Tipping in USA

Doshwaster

stoneman wrote: »

I only really visit Vegas hotels and never tip the cleaners. They actually make proper money so no need to tip them, unless we want something extra like turndown service.

I always turn down the turndown service.

jayelled

I too used to find the custom of tipping a little difficult to accept until I was told by a courier on our tour that waiting staff etc were paid a paltry amount in wages but were taxed on the tips that they were expected to receive. They paid tax whether they were tipped or not. Consequently most of them gave excellent service in the hope of getting a good tip. In fact they could teach us in the UK a thing or two about customer service!

andygb

jayelled wrote: »

I too used to find the custom of tipping a little difficult to accept until I was told by a courier on our tour that waiting staff etc were paid a paltry amount in wages but were taxed on the tips that they were expected to receive. They paid tax whether they were tipped or not. Consequently most of them gave excellent service in the hope of getting a good tip. In fact they could teach us in the UK a thing or two about customer service!

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
They must have thought that you were born yesterday;)
I suggest that you have a conversation with a US tax accountant, and hear what they have to say about this.
Some people will fall for anything:)

NiftyDigits

jayelled wrote: »

I too used to find the custom of tipping a little difficult to accept until I was told by a courier on our tour that waiting staff etc were paid a paltry amount in wages but were taxed on the tips that they were expected to receive. They paid tax whether they were tipped or not. Consequently most of them gave excellent service in the hope of getting a good tip. In fact they could teach us in the UK a thing or two about customer service!

Why do people post these Chinese Whispers without checking it out for themselves?

Employers in certain states are allowed a Tip Credit, up to a maximum of US$5.12 per hour. If the employee gets less in tips, the employers has to make up their wages. If the employee make more than US$5.12 per hour in tips, then the employer can take up to the maximum credit of US$5.12 per hour, leaving a minimum of US$2.13 per hour in direct wages as a minimum. In other words, the staff have to make at least the minimum wage of US$7.25 in any scenario.
The employees' tips are supposed to be reported on an IRS 4070 or a similar form supplied by the employers. These figures form the basis of taxation.

opinions4u

Is there an expectation to tip in Starbucks or Mcdonalds etc?

And more importantly, what are the JFK immigration queues like this week?

stoneman

opinions4u wrote: »

Is there an expectation to tip in Starbucks or Mcdonalds etc?

And more importantly, what are the JFK immigration queues like this week?

No,no,don't know but expect the worst.

stoneman

andygb wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
They must have thought that you were born yesterday;)
I suggest that you have a conversation with a US tax accountant, and hear what they have to say about this.
Some people will fall for anything:)

The Truth About “Free” Drinks

The one person you should always tip every time—without fail—is your beverage server. “Complimentary” means the drinks are free, but it doesn’t mean the service is. Most players aren’t aware that when you stiff a cocktail waitress—or get up and leave before she can bring your order—she technically has to pay for that drink. To put it simply (the actual formula is rather complicated), each time a waitress orders a drink from the bartender to serve to a customer, the drink is recorded in the computer, and she is responsible for paying the IRS tax on that drink.
My bold:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

2gorgeousgirls

We were in Florida earlier this year and tipped all taxis drivers and restaurants except one as the service was generally excellent.

In the one we didn't tip, we had our main course and then we asked for dessert menus. The waitress looked at the girls' plates and said "they didn't finish their dinner" and started to walk away. My DH called after her "well I finished mine". We thought she was joking and sat on but after a while it became obvious that she wasn't joking as she was serving both tables adjacent to ours and just ignored us. We eventually got up to pay. DH asked me in front of the teller if I left a tip on the table and I said no. He then asked if I was adding it on to the credit card. Again I said no. The teller said nothing and we left but the whole way up the street I was telling them all to hurry up in case the waitress was chasing us. :rotfl:

Couldn't understand her attitude. After all the tip is a percentage so what skin is it of her nose if people don't finish their meal but then want dessert. After all it would increase her tip.

claire16c

NiftyDigits wrote: »

That is just stupid. Room cleaning is inclusive unless stated otherwise. Tipping is optional/discretionary.

It is annoying having to ready cash for every animal that crosses your path.
It is an inconvenience. I'm on holiday. Not there to handout cash incentives to the population for the holding out of their hands.

Levy a service charge within the rate and use it to supplement their wages. That way I can pay the whole thing within my bill.
Stressing out about needing an endless supply of US$ bills...annoying and embarrassing.

Why is it stupid she said she'd take out the cleaning if she could? That's an easy way of doing it.

It's not hard to get dollar bills I find they often leave them deliberately so you can tip them!

If a service charge was added automatically and included with no way of you reclaiming it then it's going to cost you that no matter how bad the service is. At least with tipping you can decide if you want to pay it depending on the service you get.

Doshwaster wrote: »

Even though I support the practice of tipping and wouldn't dream of not tipping in a bar or restaurant, I find that I never leave a tip for room cleaning in a hotel. I'm not sure why - maybe it's because you don't actually see them.

Do people leave money every day or at the end of the stay? If the latter then how do you know it was the same cleaner every day?

If I did leave money money laying around in my room I'd like to think the cleaners would be honest enough to leave it rather than assume it was a tip.

I leave it with a note, if I don't have change then I don't stress but try to do it maybe every other day.

claire16c

Woolwich_Kim wrote: »

I'm sure there will be at least one culture/custom in every country on earth that I don't agree with. There are even some stuff here in my birthplace I don't like.

I am happy/willing to round up prices and the difference could be a tip but I'd be appalled if I were chased for more, of which they won't be getting if that were the case.

You might not get chased down the road but if you don't tip properly in a restaurant you will more than likely be questioned on what was wrong/is there anything they can improve on etc