Tipping -- when, how much?

[Petra1701]

I work in the service industry and YES - I could kill those foreign journalists who say tipping is unnecessary in Finland!

We make very little money compared to what you get for the same job in other Western European countries and Finland has the highest cost of living in the Eurozone. Hence, we do greatly appreciate tips.
There are certain nationals who never tip - and I have made it a practice never to tip anybody in their home country either when I am visiting there.

Basically, I do a good job for everybody. But I only try extra hard when I know that there is a possibility of receiving a tip. Why else go out of your way when there is no benefit?

[Karhunkoski]

There are certain nationals who never tip - and I have made it a practice never to tip anybody in their home country either when I am visiting there.

Have you thought maybe the Finns who didn't tip when abroad have caused visiting waiters not to tip here also?

But I only try extra hard when I know that there is a possibility of receiving a tip. Why else go out of your way when there is no benefit?

How do you know if there is a possibility of receiving a tip? Certainly I try to hide my tipping potential to make sure a waiter doesn't make the assumption that he will get a tip automatically, and therefore not try

[llewellyn]

I don't get this automatic tipping either, in practice it's just a service charge regardless of the quality of the service. Though I have the traditional, mean Finnish mentality about tipping: that everyone already gets a living wage and does his/her job well anyway. It gets this sort of un-Nordic, unequal, uncomfortable feeling to give someone money that they are not naturally entitled to. I understand the those employed in the service industry don't any more feel like this (if they ever did). They are starting to be on the threashold of not having a living wage. But still, is automatic, mandatory tipping a good solution? Anyway, very occassionally I do tip here - if I have caused inconvenience or if the service has been absolutely exceptional, and not just smoothly and efficiently professional (which I still hold as the norm to be expected). Abroad, I take pains to find out the local custom and have managed quite well.

[Pursuivant]

uncomfortable feeling to give someone money that they are not naturally entitled to.

but throwing money at the plebes and proles makes you feel... feel... almost imperatorial...

[mrshourula]

Well, this has been a most diverting thread. Thank you for the replies to my original question -- I knew it couldn't be as simple as, "There is no tipping in Finland." (We were mostly trying to figure out what she should tip the taxi driver for the trip from the airport into Tampere but have a much bigger picture, now )

As for my own feelings about tipping, I fall on the side of Mr. White (Harvey Kietel).

hmm.. isnt there a bus? 6? buss will run from there to the city and there you can pick up other, more work but cheaper

Yes, we looked at the bus schedule but doesn't stop very near where she is going and walking or trying to transfer to another bus with 100+ pounds (45+ kg) of luggage after traveling for 21 hours would be a bit of a schlep. I'm what's called in the USA, a "helicopter parent" (meaning I hover over my children to make sure they are okay) so she gets a taxi to where she is staying the first night and then she is on her own

[onkko]

Well, this has been a most diverting thread. Thank you for the replies to my original question -- I knew it couldn't be as simple as, "There is no tipping in Finland." (We were mostly trying to figure out what she should tip the taxi driver for the trip from the airport into Tampere but have a much bigger picture, now )

As for my own feelings about tipping, I fall on the side of Mr. White (Harvey Kietel).

hmm.. isnt there a bus? 6? buss will run from there to the city and there you can pick up other, more work but cheaper

Yes, we looked at the bus schedule but doesn't stop very near where she is going and walking or trying to transfer to another bus with 100+ pounds (45+ kg) of luggage after traveling for 21 hours would be a bit of a schlep. I'm what's called in the USA, a "helicopter parent" (meaning I hover over my children to make sure they are okay) so she gets a taxi to where she is staying the first night and then she is on her own

Too bad i dont have car anymore, i would have offered a lift but now its impossible . Im tho one who you warnt about so probably your doughter would run away screaming anyway

[mrshourula]

Too bad i dont have car anymore, i would have offered a lift but now its impossible . Im tho one who you warnt about so probably your doughter would run away screaming anyway

No, no warnings. Despite our differing opinions on some topics, my impression of you is one of a plain-spoken, honorable person.
ETA: However, given your reluctance to speak English and my daughter's reluctance to speak to anyone she doesn't know, it would have probably been the world's quietest car ride

[Pursuivant]

probably your doughter would run away screaming

depends on the ride...

[mrshourula]

probably your doughter would run away screaming

depends on the ride...

Which one is Onkko?

