Tipping etiquette
Apr 4th 2012, 7:22 pm
#17
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Apr 4th 2012, 7:41 pm
#19
Hit 16's
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Re: Tipping etiquette
No, I meant hasn't Winter tipped anyone, not just baggers.
Apr 4th 2012, 7:47 pm
#20
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Re: Tipping etiquette
i have a real bee in my bonnet about ppl packing things, why can't people pack there own shopping
Apr 4th 2012, 8:03 pm
#21
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Re: Tipping etiquette
but back on topic, do you tip?
Apr 4th 2012, 9:26 pm
#22
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Re: Tipping etiquette
Bag packers (especially in my local supermarket) a couple of dhs. Yes, I'm quite capable of doing it myself and more often than not do so but if they want to help then, hey, what's a couple of dhs?
Petrol pump attendants - yes (except at Emarat stations). Generally speaking 5dhs (because we only fill up when both tanks are near empty) and because neither of us would want to spend any time at all breathing in petrol fumes, especially during the hotter months.
Bars/Restaurants - yes, in cash, if service is particularly good
Taxi drivers - yes. Must be really lucky, haven't ever in seven years had a bad driver or one who's tried to rip us off.
Home Maintenance engineers - yes, usually 10dhs/person each quarterly visit or more if they do that 'little extra' on the side
Car washers at malls - yes, plus a bottle of chilled water in the hot months
The guys at the 'offy' in RAK when they load up the vehicle - most definitely!
Petrol pump attendants - yes (except at Emarat stations). Generally speaking 5dhs (because we only fill up when both tanks are near empty) and because neither of us would want to spend any time at all breathing in petrol fumes, especially during the hotter months.
Bars/Restaurants - yes, in cash, if service is particularly good
Taxi drivers - yes. Must be really lucky, haven't ever in seven years had a bad driver or one who's tried to rip us off.
Home Maintenance engineers - yes, usually 10dhs/person each quarterly visit or more if they do that 'little extra' on the side
Car washers at malls - yes, plus a bottle of chilled water in the hot months
The guys at the 'offy' in RAK when they load up the vehicle - most definitely!
Apr 5th 2012, 3:43 am
#23
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Re: Tipping etiquette
hmm- i've never tipped a bagger- personally I cant stand having my bags packed for me- they muddle stuff up, use far too many plastic bags and put soft stuff underneath tinned stuff and basically balls it up, so normally I say I'll do it myself. And you dont tip the person that has rung it up so why would you tip the bagger?
Taxi drivers I normally round it up so, if they have been on a mission to scare the living crap out of me then I demand my change- i waited for 50 fils the other day for which i did feel a bit petit but I did think I was going to die about 8 times on a 20 minute journey.
Waitresses I normally leave 10% of the service and food has been nice, bit more if its been really fabulous, bar staff i only tip if its been exceptional service.
Taxi drivers I normally round it up so, if they have been on a mission to scare the living crap out of me then I demand my change- i waited for 50 fils the other day for which i did feel a bit petit but I did think I was going to die about 8 times on a 20 minute journey.
Waitresses I normally leave 10% of the service and food has been nice, bit more if its been really fabulous, bar staff i only tip if its been exceptional service.
I never do percentages, just suitable amounts....... taxi drivers get rounded up to the next 5 (it's a 10 minimum, so I pay a 15 minimum, even if the actual meter says 6.50 or whatever), baggers get 5 (why bag things yourself? A shop is there to serve you), petrol pumpers get the round-up (I usually tell them to stop filling at about 96, and give them 100) - I've never tipped a barman/barmaid though (never occurred to me - not sure why as I tip the waiter who brings stuff to a table - noted for future reference).
I reckon my tipping comes to about 60-70 per month on average.
Apr 5th 2012, 4:29 am
#24
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Re: Tipping etiquette
The people who pack my bags always do a top job, mind you I'm rather nazi on laying the stuff out on the conveyor belt, veg, then cupboard stuff, meat, freezer stuff, fridge, then bathroom bits and bobs (did you need that much info?) And I always get a smile too. I will definitely tip them from now on!
Apr 5th 2012, 6:37 am
#25
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Re: Tipping etiquette
There was an artcile in the papers a couple of years ago from some Spinney's spokeperson asking people not to tip the bag-packers as they get paid the same as checkout people. Since then I've not tipped bag-packers.
Petrol - rounded to nearest 5 Dhs
Restaurants - 10% usually and never any more - less if the service has been exceptionally poor.
Everyone else...no tip
Petrol - rounded to nearest 5 Dhs
Restaurants - 10% usually and never any more - less if the service has been exceptionally poor.
Everyone else...no tip
Apr 5th 2012, 6:58 am
#26
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Re: Tipping etiquette
Forgotten about bogwallahs: I usually tip them 10 Dirhams, partly coz I'm more generous after a pint or seven, partly coz I've never seen anyone else tip them and I'm sure they get crap wages, and partly coz its gotta be a pretty awful job stuck in a men's toilet in an Arab country.
As to tipping waitresses more if the food's good: it had never occurred to me to do that, I base it purely on the service, coz they have no control over the quality of the food. They also get a bigger tip the more cleavage they flash...
As to tipping waitresses more if the food's good: it had never occurred to me to do that, I base it purely on the service, coz they have no control over the quality of the food. They also get a bigger tip the more cleavage they flash...
Apr 5th 2012, 7:29 am
#27
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Re: Tipping etiquette
There is nothing wrong with being aided if you have a large shop, have children with you or have a bad back and it hurts to keep bending into the trolley. The rule is to be nice to anyone who helps, it doesn't make anyone better or worse than anyone else.
If no one let these guys help they wouldn't have a job, or they'd probably have a worse job. I tend to pack things with them and if they use too many bags I simply tell them I want the smallest number of bags and to fill them up. No problem.
Apr 5th 2012, 8:26 am
#28
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Re: Tipping etiquette
Very rarely tip anywhere in filling up car, shopping, or restraunts
Apr 5th 2012, 11:57 am
#29
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Re: Tipping etiquette
On the bag thing, the head wobblers seem to want as many as possible as I want as few as possible so the poor blokes don't know what to do for the best. If you say "no bag thanks" in an Eppco station they look at you as if you are mad.
Petrol bloke gets it rounded up.
Pack my own bags normally cause its easier.
Food Places round up.
Taxis round up unless they take the piss.
Hair bloke 5 chips
Petrol bloke gets it rounded up.
Pack my own bags normally cause its easier.
Food Places round up.
Taxis round up unless they take the piss.
Hair bloke 5 chips
Apr 5th 2012, 5:45 pm
#30
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Re: Tipping etiquette
All of the above and 100 fils = one dirham 
Petrol Dhs 5-10
Bag packers etc Dhs 5
Hairdresser - depends on how much you like the haircut
Manicurist - Dhs 10-20
I reckon that as so many employees here earn a pittance it is only fair to tip them for being nice and helpful, as we can all afford to do so.
Petrol Dhs 5-10
Bag packers etc Dhs 5
Hairdresser - depends on how much you like the haircut
Manicurist - Dhs 10-20
I reckon that as so many employees here earn a pittance it is only fair to tip them for being nice and helpful, as we can all afford to do so.
