Ask a Yank (non political questions) thread.

[Buzz Rules]

Ask a Yank (non political questions) thread. I'm an American who thinks the UK is an awesome country and ally. So I figured some Brits on this board might have some everyday non political questions about the USA (weather, travel, everyday life). I have a similar thread on the general community board but I thought some on this board might not visit that board often. So I have this thread here just incase general questions arise. Happy posting.

 

[McCrae]

Are you seeing any changes in how you tip people now that fewer people are carrying cash? I am thinking about bell boys etc.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Are you seeing any changes in how you tip people now that fewer people are carrying cash? I am thinking about bell boys etc.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, I've seen less people (particularly young people of Gen Y and Z) tip less all together. I honestly rarely tip unless going to a fancy restaurant. When I tip in restaurants, it's added to my check and then I pay the bill and tip together using a credit/debit card.

 

[clappyclaps]

While on the same tips topic, I found it a little frustrating on my recent trip constantly being asked for tips even when just buying a coffee etc which isn't something we're used to doing in the UK. I take it from your response that most people wouldn't tips for things like this on a daily basis? I felt a bit bad not doing tbh.

 

[Buzz Rules]

While on the same tips topic, I found it a little frustrating on my recent trip constantly being asked for tips even when just buying a coffee etc which isn't something we're used to doing in the UK. I take it from your response that most people wouldn't tips for things like this on a daily basis? I felt a bit bad not doing tbh.

Tipping is never required. In places like counter services (Starbucks, Panera Bread, fast food, bakeries) people don't normally tip at all.

 

[kanerf]

When I prep for my Disney trip, I go over to the bank and get $40-$50 in five dollar bills just to use for tipping the bell man. I get my groceries delivered and then always do split trips, so have baggage moved to my next resort every three nights or so. I would recommend when coming in from overseas assuming you already have some US cash, stop by a bank in the Orlando airport and get some smaller bills to make tipping easier.

 

[Buzz Rules]

When I prep for my Disney trip, I go over to the bank and get $40-$50 in five dollar bills just to use for tipping the bell man. I get my groceries delivered and then always do split trips, so have baggage moved to my next resort every three nights or so. I would recommend when coming in from overseas assuming you already have some US cash, stop by a bank in the Orlando airport and get some smaller bills to make tipping easier.

You tip the hotel employees in this day and age? Most people I know don't anymore because of how much Disney has nickeled and dimed guests by overcharging them on hotel prices in the first place.

 

[kanerf]

You tip the hotel employees in this day and age? Most people I know don't anymore because of how much Disney has nickeled and dimed guests by overcharging them on hotel prices in the first place.

I tip the bell staff.

 

[titojackson84]

I saw a meme that said something along the lines of “I’m not tipping anywhere I have to order my food standing up.” I will also leave $3 a night at my hotel, but only for the days they actually clean (last I knew, disney doesn’t clean everyday).

 

[Genie+]

I’m a yank. Still tip for things like bell services, housekeeping and valet. I used to bring extra singles and fives (dollar bills), I now bring $5s and $10s. In the grand scheme, this budget usually ends up being $50-$75 over my family’s whole trip. Many times I’m truly grateful for the service, and/or the person went above and beyond. Example, bellhop took scooter out of our vehicle or housekeeping was thoughtful enough to bring extra cream, sugar and cups when I only requested more coffee, etc. But even just the person cleaning our room after we leave, I am thankful for that and happy my room was clean on arrival too. It’s an acknowledgement that I see they are making a difference to my stay, in a job that - let’s face it - many people could not tolerate doing themselves day in and day out. These are personal services. For now at least I’ll keep tipping them. I don’t think about if they make $15/hr or $17/hr. I think about the fact that nobody’s banging the door to get these jobs themselves, so the work/pay ratio not likely to be all that spectacular. If the occasional $5 or $10 tips add up enough to make a difference? I hope so!

 

[tony67]

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, I've seen less people (particularly young people of Gen Y and Z) tip less all together. I honestly rarely tip unless going to a fancy restaurant. When I tip in restaurants, it's added to my check and then I pay the bill and tip together using a credit/debit card.

