In regards to the tipping thread......

[phorsenuf]

This was a part of an article on AOL's welcome page. Found it interesting.


Your Money

How much to tip

If you ask 10 people how much to tip in a given situation, you'll get several answers and a slew of hot-headed opinions about the "right" thing to do.

To help start your next debate, here's a quick guide to customary gratuities for various services. The guide is provided by the Emily Post Institute. Those with passionate views about how much to tip the pizza-delivery guy, please see the information in the footnote provided by two other sources.

RESTAURANTS/BARS
Waiter/waitress: 15% of bill (excl. tax) for adequate service; 20% for very good service; no less than 10% for poor service
Headwaiter/captain: often gets a cut of table server's tip; so tip your server extra to reward captain, or tip captain separately
Sommelier, or wine steward: 15% of cost of the bottle
Bartender: 15% to 20% of the tab, with a minimum of 50 cents per soft drink, $1 per alcoholic drink
Coatroom attendant: $1 per coat
Parking valet or garage attendant: $2 to bring your car to you
Washroom attendant: 50 cents to $1

DAILY LIFE
Taxi driver: Varies depending on locality. Assume 15% will be enough; an extra $1 to $2 for help with bags.
Food delivery person:* 10% of the bill (excl. tax), at least $1 for bills up to $10. Should tip 15%-20% for a difficult delivery.
Grocery loader: Check with store policy if tips are accepted. If so, $1 for bringing bags to car; $1.50 to $3 if you have more than 3 bags.
Barber: 15% to 20%, minimum $1, for a haircut. For other services (shampoo, shave or manicure) tip $1 to $2 to service provider.
Hairdresser: 15% to 20%. (It is now acceptable to tip owner, unless he or she says otherwise.)
Shampoo person: $2
Manicurist: 15%
Spa service (e.g., massage): 15% to 20%. If service is provided by owner, no tip.
Staff at coffee/food retailers with tip jars: No tip required. It's completely optional.
Handyman: No tip
Gas attendant: No tip
* Mike Lynn, associate professor of consumer behavior at the Cornell Hotel School suggests tipping pizza delivery folk a minimum of $2 per pizza. His reasoning: Food delivery can be dangerous if delivering to crime-ridden neighborhoods or driving in bad weather, etc. The Web site www.tipthepizzaguy.com suggests the following: 15% for normal service, with a $2 minimum; 20% for excellent service; 10% or less for poor service; at least 10% for orders of $50 or more. Don't assume a delivery charge, if there is one, goes to the pizza deliverer. Ask the person who takes your order.

TRAVEL
Skycap at airport: $1 per bag if you check-in curbside; $2 per bag if skycap takes bags to check-in counter.
Hotel doorman: $1 per bag for help with luggage; $1 per person for hailing a cab
Hotel bellhop: $1 per bag for bringing luggage to your room (but a $2 minimum if you have just one bag)
Hotel housekeeper: $2 per night
Hotel concierge: $5 for getting you tickets or reservations ($10-plus if they're hard to get). No tip required when you ask for directions.
Cruise: Varies. Ask cruise line about customary gratuities.


Source: Emily Post Institute

 

[Shannon G]

I missed the other thread, but I wopuld ahve to disagree with a couple of the guidelines from the Emily Post Institute.

no less than 10% for poor service

A tip is compensation for good service - if service is poor, why should I be obligated to leave a certain percentage anyway?

Hairdresser: 15% to 20%. (It is now acceptable to tip owner, unless he or she says otherwise.)

Tips are intended as extra compensation for people in service industries, who typically earn minimum, or less than minimum, wage. A business owner certainly makes more than that, so I still think that, if the services are rendered by the owner, it is appropriate not to tip.

 

[mamamia]

I also must have missed the other thread on tipping. I'm getting furniture delivered this afternoon and was just wondering what I should tip the delivery guys. The furniture store has already charged me a delivery fee. I'm getting a couch (with a bed in it) and a 2 recliners. I was thinking $20 for each guy if there were only 2 guys (because I don't have any smaller bills than that). I'm also going to ask them to take away my old couch (just 1, but also with the bed in it). What do you guys think?

 

[perdidobay]

If they good a good job bringing in the furniture and take away your old couch for you.......I think $20 is fine