tipping in singapore restaurants?

sosa SG

Do you think it's feasible to implement the American system of tipping in restaurants in Singapore? (Excluding fast food outlets, since there isn't that much service as compared to the service in restaurants where the waiter hands you the menu, takes your order and brings your food & bill to you).

Currently in Singapore, tipping is not illegal but officially discouraged. The result of this is the increasingly abysmal service standards in Singapore, as imposing a standard service charge encourages lousy service if servers are not going to get more money by devoting extra time and attention to customers, they probably will not bother doing so.

Recently. there have been a spate of complaints from members of the public regarding negligent waiters and the poor standard of service in Singapore in general. Therefore, should the Singapore government reconsider its no-tipping policy in keeping with its movement toward providing a more service-orientated industry which will reflect well on Singapore, especially as it seeks to attract more tourists?

kopiosatu SG

tip only when they provide good service.

which in most cases don't happen. Laughing

sosa SG

But the point is to implement the tipping policy so as to encourage good service among waiters/waitresses, especially since there have been a number of complaints about the low standard of service in Singapore. By having a tipping ure, waiters/waitresses will be encouraged to provide better service.

kopiosatu SG

then again you have to understand the singapore working culture.

no one wants to do extra. only a few will give that extra mile.

and in singapore, it will take some time before tipping becomes a normal procedure because for those who put that extra mile and not get tipped will feel crappy.

its worth a try though

BrUtUs SG

sosa SG

The idea is to give waiters a lower basic wage, such that they are compelled to supplement their minimal income by providing good service and earning tips as such.

Of course, there is the argument that Singaporeans are stingy or not willing to tip for good service. However, like you said, it's worth a try. Recent charity events have shown that Singaporeans can actually be quite generous, and if the tipping system is introduced in place of the standard 10% service charge, I'm sure more customers would be willing to tip in accordance to the service they received.

kopiosatu SG

Singaporeans are SELECTIVELY generous.

I would be generous if I could hope and win a friggin car or plasma TV set with just a few phonecalls.

I would be generous if my favourite idol was on tv begging for money and at the end of the month my parents end up paying for my overzealous support.

The idea is worth a try, but the mentality of Singaporeans might have a chance of stifling the effort.

Then again with all the claims that we're being too westernised, who knows?

FireIce SG

i dun tip for those who oredi charge 10% SERVICE CHARGE to the bill

The Emperor SG

Make tipping an optional effort and then, every suckers here in singapore thinks their service is Fucked up.

Make tipping a compulsory chore and every mother Fuckers here in singapore will KBKB... Twisted Evil

Don't implement this tipping culture, every Fuckers on this damn island will complain that the economy is bad.

WHAT THE F.U.C.K. DO SOME OF THESE CHEE BAIS SUCKERS WANTS???!!!

LazerLordz SG

Did you take your medication today? Laughing

The Emperor SG

No. But if I have, it will still be the same thing said. Except that there won't be any vulgarities. Mr. Green

sosa SG

No, the rationale is to remove the fixed 10% service charge and replace it with tipping in proportion to the service the customer receives.

Of course, this is subjective as what is considered 'good' service varies from person to person. Still, it is a plausible method to improve the overall standard of service in Singapore as waiters will have more incentive to provide good service, and if customers receive excellent service, they will be more than happy to leave a substantial tip, as opposed to being "forced" to pay a standard 10% service charge regardless of the standard of service they received in the course of dining.

sosa SG

Just curious, what exactly do you mean? I'm not sure if I understood that correctly, but are you implying that Singaporeans think that the standard 10% service charge is helping to "boost" the economy?

"Tipping vs not tipping" is not really an issue of the country's economy really. The rationale behind implementing tipping is fundamentally to raise the standard of service in Singapore. This in turn may lead to a change in foreigners' perceptions of Singapore as a fixed/cold/hard/stingy country. Of course, mindsets are hard to change but you've got to start somewhere. This may then give the tourism industry a boost, but we must still bear in mind that the basic reason for tipping is to improve the overall standard of service by providing an incentive for waiters to serve customers better. Therefore it only directly concerns the waiters' income, not the country's economy per se (although this obviously will be affected in the long run).

