Beyond leaving gratuity for meals, the tipping world can be difficult to keep track of. Is 15% too low or too high? Does a service charge cover gratuity? Is a one-time gift appropriate? With cost-of-living in the U.S. increasing and wages not quite keeping up, tipping is turning into a necessity in the eyes of workers. Remember, tipping is an opportunity for you as the customer to show appreciation! Once you know the rules, you’ll be able to give appropriately and generously for service that is above and beyond.
- Make sure you have small bills on hand. Don’t let having the incorrect amount in you wallet be the difference between a rude and appropriate tip. Also, brush up on your math. A quick way to figure out a 20% tip is move the decimal to the left and times by two. For example, if your bill was $25.00, moving the decimal gets $2.5 (which is 10%) and times by two to get $5 for a 20% tip.
- Check for no-tipping policies. Some upscale hotels, limo companies, and even grocery chains have no-tipping policies. Reasoning runs from including a service charge that covers gratuity to the service being part of the experience. Look into the details and don’t be afraid to ask a manager to clarify.
- If multiple people help you, it’s okay to ask the manager to divide the tip. An example would be different technicians assisting with a manicure / pedicure treatment. Plan to tip 20% and rely on management to take care of the details.
- Always tip 15-20% to servers, massage therapists, animal groomers, hair stylists and barbers, and taxi drivers.
- A one-time holiday tip is acceptable for paper delivery, pet sitters, house and pool cleaners, yard maintenance, doorman, personal trainers, teachers, counselors, and contractors.
- Tip per item when tipping bartenders (at least $1/drink), bus taxi ($1/bag), bellhop ($1-2/bag), and car washers ($2-3/car, $5/SUV).
- Due to outstanding service consider tipping your concierge, wine steward, and barista. Consider the level of service and the time they spent with you.
- Offering refreshments only to cable technicians, plumbers, and pest control is appropriate.
- Don’t forget to budget in tips when planning a wedding or special event. Instead of making tipping an afterthought for your vendors, consider buying thank you cards and packaging tips prior to the event. Tips should include venue manager ($75-200), DJ (15-20%), stylists and drivers (10-20%), musicians ($25-50 each), officiant ($100), and chef ($150-250).
- Speak with the manager if you are unsatisfied with service. Tipping on the lower range for poor service is okay, but it’s even better if politely approach the management staff with your concerns. They may find a way to remedy the situation for you. You might be even happier with your experience after speaking to management.
Tipping is a wonderful way within our culture to show gratitude for amazing service. Refreshing yourself on polite tipping guidelines will give you the freedom to tip confidently!
