The art of Tipping

Polite tips in Israel and around the world

By: Tami Lancet Leibovitz

'Tesher' in Hebrew - also commonly known as a tip in all the world- is a sum of money that a customer gives to an employee from whom he received good personal service, in addition to the basic price of the service. The size of the amount depends on the accepted practice in that area, the nature and scope of the service and the customer's satisfaction.

In history, the practice of tipping has been known since the time of the Romans. The practice as it is known today began in the 16th-18th century in England in public businesses and private homes. In private homes, a social norm developed that guests tipped the servants at the end of the visit, for performing duties beyond their normal duties. And since then his status has been strengthened and established all over the world and is also invading countries that are refused a tip such as those in the Far East or Eastern Europe. Although we expect, and rightfully so, to receive fair and good service from every waiter and other service provider, regardless of the amount of the expected tip - nevertheless it is better not to forget that the tip is an important part of their salary, so it is appropriate to show fairness and generosity.

Did you know, A legend without sources: In the past, it was customary, especially in Spain, to place a sum of money in a small saucer in the center of the table at the beginning of the meal, and to add and subtract coins from it according to the quality of the service, to encourage the waiter to provide good service

Tips and their amount are a matter of custom and social etiquette that vary between different countries and cultures. In some parts of the world, it is customary to tip a wide variety of service providers such as: waiters, hotel service workers, taxi drivers, tour guides, hairdressers, masseurs, couriers, car washes, service in bars and restaurants, books and many others. In many other countries, there is no culture of tipping, and sometimes tipping can even be considered an insulting act. In some places, fixed percentage service fees are added to the invoice - and these usually replace the tip. Tipping employees in certain positions is considered illegal, tipping a public employee, for example, may be considered a bribe.

Tipping is a normal - and often expected - part of today's service industries, but as a consumer you are not always sure who to tip, nor how much. Let's dive together into the fascinating world of tip etiquette, with some tips that can make our lives simpler.

In general tips in percentages, for example:

Tip in the restaurant. - A tip of 10%, 15% to 20% percentage is the accepted amount that should be left for good service in a restaurant. Remember that these percentages are of the total bill, before tax, and before any coupons or discounts are deducted. If you received poor service, it's appropriate to reflect your displeasure by leaving a lower tip. But keep in mind that your waiter may have had a bad day or the kitchen may have been slow. It's not the waiter's fault if the chef overcooks your food, so be sure to take all considerations into account before leaving a reduced tip. If the service was really bad, it's best to talk quietly with the restaurant manager about the problem.

Important to remember - check your bill - many of the luxury restaurants automatically add 12 percent service automatically, if you are not sure ask the waiter. Even if the service is included in the bill, you can round off the bill or add to the tip if the service was particularly good.

Parking services: 10-20 NIS

Bars and Cafes. Generally, if you receive good service, you should leave a tip of 10 to 15 percent of your total bill at a bar or coffee shop. When you sit at the bar and the bartender honors you with various extras, it would be nice to leave 20%. If you bought coffee or pastries at the markets for self-collection take away or in Hebrew a meal take and go (according to the Hebrew Language Academy), take a good look at the counter, there is usually a place to leave a small tip there, as a token of thanks and recognition for the service.

Taxi drivers - expect a tip of about 10% of the cost of the trip. Or round up the payment. If a driver helps you with your luggage, the tip will increase to 15%. Sometimes the driver informs you in advance about an additional charge for luggage.

Hotels, front desk managers don't expect a tip, but porters will be happy to receive between $1 and $2 per bag. The bellboy at the hotel who orders a taxi for you expects a tip. Maids, they also expect a tip of $1-3 per day. It is nice to leave an envelope with the inscription Thank you very much for the service in the room for the maid or hand this envelope to the floor manager. The concierge who arranges restaurants and trips for you also deserves it. We give cash to these employees, so make sure in advance when you arrive at these places to have a little cash (it's a bit difficult these days when we're used to paying most bills digitally)

beauty salons Hair salon & spa, usually the same as a tip for restaurants - 10 15 to 20 percent. However, if you go to a luxury salon where there is a separate tip, if several people help you at the salon or spa, you should leave a separate tip for each one (the stylist, the masseuse, the manicurist, etc.).

Deliveries - furniture. This is a tricky area, as most people aren't sure what the proper tipping rules are for furniture deliveries. In general, a NIS 20 tip for the delivery person is appropriate for most furniture deliveries. Since you likely won't know in advance how many delivery people will arrive at your home, have at least 4 NIS 20 bills handy. If the delivery people also assemble the furniture, you can increase the tip, or give the delivery and assembly manager a larger amount and ask him to take care of it and distribute it to the other employees If the deliveries are not professional, the delivery people are not pleasant, don't feel obliged to give them a personal tip. You have already paid for the delivery. The couriers we order in the apps have the option of leaving a tip for the courier, it would be nice if you update him when you receive the delivery, that you have added the tip in the app.

Flower deliveries. - On your holiday knowing or hoping that someone will send you flowers, prepare the amount of the tip at the door in a respectable manner and don't run around the house looking for small coins.....

Tour guides: Here, the guides must be alone in a group personal tip. An amount that you decide on should be collected from the whole group, usually 10 shekels per day, and submitted to the instructors in a closed envelope with a few handwritten words of thanks. Here it is also important not to forget the driver who was part of the trip and who also deserves personal attention.The standard is $10 per day.

Sender apps - it is advisable to add the tip in the app and when the courier arrives, tell him that you added the tip in the app. Another option is to prepare the tip in cash and thank the courier in person when the delivery arrives.

Here are some things to consider when deciding whether to tip when the service was or was not to your satisfaction:

The amount of the tip according to the service you received. In different countries there are different practices, so it is always worth checking what is customary where you are.
In cases where the service is not to your satisfaction, the question of whether you "must" add a tip depends on the tipping culture of the place and the specific circumstances.
In countries where tips are a significant part of workers' wages, such as the United States, there is an expectation to tip even if the service was not perfect, but the tip may be lower than usual. Conversely, in countries where tipping is not required by law or expected as part of wages, you have more flexibility to choose not to tip if you have experienced poor service.
Was the problem personal or systemic? If the problem is with the system as a whole and not with the employee specifically, it may be right to give a small tip despite the problem.
The importance of dialogue: sometimes it is worth bringing up the point of weakness in the service in a dialogue with the employee or the manager before deciding to cut off the tip.
The culture of tipping in place: In places where the tip is an important part of the salary, it may be right to continue tipping, even if it is reduced.In any case, a decision not to give a tip due to poor service should be informed and with discretion, taking into account all the circumstances of the case.

Tip in different countries

What is acceptable for tipping varies greatly between different countries and even between different regions within one country. Here you will find information about what is accepted in countries in Africa, India, South America, and Russia:

Regarding tipping customs in different parts of the world, the different cultures can be presented in a fascinating and sometimes even surprising way:

Japan - the culture of tipping is almost non-existent, and giving a tip may even be considered a violation of dignity. In the contemporary era, tourists are influenced by the sea and there are floors that expect a tip.

United States, tipping is an integral part of the culture and is expected in a wide variety of services.

Italy - a tip is sometimes built into the bill under the heading "coperto", but it is still customary to add a little above.

Africa - In Africa, tipping is highly dependent on the country and tourism in the region. In countries with developed tourism such as South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya, it is customary to tip restaurants and taxi drivers, usually between 10% and 15%. In safari and hotel services, tips are also expected which can be higher.

India - In India, it is customary to tip (called "bakshish") in restaurants, where the accepted tip is about 10%. Taxi and autorickshaw drivers can also be tipped, usually by rounding the amount up. In hotels, it is customary to leave a small tip for the cleaning staff.

South America - In South America, it is customary to tip in restaurants between 10% and 15%. In Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, for example, this is the accepted range. In tips for taxi drivers, the amount is often simply rounded off.

Russia, it is customary to tip in restaurants, usually around 10% of the bill. It is not always customary to tip taxi drivers, but if so, the amount can be rounded up here as well. In hotels, it is customary to tip the cleaning staff