Tipping

[GUT2407]

I would definitely tip if Jon Stewart were my steward!!

 

We don't really understand America tipping customs, either, being Australian, but tip all folks involved in hospitality, including housekeeping. Sometimes the housekeeping staff take the money, sometimes not. We may tip too much when we leave a fiver on the bed, but we get lovely little thank you notes and the housekeepers sometimes thank us personally if we are hanging around the hotel room when they come to clean, which is very nice.

 

I am glad the Emerald Princess cruise we'll be on leaving from Australia has tipping included as part of the fare, as far as I can figure.

 

 

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Yep tips included if departing from Aus and you booked in Aus.

[kunoichi]

Yep tips included if departing from Aus and you booked in Aus.

 

 

Thanks for the confirmation, GUT2597. :)

 

 

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[alwalaska]

Tbh I don't think I'd want to try and live on the Federal minimum wage or given that I live in California - our State's minimum wage (currently $10/hr). And I certainly wouldn't want to try and subsist by relying on the Federal minimum tipped wage as a base.

 

For those interested, look here: https://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm

 

Factor in the cost of living, housing, healthcare(!), etc and that by most European standards the social safety net here has pretty large holes in it, it is obvious that a large percentage of those in low-wage jobs in the hospitality industry are going to be reliant on tips to get by.

 

But yes, the tipping culture is a bit out of control here, bur don't blame those seeking tips.

 

Interesting chart, but there is no way to know what positions are classified in an industry as tipping positions as far as minimum wage goes. I doubt hotels get away with paying employees $2/hour saying they would make the rest up in tips.

 

Someone mentioned the porters above. I found it interesting that the union porters in NYC and NJ made more money than many people with college degrees and still got snarly if someone tipped less than $5/bag.

 

On the other hand, I have shuttle drivers react very surprised by happy when I give them a couple of dollars for putting my suitcase on and off the shuttle.

 

For the OP - As you can see, there are many different answers to your questions. Do what you feel comfortable doing. As someone posted about people getting snotty when they tried to tip despite no tipping signs, that is probably because they were threatened with being fired if they accepted a tip. My daughter worked at a non-tipping fast food place and they were told they would be fired if they accepted tips. Fear for your job can make people react unreasonably.

[AZbeachboy]

No arguments from me.

 

First time I came across it 10% was for great service, now it seems 18-25% is near on normal, that twice (or more the rate of inflation) most wage or salary earners I know are lucky to keep up with inflation.

 

And then the range of those who you are expected to tip seems to grow by the month.

 

The Labor Unions in New York is responsible for that. They forced their employers to change from 10 to 15 % many years ago. There wage should have gone up with the cost of dinning, but they could not wait. Now they are expect ion more and most want 18-25% I had a meal the other night by myself and the total was $11. When I left the waiter want angry and said I should have given him $5 instead of the $3 I gave him.

 

I also think it is bad that fast food restaurants put up a tip bucket. Here in Arizona most make more that the US minimum, we have a state minimum that is above the US minimum.

[rockinmama07]

hi everyone,

Im from Australia, where tipping is not the norm. You get a decent wage wherever you work (mostly).

I will tip if I get good service, but Im a bit confused about the forced gratuities practice on cruises.

I was told on my last cruise by our steward, while the ship is in Australian & New Zealand waters that they get the award rate.

I guess thats why a lot of ships cruising our waters have taken the gratuities off, a lot of Aussies buck against forced tipping as we see tipping as given for a job well done.

Why dont the cruise lines just add the gratuities in the price of the cruise, then no one would get upset about them. Also, what happens when the cruise advertises free gratuities? Who pays for them, or do the staff not get them?

Why cant the cruise lines just give these workers a fair deal?.....Im confused

:confused: ;) :)

[Geoffa30]

Slight thread drift, but my objection to the 20%+ tips expected in the US for waitstaff, is that the tip is determined by the price of my meal. Why should I tip twice as much if I have a $50 steak, compared to a $25 burger - the work involved by the waiter is exactly the same. If people are happy to give a house maid $5 regardless of the price of the room, why should a waiter be treated differently?

 

Totally agree. When we go to a cheap diner, where the wait staff can be of a retirement age, that person is likely to get 50%. We are always reluctant to tip anyway because that friendly server is only usually working you for a tip. Some are so false. Some give bad service and still expect a tip. In which case we sneak out when they're not around and leave nothing!

Edited October 28, 2016 by Geoffa30

[keithm]

[YOUTUBE][/YOUTUBE]

 

Who is Stewart?

I think he means Patrick Stewart. He's really good at keeping Klingons off Uranus!(God, this joke is SOOO old!)

