# Room service tipping question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 29, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/room-service-tipping-question/458115 "2008-07-29T18:09:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![baileygrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@baileygrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/baileygrrrl)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/room-service-tipping-question/458115/1 "2008-07-29T18:09:58Z")
When you order a meal from room service in a hotel and there is a 15% service charge added to the bill, is this considered the tip? Is it necessary to tip over and above that? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/room-service-tipping-question/458115/2 "2008-07-29T18:12:33Z")
Well, tipping is never “necessary.” This has come up here before, and I believe the consensus was yes, because the 15% added to the bill probably wouldn’t end up in the pocket of the person delivering the meal to you. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/room-service-tipping-question/458115/3 "2008-07-29T18:37:12Z")
Just to be safe, I tip on top of the bill. I figure they probubly need the money more than I do, and it’s only a couple of bucks. Also, if I’m travelling for business, the company picks it up. If you tip cash, that guarantees the waiter gets it. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/room-service-tipping-question/458115/4 "2008-07-29T18:54:50Z")
Is this question any different from “When you order a meal in a restaurant and there is a 15% service charge added to the bill, is this considered the tip? Is it necessary to tip over and above that?” ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/room-service-tipping-question/458115/5 "2008-07-29T19:11:11Z")
[QUOTE=Keeve] Is this question any different from “When you order a meal in a restaurant and there is a 15% service charge added to the bill, is this considered the tip? Is it necessary to tip over and above that?” [/QUOTE] It is, because a hotel is not a restaurant. Restaurants in the US do this only for large parties, presumably to guarantee that the server will be fairly tipped. (I have never worked in a restuarant so I don’t know if this actually goes right to the staff’s pockets.) In a hotel, they charge extra for room service because of the extra service provided in bringing it right to your room, and then in taking the stuff back again when you’re done. I don’t know if they give any of it to the staff, but it’s a case where they charge extra for a premium service. If they just added 15% to all the menu items instead, then you would take one look at the menu and think twice about whether you really need room service. It’s a psychological advantage to add fee on the back end. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/room-service-tipping-question/458115/6 "2008-07-29T19:38:55Z")
and read the bill carefully, does it say “tip for waiter” or does it say “service charge”. Hell, ask the waiter. Tip the poor guy, geez. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/room-service-tipping-question/458115/7 "2008-07-29T20:44:41Z")
[QUOTE=CookingWithGas] In a hotel, they charge extra for room service because of the extra service provided in bringing it right to your room, and then in taking the stuff back again when you’re done. … If they just added 15% to all the menu items instead, then you would take one look at the menu and think twice about whether you really need room service. [/QUOTE] Room service menus are already (generally) separate menus from the hotel’s main restaurant menu, and they’re (generally) _already_ way the heck overpriced compared to the main restaurant. Even though my work pays for my hotel stays, I still try to be conscientious and avoid room service. The prices are just ridiculous, and that’s before adding on any service fees. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/room-service-tipping-question/458115/8 "2008-07-29T20:57:35Z")
[QUOTE=Balthisar] …Even though my work pays for my hotel stays, I still try to be conscientious and avoid room service. The prices are just ridiculous, and that’s before adding on any service fees. [/QUOTE] I agree, I only order from room service when I’ve worked a 14 hour day and I barely have the energy to eat before I fall asleep. ---
**Author:** ![B\_A\_Bay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@B\_A\_Bay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B_A_Bay)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2008, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/room-service-tipping-question/458115/9 "2008-07-30T00:24:45Z")
I’ve worked in hotel and they always give you the tips. So if you tip them again, it’s nice but not necessary. The thing is some hotels give the servers their tips daily, others add the tips to the paychecks they get every two weeks or whenever they get paid. I have been in resturants that add the automatic fee and a couple of time the service was bad and I said “I want the 15% taken off beause the service was bad and they don’t deserve it” The management has always taken it right off and allowed me to put in the correct amount. But most people won’t do that, but you should, bad service will continue if you don’t speak up ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2008, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/room-service-tipping-question/458115/10 "2008-07-30T01:08:11Z")
[QUOTE=BMalion] Hell, ask the waiter. Tip the poor guy, geez. [/QUOTE] Right, ask him or _ask when you place the order._ Someplaces it is his, others it is not. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2008, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/room-service-tipping-question/458115/11 "2008-07-30T12:08:37Z")
Thank you, **B\_A\_Bay**. ---
**Author:** ![MrBelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7feea3/32.png) [@MrBelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrBelding)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2008, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/room-service-tipping-question/458115/12 "2008-07-30T12:48:12Z")
If he’s bringing food I think it’s customary to tip. At first I thought you were talking about tipping the people that clean your room.