Tipping etiquette in Santo Domingo

Kricke87

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Feb 16, 2021
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I tip the bag person, but not the cashier as they get paid much more.
How do you know?
I just take an example from Super Pola here in Sosúa.
I personally know some of those who work there.
The "bag person" (what a nickname :ROFLMAO: ), can sometimes be a cashier, the security guard, someone who does something else.

And just think of it, at the bigger supermarkets, if just one "bag person" attends 100 people during one day and everyone in average gives him 25 pesos.
That's 2500 pesos, tax free. Then if he works let's say 6 days a week, that's 60000 pesos per month.
Do you think a cashier makes 60000 pesos/month?
 
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MariaRubia

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Jun 25, 2019
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Take turns is correct. Gentleman and businessmen don't keep tabs on who ordered what. I must emphasize that I will never socialize or do business with anyone who mistreats service people. Stiffing a waiter, bartender, barber etc by giving them 100 pesos is rude and inconsiderate.

Could you answer my question please? I asked how much on average you expect the check to be when four of you go out to one of these restaurants.
 

MariaRubia

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How do you know?
I just take an example from Super Pola here in Sosúa.
I personally know some of those who work there.
The "bag person" (what a nickname :ROFLMAO: ), can sometimes be a cashier, the security guard, someone who does something else.

And just think of it, at the bigger supermarkets, if just one "bag person" attends 100 people during one day and everyone in average gives him 25 pesos.
That's 2500 pesos, tax free. Then if he works let's say 6 days a week, that's 60000 pesos per month.
Do you think a cashier makes 60000 pesos/month?

I was in Nacional the other day and the card machine would not work. So they had to process my credit card manually and then they needed someone with an Amex to put into the register but said it wouldn't be charged. And two of the packers produced one.
 

bob saunders

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Jan 1, 2002
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How do you know?
I just take an example from Super Pola here in Sosúa.
I personally know some of those who work there.
The "bag person" (what a nickname :ROFLMAO: ), can sometimes be a cashier, the security guard, someone who does something else.

And just think of it, at the bigger supermarkets, if just one "bag person" attends 100 people during one day and everyone in average gives him 25 pesos.
That's 2500 pesos, tax free. Then if he works let's say 6 days a week, that's 60000 pesos per month.
Do you think a cashier makes 60000 pesos/month?
Doesn't matter, as the tipper I decide whom I am going to tip, or my wife does, and I hand over the cash. Plus, not everyone tips, I bet the majority of Dominicans don't.
 

SKY

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Apr 11, 2004
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Doesn't matter, as the tipper I decide whom I am going to tip, or my wife does, and I hand over the cash. Plus, not everyone tips, I bet the majority of Dominicans don't.
If you spent any time in the Supermarkets here you will find out what Bob just said. The majority of Dominicans give AIR to the bag person..............
 

NanSanPedro

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If you spent any time in the Supermarkets here you will find out what Bob just said. The majority of Dominicans give AIR to the bag person..............
I understood that the bag guys work for tips only. Is that correct? I typically give 30 pesos when they bag for me. I have seen other Dominicans tip, usually 10 pesos.
 

MariaRubia

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Jun 25, 2019
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I understood that the bag guys work for tips only. Is that correct? I typically give 30 pesos when they bag for me. I have seen other Dominicans tip, usually 10 pesos.

They get paid in one of the chains, I can't remember which one, but mostly they just get tips. In Nacional / Jumbo they aren't paid, but they have to work under labor rules, ie. 44 hour week maximum and they can only do 89 days then have to have a 3 month break to stop them from being able to go to the Secretaria.
 

Facepalm Supreme

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I understood that the bag guys work for tips only. Is that correct? I typically give 30 pesos when they bag for me. I have seen other Dominicans tip, usually 10 pesos.
Can't be given as it's culturally not popular to tip here. I imagine that perhaps they are paid less, as waiters in the US are, and a percentage, perhaps a significant percentage of their pay comes from tips but still I can't imagine that is enough for it to be worth it.
 

Facepalm Supreme

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Dec 29, 2022
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They get paid in one of the chains, I can't remember which one, but mostly they just get tips. In Nacional / Jumbo they aren't paid, but they have to work under labor rules, ie. 44 hour week maximum and they can only do 89 days then have to have a 3 month break to stop them from being able to go to the Secretaria.
WOW, unbelievable.

So they are paid at Bravo then?
 

SKY

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I understood that the bag guys work for tips only. Is that correct? I typically give 30 pesos when they bag for me. I have seen other Dominicans tip, usually 10 pesos.
Correct, unless some salaried worker is helping out the bag guys get no salary...........But there would be NO bag guys if they could not make a living out of it.......
 

JD Jones

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Jan 7, 2016
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Doesn't matter, as the tipper I decide whom I am going to tip, or my wife does, and I hand over the cash. Plus, not everyone tips, I bet the majority of Dominicans don't.
And you would be right.

I have been going to JUMBO religiously since they opened, and have talked to baggers there almost every time I go. (I always give them 100 pesos and ask if that's what they normally get.)

The majority of the times, they tell me Dominicans will either not tip, or they give spare change which is usually 25 pesos or less.

In Bravo. the cashiers are the ones who do the bagging as they swipe each item.
 

NanSanPedro

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And you would be right.

I have been going to JUMBO religiously since they opened, and have talked to baggers there almost every time I go. (I always give them 100 pesos and ask if that's what they normally get.)

The majority of the times, they tell me Dominicans will either not tip, or they give spare change which is usually 25 pesos or less.

In Bravo. the cashiers are the ones who do the bagging as they swipe each item.
Not true in San Isidro, which is my only Bravo. There is an army of guys, much like Jumbo. They bag and will take your shit to your car if you have one. They are also resonsible for cart-herding in the parking lot. The only exception to this are the 10 items or less cashiers. They bag themselves. They are also pretty good about telling the math impaired that 142 items is larger than 10.
 

Big

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Apr 24, 2019
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Could you answer my question please? I asked how much on average you expect the check to be when four of you go out to one of these restaurants.
four to five hundred (U.S) with wine and drinks. The restaurants are packed with tables just like us. Leaving a few hundred pesos for the servers (sometimes there are 2 or 3) would be the equivalent of flashing the middle finger.
 

JD Jones

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Not true in San Isidro, which is my only Bravo. There is an army of guys, much like Jumbo. They bag and will take your shit to your car if you have one. They are also resonsible for cart-herding in the parking lot. The only exception to this are the 10 items or less cashiers. They bag themselves. They are also pretty good about telling the math impaired that 142 items is larger than 10.
I stand corrected. I've only been in a few BRAVOS.
 

Big

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I also tip the taxi driver and the uber driver. Often times they wait for me at the restaurant so when I leave, I just jump into the waiting ride. As I indicated I tip for service and take care of the people that take care of me.
 

MariaRubia

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Jun 25, 2019
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four to five hundred (U.S) with wine and drinks. The restaurants are packed with tables just like us. Leaving a few hundred pesos for the servers (sometimes there are 2 or 3) would be the equivalent of flashing the middle finger.

So you leave a 30% tip, which is US$ 150, or RD$ 8,250? You think that's a reasonable amount to tip?
 
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