Tipping Etiquette

[JustAKid]

I've never been to Disneyland in my adult life, I am not well traveled anyway, and I'm pretty certain I was, indeed, brought up in a barn. My etiquette is...ah, lacking. I didn't know that housekeeping was supposed to be tipped! I'm so afraid that I'm going to gyp someone else. So, please, can someone tell me what the tipping etiquette is? Do I tip when I have a waiter(ess) who takes my order and brings me my food ONLY? Do I tip for buffet? Do I tip for "counter service" meals? Ah...while we're on that whole thing, what IS counter service?

Please...help!

 

[Flitterific]

Counter service is where you stand in line to order food and they do not bring it to you. I usually don't tip unless someone actually does something for me. However, if you are at a full service restaurant (with wait staff and everything), then you usually just tip once at the end of the meal (usually 15-20% of the tab depending on the service you get). The wait staff will then split the tips amongst themselves.

I usually tip the following people: drivers, wait staff at full service restaurants, housekeeping and bell boys who help with my luggage. There's probably some others that slipped my mind though...

 

[TheZue]

If I have a waitress I always tip at least 15%. For buffets I will tip if it isn't included in the price because they often have waitresses clearing your plates and bringing drinks...but at Disneyland I think it often is. Counterservice I don't tip, it's basically like going to a fast food restaurant.

 

[Flitterific]

Oh, I forgot to mention that I do tip at buffets but only if there is someone to take my drink orders and to bus the tables. As for the character buffet meals at DLR, they already include tax and gratuity in the price of the meal so no need to tip again. However, that is not usually the case for most buffets (meaning those outside DLR). It's always good to ask when unsure

 

[johnnymo99]

You do not have to tip housekeeping. Same with couter service. They both make at least minimum wage. If they do something above the call of duty and you want to tip - go for it.

 

[Flitterific]

You do not have to tip housekeeping. Same with couter service. They both make at least minimum wage. If they do something above the call of duty and you want to tip - go for it.

I don't agree that just because someone makes above minimum wage, they don't deserve any tips. I know people who are housekeepers and for all the work they do, they don't get paid enough. JMO though.

 

[JustAKid]

Thanks all, for the replies. So much to learn...so much to learn!

 

[rossip]

I don't agree that just because someone makes above minimum wage, they don't deserve any tips. I know people who are housekeepers and for all the work they do, they don't get paid enough. JMO though.

OK for an Australian this i just so damm confusing - like the OP I dont want to offend anyone .

Some say tip housekeeping others say don't , I think I will play it safe and tip , but do you do it daily or at the end of your stay ?

Also what about Bus drivers on day tours ?? Taxi drivers ?

Restaurants I think I have worked out .

Very confused !

PS remember Australians dont tip at home at all .

 

[aussiegirls]

I am with you rossip, I don't think I get it at all.

Firstly I don't understand the reason for tipping, everyone gets paid for doing a job don't they?

Secondly, if it is such a normal thing then it's almost not a reward for great service or anything is it because you "have to" give the tip regardless, don't you?

I especially don't get the vouchers you can get with tip already included. What if you get crap service and don't want to tip? It's hardly a tip if it is just an additional charge that you have to pay upfront.

Anyway if anyone can enlighten a confused aussie (we don't tip here) it would be much appreciated.

xxx

 

[Peri]

Tipping is a strange custom, I agree.

Nevertheless it is inbred in the US system to the point that employers can pay people LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE if they are in jobs that are routinely tipped. (see http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/state/tipped.htm). This includes Hotel Housekeepers.

The problem with this is that depending on where you work, you may get to pool your tips (which can help get you up to minimum wage), or you have to self-report, or the employer can 'assume' you are getting the tips listed in the tables (they are not supposed to assume this, but indeed, many do).

So waiters and hotel workers do not get minimum wage prior to their tips - their tips are calculated in. If they are not tipped, then, the employer is supposed to make up the difference to minimum wage.

