Honking Outside Shops in order to be served

KnoxCollege honking outside a restaurant has nothing to do with taking advantage of the poor. Car service is something these small shops offer. I'm sure if they had the money they would tear down their little shops and re build them with lovely drive thru windows, but since they don't, they offer car service instead. It's not that big a deal.

"I fight with love and I laugh with rage, you have to live light enough to see the humor and long enough to see some change." Ani Difranco

LOL. Good one!

Hope you aren't mistaken for a drive thru ATMs! Then we'll hear cries for picking on a few.

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I agree with you on publicizing the charity part. Islam says when you give out something in charity your left hand should not know what your right hand has donated. Its this level of humbleness and discreet behavious expected of a person while giving out charities.

So much for the Charity! :) Here we go again!

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if it still happens but I have in the past seen vehicles driven onto the pavement so that the driver can ring the door bell.

isn't it strange that if you have money you expect yourself to be treated as a king and expect the poor to serve you without moving a single muscle in your whole body.

Why is it that people expect the poor to act as their pets. to run towards them when called. To fetch the stick for them and get a bone for doing a good job

All wonders of human exploitation.

Why is it that a maid is beaten everyday and she never dares to disobey her masters------->all the time she is thinking of kids that she has to feed

Why is it that people feel so proud when they do some charity work. Something called publicity

Oh yeah, for sure all the posts have been thoroughly dissected!

Let me start another argument just for the heck of it. LOL. I would eventually agree with amnesia's explanation than yours. Perhaps, "NORM" was the terminology that I was looking for in that longer post of mine.

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That is not my intention. I think it's been discussed to death!!! Drawing a line under this topic...

LOL. That wasn't meant for you actually.

You last two sentences have all the required qualities to start another argument.

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Rayyz, I was accepting the apology graciously for personal attacks against me. If someone offers a sincere apology then I will accept and not ignore. That is why I have posted a comment this morning.

Hope we don't get started with it all over again! *rolling my eyes*

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Apology accepted Knoxcollege.

Please do not presume to know what I pay my employees. The happiness and wellbeing of my employees is of paramount importance to me as is their ability to do a good job.

If you feel you don't want to use the convenience of shop to car service then you don't have to. However I will carry on doing so and tip genorously in the process.

That I agree with 100% Stopping in the road and stopping traffic is just a pain! Myself as well as my father when I was young used to have to argue.

Sometime's I'd honk my horn and the person would act like he heard nothing, until you KNOCK the persons window and he either apologizes OR wants to fight because it's not HIS fault traffic decided to pull up behind him :P lol

__________________________

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Oh but it was today -driving along a busy little side road.. why am i stopping? A car is stopped in the middle of the road and i can't pass as traffic is coming the other way... why is the car stopped in the middle of the road? ..oh now i know.. here comes a man from the shop serving the person in the car stopped in front of me in the middle of the road....ok.. Why am i waiting now?..oh the driver is putting his/her money away and arranging things before he drives off....glance to the right....why didn't he/she park in that spot there on the side of the road in front of the shop??.....

CLAIREBEAR

I did ask one of gents in one of the shops close to airport shops about that.

His replied was:

"Is my job to serve my customers".

No complains here about it.

It is a customary service.

But, what I don't understand; "Why people drive in the opposite direction of road signs in those roads parallel to their shops?.

They have huge stencil big white arrows in the ground pointing the direction for traffic flow. Specially they got big red signs saying "Do not enter"! followed by a blue and white sign signaling the traffic flow direction.

I guess no one is perfect, until you "blow your horn" at me trying to tell me to move my car, just because you are driving in the opposite direction and I'm not.

That really piss me off.

I told him:

"Don't worry, be Happy" pointing with my finger at the ground arrow.

He gave me a thumbs up.

I was smiling, he was smiling.

I told myself, finally I got a Qatari person talk to me with humor.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

I think people are missing the point.

Some people are saying these workers are being abused by bringing a drink to the car, but it's NORMAL. It's not abuse. It's the NORM. AND the workers know and accept it.

