Need tips on tipping
 

I am aware US is a tipping society. I’m a budget traveler from overseas (where tipping isn’t quite as common – or already included in the bill). How much would be a reasonable tip? <BR><BR>I’ve heard that we should tip wait staff 15-20%. But what about:<BR>- wait staff that serves free drinks in Las Vegas?)<BR>- bus driver (that drives the free hotel shuttle bus to and from Disneyland). Tip for the rides both ways?<BR><BR>Maybe you guys can share and tell me about tipping etiquette. I don’t want to offend at yet I need to be cost conscious. Thanks.<BR>

Actually, tipping is always optional. Note, however, that nearly everyone in the US working in a position where tipping is customary earns a very low (often below minimum wage) hourly rate and depends upon tips for a reasonable income. 15% is just fine for wait staff. 20% would be generous if you receive extra nice service. Less or nothing is just fine if the service is lacking or miserable. If you don't tip the wait staff when you're served free drinks in Vegas, they won't come back to you after that. There is no need to tip the bus driver that drives the free shuttle for the hotel at Disneyland. If the driver &quot;announces&quot; that gratuities are appreciated or something like that, it's entirely up to you. A free service provided by the hotel is, indeed &quot;free&quot;.

Regarding tipping the person who brings free drinks while you are gambling, I'd suggest always giving them a dollar. If you are winning or if you want to see them back quicker, give them two dollars. If you are winning big, give them a fifty!<BR><BR>Actually the standard for tipping in really nice restaurants in now 20% whether a lot of people want to admit it or not. For example in the fine restaurants in Bellagio, 15% would be considered pretty cheap, especially considering how many people that will need to be split among. In medium priced or budget restaurants 15% is fine, unless again you have some extra special service, then leave a little more.

I do not understand why anyone would think the waiter at an expensive place deserves more for his work, than the single Mom waiting tables at Shoneys. I tip a standard $5.00 no matter where I eat.

As for the shuttle driver, if he helps you with your bags, the standard is $1/bag or I usually just tip $5 if I have a few bags. If he doesn't help me on or off the bus or give me directions or anything other than simply driving the bus, I don't tip.

to answer xxx:<BR>#1: Because at Shoney's the waitress is not sharing her tip with four or five other helpers, wine steward, bartender, captain, busboys, runners, etc.<BR>#2: Because there is a WHOLE lot more service involved at Prime or Picasso than there is at Shoney's. <BR>#3: Because that's the way it is. <BR>#4: I never said the waitress at Shoney's shouldn't get as high a percentage as a waiter at a more expensive place. If she is outstanding, then by all means she easily deserves 20% too. But if she is like MOST (please note I didn't say ALL) waitresses at Shoney's and similar places that I have encountered -- &quot;outstanding service&quot; and Shoney's waitress do not belong in the same sentence.

What about breakfast buffets (included in room price)? No money changes hands - it's not even clear what the breakfast costs. Should I tip the waitstaff that bring the coffee?

I'm not much of buffet person, but had a stay at The Mirage that included breakfast buffet, so did it. I took small portions, returning several times to the buffet. Each time the waiter took my plate, and even replaced my silver I think. He brought coffee three or four times, and refilled water glasses a couple of times. He brought juice to the table, and later returned to refill those. Before we started, he went into great detail about the layout of the buffet and what was good and fresh and what wasn't. He brought our check. Overall, I think there was more service involved than an average served-at-the-table breakfast. I don't know what the buffet was supposed to cost, but I think the two of us gave him five dollars, which in retrospect seemed like maybe not as much as it should have been.

In reviewing your last question, pnc, it seems that maybe you're talking more like a Hampton Inn little help-yourself breakfast, where all the staff does in bring you coffee (maybe) and might clear the table. I'd leave a dollar per person.

Buffet service that clears your plates and refills drinks normally is a 10% tip.

Patrick, I always think you give good advice. However, this time I disagree with your attitude. We went to Circo in Bellagio (and maybe it isn't one of their most expensive restaurants) but I thought our server was rude and the service was not any more special than ANY other restaurant. A 15% tip at a more expensive restaurant is going to be alot more money than 15% at Shoney's. I do not feel that I should have to tip 20% because of where I am but rather because I had good service. What if you had exceptional service - should you then tip 25-30%. Also, while I have never waitressed, I do assume that Shoney's shares their tips with their busboys also.

