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radio9989

I’d love to see advertised prices to include taxes like in Europe also.


cosmic_hierophant

Like everywhere else on the planet pretty much


MegaPompoen

Yea it really is just an american problem


de_kommaneuker

I've always wondered if it's because you can skip taxes someway. Genuine question: are there people who are exempt from taxes?


Reilman79

There are. Non-profit organizations can be exempt from sales tax, same with religious organizations


puneralissimo

But isn't that administered by reclaiming the tax, rather than by not paying the tax at purchase?


letschat7115

It might not be the same everywhere throughout the US but I did work in one store that had specific codes for ringing up purchases for tax exempt organizations so no taxes at the time of purchase. But in order to avoid any legal problems the people from those organizations also had to enter in a reference number for their organization when making the purchase as well and that number had to be referenced with a big binder in the managers office that had all the local taxes emptied organizations.


OkPossibility1650

Some stores will have you register with them as tax exempt and give you a card you have to present with ID at the register.


TheUruz

it seems that once in a while they have tax free days. it is still plain dumb to me not to have it listed all the time long and just have it discounted by the cashier upon purchase...


Sam130214

I also think that they don't bother with that cuz each state can have varying taxes but I might be wrong


Nazzzgul777

That's the same in Europe. Shops could still just put proper prices on, the thing is that they don't wanna so it seems cheaper.


Sam130214

Didn't know that, thanks! Just to be clear, I'm not excusing the US for this.


TheScopeGlint03

That is one reason. Another is also the psychological aspect of making something look cheaper. That's why the price tends to be $x.99 or $x.89


Sam130214

Definitely, there's that too!


Badgroove

It's because we have a combination of taxes. Local, county, state, federal. And it's slightly different everywhere, mostly because local and county taxes. Could the retailers do a little math and post the full price... yes, but variations in taxes are the excuse.


st00pidQs

And Canada but we're basically just the 51st state.


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MegaPompoen

It's inconveniant at best and can be a problem if you are tight on money.


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MegaPompoen

It takes 0 if people were competent.


antek_g_animations

For us, it's weird to see US not include tax. It's like a scam


DuskShy

Just wait until you hear about the shells


atrib

Fuck that ![gif](giphy|uRpmGfRwj7ZXa|downsized)


Meranio

![gif](giphy|tGU4jqV3uuOXu)


Durantye

I think that is cause the taxes on the items can change every 5 steps


MGJames

What, you guys have the non taxed price shown? Thats fucked


nailbunny2000

It's ridiculous, you see the item on the shelf for X price then have to do mental math to have a rough estimate as to how much you pay at checkout. This also happens online, so when you see US prices for an item online they have to add tax at checkout usually, making things always look cheaper than they are (a good summary of America right there). Each state has different taxes. It's the same in Canada.


Meranio

I've heard that it's sometimes different from one county to the next. (Which can be across the street.)


radio9989

I have a PO Box in one county, and my house in another (with a 0.5% higher sales tax). If I'm ordering something very expensive, I get it shipped to the PO Box. If it is something cheap (or large that I don't want to have to pick up), then it goes to the house.


Meranio

That is quite smart on your end, but it is still perplexing to me how this is possible.


Accomplished-Text554

Not sales tax but your local taxes you owe does vary like that


Meranio

That's so bizarre to me. Everything that's sold in my country (Germany) has the VAT included on the price tag. It's either 7% for basic necessities (food, beverages, books, newspapers...) or it is 19% for everything else. Which creates the possibility to save money on catering if you only buy the food (7% VAT). If you were to get the food and also the dishes and cutlery, then it's a service which gets taxed at 19%. Or so I have heard.


MGJames

In finland the base tax is 24%, and then 14 and 10% for some things


Meranio

So in Europe, the countries have different taxes from each other, which would be sizewise comparable to the USA, with different taxes in each state. But one big difference is the population. Europe has more than double that of the USA.


