Tipping how much and why should i

[Redback]

Hey i am coming to America to go on a kick ass roller coaster and cause the Aussie dollar is so strong woohoo. i am just confused by the reports of tipping i have seen Americans in perth ie mostly us navy personal when they have stopped of here not for some time mind you. not tip at all so why should i if i come there. if its in the culture one would automatically think you would tip anywhere not just at home does when in rome truly ring loud please help confused

 

[DownrangeFuture]

10-15% at service type locations (salon, restarants, etc.) is customary. In the Navy we're instructed to not tip at most forgien ports because in a lot of Middle Eastern and Asian countries it's actually considered rude. They take it as "you suck at this job, here's some money to find another one." or "Oh, poor baby, you need this more than I do." Not the way european countries take it, like "Oh, great job. It was so awesome, here's some extra." Of course, it sucks because the best service you'll ever get is in a Middle Eastern country.

I realised when I was in Turkey last year, that I had forgotten to tip my waiter at the roadside cafe. So like 30 minutes later I ran back in the store and tipped him.

But obligitory tipping is going by the wayside. No one will say anything to you if you don't tip... Although a lot of waiters are still only paid in tips.

 

[macem29]

in a restaurant offering table service, if the service and food are good,
15% is the norm...if something's a little off with the service, 10% is
acceptable...hotels can be tricky, bellmen handling bags, the valet parking
staff, concierge etc...all with their hand out...if you use these services
it is expected to tip a few bucks each time, you can do all these things
yourself though, folks in these service jobs earn minimum wage and it's
a lot lower than someone would earn back home, so they live on these tips

lately I've seen little tip cups everywhere, at fast food restaurant cashiers,
at a hot dog cart, at variety stores etc...this is crap, tipping is for SERVICE,
at McDonalds or whatever there is no service, so from this guy, no tip, ever

 

[Andz]

Back in the 80s on my first trip to the US I stayed at a Doubletree hotel in Houston.

The first morning when I went for breakfast the waiter was garbage, got things wrong, I had to ask for milk for my coffee 3 times, generally useless.

I signed the bill and left and the little turd followed me out into the lobby and said that the bill didn't include a tip and where was it?

I told him that where I come from the tip is for good service and what he gave didn't even qualify as any form of service. He got quite animated and I thought he was going to attack me!

Next morning when I went for brekkie he wasn't there which weas a good thing because if he had been I wasn't going to have any, you never know what they do in the kitchen!

 

[DownrangeFuture]

Wow, you should have reported him to someone. Of course the 80's in the US were a "special" time. I remember wearing my neon yellow shirt with triangles in pastel colors all over it and thinking it was so awesome. I also loved my bowl cut hair...

Of course, in that situation, I wouldn't have tipped him either.

 

[rsw81]

in a restaurant offering table service, if the service and food are good,
15% is the norm...if something's a little off with the service, 10% is
acceptable...hotels can be tricky, bellmen handling bags, the valet parking
staff, concierge etc...all with their hand out...if you use these services
it is expected to tip a few bucks each time, you can do all these things
yourself though, folks in these service jobs earn minimum wage and it's
a lot lower than someone would earn back home, so they live on these tips

Yeah, this is actually a direct result of the "expected" tipping in the States. At one point in time, servers made a decent base wage and only made some tips on top of it, as is still the case in many European countries. It wasn't until everyone started tipping 15-20% that employers saw it as an opportunity to drop the base wage down to minimum wage, knowing the servers would be able to make the difference in tips.

I just got back from a trip to Croatia and tried to tip my waiter 18%. He came back and told me I was tipping too much and that it is customary to only tip 10% at a nice sit-down restaurant, maybe 12% if really good service. It was pretty amazing to see that kind of honesty. If that same situation happened back at home in the US, the waiter would just smile and take the money!

That being said, the ONLY time I'd say it is required to tip is in a sit-down style restaurant. You are not expected to tip everyone you see in the States. Other areas that might expect it are bar tenders ($1 per drink) and bell boys / vallet at a nice hotel.

 

[BH322893]

the important thing to remember is if you go out to a sit down restaurant and have a server they typically only make about $2.25-$3 per hour as their pay because in the US tips are counted towards their paychecks. People at coffee shops and fast food sometimes put out tip jars but they earn a higher minimum wage and being in the food industry I don't usually tip for counter service where I walk up to get the food. Hopefully I'll be able to get some tipping pointers from you when I have enough money for a vacation to Australia.

 

[Tailgate]

All these posts amaze me. It is---and always has been---my understanding that "tipping" is a city in China.

For that scumbag at the Doubletree, be sure and mention that to him for me. Afterwards, do me a favor and mention what that turdball did (follow you outside to the lobby) to the restaurant manager!

 

[VEGASRIDER]

Great Question! Living in Las Vegas with so many foreign tourist, a lot of nicer sit down restaurants where you get waitor or waitress will automatically include a 18% gratuity onto your check, so you have to make sure you look at your bill very carefully. Don't mistake gratuity with the tax, as tax will state the word tax and gratuity will most likely state service charge.

Yes, many places will have tip jars, when they do, this is strictly an option: Example Starbucks or coffee shops, sandwich shops or other places where you just place your order standing in a line and then pay the cashier.

