Town Car tipping question

[miatamel]

Sorry if this sounds awfully unprovencial or naive, but I've never rented a town car before--not even a taxi. So, if there is a 20% gratuity, is this 20% coming AND going? Or 20% total? What if you have different drivers? Do you pay all of it on the first leg? Or seven days later on the last leg? (I'm doing a Disney cruise--MCO to port and back). Or 10% going and 10% coming. I have absolutely no earthly idea.

 

[VAgal76]

It's 20% total so you would do 10% up and 10% back. I'd tip one driver at a time since you might have someone different on the return leg. HTH!

 

[Bob P]

It's 20% total so you would do 10% up and 10% back. I'd tip one driver at a time since you might have someone different on the return leg. HTH!

I have to respectfully clarify the math...10% of the one-way going and 10% of the one-way coming is 10%, not 20%, of the total.

VAgal76, It's not that you were wrong, I just think it was ambiguous.

The correct tip is 15-20% of the TOTAL amount.

So, let's say the trip costs you $50 each way. You should tip 15-20% of $50 when you arrive and 15-20% of $50 when you leave.

Hope this helps, Miatamel!

 

[Edd]

Miatamel,

Tip the drivers going and coming whatever you think their service was worth. If you get a dumby going out give him a dollar or two. If you get a live wire going back give him a ten or whatever. The idea that you have to tip 20% is absolutely false. It is the owners getting you to pay the driver a salary they are not paying. Drivers should earn their tip with service to you. Gratuity means service provided to you by that driver. I can't over emphasize it, you are not required to tip anyone, but it is nice when you do.

P.S. When the driver looks at you because he felt he didn't get enough or you didn't give him anything say to him "where was the service."

 

[Lewisc]

Edd some industries are "tipped" and employees earn a good chunk of their income from tips. Reasonable service from a waiter earns a tip of 15-20%. Same with a driver. I wouldn't think of using a bellhop without tipping.

Does your driver do what he's suppose to do? Meet you at baggage claim. Take care of your luggage. Doesn't complain if you go a few minutes over at your grocery stop. Makes a quick stop a mini-mart even if you didn't follow the rules and request a stop in advance. Provides a clean car. Maybe tipping standards are different in the NE but that type of service earns a 15-20% tip where I live.

I'd go so far as to say if the service from a waiter or driver is so bad that I feel justified in tipping less than 15% the service is bad enough that I should also be complaining to the restaurant and to the town car company.

Miatamel,

Tip the drivers going and coming whatever you think their service was worth. If you get a dumby going out give him a dollar or two. If you get a live wire going back give him a ten or whatever. The idea that you have to tip 20% is absolutely false. It is the owners getting you to pay the driver a salary they are not paying. Drivers should earn their tip with service to you. Gratuity means service provided to you by that driver. I can't over emphasize it, you are not required to tip anyone, but it is nice when you do.

 

[miatamel]

Lewis, Edd, et al,
I called a certain company and asked for a quote. The owner said "It is $xx for the trip to the port and back plus a 20% gratuity comes to $xx." So it sounded like it was a pretty standard, automatic thing. I just didn't know whether I was supposed to pay it on the front end or the tail end or what. I guess the 10% of 1/2 the fare going and the same back makes sense?
I really need to get out more....or move from the sticks!

 

[Edd]

Lewis,

I agree with you 100% and most drivers do all that. There are some out there that don't and we need to get rid of them. I won't comment on the last post.

 

[Lewisc]

Lewis, Edd, et al,
I called a certain company and asked for a quote. The owner said "It is $xx for the trip to the port and back plus a 20% gratuity comes to $xx." So it sounded like it was a pretty standard, automatic thing. I just didn't know whether I was supposed to pay it on the front end or the tail end or what. I guess the 10% of 1/2 the fare going and the same back makes sense?
I really need to get out more....or move from the sticks!

Some companies, particularly for limos, add an "automatic gratuity" to the bill.
It would take exceptional service for me to tip in additional to an automatic 20% gratuity. Those companies will include the gratuity in your bill. No reason to double tip, Maybe if I went over on a grocery stop or asked the driver to make a second stop at a liquor store I'd give the driver an extra tip.

For a R/T you normally pay for the entire trip up front.

If you pay for the R/T, with automatic gratuity, on the first leg you don't tip the driver coming back from the port. The only problem might be if the driver coming back is a fill in. If the driver looks like he's fishing for a tip just say ABC Towncar included a 20% tip in the bill, make sure they don't stiff you.