I've seen the exact opposite.
BTW - Tip in cash if that is at all possible - that is getting to be less and less in general - and many folks appreciate that.
For example in some restaurants only the cash tips are shared with back of the house or runners.

Tipping is never required. In places like counter services (Starbucks, Panera Bread, fast food, bakeries) people don't normally tip at all.

It is never required but its expected. Tipping 20% is pretty much expected even for picking up orders.

For example - we recently ordered some sandwiches at a new middle eastern take out place and when we picked up our sandwiches there was a total attitude because we skipped the forced tip screen. We would have left a couple of dollars but to expect 20% for pickup is ridiculous. Because of that I left nothing and I wont be back. Too bad as it was good.

Alternatively a new Seafood place that is pickup only does not even have an option to tip on your card when you pay online or in store. If you leave a dollar or two in the shared tip cup they are appreciative.

Most places you order online for pickup are already adding the tip in and you have to remove it - there is often no option to pay for the order at pickup - so I don't even order from them anymore.

I find it amusing that people are expecting 20-25% because prices have gone up - but don't account for the fact that because prices have gone up so with simple math the 15% is already more than it used to be. On top of this the quality of service has gone down drastically since the pandemic to the point we rarely if ever eat out anymore. I have no issue tipping well for excellent service.

Oh and in my first hand experience on average most servers in an average PUB\Restaurant are getting over 20% in tips - the numbers are run every day at the end of the day and they know what the % of tip to sales is - and that is not even accounting for the cash tips over and above that.

While on the same tips topic, I found it a little frustrating on my recent trip constantly being asked for tips even when just buying a coffee etc which isn't something we're used to doing in the UK. I take it from your response that most people wouldn't tips for things like this on a daily basis? I felt a bit bad not doing tbh.

As I said above its expected but people are getting very tired of it.
That said many if not most people feel "shamed" into tipping in these situations.

At universal you are expected to tip on a $12+ pint of Guinness in a plastic cup and almost all food booths expect you tip tip on mixed drinks that are poured from a vat or a can of beer they open for you - so in most cases they are not even bartenders or doing anything other than pouring a premade drink that is already way overpriced.
Even though it annoys me - I tip in those situations typically.
It's hard to know which of these servers are getting the 6.25 an hour.
Also my friends who are bartenders at Universal or in the hotels tip them, so I do tip them, but I'd much prefer they just raise the price and share it with the team members and let me just tap and pay instead of having me filling out a tip form and signing for it.

So in general yes you are expected to tip - BUT it is also not surprising to most folks when people from outside the US don't tip.


Not to hijack your thread @Buzz Rules but Id say depending on where you are in the country things are very different.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I've seen the exact opposite.
BTW - Tip in cash if that is at all possible - that is getting to be less and less in general - and many folks appreciate that.
For example in some restaurants only the cash tips are shared with back of the house or runners.


It is never required but its expected. Tipping 20% is pretty much expected even for picking up orders.

For example - we recently ordered some sandwiches at a new middle eastern take out place and when we picked up our sandwiches there was a total attitude because we skipped the forced tip screen. We would have left a couple of dollars but to expect 20% for pickup is ridiculous. Because of that I left nothing and I wont be back. Too bad as it was good.

Alternatively a new Seafood place that is pickup only does not even have an option to tip on your card when you pay online or in store. If you leave a dollar or two in the shared tip cup they are appreciative.

Most places you order online for pickup are already adding the tip in and you have to remove it - there is often no option to pay for the order at pickup - so I don't even order from them anymore.

I find it amusing that people are expecting 20-25% because prices have gone up - but don't account for the fact that because prices have gone up so with simple math the 15% is already more than it used to be. On top of this the quality of service has gone down drastically since the pandemic to the point we rarely if ever eat out anymore. I have no issue tipping well for excellent service.

Oh and in my first hand experience on average most servers in an average PUB\Restaurant are getting over 20% in tips - the numbers are run every day at the end of the day and they know what the % of tip to sales is - and that is not even accounting for the cash tips over and above that.


As I said above its expected but people are getting very tired of it.
That said many if not most people feel "shamed" into tipping in these situations.

