Things I want to know about the US (but was afraid to ask!)

I loved traveling throughout Britian and Ireland and have done it several times. I haven't been there in over 5 years (since I had children), but can't wait until the kiddies are a little older and bring show them your little island too.

Legally buying a gun may not be easy, but is probably easier to buy one illegally.

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Roberta ---- I know what you mean about DNA & NYC. I have exactly the same feelings about London. I've tried living in rural areas but homesickness got to me. Big cities have there problems but you have to see past them and live your life.

Lincat ----- So you've made several visits. You must know your way around pretty well. It might be a small place compared to the USA but we squeeze a lot of stuff into it, both ancient and modern. Going any place with children these days is a lot easier now as well, even if it costs money.
Though the Dollar slipping in value makes it a bit harder.

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oldandknew wrote:

It might be a small place compared to the USA but we squeeze a lot of stuff into it, both ancient and modern.

Indeed. As an another aside, I read that (based on 1994 figures) the UK is about 4 times more densely populated than France, and 100 times more densely populated than the US!

Back to the thread:

12) In the US you have to tip a reasonably large % to anyone who serves you food and drink, or they get really really pissed off. Why? Doesn't the price of your food or drink include the wages of the person who serves it? (I'm with Mr Pink in Reservoir Dogs on this one...) What happens if you don't tip? Perhaps service standards are higher in the US, but in the UK I only ever tip in a 'proper' restaurant, and only 10% at that. If the staff think it's mean - get another job that pays better.

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Grand Duke wrote:

Indeed. As an another aside, I read that (based on 1994 figures) the UK is about 4 times more densely populated than France, and 100 times more densely populated than the US!

[France: Density (per sq. mi.) 282, population 59,551,227, area (in squ. mi.) 211,209;
United Kingdom: 631 /59,647,790 / 94,525;
United States: 75 / 278,058,881 / 3,717,810;

(Germany: 602 / 83,029,536 / 137,846;
The Netherlands: 997 / 15,981,472 / 16,033 ) ]

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oldandknew wrote:

I love it when a thread comes together

Me too OAK. I'm very pleased I started this topic, as I value highly the wealth of knowledge imparted. I can feel my ignorance shrinking on a daily basis...

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Grand Duke wrote:

12) In the US you have to tip a reasonably large % to anyone who serves you food and drink, or they get really really pissed off. Why? Doesn't the price of your food or drink include the wages of the person who serves it? (I'm with Mr Pink in Reservoir Dogs on this one...) What happens if you don't tip? Perhaps service standards are higher in the US, but in the UK I only ever tip in a 'proper' restaurant, and only 10% at that. If the staff think it's mean - get another job that pays better.

Tipping is a bit of a quirky thing. Generally tipping is expected in most resturants and the tips do make up a hefty portion of the staff's paycheck. Most servers get paid a sub-minimum wage because of the tip issue so it is very important to them.

I think the "recommened" tip level is still at about 15% of the bill. It may be a little higher/lower in some areas. There isn't any real penalty if you don't pay one. You just get up and walk out. Of course if you frequent the same place often the staff will come to know you and umm.. well, they aren't going to go out of their way to make your future dining experience a pleasant one. Wink

Of course there are also a few bars I've been into where I tipped VERY well the first few times I went in and then on later visits I'd have 6 or 8 beers and the bartender would "forget" all but 2 of them when my bill came. He/she would still get a good sized tip but in the end it's still cheaper for me than it would be if I paid for the beers I actually drank. Very Happy

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Walter - Thanks for the (correct!) stats. I hadn't realised that Germany's population was so much bigger than ours or the French. I'm going back to the book I got my incorrect stats from to double-check I hadn't read them wrong. If I haven't, I'm going to complain to the publishers!

Fishin' - The phrase 'sub-minimum wage' sounds like an oxymoron to me. Is the US minimum wage really more of a guideline then, rather than a statutory requirement?

I was a bit strong in my attack on tipping earlier. I tip for above-average service, as I feel that average service is what I'm paying the bill (check) for. I seem to recall from my (very) infrequent trips to continental Europe that my Euro-chums are keen on tipping as well. Perhaps it's only the British who are mean?!

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Jumping back to roads, here's pictures of what is reckoned to be Britain's worst 'interchange', on the edge of Birmingham (our '2nd city').

http://www.bplphoto.co.uk/galleries/spagjuntion.html

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Grand Duke wrote:

Fishin' - The phrase 'sub-minimum wage' sounds like an oxymoron to me. Is the US minimum wage really more of a guideline then, rather than a statutory requirement?

Minimum wage is mandatory but there are different minimum wage scales for jobs where tipping is a common practice. If my rusty brain is working correctly this morning I recall the Federal minimum wage being at something like $5.30/hr for most people put it's something like $2.75/hr for those jobs where tips are the norm.

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Ah. That explains it, cheers. With that knowledge, I would gladly tip in the US, knowing that the poor serving staff are being swindled by the government.
The minimum wage here applies to 18-21's (£3.80/$6.80) and 22+ (£4.50/$8.10).

