Tipping- How much and to whom

[marmalade]

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.

I can only imagine how hard it is to be a server. I would never even attempt it, because I don't really like people that much. Based on these threads though, people get so worked up if one doesn't tip as much as they think they should. I just think the whole tipping industry has gotten out of control. Some servers make more than school teachers, that just doesn't seem right to me.

Unless you are working at a mom and pop diner, servers make pretty decent money. But yet people on these boards think they are so underpaid and chastise people who think a $5 tip for a $40 meal is acceptable.

Like I questioned previously, why do we tip them so much? They aren't making our food and half the time someone else brings it out to you. I know they work hard, but as you said 100yrs ago you made $14-16 on the weekend, imagine what they make now 100yrs later.

 

[sukhakuli]

I was a server in college. I worked in one of the few states that pays servers minimum wage, and tips are extra. Of course, in general, patrons in Montana tip pretty crappy. But even so, after an 8 or 9 hour shift I would have over a 100 bucks in cash in my pocket, plus minimum wage. It was the highest paying job I had as a college student. I worked at a chain breakfast restaurant place, so not fine dining, either. I did serve the then governor almost every Sunday because he took his mother to breakfast. He tipped really crappy.

It wasn't my favorite job, though. Even though I made way less money, doing housekeeping at the Holiday Inn was by far my favorite college job. I made minimum, but no one was breathing down my neck all the time, I worked at my own pace, and didn't have to deal with the public. Which, let's face it, about 60% of people you deal with are very rude. I know some people tip housekeepers, but in my experience when I had the job, no one tipped. Ever. Every now and then someone would check out and forget they had a couple of bucks mixed in with the trash in their room, but that was it.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

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.

I think you hit the nail on the head! No matter what books, links, etc are presented to show the housekeepers ARE usually tipped (except perhaps in WDW), people still insist they will not do it.

I don't get all the hostility - but generally when I am presented with facts - I listen and adjust behavior.

Again - if YOU don't tip - I don't care. But it is the right thing to do.

 

[bpesch]

I tipped Mousekeeping daily on my last trip in the form of an envelope everyday. I don't think I'll do it again. The service was below par and I always felt I rewarded the mousekeepers that only did a mediocre job. There has to be a better way to do it, but I haven't figured it out yet.

 

[mjkacmom]

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.

Most people who do it need a job, and since there are so many restaurants, and a high turn-over, it's usually a job that is available. I worked as a server during summers when I was in college. Some days/nights were slow, and I didn't make much. Some days/nights were busy, and I made much more, and worked my butt off. I made $2.05 an hour, so during those slow times, or when I got a lousy tip, it really stunk.

When I got out of college, I got an office job with a salary, better pay for much less work!

 

[JimShockz]

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.

We agree,the waiter is actually the one who determines his or her tip,the better the services the more the tip,if the service is sub standard so is the gratitude. We have not had a bad server in 6 cruises,normally the staff takes their jobs to heart .

-JH

 

[twooley2]

I waited tables years ago and the hourly wage was 2.01 an hour and never did people tip what disney or others claim is acceptable 18-20 percent tip on Disney prices. Now if that 18-20 percent was based on what one actually spent say on the dining plan than thats one thing thats still 20-25 dollars a table but those without the dining plan would than have to tip 50- 60 a table that is absurd to me. Yes we did tip 50-70 three times a day last year
And to add when I made 2.01an hour they taxed my measly tip of 2to 5 dollars off my 2.01 paycheck. Yes I needed a job too and had to wash my clothes as with any job that a person does and yes there were other jobs besides waiting tables that we did. That is what is wrong with so many that they feel that people owe them a certain set amount of money for X job before even doing the job(s) and doing what any job would require to just keep the job see how long someone has a job if they come to work with dirty cloths and no hourly pay or tip will be earned once they are fired. Yes there is a little time lapse since I had that job but even than minimum wage was 5.25 an hour its only went up a couple bucks since than

 

[SaraJayne]

I think you hit the nail on the head! No matter what books, links, etc are presented to show the housekeepers ARE usually tipped (except perhaps in WDW), people still insist they will not do it.

I don't get all the hostility - but generally when I am presented with facts - I listen and adjust behavior.

Again - if YOU don't tip - I don't care. But it is the right thing to do.

You sure seem to care, since you keep insulting those of us that don't tip housekeeping.

 

[Lemurone]

"it's the right thing to do"
No, of course people don't judge nontippers, do what you want, but just know its the right thing to do. Those of us that don't must be defensive because we're poor.
I don't see any of us calling you tippers the evil 1%ers! Jeez. It's like mom debates-"there's nothing wrong with letting your child go to public school. I mean they'll be dumb but really it's fine as long as you don't care that they can't read."