In Japan, workers run out, fill your car up with petrol, wash your windows, then go into the street to stop traffic to make sure you get out safely and wave good bye to you! They don't get TIPPED even.

It's the NORM.

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Cheers bro! ;)

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Thank you for the explanation brother, sorry that I did not read the previous posts and just posted here regarding the thread itself. I did not get offended [why would I? :)] and it is always nice to hear from people about what do they think of my posts.

If you disagree with me on some points, then you agree with me on some points too, right? :) Honestly you brought some good points which are facts that I missed in my previous post. Both of our posts are completing each other and you make my points now even much clear and I'm thanking you for that.

Best Regards

Bro... I completely agree with you on the part that we shouldn't treat anyone like slaves or our personal servants. But I suppose you are missing the entire point that these people are hired by the supermarkets to do certain jobs, otherwise, like Diamondgirl said earlier, they are redundant.

A super market well equipped with adequate security facilities like CCTV does not require more than one person at the counter to do the managing job.

My previous post was much in sarcasm than anything else. Yes at times even I feel sorry for calling the guy in the heat to my car and I do get down many many times to get stuff for myself. I guess it all depends on the mood as well.

Anyhow, I also strongly believe that it is an added facility offered by a supermarket to have a larger customerbase and beat the next door supermarket, who is their competition. Much like offering acceptance of a credit card facility at a restaurant while compared to the ones not offering them.

I am not trying to justify the laziness, but think about time when everyone walked into a store by themselves and behaved real good in selecting a product all on their own without asking for any assistance from the guys working at the supermarket. Don't you think the 'extra' guys working in there are redundant? You might just lead to increase in umemployment ratio. I know it might just be a very tiny figure, but then again, there is a strong possibility of that happening.

Lastly, I am very thankful to Almighty Allah for giving us such a great lifestyle and blessing us with so many luxuries and really do not mean to sound too arrogant. But just think beyond the supermarket guys, there are other jobs too which need to be taken care of, for instance, a teaboy or the person who cleans the office toilet twice or thrice a day. Someone has to do it. I am not sure if you would still be saying the same that it is my tea and I am gonna make it or it is my toilet and I am gonna clean the commode with soap after I go each time.

You're a good guy and one of the nicest person I've known on QL. Do not mean to offend you at all, but only trying to convey my point of view. I could still be very wrong in thinking the way I am.

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Well, I find it really silly to mention the fact that these people are humans like us. Working in the supermarket does it mean that you got the right to abuse these people to bring you whatever you want [even a small bottle of water] to your car. Some people think that, this guy needs my money... if he won't get those things here and get me what I want I still got the option to find another supermarket and buy whatever I want. Well I'm sorry but you are totally wrong, think of this poor guy and for how long he is standing on his feet daily and you are asking him to go back and forth to bring you your drink, no not this bottle please the can, I have a hundred not 1 Riyal?????

I will find a parking to park my car even if it was not in front of the shop and go down to buy whatever I want, sometimes if I see him coming to me I will just tell him by sign that I'm coming inside so please thanks. This guy is not a slave [even if he was one, would never treat him like that] to be treated like that, the sad part some of them are in the same age of our fathers and some people does not feel anything seeing this old man running from here to there and some will insult them if they got the wrong thing. Who gave you the right to do that in the beginning to give you more authority to insult him later?

That reminds me with a story before happened in front of my friend's eyes in Syria. He was there spending his vacation on his country and where just buying something from a shop when someone of you know came and stop the car, start honking. My friend recognize from where he was from the car plate. The man there was like, what the hell is happening? Why is this crazy guy honking like that? My friend told him the story so he was like...What? What he thinks of himself? I will show him, the guy was waving to him asking him to come. He felt that something was wrong when he sees the fire in the salesman's eyes, supported with a big stick in his hand running towards him shouting: you think that I'm working for your father or what? Come here and I will teach you how to show some respect for people you ****** *******.

