Gratuities in general - non RentGuy situations

[LaffingBear]

I saw another post regarding tipping, and it got me thinking....I wish there was an authority on gratuities in general.... not related to escorts.

 

I know the basics. Grew up in the restaurant industry, I'm a generous tipper in traditional venues/situations. But, here are some situations where tipping and how much leaves me feeling uncertain.

• Fast casual restaurants where you order in a line, but they deliver food to you and clean after.
  
• All levels of buffet
  
  • Upscale buffets where they bring drinks, some food, etc.
    
  • Mid level, where they refill drinks, nothing else
    
  • Almost entirely self-service, even beverages
    

  [*]Coffee places, where I only drink drip coffee, no caf, half whappy frappy mocky nonsense for me.

  [*]Theres a tip jar at my drycleaners. No way!

  [*]I tip my hair stylist every visit, and extra during the holidays. As a child, I was taught not to tip the shop owner. I know shops where stylists rent their chair, remain self-employed. Are they owners?

  [*]Hotel car valets. I almost never tip when I arrive with my car. I always tip when the valet goes and gets the car so I can drive away. Does one valet get screwed by that.

  [*]Hotel bellmen. When I checkout, one guy retrieves my luggage from my room. Sometimes a different guy checks/stores it if I'm not leaving immediately. A different guy always puts it in the vehicle. Vice versa the whole process at checkin. Who gets tipped? I usually go for the last guy to handle my bags, but....?

  [*]When I worked in an office building, and drove to work, I didnt tip parking valets daily. I gave holiday gifts annually.

  [*]Now when I drive into SF, I never tip the valet when I drop off my car, but always when he returns the car to me for departure.

  [*]I dont tip the UPS guy, yet my parents tipped delivery men when i was young.

  [*]When I traveled frequently, I would ask the room service deliverer/waiter if he got any of the service charge added to the bill...if yes, I just add a buck or two. If no, I tip.

  [*]I leave money in a hotel room at checkout for the housekeepers. I leave a buck on my pillow in the afternoon if the hotel has turndown service.

  [*]There's tip dishes at the local casino cashier windows. I dont tip to cash out. Ive tipped if they've provided extra service.

  [*]I picked up a nail in my tire and stopped in a local tire shop. I didn't know, but they repair simple tire leaks for free... good for business, I guess. The young man who did the repair was worth watching. When I tipped him a $20, he actually lept at me and I got a big hug. I spent the next few months driving around looking for construction sites, trying to pick up nails.

  [*]I dont tip repair men.

  [*]I tipped the guys who delivered my new washer & dryer, because they were careful and thorough in delivery, install, and hauling away the old appliances.

Too long, but one example prompted another. If you search the web for tipping guidelines, you'll find basics.

 

I will report I stopped socializing with someone who refused to tip. Left nothing in a restaurant or bar. I cringed if she reached for the check, and would try to surreptitiously leave some cash.

[+ azdr0710]

you make good points, but tipping debate is as old as the hills......

 

in some of the situations you mention above, a non-cash tip can be appreciated and appropriate.....gift card, note to immediate boss, cold drink, what-have-you

[+ ArVaGuy]

I worked my way through college as a waiter. Consequently, I tend to over tip most of the time. My base rate in restaurants tends to start at 20 percent and has gone as high as 40 or 50 in some outstanding service situations. If we've stayed an inordinately long period of time and kept the server's table from turning a larger tip makes up for the lost revenue.

 

On another note, do students even bother to work these days to attend university? I carried a full class schedule and worked two jobs to pay for my education. Seems today everyone gets a student loan and graduates with a six figure debt. SMH.

[gallahadesquire]

Let's see:

 

Casual restaurants: A dollar or two if there is a jar.

I pay for the valet when I pick up the vehicle. At the hospital: $2. At a valet: $5-$10.

Bellmen: $2 for one bag; $5 if you're really hauling; $10 if you've packed the empire state building.

Hotel housecleaners should be tipped daily (because there may be a different on every day). $5 is usually sufficient, unless all the linens need changing, in which case $10 is probably more appropriate. Keeps 'em quiet!

Washer and dryer guys: difficult installation; $20 each.

Guy who comes and changes your tire when it's 10 degrees F: At least $10 and probably $20.

 

Mostly, enough to get a coffee or maybe a lunch. Mostly to say "Thank you for your service."

[gallahadesquire]

Or if I don't know: I ask my financial advisor. He should write a book, The Fine Art of Palm Greasing. he's really incredible at it.

[+ sam.fitzpatrick]

On another note, do students even bother to work these days to attend university? I carried a full class schedule and worked two jobs to pay for my education. Seems today everyone gets a student loan and graduates with a six figure debt. SMH.

