Do you tip Mousekeeping?

[MemoryMakers2669]

Well, I posted a poll on another website, just to gauge how they compared to the DIS.

30% always tip housekeepers
23% sometimes tip housekeepers
46% never tip housekeepers

I'd bet a week's salary that that breakdown is a better reflection of America, overall, than the results of this thread's poll.

I am sure. Many have stated that they never knew to tip housekeeping, until they came to these boards.

 

[bicker]

Oh brother. What is the point with that? That other board is a better sampling of America?

Yes.

The truth is, any poll on a discussion board should be viewed as a sampling of those members that want to answer and should not be considered scientific.

Without a doubt.

Seems to me, you didn't like what you saw here so you did just that - kept searching until you found someone who would validate your position.

You're right that I didn't like the manner in which folks who like to tip tried to make those who don't tip feel bad about their legitimate choice. However, even as a minority, that was in evidence in the other forum as well. Oh well... people are funny.

 

[bicker]

I am sure. Many have stated that they never knew to tip housekeeping, until they came to these boards.

What I suspect is that the trafficking in tip envelope decoration has influenced a lot of people to get in on the craft activity, and that has prompted changes with regard to how they view tipping itself. That crafty aspect isn't present in the other forum, of course.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

Well, I posted a poll on another website, just to gauge how they compared to the DIS.

30% always tip housekeepers
23% sometimes tip housekeepers
46% never tip housekeepers

I'd bet a week's salary that that breakdown is a better reflection of America, overall, than the results of this thread's poll.

Great...please give the details (site name, thread title, etc.) so we can view the stats.

If that board is more representive of America, please let us all in on the secret.

Perhaps we can become as enlightened.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

So Bad Egg, you are saying that a basic travel forum, not one specific to a certain Resort, isn't a better representation of the overall opinion on this subject? That the higher YES percentage here isn't due to the fact that it is a hot topic, which in turn has influenced the readers here? Many have stated that they never knew you should tip housekeeping (I am one of them) until they came to these forums? I believe, that has made the YES category much higher here, where on say TripAdvisor, you might not find that at all.

 

[bicker]

Actually, I think even a basic travel forum is too specific to be representative. It attracts people who are more "fans of travel".

It would be good for folks who have wildly specific interests to post the poll around on forums of various natures. I've already posted it on a television-oriented forum and on an automobile-oriented forum. I'd love to see it posted on an American Idol forum, and on someplace like FatWallet. I think that last one would be the most representative of all.

 

[jodifla]

Well, this board did convince me to start tipping Mousekeepers! Someone posted a link to a USA Today story on the typical day of a housekeeper. I had been of the mind that since it wasn't a tipped position, I didn't need to tip.

But after I read what a hard job it was, I started putting some of my liberal money where my mouth is!

 

[sunnydaysies]

I am sure. Many have stated that they never knew to tip housekeeping, until they came to these boards.

That's me. I never have. I will have to bring some one dollars.

 

[rt2dz]

I always tip tipped positions, even when the service is pretty rotten. I've worked those jobs (server/hospitality management/event planner, and WDW servers are NOT representative of the industry) and feel for them. Rotten service tips will be minimal (10%) and something is usually said about the rotten service. Non-tipped positions, it really depends on the service I receive.

Our last trip, Boardwalk Inn, to WDW, the mousekeeping was horrible. I always leave a clean room; I just can't live in a mess, especially with 5 people in a small room. To give you an idea of what I was talking about, mousekeeping didn't even clean on some days. They were also always taking towels away, despite requesting *more* towels; 3 bath towels, 1 hand towel and 2 washcloths for 5 people just doesn't work. BTW--the hotels do not change your sheets daily unless you request it; they're changed after a guest checks out and at the one week mark; DVC actually gets better service there. We just had major problems with mousekeeping; we did not tip even though I had planned on it.

I do not believe in rewarding a job that is not only being done badly, but not being done at all on some days, when not a tipped position. Now, if the service is good, and especially above and beyond, I will certainly tip. It is my opinion that is what tips are for. On a previous trip to AKL, my DS (then 3) had his one and only bedwetting accident; yeah, I tipped--big.

