I agree that tipping has gotten out of hand, and the only jobs that should consistently be tipped (except for extraordinarily bad service) are waiters/waitresses and barkeeps.

However, I still tip for maid service. When I worked at hotels in college, the maids made sub-minimal wage (granted this was in the 1970s, so maybe things have changed). But I saw the sh*t they had to clean up, both literally and figuratively. While it isn't me and probably isn't you that makes the most mess, it's an exceptionally lousy job (the cleanest people at home can be the biggest slobs while travelling, esp at vacation hotels). It's my way of thanking them for a generally thankless job.

As for the other jobs mentioned above, I only tip when the service is above and beyond the norm. And I tell them that too! I think it is important for the service person to know WHY you are tipping them, and that it is not just a refex. I will hand the concierge a tip and say 'I appreciate your tracking down those theater tickets for me' (or whatever). It reinforces to them the specific services they can/should do to warrant a tip.


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Da DOK