And also (in Europe) most of the time you just add enough tip to round off the number. E.g. if it's 390 you pay 400. Locals (mostly) never tip too much. Particularly in countries where people eat outside often, e.g. Italy. You add that little extra to round up the total, never mind how many people you are in the group. Tourists usually tip way too much.
There's no tipping in Japan, and people get offended if you try to tip. If the taxi is 1963 yen, you pay 1963 yen (or get back the change to make it so). It's lovely. And the service is great.
> In countries such as Japan where gratuity isn't commonplace, leaving a tip inappropriately is almost like saying: "This business probably isn't doing well enough to pay you a proper salary, so here's a little something extra."
> On the rare occasion that you actually need to give a tip in Japan, do so by putting the money inside of a tasteful, decorative envelope and seal it. The tip should be presented as more of a gift than simply additional cash or payment for services. Hand it to the recipient using both hands and with a slight bow.
> Don't insist that someone accept your tip; it may be forbidden and a condition of employment.
There must be some different kind of worldview here.. I guess it must have something to do with coming from a tipping culture vs a non-tipping culture.
If I imagine myself, in my current job, dropping by a customer and deliver the updated product, and then the customer tries to hand over a fiver. I would go, in my mind, "What? What am I supposed to do with that? Do I look like a beggar that just happened to bring the product? I have a wage, I don't need to be "supported" with breadcrumbs by someone who think he's above me. I'm not a dog." And so on. It would definitely put a sour taste on everything.
And actually my company's code of ethics (we're a worldwide company) do forbid receiving anything from customers, with the exception of the occasional shared lunch.
There's no tipping in Japan, and people get offended if you try to tip. If the taxi is 1963 yen, you pay 1963 yen (or get back the change to make it so). It's lovely. And the service is great.