Please for the love of god, show some respect to these people and stop this bad habit. There is nothing nice about it, just look at it from different levels and you will see that there is no acceptable reason to do such a thing. I can accept it from you if you were a handicap who can't walk because he/she is paralyzed or got your legs taken away [God bless all of you and keep the trouble away from you]

Best Regards

yea I also believe that I was getting too personal with diamondgirl and have strayed from the topic. I do apologize to diamondgirl for all the personal attacks which I certainly believe are out of the norm for me as well.

Moreover its everyone's personal choice whether he/she wants to tip or not. There is no rule in the book of law that says you have to tip this much amount.

There is something called ground realities. I have spent much time in Qatar to know how much the poor people are given. To me if someone hands out 50 riyals as tip is quite extraordinary and unbelieving. I might be the person who believes what he sees not what he hears

Anyways it is up to you people to treat the shopkeepers as you like, honk to get their attention or to yell at them, tip them 50 or 500 riyals. You people keep on honking whereas I will drag my lazy A$$ out of my car and into the hot humid weather to buy myself a water bottle from the grocery store.

What a pity that here in Qatar you cannot go the shops while wearing the full Burqa, whereas in Europe you can take off your burqa, wear jeans, skirts, tshirts and go alone inside the shops alone

"And they called me a hypocrite"

I sincerely apologize to diamondgirl for the personal attack.

Good day

All I can say Knoxcollege is that you haven't seen me in action! Those rials are just flying out of my hands.

Today at the park (in London) I saw a guy whose job it was to scrape the doggy poo off the grass all day long. What a job! I gave him 50 pounds sterling (about $100). Likewise in Qatar it is a favourite thing of mine to tip people to help with their income.

With regards to my employees worldwide, I've never had one leave because they haven't been paid enough so they must be pretty happy with their renumeration package. The majority of my employees renew their contracts and stay for years.

Do you have any place for me in your company or Knox :D LOL no problem i wont take tip there is a religious reason for that.

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read the post in which she has mentioned that she gives 50 riyals as tip.

giving charity is different and tipping every time 50 riyals is a totally different story.

Darude if you tip 50 riyals on a dialy basis. you are looking at 1500 riyals per month. So gimme a break. You know how much the companies are paying the people in Qatar. You are very well aware of that fact. Even the big companies like Mannai and CCC pay their worker less than 1000 riyals per months. So how can i buy this idea that a person who is running many companies pays 50 riyals as tip. If she pays 50 riyals as tip it means she must be paying a good salary to her labourers. Lets ask her how much does she pays her workers. Lets set the facts straight

Qr 50 would be my minimum tip. Catch me around the Eids and I tend to give away thousands.

whats the big deal either you give it in charity or tip. Daimond said she gives less than 50Qr. well its normal very normal. even i pay 50 or 100 to charity. and the labours workin at farm house sure if i see any one workin hard i will pay them 100 or 50 extra OTHER THAN THEIR SALARY.

Depends on how big heart you got NOT HOW BIG POCKET YOU GOT.

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I have yet to see a person handing out 50 riyals as tip to shopkeepers. This used to happen here 15 years back. I myself am a witness to this happening but I really dont believe that it happends any more.

You think people who are paying their employees 500-600 riyals per months hand out 50 riyals as tip. do you want me to accept it.

I know what the workers are getting in Mannai, in CCC, and many other major companies in Qatar so dont tell me that you give people 50 riyals as tip. and if you are so generous let me know your company name so that i can refer poor people to your company. and then it will be evident how much your company takes care of drivers and labourers. I hope your company pays them 50 riyals per day

It is not personal but for one I am getting personal

I know it was meant as a joke when you said

"...get a bumper sticker that says "honk if you love jesus".

But just so there is no confusion. Muslims love Jesus too... he's our prophet too :P

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i would love to do business with your group of companies... ;p

My take on money is that it is a gift from Allah to be shared and used wisely. I have been blessed with more than I or my family will ever need so I focus a lot on ways to pass on the money and share it around and try to ensure it is used for 'good causes'.

I don't see it as mine, mine, mine!

