How do you feel about tipping?

[HundredK]

I'm sorry, I don't see any reason to tip a guy who forces me to let him park my car. That happened once, and I didn't even think about tipping cause I had to pay a fee to have the service at that hotel. Hah...

I actually give half the tip to the valet at the time they take my car to go park it, and the other half when I pick it up. This ensures your car is treated well and probably kept nearby so you don't have to wait long when you return. If rushing between business meetings, this is well worth a tip.

I know that you're a minister, and I would think that in your profession, there would be some concern about presenting a certain image. I would think that a policy of not tipping could easily lead to getting a bad reputation in the area you live in? Or maybe not, but the people I know who work in the service industry say brutal things about non-tippers.

[GoodSteward]

I actually give half the tip to the valet at the time they take my car to go park it, and the other half when I pick it up. This ensures your car is treated well and probably kept nearby so you don't have to wait long when you return. If rushing between business meetings, this is well worth a tip.

I know that you're a minister, and I would think that in your profession, there would be some concern about presenting a certain image. I would think that a policy of not tipping could easily lead to getting a bad reputation in the area you live in? Or maybe not, but the people I know who work in the service industry say brutal things about non-tippers.

A couple things. I do recognize it can reflect me(thanks economy), and this is why I don't undertip when I'm eating out. I stick to the typical 10-15%.

As for the valet thing, I don't go to places that require that. Too rich for my blood. That was a one-time event where I didn't know I would have to until the last min or I would have picked somewhere else. In fact, I don't do anything outside of eating out that requires tipping, so that is a different world to me.

How do you handle all this tipping if you don't carry cash?

[HundredK]

A couple things. I do recognize it can reflect me(thanks economy), and this is why I don't undertip when I'm eating out. I stick to the typical 10-15%.

How do you handle all this tipping if you don't carry cash?

I know when I travel that I need cash for tips and plan for it. If I am somewhere else and have unexpected tips that I can't put on a card, there's usually an ATM nearby and someone who is happy to make change.

Brings up another interesting question regarding tips - what is the right % to tip? I have never left a tip for less than 20% in the US, but that's just what I've always heard is the minimum. Wonder what the actual % is that most people tip?

[james.hendrickson]

A lot of waitresses are low income and may be supporting or contributing to maintaining a family - I have no problem tipping generously if they do a good job.

[kork13]

It ends up with a decision of whether I want to pay X for counter service or Y to be waited on.

I absolutely LOVE PIZZA but I don't recall the last time I had it delivered. I don't want to pay the tip.

And I absolutely HATE tip jars. How that trend caught on is a mystery to me.

I agree with all of these sentiments. Do I like tipping? No. I think it's presumptuous for it to be expected. Given the option, I will avoid situations in which tips are expected as a standard.

With that said, I understand and acknowledge that it is in fact expected, and wait staff aren't properly paid without tips. So I do tip appropriately, and I think of it simply as a part of the cost of eating out.

However, I would much prefer if the US would follow suit with many other countries around the world and skip the whole idea. Never, ever tip in Japan... It's quite rude, in fact. Rather, how about businesses actually pay their people properly, and incorporate the cost of service into the meal?

Separate but similar rant, I wish the US would display prices with all taxes included.... Both of these issues seem deceptive to me. But then, I didn't grow up in the States... So I have a different perspective.

[disneysteve]

I don't undertip when I'm eating out. I stick to the typical 10-15%.

Those two statements are contradictory. First you say you don't under tip but then you say you only tip 10-15%. I guarantee you've had some very unhappy servers.

I hate the whole convention of tipping but if you are going my to eat out you need to be prepared to tip accordingly. 18-20% is standard.

[HundredK]

Never, ever tip in Japan... It's quite rude, in fact.

True statement. Our first trip there, we left a tip for housekeeping, and we came back to the coins all stacked neatly on the nightstand as though to make a point. We felt so bad for insulting her.

[DaveInPgh]

Those two statements are contradictory. First you say you don't under tip but then you say you only tip 10-15%. I guarantee you've had some very unhappy servers.

I hate the whole convention of tipping but if you are going my to eat out you need to be prepared to tip accordingly. 18-20% is standard.

I agree that his tips are a little on the light side, but many of the restaurants I frequent have tip suggestions on the receipt of 15%, 18% and 20%.

So although his servers probably aren't doing cartwheels at 15%, I suspect they aren't cursing him either.

[DaveInPgh]

My personal standard for servers is 20% for good service. More for great service, especially if it is at a restaurant I frequent often.

The service has to be really bad for me to go below 15%.

[DaveInPgh]

So who tips their postal carrier?

I have a relative that works for the post office and he makes a killing at Christmas time. Cash, Gift Cards and Booze.

Another tipping scenario I just don't get, especially since I get mail for for neighbors at least a couple times a month.

[myrdale]

I pay for services rendered. Minimal service, minimal tip, Excellent service, excellent tip. Poor service / no service no tip.

Not to sound too full of myself, but usually I know in the first 2 minutes of sitting down how I will be tipping at the end of the meal. When I order "Diet coke, no ice" and I get a diet coke with ice, it is usually a red flag for the lack of service that is to come. When the waitress fails to write my order down, presumably because of her excellent memory, then comes back and ask me what I ordered or brings me the wrong thing anyway, well no dice.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I don't make such complicated or special orders that anyone's table waiting skills have a chance to shine. I also don't eat out enough to really be aware of many differences in service. The now customary 20% tip seems okay to me. I prefer not to even think about it too much.

But I should have tipped that waiter at the art museum restaurant a bit extra, as he brought me a luscious double serving of an already large baklava. And did I eat it all? Why, yes I did!

[DaveInPgh]

But I should have tipped that waiter at the art museum restaurant a bit extra, as he brought me a luscious double serving of an already large baklava. And did I eat it all? Why, yes I did!

Now this gives me an idea of another side topic. Nope, not a debate as to whether baklava is a want or a need.

Although it can be difficult to know whether a server is essentially stealing in order to get a bigger tip, sometimes it is pretty obvious. Jon Taffer addresses this situation in some of his Bar Rescue episodes.

So when you are pretty certain you are getting something you shouldn't, do you reward the server for it?

[QuarterMillionMan]

As a gambler myself, I try to follow some of Rob Singer's advice about not being intimidated to feel as though you need to tip. See his last paragraph in his OP from this forum. It pertains mainly to gambling but can be applied to just about any other areas where tipping is concerned. Also, see the next poster called LarryS after Rob Singer's post about tipping, interesting read.

https://www.gamblingforums.com/threads/rob-singer.4966/

[LivingAlmostLarge]

My mom tips the postal carrier. She gives stuff to everyone. Dr office? Accountant? Anything and everything.