Tips, please !

What would you do if an honest rickshaw driver in Pune charged you (as per the meter) Rs.33 for your journey from Swargate to East Street. If you are a typical Punekar and are convinced that the rickshaw driver is charging you the right amount, you would probably go ahead and give him Rs.33 without complaining.

But if the policy of giving tips, like the other so-called western cultures, becomes prevalent in India, the driver will definitely crib if you give him anything less than Rs.35. And if he happens to drop you in East Street - chances are that he may expect atleast Rs.40 from you.

Giving tips is very popular in US. It serves as a token of appreciation for the service rendered. Moreover since it is a monetary token it probably triggers generation of serotonin and endorphin - the so-called happiness hormones - to make the other person feel elevated, encouraged and happy. If a small amount of tip can help someone feel good - it is definitely a good practice to follow.

If you want to enjoy tipping - give it personally along with a genuine smile. I still recollect the delight and jubilation on the airport shuttle driver's face, when we tipped him for helping us with our baggage. Probably he did not expect it from a group of foreign travellers.

Though people usually don't ask for tips, they definitely feel bad if they don't get it. People consider you stingy if you don't tip them for their service. Though there is a saying - You should not expect a tip, you should only accept it - there is no denying that taxi drivers, waiters, attendants and pizza delivery boys do expect a good amount of tip depending on the service they provide and also depending on your status or locality in which you stay.

Here is a link from CNN which provides guidelines related to tips. Infact for the more tip-conscious traveller there is an entire book called Traveller's handbook on tipping available for purchase online.

Did you find this information useful ? If yes, tips please!
If you don't give, it gets lost.