One of those ways is tipping people. I can't see anything wrong with that. For me it'a way better feeling to give than to receive.

got to hit the road guys..........cheers

Amigo, are you kidding? It is horrible that someone who is obviously well-off would take so much time and trouble over a quarter. Some people really need to sort out their priorities!

v believe that everything including money is bestowed to us from God. So actually we r giving from within whatever has been given to us........makes life real easy knoxcollege ....just a matter of faith.......

u r adorable........I believe u need a big heart to give charity or tip or whatever and not a big pocket........I am not against anybody but I have seen people come out of their big cars in the west and ask the gas attendents if they r sure they have given back the qaurter.

Knoxcollege, on this you are just plain wrong. There are people employed specifically to do shop to car service. THIS IS THEIR JOB! I know this because I sponsor many such shops and men are recruited specifically for this purpose.

The employees value the tips they get from shop to car service. They are a valueable source of extra income. The shop generates much more business this way by providing this convenience fro customers.

And yes I think nothing of giving a QR 50 tip for a few items. I can afford it and the money will be well used. However I can't believe you only tip in restaurants or cafes..that's really stingy. Can't you spare just a couple of rials a day for someone? The newspaper guy? The petrol pump attendant? The barber? The toilet attendant? The street cleaner? The office teamaker? the office cleaner? I could go on...

Yes, in your own words, I am both 'mighty rich' and 'mighty generous'. And I'm a fantastic tipper!

Knoxcollege, I don't understand how you cannot see that things are often not as simple as they seem on the surface...as several people have pointed out, people are hired specifically to bring items to customers outside of the store, and this situation is NOT unique to the Middle East, as there are similar restaurants/convenience stores in the US that I am aware of (just because they are a vanishing group of stores does not mean that there is something wrong with them)

Even if you are not a woman, I would ask you to just for a moment how it feels for a woman (Muslim or non-Muslim, local, Western or non-Western) to walk into a shop, juice stall or restaurant with a bunch of men sitting around and have to stand there waiting with all eyes on her as her order is being prepared -- let me tell you, it is not pleasant.

I also take offense to your critique of diamongirl's tipping - who are you to say what it is appropriate for her to tip? She has already explained that she feels tips are a form of charitable giving, something to be praised rather than criticized. I personally cannot afford to give such large tips, but I certainly tip the man pumping my gas so that I do not have to get out and stand in the 40 degree heat, or anyone else I know is doing a service for me for a tiny wage! Paying (and tipping) for outdoor service has nothing to do with showing respect to "unfortunate ones" - someone can be just as rude to a worker inside a shop as outside!

I guess for women it's understandable; they don't want to be stared at and all that.For guys...nah...just get out of you car and get what you want.

The day when the honkers get out of their air-conditioned cars and go inside the shop to buy soda or coke will probably take many ages and generations to come. I hope the honkers realize how much of inconvenience are they to the shopkeepers/people living nearby when the honk their mighty cars and in return to their behavior they compensate they shopkeeper by giving him tip for doing something that he was not supposed to do.

LOL!

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Perhaps you could advocate a "role reversal" day when the poor shop keepers got to drive the Hummers /Land cruisers and the "Honkers" would run in and out of the shop to take orders for a coke in return for a tip?

SO knox, these places offer car service, whats your issue with it? Many of the grocery stores here also do delivery.

"I fight with love and I laugh with rage, you have to live light enough to see the humor and long enough to see some change." Ani Difranco

19 years of stay in Qatar and with so much luxury on offer. I have become plain lazy to get my a5s out of the car and get into a shop. And worse still I don't even tip those guys at all.

Moreover, this two page arguement hasn't helped me much in making me feel guilty about it either, nor will it encourage me to do otherwise.

Now, my question is, what are you gonna do about it? I have given my reasons for doing such in plain simple words. You wanna call me spoilt Gulfy as5. I guess I'm fine with it! :)

Btw, I'm quite sure you walk upto the TV each time to change the channels and never use the remote control. ;)

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Car service restaurants is a different story. I am talking about grocery shops and the restaurants that are 100 percent indoors.

if there is plenty of parking available, even if it is midnight, even if there is no rush, even if there is no one sitting inside the shop at 11:00 pm the people still honk. it has got nothing to do with the rush or with parking or with the timing. for some people it has become of a habit

Moreover why cant the people simeply go inside a juice stall order and then come back after five minutes and pick up their stuff. is it very hard to do

First of all Knoxcollege we do have restaurant to car service in North America. In fact A&W and other burger joints like that were famous for it until they created the take out window to keep up with incessant demand. The lack of car service in North America and Europe has nothing to do with politeness or the peoples jobs and everything to do with time management and feasibility. There's just too many damned people in the West honking for their burgers to feed them all at the car. In fact, I've been to several MacDonald's in the summers during the height of tourist season and guess what, the staff were outside taking orders to and from cars because the inside and the drive thru were too busy.

