I tip the following: waiters and waitresses, the pizza delivery people, the guys who take care of my trees once a year, the guys who recently did my landscaping, my hairdresser, and the Home Depot or Lowe's employees who load mulch into my car. At Christmas, I give generous tips to the man who maintains my yard and to my pool guy.
After many trips abroad where tipping isn't a thing, I remain troubled by the fact that America still clings to this Civil War notion of tipping. My meals in Europe cost less than here, the wait staff must be paid a living wage because some make it a career and no one complains. Why is my country set up this way?
I tip when service goes above and beyond, but honestly, my country continues to have obvious problems with tipping and wages.
Tipping will never go away entirely unless every state pays the same minimum wage to workers. Waitstaff who work an 8 hour shift for $3 an hour can't get by without tips and are interacting with customers multiple times over a meal. But in no universe will I tip for no real service which, in my mind, includes dropping a donut into a bag or boxing up a pizza.
Absolutely tipping is not dead, but never for services when I am doing the work i.e.take out, pick up a drink, gas attendants, buying an ice cream cone etc. Im ok with tipping tour guides and maids and waiters and drivers etc and Ill tell you why-because everyone doesnt tip who really should. I was in St Lucia and went on an island tour. The guide did a fantastic job and it was like 10 hours. I actually gave more than 20% and I am glad I did because I saw some people who I know for a fact gave 0 tip, and its really not fair. Europe is another story but I do continue to tip but its more like rounding up to the next reasonable monetary value, but sometimes more or less depending on the quality of the service. I always look up what the custom is for general guidance. We can argue all we want about the unfairness of the system but I'll tell you what really isnt fair-getting charged a 18% -20% service fee that goes to the whatever establishment and that doesnt all go to the waiters/workers. If you want to leave a tip it's on top of that. As far as I am concerned that's a really good way to get rid of me as a future customer.
There are tip jars out at the bagel shop, the dry cleaner, the coffee shop, the take out donuts shop, the take out counter at the deli. I don't tip because these workers are paid prevailing wages. I tip waiters, waitresses, bar tenders because their salary, especially waiters and waitresses, is very low on the expectation that they will receive tips. I tip very little for poor service and extremely generously for good, interested service. I was a waitress for 20 years and I worked to give excellent service. I memorized all my regular customers' (They were mostly regular customers.) names, company names, and usual drink. I would greet them personally, "Hello Mr. Graham! The usual? How are things at the think tank today?" and get their drink quickly. Take order and insure it was perfect. Occasionally gently steer them away from a dish I felt was not up to standard. At Christmas I baked cookies and each regular customer got a wrapped box of home made cookies. The diabetics got a box of tea. My station was always packed and my tips were excellent. I even took one high powered executive aside and told him how much I enjoyed waiting on him and his entourage but I was worried that they never ate anything but steak and baked potato and that it would not kill him to have a salad too. From then on when they came each man ordered steak, baked potato and a salad.
'Thanks' for this excellent article. Something you don't mention is that the 'Payment machines' in restaurants that suggest various tipping % options are calculating that tip on the tax-included price. So, they asking you to tip on the tax. That's just nuts...but all the machines are set up to do that.
I complained about that situation at a restaurant and they promptly removed $1.06 from my tip on the tax but they did not apologize for adding it in the first place so I won't be going back there.
I just spent a tipless and happy week in Tokyo. After doing a little research I discovered that a tip in Japan is considered an insult. It was a very stress free week.
The system is broken and needs fixed. I've lived in some "no tip" countries. Service is fine. People do their jobs just like people do their jobs where there are no tips in this country. If we presume people will only do a good job if they are tipped that doesn't speak well for our expectations of work ethic. I work in a job that you don't get tipped and also don't get paid well. I always get outstanding performance appraisals. We should expect that in every profession.
I refuse to penalize servers for excellent service because of tipping "prompts" on payment apps, etc. Fact is, most servers don't even get minimum wage in most states. European servers are seen as professionals and are paid accordingly, so tips are not expected, but 10% for a great job is appreciated.
