tipping for a better room
Jul 5th, 2008, 05:24 AM
#21
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I think the practice is a bit gauche. Or, greasy-haired i-banker for me ("Now, what can you do for me?").
It also really won't work in a number of international hotels where they have your keycard and room assignment already prepared and waiting for you - not just something they can change in the computer.
Be friendly, courteous and presentable and take your chances asking if they have any last minute availability in upgraded rooms.
It also really won't work in a number of international hotels where they have your keycard and room assignment already prepared and waiting for you - not just something they can change in the computer.
Be friendly, courteous and presentable and take your chances asking if they have any last minute availability in upgraded rooms.
Jul 5th, 2008, 03:34 PM
#22
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Rich & Bawlmerhon nailed it exactly! People in the service industry (especially Vegas) anticipate / expect tips and do not think of them greasy. As noted on FrontDeskTip.com, most staff will not take the tip if they are unable to upgrade you....i.e provide you some sort of service(so you lose nothing by trying). In Vegas I've experienced the following: no upgrade, upgraded to a room overlooking the fountains, upgraded to a two room suite.
Jul 6th, 2008, 03:58 AM
#23
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"Who cares if it's a bribe or a tip? If it gets you what you want that is the whole objective. This is a ridiculous argument. It's not like your doing anything illegal even if it is considered a bribe."
I think a lot of people might care about the difference, even if it is an issue of morality rather than legality. Also, I'm not sure that at least for the recipient, that it isn't illegal.
Hotels, like other businesses, sell a product. Their product is a night's stay, and the price is determined by size, comfort, view, amenities, etc. If an employee (assuming they aren't also the owner) offers you something that would typically cost more, and receives a payment to themself rather than an additional premium to their employer, they are essentially stealing from their employer and selling to you at a cut rate.
Imagine if you were buying a car, and the salesperson suggested they could get you a nicer model for the same price if you "tipped" them $100. What would you call that?
Even if the goal is not to get a room that would typically be more expensive, but just one that is nicer in the same price range, (and I don't think that is what we're really talking about) I think the car purchase analogy still works. If you were the owner of the dealership and you allowed your salespeople to make that upgrade to get the sale, would you be happy to find out that the deciding factor on whether or not to offer that was a $100 tip?
I think a lot of people might care about the difference, even if it is an issue of morality rather than legality. Also, I'm not sure that at least for the recipient, that it isn't illegal.
Hotels, like other businesses, sell a product. Their product is a night's stay, and the price is determined by size, comfort, view, amenities, etc. If an employee (assuming they aren't also the owner) offers you something that would typically cost more, and receives a payment to themself rather than an additional premium to their employer, they are essentially stealing from their employer and selling to you at a cut rate.
Imagine if you were buying a car, and the salesperson suggested they could get you a nicer model for the same price if you "tipped" them $100. What would you call that?
Even if the goal is not to get a room that would typically be more expensive, but just one that is nicer in the same price range, (and I don't think that is what we're really talking about) I think the car purchase analogy still works. If you were the owner of the dealership and you allowed your salespeople to make that upgrade to get the sale, would you be happy to find out that the deciding factor on whether or not to offer that was a $100 tip?
Jul 6th, 2008, 07:03 AM
#24
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I hope I never have to do business in the countries where these hotels and car dealerships are located.
When I was young, I worked in a cafeteria where the manager told me to always give the customer whichever displayed piece of cake was the largest and that in that way everybody would feel they got the largest piece of cake.
To withhold from one's customers in hopes of receiving cash under the counter is a reprehensible way to do business.
When I was young, I worked in a cafeteria where the manager told me to always give the customer whichever displayed piece of cake was the largest and that in that way everybody would feel they got the largest piece of cake.
To withhold from one's customers in hopes of receiving cash under the counter is a reprehensible way to do business.
Jul 6th, 2008, 10:01 AM
#25
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DH and I tip for a service provided not in hope that we will get something more than we are paying. I have never worked as a valet or waiter but do believe that respect I give to that person makes a difference in the service.
I ask if there is a room we may like better and do think I will have to pay for the upgrade. And I always do ask.
The best room we had in Hawaii was because I had just came out of a cast for a fxed ankle. Trust me don't try this......
I ask if there is a room we may like better and do think I will have to pay for the upgrade. And I always do ask.
The best room we had in Hawaii was because I had just came out of a cast for a fxed ankle. Trust me don't try this......
Jul 8th, 2008, 05:23 AM
#27
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milford: One little hole in your logic. It assumes the owner doesn't know what's going on. As for the car analogy, do you really believe it would be possible for a salesperson to hand over a better car to you because of a tip? C'mon, willya. The comparison is silly.
And do you really believe that hotel owners don't know or condone the way upgrades are handed out? Do you think that no one checks to see that someone got a $500/nt room for $250? If a desk person is taking tips to upgrade people, it's no secret to the hotel manager, unless the manager is a total idiot.
And do you really believe that hotel owners don't know or condone the way upgrades are handed out? Do you think that no one checks to see that someone got a $500/nt room for $250? If a desk person is taking tips to upgrade people, it's no secret to the hotel manager, unless the manager is a total idiot.
Jul 8th, 2008, 02:07 PM
#29
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I just received my copy of "1,001 Smart Travel Tips" from Fodor's, and guess what?
Tipping a check-in person at a hotel is NOT mentioned, apparently because it is not a SMART travel tip.