Edited October 28, 2016 by keithm
editing

[kunoichi]

I think he means Patrick Stewart. He's really good at keeping Klingons off Uranus!(God, this joke is SOOO old!)

 

 

Shouldn't he be the captain, and thus not in need of any tips?

 

And yes, yes that joke is awful! ;)

 

 

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[rbt001]

Slight thread drift, but my objection to the 20%+ tips expected in the US for waitstaff, is that the tip is determined by the price of my meal. Why should I tip twice as much if I have a $50 steak, compared to a $25 burger - the work involved by the waiter is exactly the same. If people are happy to give a house maid $5 regardless of the price of the room, why should a waiter be treated differently?

 

GENERALLY speaking, the $50 steak is part of a meal in a "fine dining" restaurant where the service should be more attentive compared to the $15 burger that's slapped down on the table.

 

In the "fine dining" example, the ratio of waitstaff to guests is closer. This could me that a pair of waitstaff work together (like you see in MDR on cruises) or a single server has fewer tables. Whereas in the burger joint, a server may have twice as many tables.

 

Again, that generally should be the case. But let me share agreement with your point in this situation:

 

A local casino has a fairly high end and elaborate buffet. At the entrance, guests pay and tell the cashier what they want to drink (water for me.) I'm handed a receipt to show to a greeter who takes me to my table and drops the receipt. I won't sit but go right for the food. When I sit to eat my glass of water is waiting for me. Since one plate is usually enough for me, when I finish it and my glass of water, I will look at the bottom of the check where they have printed the calculations for "suggested gratuities" of 18% & 22%.

 

For $24.95 that works out to $4.49 and $5.49. For what? to bring a glass of water? And let's say that I did go for dessert... if the restaurant is busy and the server --who has a very large station considering the few things they really need to do-- probably hasn't even cleared my dirty plate when I come back with a sweet.

[DonnasMom&Dad]

I will start with saying this is NOT about the auto-tips which I have never removed.

 

Being from Europe and British I am confused about tipping hotel personnel, shuttle drivers, porters, bar staff etc.

 

We have two days in Miami before boarding, do we need to tip our transfer drivers, the maids in our hotel, the bar staff if we go for a drink etc etc. Also the porters when we embark? If so how much is acceptable?

 

TIA

 

10% is a good guideline!

 

Cato

[Krozulo]

Slight thread drift, but my objection to the 20%+ tips expected in the US for waitstaff, is that the tip is determined by the price of my meal. Why should I tip twice as much if I have a $50 steak, compared to a $25 burger - the work involved by the waiter is exactly the same. If people are happy to give a house maid $5 regardless of the price of the room, why should a waiter be treated differently?

 

I've long wondered the same thing. And I take your example to mean a $25 burger is in the same establishment as the $50 steak. Ultimately, I would prefer if tipping was abolished and prices were raised to pay the employees a decent wage. Knowing that isn't likely to happen right away, I would be okay with a flat-rate tip per patron. Make it $5 per person ($10 per couple), for example. Then you always know how much the tip is, it can be auto-calculated for you on your bill even. If I order fries because I'm not hungry, it's $5. If I order a full meal, $5. Appetizer, meal and dessert, with alcoholic beverages, $5.

 

Maybe $5 isn't the best flat rate to use, someone smarter than me can figure out the acceptable standard. I use it as an example. Maybe $3 per ordered course (appetizer, meal, dessert) would be better?

 

I also think that flat-rate tipping is a good stepping stone toward raising the prices and having no tips.

[caribill]

I will start with saying this is NOT about the auto-tips which I have never removed.

 

Being from Europe and British I am confused about tipping hotel personnel, shuttle drivers, porters, bar staff etc.

 

We have two days in Miami before boarding, do we need to tip our transfer drivers, the maids in our hotel, the bar staff if we go for a drink etc etc. Also the porters when we embark? If so how much is acceptable?

 

TIA

 

10% is a good guideline!

 

Shuttle drivers and porters have no charge, so 10% is not a guideline for them.

 

Maids would not get 10% of the room rate.

[mattie00]

We have always tipped maids in hotels and room stewards on ship. In hotels we tip daily as maids do change. On the ship we will leave a tip every 3 or 4 days as the room steward usually is the same throughout the cruise.

[mattie00]

we are plagued by "visitors who drive across the USA border" to spend time here."

 

I truly hope you are not referring to those of us who drive across your northern border. If you are, please do not tar us all with the same brush. We are fortunate enough to be able to spend winters in the U.S. southwest along with many others who drive across the northern border and contribute a substantial amount of money to the local economies. We also do a lot of volunteering at local service agencies while we are visiting. I am sure the Florida economy benefits equally from those who drive across the USA border.