another tipping thread

[rapmarks]

We just returned from a trip to the Florida Keys.

We did three trips on the water. We were told that the people who work on these trips do not receive any income except for tips. Is this true?

We took a guided two hour nature kayak trip. It cost us $35 each. They had 22 people on the trip, which was way too many. They told us the suggested tip was $10 a person.

We took a half day fishing trip. We were told they accepted credit cards, but when we got there they said they needed cash. That took all the cash we had on us except for $10. It cost $100 plus tax. There were only 4 people on the trip, it usually has 45. The couple who was on the trip with us said the standard tip is 10% of the cost. Well we did have $10 but it didn't seem like much of a tip given the fact that the worker would only get our ten and the other couples ten and no hourly wage. He worked awfully hard and filleted the fish we caught and took all those wiggly fish off the hook for us.
Also why did the kayak guides expect $10 a person which is close to 35% tip.
They also had tip jars for the sunset sail. Of all these trips the fishing boat guide worked the hardest.

 

[geekette]

I tend to not believe people that say they don't get paid except for tips, and am immediately turned off when there is "a suggested tip." An innocent little tip jar, however, is much more appealling to me.

Staff should be paid out of whatever my fee for the activity is, and unless it is SPECTACULAR, I rarely tip extra.

Tour vendors cover their costs thru the fees they charge us. Whether or not the staff is being paid is between the employer and employee. If staff isn't getting paid/paid enuf, they are free to seek other employment. It's not my concern and I get suspicious when the hard luck stories get trotted out.

my 2 cents

 

[Keitht]

Geekette has said it all

 

[UWSurfer]

I spent a few summers teaching surfing and the teaching staff got paid per hour for group lessons and per session for private lessons; which varried depending on experience and arrangment made with the surf school owner.

Some sessions I'd get tipped, some I didn't...but I never suggested I should be tipped. I always felt very appreciative for the consideration.

I now ALWAYS tip crew for dive trips and most activities which tipping would be appropriate based on my experience being on the receiving end.

 

[wackymother]

I have to say...I'm a bit tipped out. Especially this time of year. I tip waitresses and waiters, I tip hairdressers and shampoo girls. I tip doormen and handymen. I tip taxi drivers. I can't even remember all the people I tip.

I just got this month's Conde Nast Traveler and it has a special insert on international tipping--who to tip, how much to tip, and how to present the tip in different countries. (Did you know a tip is considered almost an insult in Japan? You have to present the tip in a clean white envelope, leaving it lying where the tippee will find it by "accident." There's a whole protocol.)

 

[JoAnn]

Pat, I just asked our DD, Pat, who lived in Key West for 31 years and did various jobs, to read your post and comment on it. Most people working the jobs you mentioned do get paid, plus tips. Some get paid per job, plus a possible commission per person on the trip, as she did when she worked for the Conch Train...an hourly wage, plus (at that time) 10 cents per head. She feels that the people you were dealing with said they didn't get paid so you would leave them a big tip, but might not have tipped anything if you knew they got paid. Many of the jobs down there do NOT pay all that much, considering what housing costs are in the Keys. DD worked 3 jobs to be able to live there...and it wasn't fancy living, either.

Now, I know that at Ft. Myers beach our DS talked to the owner/manager of Capt. Tony's fishing boat (about 45 passengers) about working for him when DS was out of work. He was told that he would have to work for tips only as a deck hand...or one who helped put the bait on and helped bring the fish in. I know Dave and Gerry tip those people pretty well. Luckily he got a job at Publix instead.

 

[dioxide45]

We recently did a boat tour in Ft Lauderdale and there was a tip jar at the beverage station (bar). The first drink was free with the tour. I was ordering a soda and there was another patron in line in front of me. The customer was foreign and didn't speak good English. The bartender said he worked for tips and berated the customer as he didn't appear to understand and did not tip. I also left nothing.
While the boat trip was great, we did not tip the staff. There were three staff members, a captain, first mate and another who took a photo and sold them for $10. If one is a captain of a vessel and working for free I don't feel it is my responsibility to pay their wage other than through the fee I paid for the tour. The first mate was also the bartender and the person taking the photos probably received a commission on our photo purchase.
We likely would have tipped at the end of our voyage but the attitude of the first mate/bartender didn't help their cause.
Every job in the travel industry now expects some kind of tips. They usually also receive a full pay; while it may be at minimum wage it is still a full wage. They can choose to find other work.
I work in the mortgage industry, people don't tip their Loan Officer who performs a service for them or their customer service agent why should those people be asked to supplement others incomes through tips?
The food service industry I can tolerate because they don't receive a full wage. Other jobs where I expect a full wage to be paid because I would expect one if I worked the job, I do not always tip. I have tipped in many cases though.

