Tipping in Colombia - What do you guys do?

Mononoke28 says on Mar 6, 2008, 13:25:

As per my husband's and my family's instructions I do not tip. I started doing it when I went back as an adult and they were all over me saying that it is not safe to do it. Their reason? The wait staff will think you're loaded and either try to rip you off, or keep an eye on the "rich" lady. It's not safe.

So I don't tip.

Diana

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jonas says on Mar 6, 2008, 13:31:

When in Rome do as the Romans.
When they include the 10% tip- this is voluntary, you can refuse to pay the 10% and instead give it directly to the waiter after paying the check. A bit annoying though. I am lazy so I don´t do it that way but I wish I did...;-)

Simon Presidente!

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Medellin Traveler says on Mar 6, 2008, 13:42:

I'm with Monoke,

I DO NOT TIP!

I leave all US customs at the airport before departing the states.

"Huevos Rancheros en Medellin, No Quiero Taco Bell." - www.medellintraveler.com

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vicshere says on Mar 6, 2008, 13:51:

I DO NOT TIP ANYONE ANYPLACE

listo

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NataliaV says on Mar 6, 2008, 13:52:

Mononoke - My family is the same way. I never understood it. Why they kept telling us not to tip too much, but the reason not to makes lots of sense with the whole safety issue...thanks.

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bickerss says on Mar 6, 2008, 13:53:

Monoke - that used to happen to me in the BBc where I was a regular customer and 'knew' the staff - they used to put additional beers onto my bill. They got the message after I got annoyed a couple of times as it was super blatent (ie 3 to 4 extra). - mind u, that was the old staff there from about 3 years ao - have had no problems since then.....

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pedro says on Mar 6, 2008, 14:06:

If you want to cultivate some kind of ongoing good service in future visits... I would ask the guy's name and introduce yourself.

Gringos still being relatively uncommon, they'll likely remember you. If you remember the guy's name next time around, bonus points. Use his name every single time you go there.

What I do:
- if servicio voluntario is in the bill, I pay exactly that, always in cash (or round up to the nearest 1000)
- if there's no SV in the bill and it comes on a small tray for change, I leave 10%
- in none of the above (almuerzo corriente, for example) I just pay the exact bill.
- if I order a bottle at a bar, I give them a couple of thousand extra at the moment I pay it.

I have no idea if this is "correct" or not in Colombia. That's just what I do.

que nota!

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mranderson says on Mar 6, 2008, 14:10:

My brother-in-law works at a little sandwich place close to parque lleras and apparently next to a building that employs lots of gringos. He told me that he gets ridiculously huge tips from the gringos.

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bickerss says on Mar 6, 2008, 14:10:

yeah - tried that one pedro; had reasonable convesations and still often the resul is poor service. I do generally find the guys more responsive than the woen though - the service i received at the other english bar down from escotia was great.

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vicshere says on Mar 6, 2008, 14:13:

pepe you trying to get something on the side when they take your carte to your car????

listo

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robi666 says on Mar 6, 2008, 14:20:

Actually, you should give a try to Carrefour Las Vegas. I was surprised two days ago. It used to be bad.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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DodgerDogs says on Mar 6, 2008, 14:23:

Only tip the kids who bag your items at the super markets.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.Martin Luther King:

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robi666 says on Mar 6, 2008, 14:26:

It was not me, I shop with my wife, so I am always in "mule mode". I succeed in a rare glance on, but nothing else.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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mranderson says on Mar 6, 2008, 14:29:

5.000 at exito? Holy shit I usually give 1 or 2 hundred pesos.. what ever coin I happen to pull out. Then again I only buy a couple items at a time. Only 1 bag which takes them 5 seconds of work.

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Chriscan says on Mar 6, 2008, 14:29:

Colombians are happy if you tip them - not because they think your nice but because they think they scammed you.

It's hard for me not to tip. My average tip at work is 35%. I have had nights over 50%

On the other hand it's quite revenge on hte latinos that stiff me. (other than the ones that live in town)
.