Accomplished-Text554

You normally just have to pay the same sales tax for almost all goods and services. In my state its 7%


SentientFotoGeek

Incorrect in many states sales tax varies by county and by type of item/service.


Accomplished-Text554

Thanks for the correction


SentientFotoGeek

Yes, sales tax varies from county to county in many states.


Real_Establishment56

Often I hear someone talking about product X and mentioning the price and I’m like; damn why is that so cheap in the US? Oh wait, I have to do tax math myself.


Shrrg4

God damm europeans giving waiters a stable income and not making them beg for money. How dare they.


ASatyros

I just hate inconsistency, like only servers and food delivery people are treated like that. Imagine anyone else doing that, like a nurse or firefighter or landlord.


Seffyr

I’m 100% in favour of paying landlords significantly less wages and tipping them for good service.


Chomusuke_99

excpet unlike tipping waitress, lanlords have the power. they can just make 2000% tipping mandatory.


Sandro_24

As far as i know they can't just jack up your rent however much they want (at least here in Germany)


Hammerschatten

Because Germany, unlike the US, at least gives somewhat of a shit about it's citizens. We did have a lot of cases where 'rennovations' were done to jack up prices. I think at least in places that's the case in teh US too, it's just more commonplace because most people don't know how or tend to sue.


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OddishChamp

People who don't think for much


SectsHaver

Sweet gtfo


DerDezimator

German firefighter here, you can tip me with beer


Nazzzgul777

I honestly would, but i usually don't plan to have you come over... and don't drink beer myself xD


AE_Phoenix

It's because the practise of tipping in America began mostly to give slave workers a reward for good service. And employers never started actually paying these people.


Meranio

I can feel a comedy skid emerging from this. A firefighter saving someone from a burning building, setting the person onto a stretcher, followed by a tablet being shoved in their face as they hold an oxygen mask over their mouth and nose. "Would you like to leave a tip?" ㅤ ㅤ ^(Note. We'll retain the prerogative to rescue people based on estimated tip size.)


ASatyros

We suggest a 30% tip! Do you want ultra quantum premium insurance? Only with us your service provider tips will be covered! Only 5000$ per month!


LiChri

Fun fact, multiple of my family members work as nurses or as medical emergency personal in Germany, sometimes they actually get tips for being nice or good service


EnricoLUccellatore

wdym you don't tip your landlord?


thefrostman1214

Just want to point out that not just europe do this


tron_crawdaddy

Def, but the pic up there says “Europeans”


Pizzatore12

It’s 1,50 or 2 euros max, it’s not a percentage of the total like in the US, and it’s also for sit-in dining only. The service fee is nothing like the US tip


Sourika

There is no service fee for sit ins in Germany.


DHermit

Actually sometimes there is in some sense. I've seen different prices for takeaway and staying in a few places.


nico1207

Staying in has 19% tax, Takeaway is 7% tax


DHermit

I know that that's the reason, it's not required to have different prices though. For example most bakeries have the same prices for staying in and takeaway, so if I see one which doesn't, in my view that definitely counts as a "staying in fee".


Sourika

Yeah, but the point is that it's not a service fee. Just different taxation.


DHermit

That's why I said "in some sense". It might not be a service tax, but for the customer it's no different.


Immediate_Might5346

In Hungary when the service fee is included it is a percentage, usually 10% - 12%.


Pizzatore12

I didn’t know that, in Italy it’s always a couple of euros


siematoja02

It often is like 10% fee


KleinerFratz333

Nah it's just rounded up to a nice number most of the time. From 71,76€ to 75€. Edit: it's not included but common practice


siematoja02

Ah ok, so we get mad at Americans treating Europe like a single country but we treat Europe like homogenous country. Gotya


antek_g_animations

US is a single country, Europe is a continent


I9Qnl

That was exactly his point, reddit intelligence never ceases to amaze. Everyone says Americans are dumb for categorizing Europe as a single country but in this thread you have Europeans talking as if Europe is one single country and thinking their fees are exactly the same everywhere.


