Tip $ crazy...

[smidgy]

I think most people miss the point of tipping. Tipping is based off of service. Even a restaurant server, you aren't tipping based on the food, you are tipping based on the service. The server could do everything right, go above and beyond the call of duty, but if the cook keeps messing up, is it the server's fault? No, he/she did everything they could to give you great service.

The problem is not with who should receive tips, because in my humble, but accurate opinion, it is your discretion to tip whoever you want, in whatever profession you want. The problem is the people who expect tips. Tips are a bonus to anyone working.

Maybe people should try tipping on what they feel and what their heart says instead of service. Who knows, maybe your waitress just found out earlier today that a family member passed away, and unfortunately, their boss is the heartless one and made them work or get fired as it wasn't an immediate family member. So she may not seem into her job that day, maybe a tip of 50%, although not much, would make her realize there are still people who care in this world.

Whatever you sow, so shall you reap.

ITA except for the bolded part. in the restaurant industry in the USA, tipping IS expected. people choose that profession based on that knowledge. now, if service is poor, and they don't recieve tips, or recieve little tips, they are not good at their job, and probably won't last long.
in this industry, it is the biggest part of the pay. that's just the way it works. if someone doesn't tip, they should have a good reason not to.
(no, I'm not talking about tip jars at counter service. my post is ONLY about sit-down restaurants.)

 

[smidgy]

Something that really bothers me is when I'm at a restuarant and I give them cash and rather then them saying 'I'll be right back with your change' they say 'Do you need change' I just think that is bold to say. Yes I am expected to tip but to me its way to bold to just assume I'm going to give you a $10 tip(When that would be way over the norm) just cause I had nothing smaller.

ITA! I always say "I'll be right back with your change." then they have the option.

Along these same lines it bothers me when they do bring the change back and bring only big bills. Such as I have around $10 in change and you bring me two $5 bills. I have had this happen numerous times where I was planning on leaving a tip around $6 to $8 and now I'm stuck with no singles. If they linger long enough I'll ask for change for one of the $5's. Sadly it is not often the case that the server lingers and I don't want to want to wait for more change.
?

a "smart" bartender or waitress will always leave singles and various tip options. after receiving the $5 bill a few times, she'll learn!


I also agree that tipping is a "choice", but it IS "expected". see the difference? (again, I am speaking of decent service, here)

as far as percentages (RE: the dif. between a bill at Whisp. Canyon and Narcosses) servers "work their way up" to the nicer, mosre expensive restauarants. that is where the percentage of the bill comes into play.
you might start out working at an IHOP, and have to serve 20 tables to make the same amount of tips as 5 tables at a classy restaurant. at the inexpensive rest. your server might have 6 other tables besides you. at the classier place, a server might have 3 tables at a time., so she has more time for you. you are paying more, you get more attention... nobody walks inot a place like Narcosses with no experience and gets the job. you pay your dues.

 

[Lori1960]

It is illegal to tip the mailman at Christmas time

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

It is illegal to tip the mailman at Christmas time

You can give a noncash gift valued at $20, if I remember correctly. We give a gift card.

 

[disfamily4ever]

I understand the arguement that tipping is becoming expected for almost everything. But, when someone cleans up after your family- and I've glanced at some horrible rooms- I think a tip is in order for the person who will complete this task of convenience. I don't think $3-5 per night is excessive, at all. But, they are paid to clean the rooms, not pick up your clothes, neatly put them away and arrange all of your personal belongings. Many housekeepers do this, in an effort, to earn their tips.

For the other stuff, making a latte or serving you at a coffee shop type, I really don't understand this one.

 

[pbrim]

I think it has gotten *way* out of hand. Am I tipping a taxi driver for not crashing us into a tree? The server for simply gracing me with his presence and not spitting in my food? I understand that some jobs pay below minimum wage... but it's not like that's a secret they don't find out until after they're working there. Why should I subsidize someone else's job choice?

