Tipping Tipping Tipping....the dreaded tipping thread. LOL ?????? Please

[fey_spirit]

Just wanted to add - I'm all for getting rid of the tipping procedure all together and going to regular salary... yeah I know that would raise the price of my steak, but to be fair it would only raise the price by about 15% per food item if done to counterbalance tips.

Win Win scenario in my book. Those relying on tips no longer have to worry about getting stiffed. You don't really end up paying all that much more then you probably would have - but it does away with all the nasty side effects of tipping (like the sense of self entitlement some come to take for granted... like certain bellhops in this this thread who will remain nameless.)

To be fair, it's not so much that I think servers, or any other service industry should be making less... it's that I think they should be able to make what they make and those such as firemen, police officers, and teachers should be making way more....

Why is the full post I got in my E Mail not what's on the board?


I never said working in any industry in public service wasn't difficult. All public service jobs are difficult - and yet, they aren't tipped. Heck (according to a friend who works there) Sears doesn't even pay a salary - it's all on commission... but they don't get to hold their hands out to the public.

A lot of jobs are rough, disgusting and physically demanding - and they barely scrape by on minimum wage - and yet they don't get tipped.

Meanwhile I still think it's a sad state of affairs when someone who brings me my steak, or carries my bags makes the same amount of money as the person responsible for helping to shape the face of future generations... not to mention makes more then those who are willing to rush into buringing buildings to save our lives, or stand between us and some lunatic with a gun. Somehow the difference in the value to society between those in what tends to be the "tipped" professions, and those in the second category leaves me scratching my head when I realize the first actually makes more money.

 

[mom2my3kids]

Just wanted to add - I'm all for getting rid of the tipping procedure all together and going to regular salary... yeah I know that would raise the price of my steak, but to be fair it would only raise the price by about 15% per food item if done to counterbalance tips.

Win Win scenario in my book. Those relying on tips no longer have to worry about getting stiffed. You don't really end up paying all that much more then you probably would have - but it does away with all the nasty side effects of tipping (like the sense of self entitlement some come to take for granted... like certain bellhops in this this thread who will remain nameless.)

To be fair, it's not so much that I think servers, or any other service industry should be making less... it's that I think they should be able to make what they make and those such as firemen, police officers, and teachers should be making way more....

I changed my post a little bit, didn't want to sound so confrontational.. Anyway I will tell you one thing, I would never serve tables for minimum wage. And I make nothing compared to my local teachers, fireman and police officers and I live in a small/med city..

 

[IlliniMouse]

I've been reading this thread with much interest. Not only so I can find out what is the "norm" for tipping, but because I work in the service industry.

In high school I worked as a waitress for awhile. Currently I'm working on my 20th year as a hairstylist. What I've found in these two positions is that there are all kinds of tippers. Some who overtip, some who undertip, and some who are to the penny on the % that is considered to be "fair". I also have people who never tip. I never expect anyone to tip me. I figure that is their personal choice, as it was my choice to go into the profession I'm in. Yes it's great when someone tips. But, I also don't "short change" someone on their service because I know they're not going to tip me. (And I could tell you by looking at my book who is going to tip or not because some of my clients I've been doing the whole time I've been in this business.) Is the reason that I don't place much focus on the tips because I make a ton of money otherwise? Hardly! If I tried to be the sole supporter of my son on my wages, I'd be working a second job, or get another job all together.

When I go to WDW, yes I'll be tipping people. However, I'll apologize to the person handling my bags right now for not giving you a $15 tip for my family of 3. I'm having a hard time grasping that I worked a 10 hour day yesterday (with no lunch by my choice to accomodate more clients-and yes, that's the norm for me) and made $37 in tips, yet I'm "supposed" to give you $15 for handling my bags for a few minutes?

 

[mom2my3kids]

I've been reading this thread with much interest. Not only so I can find out what is the "norm" for tipping, but because I work in the service industry.