105090 SG

10% service charge, 5% gst, 1% cess and so many hidden costs and stupid prices like $2.00 for peanuts in somne restaurents, with most only moderate service, lets just say then 10% compulsory servoce charge should be made optional to patrons

gasband SG

I think it is how we, the society looks at jobs like waiters etc.... we look upon them as part time jobs, jobs for the lower educated, jobs for students, jobs for foreigners. If we look at countries like in Europe, Waiters take pride in their job because they are paid reasonably well and people respect theirs as a profession like any other profession.

I think there is bad service because these people do not look upon these jobs as 'careers' or 'professions'. Maybe if we change our attitudes towards these jobs, and that means employers should play their part too.

BrUtUs SG

Originally posted by sosa:

No, the rationale is to [b]remove the fixed 10% service charge and replace it with tipping in proportion to the service the customer receives.

Of course, this is subjective as what is considered 'good' service varies from person to person. Still, it is a plausible method to improve the overall standard of service in Singapore as waiters will have more incentive to provide good service, and if customers receive excellent service, they will be more than happy to leave a substantial tip, as opposed to being "forced" to pay a standard 10% service charge regardless of the standard of service they received in the course of dining.[/b]

erm, u work in f&b industry ah?
and y must we care abt how foriegners(i assume u mean angmo) tink about us.... we have our own culture also.... we dont have to everything follow them rite?

The Emperor SG

Originally posted by sosa:

Just curious, what exactly do you mean? I'm not sure if I understood that correctly, but are you implying that Singaporeans think that the standard 10% service charge is helping to "boost" the economy?

"Tipping vs not tipping" is not really an issue of the country's economy really. The rationale behind implementing tipping is fundamentally to [b]raise the standard of service in Singapore. This in turn may lead to a change in foreigners' perceptions of Singapore as a fixed/cold/hard/stingy country. Of course, mindsets are hard to change but you've got to start somewhere. This may then give the tourism industry a boost, but we must still bear in mind that the basic reason for tipping is to improve the overall standard of service by providing an incentive for waiters to serve customers better. Therefore it only directly concerns the waiters' income, not the country's economy per se (although this obviously will be affected in the long run).[/b]

true... but why bother to start when the people's mindset refuses to change?

since they're so narrowminded and selfish in their giving, what makes u think that tipping will not waste anybody's time and energy worrying or frowning in giving a small part of their $$$ to others who would simply put those generous offerings into their fantasy pockets that will never seem to exist?? Neutral

oldbreadstinks SG

i'm opposed to the 10% charge, since i really don't see why i should pay for such rotten service and with the very high chance that someone would have "modified" my food where i cannot see

SilverPal SG

I did some waitering job before, and ppl in Sg DO tip. Its just not very widespread. And most of the time, the manager or senior staff swallow the tip money and it does not get filtered down to the newer junior staff and part time staff.

So your advantages of tipping probably does not extend to most of the waiters and waitresses since most are part time.

Another thing is that, once tipping is implemented, it becomes expected. Its no longer an incentive but mandatory, and if you refuse to comply, expect them to show you the meaning of disgruntled behaviour.

Do you notice whenever you go on tours overseas, at the end of the tour, the tour guide will collect tips for the driver? A friend of mine went on a tour to Korea, bt upon reaching there, his wife fell sick and had to stay in the hotel thru out the holiday, with him with her. Therefore, other than the trip to the hotel and the airport, they never sat the tour bus to go anywhere else. They even had to find their own way to a clinic for medical consultation. At the end of it, the driver still demanded tips from them.

Right now you assume that you can give tips only when the service is good, but how sure are you that this policy won't be abused?

For wedding dinners, it is usually the custom to give tips to the staff of restaurant. At the end of the one I attended, they had the cheek to approach the groom and give him an empty red packet and tell him that tips is 20% of the dinner cost. Their service was rather bad and they even forgot the roasted pig!

Perhaps we can find other means to improve our service quality rather than tips?

sosa SG

Thank you so much for your constructive feedback (: You've brought up several pertinent points regarding "mandatory" tipping and assumptious waiters. Still, I feel that some Singaporeans may prefer to tip in accordance to the service they get; and will be more than happy to give a substantial tip if they receive good service rather than having to pay a standard service charge regardless of service quality. This is a form of progression toward a more friendly, compassionate society isn't it? (:

Also, as the government seeks to make Singapore more service-oriented and famed for having quality tertiary industries, this is one way of improving service. A rise in service standards may also make Singapore a more pleasant place to live in!