Tipping- How much and to whom

[marius97]

Why should a person who serves me a $50 meal get tipped 5Xs as much as the person who serves me a $10 meal? Both do the same amount of work. If I have specialty drinks, appetizers and dessert they shod be tipped more.

When We went out to eat on our Anniversary our bill was over $100. We were at our table for about 75 minutes and the server appeared to have three tables. Our tip was $22. If all the other tables (they were groups of 4) tipped the same amount for the same amount of time, the server made $66 in $75 minutes. There was not a bartender there but there were bus boys. The server gave them a few bucks for each table. That resulted in a take of over $50 for 75 minutes. Not a bad take.

I feel the exact same way. I started a firestorm a few years ago here with a question. I accept that waiter at a fine dining restaurant deserves the bigger tip because they are usually offering better service, knowledge of the food, recomendations, etc. My situation was this: My family with three kids under 11 loves Applebees. We go there and spend $50-60. We usually tip close to 20% because I've known a lot of servers through the years. We then went to TRex at DTD and spent something like $130. Yet, we had basically the same type of food with the same type/quality of service. In that instance, I did not feel that she earned 20% of the $130. She didn't do anything more than the people at Applebees do. Of course I still tipped 20% of of habit. I just didn't feel right doing it.

 

[disneychrista]

We go there and spend $50-60. We usually tip close to 20% because I've known a lot of servers through the years. We then went to TRex at DTD and spent something like $130. Yet, we had basically the same type of food with the same type/quality of service. In that instance, I did not feel that she earned 20% of the $130. She didn't do anything more than the people at Applebees do. Of course I still tipped 20% of of habit. I just didn't feel right doing it.

I do not care what the percentage is when we go out. I tip based on number of people & service received.

 

[DisneyEater]

I do not care what the percentage is when we go out. I tip based on number of people & service received.

Please give an example.

 

[disneychrista]

Please give an example.

I generally leave $5 for 3 of us. Our bills can be anywhere from $20 - $40.

 

[Acklander]

But, what if accepting that tip costs them their job? How do you feel about that? Apparently, that is Disney policy.

A CM posted on the Dis some time ago that housekeepers make $10 to $12 an hour, far from minimum wage.

I just checked on disney job website and the job is available (part time only - so probably little/no benefits) for 8.25 an hour. Must be available 24/7, and able to clean 14 rooms a day.
While some might make 10-12 an hour, that's probably supervisor role or maybe that includes the tips that they do receive from those who choose to tip.

 

[JB2K]

Another tipping thing which really raises my eyebrows and makes me go "Hmmmmm..." are those DISers who have recently taken to tipping their housekeeping staff at Shades of Green (the U.S. Department of Defense-owned/operated resort across the road from the Polynesian for the unfamiliar).

For those really feeling the urge to leave a "cute little envelope" festooned with Dinsey stickers at SoG, consider this -- those housekeepers are considered employees of the federal government (albeit, with "non-appropriated funds", meaning their wages come from resort profits, not our tax dollars).

While AFAIK, the SoG NAF employees are not part of the same labor union representing the rest of WDW (generally, government-types are represented by other groups), they are certainly doing better than minimum wage, which in the state of Florida, is $7.67.

So, although $8.25 doesn't sound like a lot of money to some people, here, WDW Housekeepers are doing better than their off-site counterparts...

 

[declansdad]

So, although $8.25 doesn't sound like a lot of money to some people, here, WDW Housekeepers are doing better than their off-site counterparts...

So what?

 

[DisneyEater]

I generally leave $5 for 3 of us. Our bills can be anywhere from $20 - $40.

So if the 3 of you went out to a more expensive restaurant and the bill was $80, would you still leave $5?

Just trying to understand what you were saying in the above.

 

[disneychrista]

So if the 3 of you went out to a more expensive restaurant and the bill was $80, would you still leave $5?

Just trying to understand what you were saying in the above.

Well first off that is not very likely. I would never spend that much on a meal.

But if on the off chance that I wanted to waste $80 on meal. If I was to get the same level of service & it was just that the food was over priced then yes I would likely leave the same tip.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Well first off that is not very likely. I would never spend that much on a meal.