************* WARNING ************* my words often come from my ass

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bickerss says on Mar 6, 2008, 14:31:

Chris -where do you work, and waht job, to gt tips like that?

I didnt knwo the packers didnt get paid? It never even crossed my mind to tip them.

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mranderson says on Mar 6, 2008, 14:58:

It's 5 or 10 cents if you make dollars. How much am I supposed to tip for the 5 to 10 seconds it takes someone to put a couple items in a bag?

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mranderson says on Mar 6, 2008, 15:08:

Oh well...I don't grocery shop at exito anyway.

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robi666 says on Mar 6, 2008, 15:10:

I rarely see Colombians tipping at the supermarket.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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Man Tequila says on Mar 6, 2008, 15:18:

I tend to tip rather than not tip. Excellent service is rare in Colombia and I tip more for that, but do not tip extravagantly mainly since I think this causes other problems. I don't tip for service that is outright bad. I do tend to tip taxi drivers. I do call attention when waiters disappear with my change or put an extra coffee on my bill.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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ColombianoGringo says on Mar 6, 2008, 15:35:

Maybe it's because I am Colombian, but in general I get what I consider to be good to great service in Colombia, especially at hotels. In fact, the only time I've had really bad service recently was last month at some place near Gato Negro in Parque de 93.

Having said that, I tend to tip in restaurants and hotels. I worked as a waiter in college and appreciate the effort if I receive good service. I'll tip taxi drivers if they are courteous to pedestrians and they don't drive like a drunk Montoya.

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Medellin Traveler says on Mar 6, 2008, 16:23:

I feel the same way about tipping... it causes problems.

I have never understood tipping "some" people for doing there job.

I DON'T TIP!

"Huevos Rancheros en Medellin, No Quiero Taco Bell." - www.medellintraveler.com

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Mike19 says on Mar 6, 2008, 17:34:

wow - first time i'm hearing about tipping too much could cause safety problems. When I go to South Beach Miami and San Juan Puerto Ricoeach year I always tip the bartenders $20 bucks to start. I get hooked up all trip. I take care of them and then the bill turns out ot be nothing when I run a open tab.

I can understand what eveyone means!!!

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la campiña says on Mar 6, 2008, 17:57:

this has caught me out in the past " tipping," english dont realy tip however it does happen , maybe we're used to seeing the charge on bills ets and its maybe our culture, that said when a taxi charge or a meal bill etc ( avoiding the word resteraunte ha) is close to the asked price english people say " keep the change" and I do remember years ago in manhattan getting a little embarressed when my fellow brits educated me in the art of tipping, a certain percentage almost expected well obligatory I suppose and my comprehension of figures( numerical you undersatand ha) not been what it should I felt alittle stupid confronted by a half undressed rollerskate goddess waitress wondering if a nickel and a dime was sufficient ha, looking back through naivety all they realy wanted was a lick and a promise and to get back in the saddle again.

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SiV says on Mar 6, 2008, 18:02:

My ex-girlfriend used to work in a couple of those expensive restaurants in Barrio Granada, Cali (quite a big mid-high price trendy restaurant area, for those who don't know it).

Shifts were from 6pm - 1 or 2am (longer on "special" nights, like Mother's Day, Amor y Amistad, etc.), and the management used to pay her $15.000 in one place, $20.000 in another: basically the price of a starter. They used to get 10% of tips, even though, strangely enough, there were 7 workers there (waiters and kitchen staff). I suppose that meant that the owners got the other 30%.

This is pretty standard practice in expensive restaurants in Cali, I'm told. The owners cream it in, while the staff get paid a pittance.

Stultórum númere infinitum est.

