Comments on: Tipping Etiquette Guidelines – How Much to Tip Hairdressers, Movers, Hotel Staff, Valet, Cab Drivers, Food Delivery, Waiters and More

By: Anna Marie

Anna Marie — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:49:10 +0000

I am also in Cali, and do the “double the tax” thing for a minimum tip, and a little more if the service was exceptional.

However, I have to agree — I really wish that what one politician (Ron Paul?) suggested as a policy would happen; he wanted to raise wages for service workers to something equaling a living wage, so they wouldn’t be at the mercy of tippers.

And while I would never dream of deliberately stiffing someone), I’ve done it by accident when calculating the tip after using a Groupon or other discount. Embarrassing for me, when I realize it, and discouraging for the server.

It would be SO MUCH EASIER for everyone if the gratuity could just be included in the final prices. It would save waitstaff from getting screwed by stingy patrons, and help math-deficient people like me figure out from the get-go how much my evening out would cost, and whether I can afford it — especially since I am on a tight budget.

Not to mention that when you’re eating out with a group, everyone trying to figure out how much tip they owe on top of their bill usually ends up with one person overpaying to cover the people holding out.

As a social custom, it’s almost as if it were fiendishly designed to make everyone miserable… :p

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 03:48:41 +0000

I work for a Denny’s franchise in New Mexico, the town I live in is a ski resort / gorse racing town and therefore living is very expensive. Anyways, when I started with the company I was a server making $2.13 an hour, I worked 40 hours a week and I was not allowed to have any overtime, I guess they couldn’t afford to give time and a half on my pay. I lived on my tips, I some how managed to pay $600 dollar rent+ bills on it. My bi-weekly paychecks were anywhere from $20-$30 after taxes. Most servers are in business for themselves, they work for YOU the customers, so they count on people tipping for doing their jobs correctly. In a town where there are only two high seasons (skiing and the horse races) it gets tough to find a job and when you do find a job it’s tough to live on the pay you’re company gives you, someone had to do the job though right?? I wasn’t ever greedy though, I always did the best job I could for people and if they only left me a dollar, well then, I was up more than I was. When I went out I made sure I had the money to tip, or I stayed at home. Now I work for the same company in a higher position and if I have to get on the floor to take tables I split the tips I make between my serve staff. Everyone is just trying to make it, if you can stand to make it a little easier on the person, then why not?

By: jo

jo — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 02:23:44 +0000

I really appreciated this article! I have wondered if my tipping style was appropriate or not. I think I will have to raise my tips a little…I was still stuck on 10%.
With that said, if its a place I go to regularly (like hair or nail salon) and I like what they do I may start at 10% on my 1st visit and on my 2nd or 3rd visit raise it a little and continue that way….

By: Colleen

Colleen — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 22:28:37 +0000

I sometimes think that expecting a tip as mandatory is too much. I will tip when service is fantastic – like at a bar/pub. In fact at pubs where the barstaff knows me (as my BF works there) I tend to tip ON the tax and make sure the bartender gets a great tip. I tip well and they remember me. Hair Salons – I will tip up to 20%. I usually get it coloured and highlites so it is pricey but still I tip well. As for tip jars – no way will I ever tip at a fast food joint. As for the maid at a hotel – i will tip at the END of my stay if things have been satisfactory. I don’t tip daily as I don’t think it is “necessary” especially If I am there for a week. Was in NYC for a week and our maid screwed up big time and guess what she got a big fat $0 tip cuz of her screw up. She claimed she made up our room one day and she clearly didn’t…. shorted us towels as well. Not impressive as we had planned on giving the tip the day we left… too bad for her!
As far as a “washroom attendant” well they don’t get anything… for handing me a paper towel?? puhleeze! No thanks! I will use my hand sanitizer or get my own paper towel!

By: Hair-Raising Hell

Hair-Raising Hell — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:07:43 +0000

If you can afford twenty percent, that’s usually what is customary.

However, if the additional cost of a tip is a factor for you, please know that your continued business is MORE THAN ENOUGH. Stylists are very well paid, I know because I work in a salon.

By: Erica

Erica — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 18:36:51 +0000

I am amazed at how dumb some of the people commenting on here, are! I am a waitress in the state of Georgia and make $2.13 an hour…I never see a paycheck b/c all of that money is taken out for taxes. I basically rely 100% on tips for living!

Some of you are saying that we should go get new jobs…Guess what? Restaurants wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the people WORKING in them. How about you don’t ever come back out to eat if you can’t afford to tip! Also, just so you know, servers always remember the people that don’t tip and we tell our co-workers. So when all the non-tippers come back into a place where they previously did not tip, they should probably be aware of how dumb they actually are. You don’t want to piss off the people who prepare/bring you your food.

By: jamie

jamie — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 20:22:12 +0000

As do hairstylists. We tip out all three of our receptionists faulty. And in california they have the power to make that mandatory. Which it is at my salon

By: Melissa

Melissa — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 06:11:59 +0000

Also. I enjoy being a server. I have a professional degree but having a special needs son I need a flexible schedule. Could I make more on my professional field? Yes.. but I enjoy serving. And I can tell you, be rude to your server and your gonna get lousy service and some servers (not me) will “do” things to your food and drink. If your gonna be rude stay home. It only takes one jackass to ruin a servers night or they get even. Im not rude to rude guests but im only doing the bare minimum for them. Of your an ass the next time you go out and your food or drink tastes funny. Think about that. Im a server because I have to be with my child and I do enjoy it… but if we didn’t have to we wouldn’t… at least they are working! They are kissing your ass while being humiliated and belittled by jackasses…

By: Melissa

Melissa — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 05:40:28 +0000

Also, most places you the server has to tip 3% of your total check out to bartenders, bus boys and hostess… if your Check is a hundred dollars and you tip 3 bucks your server gets nothing and has to pay taxes on your check as if you tipped 13%. That’s not fair to your server. Servers remember bad tippers really well
And they tell your next server on your next visit… don’t ever screw with people handling your food. Tip just to cover taxes on a crappy server or ask for management to get dinner comped if she’s that bad. But if you have good service tip well. If you have great service tip great .. find a server you like and request her/his section. Pass the word on a good server.. if a good server makes decent money they will stay…. plus a good tip puts your server in a better mood.. plus if you are a regular guest of that particular server and they know you tip good, they put you above all other tables…

By: Melissa

Melissa — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 05:28:12 +0000

Servers in Indiana make $2.13 an hour…. remember that…