Which services to you tip for and how much is reasonable?

Question

I have been a waiter and a pizza delivery driver and am curious about what people think is adequate. Everyone knows about what waiters expect, but some other professions are tougher to determine. I am talking about food delivery, haircutters, bell hops, valet service, etc. As a pizza delivery driver, if I got $1 I was upset, $2 was fine, $3 was good, and beyond that was just icing on the cake. Many folks don't realize that the delivery charge often doesn't go to the delivery person (most people assume that and delivery people hate it). Also we do the same amount of work regardless of the bill and most of the time it is not our fault if the pizza is late. Someone else quotes the delivery time as a guess or a computer estimate that and it is misquoted often times. Though we didn't get paid $2-$3 per hour like waiters, we had to pay upkeep on the vehicle as well as gas. If you perform a service expecting tips and most people don't understand let me konw as well.

Answer 1

These discussions about tipping are becoming very interesting, and they are teaching me about the attitudes out there. I have worked in restaurants and bars for years, and I like my job. I don't always like the people I deal with, but they'll never know that because I'm a professional.

For all you assholes out there who simply resort to 'get a real job' - explain to me how providing professional service to jerks like you doesn't qualify as a 'real job'. What would you define as a 'real job'? How does it feel when the person responsible for the integrity of your dinner is someone who doesn't even have a 'real job'? Some people actually choose those kinds of jobs, and some people are exceptional at them. Should those people get 'real jobs'? If we all got 'real jobs', who'd be left to take care of your sorry ***?

Bob W - pizza delivery people DO get paid more than foodservers, and for that $3 tip the delivery person only has to deal with you for a couple of minutes. A foodserver gets paid $2 per hour to put up with all kinds of crap for a lot longer than that. THAT's why a 15-25% tip is not out of line. It isn't our fault the industry is set up like it is.

Michael R - people like you are ruining the industry, and in your case I'm going to assume that you are merely ignorant and not an idiot, and take this opportunity to educate you...again, foodservers and bartenders in most states get paid TWO DOLLARS AN HOUR. Bank tellers make significantly more than that (and I think you know that).

Answer 2

For a haircut I tip my barber 25-30% (depending on how long I've let my hair grow before I make it in for a trim)

I tip the pizza delivery guy from the local shop (who's been delivering my pizza for the last 8 years) 25-30%

I tip the wait-staff at the restaurants I go to regularly 15-25% depending on the service.

If I'm traveling or otherwise away from my local business I only tip the barber if the haircut was good and then it's 10-15%

I tip the pizza delivery person 5-15% depending on the circumstance

I tip wait-staff at restaurants 0-25% depending on the service. If I'm at a restaurant where the service so so awful that I don't feel a gratuity is appropriate I will always complain to the manager or owner about it.

Answer 3

I don't get pizza delivered, I pick it up although when I lived in the dorms at uni and one semester I didn't have a car, I did get it delivered. I'd tip usually to the next even $5 amount which would usually be $2 or $3 for a pizza just for myself and a roomie. I wouldn't tip less than $2. If I got a few huge pizzas I would have tipped more. I tip my barber $2 or $3 for a $7 haircut. I never get valet service. Bell Hops I tip $2. Taxis from uni to downtown if the driver went the right way would run $6. I'd pay $8 unless he ran into traffic. If he tries taking me some obscure way to make it cost more, he'll still get $8. If he ran the meter past $8 I'd have him stop and walk the rest of the way ;-)

Answer 4

I usually tip 15% for most services. We hardly order pizza, but when we do, the bill is usually around $25. $4-$5 will be the tip for the delivery person in this case. I also give the girl that cuts my hair about 15%, but I've been known to give way more when I think the job is done especially well and it is a very pleasant visit. The girl who colors my hair gets a $20 tip on a $65 bill. So my rule of thumb is 15%, but I reward the better service. On the other hand, when people are rude and screw up over and over and are just generally unpleasant, I have no problem giving skimpy tips either. Your tip depends on how your service is and how pleasant you are to me, the customer.

Answer 5

I've always hated the pizza delivery tipping thing... but if you consider the cost of the pizza, and you tip 10-15%, then it's appropriate to get $2-3. The problem is that the employers need to kick in more money to you guys or pay mileage! I was an area manager for a pizza place years ago and because my title required me to travel, I got mileage money. And when a store was in a pinch and had to get deliveries out, I got mileage to deliver them. Then, the tip really pays for your effort.

For bellshops, always $1 per bag and a little more if they are super attentive

Valets, $2

Anyone who does something I can't do, I pay very well...$5 on my $20 manicure, $20 on a haircut/color, $5 to the dog groomer for washing my dog, and even an extra $10 here and there for the maintenance guy.

Answer 6

Pizza delivery, $1 or $2 per pizza.
Valet parking, $1 or $2.
Haircut, manicure, pedicure, etc., 15% - 20%
Dining Out - 15% - 20%
Help loading groceries into my car - $2 - $3 depending on the amount of groceries.
AAA roadside service, $5 - $10 depending on the service and response time.
I know there are many more, but these come to mind immediately.

Answer 7

Food services in house (except for buffet) or delivery. Taxi.

Generally what is convienent.

Although, my friend and I have sat in restaraunts all night with just coffee and have left $5 tips when our bill was under $1 because our coffee cups were never empty.

It may not do the place any good (but hey, we've had full dinners and breakfasts there) but any girl who keeps you filled at 3 am for $5 an hour deserves some incentive.

Answer 8

Well, I would have gone a step further. I would have found the manager even if I had to walk into the kitchen and politely explained what has happened so s/he can fix the situation before I return. Yes, I tip generously, usually over 20% due to my lazy way of figuring the tip. However, no service and cold food is unacceptable. When you got the cold food, that would have been the time to get the manager.

Answer 9

Which services to tip for?

a) When you are being "served" for your comfort, e.g. waiters, delivery boys, and valets.

OR

b) When a personal touch is expected to be added to the service being provided, e.g. shoeshiners and hairdressers.

OR

c) When someone in a service profession goes out of their way to do you a favor that does not directly benefit them financially.

Sorry that there's no standard tip for pizza boys. I tip delivery boys one dollar for every ten dollars, rounding the tens place up. Wait staff gets about 20% from me, almost always. The hairdresser or barber gets about five dollars on the twenty, but that's just because I so rarely get haircuts and appreciate it when they get it right. Never had my shoes shined! Don't forget to tip baristas, baggers, and street performers.

Answer 10

I think that you need to remember that a tip is for exceptional service. Do you really think your getting a tip when the pizza is late? In the restuarant the server is either rewarded or punished for a good meal served in a timely manner. Maybe you should consider another line of work.