Filed under Money on November 19th, 2008:
Are you a Good Tipper?
The thought of tipping leads most of us to question a few things…Do I really need to leave a tip? Just how much is this person making? Is my tip too cheap or too generous?
It’s difficult to know the proper tipping etiquette for every situation but here’s some basic tipping advice.
General Tipping Guide
10% = below average service
15% = average service
20% = exceptional service
Tipping Rules
Restaurant Server – You should leave 15-20% of the before-tax total.
Beauty Salon or Barber Shop – 15-20% for your hair cut/color, plus a $2-3 for the shampoo attendant, if applicable.
Manicurist or Spa Service – 15-20% of the total bill.
Furniture Delivery – $10 per delivery person or more if they help you set up the furniture.
Flower Delivery – This is not mandatory, but a couple of dollars is appreciated.
Bartender – It is customary to leave $1 per drink if you’re paying by round. If you run a tab, leave 15-20% of the total bill, pre-tax.
Coffee Barista – Put change in the tip jar. On multi-drink orders, you could leave a total of $1-2.
Coatroom Attendant – You should leave $1-2 per coat.
Washroom Attendant – $1 is an acceptable tip.
Pizza Delivery – $2-5 depending on the distance the driver traveled to bring the pizza to you.
Takeout Food/Curbside Service – $1-2 dollars for a to-go order.
Buffet Restaurant Server – When the server brings you plates and drinks but you get your food at a buffet, leave $1 per person.
Taxi or Limo Drivers – 10-15% or especially if they help with the bags 15-20%.
Concierge – Pay $3-5 for a simple task like dinner reservations, but leave significantly more if the concierge has jumped through hoops for you. For instance, if you ask this person to get you tickets to a sold out show, a customary tip would be $25.
Airport or Hotel Shuttle Driver – Give the driver $1-2 per person or $5 per party. In general, if it’s a shuttle you pay for you should tip higher than if it’s free.
Porter/Bellhop – You do not have to tip the porter or bellhop for opening the door for you. If they carry your bags you should tip $1-2 per bag, or more than that if they give you a tour of your room. Pay $1 per person if this employee hails a cab for you.
Room Service – A tip is normally included on the tab. You can add on to it if you feel the service was exemplary.
Maids/Housekeeping – If this employee does a good job, leave $3-5 per night for a luxury hotel or $1-2 for an average hotel. Seal it in an envelope and clearly mark it so the employee knows it’s okay to take it. It is not unheard of for housekeepers to take better care of good tippers. They may bring you extra bottled water or provide extra special touches for your room.
Valet Parking Attendant – The valet should get $1-2 per car.
Pool Attendant – $1-2 for each service he or she performs.
You should always leave some sort of tip unless the service is severely lacking. Most employees in service roles are paid less because the management counts on your gratuity to pad out the employees paychecks. Make sure to generously reward employees who provide excellent service. And once you decide how much to tip, be sure you have the correct change on hand.