Since it's dining I'll post this here.

I've often wondered about tipping on room service. There is usually the service fee included; but how much of that goes to the guy who delivers my meal?

The always have the tip section on the bill and I usually throw on a couple of bucks, but I never know what is appropriate in these cases.

If the order comes on time and the person delivering it sets it up in the room (as opposed to dropping it and hands me the check), I usually will give something extra like $5 in cash (or more if there is more than one tablesetting). This way I've given it directly to the delivery person and if he/she chooses to share with someone else that's their decision. I've gotten many appreciative responses by doing this.

I think it's quite acceptable, appropriate, and sane to tip only once! The mandatory tip is usually fairly high already, and that's for what is decidedly limited service. (Here's your food, bye!). As to how the tips are split, it's not really my business.

A timely subject for me since I ordered room service at a 'W' this weekend. The 'service charge' was $3.50 and the 'gratuity' was 22%. In addition, the service charge was added before the gratuity so that, in effect, I was charged an additional 22% on the service charge. A $13.00 cheeseburger became $20.00 and change plus tax (total about $21.50). Frankly, I think that's enough for a person to make a short trip to a room, set the tray down and say, 'have a nice evening'. How they split up the charge/gratuity is up to them as far as I'm concerned.

BTW, they overcharged me $2.50 for the burger and, even though they adjusted that when I pointed it out, they didn't adjust the gratuity.

If it is promptly delivered and well set-up on applicable meals, I'll thrown in about $4-6.

yeah. i've always wondered about this. is there a minimum tip??:confused:

I usually tip on top of the added service charges and gratuities because one of the following inevitably occurs: (1) it's a hotel I've become a regular at and the room servers remember me; (2) I'm starving after resisting food at the airport or on the plane and the service is very timely, and (3) I remember my table-waiting days. At some Marriotts, I've noticed there are only 1-2 regular room service staff members M-F, and these guys/gals work their butts off. So, I throw in the extra few dollars (cash is preferable for all those collecting tips :) ).