Interesting, thanks.

More Questions on Tipping
 

I thought this was the most appropriate thread to post in given that I'll be going to America later this year. It will be my first time in America since I was 10 years old (i.e. the first time me going and I'll have to pay, which means I have to get on top of how to tip appropriately).

Most of this thread seems to answer some of my queries, but here are some more:

1. Oft asked: How much would you tip...
   1. The person behind the counter at McDonalds (and does this depend if you take away in a bag or eat-in with a tray)? The thread seems to say 10% (which is acceptably under the "normal" 15%).
   2. Someone who serves a drink at a bar area in an airline lounge? OK I think the answer to that is the standard $1-$2; would you also tip, say, an attendant who removes your used plates/cups from your area?
   3. Check-out attendant in a supermarket or shop (big, small, family run, etc.)? Similarly for other shop attendants, whether or not they help you (e.g. find an item you inquire about) or merely just help you pay for your items. Another example is a drug store attendant (who may help you locate appropriate drugs or fill in a prescription for you)?
   4. In fact - is there a need to tip anyone who works in a service industry but is not working in a restaurant, a hotel or as a taxi driver? For example, ticket booth operator at a theme park, bus drivers, train station clerks, information booth attendant at airport......
2. Is it wrong (morally, socially or legally):
   1. To do something yourself and insist that on staff, which means you will not pay any tips? For example, getting out of a car and carrying your own bags to the reception and to your room. This is not necessarily because one wants to actively avoid giving a tip.
   2. For service staff to chase / tout you for service or perform a service which you did not want then ask for a tip? Not sure if this is common at all (seems more common in, say, some Asian countries, e.g. a cleaner in an airport bathroom will offer you a paper towel and then ask for a tip)...
   3. To ask for change from a big bill if the big bill does not represent how much you want to tip? For example, if the bill comes to $50 (all in for simplicity) and you want to tip 20% of this, bringing the "grand total" to $60, is it OK to hand over a $100 to "pay" for everything and ask for $40 in change? Or should you be prepared to pay the exact amount including the tip? Or is it always taken that change is always the tip?
3. Finally, when one arrives in the US, usually they are carrying huge bills - $20, $50, $100, whatever. Obviously not tipping currency. What is the easiest way for tourists entering the US to arm themselves with plenty of $5, $2 and $1 bills so that they can tip as soon as they leave the airport? I don't think many forex places offer small change (or even enough small change). I know, sounds like a silly question, but.....

Sorry if this sounds paranoid but I don't like feeling socially awkward about this practice. When we went through Europe, we only got caught out on tipping once (in Vienna). The waiter was calm, polite and did not make us feel very uncomfortable or humiliated about it, but simply pointed out that a line was left on the bill for a tip (a subtle hint that it was expected).

As an Australian I am not pro-tipping but like others said if it is a cultural/social norm of the country you are going to be in then you should abide by it.

There should really be no tipping at a fast food restaurant.

I often don't want to wait for a bellman, and usually travel light, so obviously if you take your own bags, no tip.

Many exchange places will have small bills. $2 bills are not a widely circulated bill, so normally get a handful of $1's and $5's, if need be.

Or you can always just ask for change, or buy something small in a store to get change.

Many of the exchange places are ripoffs, often with a 5 or 10% rake of the exchange. I use ATM's in most countries.

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Sorry, can't help you there. I have the same problem when I travel to other countries where I need small bills.

It's not paranoid at all. And thank you, both for asking and for complying with local conventions. Enjoy your trip! :)

I usually get my small bills by essentially having them break a larger bill into smaller bills on a small purchase. For example a meal at McDonalds, I might just put out a twenty.

Nope. Counter service at a chain fast food restaurants is never mandatory to tip. If there's a tip jar by the register, small change is welcome, otherwise no tipping at all

A non-fast-food counter service restaurant - if they take the order at the counter and deliver the food to your table - a lot of people will tip around 10%, or a dollar or two per person/entree, although it's not universal.

Telling the difference between one of these and a more expensive fast food place can be difficult - watching for a tip jar by the register (sign of fast food), a tip line on the charge slip (sign of non-fast-food, but not universal), or a significant # of others having left cash at the table for tips (definite sign of non-fast food.)

If you place your order with a waiter, it's tipping-expected.

Yes.

No.

Not tipped for normal service, and would likely get a weird look.

I'm not sure if one is expected to tip if you get their assistance in bringing things out to the car for you and help load the car - something they routinely offer in case one is disabled.

In places which still do "pick out your groceries, check out, leave an address for delivery" (mostly gone) I'd expect to tip the delivery guy a couple of dollars.

Often paid on commission, and no, I would never expect to tip.

Absolutely not tipped, and in this one because they may handle controlled substances, I'd worry about it being misunderstood.

Non-public-employee shuttle bus drivers, if they handle your bags significantly, will usually be tipped. None of the others will be usually tipped. Tourist-area information-booth attendants might find it welcome - in many of the other cases, they might actually be required to refuse (ie city/county busses for one definite case.)

No, not unreasonable - in general, except at the fanciest places, it's much easier to decline these services than (in my experience) it is in say, Asia. The one exception is where they'll claim (possibly legitimately) that they have to handle things for liability reasons (OTOH, more often you'll find the services have been cut because of that - ie FAs who can't help you get bags in and out of overheads.)

