Concerning this discussion you guys should watch the beginning scene of Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs... ;)

for those tips jars at coffee shops, i used to carry around little pieces of paper on which i had written, "don't eat yellow snow."

Sorry guys, but I simply cannot see any sense in "throwing away" money.

Coins are money. If you're generous enough to want to add your coins to a tip or to a charity box, more power to you. But if you're just getting rid of the coins because they're inconvenient and you don't care about the amounts you're giving up... send that stuff to me, guys, I'll fund a vacation with it.

I don't like overloading my pockets with coins, either. But I empty them out each night when I get home (I never have more than a handful at the end of any given day), and put them into a 4-tube coin sorter. Periodically, one tube in the sorter gets full, and I put the coins into a paper roll.

Over the course of a year, I generally save approximately $100US this way. I take it to the bank and get cash for it a few days before my vacation, and use it as pocket money.

$100 may not be a lot, but I'm not going to just throw it away every year because coins are inconvenient. I MAKE them convenient.

And then I spend them.

To be honest, I absolutely abhor tipping. There are a couple of exceptions. What bothers me about it is how entirely subjective and variable the process is. You don't really know where you should tip, and where you should not. If you walk through a hotel, it's almost like you have to empty your wallets, because somebody smiled at you. It gets old.

I also don't like the concept of just rounding to the nearest dollar amount. That is a completely arbitrary designation of an amount that should be a conscious decision for what one has earned based upon their work. I just got back from Japan, and I did almost zero tipping there. However, I did pay service charges. And, I felt good about it.

At the Park Hyatt Tokyo, I was served a lot, and the bell people, worked very hard to haul my very heavy and bulky luggage up to my room. That was a service charge well-earned. And, when I saw that line item in my hotel bill, I actually felt good about it. However, I prefer that these charges are 'subtle' and 'pre-calculated', and built-in to the overall price. This was much the way it was in Japan. The US really could learn a lot from this model.

I believe that everybody should be paid fairly and generously for their efforts. However, I just think that the process should be more formalized and not based upon random people's opinions. What if person A's opinion of a fair tip for valet service is completely different than person B's opinion? Why not just take that variability out of the equation, and just levee a flat service charge for almost everything? It is better for the customer, because it removes guess-work, and I would think it is better for the employees, because they can count on being paid a given amount for their efforts.

Also, do I need to mention that it better splits the tax burden, because people can no longer hide their income from the government? A different topic, but just because I have an Executive job and am paid through a direct deposit, should NOT mean that it is OK for me to pay taxes, but the person bartending does not have to pay taxes, just because they work in a cash business.

I do (although it is true that many who know me would claim that I'm not in my right mind).

I go to the same SBUX every day and pay with my card. Since I know everyone in the store, they have my drink under way before I'm at the front, we chat about our kids, crazy co-workers, etc. It's a great way to start the day.

Around Christmas every year, I stick a twenty in the tip jar. I try to do it when no one's looking, since I want them to think it could be from any of their happy customers.

And, having said that, with the exception of a local ice cream place, I can't think of any other place that I have been so excited by their customer service that I put anything in the begging jar at the counter.

Mike

I recall a few years ago at the Shangri La hotel in Kuala Lumpur on it's bills in restaurants and bars there was a line indicating a service charge had been added and then I can't recall whether the words were "no tip necessary" or "please don't tip" but either the way the message was clear.

At a hotel in London this week in the bar (seemingly popular with American Airline crew) on ordering from the bar and charging to my room I was presented with a bill that had a 12.5% service charge added, an additional space for a tip AND a jar on the bar for tips. :mad:

I have a similar relationship with my (current) local coffee place, except for the tipping. I am very excited by their customer service - which is why I keep returning. Seems like having returning+smiling customers is reason enough for them to provide good service, and therefore do not have a tipping jar.

That's awful... yet hilarious.

When traveling around Germany, I always liked that tipping is optional but typically what happens is that you round up to the nearest Euro for good service and 1-2 Euro for excellent service. Since they get paid a living wage plus benefits, tipping isn't expected but certainly appreciated (especially since Americans tip a lot)

...if there's profit-sharing involved. If not, then I, as a front-line employee without financial incentive, couldn't care less whether I help one customer or a hundred. In fact, I'd prefer helping fewer customers, as I could read my book or play on my iPhone with fewer interruptions.

This is a very good point, and actually the largest issue that loom in my mind when I tip.

Do these people pay taxes or not? I pay my taxes, but if I'm tipping, are you paying taxes? I think there are some States in the US I recall that tax a certain percentage of the overall amount of a service providers income based on estimated tips received. I think in those States if you don't tip or under tip, you may get a negative reaction from the Service Provider.

In Canada and abroad, it seems that tipping is expected at a certain level, and I try not exceed the acceptable level if I can help it. My other train of thought is if I can't afford to tip, maybe I shouldn't be eating out. At hotels, I try my best, but when I don't have small enough bills, I explain to the attendant I'm out of small bills and I'll try and make it up on the next run.

