# Who do YOU tip? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 11, 2002, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-tip/118411 "2002-07-11T13:08:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knighted_Vorpal_Sword)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-tip/118411/1 "2002-07-11T13:08:23Z")
I tip the waiter/waitress at restaurants. And the guy who cuts my hair. And the usher who “cleans” my seat at Oriole Park, although I don’t see why, since I didn’t ask him/her to do so. The person at the coat check, when I deposit my coat there. Am I supposed to tip the guy from AAA who changes my flat tire? Who do **you** tip? ---
**Author:** ![trixiebix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@trixiebix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trixiebix)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-tip/118411/2 "2002-07-11T13:14:32Z")
I tip my hairdresser 20% cuz he does an awesome job. Tip the hairwasher $2 (should I give more?) Tip waitresses/waiters about 15 to 20%… usually double the tax then add some (our food tax is 8.5%) for good service that is. So I actually have to do math when I go to other states… Coat check ill give a dollar to. I never know whether to tip my mechanic ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-tip/118411/3 "2002-07-11T13:24:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by trixiebix \* > \*\*I never know whether to tip my mechanic \*\* I just paid a mechanic $640. Trust me - he’s not getting a tip. I tip my hair person, usually $2 - pretty good for a $12 haircut. I tip my waiter/-ress & valet parking. That’s pretty much the list. See - I have this hangup with tipping. I tip the people above because I know the industry often pays them less than minimum expecting they get tips. However, during my days with the telephone company, nobody every walked up to me on the street and said, “You know, my phone has worked flawlessly all month - here’s $5. Thanks.” I think that if I’m paying for a service, I should have a reasonable expectation of professional results without the having to tip to get it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Wrong\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@The\_Wrong\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Wrong_Girl)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-tip/118411/4 "2002-07-11T13:27:26Z")
I always give my piercer five bucks. I think that more people should tip their piercers–they’re performing quite the personal service. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-tip/118411/5 "2002-07-11T14:06:57Z")
Here in Wisconsin? Cows. It’s a _lot_ harder than you think. I found the easiest way is to use a tractor. Do **not** try this without heavy equipment! And don’t charge at them with the tractor. Get nice and close, extend the hydraulic bucket up to their sides, then gently but inexorably increase the force. ---
**Author:** ![jacksen9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@jacksen9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacksen9)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-tip/118411/6 "2002-07-11T15:27:39Z")
Obviously waiters… even for take-out. Some people don’t tip for take-out but you should. Dog groomer Hair Dresser Room Service Grocery guy…if he takes the bags out. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-tip/118411/7 "2002-07-11T15:40:43Z")
Waiters, waitresses, 20% or more The hair-cutting dude, usually a few bucks. But don’t look at me like that! The damn cut’s only $10 or so. 🙂 Tell you who’ll never get a tip. The dudes who just delivered a headboard to me. I just paid the store $100 to deliver! Bad store. No tip. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-tip/118411/8 "2002-07-11T15:49:10Z")
I’m a valet driver. I KNOW the value of a tip. Sometimes when I go to a restaurant and the bill is…say, around $65-$70, I leave a $100 bill and let the waiter(tress) keep the change. The few times I had to use valet driving, I leave the driver 3 bucks. Once I forgot something in the car and needed a “round trip” to get the thing and have the car immediately reparked, five bucks at least…hey they have to go out of their way to get something YOU forgot! ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-tip/118411/9 "2002-07-11T18:22:31Z")
Obviously, servers in restaurants. Porters, skycaps, concierges who call a cab (and those “independent contractors” in the street who have powerful whistles) The shuttle drivers at the airport cab drivers Hairdressers Hotel maids Food delivery people ---
**Author:** ![peasea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc79bd/32.png) [@peasea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peasea)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-tip/118411/10 "2002-07-12T02:41:42Z")
**Qadgop** , you’re my kind of twisted. ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-tip/118411/11 "2002-07-12T03:22:19Z")
**Qadgop** , I have to thank you for making me laugh the hardest I’ve laughed tonight. Thanks, I needed it. I usually tip my server at a restaurant, and the person who cuts my hair. For the server: I start at 15% of the total bill (tax included)… if they make a few mistakes (like forgetting to bring me something, or not coming by to check on me even when it is obviously not busy) it drops a few percentage for each mistake. If the service is just horrendous, I will leave a single coin (usually a penny)… so they know I remembered to tip them, they just didn’t earn anything. As for the person who cuts my hair, I’ve always given them a 20% tip. LilShieste ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2002, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-tip/118411/12 "2002-07-12T14:23:34Z")
I ti my hair cutter and the server at a restaurant. I don’t tip the dog groomer or the massage therapist. In each case, they’re self-employed. If they charge $60 to groom my airedale, they’re making more per hour than I am. My massage therapist charges $12/15 minutes. If she gives me a little extra time, she’ll get a little extra dough, but she, too, is making more per hour than me. People who are self-employed set their prices. I expect them to be the amount they expect to get for the service they provide. StG