In high school I worked as a waitress for awhile. Currently I'm working on my 20th year as a hairstylist. What I've found in these two positions is that there are all kinds of tippers. Some who overtip, some who undertip, and some who are to the penny on the % that is considered to be "fair". I also have people who never tip. I never expect anyone to tip me. I figure that is their personal choice, as it was my choice to go into the profession I'm in. Yes it's great when someone tips. But, I also don't "short change" someone on their service because I know they're not going to tip me. (And I could tell you by looking at my book who is going to tip or not because some of my clients I've been doing the whole time I've been in this business.) Is the reason that I don't place much focus on the tips because I make a ton of money otherwise? Hardly! If I tried to be the sole supporter of my son on my wages, I'd be working a second job, or get another job all together.

When I go to WDW, yes I'll be tipping people. However, I'll apologize to the person handling my bags right now for not giving you a $15 tip for my family of 3. I'm having a hard time grasping that I worked a 10 hour day yesterday (with no lunch by my choice to accomodate more clients-and yes, that's the norm for me) and made $37 in tips, yet I'm "supposed" to give you $15 for handling my bags for a few minutes?

The one thing about hairstylist is you charge a set amount on top of your tipping. You still get paid no matter if they don't tip you or not right? I am no way saying you don't deserve the extra I am just saying you make a set wage on top of the tips that is decent. I mean there are days that I have made 40 bucks and that was it. I had nothing else to fall back on because making 2.13 a hour went to taxes. Now granted that was way way in the past and on a very slow day with hail, sleet and rain and nobody wanted to get out. I do agree about the people who handle my bags, I don't know how much they make a hour plus I feel 2 bucks a bag is very fair..

 

[Mulan82]

20% is not the minimum. 10% is.

$5 a bag is not the minimum. $1 is.

The numbers you gave were silly.

10% is the minimum for what? for tipping a server? last time i checked. it was 15%

 

[Mulan82]

ok. so i am going to pretend that you all aren't flaming cinderbear's fiance...

welcome to disboards cinderbear's fiance.. home of some judgemental people.

did you all read the post?

cinderbear's fiance works at a five diamond/star whatever hotel. for five diamonds of course you are going to get some big moolah tips. this ain't the best western people.

and before people jump all over me. yes i've been to five star hotels/restaurants. i've been blessed with some family members with amazing jobs. and if you had enough cash to drop at a five star hotel you bet you aren't just tipping 5 bucks for their bags.

similiarly to cinderbear. a five star hotel's cocktail servers aren't serving well vodka... can we say grey goose? tequila? its probably patron or don julio.

so i can see where this is coming from.

ps. you ( the public ) aren't very easy to work with. just remember that.

oh and that its their job attitude? ok. i'll remember that one. im just here for me. forget everyone else. oh and have a magical day.

 

[Ahabart]

I understand both sides of this coin. I assume that posters like Cinderbear's fiance are much more sensitive to this matter than the generel public. I think he has higher expectations for tips than the average bellhop. If you work at a 5 star hotel, my guess is that expectations for your service are also higher and $2 a bag for someone who is spending $500 per night for a room is not too much to ask. When I was growing up, we stayed in luxury hotels and my father tipped $1 per bag then and that was like 15 years ago, so I am assuming he was right-on with tips for high-end hotels in 2007.

I really believe the "bad guy" if there is one in this scenario is the hotel/restaurant, etc. who hires the service workers and/or the government who dictates the rate of pay. The system is set up to allow for lower pay rates for service workers with the expectation that tips will supplement thier income. When I was a waitress I made less than $3 per hour. That was a while ago, but it was well below minimum wage. For those that think of tips as optional, I agree to some extent, but I also think it's important to understand that the pay is substantially lower than some people assume. Unless the laws have changed, a lot of service jobs do not make miniumum wage b/c they are tipped. More often than not, your McDonald's cashier is making more than your waitress at Applebee's, before tips of course.