I'll be back soon with some more questions. Thanks again to all.

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Grand Duke, Tipping is between 15 and 20 percent in NYC. Not only does this include waiters and waitresses, but it also includes cab drivers, who are paid a ridiculously low wage.

If the service isn't good, I don't think a tip is appropriate at all. Rarely happens though. And no one comes running after you if you don't leave a tip.

A waiter aside: I was at lunch in a deli in Rockefeller Center. Out waiter was fired mid-meal. He took our order and then got canned. Chaos--and a very long lunch break.

OAK, When I was traveling in Norway, I got itchy for concrete. I'm a city kid.

When I traveled in Europe for the first time, I was stuck by the age of things. Old in Europe is something quite different from old in the US. When it comes to the age of countries, we're barely out of our adolescence.

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Not an infamous comparison, Raboida, but your comment about comcrete reminded me of my Sweetiepie's dog, Mr. Bailey. When walking in the park, with a choice of walking on the grass or on the pavement, he will invariably choose the pavement.

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Also as a note regarding the tipping and wages thing-it was probably about 10-15 years ago the tax man started a wonderful thing for those who fall into that below minimum wage + tips catagory- waitstaff, hairdressers, etc. They are automatically taxed for their tips based on sales at 10%, so, if you dont tip someone, they are paying taxes on it anyway. Not all establishments follow the guidelines but, it is something to consider. Many people who have poor service feel like they get the person two times in one blow. And in reality, they do.

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I always tip, and generously. The staff in white table cloth restaurants are often students, and even if not, they are being tipped on much larger tickets than in diners. I tip them at a lower rate, unless there has been exceptional service. In diners, at lunch counters, where the staff are often working mothers with no other resource or skills, i tip much more--they rely upon the tips, and not the $2.25/hour they get. I also tip even if the food and service are not particularly good, given that the person serving you is often unable to control those circumstances. A little thought about their situation might change one's mind.

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Grand Duke wrote:

Ah. That explains it, cheers. With that knowledge, I would gladly tip in the US, knowing that the poor serving staff are being swindled by the government.
The minimum wage here applies to 18-21's (£3.80/$6.80) and 22+ (£4.50/$8.10).

I don't see how they're being "swindled" by anyone. The government doesn't hand them their paychecks and they took the job knowing the pay arrangements. Are your 19 year olds being "swindled" because your minimum wage is set lower for them?

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fishin' wrote:

I don't see how they're being "swindled" by anyone. The government doesn't hand them their paychecks and they took the job knowing the pay arrangements. Are your 19 year olds being "swindled" because your minimum wage is set lower for them?

I meant that it seems unfair (especially in the light of quinn1's note about the tax implications) that the Min Wage rules should assume they are tipped, and tipped at a certain level, if in fact the tips are not compulsory. I've had experience of European restaurants where they seem to add an automatic 10-15% Service Charge to the bill, and you have no choice in paying this. That at least seems fairer to me. The US system (tipping not guaranteed but taxed) seems to fall somewhere between the UK (tipping not expected or taxed) and Europe (tipping compulsory and taxed), and fall short of what I would call 'fair'. Maybe Walter can add to this with notes on Germany for comparison, in case I've got it wrong.

I don't think that 19 y/o's here are being swindled, as they are still getting 85% of the full rate, compared with a much lower % comparing the 2 rates quoted to me for the US.

I agree with your point about the choice of pay arrangements.

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There is a discussion here about raising the minimum wage. It's a joke. In the Columbus, Ohio area, dishwashers in restaurants are almost all Mexican immigrants, and they won't do the work for less than $8.00/hour. High School students won't work at McDonalds or similar fast food places for less than $10.00/hour, and many of them now employ Hispanic immigrants and people on social security (OAP's, GD). The current minimum wage simply facilitates the likes of Walmart, who don't care if they pay a living wage. Most waitresses in diners could not afford to eat where they work.

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I know of several places in the US, Canada and other smaller islands where wait staff pay for a section and work only for the tips.

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Setanta wrote:

(see above)

Curious. The National Minimum Wage (NMW) was only introduced here in '98 or '99. The unions were (obviously) pushing for as much as possible, and the business community was (obviously) pushing the other way. The final original figure was a compromise. The irony of the NMW is that it has, in effect, become a National Maximum Wage for many jobs, as employers don't feel obliged to pay any more than they have to. There were also many cases where companies simply cut staff numbers or cut hours to compensate for their increased labour costs, meaning that although some were better off, many were getting the same as before, or nothing at all and had to find new jobs.

Anyway...

13) Why are the states (of the US) of such differing sizes, in terms of both population and area? And why are some state borders apparently random wiggling lines, and some are a straight line 300 miles long?

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Grand Duke said ----------- I can feel my ignorance shrinking on a daily basis...

Just like in the movie -- "The Incredable Shrinking Man" ???????????????????? He had lots to learn

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Things I want to know about the US (but was afraid to ask!)

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