When paying the bill AFTER service, I'll enter "no tip" but tell the server that I'm leaving cash (which is better for them anyway - no cut for the boss!) and how I appreciated their service OR let them know what was lacking. A very good job gets 20%, an exemplary job could get more. I never tip before being served. I also tip occasionally for takeout depending on the amount of effort, but not as a routine. I still tip my barber of 25 years of cutting my hair.
I tip, and I tip well — restaurant servers, food delivery drivers, my hairdresser and nail techs. I also add a buck to my coffee orders, and when I stay in a hotel I request daily service and leave $5/day for housekeeping. But that’s pretty much it.
(I don’t tip in a restaurant that automatically adds a gratuity.)
I look at it this way: My son was a server for a time and I saw how hard that is and how awful people can be. And when it comes to professionals, I can’t do what they do.
The amount I tip is always related to the level of service received. On a recent Emirates flite, our attendant took such fine care of us I wanted to tip him. He refused. Finally I suggested he donate it to a charity, which he agreed to. Incidentally, he was not an enthusiastic newbie. He’d been flying for many years.
I tip restaurant servers pretty generously because I live in a tipped wage state. I also frequent places where I know the staff, and I get good service. I only tip perfunctorily everywhere else, like $1 on coffee or carry out or a counter order in a fast casual spot. The tip screens have run amok across retail. I was shown one at the hardware store.
I tip but less and with more resentment. In a tipped wage state, like California, workers already get a pretty hefty, mandated, state or local minimum wage with extra tips on top. Minimum wages seem high, social net is strong, and this isn't a career. Asking for tips without service is just an annoying manipulation that intentionally puts me in a difficult social position. As it is, I avoid eating out because, not only is the food expensive, the "sales and tipping tax" is an additional 25-30%. I feel different in states like Maine, where the employee can be paid less than the federal minimum wage and tips make up the difference.
Always tip hotel housekeepers as they are overworked and underpaid.
Was driving to the airport the other day, pulled over for doing 79 in a 75mph zone. Police officer - very nice - told me he had no choice but to give me a ticket which he did on his iPad. The fine was listed, below that and before the signature space was a suggested tip. OK, just kidding, but it seems as if tipping has gone so overboard that it wouldn't surprise me if it did happen. More seriously, I actually like the idea of restaurants adding an automatic gratuity, as one often sees in touristy spots. The gratuity then becomes a line item, we can choose to add a couple bucks or not (as is the case in Europe), it makes it easy for restaurants to pool tips and adds clarity. The often used reason to not to that is what does one do if the service is awful? Well, that's for the restaurant management to deal with, not unlike any non-restaurant where one encounters service problems.
One of the worst tipping situations for me is at a higher class hotel like the Swan at Disney World. I have no problem tipping housekeeping, but when you arrive, one bellman helps to unload the car. And then another bellman brings the cart with the luggage up to the room. It angers me that they expect TWO tips.
I always and I mean always refuse offers of porting your luggage whether it's a hotel cruise ship taxi whatever. That way I'm assured of never having to tip these dudes.
In Ohio, servers get $5.25 and tips are supposed to get them to at least $10.25. it's a dumb system but that's what it is, so I always tip generously, and if I've had bad service I talk to the manager since it's their job to manage the staff. I also yip my hair dresser and massage ladies well. And, when I miss an appointment or need a quick haircut, they work me in. So, I'm in effect, paying for loyalty that goes both ways. That said, I just had a cooktop delivered and I didn't tip those guys, nor the guys that delivered my grill, because they work directly for the company and I try to make sure I work with companies that are good to their employees. I agree a better way would be for employees to pay at least (or more) the normal minimum wage and tips would be really optional for extra service. But people hate change, and big corporations have figured out if they whine about expenses, that people will believe them, while the CEO makes millions.
I tip the following: waiters and waitresses, the pizza delivery people, the guys who take care of my trees once a year, the guys who recently did my landscaping, my hairdresser, and the Home Depot or Lowe's employees who load mulch into my car. At Christmas, I give generous tips to the man who maintains my yard and to my pool guy.
You are very generous.
After many trips abroad where tipping isn't a thing, I remain troubled by the fact that America still clings to this Civil War notion of tipping. My meals in Europe cost less than here, the wait staff must be paid a living wage because some make it a career and no one complains. Why is my country set up this way?