At universal you are expected to tip on a $12+ pint of Guinness in a plastic cup and almost all food booths expect you tip tip on mixed drinks that are poured from a vat or a can of beer they open for you - so in most cases they are not even bartenders or doing anything other than pouring a premade drink that is already way overpriced.
Even though it annoys me - I tip in those situations typically.
It's hard to know which of these servers are getting the 6.25 an hour.
Also my friends who are bartenders at Universal or in the hotels tip them, so I do tip them, but I'd much prefer they just raise the price and share it with the team members and let me just tap and pay instead of having me filling out a tip form and signing for it.

So in general yes you are expected to tip - BUT it is also not surprising to most folks when people from outside the US don't tip.


Not to hijack your thread @Buzz Rules but Id say depending on where you are in the country things are very different.

I fully respect your post. It definitely makes a difference depending on the region in the country. I view tipping partly unnecessary because everyone is supposed to provide quality customer service as part of their job or risk loosing it. It is not on the public to make up for the salary of an underpaid employee because the company they work for doesn't pay them more. I know that sounds harsh but that's just my personal opinion on the matter.

 

[tony67]

I saw a meme that said something along the lines of “I’m not tipping anywhere I have to order my food standing up.” I will also leave $3 a night at my hotel, but only for the days they actually clean (last I knew, disney doesn’t clean everyday).

I always find it odd that although I leave a few $ every day on the sink there is usually a tray of some sort - they rarely if ever take it. I've had this at Universal, Disney and even hotels in Europe.
It always baffles me when they don't take it, but then I think back to that thread where the woman was complaining a few dollars were taken from her room that were left where the tip was meant to be.

I tip the bell staff.

Yeah - if they hold my bag for the day or I bring the bags to my room they are tipped.

I don't tip if they bring something to my room that should have been there in the first place, this seems to be a common tactic to try and get more tips for bell services

 

[tony67]

I fully respect your post. It definitely makes a difference depending on the region in the country. I view tipping partly unnecessary because everyone is supposed to provide quality customer service as part of their job or risk loosing it. It is not on the public to make up for the salary of an underpaid employee because the company they work for doesn't pay them more. I know that sounds harsh but that's just my personal opinion on the matter.

I don't disagree with you - and people have voted against raising the minimum wage for tipped employees more than once - and usually its the servers who are driving the no vote - why?
IMO - because a good server can make $40-$50 an hour in tips - they do not want it to change.

What is crazy about this IMO is that the person in the back of the house - who cooks the food, plates it, may have gone to culinary school etcc. might make $20 an hour and in many places do not get a share of the tips. That is changing and they are often getting 10% of the tips, but not everywhere - and that 10% is shared with the runners and all the back of the house folks.

If people knew exactly what the bartender is making they might not tip so much.
I've seen folks complain because they only made $300 in tips for a 5 hour shift on a slow night.
How much of that do they even pay tax on? Lets not even go down that rabbit hole.

I really like the system in central Europe where you just round up a couple of Euro in a restaurant - so if you bill is 67.50 you just tell them 70 for example.
There are many other factors that go into that and its an entirely different discussion though and I don't see us ever getting to that point.

 

[disneyseniors]

While on the same tips topic, I found it a little frustrating on my recent trip constantly being asked for tips even when just buying a coffee etc which isn't something we're used to doing in the UK. I take it from your response that most people wouldn't tips for things like this on a daily basis? I felt a bit bad not doing tbh.

Our tipping must be concerning for you from the UK.
I tip all wait staff at restaurants, and others who I feel earn it. Tips are certainly welcome when some people only make minimum wage and rely on their tips to get by. Sadly, that's the way it is in the US and I know it's difficult for other countries to understand.
I would Not tip if I got only a cup of coffee, especially from counter service.
Some places add a tip on even if they are counter service fast food places. Always check your bill before paying. I know Subway does this and I just put 0 on the tip.
Some restaurants have a tip amount recommended on your bill. I ignore this and leave cash only so I know the server gets the tip, not the company.

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

While on the same tips topic, I found it a little frustrating on my recent trip constantly being asked for tips even when just buying a coffee etc which isn't something we're used to doing in the UK. I take it from your response that most people wouldn't tips for things like this on a daily basis? I felt a bit bad not doing tbh.