But if on the off chance that I wanted to waste $80 on meal. If I was to get the same level of service & it was just that the food was over priced then yes I would likely leave the same tip.

If I went to a restaurant where I knew that my bill was probably going to be $80 and the service was less than stellar, I would be talking to a manager long before the bill was even brought to the table.

I also tip 15 to 20% on the amount before a coupon or discount is applied, I notice others don't do that.

 

[marmalade]

I feel the exact same way. I started a firestorm a few years ago here with a question. I accept that waiter at a fine dining restaurant deserves the bigger tip because they are usually offering better service, knowledge of the food, recomendations, etc. My situation was this: My family with three kids under 11 loves Applebees. We go there and spend $50-60. We usually tip close to 20% because I've known a lot of servers through the years. We then went to TRex at DTD and spent something like $130. Yet, we had basically the same type of food with the same type/quality of service. In that instance, I did not feel that she earned 20% of the $130. She didn't do anything more than the people at Applebees do. Of course I still tipped 20% of of habit. I just didn't feel right doing it.

Am I the only one that thinks tipping has gotten out of control. Being a server is a tough job, but so are most jobs. And per the numbers above, this server received a $26 tip for what? approx 1.5hrs of work for ONE table. I am sure this server had more than this families table.

I very rarely go out to eat, but when I do I tip what society feels is an acceptable tip, but I hate doing it.

 

[maxiesmom]

Am I the only one that thinks tipping has gotten out of control. Being a server is a tough job, but so are most jobs. And per the numbers above, this server received a $26 tip for what? approx 1.5hrs of work for ONE table. I am sure this server had more than this families table.

I very rarely go out to eat, but when I do I tip what society feels is an acceptable tip, but I hate doing it.

The way I look at it, there are probably many times where the wait staff have few tables, or no one to wait on at all. So it all evens out that way. They only make tips when they have someone to actually wait on, which isn't all of the time.

 

[marmalade]

The way I look at it, there are probably many times where the wait staff have few tables, or no one to wait on at all. So it all evens out that way. They only make tips when they have someone to actually wait on, which isn't all of the time.

Most people who decide to become a server do it for the money, because they make good money. But why are we tipping them so much money? It's not like they are making the food. Half the time they don't even serve the food, they have runners for that.

I just don't get it.

 

[Judique]

When tipping the mousekeepers....do you do it daily or on the last day? How much have you left in the past?
Also, who else along your travels at the world have you tipped and how much?
Have you ever gotten creative and bought like Mc'd gift cards or something else along those line?
TIA...I'm trying to budget everything in advance.

To answer the OP: I usually tip at the end of our visit. I often will notice whomever is doing rooms in the hallways as we come and go. I'm often greeted with a good morning and will respond in kind. I ask if they will be around on my departure days, and they usually know why I'm asking. I tip $1-$2 a person per day. If we stay a week and it's only two we will leave at least $20. Others that we tip - bell services, valet, special deliveries such as gifts or flowers to the room. Taxis, door men when they call a cab for us, food delivery from outside the resort.

I just do cash - no gift cards or fancy envelops.

We can afford to tip. I have no problem with the idea that someone making more than minimum wage can also collect a few tips. $10 an hour translates to a $21000 per year job at 40 hours per week. To me that sounds very small to try to live on even for one person. So, I am sure a few tips come in handy.

And, since this is the budget board, with lots of people looking for money saving ideas, perhaps some postors can not afford to tip and go on vacation, so they get defensive and go into denial when the subject comes up, and start looking for excuses not to tip.

 

[aprilgail2]

And, since this is the budget board, with lots of people looking for money saving ideas, perhaps some postors can not afford to tip and go on vacation, so they get defensive and go into denial when the subject comes up, and start looking for excuses not to tip.

 

[Judique]

If I went to a restaurant where I knew that my bill was probably going to be $80 and the service was less than stellar, I would be talking to a manager long before the bill was even brought to the table.

I also tip 15 to 20% on the amount before a coupon or discount is applied, I notice others don't do that.