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Lostgringo says on Mar 6, 2008, 18:14:

It's so hard for many of to get our head around the idea of NOT tipping. It is not customary to tip in Colombia. The reason they put the tip on some of the bills at restaurants is because Colombians don't tip. Having said that I have tipped but it is only for exceptional service. It took me a long time to get used to not tipping. But I think that in some ways it is seen as a weakness...and you give papaya. In Colombia I think it is better to be seen as someone who does not have money to throw away. And, for most Colombians tipping is the same as throwing your money away. If you think you will get better service or waiters or waitresses will like you better because you tip in Colombia you may be in for a rude awakening. I used to take a few hundred dollars (one dollar American bills), with to Cuba. Everyone was my friend there. Last time I was there I didn't tip. I was treated rudely by some of waiter. Waiters and bar tenders in Cuba make more than doctors and lawyers. And, they do not share their wealth either. They become very spoiled and many Cubans have no use for the people who work at the resorts. Sorry for getting off topic.
To sum up, I hardly ever tip in Colombia, don't wear and expensive watch or high end running shoes etc., and just try to blend in as much as I can.

Bickers how are you mate? Hey Bickers I don't ever remember you tipping. lol

http://www.welovebogota.com
http://www.apartmentinbogota.com

Your Home Away from Home www.welovebogota.com and www.apartmentinbogota.com "Luxury apartments and rooms Cheap" Only 2 blocks from the American Embassy! 24/7 hour security.

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Gator says on Mar 6, 2008, 18:27:

After we pay the bill then any change under $1.000 we leave.
Taxi, only if he helps Mrs. Gator into the apartmento

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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Robert Jorge says on Mar 6, 2008, 23:18:

I tipped early on in my stay in Colombia. Very conservatively, but I tipped. As time went on and I learned what was "normal", I didn't tip hardly at all. The one restaurant we went to on a daily basis, I would leave a mil or 2 for a 20.000 meal. I would make sure the waitress got it in her hand or saw me leave it on the table ... I didn't want the owners to skim it. I tipped a little at the grocery checkout. I didn't know this was expected at first. Usually 500 pesos was the norm. Taxis - hardly ever. Very rarely, I would let them keep the change which amounted to 3 or 4 hundred pesos. A mil or two if they helped us take out the groceries and walked them to the apartment. For the most part, I didn't tip.

BEWARE of gold diggers.

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lpdiver says on Mar 7, 2008, 00:09:

I let my paisa handle all the money. She never knew about tipping until she worked at a restuarant in Aruba. I think it made her aware of tipping and more prone to tip.

She thinks I am too extravagant...so when it is time to pay...well...she pays and I don't ask questions.

t

"cook some rice!"

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Lostgringo says on Mar 7, 2008, 04:16:

lpdiver...strange as it is I am the same way around my girlfriend. I let her pay because I am not sure what I should do and I do feel kind of cheap not tipping at times. It's really a different mindset in these countries. I am in the Philippines now and sometimes when I tip they just take the money and don't even say thanks. You get in the taxi and they just look at you. No hello, good day or nothing. Colombian taxi drivers always ask how you are. They are friendly like that and then many of them turn into nazi drivers lol.

http://www.welovebogota.com
http://www.apartmentinbogota.com

Your Home Away from Home www.welovebogota.com and www.apartmentinbogota.com "Luxury apartments and rooms Cheap" Only 2 blocks from the American Embassy! 24/7 hour security.

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tejasmarcos says on Mar 7, 2008, 05:38:

i'm with pedro on this one.

nice drawing, robi. can you sketch me out a few million in COP?

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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Bill Turley says on Mar 7, 2008, 06:40:

I have had different results from tipping. I live in a very small town in rural Colombia. I ALWAYS give a tip to the person who has given me the service. In cities there are people who help you pull into traffic, I tip 300-500 pesos. In a supermarket the change frequently is a for a tip. The results is exceptional service. I frequently pull up in front of a store, the owners 7 workers ask how they can help and give me curb service. They know I have problems walking.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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mranderson says on Mar 7, 2008, 07:06:

I was told by my colombian friends never to leave change on the table as it's more insulting. Also when tipping in a restaurant never leave it on the table but hand it directly to the person you want to tip.

The only time I ever tipped in a taxi was when I had something big and heavy that had to be "stuffed" into the tiny taxi with the help of the driver.

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pedro says on Mar 7, 2008, 08:46:

Robi, nice sketch of the mule. Curiously, I find myself getting a little aroused when I look at it.

"You know you've been living in la costa too long, when..."

