| Sitting at a cafe terrace in Paris, and
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| | How do you tip elsewhere?
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| watching people passing by while sipping
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| | In many cases, tips are a valuable income
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| on your Perrier water is not something
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| | supplement for their recipients.
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| you want to miss. But here comes the
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| | Take taxi drivers for instance: the
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| check, and with it the question: should I
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| | average salary of a taxi driver employed
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| tip, and how much?
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| | by a cab company is about €1,400 a
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| By Phil Chavanne
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| | month, which in Paris is more or less
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| The check is all inclusive
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| | equivalent to a $2,500 salary in NYC.
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| Unlike in America, cafes and restaurants
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| | These guys put in 10 hours a day. Some
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| in Paris directly include a 15% service
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| | years ago, they used to work 14-15 hours
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| charge in your check. This is required by
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| | a day, 6 days a week, to make more
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| French law as tips are assessed for
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| | income. French law forbids them to do so
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| taxation purposes.
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| | today. So they appreciate your tip all
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| The 15% service charge is clearly
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| | the way: 5-10% of your fare is a good
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| itemized on your check, on top of the VAT
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| | rule of thumb.
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| tax (a French version of the sales tax).
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| | At the theater, tip the lady usher: a
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| The words 'Service compris' (Tip
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| | couple of euros is fine at the opera
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| included) indicate that the tip has
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| | house [these ladies are also paid on the
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| already been included in the total to be
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| | evening programs they sell], 50 euro
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| paid.
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| | cents is good at the movie theaters.
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| The good news is that prices rated on the
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| | Years ago, the lady ushers were not even
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| menus are all-inclusive: they include
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| | paid by movie theater operators. They
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| both the 15% tip and the sales tax. There
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| | lived on tips only. Even if they are on a
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| is no last-minute unholy surprise when
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| | salary today, it is doubtful they earn
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| you are given your check. What you saw on
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| | more than the minimum wage.
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| the menu is what you get charged, no
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| | At your hotel, your porter will
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| hidden extras.
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| | appreciate a euro per bag.
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| No further tipping?
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| | At expensive restaurants, classical
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| A small extra-tip will be well received,
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| | concert venues, and discos, coat ladies
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| of course. It is a way to show you liked
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| | usually take care of your belongings. Tip
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| how your waiter took care of you. This is
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| | them a euro per large item when you
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| not an obligation though.
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| | retrieve your coats.
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| Small extra tips are also welcome because
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| | At the museum, you may leave a couple of
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| they go directly into your waiter's
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| | euros to your guide if you went through a
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| pockets. Oftentimes the 15% service
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| | guided tour.
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| charge goes to a common pot which is
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| | In summary
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| divided at the end of the day amongst all
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| | These are guidelines based on experience
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| waiters. Some bar owners may also retain
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| | and custom. They are in no way a uniform
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| a portion or the entirety of the service
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| | code of conduct. These advices are also
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| charge: French law does not require that
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| | applicable elsewhere in France. In other
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| service charges be given back to waiters.
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| | French regions, where the standard of
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| So your waiter might not even see a dime
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| | living is lower than in Paris, tips are
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| of it.
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| | even more construed as a mark of
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| In any case, you are under no obligation
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| | generosity.
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| to extra tip. You paid your dues when you
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| | In the final analysis, tipping is just
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| paid your check.
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| | that: a sign of your generosity and of
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| How much should the extra tip be?
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| | your appreciation of the level of service
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| Extra tips may range from just a couple
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| | you have just received.
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| of Euro dimes for a coffee or a soft
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| | (This article has been written in
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| drink, to 1-5 euros for a lunch or
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| | collaboration with Vincent Ramelli, a
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| dinner. A nice 'Thank You' is 5 to 10% of
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| | regular contributor to
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| the total check. But once again, there is
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| | Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com, a Paris-born
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| no obligation, and no steadfast rule as
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| | writer, and a specialist of the city.
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| far as the percentage goes.
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