Keep in mind that tipping is fairly regional too. It is much more common to tip everyone in the east and to tip very few positions in the south. In the south, you do not tip delivery people, except food; they'll look at you like you have three heads. Of course, in the south you can live better on less. A lot better on a lot less.

As far as rotten work--well the garbage people take the cake on that. I couldn't live without them, and they make crap. They work hard for very little money doing something most people wouldn't do for a lot more money. You could offer me a 7 figure salary and I still wouldn't do that job. For those who tip blindly, do you tip them? And I mean regularly, not just at Christmas.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

So Bad Egg, you are saying that a basic travel forum, not one specific to a certain Resort, isn't a better representation of the overall opinion on this subject?

No. What I am saying is that these polls represent the views of those who decided to answer them - and nothing more.

 

[declansdad]

I always tip tipped positions, even when the service is pretty rotten.

This is what I don't get? If the service is rotten, why tip?

 

[DizzDoll]

This is what I don't get? If the service is rotten, why tip?

I agree. While I posted previously that I do tip Mousekeeping, there is one exception, and that's the first time the kids and I stayed at the Contemporary. In the tower with the MK view, no less. The room was barely picked up and the bathroom? Yuck!!! I'd spoken to the appropriate resources to no avail, so I decided if they don't want to make the room presentable that's fine, it means another Mickey Bar or something for the kids.

 

[rt2dz]

This is what I don't get? If the service is rotten, why tip?

I worked in the hospitality industry for a couple of decades. I've waited tables. I know how sometimes you have an off day. Or that sometimes you have to let one table go down in order to save the rest of your section. Or sometimes there is something going on behind the scenes that customers can't see. And I know that servers are really, in general, overworked and underpaid. Servers don't just wait on tables but have running work and closing work side duties and make way less than minimum wage. Servers have to tip out other people, usually based on sales and not what they made. I tip tipped-positions because my heart goes out to them. It can be more of "a punishment" to let them (or a manager) know just how rotten the service was than to stiff them. And 10% is below the industry standard. Good service gets minimum 20%.

 

[declansdad]

I worked in the hospitality industry for a couple of decades. I've waited tables. I know how sometimes you have an off day. Or that sometimes you have to let one table go down in order to save the rest of your section. Or sometimes there is something going on behind the scenes that customers can't see. And I know that servers are really, in general, overworked and underpaid. Servers don't just wait on tables but have running work and closing work side duties and make way less than minimum wage. Servers have to tip out other people, usually based on sales and not what they made. I tip tipped-positions because my heart goes out to them. It can be more of "a punishment" to let them (or a manager) know just how rotten the service was than to stiff them. And 10% is below the industry standard. Good service gets minimum 20%.

I understand that servers have other duties and do have to tip out to other staff. A good server can still get that tip when things are going poorly and it is no fault of theirs. What are they doing to try and keep the customer happy and informed. That will save the situation for them.

If the service, and I mean their service, is bad; then they do not deserve the tip. If they end up losing some money due to tip outs on that shift; perhaps they will learn what they need to do toavoid that situation. If they don't, then maybe they are in the wrong job.

Unless the menu says tips are mandatory, you are not stiffing the server.

 

[rt2dz]

I understand that servers have other duties and do have to tip out to other staff. A good server can still get that tip when things are going poorly and it is no fault of theirs. What are they doing to try and keep the customer happy and informed. That will save the situation for them.

If the service, and I mean their service, is bad; then they do not deserve the tip. If they end up losing some money due to tip outs on that shift; perhaps they will learn what they need to do toavoid that situation. If they don't, then maybe they are in the wrong job.

Unless the menu says tips are mandatory, you are not stiffing the server.

Sometimes you are not able to inform them of what is going on; it would be in very bad taste. And even the most excellent servers have a shift that goes wrong--or at the very least, a table. Any server who says they haven't are either 1) lying, 2) not realistic/not as good as they think, or 3) new. Plus, I know how much and how intensive that other work is.

