Volume 8　日本人の頭を悩ます「チップ事情」


To Be a Good Tipper

Ann: I suppose, you know, if you're traveling abroad and you're not sure, if you watch what the other people are do, are doing, you know, sometimes then you can see like, "Are people tipping?" Or "Are people not tipping?"

Michael: Keep your eyes open. That's important.

Ann: Yeah. Well so, and, and, to go back to what we were talking about earlier, also that, people feel it's very troublesome often to travel in the States or travel in Western countries or countries where tipping is expected because of the uncertainty factor.

Michael: Right.

Ann: Is that you don't know how much to tip. So if you knew that it was supposed to be 2 dollars or 3 dollars then you could just do that, right? But the not knowing is what's difficult. And then sometimes, but then on the other side of that I've heard people say, "Well in Japan there's no tipping because it's easier, but it, on the other hand, things are so much more expensive that in a way it's kind of built in."

Michael: Hmm. I would say though, to people who are traveling, don't be afraid to ask. Don't be -

Ann: But don't ask the person you're gonna tip.

Michael: Not necessarily, but I was, well I'd say that's not a problem because, you know, if you're a tourist, they know you're a tourist, and I've done this.

Ann: Sometimes I've asked, for example, like when I've been traveling in other countries, I ask the person at the hotel desk or something like that -

Michael: Right.

Ann: . . . Can they please tell me what is expected, because I'm gonna be going out for the day and I'm not sure. And then I'll know what sort of thing to do.

Michael: I would say that's a very good idea actually. The hotel is a great source of information on that kind of thing.

Ann: Yeah, yeah. OK, well, it's been great being with you this month and we'll look forward to being with you next time. This has been Ann.

Michael: And this has been Mike. 

Ann: See you next time. Bye. 

Michael: Bye.