Tipping out of control?

[fac]

In general, we tipped aound 15% in a restaurant (up or down depends on the service) and from 30% to 50% to the girl who cut/perm my hair ( it is difficult to find someone who cut exactly the way I want it ).

However, who makes the guideline that we should pay 15% for tips? wasn't it used to be 10% to 15% many years ago? I assume that there is no published document or newspaper that in 2004 the general guideline for tipping is 15% to 20% , or unlike the House and Senate who have to vote to give themselves a pay raise. Sometimes, I wonder how many servers raise their tipping rate in this kind of discussion.

 

[dana0069]

lou...louy...lewis....

I'm insulted...no hug....

c'mon..surely 2 big strapping guys like us can hug without embarassment?

don't be shy...give me a big hug, and lets let by-gones be by-gones. bury the hatchet as they say.

don't be scared, i'm not gonna reach in your back pocket and steal your TIPS on ya..!!!!!! or would I????

C'mon big hug.... but i'm not tipping ya, ok.

 

[FatCow]

ROTFLMAO!!

 

[BethR]

Originally posted by dana0069
lou...louy...lewis....

I'm insulted...no hug....

c'mon..surely 2 big strapping guys like us can hug without embarassment?

don't be shy...give me a big hug, and lets let by-gones be by-gones. bury the hatchet as they say.

don't be scared, i'm not gonna reach in your back pocket and steal your TIPS on ya..!!!!!! or would I????

C'mon big hug.... but i'm not tipping ya, ok.

You two may not agree with philosophies on tipping, Lewis. But you've got to admit, it's hard to resist that charm!

HUG

 

[MATTERHORN]

Lewisc, Can I just say that you have said everything exactly how I would!! I just found this thread, but being from Las Vegas, I can relate. My DH was a bellman for years at the Aladdin! You can't begin to imagine how many people he spent up to half hour of his time with, check in the bags, take them to the room, settle them in, fill their ice bucket and so forth and got NOTHING!!! And you don't even want to hear the stories about what happens to peoples bags that don't tip, that would SCARE you. People who don't want to tip should NOT use the services. It's an easy answer!! Take your own bags, park your own cars. There really is no argument. Do not use the service a tipped position person provides and you will have no problem. And I never get how people say "Well if they don't like it, they should get another job" Well then who would be there to clean up your dirty plates, clean your hotel room and bathroom, and park your car because you are too lazy! Somebody has to do it, and those people should be tipped. If you don't like that you don't get tipped for providing regular work that you get paid for, then get a tip paying job!! Let me tell you, it sucks to have to live on people's generosity, but since there are still some that appreciate great customer service and show it, we do ok.

Rock on lewisc


Andrea

 

[Muushka]

And you don't even want to hear the stories about what happens to peoples bags that don't tip, that would SCARE you.

So, with my attitude towards the guy who just takes the bags and sticks them on the rolley thingy is really the guy that I should be tipping and not the guy who brings them to my room?

Just kidding

Well, let me ask you a question. If we are supposed to tip both the one who takes the luggage and the one who delivers it, what is the appropriate rate for these people (individually)?

 

[jann1033]

Originally posted by fac
the ower took off small percent of the tips if a credit card were used because the credit card company charged the restaurant.

well how was that fair ???? they used a cc to pay for food and the waiter got short changed??? is this a common practice.?.just how do they get cc tips? is it in their pay check or do they get them at the end of the day or what. i worked as a waitress for a short while and can not count how many times a customer would leave a tip and another one would walk by and pocket it so i always tell them i left a tip with the cc just in case it nevr gets to them

 

[CheapMom]

I am very surprised at all the people who say they only tip for exceptional service. I was a waitress for six years and served hundreds upon hundreds of tables and in that time I was stiffed EXACTLY 1 time. I can guarantee that some of those customers received less than exeptional service. BTW- the group who stiffed me received far more than adequate service.

Dana said in one post that they tip on the conditions that service is excellent AND if Dana can afford it at that time. So connecting the dots- if Dana is a little short on cash even excellent service is not rewarded. That is pretty bad. I would suggest that if you can't afford a tip you should avoid "tipping situations."

 

[CheapMom]

And you don't even want to hear the stories about what happens to peoples bags that don't tip, that would SCARE you.

Oh yes- to the people that like to stiff servers I would suggest not going back to the scene of the crime for another meal. I think you get my meaning. (I would never but other servers I know have been very bad in this department.) And "stiffed" is a relative term. IMO it means no tip but other servers would consider getting 12%... being stiffed.

 

[jann1033]

Originally posted by CheapMom
Oh yes- to the people that like to stiff servers I would suggest not going back to the scene of the crime for another meal. I think you get my meaning. (I would never but other servers I know have been very bad in this department.) And "stiffed" is a relative term. IMO it means no tip but other servers would consider getting 12%... being stiffed.