There are books on how to tip as well and you probably can find a lot of info online. But here is my guide to tipping, I've travelled quite a bit including foreign countries and I always tip, it's just a habit. Just not maybe as much in other countries but here in the states:

Here are the minimums:

Restaurants with waitor or waitress: 15-20%
Bars: $1 per drink
Valet (when they deliver your car, not when you leave your car) $2. Every place has self parking, so valet is just an option.
Skycap (airport baggage) $2 or more per bag
Bellman (very agressive, you better say I got it or else it's too late) $1-2 per item)
Doorman: who calls a taxi up and opens the door for you when you get into a taxi. Optional, $1
Housekeeping/maids: $2-5 (if you are staying multiple nights in a hotel, no motel) make sure you leave a note for them that it is for them, otherwise they will not take it.
Taxi drivers: 15-20% and round up to an even dollar amount so if the fare is $12.75, just make it an even $15.
Bathroom or Toilet attendant: Nothing unless you take something that he is offering, towels don't count. $1
Tour bus driver: $5
Tour pilots: Depends on the cost and length of the tour, any will be happy with $20 but can be more.
Shuttle drivers (Hotel/Car Rental): optional, but you should tip if they specifically make a special trip for you or if they handle your bags: $2-$5.
Casino dealers: Playing live poker, $1 per hand. Pit dealers: Optional but best way is to place a bet for them and tell them so you know where to put the money.

Primarliy your everyday tipping will be service for food in sit down places where they come and take your order.

Did I forget anything?

 

[Nelly]

Yeah, this is actually a direct result of the "expected" tipping in the States. At one point in time, servers made a decent base wage and only made some tips on top of it, as is still the case in many European countries. It wasn't until everyone started tipping 15-20% that employers saw it as an opportunity to drop the base wage down to minimum wage, knowing the servers would be able to make the difference in tips.

I just got back from a trip to Croatia and tried to tip my waiter 18%. He came back and told me I was tipping too much and that it is customary to only tip 10% at a nice sit-down restaurant, maybe 12% if really good service. It was pretty amazing to see that kind of honesty. If that same situation happened back at home in the US, the waiter would just smile and take the money!

That being said, the ONLY time I'd say it is required to tip is in a sit-down style restaurant. You are not expected to tip everyone you see in the States. Other areas that might expect it are bar tenders ($1 per drink) and bell boys / vallet at a nice hotel.

I would not tip a barman for essentially doing his job. I would buy him a drink in one of the rounds but that's it.
I think that this scenario is a great illustration of the "Expected tip".

I tip for good service in a restaurant, I sometimes tip taxi drivers if their driving & company have enhanced my trip.
I always tip my hairdresser.

Nelly

 

[Redback]

Some great tips there everyone so sit down restaurants and the like its exceptable
as far as the culture goes here in Australia BH322893 tipping is not the norm you may say have a bill for say $18 dollars and just throw them a $20 and say keep the change only cause you can't be bothered about the 2 dollars and waiting. that's the normal aussie on the street bugger knows what the rich do haha.

giving a dollar to the barmaid for every drink seems a bit over the top lotta piss heads in the bar she must be raking it in haha

also whats this bloke in the dunny doing seriously that's right off i am weary of strange men in dunnys i can manage my self thanks mate oh no i will probably get stage fright knowing he is there.
i am sure i will figure it out just don't want to get ripped off

on another note at my local pub they charge $4,30c for a middy of beer which 285ml or anywhere from $7 to !0 dollars or more for a pint which is 600ml excluding specials right off hey
so what does your local charge

 

[lytehouse]

Taxi drivers: 15-20% and round up to an even dollar amount so if the fare is $12.75, just make it an even $15.

But I would try to avoid these rude lunatics as much as possible! We actually had a cab driver ask for more! Apparently he thought what we'd already given him wasn't enough. I was speechless!

 

[08fz6]

I usually tip 22-25% while I am on the road. I tend to drink a lot during dinner(water, soda, etc) They usually make 4-5 trips just for that. Of course that's only when they provide great service! I have also been to a restaurant and arrived 5 mins before they were supposed to close. They served us anyway and did not push us out. I tipped them 40% and made them get the cook so I could tip them as well. I appreciate great service and compensate so for going out of their way.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

Here in Las Vegas, the drinks are FREE in any of the casino's, local bars or taverns that has gambling, like video machines. So a dollar for your favorite pint or well drink or shot is what most considers, but not necessary. Of course you have to be playing.

Being that the drinks are free, we have a lot of drunk driving here in LV, 24/7. Lot's of hit n runs in this city. Chances are when somebody crashes or caused a crash, they have a tendency to run because they have been drinking. I actually witnessed one while I was stopped at a red light. Saw the whole thing, I actually chased the car down to their home, took down the address and plate number and returned back to the scene to give the info but they didn't need it. LOL....the car that fled lost it's front bumper upon contact, guess what was on the bumper? You guessed it, their plate.

 

[Redback]

Wow free drinks in that case what's a dollar not that i am into gambling much at casinos have the odd punt on a horse $5 dollars. i am actually coming to vegas gonna fly through the grand canyon then paddle down should be cool( if i don't get killed by a hundred pissy drivers haha ) lot of cheap deals going on at the moment. i do appreciate everyone's advise its not that i am a cheap skate just want to enjoy my time with out stressing did i or should i give some bloke $2 dollars