Having worked for tips several times in my life, I am probably a little biased. I almost always "over tip". In most places (speaking of the US) , the person is working for a below minimum wage "tip compensated" rate.

There are lots of "guidelines" for tipping. I'll just throw my "2 cents" out here.

For food service & bar tenders, my starting point is 15% unless they really flail (screw up my order, don't check back with me during my meal for drink refills or if I need something - i.e. condiments). 20% is my norm for satisfactory service. "Wow" me with particularly friendly attitude & exemplary service & I will go 25% or even higher.

For taxi drivers, I tip $2-3, for friendly service, help with bags etc. Superior service will get a $5.

Valets, I tip $5 minimum. Two reasons, first, you're trusting them with your car, and secondly, as a former valet, a $5 tip (or more) always made my night. Lots of people don't tip or tip poorly, your "Venti Starbucks" tip makes a big difference.

Bell Hops - especially in foreign countries, tip big, if you normally give $5, bump it to $10 or more. Hotel employees talk to each other, you take care of one, the others will step it up to in hopes of getting the same treatment.

For bartenders & cocktail servers, it's a good practice to tip exceptionally large on the first round (unless you are starting a tab - even then, consider dropping some cash, bigger than normal). You'll get better service & better drinks.

As for the people who are demanding for tips, rude etc. Not only no, but F*&% no. Your service earns the tips. If you want more than what I've given, you need to step up the level of service. Your job is to make my experience enjoyable. I don't care if you are tired, your boyfriend broke up with you, you have a big test etc. While you are at work, you are there to increase my level of satisfaction. If you do, I'll tip you well.

Just a point in response to the "tipping based on cost" point: I know alot of restaurants actually have staff do "tip outs", where they tip the kitchen staff, bar staff, hostess staff, bussers, etc. I've heard that's anywhere from 3-8% of SALES..so if the bill is 480, that could be $20-$38 going to other staff...

Alot of places actually pay wait staff less than minimum wage, based on the assumption that they'll make a certain % of sales in tips.

I agree though, that automatic tips at 18-20% at restaurants are sometimes unreasonable- leaves the customer in a compromised situation, where they have to tip alot, no matter how horrific the service is! That being said, I've worked in a restaurant and seen how people take advantage of not having an automatic tip...if you come in with a group of 15 people, and rack up a $750 bill, you should tip by %, not just give 50 and say "thats enough".

Can we talk about spa tipping, they charge us 200-400 for a massage, waxing or spa services here in NYC and then when I leave they ask for 20% tips for them. Spas pay your employees, the prices are OUTRAGEOUS as is then I have to give 20% isn't it their jobs...what they do? And nail salons...hair salons...now even waxing your eyebrows...when does it stop.

When does it stop? When patrons of those establishment stop going. Something about a golden goose....

I usually go to Kiev once a year or so. During last several trips, most of the time tips were not expected, but I tipped ~10% anyway. Waiters seemed more than happy even at fancy establishments.

Regarding NYC, I try to vary tips based on levels of service. 16% as a default, 18% for very good service, 20% for outstanding, 0% if something was very wrong. Of course there are exceptions, e.g tipped 35% but server didn't include many items he brought for free

Why on earth do people insist on tipping in places where it's just not done? Two years from now there will be threads in FT from people relating their experiences in Kiev being chased down the street by a waiter who is angry that he was only tipped a lousy 10%...

Exactly! Please do not tip where it isn't the custom! It just spreads the disease

Tipping should be left up to the customer and not enforced.

I was at a restaurant recently where the 20% tip was added
to the bill automatically.

How are they to know I thought the service was good.
It seems they assume their service is good... all the time.

When I was in Aruba this Spring I took a Gypsy Bus to go downtown. Mostly locals on it but along the way we picked some other tourists, one of whom was rather loud and possibly drunk (it is afterall "one happy island") and this woman started asking loudly if we should tip the bus driver. It was all I could do to say there was no need to tip someone operating an illegal service. I think the locals were upset too. Now I don't know for certain that this is an illegal service, but it isn't sancioned by the authority that runs the public transportation service in Aruba.

And they base the % on the amount plus tax!!

Expense of bll minus wine

I might just steal that line and use it as my sig!

Yes, people have accepted giving large tips as a reward for good service in hopes that it will get them even better service next time around. My main objection is the people who deem tipping necessary to be considered a "good" person but then can't explain why it's morally necessary to tip the waiter who makes at least minimum wage but not the person who bags your groceries who makes the same.[/QUOTE]

Maybe we should consider tipping baggers for good service. I am so tired of repacking my groceries I almost always use the self service lane. I too have begun to wonder why only certain services get large 15% to 20% tips. Especially when the service is mediocre or bad. Why not the craftsperson or artist that custom makes an item for you, they usually make less than minimum wage and often work 8 to 12 hours a day. How about the airline service agent that actually helps you via the phone, most of these folks only make minimum wage. This list could go on forever.

And you do need to be a bit careful: in some cultures it can be considered somewhat rude to tip (the tip, if given in advance, suggesting that "I can't trust you to do a good job unless I tip you"; the tip, if given after the service has been rendered, typically in a restaurant, suggesting that "I'm wealthy enough that I can afford to eat here and be served by you, whereas you're so poor that you have to serve me").

Neither message is a particularly attractive one.

You can afford a $500 meal, but are going to stiff the waiter with just 10% (for very good service)? You cannot afford a $500 meal, then.

Tragedy of the commons. Tips are a social construct by community and in the US, you are inventing your own standard if there is a $ ceiling beyond which tips should not go.

You may notice that restaurants are judged on food, service, and decor. They are not based on "warm enough" food served behind a McDonald's counter.

I am going to guess that such an opinion comes from someone who 1)has not worked in a service profession dependent upon tips (e.g., as a waiter); and 2) does not, and probably has not, lived in NYC or any other similar cosmopolitan 'Global city'.

For an economic argument, you may have noticed that wait staff varies in quality. That quality is not incidental to the pay that they receive which incents higher-quality personnel to be at restaurants with better paying clientele. By stiffing the wait staff, you are essentially mooching off the other customers and violating the social contract.