New rules for end of the year tipping

[Cheshire Figment]

When I was a teen-ager I worked as a delivery boy for a florist in New York City. I traveled by walking, bus, or subway to four of the five boroughs (never Staten Island). And I always got tips, sometimes on holidays they were very large.

Yet the article says you do not tip flower delivery people. All of us worked basically for tips, pay was at minimum wage.

 

[Sadie22]

When I was a teen-ager I worked as a delivery boy for a florist in New York City. I traveled by walking, bus, or subway to four of the five boroughs (never Staten Island). And I always got tips, sometimes on holidays they were very large.

Yet the article says you do not tip flower delivery people. All of us worked basically for tips, pay was at minimum wage.

The article is wrong.

As far as those complaining about tipping a stylist in a salon, the salon gets most of the price you pay for the cut, color, or perm in many salons. My stylist decided to go out on her own and set up shop in her own home. She is able to charge substantially less than the salon charged for the same services but says she is making more money even though she is now buying her own supplies.

 

[RitaE]

I always wonder - do people in New York (and other cities) always keep wads of cash in their pockets for these type of things? The delivery people and the doormen and the guy who grabs your bags as you're trying to get out of your cab and then opens a door for you...... DH is always complaining about having to run to the bank for tip money before he leaves for business trips.

If I had to tip a flower delivery person out here I'd be scrounging in the kids piggy banks for quarters. I hardly ever have cash on me.

 

[live4christp1]

Whatever happened to some one just doing their job? That's what they're paid to do.

If people get "tipped" all this money, then what's the point of them having a salary? Seems like their paychecks are a drop in the bucket compared to the tips they earn. Servers are the only exception for me, I do tip them based on service.

And I mean it's nice an all to give people who are friendly, nice, and provide outstanding service to you a small gift or token of appreciation around the holidays.

I agree!

DH used to deliver furniture. He made a fair (hourly) wage. He agreed upon that wage with the boss before accepting the position. While they would occasionally receive a tip, it was never expected and never anything we planned into the budget. He went to work and did the job he was hired to do for the wage that had been agreed upon. One hot days I think they were more appreciative of a cold bottled water or soda if offered.

I worked as a housekeeper during high school (weekend work at a hotel). Again, pay was a little above minimum wage which was okay for a kid still in high school. Wage was agreed upon before accepting position. Again, while finding a tip when cleaning was nice, it wasn't expected. My job responsibilities were the same if I got tipped or not. To clean the room and make sure it was ready for the next guest within an acceptable amount of time.

Also have waitressed, and I did take that position with the idea of making the majority of my money from tips. I only worked it part time so at $2.20 an hour I think after taxes my check was usually $6 - $10 a week. But working Friday & Saturday nights it was normal to make around $200 in tips (that's for about 12 hours).

 

[ssawka]

We tip for service when service is rendered and do not feel the need to give anyone extra during the holidays. The only people that get anything extra from us over the holidays are people that help my daughter like her teachers and therapists. I suppose it would be different if I always requested the same stylist or same waitress, but I generally take whoever is available.

The ones that I really feel for though are waiters and waitresses. They are usually paid $2 an hour as a salary and then rely on tips for the rest. To me it is appaling that the restraunt owners are allowed to pay servers below minimum wage and then expect the customer to pay the rest. However, who decided that 15% is no longer the norm? I usually do leave more as I will do 15% off the post tax amount and round up. So it probably falls somewhere right around 20%. I also don't necessarily agree with tipping based on the bill, but I have not thought of a better way to do it. My agrument is that it does not take more work to serve me an expensive steak than a piece of chicken.

The other thing that really annoys me about tipping is that it is now expected. The other day I had lunch at a sit down restaurant and my bill came to $6-something. I gave the waitress a $10, but never said "keep the change" or anything, but the waitress assumed that the rest was her tip and never returned with my change. Things like that make me furious. Don't assume that I would give you a 67% tip, and no it wasn't on a coupon or anything like that where I'd be expected to tip on the non-discounted price.

 

[VeganCupcake]

Most incredible request I got was a few weeks ago. We had just started a newspaper subscription and two-three weeks into it we got a note from our carrier telling us that she was quitting the route. She included a self-addressed envelope and a note telling us we could forward her share of the Christmas Tip once December rolled around.

That's CRAZY to me! I can't believe people feel THAT entitled! Who knows what she would have done if she had not quit and didn't get a tip from you!

I always tip my hairdresser $10(cut only) I tip my waiter/waitresses 20% + , I tip my tattoo artist $50-$100 a session, and I tip $3-5 for food delivery, I really didn't know that all those other people were tippable positions.

 

[ICF]

Whatever happened to some one just doing their job? That's what they're paid to do.