Can anyone tell me if this policy extends to housekeeping as well? That information would make a difference for me in what I think is acceptable. I agree with some pp that I don't think my bellhop should make more for taking my bag up to the room than my housekeeper. However, if my bellhop is making $4 per hour and my housekeeper is making $7, I think that makes a difference. Is the housekeeper's rate of pay lower b/c he/she can make tips?

 

[IlliniMouse]

The one thing about hairstylist is you charge a set amount on top of your tipping. You still get paid no matter if they don't tip you or not right? I am no way saying you don't deserve the extra I am just saying you make a set wage on top of the tips that is decent...

Well, it depends on what type of salon you work in. Some are strictly commission. If no one is in your chair, you make nothing. There are others that pay minimum wage, and then once you reach a certain $ amount, you make commission on top of your minimum wage. (Which basically broke down to 55% commission total even with the hourly rate included.) If you're in a rental situation, you pay rent, phone, purchase all your supplies, pay quarterly taxes, and alot of other things, so it can take awhile to turn a profit. But yes, if someone is in our chair, we're making something.

 

[maxiesmom]

10% is the minimum for what? for tipping a server? last time i checked. it was 15%

A lady I work with also waitresses, and she told me that 10% is the minimum too.

 

[pta-mom]

I'm just trying to figure this all out....so, I should tip the ME bus-driver a minimum of $1 a bag to bring to the hotel & re-tip on return; than the bell-hop at the hotel a minimum of $1 a bag to bring it to my room & re-tip on return; I tip the maids at least $1 per person per day; my drinks are a minimum of a $1 tip a drink; & in addition to the already added 18% on my DDP, I should be paying an additional 2% per meal per family member to top off....did I get it all?

Wow!! I better get me another job before I go there...this is going to cost me a fortune!!

Seriously though, I typically tip people who are making minimum wage or less....are all these professions that I listed currently payed minimum wage or less in DW? What about the CM's who work front desk in guest relations; the CM's at stores; the CM's who play the characters; etc, etc? Do they all make minimum wage & less as well or are they paid more because they don't "rely" on tips? Or, do we tip them as well? Do we throw money at the CM's who are in the parades or do they pass the bucket for us?

Where do you draw the line on this? I do want to be fair but this seems to be getting a little much.

 

[joy13]

So, know one has answered my question. Are we allowed to tip ME drivers? I/m pretty sure I read that the drivers of the buses that go from resorts to parks are not allowed to take tips.

As far as our bags go, I would figure that if we are in the room when the bags are delivered, we will tip, if not, there's nothing I can do. I'm not really sure how it works when we leave. We are staying at POP Century, so I think we have to take our bags down in order to check them at the resort in the morning. Do we really tip the person who checks them and prints the boarding passes? I understand that you do at the airport for curbside check in, but at POP aren't they Disney employees? I doubt they are paid the "tips" wage (meaning lower because tips are expected).

I do plan to tip mousekeeping each day.

 

[Mom2Evie]

20% is not the minimum. 10% is.

$5 a bag is not the minimum. $1 is.

The numbers you gave were silly.

Well said, in 20 words or less. Sometimes, less is more.

 

[Califgirl]

cinderbear's fiance works at a five diamond/star whatever hotel. for five diamonds of course you are going to get some big moolah tips. this ain't the best western people.

and before people jump all over me. yes i've been to five star hotels/restaurants. i've been blessed with some family members with amazing jobs. and if you had enough cash to drop at a five star hotel you bet you aren't just tipping 5 bucks for their bags.

similiarly to cinderbear. a five star hotel's cocktail servers aren't serving well vodka... can we say grey goose? tequila? its probably patron or don julio.