 

[Jbart74]

I tend to tip generously at restaurants and bars. I know the severs are making less than standard minimum wage and I put myself through college by bartending. I have no problem tipping 20 - 22% in these situations. I tip a buck a bag for anyone who willfully makes an effort to help me by carrying it into, or off of a rental car transfer van, or into or out of a hotel room, etc. I tip fishing boat 1st mates, but not the captain, unless he has offered me a special service which I did not expect or pay for. (Like Captain Marvin cooking your catch in your TS after a day on the water in Grand Cayman -- big tip deserved there!) I tip taxi drivers 20% unless they are rude or upset me. Even then they get 10% usually. At a casino, I tip the girl bringing my partner and me free drinks $20 as soon as we sit down at a table. I never have to wait for a drink after that. If I spend an hour there, she gets another $20. It's worth it for me, especially when the drinks are free. I am trying to think of people that I don't tip... I don't tip my mortgage broker, my real estate agent, my accountant, my mail carrier, my auto mechanic, and many others. Funny. I have only been tipped once as a theatrical lighting designer by a director. I got $40. I made $3040.00 that week. I didn't need the tip, but I thought it sure was a nice gesture

 

[wackymother]

I always think one of the people who SHOULD get tipped is the guy who pumps your gas in the rain or the snow in the middle of the night. (This is NJ only; we don't pump our own gas here. Also maybe Oregon?) Why don't those guys get tips?

 

[Jbart74]

I always think one of the people who SHOULD get tipped is the guy who pumps your gas in the rain or the snow in the middle of the night. (This is NJ only; we don't pump our own gas here. Also maybe Oregon?) Why don't those guys get tips?

I thought everyone tipped those guys! I always do when I drive the Turnpike or GS Parkway through Jersey! They DO deserve it, I don't care how much they are getting paid!

 

[wackymother]

I thought everyone tipped those guys! I always do when I drive the Turnpike or GS Parkway through Jersey! They DO deserve it, I don't care how much they are getting paid!

You DO? I've never seen anybody tip them! And I've watched, too.

 

[beanie]

You DO? I've never seen anybody tip them! And I've watched, too.

we never tipped them when we lived in NJ but I know people who did and then my son did this while in HS and he would get an occasional tip . we tip usually well as we both bartended at times . christmas is coming and we will tip our mailman , garbageman , and recyling collector . not much ,$20-$30 in an envelope for each. I work for the post office and I was a mailman for 8yrs up in NJ and I did appreciate those christmas tips

 

[riverdees05]

What issue of Conde Nast Traveler for international tipping?

 

[Wonka]

Tipping should be an option for good service, now it's a standard

Like others, we tip the standard 20% at restaurants, $2 per bag at the airport for the shuttle, another $2 per bag for the baggage handler(then the $10-$20 fee per bag at most airlines these days).

If I have to stand in line at a theater bar to purchase an overpriced drink, I really don't like putting 20% in the in the jar that always seems to be there. (I wonder when they'll have jars for those at the movies serving the $10 popcorn).

Buffets, etc. we also seem to leave the standard 20% (don't know why...I guess it's for clearing the plates as you eat).

We also tip our garbage men, mail carrier, newspaper carriers (they throw it on the driveway...never see them, but they send a reminder card that it's Christmas every year).

I also tip the deck hand each time they launch our boat from our boat rack.

Tours, etc. my wife always stuffs something into the jar. Sometimes I refuse.

Of the above, the only one that actually provides a little "added service" is the garbage men. They drag our waste can up to the garage door, and make it easier to dispose of things like cardboard, etc. without breaking down each box and wrapping with string, etc. They make me feel a little "special". LOL.

With prices as high as they've become to dine out, go to a theater or sports event, take tours on vacation, etc. I'm also feeling "tipped out". Adding 20% to the cost of an already grossly over-priced item or service is getting old.

 

[geekette]

I know someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that in the restaurant industry, if tips + hourly pay for the week fall short of what they would make hourly @ min wage, the restaurant is to make them "whole" on that, so, every server is making at least minimum wage.

Could this be one of those state law things??

 

[DG001]

Quick question - how exactly do you tip your garbage man?

We have city garbage collection - I have never been "around" when they take the curbside bag. Both DH and I work, and I admit just the logistics of it makes me not leave a Xmas "gift"...

 

[geekette]

Ah, these guys I have managed to tip since they do an awesome job. Having had slightly less conscientious service before, I do very much appreciate their efforts.

I tape very securely an envelope to the top of the garbage can that says "TIP ENCLOSED" with, usually, 2 $20s. 3 if we know there have normally been 3 guys.

Never once has the envelope remained on the lid. Maybe you can't do this in every neighborhood, but it works fine in ours.

 

[cerralee]

Tipping the newspaper people is always perplexing to me. Not that I mind but I have a Mon-Sat carrier and a Sunday carrier. It makes sense to me that the Mon-Sat carrier should get substantially more than the Sunday carrier.

They both leave a little Merry Christmas note a couple of weeks before Christmas. The Sunday carrier who is well educated, and does this as an additional source of income always leaves his full name and address with his card.

