I hate the whole tipping culture as well. But being from the UK I rarely have to tip anyway.
Just tell me how much it is, I’ll pay you that amount, we are both happy.
Problem is that business takes me to the States regularly and so I find myself gritting my teeth when I do have to tip and I actively go out of my way to make sure I avoid it where possible. (not using bellhops…buying food and drink from a supermarket, using room service so the tip is added to the charge, etc)
I confess, I’ve never heard of tipping the maid though, is that expected?
As for the OP, I wouldn’t tip in any of those circumstances, in fact the only time I do is when I feel someone has done something over and above what was expected and social convention means a tip can be exchanged (not always possible for some circumstances).
I do think the tipping of teachers is actually quite disturbing. Both that you would give them, and that they would take them. But, if that is what convention dictates then no, you individually are not strange but I’d suggest the convention is.
As I say though…UK based so much less of an issue here.
There is nothing wrong with teachers actually getting something for themselves!
Brings up an episode where a someone in my company was trying to recruit teachers for something or another. It was for an all day thing so they offered a decent amount of money…something like $250…to the charity of their choice.
They had a difficult time recruiting. They asked me to come to a troubleshooting meeting because they knew I used to teach. My first comment was…have you tried giving the money to the teachers? Let them decide, on their own, if they wish to donate the money or buy shoes for their son or daughter?
It caused confusion…like…what would teachers want with MONEY?!
They tried it (offering the $250 to the teachers) and it filled up in record time
Just because they are teachers doesn’t mean they abhor money.
I’m definitely a regular tipper, probably an over-tipper in most cases.
Waiter/Waitress - Minimum of 20%, higher for great service. Mom raised me waiting tables to put food on our table and keep the lights on.
Bartender - When paying cash and I just order a drink for myself, usually a couple bucks tip on the first drink and then a buck a drink after that. If I order a round of drinks, then several dollars depending upon the drinks. When I’m running a tab, at the end of the night I usually tip $10.00 on a $30-40 dollar tab.
Hotel / Airport shuttle drivers - Back in my past I used to drive a hotel shuttle van and my wage was certainly on the minimum side of the scale. Those tips made a difference each week.
Hotel maids - I travel a lot for work but I don’t tip daily, mostly because I never considered the above point about different maids may be cleaning my room each day. I usually leave $5-10 in the room when I check-out. Most of my hotel stays are a single night stay, rarely do I have multiple nights so I guess it works out okay.
Paper boy - I don’t get the paper delivered anymore. When I did, I felt that I should be tipping as I delivered papers as a kid and again those tips made up a big portion of my income. However, around here the paper is delivered by adults and they don’t hire kids for paper routes and I just always felt that was wrong since there were only so many ways a kid can make some money and paper routes were one of them.
Hairdresser - Usually $7 on a $29.00 haircut. I’m never sure if that is too little, too much, or juuuuust right.
Valet parking - Probably $3-5 depending upon the cost of the valet service itself.
I’m quite sure there are more but those are the ones off the top of my head. I’ve had a background that included my mom being dependent upon tips to make ends meet and my own work history involving times in my life when I was paycheck to paycheck. I never even think about it and certainly don’t understand the mentality that resents it.
Always tip all of the dancers for every dance. Even during the first song before they take their top off. That way you get a reputation as a good tipper.
I’ve tipped hotel van drivers on occasion and always tipped hair cutters when I went to them. I also routinely tip 20%-25% for good service in mid-priced restaurants, $2-$3 to the pizza delivery guy from the place that is literally five blocks from my house, and usually give an extra $2+ on a $4.50 cab ride. It’s my way of giving to charity (although I do give $1 to my favorite street people now and then).
Three furniture movers did such a great job so quickly that I gave them each $20 extra–they were shocked, so I guess that’s not usual, but they had hustled despite charging by the hour, so I figured I was getting off cheap. Oddly, I never tip chambermaids at hotels even though I guess I’m supposed to, and I almost never tip doormen unless they hail a cab for me. Restroom attendants creep me out but sometimes I tip them anyway.
I don’t have kids so no experience with teachers, but I have given cash gifts at year-end to the paper deliverer, the postal carrier, the garbage crew and almost always the housecleaners.
It is illegal to give California school teachers gifts. At least that is what my mother, a California school teacher taught me. Mom never would have taken a gift. Dad, also a California school teacher, never mentioned getting a gift, but he knows enough to keep his mouth shut.
I also tip in all of those situations. I leave very generous tips for waitstaff as I am usually dining with a 3 year old and that can present some challenges. I am always appreciative of those who take the initiative to speak to my child or help me speed up the dining process since my son’s dining expiration is about 45 minutes.
Actually it’s more like YOU’RE happy and the waitress/bellhop/etc is saying to him/herself, “Thanks for not giving me a tip, you cheap asshole. A little really does go a long way for people like me, but you never even thought of that, did you? Nope, you didn’t, because you’re a self-centered prick.”
At least, that’s what I would think. Give 'em a few extra bucks, for chrissakes. What’s the harm? You feel they didn’t earn your extra five bucks or something?
Thats not true. Yes, the IRS can assign a certain tip rate to a restaurant, based upon averages, say 8%. But a good timely kept tip log over rides that.
People speak as if tipping is mandatory. If you don’t tip, there is no tip fairy that will come down and smite you where you stand. And if you never plan on seeing these people again, then don’t worry.
Do I tip my shuttle bus driver at the hotel? Yep. Because if I come to the guy and ask if he can run me down to the store so I can get a six pack of beer five minutes after his shift ended (which I have done), I think he should get a nice tip. Of course, if I stiffed him on the way in from the airport, he could very well tell me that regulations preclude his working past midnight.
Do I tip my valet guy at the parking garage downtown? Yep. $3 and $5 if its really cold. When I bring my car in, he leaves it on the first floor. When I get back, I pay the parking fee, hand the guy a tip and I have my keys. All the other schmucks are standing there in sub-freezing weather waiting for their cars.
When I was a pizza driver, you can bet that if I hauled three pies out the door on a run, I already knew which customer was a tipper. Pizza joint quotes 30-45 minutes, the big tippers got theirs in 20. Others got theirs in 40.
None of these people have to be tipped. The hotel manager isn’t coming to your door and threatening you if you stiff the driver. If people choose average service, they will get it. Some know that for the cost of an odd dollar here and there, they can often do better. I may not need the additional service on any given trip. But if I do need it, then I have a better shot than someone else.
If the US suddenly changed and all tippable employees got raises and all tipping was eliminated, I would still find a way to slip people a little extra. If I can buy that little extra service, then its worth it.
I wouldn’t tip the teacher, and you’re a bit on the generous side with the others but nothing really odd there.
But then again a tip in a service industry may be expected but if you get great service, then give more. Like on haircuts, which are about $10 - $15 for me, I leave a 2.00 tip, unless it’s a great haircut, then I’ll give more.
I tip there fore I get very good service.