Secondly, as a woman I don't feel comfortable going into a lot of these little juice stalls with a lot of men sitting around staring at me drinking coffee. I would prefer to sit in my car. The staff doesn't seem to mind.

Finally, I usually give them a 100% tip if it's something like a 4 riyal juice or coke. They seem pretty happy with that.

"I fight with love and I laugh with rage, you have to live light enough to see the humor and long enough to see some change." Ani Difranco

it would be very easy for the people to sleep who live above the supermarkets and the shops. dont you think so. There might be other people living in the vicinity. if everyone who came to the shop started honking the people living on the other side of the road or upstairs will not be able to sleep

that the shopkeepers hate me as I dont honk and go inside the shop to buy coke. I do not tip them when I buy a one riyal coke. So i must be hated as I am not giving out generous tips(50 riyals to be exact as quoted by diamondgirl which i find applausable)

maybe I am no so rich to hand out 150-200 riyals per day as tips

so diamondgirl I am wondering that every time you go out you hand out 50 riyals as tip. Either you are mighty generous or mighty rich or both

"You said that you've become too North American. If you know North Americans you will find that many of them are generous tippers in lots of different situations outside of cafes/restaurants. Like here, in North America tipping is considered an important source of extra income for many people (eg hair salons, beauty salons, mailmen, doormen etc"

When did they start giving out fifty riyals as tip for a one riyal bottle of coke"

Tip should be atleast 20% of what you have eaten at the restaurant. Buying a one riyal bottle of coke and giving out 50 riyals as tip is considered a charity not tip

"I have never seen this in Canada or in United states. Looks as if this only happens in Middle East"

The other day, another QL member was saying "I thought the Middle East was a very religious & conservative country until I came to work here and life seemed fine to me...etc"

"Middle East" is not a country. It is a region that has many countries including Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Syria, Jordan...etc.

What goes on here is definitely different from the lifestyle in the mentioned countries.

I think it is wrong to generalize.

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Is down i need a weird terrifying kinda honk. any idea where i can get one pleaj :)

[img_assist|nid=21285|title=.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=180|height=180]

...get a bumper sticker that says "honk if you love jesus".

But seriously, they expect to come out, you expect to tip them, it works for all concerned. Took me a little while to get used to it (my wife hates it), but a 'toot toot', rather than just leaning on the horn also makes a difference.

Look its simple...most of these shops are small...u cant expect every tom, dick and harry to park their cars outside and go in just to get one coke or whatever...imagine this...4 guys go to the same small shop in their land cruisers...4 guys park outside...not saying there's parking space available but lets make u happy. 4 guys want to buy one coke each, in they go..and lo and behold there are like 6 other guys waiting to buy cokes! and they end up spending like 10 mins just to get one damn coke?? honking outside a shop is more like take away. Saves time, deal with it.

In Canada and the US we have drive-thru's when they build them here I will stop honking!!

"My parents moved alot when I was young... but I always found them." - Rodney Dangerfield

I just had to read "or is it your sense or pride and arrogance that stops you from doing it" to know that you've already decided to generalize the whole population.

It's common in the country. It's not a burden, it's a job. Simple as that.

I have a maid and a driver.

I treat them with respect. Say thank you when I'm served. I ask the driver to pick me up followed with a "Thank you" or "If it's ok with you now".

This is the way, this is the culture.