Count me as someone who worked in a tipped postition in a 5 diamond, 4 star (Mobile - very difficult to get) Resort. Let me say that Cinderbears MINIMUMS were wishful thinking. We usually got tipped 15 % as an average, bellhops $5 - $10 (total not per bag) I stayed quiet through this thread for a long time, but I worked in a very affluent area, and I can tell you that 20% is not a minimum tip. Please tip 15 -20 % or $1-$2 per bag. I know some of our clients would just tip $100 at the beginning of their stay and have it distributed (bellhops and valet) but more often than not, people are cost aware, even at 5 diamond properties, and $20 per bellhop is not the norm. BTW, no Disney property is a 5 diamond, nor will it ever be, by their own admission. (I've talked to a few of their managers and they are very happy with the 4 diamond rating that some of the resorts get).

As with everything on the DIS, YMMV. And thank you to those of you who tip, because many people forget, or are caught without 'smaller' bills. In case you are wondering, for me tips made up about a third of my income. I was very seldom stiffed, and mostly was tipped about 18- 20% . ( I was NOT a bell hop or valet). However, there were quiet a few that tipped 15% (still appreciated!) and a few that tipped the moon. (also very appreciated!) I'll admit that being stiffed put a bad taste on the day because I was always giving my best - but some guests have the attitude that they'll never see you again. And some guests truly do not know how to tip. But that doesn't mean you should over tip either.

Enjoy your time at WDW. Have a magical vacation. As for the OP ~ I would probably have tipped the same as they did, but it was more than expected.

 

[mom2my3kids]

At a restaurant 15% is the minimum for good service. 10% would be for bad service or no tip at all..

 

[mom2my3kids]

So, know one has answered my question. Are we allowed to tip ME drivers? I/m pretty sure I read that the drivers of the buses that go from resorts to parks are not allowed to take tips.

As far as our bags go, I would figure that if we are in the room when the bags are delivered, we will tip, if not, there's nothing I can do. I'm not really sure how it works when we leave. We are staying at POP Century, so I think we have to take our bags down in order to check them at the resort in the morning. Do we really tip the person who checks them and prints the boarding passes? I understand that you do at the airport for curbside check in, but at POP aren't they Disney employees? I doubt they are paid the "tips" wage (meaning lower because tips are expected).

I do plan to tip mousekeeping each day.

I was wondering the same questions???

 

[Todd&Copper]

Can anyone tell me if this policy extends to housekeeping as well? That information would make a difference for me in what I think is acceptable. I agree with some pp that I don't think my bellhop should make more for taking my bag up to the room than my housekeeper. However, if my bellhop is making $4 per hour and my housekeeper is making $7, I think that makes a difference. Is the housekeeper's rate of pay lower b/c he/she can make tips?

There used to be a poster on the boards who worked as a housekeeper [I don't think it was at Disney] and she said it was a min-wage position, so they make a higher base than waitresses.

And the tip question, it used to be 10% for good, 15% for excellent (if you don't believe me, go find a tip calculator-card from the 1980's), but apparently they gave themselves a raise, so now the norm is supposedly 15% good and 20% excellent.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

I have not yet used ME, but I definately read that they accept tips. I am pretty sure they even have a tip jar on the bus. But not positive.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm almost positive that the ME bus drivers do accept tips. I know that when our driver was storing bags for people, that some were giving him money. And I believe he had a tip jar at the front of the bus too.

 

[Karnak]

... seen it in print does not make it any less of being a FACT ...

Reminds me of a line from a Broadway musical I saw many moons ago. Quote: "If it's printed in the paper then it's true!" *



* Minskoff Theatre, 5-24-73. Show: IRENE Line spoken by: PATSY KELLY.

 

[Mulan82]

A lady I work with also waitresses, and she told me that 10% is the minimum too.

i waitress.

its 15% any of those tip cards will tell you that

before i got a real corporate america job..

i worked 5 days a week serving. i made 800 a week. thats 3200/month.
but i needed health insurance. so i was forced to give it up.
some servers i know make at least 1000/wk. at least.
depending on your restaurant.. ( you make bank at the cheesecake factory.. see above)
you can make a great living being a server..