 

[crzy4dsny]

Take the total amount of the fare and X it by 20%. What ever that number is split it in half. Give half each way.


Example:


$220 x 20% = $44 $44/ 2= $22. Each driver, or each way, will get $22

 

[ducklite]

Just a little thing, but you aren't really "renting a towncar/car service/limo/cab" you are "hiring" them.

Unless the service is poor, take 20% of the total fare in both directions, split it in half, and give half each way unless it's included.

Anne

 

[Lewisc]

Just a little thing, but you aren't really "renting a towncar/car service/limo/cab" you are "hiring" them.

Unless the service is poor, take 20% of the total fare in both directions, split it in half, and give half each way unless it's included.

Anne

Anne
From subsequent posts in this thread it sounds like the towncar company is adding on a 20% automatic gratuity. Would you typically add an extra tip? I don't generally use a towncar but I'd only add an extra tip for extraordinary service.

 

[ducklite]

Anne
From subsequent posts in this thread it sounds like the towncar company is adding on a 20% automatic gratuity. Would you typically add an extra tip? I don't generally use a towncar but I'd only add an extra tip for extraordinary service.

If there was already a tip included, I might throw in a few bucks if I had a lot of luggage, or for sure would add another $5-10 for a grocery stop, but wouldn't tip extra otherwise unles the service was exceptional. MHO.

Anne

 

[yayagoofy]

Town Car or Limousine Service: Of course part of a chauffeur's income is their gratuity, just like a waiter or waitress. A quality chauffeur should show up on time, with a clean vehicle, he or she should be professional, dressed in a clean suit, and have knowledge of the area. The customary gratuity for good service is 20%, give or take a little, depending on the service. Yes, that's 20% (plus or minus depending on service) each way.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Town Car or Limousine Service: Of course part of a chauffeur's income is their gratuity, just like a waiter or waitress. A quality chauffeur should show up on time, with a clean vehicle, he or she should be professional, dressed in a clean suit, and have knowledge of the area. The customary gratuity for good service is 20%, give or take a little, depending on the service. Yes, that's 20% (plus or minus depending on service) each way.

I can understand why the town car companies have the automatic "gratuity" added to the service -- so many of the drivers depend on gratuities as part of their income, but a place like Orlando gets a large number of visitors from places where tipping isn't customary. I remember seeing signs at tables in restaurants in Atlanta during the Olympics about the tipping customs in the US for the same reason.

What I want to know is -- if a company automatically adds on 20%, how can the customer have any control if they want to "give or take a little" for good or bad service? Yes, they can give a little extra, but if they have a problem with the driver, how can they give less than the 20% automatic "gratuity" to express their displeasure?

 

[Lewisc]

Town Car or Limousine Service: Of course part of a chauffeur's income is their gratuity, just like a waiter or waitress. A quality chauffeur should show up on time, with a clean vehicle, he or she should be professional, dressed in a clean suit, and have knowledge of the area. The customary gratuity for good service is 20%, give or take a little, depending on the service. Yes, that's 20% (plus or minus depending on service) each way.

That's 20% of the ONE WAY fare or 10% of the total fare EACH WAY. No reason to tip if an automatic gratuity is charged.

 

[VAgal76]

I typically tip 20% and I feel it is the usual and customary gratuitity. Yes a few companies are making it seem that the gratuitity is charged as well. They want their drivers taken care of and I can understand why. If you aren't comfortable ask them if it is policy they add the automatic tip up front and if it can be deducted with less than good service. I bet it's just that simple and they would agree that it can be done. I don't think you'll run into that problem though. I usually use an independent driver and give him the tip up front because I know he's going to the be one picking me up as well. When I've used companies I do the split because I've ended up with different drivers. If you've already done the tip up front you do not need to tip the 2nd driver. Just let him know what you've done so he doesn't think he's being stiffed. Sorry - my math in my previous post was confusing. 20% of total fare then split it 50/50 like the others have said.

I've tipped beyond 20% when service warrants it. I had a situation arise where I was very late and not able to meet my driver at the designated time. I called him to let him know I was far behind. He waited 45+ minutes for me it was nearing the 11 o'clock hour at night - he even had a 6 a.m. pick the next morning! He didn't have to do that and could've ditched me but didn't. That was so deserving of more than a 20% tip.