Why does this bother you?


Generally, I never tip the housekeeping staff in the States.

This Brit always does ... it ensures our suite is serviced early, and is all pristine when we get back later in the day.

However, feel free to take your personal preferences. From our viewpoint, looking after the people who look after us is actually a "core value" - perhaps that's why we were successful in both our careers?

In the USA tipping is part of the culture, and as PUCCI noted earlier getting it wrong [10% instead of 20%] can be embarrassing. I know the staff well enough these days to get them to do the calculations for me, since I don't have reading glasses in the Bar or Restaurant! :D

I neither understand nor accept rudeness or self centerism. However I sincerely hope that this attitude will spread rapidly so that the employers will be forced to pay their employees decent wages and we can all forget about the medieval practises of tipping.

Part of the idea of tipping is that it is hard for management to know if good service is provided or not, with many of these jobs.

Hopefully, bad service staff will receive poor tips, and will not stick around. If you tip all the time, at a high level and regardless of service, you've defeated the basic idea.

The other situation is perhaps you're in a crowded bar. A big tip early on ensure you have the ongoing attention from the waitress.

I think Americans have a hard time not feeling a bit cheap handing over coins for a tip. However, trips to the UK and EU have broken me of this custom. :)

Again, I think that is wrong. That has gone beyond tipping and become something else.

Then you will not enjoy domestic flights in the U.S.

The practice of tipping in the U.S. is not the result of rudeness or self-centrism, nor is it particularly medieval as practiced here. It is simply the custom. I've traveled throughout the world and spend a rather large amount of time in China. Cultural differences between China and the U.S. are particularly more pronounced than between the U.S. and the U.K., but I simply adapt to them, recognizing that I am a guest in another a country and should act like one. It certainly wouldn't occur to me to insist that China's culture alter itself to conform to that with which I am more familiar and comfortable.

If you find local customs so offensive, perhaps international travel is something that you should avoid?

"Supply and Demand" ;)

Come on, we all look for a small opportunity to make "things work better". Lets not all get hyper-moralistic about the concept. Whether it's a tip, or a golf-weekend associated with "contract discussions in a relaxed environment" ... ;)

How so? The origin of the word "tip" was an acronym for, "To Insure Promptness."

With regard to ongoing attention from the waitress, I find that politeness, common courtesy work well, the accent also helps:cool: And the only handwritten note occasionally found when "the check" arrives is a 10-digit-one:D

I never pay the service charge in the UK as I believe that in the UK the service should be included in the price posted on the menu.

I will however leave a tip, in cash, if the service is exceptional for the price paid.

Like other posters, when in the USA I tip around 20% of the food value (I rarely drink alcohol with a meal) for good service, 10% for OK service and nothing for inattentive service.

Great discussion in this thread.

As a life-long American, I'd agree that post #15 is the most accurate. If you believe in respecting local culture, you would do well to follow the advice in that thread. Don't worry, no one else is enjoying all the tipping either.

Few additional points of personal opinion:

For restaurants, the general practice is becoming 18% for good service, 20% for great. If the service is exceptional, 20% plus commend specific employees to the manager.

If the service is simply acceptable - you got your food and drinks in a timely manner but the waitstaff were clearly just fulfilling their minimum required duties - a 15% tip is still customary. If the service is truly terrible, the most appropriate action is to speak to the manager before the bill is presented, explaining why you plan to not tip.

A few other somewhat customary practices:

For take-out orders where the host takes the order, packages the food, includes utensils, condiments, etc., it is somewhat customary and very appreciated to give 10%. (In most casual restaurants the host is not paid much more than the other waitstaff but typically receives only a small portion of tips.)

In restaurants where there is minimal (but some) service - such as a buffet where the waitstaff bring drinks and clear plates or a counter-style establishment where you order first from a service counter then food/drinks/utensils are brought to you, 10% would also be appropriate.

At coffee establishments, if the barista has to perform some action to make your drink (blend it, add sugar/cream, etc.) a few coins is appropriate (say 50 cents).

As to the debate on when to tip the front desk... Maybe it's acceptable in Vegas. In other locations - based on my personal experiences working in the industry and those of many other folks I know - it can put the clerk in a very uncomfortable situation. Most clerks are on camera. They can be seen accepting the tip and potentially reprimanded for it later. They may also not have any inventory available for an impressive upgrade. But they are also relatively low on the pay scale, so the temptation to take a $20 is very compelling.

If you have a (partially) altruistic motivation, then the best compromise would be to politely ask the clerk for an upgrade, explaining that you would really appreciate any assistance that could be provided. Most have the latitude to comp an upgrade here or there. Then, if you do end up with a nice upgrade, return to the desk to thank the clerk then offer the tip at that point. That transaction is much easier to defend in a video audit and would not be awkward for the clerk.

And definitely tip the housekeeper. It's easily the most grueling and underpaid role in the hotel. No one would appreciate $2-3/day more than that person. To make the transaction easier, leave a note with the money, something like "for my housekeeper - thank you"... then there is no question why you left the money on the desk.

A little late to this game...

I think the one of the advantages of the customary tip is that it can increase the level of service provided to you. I take that to heart when determining a tip amount and try to equate the tip to the service received.

Restaurants: 10-20% depending on service, I have tipped nothing on a very rare occasion of deplorable service. I really try to be discretionary in my tipping, but won't hesitate to reward excellent service.

Taxi: Unless they actually help me (which seems to be less common nowadays in my experience, or maybe I just travel light), 10%

Bellman: I try to avoid this (I'm quite frugal), but $1/bag for normal circumstances

In response to "I don't tolerate rudeness or self-centerism..."
Great quote!

There are of course some places in the USA where you are not meant to tip.

Whenever I go to the USA I normally stay at a private members club (which are typically much better and cheaper than any business class hotel in my experience) that has some reciprocal arrangement with my club in LON. At many of these establishments tipping is not only not encouraged but not permitted.

Instead members are welcome to contribute to a 'staff fund' or some such which is distributed to staff on or around certain holidays.