For what services do you provide a tip for?

Question

For example, do you tip the plumber, contractor, etc?

Answer 1

For many people, tipping is a way of ensuring continued good service. For example, if you go to the same hairdresser every month, you probably want to keep him or her happy by tipping well, usually 15 percent to 20 percent. The added advantage, aside from the quality of the haircut you get, is that the hair dresser may be more willing to work with you on appointment times or squeeze you in when you're in a time crunch. The same idea holds true for other services you receive. However, tipping is mostly banned by other countries and you may end up offending the server so careful with it.

The services you should be tipping are:
1.Restaurants and bars - Most of us know that we should tip waiters at restaurants 15 percent to 20 percent of the bill. Depending on the restaurant, you may also need to tip the sommelier or wine steward 10 percent to 15 percent. What you also have to remember is that your waiter tips all of the other servers who assisted them throughout your meal, such as the busboy, the bartender, And others. Take into consideration special requests that you or your guests made and how well the servers were able to accommodate them. This extra effort often deserves extra tipping consideration. If the maitre d' found an exceptional table for you, then tip for that effort -- particularly if you want to get good treatment the next time you come to that restaurant.

2. Hotels - Gratuities to hotel staff vary from location to location, usually depending on the size of the metropolitan area. Typically, however, you should give bellhops at least a dollar for each bag they carry (more if the bags are especially large, heavy, or awkward to carry), and more if they go above and beyond the call of duty to make your stay more pleasant.

3. Deliveries - Pizza deliveries, flower deliveries, and large deliveries such as furniture have differing tipping standards.

4. Airports - Standard practice is to tip skycaps $1 to $2 per bag for carrying and checking your luggage. The same goes for shuttle drivers if they help you with your bags.

5. Parking and auto-related - The usual amount for tipping valets is $1 to $2 per car when you pick the car up. If you ask for special care or for quicker retrieval, then you might also tip when you drop the car off. Other auto-related servers, like the gas station attendant or your mechanic, can be tipped if you feel the service was exceptional. You might tip your mechanic $10 to $20 or more for jobs over $500. Gas station attendants who voluntarily check fluids, wash windows, etc., should get $1 to $2 or more.

6. Others - Most people give a gift during the holiday season. For regular services such as newspaper delivery or garbage collectors, $15 to $25 is usually a good amount to tip once a year. For others, such as baby sitters, nannies, or cleaning services, a week's pay is usually the standard amount.

Some people leave a 15 to 20 percent tip regardless of how well a service was performed, while others leave no tip at all if they feel that they received poor service. Many servers get less than minimum wage because their employers expect that they will receive tips.

Also note that tipping is an option, not a must. There are circumstances that are obviously not as simple as black and white. Use your judgement when deciding to tip or not to tip.

I personally believe in tipping and typically tip well. I also expect service to be extraordinary and deserving a better tip.

Tips should be accepted, not expected!

Answer 2

There are many conventions on tipping throughout the world. Living in England I can only tell you about the ones here. Firstly, I have been to restaurants/pubs and not given a tip. The tip is for rewarding good service, not crap service. If you don't think the service warrants a tip, then don't give on. It simply encourages bad service. Secondly, in the UK 10% is the common tipping amount. Its actually supposed to be nearer 8.5% but people like easy maths, so 10% it is, or there abouts based on the change you have. If there is a service charge of any value then it is accepted that no tip will be left. Don't get caught out and pay the tip twice! Moving onto your question, the difference is in the way the person earns money. A salary that is earned by a professional is supposed to sufficiently cover all their costs plus provide a profit. It does not cover any tip costs, although some may argue that this is where the cost discrepancies will come in. I believe this to be wrong however, and cost differences simply result from the capitalist market system we currently use. So where does this leave tipping excellent service on the part of your doctor/architect/mechanic/etc? Well it leaves them out in the cold a bit, but fortunately there are two things that come to their rescue. The first is the concept of 'professional courtesy' where by if one professional does a job for another there may be no charge, on the assumption that if the roles were/are reversed no charge will be made. Of course if there is a large price difference or the cost is great (say a few hundred pounds or more) then a nominal fee may be charged, but usually this will cover the cost of materials, nothing more. The second thing that helps is the gift. If a doctor performs an operation on you and you are pleased with the way it turned out then a nice bottle of wine will not be turned down. For a substantial operation then you might feel that a couple of tickets (for them and their partner) to go to a football or rugby match might be nice. Gifts can be as large as you can afford or as small as a thank you card. The main problems are that people either a) don't feel it necessary to tip the higher earning professionals (which I find rather disgusting and a touch arrogant actually) or b) don't know how to tip them, and think that if its something small then the professional will be upset. Trust me, they won't be, even if its just a thank you card. It shows that you appreciate their effort, as you bothered to take the time out to write and send a card.

Answer 3

Everyone in the service industry likes to be tipped, but most do not expect it every time. The ones that you should tip every time are waitstaff, schouffer/taxi drivers, movers, and any type of cleaning service people, especially car wash. Basically, the ones that make minimum wage or less rely on tips. Plumbers make a big sallary, so they don't need it or expect it. If they do a great job, or some special favor, they may expect some kind of appreciation though.

Answer 4

Massage, car wash, and restaurants are my common ones. I have never tipped a plumber or contractor. I am paying them so much already that I don't feel a need to pay any more.

Answer 5

Plumbers and contractors, no. They set their fees. If someone goes way above and beyond then it is your option. For example the delivery guy who saves you trouble of moving the materials beyond just unloading his truck, or the tow truck driver that detours to your house so that you can follow him with your spouse's car, and saves you a taxi fee or saves you from being stranded at the repair place with a broken car.

Answer 6

i often tip epople who work in minumum wage jobs like servers in a cafe or coffee servers , contractors and plumbers charge me enough that I don't have to tip them. And of course those arrogant french fools tip themselves and then insist you pay them.

Answer 7

Waitresses get tips .
My trash men and my mailman get a holiday gift in December .

Answer 8

Taxi, hairdresser/barber, manicure/pedicure, restaurant, bellhop, porter at train station/airport, delivery person.

Answer 9

for any table service or any time you get some form of service
that you think they did a good job performing

Answer 10

salon shampoo person
manicurist
hairdresser
skycap
bellman
newspaper person
mailman
waiter/waitress
maitre de