Happy Trails to You
Tipping a check-in person at a hotel is NOT mentioned, apparently because it is not a SMART travel tip.
Happy Trails to You
Jul 8th, 2008, 02:44 PM
#30
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My daughter worked in a hotel and it was considered a benefit to the desk clerks, who got paid very little. If they had upgrades available, the clerks were told how many at the beginning of their shifts. They might hand them out for a $20 tip, or they might hold them hoping to get a $40 tip later on. It was something considered somewhat of an employee bonus. The most experienced workers were given the 3 to 11 shift because this is when upgrades were handed out.
Jul 9th, 2008, 05:11 AM
#35
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btw:
Comparison: "a. the representing of one thing or person as similar to or like another b: an examination of two or more items to establish similarities and dissimilarities."
If that ain't a comparison, then I don't know what is.
Comparison: "a. the representing of one thing or person as similar to or like another b: an examination of two or more items to establish similarities and dissimilarities."
If that ain't a comparison, then I don't know what is.
Jul 9th, 2008, 10:41 AM
#36
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>>The only difference is the product and the amount of money involved in the transaction.<<
Oh, that's all? LOL!
j_999_9,
I was under the impression that LOL meant "Laugh out loud". Does it actually mean that you have a "Lack of Logic"?
Are you unable to understand how two scenarios might be similar in some respects, but very different in others?
Although I didn't think my analogy would require further clarification, let me see if I can help. The situations would be similar in that an employee would accept a personal payment from a customer, and in return the employee would give the customer a more valuable product that the employer was selling. The differences, obviously, would be the ones dmlove pointed out in your quote above.
I specifically chose an example for my analogy that seems somewhat unlikely (perhaps even "silly"), to point out that some of us might feel differently about this type of arrangement if it was in an entirely different type of industry.
With respect to the possibility that employers endorse or encourage this type of exchange, that would certainly make the arrangement morally approprate for the employee. That said, I doubt that I would want to be a customer at those establishments, and I absolutely wouldn't want to be an investor in such a business.
Oh, that's all? LOL!
j_999_9,
I was under the impression that LOL meant "Laugh out loud". Does it actually mean that you have a "Lack of Logic"?
Are you unable to understand how two scenarios might be similar in some respects, but very different in others?
Although I didn't think my analogy would require further clarification, let me see if I can help. The situations would be similar in that an employee would accept a personal payment from a customer, and in return the employee would give the customer a more valuable product that the employer was selling. The differences, obviously, would be the ones dmlove pointed out in your quote above.
I specifically chose an example for my analogy that seems somewhat unlikely (perhaps even "silly"), to point out that some of us might feel differently about this type of arrangement if it was in an entirely different type of industry.
With respect to the possibility that employers endorse or encourage this type of exchange, that would certainly make the arrangement morally approprate for the employee. That said, I doubt that I would want to be a customer at those establishments, and I absolutely wouldn't want to be an investor in such a business.
Jul 9th, 2008, 11:14 AM
#37
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Just my .02 cents: Comparing cars to hotel rooms is apples & oranges. Regardless of whether a tip is issued, I would think a salesperson giving away a nicer car for the same price would be illegal and not a standard practice. However at a hotel, regardless of whether the clerk received a tip or not, I don't believe upgrading ones room is illegal and a common practice.
Now, about the original topic, it seems some of you are saying that if I give the clerk a 20 for a nicer room, that's considered unethical, but what if I gamble lots of money at their casino and as a result I receive a nicer room, is that ethical?
Now, about the original topic, it seems some of you are saying that if I give the clerk a 20 for a nicer room, that's considered unethical, but what if I gamble lots of money at their casino and as a result I receive a nicer room, is that ethical?
Jul 9th, 2008, 11:39 AM
#38
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"Now, about the original topic, it seems some of you are saying that if I give the clerk a 20 for a nicer room, that's considered unethical, but what if I gamble lots of money at their casino and as a result I receive a nicer room, is that ethical?"
kate7ann,
Yes...because it is the casino's nicer room to give away. It isn't the clerk's. The casino is a business, and it has every right to make the business decision to updgrade your room when you spend a lot in the casino.
kate7ann,
Yes...because it is the casino's nicer room to give away. It isn't the clerk's. The casino is a business, and it has every right to make the business decision to updgrade your room when you spend a lot in the casino.
Jul 9th, 2008, 11:49 AM
#39
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So here's the scenario from another point of view.
A friend of mine was recently planning a trip. She booked a room at a hotel and asked for one with a particularly nice view. It turns out that the room she wanted was more expensive, so she declined.
However, when they checked into that hotel they were upgraded to that room at no extra cost. It was just the check-in clerk's decision. I was happy for her but to be honest, if I were paying the extra for that view and she got it for free, I'd be some pissed off.
If you would would not offer the check-in clerk $20 tip/bribe for a potential upgrade, would you still be willing to take it from that very same person for free, even knowing that the guy next in line was going to pay full price?
A friend of mine was recently planning a trip. She booked a room at a hotel and asked for one with a particularly nice view. It turns out that the room she wanted was more expensive, so she declined.
However, when they checked into that hotel they were upgraded to that room at no extra cost. It was just the check-in clerk's decision. I was happy for her but to be honest, if I were paying the extra for that view and she got it for free, I'd be some pissed off.
If you would would not offer the check-in clerk $20 tip/bribe for a potential upgrade, would you still be willing to take it from that very same person for free, even knowing that the guy next in line was going to pay full price?
