To tip or not to tip, that is the question. But you also need to know who to tip, how to do it, and how much to give. Tipping for food and services can be mind-boggling, but these tipping guidelines will help you understand the best way to reward good service.
Who to tip
We often encounter tipping situations in the course of our lives, and sometimes it’s hard to know which service providers we likely ought to tip. As a rule, you should always tip waiters, bartenders, cab drivers, parking valets, hair stylists, nail salon aestheticians, massage therapists, restroom attendants, hotel doormen, bellhops and housekeepers. There are some folks you might tip once a year at the holidays, as well. Annual tips can include those for your postman, personal trainer, babysitter, nanny or day care provider.
Whew! That’s a lot of people. By the end of the year, your tips might be tapped out if you don’t know exactly how much to give.
How much to tip
Now let’s get down to the nitty gritty of tipping for services. There are many guides to tipping available online, and you can even download atipping guide app for your smart phone.
In general, these rules apply. For restaurant tipping, tip your server 15-20% of the bill. Tip 15% for basic, good service, increasing toward 20% for exceptional treatment. If your server assists you with a special occasion or helps with a special order, make sure you honor their efforts with a higher tip, as well. Keep in mind that servers may not be pocketing the entire tip, as they often share with other people on their service team like bus boys, runners and bartenders.
Also, before you tip, check your bill to make sure gratuity hasn’t already been added in. Restaurants will often automatically include an 18% gratuity charge for parties of 6 or more. And don’t forget that food delivery is like having a waiter who comes to your house, so be sure to tip the pizza delivery guy for his efforts.
Knowing restaurant rules of thumb are just the beginning. You also need to understand how much to tip other service providers like the ones mentioned previously. If you are stumped, you can always follow the 10-20% rule and tip 10% for average service and 20% for outstanding. This is a good tipping guideline for services for which you actually pay, such as taking a cab, hiring movers, or getting your hair done at a beauty salon. For services that are “complimentary,” tip $1-3 based on the level of service. This applies to people who help with your bags at a hotel or airport, valet parking attendants, restroom attendants and concierges. If someone provides you with service in any fashion, a small tip will always be welcome.
Tipping etiquette
Great! You know who to tip, and how much. Finally, there are rules of tipping etiquette that apply to how you leave someone a tip. Most people leave a tip on the table after dinner, which is perfectly polite. If you know you will be encountering a tipping situation, such as for valet parking or concierge services, be sure to have $1 or $5 bills on hand. If you are paying by credit card, you can leave your tip on the card, but keep in mind that many service providers prefer to get cash tips. Always reward good service with clean, folded dollar bills. (Avoid crazy origami bill folding that may look cool, but is a nightmare to put in a wallet!)
Bad service situations
How do you handle tipping when you’ve experienced bad service? First, remember that tipping is never required. It is always optional, and you can choose not to tip if you receive service that is truly unacceptable. If you decide to skip the tip, it’s polite to speak to the manager to let them know about the service problems and why you decided not to tip.
Tipping is an excellent way to acknowledge superior service, and it’s easy once you know the basics. Remember that tipping is different across the globe, so research international tipping guides before you share the wealth in a culture that is new to you.
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment