Re: CHAT: currency [was Re: OT: the euro & 01.01.02]

Tom Wier wrote:
>Tristan Alexander McLeay wrote:
>> (Note: in Australia, it is customary to not tip unless your service
>> is more than outstanding. I have no idea whether you'd tip in a
>> supermarket in America, though.)
>
>America is very unusual in this respect. There was an article in
>_The Economist_ last year that compared countries based on which
>professions customarily receive tips for service.  America was
>way above all the other industrialized nations, with something
>like 40 professions that get tips, IIRC.  This has lead to
>speculation along the lines that Americans try to make up for
>their increasing inequity by being generous; _The Economist_
>cast doubt on this, but I don't remember why.  (Perhaps because
>Americans are typically more generous in giving to charities in
>the general, which is certainly true relative to most European
>countries; I don't know for sure.)
>
>But Americans do not typically gives tips at the grocery store, no.
When I used to winter among the wealthy in South Florida, you were expected
to tip the kid or doddering retiree who wheeled your groceries out to the
car.  According to the sign in all the stores, you weren't supposed to, and
they weren't supposed to accept, but almost everyone did.

I can't imagine what all the other 39 tippable professions might be, but
yes, there are a lot.  Some I resent.  In most cases, I think we're
conscious of the very low base pay they receive.