Tipping Mousekeeping?

[vicki_c]

DVC mousekeeping and resort mousekeeping are paid the same; they are the same people. I think you misunderstood Bill's post which meant all housekeepers.

 

[rentayenta]

DVC mousekeeping and resort mousekeeping are paid the same; they are the same people. I think you misunderstood Bill's post which meant all housekeepers.

You're correct. I thought he meant that DVC and hotel Mousekeeping are not the same position. So they work from one Mousekeeping pool.

 

[erionm]

You're correct. I thought he meant that DVC and hotel Mousekeeping are not the same position. So they work from one Mousekeeping pool.

DVC does not operate any Resorts. The Resorts Division is paid with our dues to operate the DVC Resorts.

 

[CMOORE185]

They should sticky one of these threads as they come up so often.

There was a poll once on who tipped and who did not. I don't remember the results other than I was suprised how many people tipped.

Non-tipped postion--I don't tip unless they go above and beyond, which is rare.

 

[SamSam]

Like Jean I use special envelopes to put tips in for housekeeping, that way there's no mistaking who it's for. We leave the do not disturb sign on our door during our stay because we prefer not to have anyone in our room during our stay. Usually housekeeping will call to see if we need anything and if we do they will bring it right now. In a 1-bedroom we just throw towels in the washers when needed, so we generally don't need anything.

For weekly cleaning we tip as follows:

Studio $5.00
1-bedroom $10.00

We leave the room in pretty good condition...trash hauled out, towels gathered and put together in once location, dishwasher going with whatever needed washing, etc. We do not strip the beds, although I know there are people that do.

I think each person has to do what they want to do...tip or not, it's up to the individual.

 

[rentayenta]

DVC does not operate any Resorts. The Resorts Division is paid with our dues to operate the DVC Resorts.

Thank you.

They should sticky one of these threads as they come up so often.

There was a poll once on who tipped and who did not. I don't remember the results other than I was suprised how many people tipped.

Non-tipped postion--I don't tip unless they go above and beyond, which is rare.

I had no idea it was a non-tipped position until this thread.

Like Jean I use special envelopes to put tips in for housekeeping, that way there's no mistaking who it's for. We leave the do not disturb sign on our door during our stay because we prefer not to have anyone in our room during our stay. Usually housekeeping will call to see if we need anything and if we do they will bring it right now. In a 1-bedroom we just throw towels in the washers when needed, so we generally don't need anything.

For weekly cleaning we tip as follows:

Studio $5.00
1-bedroom $10.00

We leave the room in pretty good condition...trash hauled out, towels gathered and put together in once location, dishwasher going with whatever needed washing, etc. We do not strip the beds, although I know there are people that do.

I think each person has to do what they want to do...tip or not, it's up to the individual.

I agree. My initial question wasn't to tip or not, but how do those who tip calculate what they're going to tip as its not a daily service? Now I know it's a non tipped position. I've learned a lot. I don't strip the beds either. We do load and start the washer. I gather towels too and put them in the tubs and I'm not sure about the garbage. We take it out when it's full but I don't think we make a special trip to take out a half full can. I haven't thought about it.


Thanks everyone.

 

[Dean]

I'm sure there are all sorts of low wage jobs at Disney and other places that deserve tips. I wonder if turnover is high?

Hotel housekeeping is hit and miss too? I thought tipping a hotel maid was standard practice. Interesting.

I saw an article a few years ago about this issue, the info stated that hotels were about 50/50 on whether they considered and paid their housekeeping as tipped or not. I've gotten to where I ask management at hotels and tip if so, don't if not. Of course they often do something extra which alters the plans as well. If you look at the etiquette sites you'll see they list tipping as standard, I'm sure because they have to chose one and at 50/50 it's difficult to make a rule that covers that adequately otherwise. There are many sites listing tipping etiquette but most are just some individuals that are offering an opinion though I think they are helpful if you look at them in aggregate. I like to refer to the guidelines of the American Society of Travel Agents as a relatively impartial source of info. To my knowledge, there is not a timeshare in the US that pays their housekeeping as a tipped position as contrast to MX with I think most of them do and they let you know that tipping is expected. However, in MX and the Caribbean you're normally getting maid service 6 of 7 days as well. I despise the system that transfers business costs to the customer in a secretive way as tipping does.

 

[Brian Noble]

In a 2BR, I usually leave $10 for Trash and Towel, $20 on check out. Half that in a 1BR. I don't use envelopes. Instead, I leave it under an upright (clean) glass in the master bath and the intent has always been clear.

I don't really care if someone else thinks it is or is not a tipped position. I'm tipping for that work, because it is miserable.

 

[wdrl]

These are the envelopes I use for my tips:

http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/trip/mousekeeping.shtml

Thanks for the link! I'll print a few envelopes for our next trip.

We always tip the mousekeepers for both T&T day and for the full cleaning. My attitude about tipping is simple: I know I don't have to tip, but its something that I like to do.

 

[disneynutz]

Thanks Bill. I appreciate the varied experiences. They're paid more than Mousekeeping at the hotels? I'm not into tipping for poor or unacceptable service either but it would have to be horrible or have them not show up for me not to leave something. How can they not show up? If you called, did they send someone over? We're going to need T&T for sure. Is the lack of cleaning when you arrive? I won't tolerate a dirty room either. It frogs me out to even think about it. I know they can't get every little spec up but I expect it to be clean- especially the bathrooms. Don't even get me started on the bedspreads. Have you found the poor cleaning to be resort specific? We'll be at the THV and AKV.