 

[declansdad]

I tipped Mousekeeping daily on my last trip in the form of an envelope everyday. I don't think I'll do it again. The service was below par and I always felt I rewarded the mousekeepers that only did a mediocre job. There has to be a better way to do it, but I haven't figured it out yet.

If the service was below par, why did you keep tipping every day?

 

[declansdad]

You sure seem to care, since you keep insulting those of us that don't tip housekeeping.

Why do you laugh after all your posts?

Will you answer my earlier question about how you determine if a service deserves a tip?

 

[Planogirl]

Are you all still arguing about this? Why?

Again, just tip if it feels right. I don't begrudge anyone from making as much as they can in any job.

 

[chimo2u]

Tip if you want, don't tip if you don't want....it's personal and determined by the giver....not society or the Dis Boards or an etiquette book. I'll tip who I want// what I want and I don't have to awnser to anyone but myself. End of story

 

[SaraJayne]

Tip if you want, don't tip if you don't want....it's personal and determined by the giver....not society or the Dis Boards or an etiquette book. I'll tip who I want// what I want and I don't have to answer to anyone but myself. End of story

My thoughts exactly.

 

[declansdad]

My thoughts exactly.

I don't disagree with you, tip whom you want. I'm just curious as to how you decide deserves to be tipped. But I don't expect you to answer, you tend not to answer questions.

 

[disneychrista]

I was lucky to go home with 50$ during the week.

In California a server who "goes home" with $50 in tips for a 6 hour shift makes at least $16/hr.

 

[Planogirl]

Nothing wrong with making $16 an hour particularly in expensive California. I say get it if you can.

 

[disneychrista]

Nothing wrong with making $16 an hour particularly in expensive California. I say get it if you can.

Nope nothing wrong with it at all, especially if $50 in tips is from a slow night.

 

[SteelerCountry]

tipping is out of control! tipping the ME driver? for what, he is paid to drive the bus and talk....tip the housekeeper? for what, they are paid to clean the room...I am a Registered Nurse, I am paid to take care of you while your in the hospital and believe me, I go above and beyond but don't ever expect a tip!!

Restaurant tipping.....I am sorry, I don't tip % of the bill....it does not take a waiter/waitress anymore time to bring me out a lobster than in does if she brought me out a hot dog. It does not take a server any more time to bring me a diet coke refill versus a martini......I tip, but not a %. If my tip is not satisfactory, then the server may give it back to me. These restaurants should be made to pay these servers at least minimum wage....

i.e. Narcoosees....A lobster dinner is $56...are you going to tell me this price is not inflated? 2 lobster egg rolls, $16, INFLATED! Alcoholic beverages, REALY REALLY INFLATED.......why are these restaurants not paying minimum wage?We are not slobs in hotels or in restaurants....we keep our rooms tidy and we dont trash our tables in restaurants..........we are not needy. I am not tipping housekeeping to do their job, I will not tip bus drivers to drive the bus they are paid to drive........do you people tip the pilots and stewardesses on planes too? If we are out to dinner and dinner is 2 hours...we tip $5 per person, cash! If we linger in the restaurant longer than 2 hours, we tip a little more.
Again, if the money is not wanted, please return in to me

 

[cornflake]

.... Really?

First, how can people never have heard of tipping housekeeping? In addition to that my parents did it when I was a kid too - I've been in plenty of hotels that have their own gratuity envelopes out on the dresser for you to use.

Second, what is the hostility over waiters who might, in a particular state, happen to take home the whopping wage of $16 an hour?

Someone upthread even said people become waiters for the money. Seriously?

Yes, high-end waitstaff can make good money - though there are still the cheapskates who tip "based on number of people and [yada]" where three people equals $5 no matter what somehow or where someone figures that $5 per person for spending two hours at a table is acceptable. Mostly waiting tables is hardly the path to riches. Even making that incredible, stunning sum of $16 for a whole six-hour shift (might as well retire now with that kind of money!), it's hours on your feet, carrying heavy, hot stuff, running, getting treated like crap by the public, etc.

And not for nothing but when you undertip - the waiter pays. They're taxed on the assumption that people tip a standard tip. You are COSTING them money, which clearly is not a concern but there it is.

Yes, one could theoretically argue with the IRS, bring in receipts and claim their cash tips were under - and likely lose. Same as the 'management is required to make up so waitstaff don't make under minimum' thing. In theory, yes, in practice, not so much, no.