Not OK. Not common here, perhaps outside of NYC or a few other east coast where annoyingly assertive service seems to be better accepted. In general, if you tell someone "no," they'll get the message, and a second "stop" should make it clear. In no case should you tip for a service you've actively declined.

For restaurants, it's normal to wait for change, although I don't think it would be gauche to ask for a specific amount of change back. Sometimes they'll ask if you want change, in case it turns out you're leaving a very big tip or have left exact change.

Asking for a specific amount of change back is highly normal for taxis and paid delivery (ie pizza) - on a $13 trip/bill, handing a $20 and asking "give me $5 back" would be normal.

No, although as others have mentioned in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/dinin...estaurant.html that some unethical restaurant servers will try.

$50s and $100s outside of a few very large cities are very inconvenient denominations - basically, not very handy outside of supermarkets, high-end shops, fine-dining restaurants, nicer hotels, and airport vendors - many smaller shops, casual-dining and fast food places will refuse to take them. As far as possible, try to get $20s, which are the ubiquitous midsize bill - and what most ATMs provide. You can probably get some change made at your hotel, and at airport. In the worst case, during banking hours, you can probably get them broken although US banks tend not to be very friendly to those who don't have accounts there.

Even $20s are not terribly handy for tipping bellhops (etc) who are used to $1-$5 tips and not giving change - the best advice I can give is that convenience stores, coffee places and fast food places are very convenient places to break a $20 - or in those cases (ie airports) where they'd be willing to take a $50/$100, larger bills as well.

Also, $2 US bills are not in common circulation; on rare occasions, people have mistaken them for fakes. You can get them at most banks, and they make a nice souvenir (ditto the uncommonly-used half-dollar coins) but would not recommend them for day-to-day use. Which is a shame, really, since they're in many cases perfectly sized for tips.

Dollar coins are also regularly available at banks, supermarkets, and transit ticket machines, and if you acquire some using them for tips etc is doing a good deed getting them into broader circulation.

this isn't about tipping in the US, but does apply for many parts of the world.

Just remember, just because there is a tip or gratuity line on a receipt, doesn't mean you have to give one.

I was in SJO a couple of weeks ago, and went to a restaurant frequented by a lot of tourists. All bills are hit with a 10% service/gratuity fee. And then there's the tip line. I may be dumb, but I'm not stupid. :)

My tipping rule of thumb for the US is
- restaurant: 20% +/- a few percent based upon service
- bar, $1 a beer unless it a really upscale bar then maybe more (though on recent trips I have noticed that $1.50 a beer is becoming more common in bars). This is the hardest thing for Brits to get used to.
- taxi, round up to next $5.
- takeaway, maybe leave loose change.

In the UK, 10% maximum in restaurants (I keep telling American colleagues this but they keep insisting on giving 20%. Waitresses love American visitors) and never anything in a bar. Taxi round up to the nearest £2.

I've heard stories in that in some tourist areas that restaurants will have a special "British" menu which includes the 20% tip in the prices on the basis that most tourists (as opposed to well-versed frequent business travellers) don't pay tips. I have seen some very odd looks on waitress' faces when a Brit on holiday pays the exact amount on the bill, says thank you and walks out. it's not that we are tight, it's just that tipping really isn't a big part of British culture.

:) ah, yes; i've had the view of the garbage cans:D.

asked nicely for for a senior discount at a busy Springhill Suites in FLL. Got a view of a roof:p.. ok, I wasn't there for a view; but also tipped no one at all for the entire stay.

:) I live in Atlanta and ,yes, tipping is expected.
Always be polite, because service people meet alot of boorish folks during each workday.;)

10% is 'standard' (not maximum) for casual restaurants, more high class places expect 12.5%.

And if you get very good service more is certainly in order (not 25% as might be the case in the US, but more than the standard).

Rounding up to the nearest £1 is quite sufficient for taxis generally, unless they've hauled a lot of bags to your doorstep or something.

maybe a regional difference, but in the Northeast, I go to banks regularly to get $50 worth of $1bills (for travel internationally or for use around the city). It's always at banks that I don't have an account with and I've NEVER had any problem. The agents don't so much as bat at eye. I also regularly buy rolls of quarters (for parking). no problem either. In fact, I would recommend this as your first stop when you arrive to US - just walk into any open bank, walk up to the first open window and as for whatever denominations you need.

Can't hurt to ask even around here, although at most hours around here it'll be a matter of lining up - usually not for very long if you're on tourist hours, and avoid the morning or end of day rush. The worst they'll do is say "no."

Be nice to the first server you get to talk to ... they'll probably help you with change!

Especially if you explain why!

The last hurdle for me is 'asking for change' when I tip - I just can't seem to do it. Can anyone else?

I recently had a small box delivered to my hotel room by the bellboy - I'd only just hit the ATM so all I had was twenties. I wasn't going to tip the guy $20, but I also didn't feel it was appropriate to ask for change for a tip, so he left with nothing, whereas if I'd had some smaller bills I'd've tipped the guy a few bucks.

What's the protocol?