Tipped positions, as has been stated, include waitresses in restaurants where they bring the food and drink (15 to 20%), people who bring drinks only at a buffet ( 2 or 3 dollars), bellhops who carry your luggage ( 1 or 2 dollars per bag), housekeeping (1 or more dollars a night, depending on how messy you are, etc., we usually pay 2 to 3 per night, Paid nightly, since staff changes), taxi drivers, tour bus drivers - I usually look on the internet for common tipping amounts for these since we rarely have used these services. The only other pitfall you might encounter in terms of etiquette is at a high end restaurant, where you tip the waiter and the somalier separately - and sometimes the maitre de as well! Bartenders are also tipped a dollar or two per drink.

Of course, you DO NOT have to tip, every service person is used to being stiffed for whatever reason, and you may get such terrible or non-existent service that you want to send a message, but the OP asked about the etiquette of the thing.

 

[aussiegirls]

Thanks Peri, it does answer a few questions, I understand a bit better now. Not sure I agree with being allowed to pay people less than the miminum wage (but that's another thread entirely I suppose )

xxx

 

[jenniferrose]

Thanks Peri, it does answer a few questions, I understand a bit better now. Not sure I agree with being allowed to pay people less than the miminum wage (but that's another thread entirely I suppose )

xxx

That is correct. Employers can pay less than minimum wage. I have worked in payroll for the past 10+ years. However, if they are doing their payroll properly, the tips they claim must bring them to minimum wage or the employer has to make up the difference. So for instance, they can make $6.00 an hour (CA min wage is $8.00) but when they report their hours, and their tips, if the tips do not make up 2.00, the employer has to pay them the difference.

 

[Pezalicious]

I have issues with tipping, though I always tip very well (unless we get bad service, then I usually tip just OK). Here in San Francisco, waiters get paid minimum wage ($9.79 per hour, I think), in addition to tips. They also get health care, which means most restaurants charge a 4% fee on top of the bill, to cover those costs. To me, it just seems like an awful lot of money for a job that doesn't require an education. My husband is a teacher and some waiters and waitresses make more than him. I know it's a hard job, but the pay doesn't work out quite right when compared to other jobs.. at least not here.

I would much rather we pay tipping positions a living wage, and do away with tips completely. But it'll never happen in this society, unfortunately.

 

[pixiewings71]

T to
I insure
P prompt
S service
Tips should never be considered guaranteed income, I really despise states that have that rule where employers don't have to pay as much. That really burns me.
I tip when it's deserved or earned. I rarely tip housekeeping, because we rarely have our rooms made up before we leave the hotel. If we are staying for longer than 2-3 days I will have our rooms done on the 3rd day, and then we tip, if we are staying for a weekend only and we do not ask for any housekeeping, extra towels, etc, then I don't tip. At restaurants where there is a buffet I tip only if a server comes by and takes drinks orders or if someone clears the table of our used plates, I do not tip at fast food or counter service. I do tip at full service restaurants but the tip depends on the service I get, if I get poor service I leave a standard 10% tip and no more, if the service is outstanding I leave a LOT more, I've been known to tip 30-40% when the service has warranted it!

I realize that people do work minimum wage jobs, but if I do not get the service I do not leave the tip. While staying on site we always get service (because we love the toiletries and want extras LOL) so we leave a tip daily for mousekeeping. I've tried to tip the desk staff at HoJo, GCH & PPH due to some outstanding service they've given us, but they have always refused.

Tips are not guaranteed, tips are a way to acknowledge someone's hard work and Thank them, people need to remember that.

 

[wannabimagineer]

Tips are not guaranteed, tips are a way to acknowledge someone's hard work and Thank them, people need to remember that.

I agree, but the way the tipping has gotten so ingrained within the service industry I feel so guilty if I don't tip even if the service was bad.

 

[Royalpine]

I always tip housekeeping nightly, as mentioned above, the staff can change. I usually tip a bit higher on the first night, I have a theory that I'll get better service the rest of the week if I do, plus if I ever need anything hopefully they'll respond a bit quicker. My typical tip is $3-5 on night one, $1-3 the rest of the week. I might be out to lunch on this but this makes me feel better while at the hotel.

