Would you tip???

[carolfoy]

Just a quickie, would you tip a limo driver when you've paid a lot for the ride anyway? I'm not 'anti-tipping' but I do quite frankly get fed up with the American way of tipping for EVERYTHING!!! Do all of you get tips in your own job? Even when I waitressed I wasn't a big receiver of tips and didn't feel hard done by at all, I did a job, got paid for the job end of story.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Just a quickie, would you tip a limo driver when you've paid a lot for the ride anyway? I'm not 'anti-tipping' but I do quite frankly get fed up with the American way of tipping for EVERYTHING!!! Do all of you get tips in your own job? Even when I waitressed I wasn't a big receiver of tips and didn't feel hard done by at all, I did a job, got paid for the job end of story.

Now this may come as a surprise to you, but the USA is a completely different country to the UK.
In the UK most resturants put a tip into the cost, in other jobs the pay is higher than the minimum wage that the Americans get.
In the USA to make money to live service industry workers have to rely on tipping.
The trouble is that many UK visitors seem to think that this is another way of making their holiday money go further by not tipping.
This is causing the waiting/service staff to not give a good service to anyone with a British accent, as if they are not going to be tipped, why waste time on them when there are other tables which will.

 

[gilld]

Of course. I tip here where it is not so common and I tip there where it is customary.

 

[carolfoy]

No flames please, I DO realise that the system in the US is different, I was just asking for views on whether its the done thing to tip a limo driver when you've already paid a company ie virgin upfront for the service, I have travelled in the states at least 12 times and ALWAYS tip, sometimes 10 % sometimes 20% depending, I also ALWAYS budget in tip money for meals and housekeeping and see this as just another part of the holiday expense, I am not trying to discourage anyone from tipping I'm just asking if anyone would think to tip a limo driver.

 

[trevorsem]

No flames please, I DO realise that the system in the US is different, I was just asking for views on whether its the done thing to tip a limo driver when you've already paid a company ie virgin upfront for the service, I have travelled in the states at least 12 times and ALWAYS tip, sometimes 10 % sometimes 20% depending, I also ALWAYS budget in tip money for meals and housekeeping and see this as just another part of the holiday expense, I am not trying to discourage anyone from tipping I'm just asking if anyone would think to tip a limo driver.

I'd say yes. Over there you tip for taking a pee

T

 

[gilld]

No flames please, I DO realise that the system in the US is different, I was just asking for views on whether its the done thing to tip a limo driver when you've already paid a company ie virgin upfront for the service, I have travelled in the states at least 12 times and ALWAYS tip, sometimes 10 % sometimes 20% depending, I also ALWAYS budget in tip money for meals and housekeeping and see this as just another part of the holiday expense, I am not trying to discourage anyone from tipping I'm just asking if anyone would think to tip a limo driver.

Remember you have paid Virgin or whoever, not the driver, so I would tip. maybe not a percentage , just a flat rate tip.

 

[maleficent_man]

This is causing the waiting/service staff to not give a good service to anyone with a British accent.

Exactly - why should your experience depend on whether they 'think' you will tip or not? It's almost like suggesting they will go out of their way to be less than civil. This is where my whole issue with tipping lies. I disagree with the premise of it (I understand it's a different culture and that's how it works) that to get any form of decent service (you are still paying for the meal remember) you have to tip.

I'll do it if the service is good but if it is crap (perhaps on the basis of accent and therefore got out of their way to be crap) they'll get nowt.

Anyway - it's Monday - Rant over!!

 

[vicky1bfc]

We alway's tip,so answer to your question yes i would tip the limo driver,just like we/i tipped the taxi driver.

Infact i'm saying we alway's tip.there was one occasion we tipped only $1 as we though this was a better way of making our feelings clear than leaving nothing at all, as the service was awful.We didn't want her thinking we were just cheapskate brit's but just really unhappy customers.

Swings in round about's though,on a couple of occasion's we tipped $10 not because we are made of money but the server went out there way to help and were fab.

 

[Goofyish]

When you book a limo as opposed to a towncar the tip is usually included - check with the company you are booking with

 

[carolfoy]

Thanks Goofyish, hadn't thought of that will check it out.

 

[Frances999]

Tips are very rarely included with limo bookings - we tipped our driver last year $25 each way. Our driver was extremely curteous, friendly and wonderful with the children. I believe that the drivers in the USA rely very heavily on tips to boost their basic wage.

 

[Verity Chambers]

Tip was included in our limo trip last summer. However we did tip our driver again on the day, he was just so kind, helpful and really went out of his way to give us a special trip.

 

[Richard Bruvofetc]

I'll do it if the service is good but if it is crap (perhaps on the basis of accent and therefore got out of their way to be crap) they'll get nowt.

I believe its custom to tip 1 cent if the service is bad. Zero tip may be seen as just forgetting or just tight. The 1 cent is saying "your service was awful"

 

[Miffy2003]

I must admit I do tip taxi drivers here in the UK but I would tip a limo driver in the US definitely

 

[maureen4200040]

I'm curious if you've tipped in the past - why are you now having second thoughts about doing it on your next trip.

 

[kevin harrison]

The trouble is that many UK visitors seem to think that this is another way of making their holiday money go further by not tipping.
This is causing the waiting/service staff to not give a good service to anyone with a British accent, as if they are not going to be tipped, why waste time on them when there are other tables which will.

I agree with you, a question though..... how would you get good service then if you have a British accent? tell them before hand you are going to tip? Leave a wad of cash on the table from the start?

I have been told the same by a server before, I've only encountered bad service once though.

This topic comes up all the time. Basically IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO VISIT THE USA, YOU MUST TIP even if you don't agree with the principal, it's the done thing over there.

 

[carolfoy]

maureen4200040 I'm curious if you've tipped in the past - why are you now having second thoughts about doing it on your next trip

Only because I'm prepaying for the limo which you don't do with a taxi and because its a lot more than a taxi anyway!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I think you should always tip if you are happy with the quality of service, we generally do at restaurants etc
However, if you are not happy then I do not feel you should be obliged to.

 

[kizzy212]

just to put my side of the story across, we paid for transfers from sanford airport to i-drive last year. it cost us $160 for the round trip. when arriving at hotel, my partner tipped $20, the man was very greatful indeed. he help us carry all luagge to room which was great when travelling with a young children. As normal husband would do serval trips from reception to room with cases.
when coming to return home hurricane francs struck delaying our flight by 4 days. we was so worried about transfere to airport and the possability of missing flight due to the delay when rang and left message of new details.but then to my relief the door knocked only to find transfere man standing there with personal message of new times for pick up. again he was very friendly and stood talking for some time on his way home.
so the point i am trying to make here is. agreeing with OBI is the service you recieve depends on the tipping.

so me personal would tip for taking a pee as trevor says.

 

[Cyrano]

I would tip, especially since their taxes are calculated on the basis of expected tips - even if that is not what they earn.

In this country taxis, waiting staff, hairdresser are all people I'd tip when I was happy with the service. Postman and refuse collectors get a "Christmas" bonus.

Reid