16 Responses to “Tipping and Discounts, WTF?”

1. Pilar on August 5th, 2010 8:30 am

   Hmn. Now that you mention it, I kinda noticed that too. I really won’t mind if a buyer gives me some tips though. Like you said, we never really asked for it, since it’s really optional.

   But seriously? Discounts? Well, I wouldn’t mind giving discounts for a friend or a family member. But DEFINITELY not my customers.

   The only thing that should be fair, in my opinion, is RESPECT. Like you said:

   “I guess all I’m saying is, if you want me to draw something for you, or you want to buy one of my artworks, don’t ask for discounts. Quite frankly, it’s insulting to artists when you do that. Every single piece of art we do is the sum total of our experience and skill, no matter how short or how long that drawing takes. The rate we give to our art is how much we value what we create. If you ask for discounts, you devalue my work and disrespect me.”

   Kinda reminds me of the time I tried to price my artworks one time, my family said it was too cheap, and my art is worth more than what I priced.

2. Richie Ramos on August 5th, 2010 8:36 am

   When people I don’t know as friends try to ask me brazenly for a discount for my work it usually ends with me just taking on a better offer with someone else. I don’t waste time with people who try to haggle with me for my own services, expecting me to work for them for ridiculously low prices.

3. Noel I. Nacianceno on August 5th, 2010 8:51 am

   I agree with the tipping, batchmate. But I never thought about the discount regarding artwork that way. Good point and good read, sir

4. Ed on August 5th, 2010 9:43 am

   Gusto ko mapamura sa mga sinabi mo…”T@n@#!$%$^! Tama ka dyan!” Hehe.

   I just don’t understand these people asking for a discount. Para kasing nagtatanim lang tayo ng gulay at meron na tayong artworks na pwede ibenta.

   Or is it just Pinoy who always ask for discounts? I had no problem from international customers. I can always ask my broker for a higher price on my artworks and I get no complaints on the buyers.

   Kaya mahirap bentahan ang ibang Pinoy buyers. Nakakairita.

5. Gerry Alanguilan on August 5th, 2010 10:33 am

   In a way I can understand it because in a third world country like ours, the appreciation of the value of art is low on people’s priorities, considering other problems. The main concern of people here is to physically survive. I understand it, but quite honestly, I don’t care. Artists, whether you’re in a first world or third world country, should insist on the value and importance of art. Other things may keep you physically alive, but it is art that will help keep our spirits alive.

6. Jose Mari Lee on August 5th, 2010 12:49 pm

   Gerry:

   It’s a good thing I visited here. I’ve been just wandering lately in Facebook because everybody I used to talk with are there now.

   Anyway, the waiters are making way much smaller salary-wise compared to artists. For instance, here, if you work as a Graphic Designer, you start at least $45,000 a year, plus bonuses. Let’s say you got $10,000 bonus – your annual salary is $50,000. With that salary, you’ll qualify to buy a regular priced house (maybe in the suburbs). If you live in San Francisco or Vancouver, BC – these two cities have the most expensive real State in north America. So usually, you can go to burbs because you can get bang for your buck.

   Meanwhile, waiters are paid very little, say $30,000 a year. The tips are their only saving grace. So, by law, US and Canada specified that 10% is mandatory tip from how much you have spent.

7. Jun Pamintuan on August 5th, 2010 12:54 pm

   I think it’s the Pinoys who seem to like to buy stuff with a discount or for less. Like Sir Ed said, internationally, people don’t ask for those discounts. They either accept it or walk away. Even in ebay it’s like that here in the Philippines. A person contacts you asking for major discounts. In short, I think it’s safe to assume that majority of the Pinoys are either cheap or they treat their hobby cheap or they just want to irritate other people. You pay people for their services, a fixed price is a fixed price, if you can’t pay for it, don’t buy it, simple as that. An artist puts a price tag on their works and services and people must learn to respect that. It’s either you respect the price and pay for it, or just walk away and accept the fact that you don’t have enough money to buy it. We are into comics, to collect comics and arts we need to let go of our money, if people can’t seem to get that in their heads then they should select another form of hobby where they get to spend only minimal amount of cash. Some people just can’t seem to understand that. Five words that summarizes what the common Pinoy mentality is when it comes to buying stuff..”Tawaran natin, parang palengke lang”.

8. Ed on August 5th, 2010 1:08 pm

   What’s shocking if they’ll agree with your price, they will buy it in installment. Damn! Three-gives pa. What if we cut the drawing in three pieces, give 1/3 each time they pay?

   I almost encountered installment payment. There was once that happened but it was bulk purchase, paid me half-half of total in two weeks. It never happened again.

9. Robby Villabona on August 5th, 2010 3:18 pm

   I don’t see anything wrong people asking me for discounts. I just say no if I don’t want to give one, and that’s the end of it. I don’t find it insulting. My services have no innate value. It’s value is what others perceive it to be that I find acceptable.

   I don’t take it personally against those who ask. Bargaining is just a part of everyday living.

   If you have no intention of haggling with a customer, just say “non-negotiable” when you quote a price.

10. Gerry Alanguilan on August 5th, 2010 3:23 pm

    JM, I don’t understand… if the law recognizes that waiters are not paid well, why not make it a law to raise their salaries instead of passing the buck to customers?

