Hilton HHonors - Room Service charges

When I am charged a 17% room service service charge plus a fee........ Why in the world should I be expected to tip on top of that????

1st Room Service prices are usually higher than in the restarunt... that's ok... I expect that.

2nd a 17% "service charge" I would normally tip 20%, but since its already included I guess it is ok

3rd a 2.00 delivery fee What the hell is that?

4th Waiter tells me as soon as he hits the roon...before tray is on table that the "service charge" is not a tip... well that blew it for him.

I know that tipping is expected... don't tell me up front.

Somebody, please explain to me the fees, charges and a DEMAND for a tip on food that is already being inflated in price http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

I am mad as hell and am not going to take it any more http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mikey1003:
I know that tipping is expected... don't tell me up front.
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I don't think tipping is expected in this situation. I don't tip when there is a service charge. I always assumed that to be the tip. If it's not, then what is it, especially if there is already a charge for delivery.

I tend to agree - I think they might "expect" a tip, because some people feel guilty about giving them one - but I think that is pretty ridiculous. You can end up paying about double the cost of the food after adding all those "charges". And how much should you tip: 15-20% of the food charge, or that percent on the marked up cost?

The only times I have experienced room service personnel and bell boys consistently refusing tips is in Japan and Korea.

Exactly what is the service being tipped?

For a waiter, I'd expect them to take the order, deliver drinks, refresh drinks, deliver multiple courses in proper sequence, check in on us, bus the empties, and provide information. Doing this among a number of tables is real work.

Room service charges already come with the 'delivery' charge, so there is the extra paid for the mere delivery. Beyond that, what is the service provided by the deliverer- "Just set it down there, please?" And then the dirty empties sit outside my door in the corridor for the next 12 hours?

So, OK, I'd tip a buck or two beyond that... but 17% of an already inflated ticket is too much.

So when I'm presented the bill to sign, I look at it and mumble, "so a tip is included, right?" That's a yes or no question, and the proper answer is a simple 'yes.' I sign, thank the deliverer, and quietly close the door behind them. If they have a problem with it, they can take it up with their boss; my part is done.

I love to tip generously; I just hate when what is supposed to be a 'tip' is imposed upon me without choice.

At the Montréal Bonaventure last week, the room service waiter specifically told me that the tip was already included when I went to sign the room service check, and that nothing additional was expected. I appreciated his candor (even if I knew it already) and he got several Loonies as a reward.

$5-10 max for any room service delivery. If the hotel has autograt, nothing more.

I'm so sick of high end hotels screwing me on delivery charges, included tips, service charges, on top of $18 hamburgers. So here is how I handle it. I simply place my order, go to the pool, and come back a half hour later with my food a' waitin.

I'm no sucker.

It's quite simple - service charge of 15%-20% IS the tip. If the hotel doesn't pass it back to the delivery person, then that's hardly my problem.

As long as I see that on the bill, I put a line through the 'tip' space and just sign for the total. I've actually had delivery people tell me that "the tip is already on the bill, Sir", which I thought was a nice, honest gesture.

Then that pesky delivery charge is just something they put there because "they can". Just like the $1.50 local/toll free phone charges and $5 cans of mini-bar soda.

I think it depends on the property. In some cases, the service charge is the tip; in others, there's a service charge (not always a %) plus a statement that gratuity is not included. I prefer when hotels spell it out for me & I don't have to guess! Yes it is or no it isn't. I was overseas last weekend & asked if the service charge was the gratuity & the delivery guy said it went to the hotel. I've heard about this before; supposedly the hotel gets the % & then splits the % between cook delivery guy cleaner etc. I've decided I'm going to start asking at the front desk when I check in - ie, if I happen to use your room service for a meal, can you tell me if the gratuity is included or not? or the guy when i'm placing the order. again, i really really like the hotels that spell it out for you in their room service menu or on the charge receipt so that i don't have to guess.

I've had several delivery people say that the tip and the service charge are the same thing. If it isn't, I tend to agree that its not my problem. When you are paying 15-20% for service, a tip is unwarranted. Especially if service is dropping a tray off.

Who's charging 17%? I also agree that In Korea and Japan, tipping is not expected and some people even consider it rude. Although that is changing a little bit with all the Western influence lately. The service charge for hotel rooms in Korea is 21%. Well worth the good "service" you get there.

I'm glad to see a discussion on here about this issue - it's bugged me for years. I too think if they say 17% service charge, then that's the tip. Why then do they list
"tip" as a separate item on the bill with a blank line next to it? I feel like a heel when I leave it blank, but I also don't like tipping twice....but I'm glad to know others are irratated by it too. I think I will start asking the person taking my order (as a poster mentioned).

Actually, this is a good topic for travelbuzz, although I'm guessing everyone who checks that will have the same responses we do - not pleased! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Moderator, maybe move to that forum since it's bigger than just Hilton?

The way I look at it...

At a restaurant I would tip a minimum 20% for good service. So if there is already a 15-17% service charge, I just make up the difference and slip the guy a few bucks.