Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

jasonnfree

Jan 30, 2010, 2:20 PM

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tipping

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Can someone tell me the usual tip to give? Thanks

Rolly

Jan 30, 2010, 2:29 PM

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Re: [jasonnfree] tipping

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15% or more. Be generous. Your wait person lives on those tips.

Rolly Pirate

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tonyburton

Jan 30, 2010, 2:38 PM

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Re: [jasonnfree] tipping

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Unless things have changed drastically in recent years, the norm is 10% on restaurant bills (and many choose to calculate this on the pre-tax total) and nothing for regular taxi drivers unless they perform some out-of-the-ordinary service.

Abrria

Jan 30, 2010, 6:23 PM

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Re: [jasonnfree] tipping

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I believe that 15% (or mas) is Ok; if the service has been better than tip more as you feel appropriate. I agree that most of the service people live more on tips. At a lot of places the tips go into a general "tip jar" that is then allocated among many of the employees at the establishment.

If service, etc. was so bad that I didn't want to tip I would like to think that I might try to talk to management and tell them why I was unhappy with the experience and offer some suggestive comments. I need to always remember that I am a guest in this beautiful country.

chinagringo

Jan 30, 2010, 6:53 PM

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Re: [jasonnfree] tipping

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Given the relatively low price and great food, we would typically tip 20% minimum. For an exceptional meal and really great service, that would rise to 25 to 30%. Not trying to ruin it for others but in previous lives, I have worked in the food service industry and that is my norm.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Rolly

Jan 30, 2010, 7:24 PM

Post #6 of 13 (5995 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] tipping

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Good for you, Neil. More people should loosen up on their purse strings.

Rolly Pirate

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esperanza

Jan 30, 2010, 9:40 PM

Post #7 of 13 (5966 views)

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Re: [jasonnfree] tipping

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In Morelia, Michoacán, the norm is 10%.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

arbon

Jan 30, 2010, 9:44 PM

Post #8 of 13 (5964 views)

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Re: [jasonnfree] tipping

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I think this is proof positive that the States is finally out of the recession.

It has been a while since "Tipping" has braved an appearance.( Unsure

for the "Reefhound")
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Papirex

Jan 30, 2010, 10:35 PM

Post #9 of 13 (5961 views)

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Re: [tonyburton] tipping

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10% is the standard TIP everywhere in México, except in many resort areas frequented by mostly tourists. I usually TIP 15 or 20%, but no one is going to be insulted by a 10% TIP. There are times when I make exceptions on the high side too. If we are dining in a really elegant place I TIP more.

Just this week we ate at a moderate priced restaurant and the tab was nearly $400 Pesos for three of us. We know the messera that served us and she just had some major surgery a few days before we were there. The restaurant where she works is owned by the richest man in México and they had not been paying her IMSS taxes so she had to pay for her surgery herself.

She could not take any paid convalescent leave either, so she was suffering that night. I wanted to help her, so I Tipped her $100 Pesos, that is a couple of days pay or more for her.

It depends on the type of place we are in, and the amount of the bills I have with me. In most of the restaurants in Cuernavaca, the bill is paid at the cashier, and not to the messero/a. If I have some smaller bills, it saves me from needing to walk back to the table with the TIP, I also like to make sure that the person that served us gets the TIP. I am not a cheapskate about it, but the days of $100 plus Dollar Tips were left at the border for me.

Rex

"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

sanjuan

Jan 31, 2010, 7:50 AM

Post #10 of 13 (5908 views)

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Re: [Papirex] tipping

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Average 10%. Less if service or food is poor, more if service/food is very good.

Peter

Jan 31, 2010, 8:07 AM

Post #11 of 13 (5897 views)

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Re: [jasonnfree] tipping

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10% or roughly thereabouts. I make some exceptions as I feel fitting. I´m responding because no one has mentioned tipping hotel maidservice which is expected here but not so in the US, for them I usually leave about 50 pesos. Taxi drivers don´t receive tips except for extra services. I´m told by the locals not to tip at cocina economicas or such places that are staffed by the owners themselves. Your trash service people should be tipped and I usually give 5 pesos for my usual single small bag.

Different localities have different expectations for propinas or their size but 10% is the routine in Mexico in general.

Papirex

Jan 31, 2010, 9:16 AM

Post #12 of 13 (5886 views)

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Re: [Peter] tipping

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I used to routinely TIP hotel maids in The US before my retirement. About once per month I had to fly to another town and stay in a hotel for about a week. I always left 2 or 3 Dollars on the dresser every morning for the maid. (I was on an expense account, so it didn't cost me anything personally.) Needless to say, I now hate flying on an airliner. It is about the same as taking a city bus to me now, only it is more time consuming to get on or off of it.

We always TIP the unpaid attendants in parking lots here $5 Pesos (38 Cents) and the young man that delivers hamburgers or pizzas to our house $10 Pesos (76 Cents) We always get rapid delivery when we order fast food now. I always TIP both of the men that deliver gas to our house $10 Pesos each also, and sometimes the guy that delivers our water in garafons too. We get good service and an honest measure on our gas too.

Other posters are right, never TIP a cab driver unless he does some extra service such as carrying your bags or groceries into the house for you. The garbage trucks here used to have a can on the side of them for TIPs, and the service was terrible. A couple of years ago, a new company was hired by the city, the city pays for garbage collection here. There is a big sign on the side of the trucks that says, “NO PROPINAS” now.

I learned about TIPPING customs here over 40 years ago, and marrying into a Mexican family was helpful too. If you TIP the same amounts as we do NOB you are a sap and an easy mark here. 10% is not being cheap, it is normal here. I can remember when 10% was considered and encouraged as a normal TIP in The US too, before restaurant and bar owners started lowering their wages up there.

Rex

"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

jasonnfree

Feb 1, 2010, 7:25 PM

Post #13 of 13 (5739 views)

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Re: [jasonnfree] tipping

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Thanks for responses. I just wanted an idea of how much. I almost always tip, and even in california, 10% sometimes seems not enough, especially when the bill is $5.00, it seem like .50 cents is not much. I always remember when we took in ironing and my mom waitressed and washed dishes in restaurants, as well as cleaning houses.