IMO it's a management issue, either with the DVC, Resorts, or both. Some will argue that the villas are larger and the Mousekeepers don't have enough time, if so management needs to hire additional people and do a better job inspecting and setting expectations.

We have had dirty dishes, food left in the refrigerator, food on the floor, dirty counters, dirty cook top, missing kitchen items, dirty towel left on bathroom floor, food in the bed of the pull out sofa, dust, dirty carpet especially around the edges and behind things, burned out light bulbs, broken light fixtures, 3 broken refrigerators during the same stay at BWV, missing kitchen drawer, broken cabinet door.

In April we stayed at Jambo Club Level. The kitchenette faucet was loose and the Mousekeeper had turned off the refrigerator and it defrosted and leaked across the floor. We called Mousekeeping and after a few hours of no one showing up, I reported the problem to the Concierge. Maintenance was there when we got back to the room and he said that we were all set. I checked the faucet and it was still loose, he stated that he had fixed the bathroom faucet. He said that he would fix the kitchenette faucet and clean up the water from the fridge. When we returned, the faucet was fixed and our bath towels that he used to clean up the water were left on the floor.

I always report problems to management and the DVC but after years of nothing changing much, I don't think that they care.

In April we also stayed at the YC, regular room. The room was spotless and fresh, the service was excellent, and a week after our stay, the greeter saw us walking through the lobby, he stopped us and asked if we were still staying at the YC, how was our vacation and was there anything that he could do for us.

This is one of the reasons that we just sold 7 of our contracts.

Bill

 

[CMOORE185]

I too have seen HC deteroriate over the years. People seem to want to tip because they feel sorry for the workers not because of a job well done. I am sick of walking into my room now and expecting issues with it.

 

[HayGan]

It is not a tipped position and I don't tip unless someone goes above and beyond their responsibilities. I typically have to do much of their work when we arrive in our villas. I practically do everything when we leave.

If others want to tip mousekeeping that is up to them but I find no need to tip a non-tipped position.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We do leave a tip to the person who's cleaning up after us. It's just what we do!

Bobbi

 

[Dean]

While we don't tip routinely, we do generally clean up as much as we can, strip beds, pill linen and towels near the door separately, load the DW and run it was we're leaving, etc. Some timeshares require it and it seems like the think to do.

We do leave a tip to the person who's cleaning up after us. It's just what we do!

Bobbi

I think that's the difference in how people look at it. To me, they're doing their job, not necessarily cleaning up after us.

 

[jekjones1558]

They should sticky one of these threads as they come up so often.

There was a poll once on who tipped and who did not. I don't remember the results other than I was suprised how many people tipped.

Non-tipped postion--I don't tip unless they go above and beyond, which is rare.

Here is a link to one of the DVC tipping polls (obviously NOT scientific but interesting):

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2120681&highlight=mousekeeping+poll

 

[Brian Noble]

Perhaps my standards are insufficiently high, but I've always found the DVC rooms to be reasonably well-kept in terms of housekeeping. There are maintenance issues with the units as they near the end of a refurbishment cycle, but that's not housekeeping's fault, IMO. Reducing those issues requires a shorter refurbishment cycle, which of course costs more in dues. Some members would be happy to pay for that. Others would not be.

 

[disneynutz]

Perhaps my standards are insufficiently high, but I've always found the DVC rooms to be reasonably well-kept in terms of housekeeping. There are maintenance issues with the units as they near the end of a refurbishment cycle, but that's not housekeeping's fault, IMO. Reducing those issues requires a shorter refurbishment cycle, which of course costs more in dues. Some members would be happy to pay for that. Others would not be.

We hold Disney to a higher standard and expect a clean, stocked and well maintained room. We didn't buy DVC expecting anything less and we weren't toured through worn rooms before we bought. I understand that problems can happen but the feeling that I get from management and staff is that it's acceptable which in my opinion it isn't.

Bill

 

[CMOORE185]

There are maintenance issues with the units as they near the end of a refurbishment cycle, but that's not housekeeping's fault, IMO.

I don't think HK is doing their job if they ignore obvious maintenance issues most of us have experienced. I was at BCV in July and the dishwasher was falling out. Reports of things like drawers missing, or cabinet doors hanging loose is ridiculous. It seems more and more I have to deal with HK or maintenance issues or both. Not a good way to start ones vacation.

 

[rentayenta]

We do leave a tip to the person who's cleaning up after us. It's just what we do!

Bobbi

I'm in this camp too. I do expect it clean upon arrival as well as maintained as agreed upon so T&T at 4 and a full cleaning whenever that is. If its not done or clean, I'll go from there and see how it pans out after I call etc.....

Brian, I agree. It's not a job I would not want.

Thanks for everyone's insights. I agree that DVC needs to be kept clean, if it's not, I can see not tipping or not tipping at all because its not a tipped position. To each his own.

For those who tip, how much and how do you calculate it? I'm more interested in that than who tips or doesn't.

 

[davedmaine]

If you're going to vacuum, they should tip you.

I can't imagine not tipping, I was just wondering when and how much....interesting. I wouldn't want that job either.

I'll run a vacuum I'm sure but I'm not going to clean clean before we leave. I'm not going to leave a mess either. I'll tip more for a happy medium.

Now for how much?

For those who tip, how much do you normally tip? Do you use a per person/per day calculation? Or how do you decide?