I tip when service goes above and beyond, but honestly, my country continues to have obvious problems with tipping and wages.
Kay, you're right -- the system is broken. Throwing more of our hard-earned money at it won't fix it. Change must come from within.
Tipping will never go away entirely unless every state pays the same minimum wage to workers. Waitstaff who work an 8 hour shift for $3 an hour can't get by without tips and are interacting with customers multiple times over a meal. But in no universe will I tip for no real service which, in my mind, includes dropping a donut into a bag or boxing up a pizza.
Yes, our minimum wage is problematic, I agree.
Wage is a whole other can of worms, so to speak. You have states where 30k per years is a good step into middle class, and others where it is poverty.
Absolutely tipping is not dead, but never for services when I am doing the work i.e.take out, pick up a drink, gas attendants, buying an ice cream cone etc. Im ok with tipping tour guides and maids and waiters and drivers etc and Ill tell you why-because everyone doesnt tip who really should. I was in St Lucia and went on an island tour. The guide did a fantastic job and it was like 10 hours. I actually gave more than 20% and I am glad I did because I saw some people who I know for a fact gave 0 tip, and its really not fair. Europe is another story but I do continue to tip but its more like rounding up to the next reasonable monetary value, but sometimes more or less depending on the quality of the service. I always look up what the custom is for general guidance. We can argue all we want about the unfairness of the system but I'll tell you what really isnt fair-getting charged a 18% -20% service fee that goes to the whatever establishment and that doesnt all go to the waiters/workers. If you want to leave a tip it's on top of that. As far as I am concerned that's a really good way to get rid of me as a future customer.
Thanks for your perspective, George.
There are tip jars out at the bagel shop, the dry cleaner, the coffee shop, the take out donuts shop, the take out counter at the deli. I don't tip because these workers are paid prevailing wages. I tip waiters, waitresses, bar tenders because their salary, especially waiters and waitresses, is very low on the expectation that they will receive tips. I tip very little for poor service and extremely generously for good, interested service. I was a waitress for 20 years and I worked to give excellent service. I memorized all my regular customers' (They were mostly regular customers.) names, company names, and usual drink. I would greet them personally, "Hello Mr. Graham! The usual? How are things at the think tank today?" and get their drink quickly. Take order and insure it was perfect. Occasionally gently steer them away from a dish I felt was not up to standard. At Christmas I baked cookies and each regular customer got a wrapped box of home made cookies. The diabetics got a box of tea. My station was always packed and my tips were excellent. I even took one high powered executive aside and told him how much I enjoyed waiting on him and his entourage but I was worried that they never ate anything but steak and baked potato and that it would not kill him to have a salad too. From then on when they came each man ordered steak, baked potato and a salad.
'Thanks' for this excellent article. Something you don't mention is that the 'Payment machines' in restaurants that suggest various tipping % options are calculating that tip on the tax-included price. So, they asking you to tip on the tax. That's just nuts...but all the machines are set up to do that.
I complained about that situation at a restaurant and they promptly removed $1.06 from my tip on the tax but they did not apologize for adding it in the first place so I won't be going back there.
Donald, I'm glad you liked the story.
I just spent a tipless and happy week in Tokyo. After doing a little research I discovered that a tip in Japan is considered an insult. It was a very stress free week.
Yes, it is. I loved living in Japan.
The system is broken and needs fixed. I've lived in some "no tip" countries. Service is fine. People do their jobs just like people do their jobs where there are no tips in this country. If we presume people will only do a good job if they are tipped that doesn't speak well for our expectations of work ethic. I work in a job that you don't get tipped and also don't get paid well. I always get outstanding performance appraisals. We should expect that in every profession.
Yes, absolutely. The system is broken.
I refuse to penalize servers for excellent service because of tipping "prompts" on payment apps, etc. Fact is, most servers don't even get minimum wage in most states. European servers are seen as professionals and are paid accordingly, so tips are not expected, but 10% for a great job is appreciated.