The Mon-Sat guy just signs his name. I mail Sundays guy a little card and leave Mon-Sat in an envelope taped to the door. For several years Mon-Sat did not take the envelope, even though it had his name on it. I've actually sat up around 3AM in the morning to run out to his car with an envelope because he hasn't picked it up. I'm also leary about leaving cash in an envelope taped to the door.

I have the paper auto paid out of an account so I don't see them for collections. What does everyone else tip out for the Christmas season. Should Mon-Sat get a much bigger tip than Sun? I usually leave Sunday about $20 and Mon-Sat $25 or $30. When I used to pay on a monthly basis directly to the carrier I am pretty sure it came out to more over the year because I added a little tip each month.

Lee

 

[ctreelmom]

I tip 15% in restaurants, provided service is good 20% if it's excellent. For a buffet, I usually tip around 10%--more if it's a celebratory brunch or something where we order bar drinks and not just coffee.

At Christmas, I give my cleaning lady a cash gift equal to one week's pay.

Wow, I guess I've been really under tipping bellhops! Seriously, $1 - $2 PER BAG? I had no idea. I usually give $5 for my family, and we bring a lot of stuff.

Here's another question. When I recently ordered room service in a hotel, my bill had a 20% service charge and a $2 delivery charge. For some reason, I said to the waiter, "your gratuity's included, right?" assuming that was the service charge. He said, "Actually, no. That goes to the hotel." So I gave him a tip. Was I snowed, or I have I been unintentionally stiffing people thinking the tip was included on the bill?

 

[Blues]

Any time I see a service charged added to a bill, I don't add an additional tip. I too have always assumed it went to the server. If the establishment is unscrupulous enough to take it instead of giving it to the server, well then, the server has a bone to pick with his/her employer. It has nothing to do with me.

 

[wackymother]

What issue of Conde Nast Traveler for international tipping?

The brand-new one. Must be December. It's downstairs--I'll look and I'll post if that's not right. The tipping insert is like a little booklet set into the magazine.

 

[dioxide45]

Any time I see a service charged added to a bill, I don't add an additional tip. I too have always assumed it went to the server. If the establishment is unscrupulous enough to take it instead of giving it to the server, well then, the server has a bone to pick with his/her employer. It has nothing to do with me.

There are times that a 20% service charge may be added to a room service order and the server doesn't receive the entire 20%. In some cases the employer may keep 2-3% as an administration charge to cover the processing of that charge and the accounting around it. However I too would not add a tip or believe the server when they say it all goes to the hotel. He is just trying to pull a fast one.

We were recently in Ft Lauderdale and pulled in to a public parking lot (owned by a private person/company). My wife who was driving asked if it was the only parking lot for the museum, of course the guy said "yes". We turned around and found the "official" garage for half the price. Just like TS salespeople, don't believe someone when they have a personal financial gain from the transaction.

I will tip if I see a small delivery charge on the bill. Usually it is a couple dollars and it is likely there to cover the salary of the person delivering the food. I too don't add an any additional tip if a service charge of 10-20% is on there. I also don't tip if someone delivers something to my room that I should have had in the first place. Like when we call down for more washcloths or towels after only finding one in the bathroom

While in India where tipping is expected and customary for just about everything. I was supposed to receive two bottles of water in the room each day. When I didn't receive any for a couple of days and requested some, I didn't feel the need to tip for the delivery as I shouldn't have had to ask for it in the first place. Now when they brought me extra bottles I did tip accordingly.

 

[Wonka]

Quick question - how exactly do you tip your garbage man?

We have city garbage collection - I have never been "around" when they take the curbside bag. Both DH and I work, and I admit just the logistics of it makes me not leave a Xmas "gift"...

I get up early and hand them an envelope with a Thanks! Problem is...I tip them several times each year since it seems the garbage collector's "rotate" every 6-months, or more.

 

[Wonka]

I always think one of the people who SHOULD get tipped is the guy who pumps your gas in the rain or the snow in the middle of the night. (This is NJ only; we don't pump our own gas here. Also maybe Oregon?) Why don't those guys get tips?

There was a time...long ago when all gas stations had attendants that pumped your gas, cleaned your windshield, and even checked your oil and the air in your tires...sigh.

Those were the good old days. Terrorists were in the closet, governments were still corrupt (you could easily get a ticket fixed if you new a low level bureacrat), and gas was .30.

Now, I feel really old.

 

[Charlie D.]

My wife and I enjoy good service and tip accordingly. A good waiter/waitress is worth their weight in gold (or at least 20% of the price of the meal). A bad waiter/waitress should be in another line of business and I hope my 0-5% tip will help them realize it. Keeping my beverage (normally iced tea) filled is usually a very important part of the food service for me – especially in the summer time. If I am particularly thirsty I will point at the glass when the waiter/waitress first brings it and tell them their tip will be a direct reflection on how well they keep it full.

Charlie D.