    The idea that I should pay the services of the employee of a restaurant next door on top of the payment I give for the food and be it actually supported by law is ridiculous to me. It should be the restaurant owner’s job to pay its people, not its customers. Sorry, but I think it’s ridiculous.

11. Robby Villabona on August 5th, 2010 5:19 pm

    Gerry, where do you think the restaurants will get the extra pay waiters will get if you raise their wages? Out of their profits? No, from the customers. So in effect, you’ll end up tipping them anyway whether you get good service or not.

    In most Philippine restaurants, you’re already forced to tip them with the 10% service charge. Personally I give at least P20 extra, or P50 if the service was really good. Much more if it’s a fancy restaurant and the service was good. This makes sense for people who order for take-out (“to go” for those of you in North America). You don’t get charged “service charge” for take-out.

    This way, at least the customer gets a say — small tip for mediocre service and bigger tips for good service.

    It’s just an accident of history. Tipping was a custom from way before there was a concept of “minimum wage”. And so when salaries are determined, it takes into account that tipping is already the custom — and so that’s considered as part of the waiters’ earnings. Salaries are low for waiters primarily because of supply and demand, less so because tips exist. I believe garbage collectors in America make more than waiters (even with tips) because there are less people willing to do that job.

12. Gerry Alanguilan on August 5th, 2010 5:41 pm

    “Gerry, where do you think the restaurants will get the extra pay waiters will get if you raise their wages? Out of their profits? No, from the customers. So in effect, you’ll end up tipping them anyway whether you get good service or not.”

    I’d actually be more amenable to that. That way, everything is spelled out. I know how much going to the restaurant would cost in black and white. I can then decide if I would eat there or not. If it’s too expensive, I won’t. But if I can afford it,I will. I’m basing my decision on how the restaurant itself charges me. If they take some of that money to give to the waiter as a tip, then it’s not a decision or action that I would make as a customer.

    Just why the waiter though? If we’re so tip happy, why not tip the chef? He’s the one who cooks all of it, after all. The waiter just brings it.

13. Jose Mari Lee on August 5th, 2010 7:58 pm

    Ah… but the chefs are the ones making the big bucks. The waiters, the bus boys, the janitors, the dishwashers… are all being paid less, hence, the tip.

    These aforementioned jobs are very low paid according to the category of jobs, therefore the salary is mediocre. But, since the service industry is important as well, the compulsory approach will give these workers some incentive. Therefore, a waiter would still make at least $40,000 or more by having tips.

    The basureros here making very money. Salary range starts from $40 per hour. They also get a lot of benefits just like most workers. They also have a very good retirement packages.

    Compared to restaurant workers such as the waiters, who only work for minimum wage of $9 per hour. With this salary (without the tips), this is POVERTY LEVEL. This tipping started as a gesture of kindness to service industry workers that eventually became a law.I guess culturally, that’s the way it is.

    Also, Mr. Pamintuan is right. Walang tawaran dito sa halos lahat ng bagay, maliban lamang sa dalawang bagay:

    • When you’re buying a house – puwede kang tumawad hangga’t gusto mo. Kung pumayag yung nagbaebenta, masuwerte ka. Kadalasan, back and forth ang dealings.

    • Kotse – isa pa itong puwede kang tumawad.

    Puto, walang tawad. Kutsinta, walang tawad. Fish ball, walang tawad. Basta’t BAHAY lang at KOTSE ang tinatawaran. Bakit? Tanging si Bathala lamang ang nakakaalam.

    :)

14. Robby Villabona on August 6th, 2010 8:44 pm

    “I’d actually be more amenable to that. That way, everything is spelled out. I know how much going to the restaurant would cost in black and white. I can then decide if I would eat there or not. If it’s too expensive, I won’t. But if I can afford it,I will. I’m basing my decision on how the restaurant itself charges me. If they take some of that money to give to the waiter as a tip, then it’s not a decision or action that I would make as a customer.”

    But it’s already that way in most restaurants here. There’s usually a 10-12% service charge. I suspect that those establishments that say “NO SERVICE CHARGE” have just actually included the service charge already in the price of their food to encourage tipping the waiters.

15. Jose Mari Lee on August 8th, 2010 5:52 am

    Robby:

    I totally agree with you.

    Generally, food cost should be around 30-35%. This means that if you pay $1.00 for something, you need to charge minimum of $3.34. It may seem like you are charging a lot more than necessary, but keep in mind that you aren’t just paying for the food itself. You are paying someone to prepare the food, serve the food, and clean up after the food. Everything in your restaurant, from payroll to the electric bill needs to be covered by the food you serve.

16. coco williams on September 5th, 2010 5:36 am

    In the US, especially in Reno or Las Vegas, Nv. We have a thing clled tip compliance. The government knows there are tips…so they tax us on tips we get or dont get. So when we dont get them, its upsettng, but understandable…when people just dont normally tip in other countries. Tipped employees – bartenders, servers, busboys, card dealers…etc. we all pay the IRS a portion of each hour worked. Normally a few dollars more then out hourly pay….We get taxed for each hour worked. Years ago it used to be by % of sales. Which was awful, since we dont always get to that percent in tips…from our sales. Make sense?