How much does one tip??????

Question

Do you tip the fast food delivery guy???? What about the cabbie or the hairdressers? Sometimes people seem to get offended and look at me like I'm treating them like a charity case or look at me rudely if I don't tip. When is it appropriate and how much is too much?

Answer 1

I've never ridden in a cab, so I don't know how to tip them ..


I tip hair dressers $5 - $15, however good their service is.

Restaurants .. I usually tip double the tax. Tax is 8%, so double and it's 16%, so that's fair enough.

Never go wrng with doubling the taxes.

Answer 2

I truly believe tipping to be demeaning. It was once intended as a reward for special service but today is counted on to augment the preposterously low wages that employers pay to anyone in the service industry. These people shouldn't have to stand around with their hands out waiting for someone to give them some money. If they are doing a good job, they should be getting a decent wage - and should know how much they are going to take home every week. Tipping is so archaic - you don't tip your surgeon, you don't tip the bus driver, you don't tip the grocery store clerk - and these people all perform services for you. So why should you tip servers, cabbies, hairdressers or delivery people?
My hairdresser owns her salon and three others besides and makes more money than I do. Should I tip her? I don't think so. She charges a pretty hefty rate as it is.
Some countries do not condone tipping and people there are quite insulted if you do tip them - US travelers, unfortunately, don't bother to find out about local customs and just tip everyone they see, with the result that many of these people now expect to be tipped by every tourist.
Tipping just plain doesn't make sense. It implies that you are superior to the person you are tipping, and is a retrograde notion. Fair pay for all employees makes a lot more sense.

Answer 3

I tip at restaurants if I've had good service (around 10%) and tell cabbies to 'keep the change'. Supermarket delivery guys aren't usually allowed to accept tips. Haircuts are too expensive for me to want to tip. I don't order take-aways (normally pick it up on the way home from work) so don't know whether fast-food delivery guys should be tipped.

In England, they all have to be making above the minimum wage which is (near enough) liveable.

Answer 4

my philosophy for tipping is, if you want to see them again, and get the same or better service next time, make them remember you by tipping them well. I'm willing to bet that a huge majority of people under-tip, or don't tip at all. Tipping more than normal will (hopefully) make up for their ignorance and help them to remember that you're not some cheapskate and truly appreciate their service.

A cabby that talks to me on a $12 ride? I'll give him a $20 bill.
Good haircut with good conversation ($23), I'll give the girl a $10. Fastfood...I normally make sure they get at least $3-4, and definitely more if I call the place around the corner because I'm lazy.

Answer 5

Dependant on the total bill I will let them keep the change (as long as its no more than a couple of quid!) - if there isn't any change then I tend not to tip. You pay enough for the service anyway and the driver/hairdresser etc. earn a wage so why should you tip??

No-one ever tips a newsagent or a baker for example, so why do some trades deserve it more than others? This country needs to avoid the US trend of tipping everyone and anyone!

The only time I ever tip, including in restaurants, is if I feel the person has done more than neccesary to improve the 'experience'. E.g. Taxi Driver helps you load and unload luggage or waits few mins extra and dosn't start meter.

In general - hell no dont offer a tip unless you really feel its worthy of it!!

Answer 6

Tipping is expected in certain professions, like waitressing for instance where they only make $3 or so an hour. I believe that 15-20% is standard, and most of the time the 20% is what is deserved. If someone performs a service for you, it is always good to tip them. Also, maids in hotels and doormen are supposed to be tipped, but rarely are anymore. Anyone who cleans the tolet out after you or picks up your messy dishes after you eat deserves a tip.

Answer 7

In the US, Tipping is customary in Restaurants. The servers only make $3 something an hour on average, so they depend on that tip. They have to pay taxes on that tip, whether it is given or not. The government expects that a server makes a tip so they are taxed on the total amount of sales per working shift. If you cant leave a decent tip, dont eat in a restaurant where tipping is customary.

Answer 8

I tip generously and often, but only if the service is good and/or I know the worker depends on the tip as a portion of their income. One thing that I think it is much more rude than not tipping, is when someone blatantly expects a tip and waits for it, counts it, or comments to you or in front of you on it not being enough.

Answer 9

I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS tip 20%. Sometimes more. If 20% of the bill is less than 5 bucks, like with the pizza guy or at a cheap diner, I feel terrible handing them anything less than 5. When I get my hair done its usually about 120 and I like to give the woman 150. It helps to be a good tipper because they remember you!

Answer 10

No amount is too much.

Food delivery - you want them at that restaurant or pizza place to know that youi tip well. That way, you get better service & no one is spitting on your food. Figure $3-4 for every $20 you're spending.

Hairdressers - around $5, more if expensive place

Cabbies - Around $2 for every $10 spent