In this case, there isn't. I guess some people just take pride in doing their job well - and would like to keep it :confused: It really is pretty sad that in the US it seems the only incentive for good service is tips.

Don't forget too that in the US so many jobs in the service sector are looked down upon as 'entry level', and yet are considered professional roles elsewhere, with apprenticeships, schooling, and life-long careers. (And yet perversely, the US advertises for airport security on pizza boxes and doesn't require a school leaving certificate)

In management, I long ago learned that it's futile to expect employees to work hard for the sake of working hard. Entry-level employees don't work out a sense of nobility. Some work for recognition, some work out of a sense of competition, but most work for financial reward.

Yes, but if you help fewer customers, your boss might decide to cut back on staff and you will either get less hours or be let go entirely.

The fact is that some people have a strong work ethic and are motivated to do their job well, and others aren't. Tips have little, if anything, to do with it.

I don't really care about taxes-what other people do is their business.
As for myself, I try and pay the lowest amount I legally can.

The problem on my front is I'm home at most 100 days a year. I'll sometimes keep $0.25 pieces and put them in a pocket in my computer bag, but (and maybe this is my inherent laziness) I find taking the time to roll up pennies/nickels/dimes doesn't add value. After all, time=money, right?

Also, I have this warped justification that the tip jar possibly keeps menu prices from being higher than what they are.

One way to address the "pay supplement" aspect of tipping is to assess the value/skill/competence of your waiter and see that he/she makes an appropriate wage for the hour or hour and a half that you are served. This should be irrespective of the actual bill. If the waiter's efforts were worth 3 x the minimum hourly rate, leave a $24 tip.. whether the bill was $60 or $300. Higher end restaurants may require more skill/competence, and a reasonable hourly wage might be more there, but in the end it is the disconnect from the food/bev charge and the actual service that is rendered. I often find myself paying a larger hourly rate to my server than I get paid myself.

I am not saying I agree with the US approach where servers get paid an arbitrarily low hourly wage, but making sure they get a reasonable wage is not a terrible thing to do. Overpaying is not necessary.

I'm home far less than you, and most likely have far more coins in change than you, if you are American.

I just try and use coins for purchases like the self-checkout counter, or for bus or train fares. It's really not that difficult. I carry a few baggies in my suitcase with various coins and if I am not going to be in a certain country for awhile, or have a lot of really small amounts from a lot of currencies, then I donate them in the airport.

If that's what you choose to do, and if that is a common thing in America, fine, but please keep it there. We don't need you to bring the begging jar over, as has already happened, and we don't need the 20% tips to be brought over either.

For bus fares-not always.
In NYC, YVR I tend to use metro card /fare savers.
In SIN/HKG/LON/TYO I use contact less payment (exlink/octopus/oyster/suica)

Getting rid of 1-cent coins (as many other places have already done) would be a good start. Indeed, I'd get rid of nickels.

If you look at the aggregate over the course of a month or so, servers make significantly more than what anyone would consider a reasonable wage for the work they do. I know school teachers who work as servers over the summer, and they make more per month in the summer than they do over the school year. Of course you will never know this, because a good chunk of their tips are "under the table". This is even more true in non-tip-credit states.

I top up my Oyster with extra coins (besides having the regular online auto-top up)

Question: my wife and I were talking about what is appropriate tipping for bell man. Both ways.

Do you tip at check in and, the bell man who delivers the luggage, or both? When checking out, do you tip the bellman who picks up the luggage, or the bellman who loads the trunk, or both?

How much is appropriate?

Checked out of the Kea Lani Fairmont tonite and I tipped the bellman who picked up the luggage, but I forgot to tip the bellman who loaded up the trunk. It slipped my mind and I feel pretty bad about it.

Checked into Hyatt Regency Maui and the Bell man taking up the luggage mentioned that the front shouldn't have taken the tip, but I tipped the delivery person anyways because I usually tip both ends. So I'm confused. :). I want to do right here.

Most coin-op purchasing systems in the US do not accept 1-cent pieces. In the end, those annoying coins are what I mostly end up with in my pocket unless I drop it in some jar.

Exhibit B where tipping in the US has become out of control. First you have to tip your airport parking shuttle driver. Then you have to tip curbside check-in (should you use it). Then you have to tip your barista for your post flight coffee. Then you have to tip the shuttle driver to the rental car facility. Then you have to tip the bell hop at the hotel. Then you have to tip your room cleaner daily. Then you have to do it all over again upon departure. Ridiculous how I have to carry a bunch of smaller bills all the time for these dubious tips.

If you want to end tipping, first you should stop it on your own.

Or manage your bags yourself.

Or manage your bags yourself.

Optional, and often small change -- assuming they even have tip jar (seems less frequent at the airport.)

Or manage your bags yourself.

Or manage your bags yourself.

Or at checkout, or don't. Lots of people don't; it's far less universal than tipping at full-service restaurants.