Not picking on you, just using your post - $80 is about what we pay for take out from Olive Garden for 3 people - 3 dinners in $13-$15 range, 2 apps approx $10-$15 and 2 desserts about $10-$12 and a couple of drinks. Add tax and tip and you are at $80 easily. So sitting in - I expect decent service at Olive Garden but understand I am in a run of the mill chain restaurant - not a high end dining spot with all the amenities. If the service is sub par for Olive Graden then the tip will reflect it. If there is a 'food' problem, ie the plate is wrong and not replaced or not cooked properly, then I am not paying for it. If I eat it, I pay. If I can't eat it, then don't charge me. If it is the waiter's fault the tip will reflect - the kitchen's fault - the waiter will get the tip.

 

[Acklander]

Am I the only one that thinks tipping has gotten out of control. Being a server is a tough job, but so are most jobs. And per the numbers above, this server received a $26 tip for what? approx 1.5hrs of work for ONE table. I am sure this server had more than this families table.

I very rarely go out to eat, but when I do I tip what society feels is an acceptable tip, but I hate doing it.

Yeah, the server received 26$ for one table, but the table of 3 beside it, only left them 5 $ because they were under the impression that 5 bucks is good enough no matter what you spend. Also for the 4 hours they spent serving people, there was another 2 hours before the restaurant opened and another hour after it closed doing prep work and clean up when they were making no tips. Also subtract out the tip outs to runners, bartenders, bus staff etc...
It usually averages out to a decent income if you're good at your job, but you can't just take what a person who tips properly on a higher end check and multiply it by the number of tables they had and say they make xxx amount of dollars for 1.5 hrs of work. That would be incorrect. You would need to take the total they ended up with at the end of the night after tipping out and divide it by the number of hours worked for an accurate number.

 

[marmalade]

Yeah, the server received 26$ for one table, but the table of 3 beside it, only left them 5 $ because they were under the impression that 5 bucks is good enough no matter what you spend. Also for the 4 hours they spent serving people, there was another 2 hours before the restaurant opened and another hour after it closed doing prep work and clean up when they were making no tips. Also subtract out the tip outs to runners, bartenders, bus staff etc...
It usually averages out to a decent income if you're good at your job, but you can't just take what a person who tips properly on a higher end check and multiply it by the number of tables they had and say they make xxx amount of dollars for 1.5 hrs of work. That would be incorrect. You would need to take the total they ended up with at the end of the night after tipping out and divide it by the number of hours worked for an accurate number.

In my post, never did I take that one higher end tip and multiply it by the number of tables. I said they made that off of one table, plus they probably had others. So by using your numbers as an example: if a server has 4 tables and works 6 hrs, with only 4/hrs serving and makes $5 per table as tips, with an hourly wage of $3 that server is still making $16.33 an hour.

 

[doris1976]

I don't leave tips just because one is thought to be required. A tip is a "thank you" for service, the better service, the better tip one receives.

 

[Acklander]

In my post, never did I take that one higher end tip and multiply it by the number of tables. I said they made that off of one table, plus they probably had others. So by using your numbers as an example: if a server has 4 tables and works 6 hrs, with only 4/hrs serving and makes $5 per table as tips, with an hourly wage of $3 that server is still making $16.33 an hour.

When I used to waitress (about a hundred years ago) we would arrive at 4pm to start work with the doors opening at 6 to guests. I would have 5-6 tables in my station but the only time it would be completely full was between 7-830. I had a few earlybirds at 6 I had a few late diners after 830 but I averaged 1.5 turns on each table - maybe 2 complete turns on Friday or sat night - but lucky to get 1 turn on a Wednesday night.
I think I averaged about 14$-16$ an hour after tipping out on weekends. I was lucky to go home with 50$ during the week. Worst shift I had was where I made 18$ for the entire shift and went out to find a 20$ parking ticket on my car - plus I had to wash my uniform.
It was hard work, but I enjoy working hard, so that's fine.
I've worked many different jobs over the years. Some jobs I've felt I was underpaid some I felt I was overpaid for what i did. Currently I'm surprised I make so much money doing something I enjoy soooo much. And for that I consider myself very fortunate.
When I think back on my waitress days - I realize on average I made good money. But never once did I feel overpaid for it - I earned every penny.