Tipping in USA

Mr_Wang

mdkdue wrote: »

And from the sounds of it you are exactly the sort of tight UK tourist that we try (but unfortunately never seem to be able to) avoid when we are abroad.

I could name many places that I have received mediocre service due to being British, Vegas, NYC, Boston, Orlando, we have even had bartenders/waitresses that we have gotten friendly with admit to us that they never expect anything from UK tourists. The reason you probably haven't noticed is because you don't know what good service really is. Plus if you have the attitude that you are going to treat a countries 'way of life' as it were, with such contempt, it doesn't surprise me one bit. You obviously don't give a damn so why would you notice? :cool:

I have been to all those places and received fantastic service.

I would suggest that the reason between the disparity we have experienced is that you look like a tourist who doesn't know what good service is and I do.

But please, stop with the whole culture thing. Respecting culture is removing your shoes prior to entering a temple in Nepal. Tipping is a thanks in payment and I never said I didn't tip - I just don't get steamrolled like you do

jackieblack

Mr_Wang wrote: »

But please, stop with the whole culture thing. Respecting culture is removing your shoes prior to entering a temple in Nepal.

One of the Oxford Dictionary definitions of culture is:
the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society

Custom is defined as:
a traditional and widely accepted way of behaving or doing something that is specific to a particular society

So I would say tipping does fall under that definition, as a custom/social behaviour in the USA

mdkdue

jackieblack wrote: »

One of the Oxford Dictionary definitions of culture is:
the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society

Custom is defined as:
a traditional and widely accepted way of behaving or doing something that is specific to a particular society

So I would say tipping does fall under that definition, as a custom/social behaviour in the USA

Nice. I don't think I need to say anymore. :T

Mr_Wang

jackieblack wrote: »

One of the Oxford Dictionary definitions of culture is:
the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society

Custom is defined as:
a traditional and widely accepted way of behaving or doing something that is specific to a particular society

So I would say tipping does fall under that definition, as a custom/social behaviour in the USA

Jack we both know that there is a world of difference between spunking $2 to a barman for doing his job and a religious culture so entrenched in a country it defines an individuals choices and life.

If MDKdude wishes to get creamed whilst traveling that is his prerogative. But to put cross hairs on those that don't like to get bummed for a tip is wrong. And no Oxford definition will lessen the moral chasm between the examples I gave.

I would suggest (as I have previously) that anyone else who feels like flicking cash a bene placito then how about donate to a worthwhile charity instead and actually do something decent.

This would be my immediate suggestion: http://www.msf.org.uk/

jackieblack

Mr_Wang wrote: »

Jack we both know that there is a world of difference between spunking $2 to a barman for doing his job and a religious culture so entrenched in a country it defines an individuals choices and life.

Indeed

I don't think anyone ever claimed tipping was a religious practice, but it certainly is a widely accepted way of behaving and a common social behaviour, hence could be accurately described as a 'tipping culture' was my point, that's all

thelawnet

mdkdue wrote: »

What makes it worse is that not tipping only tends to fuel the Americans pre conceived idea of UK tourists, and can often mean that as soon as they hear your accent they assume that they will receive next to no tip and therefore give you mediocre/bad service.

This is what is so infuriating. We ALWAYS tip, and tip well at that. We often feel like walking in with a sign on our foreheads saying 'WE WILL TIP. PLEASE DONT JUDGE US'.

You are not going to change that by over-tipping.

- All meals, always 20%, and we do this on the TOTAL bill, not the pre-tax amount, so in actual fact we are actually tipping more than 20%.
- If the meal/service is bad we tip 15% of the pre-tax total. We NEVER leave anything less than this.

If the meal is bad, complain to your server. They should fix it, and if they deal with the problem well, tip them well.

If the service is bad, they do not deserve even 15%. 15% is a normal tip, 20% is for better service.

Also tips are supposed to be calculated on the pre-tax amount.

- Taxis - Always 20%

15% is more normal.

- Maid service - We usually leave around 15 dollars on our last day, we do not tip daily.

That's irrational.

I tipped my maid in Vegas in person $5 when we checked-in and she gave us extra toiletries and so on, and even told us to steal the dressing gown. We got good value from that.

Tipping on departure is just stupid. Tip daily if you are going to tip, that way the maid knows you are a tipper and you should get better service. It's not essential though, as tipping waiters effectively is, since maids will be paid the same sort of level in the US as in the UK, and it really makes no sense to tip your maid in a US hotel but then not in a Travelodge, say.

ferf1223

thelawnet wrote: »

Tipping on departure is just stupid. Tip daily if you are going to tip, that way the maid knows you are a tipper and you should get better service.

I wouldn't say it's stupid to tip on departure but I think it's better to tip daily if you are going to...you may have one maid make up your room every day who is off the day you leave.

jackieblack

ferf1223 wrote: »

I wouldn't say it's stupid to tip on departure but I think it's better to tip daily if you are going to...you may have one maid make up your room every day who is off the day you leave.

I agree, this is what we've always done although, on a few occasions, the tip hasn't been picked up.
Someone once told us that they were only allowed to pick up money left on check-out day in case the money had just been left on the side by the occupant and wasn't intended as a tip.

Now I usually take a small pack of 'post its' and leave a 'thank you' note with the money so housekeeping knows it's intended for them.
We've always had excellent service.

totallybored

jackieblack wrote: »

I agree, this is what we've always done although, on a few occasions, the tip hasn't been picked up.
Someone once told us that they were only allowed to pick up money left on check-out day in case the money had just been left on the side by the occupant and wasn't intended as a tip.

Now I usually take a small pack of 'post its' and leave a 'thank you' note with the money so housekeeping knows it's intended for them.
We've always had excellent service.

I tip daily too incase the usual maid has the day off when I leave. I normally write 'thank you' and a smiley on a piece of the hotel notepad and put that and my tip on the bed. I generally tip $5 a day in the US and a couple at turndown service (I'm never sure what the expectation for this is). I often leave a bigger tip at the start of a stay and a note asking for extra toiletries or chocolates if they're decent.

claire16c

mdkdue wrote: »

We usually stick to the following tipping 'rules'
- All meals, always 20%, and we do this on the TOTAL bill, not the pre-tax amount, so in actual fact we are actually tipping more than 20%.
- If the meal/service is bad we tip 15% of the pre-tax total. We NEVER leave anything less than this.
- Maid service - We usually leave around 15 dollars on our last day, we do not tip daily..

I agree with some of your post but,

- there is no need to tip including the tax cost. Americans don't include the tax when calculating it, so there's no need for you to either.

- If its bad dont tip 15%!! 15% is for good service.

Leave a 1 cent to show its really bad service or tell a manager what was wrong. Leaving 15% means they think you enjoyed yourself!

Maid service I tip each day because you cant be sure the same maid comes each day. I leave the money with a note.