If people get "tipped" all this money, then what's the point of them having a salary? Seems like their paychecks are a drop in the bucket compared to the tips they earn. Servers are the only exception for me, I do tip them based on service.

And I mean it's nice an all to give people who are friendly, nice, and provide outstanding service to you a small gift or token of appreciation around the holidays.

agreed.

I've never ever seen my garbage men. The cans are set at the end of the driveway when I leave for work and are emptied when I get home. I pay for the service each month as it is.

The mailman (or sometimes woman) seems to change on a regular basis. Not sure why, but on the rare occasions I see them, it is never the same person.

We get UPS stuff 8-10 times a year. It's left on the porch with a ring of the doorbell. I generally never speak to him or had him personally deliver the package unless he has happened to catch us outside during the summer when he comes around.

Tipping a waiter is one thing.....tipping everyone you come into contact in a given day seems kinda nuts.

 

[scrapquitler]

Th only tips I give at holiday time are for the mailman and the two trash men ($10 gift cards for Dunkin Donuts or Subway)...our mailman walks our packages to my front door instead of leaving them at the box out by the street, which he doesn't HAVE to do. OUr trash men always pick up if an animal has gotten into the trashcans (frequent in my neighborhood) and sometimes they let me leave more stuff than my allotment (we pay a private service, it's not a town thing here). Since they both go above and beyond, we give them a little tip. Oh, and I give a $20 cash tip to the bartender at our local hangout where DH and I go frequently.

I don't give my hairdresser (who is a close friend) anything extra at the holiday, but I do give waitresses bigger tips than normal this time of year (I usually add an extra $1-$2).

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

Glad I am not the only one that feels this way! How about I get a "holiday thank you" for my continued business and loyalty!

Hairdresser- I see her every 8 weeks and tip at least 20% cash - I am sure she doesn't claim all her cash tips!

Trash guy- I pay $69 a quarter for every other week pick up, that is almost $11 a pick up. One week I called b/c I was going on vacation and they let me put it out on my 'off' week. Next week while I was away I got a nasty message that the driver reported I forgot to put my can out. Ironically I saw him the week before and I asked him "did you get the message I am putting my can out this week since I am away next week?"

Newspaper- even when I did tip for the holidays my delivery person refuses to put the paper on the front step. I have a very short walkway from the street/driveway and they leave it at the end of the driveway (with a good aim they could easily hit the steps w/o getting out of the car.) Do you know how hard it is to unclog a rolled-up newspaper that has been sucked up by a snowblower because it was hiding under the snow?

 

[dreamin_disney]

I tape an envelope to the top of the garbage can. Same for the recycling.
Our garbage person is really great. Every time the can gets knocked over by an animal he cleans up the mess in the street.

I also tip a bunch of people not on the list. DD's violin teacher, horseback riding instructor, etc. Anyone that I pay per lesson every week.

This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. I only tip Waiters/waitresses and the girl that cuts my hair, and none of them get extra b/c it is a holiday.

The garbage men in Ga, at least Columbus are prisoners, I don't think it would be wise to give them a tip. And I have a tip for our garbage collectors here in AL and it isn't DIS friendly, b/c he won't continue to have a job if he is just going to leave the trash in my yard.

Postal workers probably make more than I do and have better benefits (and mine isn't too shabby for our area), why do they need a tip?

The UPS guy usually comes before I get home from work if I order anything and he is certainly gone before I can get to the door after he rings the bell, last week he just waved from the street. I order something maybe once a year.

Next thing you know, we will have to tip the cashier and the bag boy at the grocery store, and I know some places allow this, but not around here, with the exception of the Commissary and they work for tips only, but that was 5 years ago.

Suzanne

I've seen people in my neighborhood going through peoples trash for recyleables so they might get the envelope before garbage man-lol!

I worked as a bag girl at the grocery store. We were NOT allowed to take tips, even if we helped customers out to their cars. If we did we'd get fired!!!

 

[hipchickie]

The other thing that really annoys me about tipping is that it is now expected. The other day I had lunch at a sit down restaurant and my bill came to $6-something. I gave the waitress a $10, but never said "keep the change" or anything, but the waitress assumed that the rest was her tip and never returned with my change. Things like that make me furious. Don't assume that I would give you a 67% tip, and no it wasn't on a coupon or anything like that where I'd be expected to tip on the non-discounted price.

that is my huge pet peeve!!! The other day we were out and happened to have lunch and dinner in restaurants - I was so happy because both times the waitresses immediately said "I will be right back with your change".
They both got a 20% tip, which I thought was generous (a perk of not asking if I want my change ) but according to that article, that is the new average anyway

 

[rubato]

These are guidelines if you WANT to tip. No, these are not people you HAVE to tip, but if you so choose, these are the recommended guidelines. Whether you choose to or not is your deal. Let me tip if I so choose. Thanks.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

Mostly i think the article was rubbish...Yes people who go out of their way to provide excellent service should be rewarded and for most of us we do reward in tips. If you feel a personal connection to somebody like a hairdresser a gift would be nice (because you want to! Not because some person on yahoo told you that it would be uncouth not to give a gift!) If the mailman does a great job, or your garbage guy does a super job or anybody else it is nice to think of them at the holidays but this article practically demands that you tip. That is uncouth~!