I was afraid my post would be misinerpreted, and maybe I wasn't very clear. Of course, you may have really horrible service at the best restaurant and you may have really wonderful service at the cheapest. AND YES, YOU SHOULD TIP ACCORDINGLY. I just meant that as a basis overall (and virtually any major dining guide would agree with this) the base percentage should be higher at a more upscale restaurant where there is MORE service, meaning more people waiting on you, additional wine service, and more courses that require special presentation or preparation at the table. If you go to an upscale restaurant and have really horrible service, then yes don't tip 20% by all means. And if you go to Shoney's and have a super friendly waitress who bends over backwards to serve you, then by all means give her 20 or even 25%, even though she will still be getting an overall lesser amount that the lousy waiter at Circo. That's just the way it is. <BR><BR>I guess the bottom line or the general rule of thumb is that if you are eating in a more expensive restaurant you should also expect to tip more (starting with a higher percentage). <BR>I know some people also feel that a $5 tip on a bottle of wine is fine rather than a percentage and would tip that amount on either a $30 bottle or a $300 bottle. That's fine if that's what you want to do, but it just isn't done in knowing circles. Never mind that one bottle was no harder to serve than the other, it's just a fact of dining out and doing things the proper way.<BR><BR>But again, if you have a rude and horrible server at a fine restaurant, there is no reason in the world to still tip him 20%, or even 15$. And if the server is really that terrible, you owe it to the management to explain to them why you &quot;shorted&quot; the waiter, and not to the waiter himself.

That is just the way it is?? Sorry, but I don't go along with that. I do not think that the crumby waiter at the good place deserves more, just because you paid more for the food on the plate. I like the idea of a standard tip. No percentage, no price differance. Tip for service, and service only.

Patrick, you say that you KNOW that it does not take any more effort to serve a $300 bottle of wine that it takes to serve a $30, and yet in &quot;KNOWING&quot; circles, you tip more???? Wow. I stand in awe of 'knowing' cirles.

O.K., lets just say that I also stand in awe of people who can spell and type better than I......

from one x to another, I congratulate you on your sense of humor, and more importantly, your ability to laugh at yourself.

xxx, where did you read a post where I said &quot;I KNOW that it doesn't take any more effort to serve a $300 bottle of wine that a $30 one&quot;? If you re-read my above post I never said that. I was refering to what some people think when they believe that it is ok to leave the same tip for two wines. And in some cases it really is no more effort. Not all expensive wines require decanting for example, while some $30 wines actually do, if that is your point. But there certainly are SOME $300 wines that take no more effort to serve than some $ 30 wines. And that is something I KNOW! It was an example.

As the mother of 2 former paperboys, I wonder how many of you so happy to tip generous amounts to professional servers even tipped your paperboys at Christmas. I found the people who tipped the pizza delivery guy $3 for a pizza couldn't come up with $20 at Christmas for the poor kid who delivered to their door 365 days a year.

Agree, I also am a mother of a paperboy and have seen some of our neighbors who my son delivers to tip a coat check person two dollars for hanging up their coat. Then they can't give my kid a Christmas tip when he delivers to their house everyday. People don't realize how little paperboys make from the paper. They depend on the tips but they are the last people that are thought of .

I agree that the paper delivery person should get a good tip. We also leave $10.00 each for the two guys who do our trash pick-up. These guys have to get out in all kinds of weather and do a job that nobody else wants.

I travel just about every week.<BR>I almost always tip 20% (or more) unless the waitstaff was rude. Since I travel alone I am ofetn treated rude and they try to brush me off to the bar! Having been a waitress at a moderate restaurant, I realize that I am occupying a table for 2 (at least) and if I do not tip generously for good service, I am perpetuating the problem of single diners being pushed to the bar.<BR>On a 30.00 meal, I have tipped up to 30% for excellent service. A great deal since I am the easiest customer in the world, and don't &quot;camp out&quot; at the table.<BR>Car valets are another thing all together. While staying at the Four Season Toronto a couple of weeks ago I witnessed a man in a Rolls Royce tip the valet 50.00. The guy who was lucky enough to fetch my rental Cavalier got 2.00. I was overwhelmed with so much guilt I tipped him 5.00 the next day.<BR>Car valet tipping is somewhat annoying to me.<BR>The airport car park shuttle driver always gets 2.00. If I am running late and he helps me get there fast it can be up to 5.00. <BR>Ditto with hotel a/p shuttle.<BR>I hate having people take my bags to the room and try to refuse but if they force me I pay 1/00 a bag... remember, I asked that they let me do it and they would not.<BR>Last but not least... if you have poor service at a restaurant I ask that you try to determine the cause before you stiff the waitstaff. Problems with your food??? Unless the waitstaff botched your order, this is a kitchen issue NOT a waitstaff issue. If the waiter is hurried and not as attentive as you would like... it may be because someone did not show up for work and he/she is working 2 stations. <BR>I try very hard to make good decisions because most people waiting tables really want to serve you well, sometimes things are just set against it happening.