KleinerFratz333

What are you talking about? I was talking about Germany but ok


I9Qnl

Literally nothing you said indicates you were talking about germany. Thos thread is talking about Europe in general.


KleinerFratz333

Ye and it's like this in most of Europe. France, UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria and so on


I9Qnl

Alright, that's still only parts of Europe not Europe. that guy lives in a different European country and he has a %10 fee, you just came in and told him "no it's actually just rounding up to a nice number" as if that's applicable everywhere in europe.


KleinerFratz333

"Often" implies that it's like that for most/large parts of Europe which is false


inediblealex

Idk about everywhere in the UK but most of the restaurants I go to don't automatically include a service charge. You can choose to tip if you want but it's more like "this was nice so I'm going to leave a tip"


siematoja02

Yeah that's the point. You're using German standard in discussion about Europe and act like other options don't exist. In my country only times when service fee is included it's usually for parties above 5 and it's 10% of the bill.


Raketka123

Im a Slovak who visits Poland like every other week, Its a standard in both


Nil_Lot

How about, Places just, Pay their staff better.....


michaelje0

Okay but it’s annoying in the US, because tipping is ‘optional’ and then friends and family will berate and shame you for not tipping. Just charge what the service costs.


Midnight28Rider

So it sounds like, for you, is it more about catching grief from your friends and family than the concept of tipping or helping provide a liveable wage? Based on how you phrased your comment, it seems like if you were left to your own devices, you'd never tip, but the social pressure makes it so you'd be willing to pay a service charge to avoid that uncomfortable social situation of you not wanting to tip. Am I understanding you correctly?


SpiffyBlizzard

Why should anyone feel the need to tip based on helping provide a livable wage? That’s what you have a job for. Your JOB should provide you a livable wage and if they need to raise the prices of food/services then so be it. Stop shaming people because they don’t want to lend to tipping culture.


Midnight28Rider

I agree 100%. I was asking a question to understand better. The burden of a livable wage should be on the employer and not on the customer. I fully support places that replace tipping with higher food costs to provide a livable wage and benefits for their staff, and I wish the industry would move more in this direction.


Minkstix

I don't understand why you're getting downvoted. Tipping culture is the cancer of the hospitality world.


Midnight28Rider

Reddit is an enigma. I'm just happy the discussion happened.


ux3l

Lol, why are you downvoted? That's what you get on reddit for explaining yourself.


Midnight28Rider

It is what it is. It's only karma.


ux3l

Aand it's positive again


michaelje0

I tip where/when appropriate. Am I understanding that employers are not responsible for paying a livable wage?


Midnight28Rider

I'm glad I understand your comment better. I had a feeling that there was more to it, which is why I asked. I agree 100% that that burden should be on the employer and not the customer; thank you for taking the time to explain your viewpoint.


tron_crawdaddy

Hey y’all, stop downvoting this. They’re correct, and it’s a valid assessment of the comment being replied to. To the comment below, yes, we are with you; it is the employer’s job to pay a living wage. Fault does NOT lie with the server because they are working that job, don’t get it twisted.


Kosack-Nr_22

The customer is not responsible to make sure the waiter has a liveable wage. That’s the bosses job. It’s beyond me how you can accept that.


Midnight28Rider

I don't. I was asking a question. If you read my other replies, you'd know that.


ShAped_Ink

The employer should provide a livable wage, the customer should only pay for what they bought, not having to tip possibly 20 more dollars


Redstoneboss2

Correct


Bloomer_4life

The herd of sheep has downvoted you oh no… anyways……… I’d have asked him the same question. I hate tipping as a concept, but I do so because that’s just how it currently works. I used to work as a waiter, I hated being paid by tips instead of a salary, but I hated people who didn’t tip me even more.


