the American cultural shit about tipping is about helpful to the rest of the world as McDonald's and gang banging. Leave it at home please.[/QUOTE]I can second a tip meant as a real tip (small change) or reward (for something) or nice gesture (ie reward). I can't stand (outside of USA) the habit of tipping based on a % as a must. Especially when bills do have "service" included. This habit tricks also on prices (just as some airlines do) showing an unrealistic price as then you have to add those 15% service charges.

On principle if I go to a restaurant (and not to a food shop) why should I tip the waiter (and, as part of the chain, the maitre, the chef etc)? If I enter a train or a plane with a paid ticket, I am not going to tip the conductor, the train driver, the pilot, the flight assistants. If I enter a shop to buy goods, I am not tipping the shop assistant.

Asians are not used to tips (unless spoiled by us westerners) and a japanese hotel porter will be kind of "horrified" if you give him a tip for bringing your suitcases in the room: he is already getting a salary for that job.

[QUOTE=Bionicman; 1356655]I can second a tip meant as a real tip (small change) or reward (for something) or nice gesture (ie reward). I can't stand (outside of USA) the habit of tipping based on a % as a must. /QUOTE]I'm with you on this one. Small tip for great service, but should be the exception not the rule.

I recall somebody recounting a story about a visit to a restaurant (in US I believe). After they paid the bill and were walking down the street the waiter chased after them yelling out "sir, you forgot to tip me"

[QUOTE=Llantarnam;1356765]I recall somebody recounting a story about a visit to a restaurant (in US I believe). After they paid the bill and were walking down the street the waiter chased after them yelling out "sir, you forgot to tip me"[/QUOTE]In a number of bars in Tijuana, the waiters routinely rip off the gringos (just because they are gringos). Waiters / waitresses usually carry the drinks on a platter (about 18" in diameter). They bring your drink and your change on the platter. After placing the drink on your table, he / she will hold the platter down so you can see it and take your change. When you take your change, you expect the waiter to disappear into the woodwork and let you enjoy your drink. You don't tip until you leave, right? He / she will stand there and hold the platter low, and if you do nothing, he / she will finally say: "My tip please." Most guys will toss some quarters or a dollar on the platter just to get rid of the annoying waiter. If you order another drink, they will do the same thing. Its disgusting behaviour. You begin to see how the result of westernized ideas like tipping can get out of hand when introduced elsewhere.

Its not only the tipping problem that raises rates in AC. Barhopping and buying LD's has a similar effect. As barowners see more money being thrown around, they raise barfine and LD prices.

Maybe soon these sex-depraved noobies will get AC up to Pattaya Walking Street level, complete with $20 lapdances and dancers who don't barfine. Good work fellows!

[QUOTE=Llantarnam;1356765]I recall somebody recounting a story about a visit to a restaurant (in US I believe). After they paid the bill and were walking down the street the waiter chased after them yelling out "sir, you forgot to tip me"[/QUOTE]Trouble is that in USA the tip for waiters at restaurants and bars is the major stake of their salaries. They get paid little, in general, as the establishment guarantees their income with the tips, ie the service charge. But why then having to pay high menu prices for the steak?

Last month I saw far less excessive money venting in AC than on previous trips. In just under two months I didn't see a single soul 'ring the bell' and I only experienced people showering the girls with 20 piso notes in the big Korean oriented bars such as Atlantis and Baby Dolls. I took it as a sign of the times and perhaps even the Koreans are thinking twice before pointlessly disgorging themselves of 2/4000 to buy a line of dancers some dubious looking liquor and a rousing chorus of 'cheers'. I could of course be wrong and people are still liberally throwing money around but perhaps I was in the wrong bars at the wrong times to see it. The one thing I did witness occasionally was the rather sad spectacle of mamasans hurling a fist full of loose change onto the stage and the ensuing brawl as the girls fought it out to get their hands on the measly 5 (and sometimes 1) piso coins. A sight worth remembering when you're weighing up how much to tip your girl in the morning.

On the third day on Nov. 3, again I went to SM Clark for lunch. This time I tried the Mang Inasal roast chicken which was good but not filling. So I went to the food court and ate some more. That night I ventured out at about 7 PM. I went into several bars but did not find anything I liked. I ended in a bar a few doors east of Alaska (I totally forgot the name). None of the dancers caught my eye. As I was sitting and sipping my beer, my waitress Vidan started to massage my back. She was good. She kept massaging for about 20-30 minutes. I whispered to her if she preferred an LD or tip. She whispered back 'tip' and gave me a big smile. She was not very pretty although not ugly, in her late 20s and looked to have a decent figure. Finally after about an hour plus of great massage and not seeing anything better, I 'negotiated' and BF her for 1800p. As we left at about 11:30 PM, I asked her if she was hungry. She said yes so I took her to Jollibee. While ordering, we met her two younger sisters who were also in the business at another bar and had finished their shift at 11 PM. The youngest was very hot. I paid for their order and somehow they all decided to go to my room to eat. After eating, the sister hung around and I took photos of them together. Luckily only the youngest sister had email which I promised to send the photos. I will contact her the next time I am in AC. After the sisters left, she showered, gave me a so-so CBJ, then so-so FS, no GFE at all. All that massage tlc earlier in the bar had vanished. The next morning I asked her to give me a CBJ, then HJ. I had lost interest in banging her. When she was leaving, she asked for a tip. I said NO. She left without complaining. Looked like this happened to her in the past.