Used to be that 10% was an appropriate tip. Then it went to 12%, then 15%, and now it's 15%-20%, with some here suggesting 25% or 30% as sometimes warranted. I don't get it! How does that happen? I don't think any of us really want to pay more in tips, do we? Increasing base wages and increasing menu prices already represent increasing compensation to wait staff. So why does tipping percentage need to increase on top of that?<BR><BR>And no offense, Patrick, but who is it that determines the &quot;proper way&quot; to tip? Seems to me it should be the customers.

Patrick may take a big game, but he ALWAYS stiffs the bellman. He indicated that in a previous post.

There are still paperboys. My &quot;paperboy&quot; drives down the street and throws the paper at the end of the driveway even in the rain or snow. However, he always includes a Christmas card with his address before the holidays.

Well, since we're talking about paperboys, maybe someone could enlighten me on how/how much to tip the garbage collectors at Christmas time, and the recycle guy?

I don't tip the garbage and recycle collectors. They are paid a good wage for their work. And they're not at my house every day for just a few pennies.

Oh for god sakes you losers, just give the poster the information he/she needs. Not some philosophical tirade that makes you feel better once unloaded onto us.<BR><BR>Tippy, here's the info you need. It's from this very web site, in fact:<BR><BR>At restaurants, a 15% tip is standard for waiters; up to 20% may be expected at more expensive establishments. The same goes for taxi drivers, bartenders, and hairdressers. Coat-check operators usually expect $1; bellhops and porters should get 50 cents to $1 per bag; hotel maids in upscale hotels should get about $1 per day of your stay. On package tours, conductors and drivers usually get $10 per day from the group as a whole; check whether this has already been figured into your cost. For local sightseeing tours, you may individually tip the driver-guide $1 if he or she has been helpful or informative. Ushers in theaters do not expect tips. <BR>

I can understand the idea of tipping by percentage if you go to a very expensive restaurant, but if you go to a place where your meal is $10 or less then you should pay at least $5 per dinner for this service. I work at a breakfast house, and many times not only do I serve their meals and drinks but also have to cook their food too.

I think that everyone that feels that tipping is optional should work for at least one week where they depend on tipping for most of their income. They would walk away a changed person. People who come in, and have worked jobs involving tips are by far the best tippers, often leaving a tip that is bigger than their bill.

Tipping is no different than when you get your car repaired. First you pay for the car parts, then you pay for the service of having them installed. Same with a restaurant. First you pay the business for the food, then you pay your server to bring your food and drinks, keep them drinks full, and clean up your mess.

As to tipping for free drinks. Where I live you would pay at least $8 for mixed drinks, so if I were getting them free, I would tip at least $2 per drink.

You wouldn't have to worry about &quot;keeping them drinks full and cleaning up my mess&quot;. I would eat someplace else.

She's baaaaaaaaack!

And reviving a thread over 3 years old.

amBooth, thank you. I will add that I seem to be the only person that is open enough to post their email. I truly feel sorry for anyone that ends up as your server as you do not appreciate and seem unwilling to pay for the service you get. Maybe try not paying for service at the auto shop, when they install your cable or phone. The good thing is 90 percent of my customers are good and decent people and do not mind paying a fair amount for good service. The other 10% I can not type what I think of them, and hopefully they do not get what they deserve in life.

To the person who said she's back,if you had a real point, you would have made it.

I think over-tipping is just as bad as under-tipping.

It is just fine to tip 15% for meals. Tip more if the bill is small. For instance if a 15% tip would be $2.50, tip $3.00.

I have been the guest of people who give 20% tips for rude and thoughtless service. I think this practice lowers service standards for everybody.

If you want to save tip money, carry your own bags in hotels. It strikes me as odd that when I have obviously carried my bags from an airport to a hotel somebody wants me to pay him to put my bags on a trolley to take them to my room. If you get roped into using a bellboy, have him stay until you thoroughly inspected the room and, if you are dissatisfied with the room in any way, have him call the desk to relocate you in a more desirable room. This is worth a generous tip.