I do not believe that tips are required; even if there is an auto-grat it is still not mandatory. I do, strongly, believe that you should work for those tips. But like I said, I was a greeter age 14-18, I waited tables from 18-21 (and did very well at it), I then managed from 21-25, and at 25 I went into restaurant consulting for several years. I was an event planner towards the end of that and after until my oldest was 2 ½. I still read the trades and do volunteer work within the industry and, occasionally still do consulting work.

In most circumstances I just can't bring myself to not tip. Now, if the server does have a surly attitude and gives bad service, that is a different story. But basically, my big, dumb heart just can't bring myself to outright not leave a tip to some poor person making $2.13 an hour, paying taxes on at least 8% of their sales, and usually giving away 3% of their sales to other people. 10% is punishment enough.

It's fine with me when anyone doesn't tip people who give bad service, even if tipped employees. Like I said, I do feel tips should be earned. I do not think that the gov't should allow tipped employees to make less than minimum wage. I just can't really do it myself. I know it's twisted, but it is what I do.

 

[declansdad]

Sometimes you are not able to inform them of what is going on; it would be in very bad taste. And even the most excellent servers have a shift that goes wrong--or at the very least, a table. Any server who says they haven't are either 1) lying, 2) not realistic/not as good as they think, or 3) new. I know how much and how intensive that other work is.

I do not believe that tips are required; even if there is an auto-grat it is still not mandatory. I do, strongly, believe that you should work for those tips. But like I said, I was a greeter age 14-18, I waited tables from 18-21 (and did very well at it), I then managed from 21-25, and at 25 I went into restaurant consulting for several years. I was an event planner towards the end of that and after until my oldest was 2 ½. I still read the trades and do volunteer work within the industry and, occasionally still do consulting work.

In most circumstances I just can't bring myself to do it. Now, if the server does have a surly attitude and gives bad service, that is a different story. But basically, my big, dumb heart just can't bring myself to outright not leave a tip to some poor person making $2.13 an hour, tipping out on at least 8% of their sales, and usually giving away 3% of their sales to other people. 10% is punishment enough.

It's fine with me when anyone doesn't tip people who give bad service, even if tipped employees. Like I said, I do feel tips should be earned. I do not think that the gov't should allow tipped employees to make less than minimum wages. I just can't really do it myself. I know it's twisted, but it is what I do.

I applauded you. That is one of the most rational, well-thought responses to tipping I have read in a long time.

I also strongly agree with your last paragraph.

 

[bicker]

This is what I don't get? If the service is rotten, why tip?

I think it comes down to "How rotten?" A scale whereby the server gets 15% for good service, 20% for great service, 25% for really great service, etc., but 0% for anything even one iota less than "good" service, is unnecessarily punitive. So figure how much better does service have to get better to go from 15% to 30%? Figure that's just how far service has to get worse to go from 15% to 0%. And quite frankly, anyone who allows service to get below the (let's say) 7% range, without notifying the manager and getting special attention to make things right for them, is being irresponsible to themselves.

 

[bicker]

Well, I posted a poll on another website, just to gauge how they compared to the DIS.

I posted the poll on yet-another website, and waited a couple of days. That one is also running about 50/50. I'll post it around a bit more, see if I can find anyplace where the numbers run anywhere closer to what they are here on the DIS (or perhaps I'll find a place where the numbers go in the other direction, towards a lot less folks tipping housekeepers -- we'll see).

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

On our first trip we tipped mousekeeping everyday...then on the fourth afternoon, we got back and the room wasn't as nicely done as it had been the first three days we were there. So the next morning we didn't leave a tip. Needless to say, when we got back to the room that night, there were towel animals, extra little things and a handwritten note from the maid! She wrote us a note explaining that the day before was her day off and that she was sorry our room wasn't cleaned better for us and told us to have a great time during the rest of our stay and apologized again! My husband left her a ten dollar tip the day we checked out!

We still have that hand written note from the maid at POR, that was one of the neatest things ever at WDW.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

I posted the poll on yet-another website...

Uh huh. Sure. Whatever you say.

Let it go.