 

[hsmamato2]

well, I normally tip around $6 for a 28.00 haircut/dry,and I feel like that is fair for her time and expertise...but yesterday I left her a 25.00 tip- wondered later if I would be thought of as crazy,but I figured one end of year tip to show her I appreciate her is the right thing to do....
besides,when you find a hairdresser with reasonable prices who keeps your hair lookin' GOOD you have to keep her happy!

 

[princessmom29]

I only tip waitstaff, bellmen ect. I refuse to tip someone for doing a job they are already well paid to do. I pay my hairdresser $35 just for a haircut, and well over $100 for the works. If she goes over and above on something Itip, but not for the standard service. That is what a tip is SUPPOSED to be, and extra OPTIONAL bonus for exceptional service, over and above the norm.

 

[pixiewings71]

that is my huge pet peeve!!! The other day we were out and happened to have lunch and dinner in restaurants - I was so happy because both times the waitresses immediately said "I will be right back with your change".
They both got a 20% tip, which I thought was generous (a perk of not asking if I want my change ) but according to that article, that is the new average anyway

We still use the 10-15% for standard service and 20-30% for excellent service guidelines, I think should be up to us what we choose to tip on service and if service lacks we've been known to tip less then 10%. Not often but it has happened, most notably when both the server and manager didn't seem to care when we had a complaint. Complaints for us aren't small things, it's usually stuff like getting the wrong food, getting cold food, getting under or over cooked food, we don't care if refills are slow to be delivered, or if we run out of Ranch to dip our food in but we do care about attitude and quality.

So I read the article and won't tip any of those people more then I normally do. I never tip the garbage men, they never get out of their truck and they will NEVER clean up spilled garbage! Nope, we get to do that ourselves and half the time it's spilled from the driver not lining up right and spilling the whole can all over the street! Not gonna tip for that type of "service".
Don't have to worry about skycaps, porters or hotel doormen, when we travel we carry our own bags to our rooms or to the plane.
Don't have a Doorman, Cleaning Service Provider or Personal Caregivers so not needed there.
Regular stylist, trainer or aesthetician, nope, don't have those either. I'm my own personal trainer, I do my own cleaning and door opening and my stylist is whoever is next at the local Super Cuts. LOL Seriously......no stylist for me.
As for Postal Workers, I like to give them a little something usually, but it's normally a gift card for $10 someplace like Chipotle or Starbucks, with a note that says "enjoy lunch of us, thanks for all you do thru the year". We don't get a ton of packages delivered, most of what we get fits in the box perfectly. Fed Ex & UPS don't stick around either, they drop and run so no tips for them either.
I loved this part from the article "Newspaper delivery person: A gift of between $10 and $20 or more in an envelope will help show your appreciation for all those cold and rainy mornings you can pick up your paper without getting dressed." ya right...our paper is always in the driveway, I always have to go outside in the cold and rain to get our paper, no way am I tipping for that! lol
I'll have to pass on most of that articles "rules" for this year.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Tipping threads always get warm on the DIS. Not sure why folks get so defensive about it.

One factor that seams to be at play here is that I REALLY think the USA is NOT homogenous when it comes to the idea of tipping. Evenin the same city, say - different levels of hair salon (restaurant, etc.) probably have different customs of tipping.

And as others have indirectly pointed out ; there's a difference between a low end barber shop (15min tops) and a high end full service salon (2-3hours) for hair styles. Likewise, there's a difference between a mail carrier that custom delivers daily mail to your front door in all weather with a smile, and a mail carrier that fills PO boxes in the warm post office whom you've never met.

But well....the flip side of tipping is that kindness gets rewarded! Kindness comes in many forms - not just money. If you never tip, and are rude to service workers around you, well then...MAYBE there's a connnection! Maybe that's the reason why you don't get exceptional service very often! Just a thought. Being a good customer has paid off for me in some very unexpected ways over the years.

When I was a server- I often did things that went way beyond just my job for those who were kind and/or good tippers. If they were elderly, for example, I'd try to keep an eye out to make sure they made it to their car safely. They didn't have to rich, they just had to say, "Thanks" once in a while! And they probably didn't even know I did that for them, but I did!