You'll have to wait until next week for Report #3 and #4. I am going to Laredo tomorrow to visit a monger friend who is very sick and in the hospital. Seems like Nuevo Laredo has cooled down from the violence, so I may cross the border for some recreation.

[QUOTE=Funman13;1356946]As I was sitting and sipping my beer, my waitress Vidan started to massage my back. She was good. She kept massaging for about 20-30 minutes. I whispered to her if she preferred an LD or tip. She whispered back 'tip' and gave me a big smile.[/QUOTE]What does LD mean please? It's not in the Abbreviations page.

Thanks

[QUOTE=Bionicman;1356918]Trouble is that in USA the tip for waiters at restaurants and bars is the major stake of their salaries. They get paid little, in general, as the establishment guarantees their income with the tips, ie the service charge. But why then having to pay high menu prices for the steak?[/QUOTE]America is different. The place needs universal labor laws. The trend looks to be going in the opposite direction however. So, until then (if it ever happens) you absolutely MUST tip 15-25% at any restaurant in the USA unless you are a complete and total piece of shit. People who make $2. 15 an hour with no benefits and pay $1200 a month rent absolutely need tips.

[QUOTE=Rick Rock;1356975]America is different. The place needs universal labor laws. The trend looks to be going in the opposite direction however. So, until then (if it ever happens) you absolutely MUST tip 15-25% at any restaurant in the USA unless you are a complete and total piece of shit. People who make $2. 15 an hour with no benefits and pay $1200 a month rent absolutely need tips.[/QUOTE]What's minimum wage now days? $7? $8? I feel waiters / waitress shouldn't make more then 80-90% professions. It's insane when a waiter is making more then $15 an hour including tips which they probably don't report to the IRS. If you got an issue with this, why not go to school, finish a degree in something useful and actually find a good job that doesn't rely on tips?

In fact, now that I think about it. I'm done tipping! LOL.

YG

[QUOTE=Rick Rock;1356975]America is different. The place needs universal labor laws. The trend looks to be going in the opposite direction however. So, until then (if it ever happens) you absolutely MUST tip 15-25% at any restaurant in the USA unless you are a complete and total piece of shit. People who make $2. 15 an hour with no benefits and pay $1200 a month rent absolutely need tips.[/QUOTE]Philippines is the same, needs decent labor laws. Filipino waitresses who earn a pittance, with no benefits, no sick pay, no holiday pay and have to pay rent etc, deserve a tip.

I happen to agree with you, Funman. This is a fundamental motivation technique: one gets what one rewards. Of course this only applies to people who exceed expectations, in my opinion. I happen to have high expectations so when I see it or see them exceeded I certainly want to show my appreciation. If not I certainly can be a cheap charlie, too.

Regards

[QUOTE=Funman13; 1356617]Okay, I am getting some flak about tipping via my PM. I also like to tip housekeeping girls / women and waiters / waitresses if they are exceptionally hard working and nice to me. In Asia most of the time they never expect it but I know that I put a smile in their faces and happiness in their hearts. It's only a few dollars which I can easily afford, yet to these people, it's a lot.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Gher2; 1356959]What does LD mean please? It's not in the Abbreviations page.

Thanks[/QUOTE]It means lady drink.

[QUOTE=Sxxxx; 1355698]In addition to carry on bag, size and weight restricted IATA, and duty free plastic bag, your entitled to carry on a laptop, and camera, and a book to read. Before you were allowed to take a fold up umbrella in your carry on. No longer allowed, you might be a terrorist LOL. So baggage allowance is quite generous and yes airlines are struggling, so we should not make their job more difficult, otherwise they might be forced to increase the base fares. My gripe is, why are others allowed to take check-in sized / weighted bags as carry on, when IATA and therefore myself, are not allowed to. Yep, those overhead lockers are a danger when there is turbulence or an accident. Forcing check in sized, weighted, bags into those lockers is just wrong. Poor hosties they struggle at times.

Same rule for everyone and I would be happy.[/QUOTE]I agree and would also like to put this all into perspective.

Tickets are cheap, staying there is cheap, fucking there is ludicrously cheap, eating there is cheap, why do we also have to be cheap? Please explain this to me because I'm trying to understand this nickle and dime attitude.

First of all check the damn extra bag and pay the $25. 00 its damn cheap airfreight and lets the already struggling airlines make a few more dollars. We need them as much as they need us and if they arent making money they just go away and the ticket prices of the now competition free airlines just go up more then the extra bag cost.

Sorry for the rant but just saying.

Happy cheap pooning. Leknomforme

[QUOTE=YG365; 1357009]What's minimum wage now days? $7? $8? I feel waiters / waitress shouldn't make more then 80-90% professions. It's insane when a waiter is making more then $15 an hour including tips which they probably don't report to the IRS. If you got an issue with this, why not go to school, finish a degree in something useful and actually find a good job that doesn't rely on tips?

In fact, now that I think about it. I'm done tipping! LOL.

YG[/QUOTE]It depends on the state. Some states have wait staff make minimum wage (some of these states have a higher state minimum) and tips, other states they make less than minimum wage with the expectation that with tips you will get AT LEAST to minimum wage and if you can prove that you did not get there the resturant will need to pay you the difference between minimum wage and what you "earned".

And yes some wait staff at very high end resturants in the US can make a very good living, probably better than a lot of us.