The problem is that the tip is an expected part of the compensation, it's part of the calculation when the server takes the job. Traditionally tipped jobs are legally subject to a lower minimum wage (currently $2.13) precisely because it is expected that tips will make up the difference.

In fact, servers are taxed on the tips the IRS expects they make. There are formulas that calculate expected tips based on the restraunt's expected sales, etc. So, if you don't tip you are requiring your server to subsidize your meal because she is taxed on the money you aren't giving her.

 

[Arielle22]

Last week my family took a road trip. We were Rt 95 somewhere between MA and VI and stopped for gas. There was no option for self pumping. There was a hand writted sign which said "Tips Appreciated". I looked at my husband and laughed.

I would not tip in that situation because all they are doing is pumping. They do not go out of their way and for us spoke minimally to DH (employee approached us and DH said fill it with regular). When pumping was complete employee told DH the amount and DH handed the credit card. There was never a hello or thanks or have a nice day.

The other person I will not tip is my newspaper delivery person. When I first started getting the paper, 16 years ago, a local child had the paper route and the paper was carefully placed on my front steps. The child would get a tip each week.

Now the paper is heaved out a slowly moving car window and hopefully lands on my property. On weekdays when our cars are gone, the paper usually ends up in our driveway so we have to park on the street and move the paper before parking.

During the winter the paper never seems to end up on our shoveled walkway (or even our driveway). The snowy yard always seems to be the perfect spot that it gets thrown on. Somedays when it is snowing we cannot find the paper for weeks until the snow melts.

Yet once a week the paper is delivered with an self addressed envelope for the delivery person. Getting the newspaper to me is the bare basic of the position. If they want a tip then they have to go out of their way (or out of their car).

I have complained to the newspaper about the delivery but nothing seems to change. I have thought about stopping the paper due to the delivery process. However it delivers the small town news so I like to read it.

 

[smidgy]

The problem is that the tip is an expected part of the compensation, it's part of the calculation when the server takes the job. Traditionally tipped jobs are legally subject to a lower minimum wage (currently $2.13) precisely because it is expected that tips will make up the difference.

In fact, servers are taxed on the tips the IRS expects they make. There are formulas that calculate expected tips based on the restraunt's expected sales, etc. So, if you don't tip you are requiring your server to subsidize your meal because she is taxed on the money you aren't giving her.

and the server is required to "tip-out" the bartender, bus boy, etc. based on these expected tips.

 

[pjpoppins]

I don't understand this one. Isn't federal benefits and retirement paid by our taxes a pretty good tip. I hope I don't offend anyone but wow. Now the newpaper guy who's making $100/week and probably has little to no benfits I could see.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I tip our mail carrier every year. She goes above and beyond, and is just a dear. It is a thank you gift. I don't base those on what benefits a person gets with their job. my personal opinion, of course.

 

[Gina]

I don't base those on what benefits a person gets with their job. my personal opinion, of course.

That is exactly what I was trying to say, but couldn't word it nearly as just right as you did.

I tip based on service and circumstance -- not based on whatever that person makes per hour or what they're "expecting" or anything like that.

 

[kisobel]

i always tip mousekeeping. not because i am a good person but because i remember my summer working at a hotel. you truly would not believe the crap we had to clean up. and its always the dirtiest people who dont leave a tip. so i tip because i feel for the poor maid when she opens the door and thinks "why am i working here". it is my personal choice to tip and i don't expect to change any one's mind. it is your option to tip or not.

kate

 

[brooklynheights]

We tip mousekeeping everyday as each day could be a new mousekeeper.Where I work there is a no tipping rule so clients can call the company or one of the managers to give a good report use to be after 100 we'd get a diamond still might be not sure,so I give glowing reports when I am out in stores or areas where tipping is not allowed, even in grocery stores where employees go above and beyond their job or are just friendly and helpful kindness goes along way. people need to know they are doing a great job.