I feel like tipping culture has dramatically changed here in the US post Covid. It seemed to start during the wave of goodwill that people had for workers during lockdown who were struggling financially. It was a way for us to pull together to help those who needed it. Unfortunately a lot of businesses saw opportunity there and took advantage. I do think there is quite a bit of pushback against tipping culture though and we're yet to see where it lands. I would love to see it go away completely.

My advice is to bring cash for small purchases, you get to completely bypass the awkwardness of the tip screen. Most places still accept cash and even appreciate (especially small businesses) it as they get to keep all the profit, instead of forking over a percentage back to the credit card companies.

 

[clappyclaps]

Our tipping must be concerning for you from the UK.
I tip all wait staff at restaurants, and others who I feel earn it. Tips are certainly welcome when some people only make minimum wage and rely on their tips to get by. Sadly, that's the way it is in the US and I know it's difficult for other countries to understand.
I would Not tip if I got only a cup of coffee, especially from counter service.
Some places add a tip on even if they are counter service fast food places. Always check your bill before paying. I know Subway does this and I just put 0 on the tip.
Some restaurants have a tip amount recommended on your bill. I ignore this and leave cash only so I know the server gets the tip, not the company.

I feel like tipping culture has dramatically changed here in the US post Covid. It seemed to start during the wave of goodwill that people had for workers during lockdown who were struggling financially. It was a way for us to pull together to help those who needed it. Unfortunately a lot of businesses saw opportunity there and took advantage. I do think there is quite a bit of pushback against tipping culture though and we're yet to see where it lands. I would love to see it go away completely.

My advice is to bring cash for small purchases, you get to completely bypass the awkwardness of the tip screen. Most places still accept cash and even appreciate (especially small businesses) it as they get to keep all the profit, instead of forking over a percentage back to the credit card companies.

Thank you both for your information and advice. I'll admit I've gotten a little too used to being able to pay by card everywhere without the need for cash, but I can definitely see the benefit of making sure I take cash for tips to avoid some of this in future.

Out of interest, do the likes of Starbucks, Disney, Universal Studios, McDonalds etc tend to pay their wait/serving staff more than minimum wage? Not sure if I'm opening a can of worms asking that!

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

Thank you both for your information and advice. I'll admit I've gotten a little too used to being able to pay by card everywhere without the need for cash, but I can definitely see the benefit of making sure I take cash for tips to avoid some of this in future.

Out of interest, do the likes of Starbucks, Disney, Universal Studios, McDonalds etc tend to pay their wait/serving staff more than minimum wage? Not sure if I'm opening a can of worms asking that!

It depends on where you are. Our local McDonalds pays about $15/hour because that's what it takes to get people in the door. As far as Disney is concerned, I think yes as they're unionized for the most part. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[lanejudy]

Out of interest, do the likes of Starbucks, Disney, Universal Studios, McDonalds etc tend to pay their wait/serving staff more than minimum wage?

Fast food chains (McDonalds, Starbucks, etc.) pay at least minimum wage. How much that is may depend on location since states may have a higher minimum than federal).

Sit-down restaurants may pay servers “tipped” wage rates, with the expectation of tips. Upscale dining are more likely to have experienced servers who make more than minimum wage but there is still an expectation of tips in addition to the hourly pay rate. I believe WDW table service locations pay tipped wage rates, meaning there is an expectation of tips.

 

[McCrae]

I feel like tipping culture has dramatically changed here in the US post Covid. It seemed to start during the wave of goodwill that people had for workers during lockdown who were struggling financially. It was a way for us to pull together to help those who needed it. Unfortunately a lot of businesses saw opportunity there and took advantage. I do think there is quite a bit of pushback against tipping culture though and we're yet to see where it lands. I would love to see it go away completely.

My advice is to bring cash for small purchases, you get to completely bypass the awkwardness of the tip screen. Most places still accept cash and even appreciate (especially small businesses) it as they get to keep all the profit, instead of forking over a percentage back to the credit card companies.

As we become a cashless society I wonder how things will change?

In the U.K. I don’t carry cash and haven’t done so for a long time, it’s only time before the US goes the same way.