I do tip but that is the attitude that gripes me ( not cheapmom, the 12%=stiffed crew) i mean a tip is technically for good service even if many don't view it as such. i remember a server( not at wdw) who gave awful service at a casual dining place, lousy attitude when she managed to flit by our table which was to take the order, plop the food down then nothing till the bill finally came( she was all cheery" then" btw), i hadn't eaten at that place before and did not realize they took cash only & i had just enough to pay my bill and leave her a good tip, much much better than she deserved( think it was about 17%) but it was in change( not pennies, but quarters that i had rolled & had planned to take to the bank) she had the nerve to loudly complain to the entire staff( I knew cause i forgot something and heard her..) i would have taken it back had she not pocketed it already and still regret not asking for it back since it was beneath her high standards. imo that is what USUALLY causes problems -arogant servers ( think the no tippers no matter what are in the minority)

 

[aero99]

My husband was a waiter at a place that charged him if the customer put the tip on a credit card. He lost 3% of his tip. I don't know if this is common, but it does happen.

 

[MATTERHORN]

Muushka, Well here in Vegas, I can tell you what the norm is, and I follow it pretty much everywhere. The guy who unloads your luggage and puts in on the cart is called a baggage handler. The adequate tip for them is $1 per bag/item that is placed on the cart. All they do is take it to the baggage room, put it in a cubby and check it. Then once you check-in, the bellman gets a ticket from you or the front desk. They then go and retrieve the luggage and cart it all the way to your room. Usual tip for this is $2 per bag, or $5 minimum. Then there are ones like my DH, who will give you restaurant suggestions if asked, go down the hall and fill your ice bucket for you, help you use the phone, whatever you ask. For such extra mile service, I would tip on the baggage basis, but add whatever I felt was worth the extra time he took to make me feel welcome, versus throwing my bags in and getting back down faster to make more money. So that is the usual here. Also for those wondering about valet services, I have worked it here in Vegas. It is customary to tip only the person that brings the car back to you. It all gets rotated, when you park a car, you bring out someone else's, so you get tipped just the same. Let me know if you have any other questions, and thanks for asking, those that serve you will appreciate that you took the time to find out!~!


Andrea

 

[fac]

Originally posted by jann1033
well how was that fair ???? they used a cc to pay for food and the waiter got short changed??? is this a common practice.?.just how do they get cc tips? is it in their pay check or do they get them at the end of the day or what. i worked as a waitress for a short while and can not count how many times a customer would leave a tip and another one would walk by and pocket it so i always tell them i left a tip with the cc just in case it nevr gets to them

My impression (it was more than 17 years ago when he was in college) was that if a customer used cc, everybody, including the owner, got "short changed", because the credit card company charged a certain percentage of the bill. He got his tips at the end of the day, I checked with just now, he said the owner would not cheat him out of his tips . The check would show who the waiter/waitress was, and they could use it to calculate the tips.

 

[chilis]

Originally posted by aero99
My husband was a waiter at a place that charged him if the customer put the tip on a credit card. He lost 3% of his tip. I don't know if this is common, but it does happen.

I have worked as a waitress in several restaurants and never once was any portion of my tip taken out because of a credit card charge. Having to pay money to the credit card company is just a cost of doing business and, as far as I can tell, is something that is a burden for the restaurant owner, not the employee. I would have definitely said something to my employer if he had ever taken a percentage out of the tips which I earned. He was already paying me less than minimum wage and it is the restaurants choice to accept credit cards or not, so I should not be penalized. JMO.

Lisa

 

[danield]

Yes, I think tipping is getting out of control.

Why is it that the customer has to make up for the cheapness of the facility owner ? Geez, I do not understand why I have to tip the bus driver who bring me from the airport to the rental car location? beats me.! The owner should pay their employee more if they are good and keep them. (end of comment)

Either at WDW or elsewhere I tip the following.

Buffet style restaurant: 10% (if they bring refreshment, etc) 8% if I do not get service.

Family restaurant: 10-15%

Expensive restaurant:20-22% (never more) for bill of 100$ or more (without wine)

Baggage handler: We carry our own bag when we are together as a family so I do not have to tip. When on business trip I travel light so no problem there.

Car valet: I hate when I have no choice to use the service. So I tip 2$ at the most. If I have the choice I'll walk 5 minutes to get my car.

Room service (maid): 2$ a day (never after the first night)

For comparison, here is the Minimum Salary applicable in Quebec (Canada)
All employees:$7.45
Restaurant or hotel employees who receive tips $6.70

Now, there is apparently a spot on the Nov. 2 election where there is a proposal to increase the Florida Minimum wage. The measure would set the Florida minimum wage at $6.15 an hour and tie annual increases to inflation. It would apply to anyone covered by the federal minimum wage, which hasn't changed in seven years. But this measure it is strongly opposed by business groups, particularly restaurants and retail.

Make your favorite minimum wage worker a favor. If you live in Florida, go and vote on Nov. 2.


