Where does it end

[Naomi]

Over the years I have become 'educated' in the fine art of tipping service personnel. OK, so educated is an over-statement. Perhaps I should say "forced" to behave in a socially correct manner.

I tip the hairdresser

I tip the maid in the hotels

I tip the baggage guy at the airport

I tip the shuttle drivers

I tip the manicurist

I tip the guy who works for the company who shampoos my carpet

I tip the guy who sprays my house for bugs. He informed me that he is a minimum wage employee and most people tip him for his carful spraying around their good furnature.

The person at the breakfast bar in the hotel

The person at the stand in the fast food place for taking my order and handing me a sack

The guys at the car wash.

The person at the cleaner

The Bell Boy

The guy who parks my car at the hotel

The lady who gives me a nice warm cloth in the bathroom!

The taxi driver ... I suppose for overcharging me

I tip the FedEx or UPS people. They really do a lot of extras for me.

I used to do the 10% thing in restaurants, then 15% then 18%. Last week I was informed that it should now be 20%. What is this a "cost of living" raise for the new year?

I leave Christmas gifts for the mail man, hair dresser manicurist, neighbors who look after my house, and to the people who buy my products so that I can keep my job so that I can continue tipping. I send flowers, gifts, etc to any who happens to get married, has a baby, gets a promotion, death in the family, my third cousin twice removed who graduated from reform school .... is it socially correct to send something when they become divorced?

But Friday PM was the last straw. I ran into the grocery store to pick up a couple of items for Sabbath Pot Luck. One little bag ended up in a tug or war with the boy who put the items into my sack. He insisted that he was carrying it to my car. I said, "will you come home with me and carry them into the house?" He looked confused!

After several minutes of both of us making a scene, I realized the problem. I took out a dollar and handed it to him. I have long since been "educated" in the fact that you do not just give them some change.

He smiled and wished me a good evening.

I wonder why I have no money left at the end of the month. Or, to invest for old age?

Where does it end?

Naomi

[Clio]

I don't go to the hairdresser.

I don't stay at hotels except on very, very special occasions.

I never let the baggage guy at the airport handle my bags, I always do it. (Used to travel extensively on business, don't anymore. But when I did...)

I don't go to the manicurist.

I shampoo my own carpets.

I don't tip anyone who's only function is to hand me a plate or a sack.

I wash my own car.

I don't buy clothing that requires going to the cleaners.

And at all the grocery stores in town (Safeway, Fred Meyer, those are our only choices) it is made very clear to the baggers and carryouts that tips are not accepted from customers. Also, carryout is something they ask if you would like, and NO is understood to mean no.

TIPs - To insure proper service.

To my way of thinking, that means they actually have to DO something for you to earn a tip.

Just because they expect it, doesn't mean I have to.

Clio

[Amelia]

Naomi, you are over tipping. Many of those services don't require tipping. 15% is for normal service. Anything over that would be for exceptional service.

[Amelia]

Oh, and when I was in college I was a maid at a fairly upscale hotel. I can count on one hand the number of times I was tipped. And none of those tips came from the celebrities I tended.

[Clio]

Yep... that's what I was thinking too.

[Dr. Shane]

Minimum wage is less for those working in professions that are tipped.

Quote:

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An employer of a tipped employee is only required to pay $2.13 an hour in direct wages if that amount plus the tips received equals at least the federal minimum wage, the employee retains all tips and the employee customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips. If an employee's tips combined with the employer's direct wages of at least $2.13 an hour do not equal the federal minimum hourly wage, the employer must make up the difference.

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The two professions I can think of off the top of my head are waiter/waitress and hairstylist/manicurist. 15% is for good or average service. Pay less for poorer service and more for excellant service. Cost of living raises are built in. as the cost of a meal or haircut increases the 15% will increase too.

It is unethical not to tip if one recieves good service. The tip is part of the workers wage and by not tipping the customer is denying the professional part of their wages. That should only be done when poor service is provided and the customer is unhappy with the service recieved.

I have tipped waitresses and waiters only 10% when the resturarnt was so busy that they didn't have time to attend to us well. I understand that it was not the fault of waitress but nonetheless, since she is attending more tables, she will still make more money if everyone pays 10% than if it were slow and she was recieving 15%.

I normally tip 20% or more when my children make a mess that I know the waitress will have to clean up or that she has already cleaned up while we were still dining. With my children, this is somewhat common.

Gas attendants are often tipped but are not considered tipped employees as far as the minimum wage laws are applied. They all recieve $5.15 or more per hour. That said, on windy and cold days in the Winter, more people choose full-service and gas attendants spend more time outside. Giving a gas attendant a tip during cold weather is a kind gesture.