It seems to me that people who drink in bars tip too much--$1 or $2 per drink.

Tip valets when they return your car. I find they say &quot;thank you&quot; for a $1 tip.

Don't forget the housekeeper at your hotels.

I'm sure bus and shuttle drives are happy to get tips, but I don't think most people tip them.

How much to tip taxi drivers seems to differ from city to city--15% in some and nothing or little in others.

I don't think there is a good answer to how much to tip people who pour water and remove plates at buffets. A dollar or two under each plate should do it.

I think tipping is strictly personal and, frankly, I want it to stay that way so that I can overtip or undertip as I please since I am the one who received/didn't receive the service(s) being tipped for.

Happytrailstoyou is correct about over-tipping being as bad as under-tipping. When you do that, you get servers like ilovecharlotte who feel so entitled to YOUR money that they think we should tip $5 on a $10 meal. WHAT KIND OF KOOLAID HAS S/HE BEEN DRINKING?

Ilovecharlotte - on my $10 meal, you're gonna get $2. Seldom more or less. And I have worked tables, bars, and room-service - I know how it is and how it isn't. It's time you consider a new vocation.

rb_travelerxATyahoo. the good news for me is most of my customers don't feel like you do, and 90% of them would tip anywhere from $4 to $5 for a $10 meal(I have been given as much as $10 on a $10 meal). Also 90% of the time I am happy with what I am doing.

It is the small 10% of the people that drive all of us crzzy. You greet them as soon as they walk in. They come in mad at the world, and seem to find it eary to unload their anger on us. They are 10 times as demanding as any other guest, never happy with their food, leave a huge mess(bad enough sometimes to make everyone wonder if any of the food reached their mouth). You wait on them hand and foot. You do everything possilbe to make them happy, but of course nothing works. Then leave a very small tip or no tip at all. Yet they come back week after week. I never say anything to them, but have had other customers get angry because of the lack of tipping and have said plenty.

Then why complian? Simply the 10% don't always come spaced out. There are weeks when they all come in on the same night.

Yes with the kind of service I give my customers, yes I feel I deserve at least $5, regardless of what their bill adds up to. I greet them at the door, regulars have what they want waiting for them, their drinks are filled before they ask, if they are getting a meal for two small children to share, I divided everything on two plates, holidays come around kids get special treats(That I buy not the business), they feel like talking I talk. I am getting married in a couple of weeks and moving out of state and my regular customers are very upset about it. They are happy for me, but really hate to see me leave.

In closing I find it shocking that some people feel tipping is optional. I have said it before and will say it again, not tipping is no different than not paying for your food. THe only reason the non tippers pay for their food is the business has legal resources to press charges for not paying. Again, it is no different than going to have your car repaired. Try doing that saying you will only pay for the parts but not the labor. Same with tipping for your meals. You pay the business for the food, and the server for the labor of taking your order, bringing your food, keeping your drinks filled, doing special things for you, and cleaning up your mess. When I go out I tip as much as I can, as I fully appreciate being able to just sit there and have my food brought to me, and then just being able to walk away and have someone else clean up for me.

Ilovecharlotte, may I ask: Where do you work that 90% of your customers tip 40-50% for their $10 meal?????

It defies logic.

Post where I work in this shark tank? Not likely. It is very logical to tip 50%. First in the year 2006 a $10 meal at a full service restaurant is very cheap. Plus people with common sense and who go back to the same place every week understand the idea of you get what you pay for. Some just come to like you after you have been waiting on the for some time. Some just understand that regardless of how small their bill is, you have put at least $5 worth of work into it. People tip that much for as many reasons as there are people. One man tipped me $5 on a $4.10 bill because when he was growing up his mom had to work two jobs as a server.

The problem is, charlotte, that a mechanic is being paid for their work by the owner/operator, and the customer is not expected to subsidize substandard pay. It's the only area of work where people can get paid below the federal minimum wage and others are expected to make up the difference.

Here is a great article in today's Times about tipping hotel maids:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/07/business/07road.html

sylvia3, yes you are paying a huge sum to the business for the service of having your car repaired and then the business pays the worker a very small part of it. You however are still pay for the service, so it is no different.
The way I see it when I eat out is the server is like an independent contractor and I pay them or at least try to pay what it is worth. If someone can not afford this service they should not go to a full service.

Another way to tip, would be to think how much would you want to be paid if you were doing everything you ask your server to do.