Do you have any more revealing sketches of it, without the lingerie?

que nota!

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Mononoke28 says on Mar 7, 2008, 08:53:

I never understood why people tip at places like Starbucks, they're getting paid to do their jobs and they're not even waiters, but whatever.

So anyway, let's assume tipping was standard in Colombia, which we all know is not. There is no way in hell I would tip a waitress/waiter there because for the most part they're sooooo freaking rude. Yeah, I get that you hate your job and that besides "serving" people you also have to wash the dishes by hand and mop the floors but aren't I still the customer here?

I remember I was at Crepes and Waffles and I ordered one of their strawberry crepes and I said "Un crepe de fresa por favor" and this bitch comes back and says "no se dice crep se dice craip" and I said "ve no sabía que fuera de mesera también es profesora de francés". My husband was soooooooo upset at me for being rude.

To hell with her and her attitude. >(

Diana

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morphus says on Mar 7, 2008, 09:54:

I only tip at La Dolce Vita. The rest of Colombia can suck a big one...HA HA!

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Man Tequila says on Mar 7, 2008, 10:28:

Although exceptional service is rare in Colombia, pretty good service is common. I have only been served rudely on a handful of occasions. I often get better service in Colombia than in the US.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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bickerss says on Mar 7, 2008, 10:49:

Surprised - I have always got excellent service in the US

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tomtom33 says on Mar 7, 2008, 12:19:

Morph, the LDV girls tell me that your tip is quite small.

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morphus says on Mar 7, 2008, 13:15:

I just roll up a few a 2 mil peso bills under a 20 mill peso and hand it to them as they walk out the door. I usually hear bangs on the door shortly after...LOL

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Chriscan says on Mar 7, 2008, 15:27:

A lot of Gringos tell me that they feel the service is bad in Colombia. I used to think the same. If come to realise that in many ways it is better you just have to understand how to use it. Colombian servers won't come by every 5 minutes to ask if everything is ok. You have to get their attention. A lot of Gringos will just sit and wait.

I find that they are often willing to do more for you ie go to another resturant to get a drink that they don't sell (or smokes)

Oh - I drive a cab in a resort town. To answer someone's question

************* WARNING ************* my words often come from my ass

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getting better says on Mar 7, 2008, 15:46:

As someone is who is involved a little in tourism in Colombia I would like to make a few points:
a) It doesn't achieve much in Colombia to tip someone for doing their job in a normal way, though when extra service is given it is appreciated a lot
b) North Americans have completely unrealisitc expectations of the standards of service in Colombia, it is not just people from the US, Canadians are as tricky and Europeans only slightly easier. It is not that Colombians are not hospitable people, quite the opposite, they really like to please, but they have little idea (outside the main cities) what foreigners expect.
That is a product of the situation, no-one has wanted to visit the rural areas, now loads of people want to, but we don't have the resources to train people to look after them as they expect. We are now finding the right people to train the people to train the people.

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Robert Jorge says on Mar 8, 2008, 23:44:

Chriscan, the one thing I couldn't get used to was having to "hail" service from a bartender or server in Colombia. I just couldn't find it in myself to clap above my head to get the attention of a server, or bang on the table loudly. This was / is perfectly normal and expected in Colombia .... but I felt so uncomfortable having to do that. It is because if you do that in the US, you will either find yourself in a fight, or you will receive worse service and get urine or spit in your food. The wife would realize we needed another round of beers, and she would slam a beer mug or bottle on the table. Sometimes a whistle .... God I was so uncomfortable. Even though I know it is normal.

BEWARE of gold diggers.

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Lostgringo says on Mar 9, 2008, 01:50:

What makes me unconfortable is whistling to get their attention. Again, perfectly normal. If I did this in Canada I could end up with a slap in the face lol. Oh well, when in Rome. lol

Your Home Away from Home www.welovebogota.com and www.apartmentinbogota.com "Luxury apartments and rooms Cheap" Only 2 blocks from the American Embassy! 24/7 hour security.

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DodgerDogs says on Mar 9, 2008, 03:13:

From the New York Post

VOLUNTARY? The pressure to tip well no matter how mediocre the service weighs on most of us.