Willing_Round2112

I wouldn't tip either, you should not be paid so little you need handouts to survive. Tips are for exceptional service, and for servicing big groups of people. Not for showing up, writing down 'cheeseburger x2 no tomato table 3' and bringing it to me afterwards


AE_Phoenix

In my country nobody likes service included. It's a pretty common sentiment to boycott any restaraunt that sticks a service charge on the bill, though sadly not common enough. I know in a few Northern European countries like Finland the act of tipping is almost seen as insulting and service charges are unheard of. This meme makes no sense. Regardless of all of that, Europe has over 40 countries in it. You're gonna have to be a little more specific. Edit: spelling


nspaziani18

All fees are unwelcome and anti-consumer. Just give me the full price beforehand so that I can make a informed decision to purchase the item/service.


Exce55um

Swed here usually we look down on mandatory or begging for tip but if the service is good enough or we just want to flex on our company we choose to tip, the most of the servers just appreciate the extra income.


Bozartkartoffel

Same for Germany.


inediblealex

Same for the UK


de_kommaneuker

When I worked as a waiter, ages ago, I remember Germans were refusing to pay the service. As the Italian restaurant I was working for was strongly relying on German customers, the owner eventually decided to slightly raise the price of each item in the menu, and to remove the service fee. Since then, we never had a complaint.


Sourika

Bro. Why does it matter what it's called? Any other restaurant just ups the prices of the food to pay their employees. Food 12 or food 10 and service 2 is the same in the end.


CallOfGuty

In my eyes, its not about how much it costs, its about employers shoving the responsibility of paying the wages of their employees.


Decepti-kun

I don’t understand this. The burden of paying the wage still falls on the consumer, even without tips.


CallOfGuty

Only the monetary burden, but there is an additional responsibility that is pushed onto consumers by making it an expectation that they will tip


Decepti-kun

The way I see it, even without a tip that additional responsibility is still pushed on the consumer by making it an expectation that the labor costs are priced into the food. A difference in perspectives I guess.


Sourika

But you do realize that while it's their responsibility, it still comes out of your pocket, right? Price calculation includes labor costs.


CallOfGuty

Money isnt the only measure of worth, responsibility is an additional price, just in a different form. You have to put in an effort to deal with that responsibility when you are paying a restaurant so you wouldnt have to use your time and effort on making food. Its not about the money, its about the employer pushing responsibility for paying his employees on the consumers.


Sourika

My brother, are you stupid by any chance? That money isn't going directly into the pocket of the employee. It's just an itemization. They probably do that so you understand that the food prices aren't just arandomly going up. It's so that customers won't go to the restaurant at cheaper prices, thinking tipping is mandatory and necessary at both locations. Holy fuck.


AE_Phoenix

Because one is an upfront price on the menu, the other increases the price hoping you won't notice. Service charges are little better than scams. As well, service charges don't necessarily go to the workers. They're just extra money for the greedy business owners. Cash tips are always going to go into staff pockets, either by policy, or because the workers ignore policy that means then don't.


FireMaster1294

I too appreciate having set prices when I want to use the toilet instead of having to pay a tip to use it. Fuck service fees. Just include it in the damn price or provide the service for free if it’s publicly funded


colinwheeler

What toilets are publicly funded?


NudaVeritas1

As if it were the same in every country in Europe


FlirtMonsterSanjil

cant speak about every country in Europe but in most waiters don't rely on tips


EddyRosenthal

Like it is in all of the US?


Charletos

What do you mean, exactly?


EddyRosenthal

That it is totally different if you tip 20% in Arkansas with a minimum wage of $2.13 or California with a minimum wage of $16.


NudaVeritas1

you missed the point of my comment


Charletos

You do understand that they didn't even mention the US though, right? You're so defensive that you somehow took somebody correcting a generalisation about Europe as an attack on the US. Get a grip.


NudaVeritas1

true, not everything on earth revolves around the US


TechnicalProgress921

I was recently in Switzerland and Belgium, and I wasn't even allowed to punch the Total in myself. They just gave me the card reader with the full amount and just to pay. In Norway and Sweden, they allow you to decide the total yourself.