 

[Rekenna]

Since WDW is really the only place I have travelled I learned tipping from discussion boards such as this. I've never worked in a profession that was a "tipping" job.

I do tip at TS dining, mousekeeping (I usually tip $1 per person staying in the room)-I agree with the observation that these people are working around your personal belongings..., when we use ME I tip $1 per person.

We try really hard not to trash our rooms, we usually just need the beds freshened up, clean towels and maybe the trash taken out-but I do appreciate the fact that I don't have to do it-I have 3 boys and I get really tired of cleaning the same mess up everyday 60x's a day! So, I'm really appreciative of any help-yes, even though I'm already paying for the room.

I agree that it can get out of hand, I try to make special "thank you" envelopes for Mousekeeping, but that's about all the extra work I put into it.

 

[nicki.momof3]

I must be overly generious I guess. i was taught that anyone that does a personal service for you should be tipped.

I tip the following people:

Mailman - X-mas
Paperman - X-mas
Magical express at WDW - every time we ride the bus and the load or unlad bags
Mousekeeping / any hotel housekeeping- daily
Any waitresses / bartenders - every time we go
Room service - every time
Bell hop - Everytime
Hair - everytime


A tip does not have to be huge but it is noce to show some one appreciate for a job well done.

 

[nicki.momof3]

I don't understand this one. Isn't federal benefits and retirement paid by our taxes a pretty good tip. I hope I don't offend anyone but wow. Now the newpaper guy who's making $100/week and probably has little to no benfits I could see.

Saying thank you for a job well done has nothing to do with benefits and retirement. It just sounds like you are a little bitter that you don't get tips.

 

[needtogomore]

Whenever we go out to eat where we live it is expected to leave a tip for
our server (10% OK service, 15% better service, 20% excellent service).

I dont quite get this, so if you say go to, say for round figures a $20 meal with execellant service you leave $4, but go for a $100 meal with ok service you leave $10? not having a go at you,

just asking is this what is expected

 

[smidgy]

I dont quite get this, so if you say go to, say for round figures a $20 meal with execellant service you leave $4, but go for a $100 meal with ok service you leave $10? not having a go at you,

just asking is this what is expected

I appreciate your inquiry!

yes, that's what is expected. just as workers advance in a corporation, and their salary increases, this is the way a server's position (and pay) increases.

she starts out at a restaurant that will hire you with no experience, a place where the average bill is $15-20.

as she increases her skill with experience, she can now "move up" to the higher paying restaurants, ie, "fine dining" where the bills (and tips) will be more.

not that there aren't exceptions. I have a couple who come in every sat. at 5:15. they only drink water and their bill is usually $25-28. but they always leave me around $8.
(this is another way to advance. be attentive and friendly enough where you have customers who ask for you only, and tip you very well!)
on the flip side, there will always be those customers who rave about your service and leave you 10% just because that's just the way they tip.

ps. I have to "tip out" the bartender on my totals, regardless. so the bill from the couple who drinks only water figures into that, as does the bill from the party of 6, who ordered quite a few cocktails, and tips only 10%.

 

[nicki.momof3]

I have a couple who come in every sat. at 5:15. they only drink water and their bill is usually $25-28. but they always leave me around $8.
.

I am sorry but I am confused. You have customers that only order water and the bill comes to $25 - that is some expensive water

 

[pjpoppins]

I don't understand this one. Isn't federal benefits and retirement paid by our taxes a pretty good tip. I hope I don't offend anyone but wow. Now the newpaper guy who's making $100/week and probably has little to no benfits I could see.

Ok, I apologize and agree that maybe this was uncalled for. I see absolutely nothing wrong with tipping the mail carrier. I guess I was looking at this as "you should tip your mail carrier" and not "it's nice to tip the mail carrier". I guess it doesn't help that my mail carrier doesn't even acknowledge me when I'm standing 5 feet from the mailbox; I've waved to say "hi and thanks" but nothing. So I guess my opinion was affected. Again, hope I didn't offend or upset anyone.