Tipping in India
Gaurav writes about his experience at an upscale restaurant in Mumbai, where the waiter was pleasantly shocked when he received a tip of Rs. 300.
I had a similar one too, back in December 2000. I had lunch and the bill came to a paltry Rs. 360. I left Rs. 410 and left. The waiter came running behind me… I thought I had perhaps put 310 by mistake. Nope. He actually came because he thought I forgot to take the fifty rupee change. I told him it was his tip. He thanked me and started to return back to the restaurant. Then, he saw me trying to flag down a rickshaw to get home. He came back and asked me where I wanted to go. When I told him the destination, he crossed the street, spoke to a rickshaw driver (who until then refused to acknowledge my attempts to get his attention) and got the rickshaw for me.
The most surprising part came at the end, when I reached the destination. The rickshaw driver told me that the waiter had paid him twice the fare (Rs. 18).
During my next visit to India in 2002, the restaurant management had changed and the waiter was no longer working with them.
Isn’t the standard tip 10%?
I don’t know. I tip close to 10% (slightly lower) to the nearest multiple of 10. Unless the bill is, say 940… then I pay only 60 bucks.
I really don’t know what the standard tipping policy is. I always considered 5% to be the minimum and you pay more if you liked the service, food, etc.
We students never really tip. We think its not justified to pay more for what u r having, plus the waiter is doing his job, why do u need to pay him extra?? and we don’t ever feel bad about it, be it an upscale restaurant or not.
but the post was good.
ps: i will start tipping once i get placed.