Van and Calgary - Worst tippers

[TheyCallMeBruce]

New data gathered on Canadian tipping habits shows Vancouver narrowly avoiding the bottom slot — thanks to the lack of generosity displayed by Calgarians.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/britis...pers-1.2595829

We're number 1! We're number 1!

[nik-]

when did 20% become the number?

[burn_this_city]

That's pathetic, especially in a town as wealthy as ours.

[GP_Matt]

Is Square really an appropriate sample though?

[nik-]

I dunno, I tip a good amount, but often the service in this town doesn't deserve anything. We legitimately do have a poor service standard in this city, so there's a whole realm not explored by this article.

[Rubicant]

Originally Posted by nik-

when did 20% become the number?

When we started asking the people who are being tipped how much they should be tipped.

[socktape]

I wonder what percent of those that didn't tip just didn't use the tip function so they included the tip in the amount to be processed or left a tip in cash. I know I do that a lot usually if there is a group of us that splits the tab up.

[Jedi Ninja]

Not sure about the sample size... How many (and what type) of companies are actually using this mobile payment service in Calgary?

[GP_Matt]

I have yet to have a payment processed through Square.

My guess is that it is really small companies and delivery drivers that use it the most.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Jedi Ninja

Not sure about the sample size... How many (and what type) of companies are actually using this mobile payment service in Calgary?

The only one I've come across is Park2Go at the airport. They'll usually have a guy at the pickup stand on the arrivals level so you can pay before getting in the shuttle bus to get to your car. No tip option on theirs.

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by nik-

when did 20% become the number?

Maybe I'm off the mark, but it feels like something that's changed in the last 2 years. Used to be 15% was for average service, 20% for better than average. But at some point the "acceptable" average got pushed up.

[Voodooman]

That article is a crock. Ottawa are the best tippers in Canada?!? Ooookay. I've been to Ottawa many times, and they are the biggest bunch of cheap-ass mofo's who ever lived.

The whole methodology of the survery is idiotic. Firstly, it's only looking at credit card transactions from that goofy iPhone app, and honestly, how many of those do you actually see in Calgary. Secondly, most people equate tipping to restaurants, and again, how many of those have that cheap POS technology to process payments.

I think a real tipping survey would find that Calgary is likely the best tipping city in the country, or at least in the top 3. I'd agree that Vancouver would be much lower, but the real bottom would be Ottawa for sure. I've gone for lunches with business colleagues there and ended up tipping 50% on my meal to make up for the solid 10 points that the rest of them leave. The real high rollers leave the equivalent of the taxes, which is a pretty rich 12% (13%?). Winnipeg is another prime example. If I take my staff there out for lunch and leave 20%, they think I've either just won the lottery, or had a brain aneurysm.

I'd be surprised if the total credit card transactions processed through Square equal 1/10 of 1% of the total card transactions. So clearly, an indicator of tipping habits across the country. Bravo CBC, another journalistic coup.

Caveat - Tipping can be heavily influenced by many factors, including timeliness and necessity of soda refills, doneness of fries, and volume and speed of fulfillment of condiment requests.

[cancer man]

Good service is hit and miss in this city.Nothing better ordering food from a server that reeks of cigarette smoke.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by cancer man

Good service is hit and miss in this city.Nothing better ordering food from a server that reeks of cigarette smoke.

well that's ironic

[Hockeyguy15]

I've never encountered a 'square' when paying. I cannot agree that the sample data is an accurate snap shot of tipping behaviour.

[Muffins]

Originally Posted by Voodooman

Caveat - Tipping can be heavily influenced by many factors, including timeliness and necessity of soda refills, doneness of fries, and volume and speed of fulfillment of condiment requests.

Also known as the "Springs1 ranch to tip ratio" (TM)

[jammies]

If it had been Vancouver and Edmonton who came out as #1 and #2 for worst tipping, nobody would have called out the methodology.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by jammies

If it had been Vancouver and Edmonton who came out as #1 and #2 for worst tipping, nobody would have called out the methodology.

That doesn't mean the question in invalid.

[Regorium]

In my experience, Edmontonians tip really well too.

I personally believe that I should tip 10-15%, but just from social pressure it ends up being 30% or more at restaurants. And everyone can afford it, so it's not really a huge deal.

I can't see that elsewhere in Canada (ie. not alberta).

[Flabbibulin]

"I think people really do believe that is the standard — that it's 10 per cent gratuity," said Christy Denton, owner of Cranberries Spa in Vancouver. She says clients often ask her how much they should tip.

"I will tell them it's really 15 to 20 per cent."

Absolutely hilarious. A spa moaning and complaining about tipping.

edit- A quick scan of google reveals that spas actually do expect tips close to 20%. Really??