[Kupcake]

Yes, we looked at the bus schedule but doesn't stop very near where she is going and walking or trying to transfer to another bus with 100+ pounds (45+ kg) of luggage after traveling for 21 hours would be a bit of a schlep. I'm what's called in the USA, a "helicopter parent" (meaning I hover over my children to make sure they are okay) so she gets a taxi to where she is staying the first night and then she is on her own

I can identify with your helicopter parenting style - my son moved back to Australia in November last year and i did everything i could to make sure he would be ok. It's been a rough 9 months.

What date does your daughter get to Helsinki? If i'm in town i might be able to help her with a lift.

[mrshourula]

Yes, we looked at the bus schedule but doesn't stop very near where she is going and walking or trying to transfer to another bus with 100+ pounds (45+ kg) of luggage after traveling for 21 hours would be a bit of a schlep. I'm what's called in the USA, a "helicopter parent" (meaning I hover over my children to make sure they are okay) so she gets a taxi to where she is staying the first night and then she is on her own

I can identify with your helicopter parenting style - my son moved back to Australia in November last year and i did everything i could to make sure he would be ok. It's been a rough 9 months.

What date does your daughter get to Helsinki? If I'm in town i might be able to help her with a lift.

I'm about to feel your pain

She's been away at university for two years but only a two hour plane ride away and so came home for all the holidays; this might as well be the moon!

While we couldn't wish for a better, safer place for her to spend her year abroad, and there are some friends and relatives scattered about so I can call on them to act "in loco parentis" if needed, we will just miss her terribly.

Thank you for your kind offer but we were fortunate to find a decent flight straight into Tampere.

Is your son now living permanently in Australia?

[Pursuivant]

darn, thought the words were "back to the transvestite I am"?

yeah, my youth idols... Nikki is 10 older than I...

[sinikala]

We were mostly trying to figure out what she should tip the taxi driver for the trip from the airport into Tampere

Depends on the method of payment;
- paying with cash - for large fares, round up to the nearest €5, but use common sense, obviously if the fare is €10.50 you don't give €15.
- paying with plastic (as is usual in taxis) then tipping would be, IMO, unusual.

I tip 10% in restaurants if the service is good (3/4 of the time), irrespective of country. If the service is below standard (1/4 of the time?) I don't tip. Pretty straightforward really.

[Kupcake]

Yes, we looked at the bus schedule but doesn't stop very near where she is going and walking or trying to transfer to another bus with 100+ pounds (45+ kg) of luggage after traveling for 21 hours would be a bit of a schlep. I'm what's called in the USA, a "helicopter parent" (meaning I hover over my children to make sure they are okay) so she gets a taxi to where she is staying the first night and then she is on her own

I can identify with your helicopter parenting style - my son moved back to Australia in November last year and i did everything i could to make sure he would be ok. It's been a rough 9 months.

What date does your daughter get to Helsinki? If I'm in town i might be able to help her with a lift.

I'm about to feel your pain

She's been away at university for two years but only a two hour plane ride away and so came home for all the holidays; this might as well be the moon!

While we couldn't wish for a better, safer place for her to spend her year abroad, and there are some friends and relatives scattered about so I can call on them to act "in loco parentis" if needed, we will just miss her terribly.

Thank you for your kind offer but we were fortunate to find a decent flight straight into Tampere.

Is your son now living permanently in Australia?

Yes, he's moved back permanently, and we will join him (permanently) in just 313 days - at Christmas we'll fly him over for a few weeks and take a holiday with him. I know what you mean about the moon!! It takes about 30 hours to get back to Australia from here - although our last trip was a delightful 47 hours - and while he is living with relatives, the connection is not so strong because we haven't lived in the same state as them for 12 years. While we've been living away from our family, we've become a much closer family unit which has been a wonderful benefit to the move, but it has meant that we all miss each other terribly. I had some separation anxiety and depression when he first left (he left in November, so the depression was worsened by the looming darkness), but it has improved and i almost feel normal now. We just recently had 3 weeks in Australia with him, and then took him to Thailand with us for a week, and we had an absolutely wonderful time. We were all keenly aware that our time with him was short and so we lived it fully (and emotionally at times). His brothers are really suffering without him too - they just adore him! I'm getting all teary eyed just thinking about it all, so i'll stop now. But suffice to say that the deeper the love, the deeper the pain - i don't think it's possible to have one without the other.

I wish your daugher all the best for the time that she's here, and i wish you the best for what you are about to go through. PM me if it all gets too much - i wish i'd had somebody who knew what i was going through to talk to while i was going through it.