[GreyLady]

Here (Ontario, Canada), it is not even a matter of common. The minimum wage for your labour as a server of alcohol is lower to reflect the expected tip. $6.75/h instead of $7.75/h. Because tipping is expected, and can bring in a lot of cash, it is rare to get paid more than that minimum. So when people stop tipping, you feel it right away. Everyone (in Ontario) knows this, so to leave nothing on the bar...

[TommyJefferson]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('GreyLady', 'M')y husband is a bartender at a tavern. ... Recently, people have stopped tipping.

[Euric]

The first week of April saw an interesting series of events in the forex Markets. The US dollar fell to 0.81 €. The dollar has regained about 2 c€ of that loss towards the weekend only because the William Poole, President of the US Federal Reserve Bank claims the federal interest rate will rise to 5.25 %.

http://biz.yahoo.com/fxcm/060407/1144447922.html?.v=1

I know the EU doesn't want to see a euro too much past the 1.20 to the dollar mark, but with the US economy scaring off investors there isn't much to prevent other then for the US to continue to raise interest rates.

Thus ends the American dream, which is dependent on cheap rates. High housing prices are affordable only with cheap interest rates. If the interest rates continue to rise, then the cheap rate days are gone and the housing prices will have to sink.

An accelerated drop in housing prices would be worse then a stock market crash as most Americans have there livelihoods tied up in their homes. They have no real savings, just the equity in their properties.

Immigration is another factor killing the American dream. Immigrants, especially those from eastern Europe are being let in in droves and depressing the labour market. They are keeping salaries low so that it takes for family members and more hours at work to keep their heads above water.

2006 is proving to be truly a watershed year for the US. It is the year the US economy starts its rapid decline. The war against the Yuan will help propel the American middle class life style into the upper poor class. The Chinese are being forced to devaluate the Yuan, and they will do so, but only enough to prevent a slowdown in selling, but creating higher prices in the US for their goods, exacerbating a delicate situation.

If the Americans were as smart as the French, they would see the storm coming and demonstrate in the streets. But don't expect it. Even when the "merde" is hitting the fans, they will still insist they are better off then everyone else. Isn't propaganda a wonderful thing?

[peaker_2005]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TommyJefferson', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('GreyLady', 'M')y husband is a bartender at a tavern. ... Recently, people have stopped tipping.

[lateStarter]

Euric wrote:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')mmigration is another factor killing the American dream. Immigrants, especially those from eastern Europe are being let in in droves and depressing the labour market. They are keeping salaries low so that it takes for family members and more hours at work to keep their heads above water

[skiwi]

The (Rude) Awakening

Say no more...

[MrBill]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('skiwi', '[')url=http://www.safehaven.com/article-4922.htm]The (Rude) Awakening[/url]

Say no more...

[TommyJefferson]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('peaker_2005', 't')ipping's not something we generally do over here.

[lateStarter]

I suspect that in the short term where tipping is customary, you will see a decline in tips from lower to middle class patrons as things tighten up. In the next phase, it will be less (or more, if you depend on tips) of an issue because people will stop going out as much to eat. If you are working at TGIF or the Cracker Barrell you will wither and die.

Wait and bar staff fortunate to be at the high-end establishments will still probably do OK for awhile since the high-rollers should do pretty well in the near future if they play their cards right. If you have a good sense of humor, are fairly attractive, and know how to (appropriately) chat up the guests (and know when to be quiet) you can make quite a bit of money hand selecting the wines for a discriminating and appreciative group of clients...

[SoothSayer]

>> UK and NZ tipping is not common at all, except sometimes in a restaurant for a meal, but hardly ever for just drinks at a pub.

I worked in a posh London hotel for several months as a teenager.
The salaries were very low - even ZERO ... the tips WERE the salary.

Those jobs can be really horrible, so tips can make all the difference.

Ever since then I tip almost everywhere, even if I am short of cash myself.

[Zardoz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SoothSayer', '.')..Those jobs can be really horrible, so tips can make all the difference.

Ever since then I tip almost everywhere, even if I am short of cash myself.

[oilfreeandhappy]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('GreyLady', 'H')ere (Ontario, Canada), it is not even a matter of common. The minimum wage for your labour as a server of alcohol is lower to reflect the expected tip. $6.75/h instead of $7.75/h. Because tipping is expected, and can bring in a lot of cash, it is rare to get paid more than that minimum. So when people stop tipping, you feel it right away. Everyone (in Ontario) knows this, so to leave nothing on the bar...

[rogerhb]

This tipping thing is a bit bizarre, I thought we were talking about the Good Ol' US of Capitalist A, where at the market two people agree on a price, then for some reason the buyer now decides that the seller is offering far too good a deal and should have some more money.....

Or is this a voluntary-guilt tax thing?

[grillzilla]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ')Or is this a voluntary-guilt tax thing?

[BlisteredWhippet]

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Attention:

The Groundpounder index has risen to US $9,100.00 as of Apr. 11, 08:53:00 PM PDT






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[Chaparral]

Quite a number of my tenants are expanding their businesses, looking for more space, hiring more employees or have all the business they can handle and have to turn away new clientele. Rents continue to rise (against my predictions btw) and property values are sort of just skittering along horizontally in the Los Angeles area.

WRT tipping, I tip if the service is good (and in most restaurants where I go, it is). Customary is 15% I'll only leave 10% if the service is not so hot, or maybe 18-20% if it is exceptional. Sometimes one has to cut the server some slack if the establishment is understaffed that day.

[clover]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rogerhb', 't')he buyer now decides that the seller is offering far too good a deal and should have some more money.....

[rogerhb]

Surely a tip giver is not maximising their utility?

[jaws]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rogerhb', 'S')urely a tip giver is not maximising their utility?

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jaws', 'S')hould someone not tip, his reputation will become negative and eventually other waiters will refuse to enter into exchanges with that person (either by providing hostile service or "altering the product").