Last week, I posted a column about my experience riding in a taxi, and the driver didn’t have change. He was very kind, and he actually let me pay him a little less than what was owned, rather than demanding a huge tip by “keeping the change” that he could not produce. In the comments on that post, Anton related a story about his time in Iligan when people at a local watering hole refused to accept a tip that he offered. It reminded me of an interesting situation that I ran into one time at a local computer store.
This happened several years ago, and at that time there were few decent computer stores in town. Because of the lack of stores to choose from, I had one favorite store that I almost always shopped at. There was a girl working at this particular store, her name was Sol. Sol took a very keen interest in helping most of the foreigners who shopped there. You see, many of the other employees were shy, and they would kind of shy away from the foreigners who came in. Sol was very helpful, though, and I always found it a pleasure to deal with her.
One day, Sol showed me a printer that I was very interested in buying. In fact, it wasn’t just a run of the mill printer, it was one of the early consumer level color laser printers. Because it was like the first generation of this product, it was quite spendy, well over $1,000 in US Dollars. I had a business use for the machine, though (plus I just wanted it!), so I knew that I’d be buying it. I just didn’t have the money with me, so I’d be coming back on another day to make the purchase.
I asked Sol: “Sol, I want to buy this printer, and I will come back. Do you work on a commission basis?” Where I come from in the States, and I expect in many other countries, people in stores like this get a commission on their sales. The person who makes the sale gets a percentage of the sale added to their compensation on payday. When I asked Sol this question, she looked at me very seriously and responded “Sir, what is that? What do you mean?” I explained the concept to her, and her eyes got big and she said “Oh, sir, that would not be good. It’s unethical!”
Of course, I didn’t consider a commission sales arrangement to be unethical at all! In fact, I feel that it is a way to ensure better customer service from the sales staff! But, to Sol, it was unthinkable! She was to offer the best service as part of her job, and not something that she should get extra money for!
In days since then, I have encountered other such instances. Having a boy carry your groceries to the car is just normal service, and while I always offer to tip, many of them turn down the tip. When I go to a gas station to get air in my tires, I always offer a tip to the service boy who airs up my tires, but in almost all instances they refuse to accept it. If I had bought gas, I understand that it’s just part of service. However, if I have a full tank, and just need to air up a tire, I would expect that the young man would gladly accept a tip for his service.
Isn’t it funny how different occupations respond to tipping and such in different ways? For example, in my experience a taxi driver will never refuse a tip, and in fact will be quite happy when you give him one. Different procedures for different people, I guess!
Hi Dave Starr – Yes, I agree wholly about the bribe thing. However, I also feel that it is unlikely that a kid carrying out a package at the mall, or a kid putting air in your tires would have a way to bribe you. But, it is true that this is one argument against tipping, and I do understand that. The story about the Japanese Taxi drivers is funny…
Hi Guy – Wow, that is a very unfortunate situation that you experienced! Not only were you overcharged for the taxi, but the razor theft was really bad. It makes me feel sorry that you experienced this in the Philippines, because it is certainly not the norm here, in my opinion. 😡
We also wanted to tip the service boy at the gasoline station in Manila last year. He refused and told us it was not allowed. If the owner can see he accepts a tip from a costumer he would be fired.
Hi Luc – Yep, I see and hear that all the time at Gas stations now. For me, I would prefer if the attendants could accept tips, because I feel that if I want to tip the guy, it should be my choice. Certainly, tipping should not be mandatory, but only something that is voluntary.
It is pretty interesting how different folks in relatively similar job levels have greatly different attitudes toward tips.
I find, too, at gas stations, they often seem to avoid a tip … yet I haven't yet encountered a station with an actual 'no tip' policy. I can see why some would adopt this though, including the offcial 'no tip' policy at the SM chain of stores. The difference between a 'tip' and a 'bribe' is in the mind of the giver … the owner can't tell from a distance what is honorable and what isn't. Last holiday season the BID folks at the airports were forbidden y their director to greet passengers wiht 'Merry Christmas' because that's often a 'code' solicitation for a 'tip'. There _are_ mnay Filipinos who wnat to stamp out the problem of rampant 'palm greasing', so if thye have a'no tip' policy I'd rather go along with it than to assert myown 'freedom to tip'.
Funny thing about taxi drivers, though. In Japan, where workers, even restaraunt servers, are considered professionals and a tip is often considered an insult, a taxi driver will always take a tip … if you have any money left after paying the fare, of course LoL.
I guess I have cooled off enough now Bob. You were talking about problems with tips before. You wrote back asking have you had problems with that here before Guy? Yes! My first trip to the Philippines I was very Uninformed, I guess Ignorant. I used a cab to look up a Pen-pal. We drove in Metro for aprox. 3hrs. Very Frustrating & I was no help to the driver. He did an excellent job of finding a nearly impossible Address. When we returned to my hotel He came in for a couple of minutes to use the washroom. He didn't use the meter due to the complexity of the mission. After discussion we agreed on p3000 which would have been appropriate in my country. We shook hands & said our goodbuys. Later I noticed my electric razor gone, 120volt. I guess he allowed for his own Tip. It is funny now,but YES I have had some problems with taxi drivers & their Tips.
I wonder if you see more of that sort of probelm with taxi drivers in Manila or Angeles City.
Hi Tom – hard to say on that. I think that dishonesty can happen anywhere, though. 😮
Hi Bob and to all of you, my two brothers-in-law are driving our taxi alternate. Of course, they are honest. Their experiences with "foreigners": Sometimes a very big tip, much friendliness and never ever a bad word or complain. 😆
Hi Klaus – Thats great to hear! Do you own the taxi unit? If so, I didn't know about that!
Haven't you noticed by now, taxi drivers hardly ever have change.
At other places I have never had a tip refused.
Rick
Hi Rick Austin – There are plenty of ways to deal with Taxi Drivers that claim to have no change. If The fare is P45 and you have a P20 bill and a P100 bill, offer the P100 bill. If the driver says "no change sir" then give him the P20 bill and start to get out, telling him "I also have no change, so this is the best I can do." He will come up with a solution real quick! 😆
I had good experience with taxis in davao too. Being sure they give me exact change which i often refuse. Much different than i experienced in Cebu or Manila.
Hi stibs – Glad to hear that you had a good experience with Davao taxi drivers! In general, I agree with that. I have had occasional bad experiences with taxis, but that is very rare!
Hi everyone,
Problems with taxi drivers are often rampant in Manila. This is one of the most shameful things we have in the philippines that most foreigners I know had complained about. After living outside my country for a long time, this has annoyed and stressed me out the moment I got out of the international airport. I am just lucky that I dont need to stay long in Manila and arriving in Cagayan de Oro is always a huge relief. I guess taxi drivers in Cagayan de oro and other Mindanao cities are very honest and respectful though I cant say if they are the same to foreigners all the time (though Bob had a good experience).
In Manila, taxi drivers refuse you a ride often until you will negotiate for a certain price which is always higher than what is stated in the meter, plus if you are bringing luggage with you, expect them to ask for more citing the weight of the luggage has actually cost them more fuel! can you believe that? Now if that happened to Filipinos, how much more to foreigners? I am just really sorry for that.
Hi Gene – You should not feel bad about the taxi driver situation, after all, it certainly is not your fault. It's the fault of the taxi drivers who act like that, and of the LTO for not regulating them properly. Someday things will clean up!