Here's a tip: 20% is the new 15%

[Disneybridein2k3]

Since tipping is always a hot button topic, I saw this and immediately thought of the Pod Squad (and Kevin when I got to the part of the story that talked about bad service - brings back memories of the Il Mulino review!). This is a featured story on MSN today. You can find the entire story at:
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.co...oney/HeresATip20PercentIsTheNew15Percent.aspx
Here are some of the guidelines and suggestions for bad service:


Whom, how much and when to tip StaffAppropriate tipWaiter/waitress
15% to 20% of pre-tax bill
Bartender
$1 to $2 per round or 15% to 20% of tab
Wine steward
15% of bottle's cost (less as price rises), clearly earmarked on bill
Room service
15% to 20% of pre-tax bill (if not already included)
Valet parking
$2 to $3 when car is returned
Taxi driver
15% plus $1 to $2 per bag
Hotel doorman
$1 to $2 to hail cab; $1 to $2 per bag for help with luggage
Hotel bellhop
$1 to $2 per bag
Hotel maid
$2 per night, paid daily, clearly marked 'Housekeeping'
Skycap
$1 to $2 per bag, $2 minimum, in addition to any fee
Hairdresser
15% to 20%
Manicurist
15% to 20%
Spa services
15% to 20%
Food delivery
10% to 15% with $2 minimum
Golf caddy
$20 or 50% of the caddy fee, whichever is greater



But what if you get lousy service? Post says he caps his tip at 15%, then talks to the manager or maitre d' about the problem. "Not tipping doesn't correct bad service," Post said.
Stiffing is also a bad idea because:

• The poor service you got may have been beyond the wait staff's control, such as problems in the kitchen or management's failure to have enough workers on the floor.

• The federal minimum wage for tipped employees is $2.13 per hour, so wait staff depend on tips to earn a living wage.

• Wait staff often must divide their tips with other workers, such as bussers, bartenders and head waiters, so stiffing a bad waitress can end up hurting innocent parties.

 

[Justntime]

I am amazed at how many folks dont understand tipping and how it works.

Tips is short for "to insure prompt service". My average is 20% on table service and up to 30% for amazing service. I will tip as little as 10% for bad service when even the server even knows they were bad. I aways tip a little more if the kids are with me and they make a mess.

If the service is really bad I will take my 15% tip and leave it in cash on the table. The twist is I tear the bills in half, this shows the server I am not cheap and would have tipped them. I then give the other half of the tip to the manager and explain why I am displeased with the service rendered. I tell the manager it is up to him whether or not the server gets it or not.

Things to remember when considering whether your service is bad or not. Your server is not responsable for the taste of your food or how well your steak is cooked. Your server should ensure that your order is correct. Your server can be dinged for cold food. Empty glasses almost always get dinged.

Word of caution. When sitting as part of a larger group make sure and ask if the tip is being added to the check. Believe it or not there are servers who are specialists at double dipping your check. They hide the gratuity added to your check and then you leave another gratuity on top it.

If sitting with in a group of 6 or more ask the server before hand if they will be adding the gratuity. If they add the gratuity thats what they get I will not add more to it. I hate gratuities that are included.

 

[dpuck1998]

I am amazed at how many folks dont understand tipping and how it works.

Tips is short for "to insure prompt service".

http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/tip.asp

 

[TDC Nala]

If WDW has decided that as a DDE cardholder I am going to have an 18% gratuity added to my every order, then they're getting 18%.

And if the service is abysmal, NO WAY they're getting 15 percent. NO WAY. But it has to be abysmal.

 

[mommyceratops]

$2.13 oh man!!! No wonder they are grumpy!!