Tipping Etiquette

[Dogwood_Poet 16]

OK, maybe it's a guy thing, but I don't understand tipping a hair stylist. Most are self-employed, so they should be paid a decent amount per person. I realize the salon gets a percentage, but I would rather pay a dollar or two more for the service than be expected to pay a tip.

BTW, it only takes about 5 minutes to cut my hair anyway, so I think $13 bucks is high enough!

Also, tip buckets at takeout windows? Another excuse for the business owner to cut their pay? Pay the people what they are worth, don't expect me to make sure your employees make a living wage!

I think tips should be a reward, not something needed to make sure the server can pay his rent!

[Emily and Gareth 0]

I think you should tip a delivery person (like pizza), after all the delivery charge isn't going into their pocket it goes to the restaurant.

True, however the Pizza joint pays the Pizza delivery guy...How many pizzas can you deliver in an hour? At a guess 10 which would mean $50....Im sure Dominos or wherever can give the driver a decent enough hourly wage from that?

I like the idea of tipping in restaurants and bars in the states as the difference in service to here in Ireland is unbelievable in some places....Honestly....I am sometimes embarrassed to take my fiance out in Belfast because of the bad service. Service staff here dont expect to get tips so it doesent matter whether they provide a good service or not.

Im not a big fan of tipping anyone else though!

I was a bartender in Belfast for years and it was usually a real shock to get a tip!

[Ed+Cindy 1]

I think tips should be a reward, not something needed to make sure the server can pay his rent!

[Dave and Helena 0]

I want to add airline curb-check in. I think they're less common/used since 9/11. The people at the curve are not paid the same as the people inside at the airline counter. I tip $5 when I check in at the curb.

I had forgotten about that one. Thanks for reminding me.

[Old Dominion 26]

Well, as far as Belfast, we all know the Scots-Irish are stingy

But wait staff in the U.S. are paid around $2.50 per hour (the minimum wage for them) and rely on good tips if they are good at serving you. While 15% seems to be an old standard, nowadays it is more like 20%. So that would be eight bucks for a $40 meal, or ten if the service is really good. They are also required to pay income tax on their tips and often must share a part with the folks who clean up tables, etc. If they were all paid minimum wage, you couldn't afford to tip them because your meal cost would skyrocket in no time at all.

[ScottThuy 140]

Do not tip for dry cleaning.

You should ALWAYS tip at restaurants. Often the wait staff have low hourly salaries and often have to share tips with the bussing staff, so the tips are really important.

And its customary to tip for personal services (hair dresser, manicurist, wax, etc.) if you feel that the person did a good job and you are pleased. You can usually pay with credit card and just add the tip when you sign the receipt (like at restaurants), but some places don't give you the option to tip on the receipt. For your first visit, I would bring cash, see how they handle it and if you like their service you know what to do next time. For personal services I don't believe tipping is based on percents. I could be wrong, but I always think of percents (in terms of minimum amount of tips at restaurants) but never for personal services.

take not tht some restaurants add gratuity in the bill and dont need additional tip...

[rmncm 0]

Don't forget to tip your Dish Network or Direct TV tech...a $20 tip is always welcomed!!! When I don't get a tip from a cx I never leave them my phone number for problems or questions...that will teach 'em, see how they like being on the phone talking to someone from India or the Philippines after being on hold for 20 minutes and waiting 3-4 days for me to be dispatched out for the service issue!!!!

[Nik+Heather 121]

Tipping in the U.S. is a jungle. When in doubt I will usually ask my husband. Here are some of the rules my husband and I follow (we are generous tippers - at least according to him).

Restaurants with table service: Tip 15-20% of the bill, based on the quality of service. If service is horrible 10% (or a penny on the table to show that you didn't forget). Note that gratuity can be included in the tab for parties of 6 or more.

Counter service/fast food restaurants:No need to tip.

Pick up food: No need to tip if it's a drive through, otherwise $2-$3 (most people don't tip this at all).

Buffet Servers: At least $1 per head.

Food delivery: $5.00 minimum.

Bartenders: $1 - $2 per drink, or 15-20% of the total bill as a general rule but it is not quite that easy. If a crowded place where it's hard to get a hold of the bartender - no need to tip or tip change. If on "my" local regular pub the tips are not based on a formula. Usually the amount of drinks on the tab does not reflect the amount of drinks that were consumed. For every free drink I tip 50% of the list price of the drink. In this case the tip HAS TO BE in cash and cash only. If the tab is $30 and the tip is $15 on a credit card it is a potential red flag for management and the bartender might not be there the next day.

Hotel housekeeping: $2-3 per night up to $5, more in high-end hotels. Leave the tip on your pillow each day when you leave the room. If you have additional items delivered to your room, such as extra pillows, tip the person who brings them $2 or $3.

Bellman/porter: $1-2 per bag, minimum $2 even if only one bag.

Taxi Driver: 10-15% with an extra $1 to $2 for help with bags.

Valet Parkers: $2 - $5 (when picking up car).

Hairdresser/manicurist: 10% - 20%. $2 to the person doing the shampooing if it's not the hairdresser.

Drycleaning: No need to tip. If you have a personal relationship with them a Christmas gift is appreciated.

Christmas time is an extra addition to the confusion. Around Christmas tip those who serve you all year long and with whom you have a personal relationship. Here are a few examples.

- USPS Mail carrier - Non-cash gifts with value up to $20. This is for mail carriers that you know and see regularly. (Remember, this is the person who will deliver your green card to you. ).