 

[andycat]

While it is specifically about tipping for SCUBA diving trips, this article has some interesting information about tipping by people from other countries (Canada, UK, and Australia) compared to people from the USA, as well as tipping in other parts of the world: http://www.undercurrent.org/UCnow/dive_magazine/2008/LastWordOnDiveTipping200807.html

As for Kimberly Palmer's US News article, the first thing that came to my mind is, "Sheesh, how much are reporters for US News paid!?" And for those who comment that these are only suggestions and no one has to tip, I respectfully disagree - the author is putting this out not only as "customary", but the article is titled "... RULES ...", implying you're an anti-social low-life cheapskate if you don't pony up to her standards.

I'm not suggesting for a moment, though, that Ms. Palmer is not entitled to her opinion. But then so are we all, so here are my guidelines:

Rule #1: Anyone who asks for or suggests what is an appropriate tip DOESN'T GET ONE.

Postal Workers - unless they are trudging through snow to make deliveries, regularly making special efforts to deliver packages, or hand delivering mail to someone who is elderly or mobility impaired, $0.00. (I live in a condo complex with a central mail drop and rarely even see the postal worker.)

Personal care givers: I have no experience with these folks, so I'll pass on commenting on this one.

Doormen: Again I have no personal experience, although I have to wonder if tipping customs vary regionally?

Cleaning service: If I have an independent service where I always have the same person, I'll tip one cleaning fee extra at the end of the year, assuming they’ve been working at least six months and assuming there have been no issues with the service. If it's a managed service with different personnel from visit to visit, then $0.00, mostly because there's no way to know if any tip will be shared as intended.

Barber / stylist: 10% at each service, plus one service fee at year end. (Ladies may take issue with this - I know your services are a lot more expensive.)

Newspaper delivery: I'll agree with Ms. Palmer's $10-$20. While both the newspaper and mail are delivered daily, the newspaper person is likely to be an independent contractor getting no fringe benefits.

Garbage collectors: You're kidding, right? OK, I saw some posts from people about problems with their trash cans being knocked over by animals. Well, maybe then it's OK (but I'd be more inclined to buy an animal proof roll cart). Otherwise, $0.00.

Skycaps and porters: $1 per bag for the first two bags, then $.50 for each additional bag, rounded up to the next whole dollar. Add $2 for each large/bulky bag such as golf clubs or skis. (But with wheeled luggage, it's usually easy enough to handle my own luggage.) And a special note for the baggage handlers at the Miami Cruise Port: These are well-paid, unionized positions that don't even require a high school education, yet they are downright surly if they don't think someone is tipping enough. Next time I have to run that gauntlet my tip will be a strongly worded letter to the Cruise Port director.

Restaurants: For sit-down, table service - 15-18% of the PRE-TAX amount for reasonable service; 20-25% for outstanding or special service. I may round up if the bill is small (like a single breakfast), or I may leave nothing if the service is poor or the server is ill-mannered. Counter service - $0.00. Starbucks started this business of putting a tip jar out, and now it seems that every counter has copied it. You don't get a tip in my book for carrying my order from three feet from the hot rack to the counter.

Cruise ship personnel (stateroom stewards, dining room staff): In the past I've used the cruise line's recommendations, but I make a point of handing the tip to the staff members personally rather than just letting the cruise line tack it onto my bill. The only exception is for the head waiter / matre'D - I feel that these are management positions that do not automatically deserve a tip. If we end up frequenting one particular bar / bartender, I'll tip them $10-$20 depending on the service and length of the cruise. (Sometimes the bartenders are more informative and entertaining than the entertainment staff.) All that said, I may poll some of my table-mates at dinner on the next cruise if they are from other countries and see what they consider customary.

SCUBA diving (since I started off with that article): $5.00 per dive for reasonable service, more if the service / support has been exceptional.

In closing, just as you need not take my guidelines as gospel, neither should you take Kimberly Palmer's. If you're not certain what's customary and you want more information, remember that Google is your friend.

 

[mjkacmom]

I only tip waitstaff, bellmen ect. I refuse to tip someone for doing a job they are already well paid to do. I pay my hairdresser $35 just for a haircut, and well over $100 for the works. If she goes over and above on something Itip, but not for the standard service. That is what a tip is SUPPOSED to be, and extra OPTIONAL bonus for exceptional service, over and above the norm.

Although I think tipping is out of hand, positions such as hairdresser, manicurist, masseuse (sp), etc., are widely considered tipped positions, and I'm sure they agreed to the salary offered knowing that they would be tipped also. I've never seen anyone NOT tip (although our salon makes it easier with envelopes at the register).

Now, I'm not tipping my dental hygenist, because I don't think anyone thinks that is a tipped position.

 

[pearlieq]

Not that I exactly was before, but I stopped taking that article seriously when their "expert" said that the literal translation of "tip" was "to ensure promptness", which is not only untrue, but would make the word "TEP".

What a dumb "expert". Doesn't Yahoo employ an editorial staff?