Stan Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 They finished for today and did the US Bellboything waiting for a tip. I gave them each €50 and they looked a bitdisappointed. As they have to come back next week to finish the workshould I be giving them more ? I am a bit worried that if I've beento "tight" they might not finish things off next week.I am struggling with the language a bit at themoment and still finding my feet. None of the research I didmentions much on tipping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trumpet Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 Hell NOTHING......give them a beer. I can say that I often work for French People and my tips are 2 euro at the most. I get fed well though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trumpet Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 I am still reeling. I mean ok a tip if you want, but you have just given them 30 quid each!!!!!! would you give that to a Tele engineer in the uk. I have a really good postie and I give her 10-20 euro for the year. At Christmas. Telephone engineers are having a laugh. It's their job. On that note can I come and work for you[6] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quillan Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 You could teach him French for 50 Euros an hour [;-)] .Tipping is a world wide thing so just think how much you would tip in the UK and who you would tip. As for a French Telecom engineer doing an installation I wouldn't tip them at all. Post, bin man and firemen is about it and then something between 10 and 20 Euros. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerdesal Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 You have Bin men ???????????????????????????????????I must be further into the sticks than I thought [:(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samdebretagne Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 A 50€ tip each? Are you insane? They are already being PAID to do the work by France Telecom, there is no reason to give them any extra money. They were probably just waiting for a beer, or at least a cup of coffee. Though now next time they come, they might be expecting 50€ again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quillan Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 [quote user="powerdesal"]You have Bin men ???????????????????????????????????I must be further into the sticks than I thought [:(][/quote]Yep and we just voted (as a commune) to up the collections from two to three a week at an extra 62 Euros a year. They are communal bins but they are of the large type mind, I share mine with four other houses.Perhaps we should Tag along with the OP and give French Telecom engineers a tip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 You have to be on a wind up, Stan. Since when did anyone get a tip for doing their job?[:D][:D][:D]Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trumpet Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 We have bin men. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan Posted July 6, 2007 Author Share Posted July 6, 2007 In a new country it is difficult to know whatconventions apply. You ask when somebody gets a tip for doing theirjob. Well how about waiters and hairdressers and porters and taxirivers and many others. In a different country things are differentand until one gets to grips with how things work it can be tricky.I've read loads of the books on moving to and living and starting abusiness in France but they are not a massive help. When faced with anew situation you have to make a judgement. I know that when I workedin the UK our technical department always gave the BT engineers somecash when they were called-out. Apparently word gets around and whenyou really need them you will be top of their list and apparently isis quite widespread.Fine, I was wrong in this case and I am sure Iwill make more mistakes in the coming months. I will probably beasking about more daft things I've done and it may be obvious topeople who have lived here for years but maybe not to those of uswith less experience. Thank you for advising and thank you for thecynical comments.I try not to keep thinking what I would do in theUK as this is not the UK and I think it important to accept thatthings can be done differently. In fact I am surprised at howdifferent many aspects of life are in France. Things like large DIYstores closing for a 2 hour lunch break. You cannot keep assumingthings are the same as the UK otherwise you are trekking off to theshops on a Sunday morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 No, not cynical at all, it's just that I never have and never will give anyone a tip for doing their job, it all ends up like BAE, it's just a different level of corruption. Ohh, if I bung them some money they will look after me.Sorry, point of view.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana (ex tag) Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 The only reason why BAE are in the doodoo is becasue the countries complaining did not get the contract. BAE did business the way it is always done. Let's not be pious here. Imagine if the French of Yanks had got the contract. In fact they were the two complainers and the two losers. That contract has filled a lot of rice bowls for Brits and in Britain. The only reason it has come up now is because Saudi is not flavour of the month with the wishywashyocrats.So some people get tips, called bonuses, others get money in envelopes, others get cash in hand., some get a wet halfpenny on a saucer.[:P] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerdesal Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 Totally agree banana-man. If you want a major contract in the ME, you play by local rules, thats the bottom line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarkkent Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 One reason I have enjoyed visits to Japan is that tipping is not practised there. Tipping - under any circumstance - is a very unsavoury habit. It frees employers from the responsibility to pay the proper amount for a job.It encourages employees to behave differentially with customers, paying more attention to those who look as though they may be generous.It becomes a form of bribery.I don't know if they are still there, but at the exit from the Gouffre de Padirac there were large signs instructing customers not to tip the boatmen - who blocked access to the quay until an appropriate payment had been made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trumpet Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 Hello Stan.I guess you have moved in different circles than I, where a reward is offered to sweeten the pot. (no offence) I agree with Chris (Ohh, if I bung them some money they will look after me.) in the fact that this should never be a necessary practice.When I arrived here I did not speak the lingo or have much idea about anything. I had the phone engineers too. The thought of giving them a tip never entered my head. I gave them coffee and a beer though. The answers you have received I am sure were given in the most lighthearted way. We all need to know things and maybe because of your experiences you can aid the future progress of this most excellent Forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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