February 17, 2008 -- CLASS will come to order. Today's subject is the custom of tipping.

Is tipping a reward for excellent service or insurance against lousy service? You hand the guy a fin when you drive your two-day-old car into the parking garage or after when he brings it back out for you? Or both? Is it to thank the nice attendant for working hard, sitting in a basement sniffing diesel fumes while you're out enjoying dinner and theater - or to make certain he only dents the thing in those specific areas in which you don't mind it being dented?

We're talking gratitude or protection? Kindness or bribery?

Suddenly, civilization tips for everything. The counterman pours a cup of coffee. Sloshes it into the saucer, forgets the napkin, drops the spoon, indicates with his thumb where you can stretch across three others to get the sugar - and that's it. That's all he does. That's his job. And tipping him is standard operating procedure.

Hail a rickety taxi that splashes a mud puddle over you when it screeches to a stop. The cabby last bathed when he left his country. In a language Berlitz doesn't teach, he yaks on a cell. He has no change even for a five. A pool player, he aims for whatever side-pocket potholes he can hit. But, don't tip and he'll hit the gas while you still have one leg in it.

Kid brings crappy take-out Chinese, you tip him. Boy brings cold pizza, you tip him. Man delivers flowers, he's tipped. Hairdresser dresses your hair, a tip. Masseuse oils your behind, tip. Want a good table, you cross the maitre's palm. Win at craps, the dealer gets a few. Lose, the dealer still gets a few. Tip the coat check, bartender, bellhop, doorman, shoeshine person. Even for a furniture deliverer, cold cash beats a cold drink.

Today, everybody tips for everything. A gal meets a strange guy at a bar, invites him over to her place and he does a good job, my question is: what do you tip for a thing like that?

Where did all this start? What's its beginnings? Did Cleopatra do it when she got a pat on her asp?

And how's one know exactly who and where and how? A waitress gets tipped. A stewardess, no. A cabdriver gets tipped, a bus driver, no. A manicurist gets tipped, a podiatrist, no. The elevator man brings a parcel up, there's a tip. The elevator man brings a person up, there's no tip. And you're told you don't tip Internet-service installers. Replied mine, "Why not?"

Hotels now tack on hidden extra fees plus an additional mandatory 18 percent service charge so that tipping is no longer strictly voluntary. Not that it's not allowed. Or expected. Or anticipated. Or negotiated. Just that it's not required. So you're now socked an additional tariff to leave an automatic gratuity for your room attendant. Fine. But you're told by them that, should you feel inclined to show appreciation for their service, by all means feel free to leave an extra sawbuck.

You do not tip ticket-takers or ticket-sellers. But ticket-hander-outers are something else. Plane's overbooked? Everyone's on standby? A C-note folded into your passport has freed up many a seat. So again, are we talking gratitude or protection? Kindness or bribery?

The only profession in which one cannot absolutely use this form of velvetized muscle is in politics. No longer can one simply bribe a politician. Today, you have to submit a sealed bid.

Research tells me the beginnings of this little bit of extra came about, as the word "tip" implies, To Improve Performance; To Instill Promptness; To Insure Proper Service." Not, as I've experienced, to walk into a deli and see the pastrami man slicing alongside an empty cup on the counter. This for pickles? No. To rest the knife when he's not pastrami-ing? No. It's to personally throw in a few above and beyond the cost of the sandwich. Yeah, OK, fine. No problem. But isn't that his job? When did this extra hands-out-and-palms-up begin?

And then there's the service-types who no longer do anything unless there's a guaranteed plus in it. Like the plumber who tried combining business with pleasure but the maid refused because her mistress was home. Next morning she phoned to say the mistress was out and would he like to come over?" The plumber said: "What, on my own time?"

Like another friend who asked could this exterminator kill roaches? He said, "Sure. When can you bring them over?"

Building superintendents - other than mine, of course, are a whole operation unto themselves. Most are MIA until Christmastime, then they're closer than Brad to Angelina.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.Martin Luther King:

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