- Manicurist/pedicurist - $15 or more

- Hairdresser/stylist - $15 or more

Btw. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to once again read up on the tipping madness here. After 2 years I am still confused.

I (the USC) don't tip nearly as much as you suggest. Restaurants the standard is still 15%, and if I linger a long time and they continue service I'll be more generous and give less if they screw up repeatedly.

For food delivery, bartenders, hair stylists, taxi drivers, bellman... I generally tip $2 with more only if they've really gone out of their way (food delivery at a weird location or a huge order, taxi rode me for a long ride, etc). Seriously, these people do get paid a wage, and unlike waitstaff they're paid at least minimum wage. So I don't see any reason to go crazy on tipping unless they dazzle.

Hotel housekeepers shouldn't receive a tip as a standard. If you choose to tip, it should be because they gave extra services at your request (e.g. turn down service) or you (or your children) were pigs and she cleaned up after you.

And sorry, your mail carrier doesn't need a Christmas gift... that's just weird IMO.

The newspaper delivery guy "delivers" my parents' paper on the bit of lawn furthest from the driveway without a bag, so it's usually soaked from the sprinklers. Mother thinks it's because of lack of tip....

I usually tip 10% for services, and some even dollar amount between 15-20% for restaurants - of course dependent on service.

I pay with cash or a card depending on the size of the business - my hairdresser works out of her home (husband built her a special room with the proper sink and everything!) so I always bring cash since she couldn't charge cards anyway. Other places I pay with a card, and bring a $5 or $10 (for options depending on how I liked it afterward) to tip with.

I follow a lot of the same rules Dave and Helena pointed out.

I ignore all tip jars, and maybe a dollar for the receipt for carry out - especially if I felt like the item itself was already reasonably priced.

[GabiandVi 34]

Great question and really good answers.

I agree that tipping is madness and this insane American practice alone is worth living abroad again. However, I would also like to fully support the tipping of wait staff in the US until things change, if they ever do. This is what they live on. I will continue to tip all the other people mentioned in the answers here, but they all have salaries of minimum wage or higher. Wait staff don't make enough to pay their taxes because it is assumed they will be tipped. If you have a really awful waiter, and by that, I mean rude or contemptuous, then don't tip, or better yet, tip about 50 cents. That way they will know you didn't forget but you were unhappy with the service. But otherwise, tip at least 15%. Generally, you tip 20% on alcohol, minimum, and 15% on everything else.

I usually tip around 20% on my restaurant bill. I just move the decimal one space to the left and then double and round up. Example: If the bill comes to $25.75, I figure 10% is $2.575, so 20% would be $5.15, so I'd probably round up to $5.50 or $6. If my waiter is particularly efficient and friendly but not too intrusive, I'll probably tip even more. I used to wait tables and I know how hard they work and how little they take home aside from tips.

One other thing. I think that some other tipping practices vary with regions. For example, food delivery would be less in my region, but then cost of living is lower where I come from.

I didn't know about tipping a dish technician. I'm probably going to have one installed soon, so that info will come in handy. I never would have thought of that.

[Emily and Gareth 0]

I have a real pet hate when it comes to Washroom/bathroom attendants....I somehow managed to wash my own hands and get my own paper towel for many years however for some reason they are in every bathroom of every bar in Dublin now. I have seen them in a few bars in America too.

Do you tip them every time you go to the toilet and what if you are on a pubcrawl? Its getting expensive just to go to the toilet....

[Dave and Helena 0]

I have a real pet hate when it comes to Washroom/bathroom attendants....I somehow managed to wash my own hands and get my own paper towel for many years however for some reason they are in every bathroom of every bar in Dublin now. I have seen them in a few bars in America too.

Do you tip them every time you go to the toilet and what if you are on a pubcrawl? Its getting expensive just to go to the toilet....

I think there is one at the Fox Theatre here in Atlanta. Every time we go there I try REALLY hard not to go to the restroom if I know I don't have any change. That is the only one I've seen here though. But maybe that is because I prefer to go to dumps where the drinks are cheaper and I can drink more instead.

[tomsarah11 0]

I am a waitress and I make $2.13 an hour. This means that I do NOT get a paycheck b/c they take our taxes out of that. We really depend on tips...and usually hope for 18-20%

Edited July 31, 2009 by tomsarah11

[Rhiannercakes 14]

I am a waitress and I make $2.13 an hour. This means that I do NOT get a paycheck b/c they take our taxes out of that. We really depend on tips...and usually hope for 18-20%

I'm surprised such a low wage is even legal... I mean, people don't have to give you tips, so you're living off the hope that they give them to you.

That must be tough.

[Emily and Gareth 0]

I have a real pet hate when it comes to Washroom/bathroom attendants....I somehow managed to wash my own hands and get my own paper towel for many years however for some reason they are in every bathroom of every bar in Dublin now. I have seen them in a few bars in America too.

Do you tip them every time you go to the toilet and what if you are on a pubcrawl? Its getting expensive just to go to the toilet....

I think there is one at the Fox Theatre here in Atlanta. Every time we go there I try REALLY hard not to go to the restroom if I know I don't have any change. That is the only one I've seen here though. But maybe that is because I prefer to go to dumps where the drinks are cheaper and I can drink more instead.

lol Im exactly the same way...

[Emily and Gareth 0]

I am a waitress and I make $2.13 an hour. This means that I do NOT get a paycheck b/c they take our taxes out of that. We really depend on tips...and usually hope for 18-20%

Im confused... how come you dont get a paycheck?

Whos they? And do they take the whole $2.13 off you??

It doesent make sense to me that someone could get paid that low. Is there a minimum wage in the service industry...