Well, definitely two differences of opinion on this thread. I'll stick with a polite little short honk, treat the employee (specifically hired to provide this service) with respect and tip him no less that QR 50 each time.

so disturbing really. I was with a Middle eastern friend and we went for a juice. I just couldn't accept it. Went off the car my self, ordered and took the stuff to the car whereas he was so amased by my action.

As I just commented on another thread, some people cannot function without servants. Simply useless!

May the roof above us never fall in, and may the friends below never fall out!

yes, how can you call a man a 'houseboy'? it's demeaning.

that you can see a reason why such titles can be derogatory.

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"There's this thing called being so open-minded your brains drop out". - Richard Dawkins

Tali, you are right in preferring the more respectful job titles.

They come from the colonial days when the 'white folks' employed help! The majority of Qataris a generation or two ago had no such help and no such names for people.

Yes, I am. Reading over books on his work keeps me sane here!

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"There's this thing called being so open-minded your brains drop out". - Richard Dawkins

Yes, Ive done it too. I have every respect for anyone doing this work, that is why I don't like the titles 'maid' and 'houseboy' . House helper, housekeeper, nanny yes, but maid and houseboy, no.

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"There's this thing called being so open-minded your brains drop out". - Richard Dawkins

knox is one of the most ignorant dumb asses i have come across on this site. As many mentioned before it is customary for them to have the guy come out and he is rewarded with a tip, which can add up to more than his salary from his employer, you think these workers would prefer it if everyone would walk in and they no longer get these tips that earn them more than their official salary? Stop being such a self-centered ignoramus and expect every culture to suit itself to your ideals of what is right or wrong.

but i find it hard to treat people in a way that i would not like myself.

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"There's this thing called being so open-minded your brains drop out". - Richard Dawkins

ha ha...a short little polite honk is fine to let the employee know you're there, repeated honking in an impatient manner is rude!

...it in context of how it is percieved here. Maybe it is not seen as that, taliesin.

Clicking the fingers in a restuarant to get the waiter's attention would be seen as quite rude in some cultures, but quite normal in others.

it's the horrible honking that would irritate me, a rude and boorish way to get someone's attention. I know drive-thru's are not that common, but still..

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"There's this thing called being so open-minded your brains drop out". - Richard Dawkins

Knoxcollege, I'm very sad to hear you only tip when at a restaurant or a hotel. I bet when you go into a small shop to buy a coke for one rial that the guy wishes you had honked the horn so he may have had the chance of a tip.

There's so much opportunity in Qatar to tip people and help with their income. For example the employees who work in public toilets all day long keeping them clean. Who could NOT tip her for doing such a job.

Like I said before a certain number of the employees of small shops are employed to serve outside. Tipping them really helps with their income.

You said that you've become too North American. If you know North Americans you will find that many of them are generous tippers in lots of different situations outside of cafes/restaurants. Like here, in North America tipping is considered an important source of extra income for many people (eg hair salons, beauty salons, mailmen, doormen etc).

I was more concerned with midday temperatures and the heat. I'd order an exta drink to give to the attendant, if I was ever to do that.

..a little uncomfortable with it. I would never do it myself. But, if it's a social norm here, and not misunderstood to be anything rude, then it's just that - a social norm.

The safety of these attendants would be a worry.

It is not that I am against giving tips to the poor people. But think for yourself is it their duty to run to your cars and serve you? If Yes then you can continue doing until the day someones accidentally comes under your car and dies. It is dangerous running around after people's cars and thats the reason the people selling newspapers have been banned from the signals and the roads

It's part of the master/servant thing going on here which makes one feel so uncomfortable. The idea of "honking' for someone to come and run around after you seems rude, no matter how much you tip them. I hate going to gas stations where I can't self serve, and the terms 'maid', 'maid's room' and 'houseboy' make me cringe too.

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"There's this thing called being so open-minded your brains drop out". - Richard Dawkins

got carried away. me is gonna change it. sorry to all for the F word

ask the guys who do it, if they appreciate the business it generates. If it doesn't offend them, or the shopkeeper, then everyone is happy... don't you think?

Ever been to TimHortons? They also serve tea outside. It is called take away. You take your car to the take away window and they hand you your stuff. They dont run to your car

we should honk outside pharmacies and travel agents offices. Infact we should be honking outside every major store, shop and when they come out to serve we should tip them. This will make them happy?