 

I think it was easier to work our way through school than the current students. When my tuition was under $50 per credit hour my freshman year, and room and board in the dorm was $300 per month, my two summer jobs and a modest 15- hour per week during the school year covered it. However, my nephew who graduated from the same school last year, averaged $21,000 per year and couldn't cover it all himself. He has student debt, but not the amount of his peers.

[+ oldNbusted]

On another note, do students even bother to work these days to attend university? I carried a full class schedule and worked two jobs to pay for my education. Seems today everyone gets a student loan and graduates with a six figure debt. SMH.

 

In their defense, college costs have gone up much faster than wages, my local community college now estimates full time attendance at $18K/year, which is more than the university I attended as a adult back in the 90s. That university now costs almost $18K each quarter. It's insane.

[Mydavid]

almost $18K each quarter

You mean $72K each year?

[+ oldNbusted]

You mean $72K each year?

 

I probably messed up the math, alway my worst subject. I'll look at it when I'm not so bleary-eyed!

[SuenosAmor]

I think you're generally safe with 18-20% in most situations where it's expected. But tipping is generally an American thing. Most places where I travel out the U.S. (most of Europe, Asia, Africa), it's not really done.

[wklucas]

Valet parking - I tip on both ends.....when I arrive & when I leave....if / when it happens to be the same person both times, that guy just got "lucky" & I haven't paid out anymore than I expected to anyway.....actually, tipping on arrival is probably the more important time.....I want my car put away somewhere safe, secure & nicely....if the guy doing the parking already has a tip in his pocket, he's likely to be more mindful & treat me (my car) as well as possible....

[LADoug1]

Tip daily for housekeeping in hotels. I choose $5/day. Also do little things like pick up towels on the bathroom floor. Leave them on the toilet. One less stoop for the hardworking maids.

[MikeBiDude]

I'm usually a very generous tipper in a restaurant, been in the biz and understand servers, etc.

 

But....I'm always at a loss on tipping at an sushi bar?? Is the owner your sushi chef? Have you bought sushi guys sak/beers? The server bringing you soups and plates from the kitchen? Confusing to me, in particular if the owner is your primary server/chef.

[Rudynate]

In their defense, college costs have gone up much faster than wages, my local community college now estimates full time attendance at $18K/year, which is more than the university I attended as a adult back in the 90s. That university now costs almost $18K each quarter. It's insane.

 

 

My first semester at the University of Colorado, my tuition was $180.00. For money like that, I couldn't afford not to go to college.

[bigvalboy]

I say spread the wealth...

[Rudynate]

I say spread the wealth...

 

 

That's right. Tipping just makes things go better. They don't call it "greasing" for nothing.

[MikeBiDude]

I say spread the wealth...

 

(Apologies to "Hello Dolly" fans but I like this quote/pic)

[gallahadesquire]

My first semester at the University of Colorado, my tuition was $180.00. For money like that, I couldn't afford not to go to college.

 

My first year of medical school was $600, increasing to $900 my fourth year. The State hadn't figured out it could charge more for a professional school.

[bigvalboy]

 

(Apologies to "Hello Dolly" fans but I like this quote/pic)

 

LMAO...

[LaffingBear]

I'm usually a very generous tipper in a restaurant, been in the biz and understand servers, etc.

 

But....I'm always at a loss on tipping at an sushi bar?? Is the owner your sushi chef? Have you bought sushi guys sak/beers? The server bringing you soups and plates from the kitchen? Confusing to me, in particular if the owner is your primary server/chef.

Sushi bar, I tip server 15%, and then put cash in the jar for the sushi chef. If its one guy, the sushi chef may get another 20-25%. If theres a bunch of guys, and they're more assembly-line instead of customer-dedicated, Im more likely to just leave $5 or $10.

[Chuckball]

I went to a restaurant in Cape Town, South Africa. There was non-metered street parking. I was somewhat surprised when a muscular gentleman approached wanting a tip. I was later told that this was to ensure the car was not ransacked while I was inside eating. A new definition of the acronym "TIP": To Insure Property!

[LADoug1]

I went to a restaurant in Cape Town, South Africa. There was non-metered street parking. I was somewhat surprised when a muscular gentleman approached wanting a tip. I was later told that this was to ensure the car was not ransacked while I was inside eating. A new definition of the acronym "TIP": To Insure Property!

Otoh it could have been extortion.

[mike carey]

Otoh it could have been extortion.

It could have been, but if that sort of crime is common (and I understand it is in South Africa), paying a few rand for a local tough to warn off the opportunist thieves would be a sensible investment.