Bon voyage

Daniel in Canada
1976-1980-1988-1991-1992-2003-2005

Source: http://www.sptimes.com/2004/07/28/State/Florida_to_vote_on_mi.shtml

 

[fac]

Originally posted by jann1033
I do tip but that is the attitude that gripes me ( not cheapmom, the 12%=stiffed crew) i mean a tip is technically for good service even if many don't view it as such. i remember a server( not at wdw) who gave awful service at a casual dining place, lousy attitude when she managed to flit by our table which was to take the order, plop the food down then nothing till the bill finally came( she was all cheery" then" btw), i hadn't eaten at that place before and did not realize they took cash only & i had just enough to pay my bill and leave her a good tip, much much better than she deserved( think it was about 17%) but it was in change( not pennies, but quarters that i had rolled & had planned to take to the bank) she had the nerve to loudly complain to the entire staff( I knew cause i forgot something and heard her..) i would have taken it back had she not pocketed it already and still regret not asking for it back since it was beneath her high standards. imo that is what USUALLY causes problems -arogant servers ( think the no tippers no matter what are in the minority)

I agree. As a (bad) habit, we tend to pay around 15%, but many times, I really felt that the servers did not deserve the tip.

This discussion got me re-think the tipping issue. I changed job a few months ago, in my new job, we prepare proposals for our clients, in many cases, it may not lead to new business, and our time would be wasted. In my current project, I can see that the client is unlikely to implement the project, we are just doing the first cut analysis for them. The bottom line is that there are costs associated with doing business. A realtor does not get paid unless we purchase a house, but she will be wasting time to drive us around to see the houses. If a waiter were to "pay" (as someone described) to provide the service, it becomes their business, I think they should EARN it. But do we consider someone only brings me the food and the check as service?

I still not sure why it is the "norm" for 15% to 20% now, while many years ago, I believed it was 10% to 15%. Who decides to change the rate? Is it published anywhere? Or do we learn about it in this kind of discussion group? Note that the inflation rate should be taken care by the change in meal prices.

 

[totalia]

Originally posted by MATTERHORN
Totalia: If the girls in your lounge make so much more than you, why don't you work in there? Just curious!


Andrea

Cause I HATE food service with a passion. Been there, done that, never ever again. The money isn't worth it.

At least at the desk, I get to dress nice and go home without smelling like food.

 

[garydeb]

Most waitress type service in our area only get $2.25-$2.75 ahour. The IRS does calculate part of your excepted income from tips based on your gross receipts from your employer which is set at 15%. If you put a tip on your credit card than it is reported to the IRS as part of your pay. I always tip 20% -25% for good service. I also tipped 5% for terrible service and up to 40% for outstanding service. I don't feel that you should tip counter service or non-tip type jobs, but if you can't afford to tip then don't go out because that is part of the cost to me.

-Debra

 

[Muushka]

Originally posted by MATTERHORN
Muushka, Well here in Vegas, I can tell you what the norm is, and I follow it pretty much everywhere. The guy who unloads your luggage and puts in on the cart is called a baggage handler. The adequate tip for them is $1 per bag/item that is placed on the cart. All they do is take it to the baggage room, put it in a cubby and check it. Then once you check-in, the bellman gets a ticket from you or the front desk. They then go and retrieve the luggage and cart it all the way to your room. Usual tip for this is $2 per bag, or $5 minimum. Then there are ones like my DH, who will give you restaurant suggestions if asked, go down the hall and fill your ice bucket for you, help you use the phone, whatever you ask. For such extra mile service, I would tip on the baggage basis, but add whatever I felt was worth the extra time he took to make me feel welcome, versus throwing my bags in and getting back down faster to make more money. So that is the usual here. Also for those wondering about valet services, I have worked it here in Vegas. It is customary to tip only the person that brings the car back to you. It all gets rotated, when you park a car, you bring out someone else's, so you get tipped just the same. Let me know if you have any other questions, and thanks for asking, those that serve you will appreciate that you took the time to find out!~!


Andrea

Thanks Andrea. We usually have about 10 items to move to our room (we stay at DVC, so more than average baggage). Do you think it is ok to tip each $5? Otherwise, we will for sure be carrying our own bags into the hotel.

I appreciate the tipping tips

 

[Chesire]

I live in a tourist area (South Lake Tahoe) and I think tipping has gone WAY over board here (/sigh ... we put Disney to shame).

Every fast food/Starbucks has a tipping cup AND if you use a credit/ATM card they will ask you if you wish to add their tip on it.
ALL shuttles (free or paid for) have tip cups. Every person in the casino's (with the exception of the front desk employee's) expect tips. ALL of these positions earn well above minimum wage (yes, I am horrible and have looked into them).

As far as Waitress's/bellmen/valet ... they are still different. Bellmen/Valet earn minimum to start (and are taxed on tips ... the IRS actually used the tips earned from New Year's Eve in 2001 for their current tax rate for Valet here ). I DO think these positions deserve tips, but I also believe they should earn them. If I get horrible service, you will get a horrible tip. If I get normal service, you will get a normal tip (15% around here) and so on.

So yes, I think tipping is way out of hand. Everyone here seems to have their hand out