When paying the bill AFTER service, I'll enter "no tip" but tell the server that I'm leaving cash (which is better for them anyway - no cut for the boss!) and how I appreciated their service OR let them know what was lacking. A very good job gets 20%, an exemplary job could get more. I never tip before being served. I also tip occasionally for takeout depending on the amount of effort, but not as a routine. I still tip my barber of 25 years of cutting my hair.
I tip, and I tip well — restaurant servers, food delivery drivers, my hairdresser and nail techs. I also add a buck to my coffee orders, and when I stay in a hotel I request daily service and leave $5/day for housekeeping. But that’s pretty much it.
(I don’t tip in a restaurant that automatically adds a gratuity.)
I think that's pretty generous of you.
I look at it this way: My son was a server for a time and I saw how hard that is and how awful people can be. And when it comes to professionals, I can’t do what they do.
The amount I tip is always related to the level of service received. On a recent Emirates flite, our attendant took such fine care of us I wanted to tip him. He refused. Finally I suggested he donate it to a charity, which he agreed to. Incidentally, he was not an enthusiastic newbie. He’d been flying for many years.
I like that. Seems like a good alternative.
We always take chocolate for flight attendants on long haul flights. Always a big hit!
I tip restaurant servers pretty generously because I live in a tipped wage state. I also frequent places where I know the staff, and I get good service. I only tip perfunctorily everywhere else, like $1 on coffee or carry out or a counter order in a fast casual spot. The tip screens have run amok across retail. I was shown one at the hardware store.
A hardware store? That definitely crosses a line.
I tip but less and with more resentment. In a tipped wage state, like California, workers already get a pretty hefty, mandated, state or local minimum wage with extra tips on top. Minimum wages seem high, social net is strong, and this isn't a career. Asking for tips without service is just an annoying manipulation that intentionally puts me in a difficult social position. As it is, I avoid eating out because, not only is the food expensive, the "sales and tipping tax" is an additional 25-30%. I feel different in states like Maine, where the employee can be paid less than the federal minimum wage and tips make up the difference.
Always tip hotel housekeepers as they are overworked and underpaid.
Oh, that's interesting. Tip rage. I'm going to have to write something about that soon. Thank you for the idea.
Was driving to the airport the other day, pulled over for doing 79 in a 75mph zone. Police officer - very nice - told me he had no choice but to give me a ticket which he did on his iPad. The fine was listed, below that and before the signature space was a suggested tip. OK, just kidding, but it seems as if tipping has gone so overboard that it wouldn't surprise me if it did happen. More seriously, I actually like the idea of restaurants adding an automatic gratuity, as one often sees in touristy spots. The gratuity then becomes a line item, we can choose to add a couple bucks or not (as is the case in Europe), it makes it easy for restaurants to pool tips and adds clarity. The often used reason to not to that is what does one do if the service is awful? Well, that's for the restaurant management to deal with, not unlike any non-restaurant where one encounters service problems.
The visual of the police officer soliciting a tip is stuck in my head now.
One of the worst tipping situations for me is at a higher class hotel like the Swan at Disney World. I have no problem tipping housekeeping, but when you arrive, one bellman helps to unload the car. And then another bellman brings the cart with the luggage up to the room. It angers me that they expect TWO tips.
I always and I mean always refuse offers of porting your luggage whether it's a hotel cruise ship taxi whatever. That way I'm assured of never having to tip these dudes.
I think that hotel also has a mandatory resort fee. Bad.
In Ohio, servers get $5.25 and tips are supposed to get them to at least $10.25. it's a dumb system but that's what it is, so I always tip generously, and if I've had bad service I talk to the manager since it's their job to manage the staff. I also yip my hair dresser and massage ladies well. And, when I miss an appointment or need a quick haircut, they work me in. So, I'm in effect, paying for loyalty that goes both ways. That said, I just had a cooktop delivered and I didn't tip those guys, nor the guys that delivered my grill, because they work directly for the company and I try to make sure I work with companies that are good to their employees. I agree a better way would be for employees to pay at least (or more) the normal minimum wage and tips would be really optional for extra service. But people hate change, and big corporations have figured out if they whine about expenses, that people will believe them, while the CEO makes millions.