 

[Kiwianna]

for tipping not being so usual in Australia and New Zealand:
Many of our early settlers would have had no love at all for the British class system and the people who were advantaged by it, so tipping may have implied that you thought you were of a higher social status than the person providing the service.

 

[JustAKid]

Wow! It is so interesting to see the different philosophies of tipping. I didn't know that people in Australia didn't tip. I might think of moving, because this whole tipping business is confusing!

I think I liken my own philosophy to the + in a A+ grade. It's that little something extra to show that the person did MORE then the job they are paid to do, and that you recognize and appreciate that.

After having read everyone's posts I'd like to add something that I think is important but has not been said. If you choose NOT to tip someone based on service be sure that you are punishing the right person. For example, don't not tip the waiter(ess) because the kitchen is out of broccoli. In the event that your waiter(ess) dumps a pitcher of cold water in your lap, then proceeds to point, laugh, and then take pictures...by all means, forgo the tip!

 

[mhconley]

In the event that your waiter(ess) dumps a pitcher of cold water in your lap, then proceeds to point, laugh, and then take pictures...by all means, forgo the tip!

I don't think an accident is reason to not tip. Now if they dumped the water in you lap on purpose... or ignore you, disappear for long periods of time, make repeated mistakes or add items to your bill then - don't forego the tip - they may think you forgot - tip 10 or 25 cents. That gets the point across.

And I wholeheartedly agree - ensure you are punishing the right person. If your order gets messed up but the waitperson had it right or it is improperly cooked ask to speak to the chef or manager - don't punish the wait help.

I tip housekeepers $2 to $5 a night depending upon the level of service and price of the hotel. Doormen and valets get $1, bellhops $1 to $2 per bag, drivers get $1 or $2 if they help with bags.

Martin

 

[pixiewings71]

I agree, but the way the tipping has gotten so ingrained within the service industry I feel so guilty if I don't tip even if the service was bad.

Not me, if someone wants a good tip then please, provide good service. Our society has become so engrossed in the whole "you owe me" mentality and really that needs to change. That's why I tip the I do, the better the service the better the tip, the other night we had dinner out, this particular place has amazing food and stellar service, we tipped about 40% because we appreciate their hard work so much. They know that and when we eat there servers argue over who gets to serve us.

I always tip housekeeping nightly, as mentioned above, the staff can change. I usually tip a bit higher on the first night, I have a theory that I'll get better service the rest of the week if I do, plus if I ever need anything hopefully they'll respond a bit quicker. My typical tip is $3-5 on night one, $1-3 the rest of the week. I might be out to lunch on this but this makes me feel better while at the hotel.

This is my guideline too, if we are getting housekeeping every night/day, but if I'm only getting it once on a trip then I'll do a $5 tip the day of the service. There have been times we've returned to the room to find our tip waiting for us.....LOL One housekeeper left us change! LOL She took our $5 and left us 5 $1 bills in it's place. We let the front desk know what it was for, added another dollar and made sure she got it the next day.

Wow! It is so interesting to see the different philosophies of tipping. I didn't know that people in Australia didn't tip. I might think of moving, because this whole tipping business is confusing!

I think I liken my own philosophy to the + in a A+ grade. It's that little something extra to show that the person did MORE then the job they are paid to do, and that you recognize and appreciate that.

After having read everyone's posts I'd like to add something that I think is important but has not been said. If you choose NOT to tip someone based on service be sure that you are punishing the right person. For example, don't not tip the waiter(ess) because the kitchen is out of broccoli. In the event that your waiter(ess) dumps a pitcher of cold water in your lap, then proceeds to point, laugh, and then take pictures...by all means, forgo the tip!

You are exactly right, make sure you're "punishing" the right person. I would never punish the server for a kitchen problem. I like your example tho, that would be horrible.....and a good reason to call the manager! LOL