11.16.07
Do you stiff Chinese wait staff? Shame on you, says Forbes
According to this Forbes Global Guide to Tipping, when dining, “in China, giving 3% is expected at restaurants, while in Hong Kong, 10% to 15% is the norm if the gratuity isn’t included in the bill. For taxis, you don’t need to tip in China, but in Hong Kong, you should round the fare up to the next dollar amount.”
3% tips in China? Where and how did Forbes’ come about this silly percentage? With a simple fact check (or an actual visit to China), Forbes would know that tipping for meals is not the norm in China, except at high end places where service charges are added automatically. My guess on how they got this percentage:
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Forbes Reporter to Chinese Friend: I’m working on a global guide to tipping, please tell me what is the standard tip amount in Chinese restaurants.
Chinese Friend: What do you mean? We don’t really do that.
Forbes Reporter: Like in the US, it’s usually 15%, in Europe it’s about 10%, what do you leave in China?
Chinese Friend: feeling pressure, I’m not sure, I think not very much.
Forbes Reporter: By not very much, what do you mean, like 3%?
Chinese Friend: Yes I think so.
Forbes Reporter: Great, thanks, 3% then.
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As for rounding up the dollar amount in Hong Kong, that’s true, but you also round down the dollar amount following normal rounding rules. And Forbes should have mentioned it’s HK dollars (HKD 7.8 = USD 1), so rounding up from a cab fare of HKD 15.7 to 16 is less than US$0.05.
As Forbes says, “knowing what to tip and when can be downright confounding.” Good thing for this article to clear things up.
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