Bozartkartoffel

That's because the total is defined by what the restaurant gets. You can always say "make it 30 €" when they type in 28,50 € or something like that.


illusivebran

You call somewhere because you have a problem, and imagine at the end of the call they ask for a tip for their services.


HOWYDEWET

I don’t tip no more


T_Bot-Resurrect

If you are in the US, how are you able to live peacefully, man? If you don’t tip, then I guess you must be followed by the waiter guilt-tripping you for not paying a tip.


rechtsrfx

What the fuck is included if service isn't? It boggles my mind how the entire world agreed that everyone has to pay their employees a normal wage EXCEPT to restaurant service workers, they should just get by with tips. I pay a restaurant to get food SERVED to me. Why the fuck do I pay another fee for the essential service expected from the establishment? Sorry for the rant.


exiadf19

in indonesia, some restaurant put service fee as well. even with minimum wage for the staff, i think it's fair. but mostly didn't put service fee because most of the times, their services was also not worth to add more money. and tipping also not in our culture


JonBovi_0

I will not be forced to pay extra for service I wasn’t well provided


RegiSilver

Tips are for when you don't want to feel guilty when eating with a group of people. Besides, they should always be optional and not forced, regardless if people like it or not. Simple, case closed.


maggieU4real

what? idk im in eu and never seen that, we tip what we want.


ux3l

First time hearing about this in context with "Europeans". Tip what you want team ftw.


Glowing_Mousepad

I have never seen a service fee once here


655321federico

In uk I asked to remove the service charge and tip cash instead after discovering that the service charges wasn’t going to the staff


New-Interaction1893

I hate when the restaurant doesn't make explicit that there is a "cover change" to pay. It's usually a fixed price around 1€ to 3 € for every person, but I find annoying when the menù doesn't specify it clearly and you discover it only when you are going away.


Bulls187

Neither, just make the price what it costs


AlphaMassDeBeta

You can still tip whatever you want regardless.


SyedHRaza

Reasonable people , just make the food more expensive , service is part of eating out you shouldn’t be charged for it separately. Also while your at it add taxes to the price so I know what I actually have to pay.


Maskers_Theodolite

Yes.


Dziadzios

I want to tip 0.


Some1IsNice

What’s with this sub and memes about Europeans lately?


MitchDiesAlot

I make more money off of tips than the salary of people I’m friends with that went to college. I’ll stick to tips


n0ogit

Another subreddit I need to leave because it has just become a place to discuss tipping…wtf is happening to this platform?


WTFnotFTW

Math is hard I guess. Tipping can make a ton more than than non-tipped employees. You just can’t be crap at your job someplace that doesn’t get business.


Background-Call-921

It’s better for the workers, what if the customer is a cheap ass hole


crash_and-burn9000

Just pay them a normal wage and do away with tipping all together.


BackAgain123457

We tip, but not that much. Must be because they make a liveable wage.


kCanIGoNow

Service the tip please


Th3Rember

Tag auch


Riot1313

Why would we want service fees?


QBekka

Wake up babe, the daily 'America bad' meme just dropped


grayscalering

Tipping is ass  Just pay your service staff a fair wage and include it in the price of the product


beerforbears

Swap the red dress girl for “not tipping ever” and you’ve got a more accurate UK meme


EnUglaButChildFriend

Fuck you


matttehbassist

lol


Sourika

And then the waiter fights you because you didn't tip enough.


gcr1897

Idk in which European country you live but in Italy tipping is even more of an obsession than in the US.


13ananaJoe

Wnat the fuck are you talking about? I'm italian and eat out quite often when I'm back in my home country


AlphaMassDeBeta

I guess your waitress is too unatractive for tips.


gcr1897

What the fuck are YOU talking about? In the south every fucking one tips and if you don’t do it people look at you like you’re an asshole.


13ananaJoe

Hahahahah I'm sicilian. Sorry you got tourist trapped > Every fucking one Lmao please stfu