[Naomi]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

Amelia said:

Oh, and when I was in college I was a maid at a fairly upscale hotel. I can count on one hand the number of times I was tipped. And none of those tips came from the celebrities I tended.

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You may well be correct. But, how long ago were you in college?

10 years ago/actually even 5 or 6 years ago they weren't expected. I didn't tip, nor was it made clear it was expected, at hotels.

Handling your own bags is an option, but have you seen the lines inside most larger airports? In Atlanta recently I checked my own bag. It took 45 minutes and that was when I used the automatic self check-in machine. Then you take it over to the scanning area and wait your turn to give them your bag.

Then it took another 2 hrs and 10 minutes to make it through the security check-in. Thankfully, those immediately in front of me as did I had my shoes off, coat removed and lap-top ready to take out of the case.

Whatever keeps us safe <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/seenoevil.gif" alt="" />

[Dr. Shane]

Quote:

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Handling your own bags is an option

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I don't know if those handling your bags in the US are condsidered tipped employees by minimum wage laws or not. However when traveling abroad it is wise to let them handle your luggage and tip them well (Hint: they love $2 bills [give them a few]) They help you get through their country's customs which is worth $10 - $20.

Also, a point about grocery baggers. Some of these are considered tipped employees by federal wage standards - depending on the store. In many forgien countries the baggers recieve tips only - they recieve nothing from the supermarket. Baggers make long lines go much faster. Stores where the customer or the cashier bag the goceries normally have lines that take longer to get through.

Here is a link to the Tipping Guide Grocery bagger is on their list.

[Gail]

Naomi, what you need to do is start requiring tips for services that you do! That way you can cash in also!

[Naomi]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

Gail said:

Naomi, what you need to do is start requiring tips for services that you do! That way you can cash in also!

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

lol Something like, I'll show you how this product works for, say a 15% tip. Hey Pal, I'm giving you a discount! <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/laughhard.gif" alt="" />

Shane, you are right on. You get through airports much more quickly by tipping the skycaps. And, if you give an adequate tip your luggage is more likely to end up on the same plane as you.

[Gail]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

Shane, you are right on. You get through airports much more quickly by tipping the skycaps. And, if you give an adequate tip your luggage is more likely to end up on the same plane as you.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

You see? Some people have it down to an art! You gotta get out there, Naomi!!!

[Bravus]

I'm just looking forward to getting back to Australia, where service staff are paid decent wages and no-one tips. <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Amelia]

Yes, you need to be aware of the customs of the country. In some places it is considered rude to tip.

[Amelia]

I tip the hairdresser - [:"green"]me too [/]

I tip the maid in the hotels - [:"green"]depends on how long I stay. If its just overnight, no. If the maid doesnt clean my bathroom well and restock items then I dont tip. [/]

I tip the baggage guy at the airport - [:"green"] If I had to use one, yes. They rely on tips. [/]

I tip the shuttle drivers - [:"green"] Not me [/]

I tip the manicurist - [:"green"]Dont use [/]

I tip the guy who works for the company who shampoos my carpet - [:"green"]Had my carpet cleaned recently as part of my lease renewal. Didnt even consider tipping. [/]

I tip the guy who sprays my house for bugs. He informed me that he is a minimum wage employee and most people tip him for his carful spraying around their good furnature. - [:"green"]Dont use. But I would probably be less inclined to tip if it's asked for. That's just me. I feel it should be earned, not expected in this situation. Plently of min wage jobs out there. If you start tipping just for that, you will soon be broke broke broke [/]

The person at the breakfast bar in the hotel - [:"green"]Never considered [/]

The person at the stand in the fast food place for taking my order and handing me a sack - [:"green"] WOW you are a soft touch. Why not stop and go in to tip the people who flipped the burger and pressed the button on the coke machine, too. [/]

The guys at the car wash. - [:"green"]nope [/]

The person at the cleaner - [:"green"] nope [/]

The Bell Boy - [:"green"]Did he do anything besides open a door for you? [/]

The guy who parks my car at the hotel - [:"green"] Yes [/]

The lady who gives me a nice warm cloth in the bathroom! - [:"green"]I want to know where this bathroom is.LOL When I was in europe almost all of the restrooms had attendants and you are expected to tip. [/]

The taxi driver ... I suppose for overcharging me - [:"green"] If he doesnt get out of the car, then no. But if he gets out and handles the luggage and opens the door for me, then yes. [/]

I tip the FedEx or UPS people. They really do a lot of extras for me.- [:"green"]This would be a case where I may tip at the end of the year if I get the same person most of the time. I remember we use to be able to do that with the postman until fed regs changed. [/]

[cricket]

It is my custom to give a $100 tip for anyone who gives me exceptional service.

So far, no one's given me exceptional service.