"Why the F*** hell people cannot step outside their cars and go inside the shop and buy the damn cold drink or whatever they wanna buy."

----> Is that necessary to swear and post a F word?

Then you understand nothing about automation. To have an automated system you need operators, system administrators & maintainers.Not to mention system analyst to produce system studies. The more sophisticated your system is, the more people are involved in.

is it the duty of the shopkeeper to serve you outside when you are totally capable of going inside the shop and buying whatever you want. or the people who go inside the shop are crazy and they should all honk their cars and wait for the shopkepper to bring their stuff outside.

Wonder what kinda scenario would it be to see 10/20 cars honking outside and the shopkepper running from one car to another to serve the lazy customers

In the uk, there are still a small number of serviced petrol stations where you don't have to leave the car. A man comes and puts petrol in for you at your request. He then takes your money and gives you your change back. Petrol is a little more expensive at serviced petrol stations, but then who else would pay the petrol attendant's wage.

Is that too different to what goes on here?

Quoting diamondgirl

"well if everyone stopped requesting outside service then all the small shops would go out of business and there would be many people who need a job out of one"

Gues computers and automatation should be abandoned in favor of giving people the jobs". Guess all the automatic plants should be shut down as they are dependent on very less people. guess the robots should be scrapped as they are resulting in people being laid off"

The people who fill gas if they dont fill gas then what is the purpose of them working there. If they are not filling gas than they dont have any purpose left. They might be laid off.

Similarly the people who are working at shops, they are there for running the shop, stacking stuff and other chores. They are not waiters or are they? They are shopkeppers. They definition of shopkeepers is that the run shops and sell stuff. If you honked outside a shop in states would anyone server you. ?in extreme cases you will be reported to the police for the weird and crazy behavior

Two wrongs dont make a right!!!

well if everyone stopped requesting outside service then all the small shops would go out of business and there would be many people who need a job out of one.

when I buy a coke and I always go inside the shop. pay him say Thank You and sometimes if the salesman knows english they say "your Welcome".

I only tip when I am served at a restaurant or a hotel

maybe i have become too much of a North American.

Why knoxcollege?...that is what they are specifically employed to do. They are given a salary to serve the custmers outside. Inside the shop it is self-service apart from the cashier. There's no work for them inside the shop. They are redundant inside.

it is a matter of ethics, respecting people, treating others equally.

Normally you see these things happening outside small shops. You never see people honking outside the big malls or oustide the jewellery shops.

and in my five years in North America I have never seen anyone honking outside a shop.

It is not only women who do this, men do it a lot more than women. What excuse do you have for men honking outside shops? to tip the worker. They can do it even inside the shop.

It just shows how lazy the people are. how arrogant they have become, how proud they think of themselves.

Suppose if you were a salesman at a shop. would you serve people who are honking outside? put yourself in their place and then think about it

But would you tip for that?

You might not approve of it but it's the way it is...

I think it is their duty to serve you inside the shop not outside.

Does everything have to be the same as where you come from?

Is it such a bad thing when in fact their tips over the month is more than their salary?

I repeat...local (and some other) ladies will not be comfortable going into a small shop with males only inside. There's a cultural issue here.

I know for a fact that many people tip generously as they know it will bring much needed income. It's a form of charitable giving.

If you insist to go into the shop yourself please tip generously so they don't lose an opportunity to make some extra money.

I learned of this when I was still new here in Qatar as my sponsor/employer wont allow it. You see, I was treated as part of the family and not a mere staff/employee back then...

sorry to disagree but I'm not lazy, or my behind is BIG, it's just the convenience that we're taking advantage of, and of course we do give extra for services rendered...

Cheers...

accept....way of life.....annoies me to but....when in rome...

They feel too much privilege, laziness and just a Qatari bad habit.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

the other side of that is that it is a good source of extra income for the shop assistants as it is customary to tip them for their effort.

from a cultural point of view ladies would not be comfortable going into a small shop with male only assistants.

so it works well for both sides