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Tipping Tensions in Paris and New York: A Cultural Divide
A recent article in The New York Times has brought to light a growing issue of "tipping fatigue" in the city that never sleeps, with customers being asked to tip up to 35% of their purchases at a local bakery. This is a stark contrast to the more modest tipping culture in Paris, where a 15% service charge is already included in restaurant bills, making additional tipping optional and usually small.
The case in question involved a 60-year-old New Yorker being asked for a tip at a bakery, with the suggested amount being up to 35% of her purchases. In comparison, a tip of up to 1 euro, which is approximately a third of the cookie's price, was recently prompted at a trendy bakery in Paris.
The practice of asking for tips is gaining traction in the city of Paris for various transactions, but it is important to note that this does not signify a shift towards the American tipping norm. By law, a 15% service charge is already included in restaurant bills in Paris, making additional tipping optional and usually small, often just rounding up or leaving a few euros as a courtesy.
However, some restaurants in tourist-heavy Paris areas may exploit American tourists’ unfamiliarity with local customs by pushing for extra charges and encouraging higher tips than usual. This practice, which locals criticize as unfair, includes offering pricier options, charging for bottled water that locals receive free, and servers modifying tips on payment machines without consent.
This tourist-targeted upcharging and unsolicited tipping pressure reflect a commercialization trend linked to tourism rather than a genuine shift in French tipping culture. The implications of this cultural divide include local frustration at the "Disneyfication" and commercialization of Paris, where traditional shops and customs are being replaced by tourist-focused businesses and practices.
European and French customers generally view tipping as a reward for good service, not an obligatory part of wages, contrasting with Americans’ automatic 15–20% tipping habits. Most Parisians stick to the custom of relying on the included service charge with only minor tips, and large American-style tips can be seen as unnecessary or even naive.
For tourists, understanding the difference can prevent feeling ripped off and reduce tensions caused by tipping misunderstandings. As the issue of tipping fatigue continues to be discussed, it serves as a reminder for travelers to be aware of local customs and to support businesses that respect and uphold these traditions.
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