--

As a generalization, other than restaurants, if you don't want to tip, just manage your own bags.

Unless you're making a special request up-front, you always tip at the end of service -- the one who returns your bags to you (/who loads the trunk) if it's someone different. $1 per bag is the standard.

Ditto for valet parking; unless you've got a crazy-valuable car (or a not-crazy-valuable sports car you'd be worried about joyriding in, or a special request) you tip at the end. $2-$3 is typical most places, although if the parking rate is crazy expensive, you might bump it up.

If one of those exceptions apply, tipping up-front as an outright bribe may not be a bad idea; dunno. I don't own a car that matches that.

HMS Host, the company that runs pretty much every food service establishment in every airport in America, does not allow their employees to accept tips at walk-up service establishments.

Good for them.

At least some of the local places in SFO do; the counter-service hamburger place "Burger Joynt" (T2 and International, not sure about other terminals) will even print a tip line on the charge slip. What service they're expecting one to tip for, I'm not sure.

That being said, I wouldn't support them as I would typically eat at a lounge or onboard.

AAdmirals Club paid hot food had tended to be underwhelming; I'll usually go for cheaper fast food, or better local non-fast food.

Now, the noodle bar at the CX "Wing" lounge in Hong Kong... that's good lounge food, and I don't even (usually) like Chinese food. :)

I made the extra effort at Hyatt Regency Maui to talk with the manager to leave a tip on account for Regency Lounge and the maid service. I was able to tip on account at the Grand Hyatt Kauai and thought I'd ask if I may do the same at HR Maui. The manager is 99% sure I can leave the tip on account, but had to confirm and let me know in the morning.

Tougher to tip on account at Hyatt's. I found that it was simple to cash out at Fairmonts for tipping.

Are you seriously tipping concierge lounge attendants? Even tipping housekeeping is unnecessary and debatable even here on FT.

And frankly, I don't see the point of putting a tip on your room charge. Isn't the point to thank the person personally for the service they provided you? Putting a generic amount on a room bill and having it distributed after the fact seems like tipping by rote and not the actual purpose of tipping.

you should not have to tip for take out or if they are rude and disrespectful and i dont tip

Which I mostly do at this point. However, a lot of these shuttle drivers are overly proactive to the point of being pushy when it comes to insisting on taking your bags for you. It has led to some unnecessarily assertiveness when saying I'd rather handle my bags myself. Does not help either when you have to see the same service people all the time on regular travel and they know you as that guy who does not tip, but I am getting over that.

I will tip a specific hotel concierge attendant if they make a recommendation for a good restaurant (or better yet get me a reservation I would be able to get as John Q) or get me into a popular nightclub without having to wait in line.

But that doesn't seem to be the case here - he specifically mentioned the lounge, and that sounds like a random tip for the sake of tipping.

I find it ironic that this is a thread about ending tipping, and yet a few posters seem to tip to excess (and appear to be very proud about it, which is their choice, but isn't the point of the thread) I think though that it shows why tipping may be so difficult to end, as the tip mentality seems to be so automated and so deeply ingrained in some people, even if it doesn't even seem to achieve the intended purpose.

I wonder if those tips added to the folio even make it to the individuals? And if so do they even know who gave them the tip? Isn't the point of a tip to express personal thanks for a service rendered?

Not sure what happened to my original post as I thought It was on the thread but my iPhone may have malfunctioned.

Maids and Club lounge personnel normally do not receive tips so I believe tipping to those who work hardest and normally do not receive tips is a good way to express sincere appreciation. Up in Club lounge last night, the servers were so helpful and engage in conversations to both my wife and I, and they work so hard.. I feel that a token of appreciation is due to the staff, whom by the way, almost insist that tipping is not necessary.

The maids work really hard and long hours in Hawaii. Some work two or three jobs trying to make ends meet. At the Orchid this year, there was a maid that served us years prior and when she saw me , she said 'Aloha, Mr. Maestro'.. Even her colleagues I don't even remember servicing my room said 'Aloha, Mr. Maestro.'

I minimize where I need to and expess sincere appreciation to whom that normally dont get recognized. I think the maids and club lounge personnel really appreciatethe recognition. Especially in Hawaii where I regard the workers like Ohana 'family'. I also make it a point where service personnel who go out of their way to make mention to the hotel management of excellent service received. I regularly drop notes, fill out employee nomination forms for those who give our family outstanding service.

For those who don't know I'm a retired airline employee (1 Yr end of Aug.) I now drive a shuttle bus to & from the airport 3days a week mainly because it's fun & the little extra money is nice. I'm friendly to everyone. I offer to help with bags & most of time end up doing it all my self. I have lots of regulars & yes many do not tip for whatever reason. I make every effort to treat all the same. Only exception are the ones with "several" heavy bags & watch me do it all then not tip. Now if I get them on the return well you know the old saying "karma is a .....":D I'm thankful for any extra folks give me but if you don't I really do understand. Until I started doing this job I always tipped but never thought much about it, now I make sure I tip.