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Is _domo arigato_ considered formal?

Context: Buying something at a store, thanking a waiter, etc
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2016-01-11T13:32:00.040
30350
2016-01-11T15:54:03.263
2016-01-11T14:02:08.310
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question
words word-requests formality
Is *domo arigato* considered formal?
ありがとう、どうもありがとう、ありがとうございます、どうもありがとうございます is polite in order of increasing. I
think ありがとう、どうもありがとう is usually used in this context but it is better to use
ありがとうございます and どうもありがとうございます for important person like your master.
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2016-01-11T15:45:43.820
30352
2016-01-11T15:45:43.820
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answer
It is considered somewhat formal, but you actually don't thank someone for
their service to you. It's more or less a cultural thing, in which the person
working is expected to perform their job with or without praise. As a result,
it can be a little confusing when you thank someone in the service industry
for doing their job. It's not like you telling them that makes too big a
difference in their lives, nor does it truly motivate them to keep doing the
job they're already being compensated for. The paycheck is their thanks, not
your saying so. The only times in which you would use some variation of
"arigatou" is when someone OUTSIDE the service industry performs a task for
you or if you receive a favor or a gift from another party. For example, I
thank people on HiNative for providing me with clear answers or detailed
explanations of words or sentences I cannot make sense of on my own. There are
likely other cases, but these are the few that come to mind at the moment.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-11T15:54:03.263
30354
2016-01-11T15:54:03.263
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answer