tipping in florida

lorrenna

hi. im visiting tampa florida on the 30th may til 9th june. iv been considering a few things, and one of the things i need to know about is tipping. iv heard it is expected in the USA. is it expected on every purchase?

im not usually one who will leave a tip. maybe a pound or so after a good meal. but usually i just pay the bill price.

is the tip usually added/expected for everything including taxis and porter service at the hotel?

please help.

paulinespens

Tipping is a must in the USA.

Taxis, waitress service and hotel porter service would be expected to be tipped. I would say about 15%-20% for a meal and a taxi.

paulinespens

In the UK waiters and bar persons are paid an hourly salary.

In the US they are paid very little per hour I have heard $1 and they make the rest of the pay packet by tips. You should expect very good service in the US not like what you get in the UK. Also expect free refills on your soda.

katieclampet

If you dont tip the barman, you will never get served another drink!! It is definitely expected. However I have always found that the standard of customer service is excellent, and the cost of meals and drinks very reasonable.

katiex

merlinormartin

Tipping is a must in the USA, the whole country runs on tips! lol ,,, around 15% is expected on sit down meals... although if u go to KFC, McDonalds etc then you dont have to tip.

Enjoy your trip, Florida is awsome!

ferf1223

this will help:

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-g191-s606/United-States:Tipping.And.Etiquette.html

I'm American but have lived in the UK for 9 years...I can second/third/fourth those who say you get better service in the US on the basis that many people make less than minimum wage (though not $1!) when working in jobs where tips are standard...they have an incentive to do a great job so it just makes sense.

exel1966

Tips are expected, it's very much the norm, but that doesn't mean you have to leave them. If you feel the service, quality of food was not of a standard you'd expect then don't hestitate to point it out (they are more open to c/s issues) and that you won't be leaving a tip.

One thing to remember though is that gratuities automatically added to bills (some resturants will do it) are entirely discretionary and you have every right to ask for them to be removed just as you do in the UK.

babyharry5

Yeah - definitely tip or dont expect to get served there again!
I would say 15-20% is the norm.

When we first went to the states, we didnt realise about tipping, and the waitress actually ran after us in the car park, to ask what she had done wrong?? the whole restaurant was looking out of the window!
needless to say, we tipped and apologised

Voyager2002

I find the practice of tipping objectionable, but it is definitely part of the culture. If you go to a bar or restaurant and you get good service (as you probably will), the person giving the service expects a tip of at least 15 per cent, so not tipping without a very good reason would be dishonest. Unfortunately many British people in the past have received service but not tipped, and so have created problems for the Britons who visit after them.

Giving a small tip (less than ten per cent) is in some ways worse than not leaving a tip at all. If service is truly dreadful then a tip of about five cents would make it very clear that you know about tipping and think that five cents is all that the service was worth. So only do this if you really intend to convey that message, and don't go back the next day!

Note that you are not expected to tip at buffets, although foreign visitors may be told otherwise.

dickydonkin

I find the practice of tipping objectionable, but it is definitely part of the culture.

I agree about tipping being objectionable.

Part of the culture it may be, but when you consider that the US is one of the largest economies of the world (if not the largest), it is an indictment of their wages systems and structures (and indeed culture) when many US employees have to supplement their meagre wages with tips to survive.

Pay them a living wage and if that increases the price of the goods or service, then so be it - certainly the majority of Americans can afford it.

As alluded to in this thread, if you don't tip the barman for example, you won't get another drink. Waiting staff chasing after customers who have not left a gratuity is also mentioned. Is it right for an employee of a business to determine the quality of service provided to a customer by the size of the tip?

I accept that generally, the service in the US is far superior to what we get here in the UK and moreso in mainland Europe, however, for employees to have to put on a false smile and at times, become overpowering with their efforts to please just to receive a couple of dollars tip to make a living wage is immoral in my mind.

Unfortunately that's the way it is over there - like it or loathe it!

AnnaLicious_2

dpassmore wrote: »

As alluded to in this thread, if you don't tip the barman for example, you won't get another drink. Waiting staff chasing after customers who have not left a gratuity is also mentioned.

Hey I'm from Tampa, it's likea conversation for me! ha!

Tip your meals 15% if it was good, 20% outstanding (make you special orders, really fast service, go out of their way). If it was bad service, speak to the manager. I've only stiffed once, they didn't even bring me my meal! Don't tip in change, it's rude. And never leave less than $2, it's also rude.
Bartenders - tip a dollar or two, depending on how many drinks you get.
Taxi - 10% plus $1 a bag if they help you.
Coffee shops are up to you, I never do.

As for the bit I quoted above - I think that's not exactly true now. You may have to wait for service from a bartender, but they won't refuse to serve you. And wait staff chasing after customers? I have never ever ever seen that, and I lived in America for 25 years.

Some people disagree with it, but I do think it's rather over the top to call tipping immoral. It's the culture - service wages are exampt from minimum wage because of tipping, not the other way round. But please, feel free to sit in judgement of all other cultures and ways. I'm sure it will get you outstanding service in a restaurant if you explain to them you're not tipping because you are taking your moral high ground.