New to the US and I'm rubbish at tipping!
Jun 28th 2007, 11:06 pm
#61
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,266
Re: New to the US and I'm rubbish at tipping!
Jun 28th 2007, 11:41 pm
#62
Unmitigated Gall
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: it's still too dark to tell
Posts: 16,162
Re: New to the US and I'm rubbish at tipping!
Our maillady is great. UPS is another story. This winter they wouldn't deliver a package because the driver thought he would get stuck on our driveway so he dropped the package at the store in town 6 miles away. It would have been nice if he had told us! When we called UPS looking for the package they said it had been delivered and they were done with it. My wife went off and they finally contacted the driver who admitted leaving it in town.:curse:
Jun 29th 2007, 1:46 am
#63
British New Yorker
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Manhattan, New York
Posts: 620
Re: New to the US and I'm rubbish at tipping!
My mailman (Pete) is such a nice man, chatty and friendly.
I thought you were meant to tip everyone who does a service for you unless they own the business.
I thought you were meant to tip everyone who does a service for you unless they own the business.
Jul 3rd 2007, 11:47 am
#64
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7
Re: New to the US and I'm rubbish at tipping!
Now I feel really bad as we had cable fitted yesterday and the poor bloke was here for AGES and I didnt tip him.
Thank you to everyone for your replies.
Jul 3rd 2007, 12:42 pm
#65
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,182
Re: New to the US and I'm rubbish at tipping!
I wonder whether they would even be allowed to accept tips?
Jul 3rd 2007, 1:12 pm
#66
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,449
Re: New to the US and I'm rubbish at tipping!
Hi, as the title suggests, I have recently moved to the US with my husband and children. I am completely confused by the tip system. Who do I tip? What do I tip? And if there are already 10000 threads answering this question, can someone please tell me where they are!!
So, these are the ones I have thought about so far. Do I tip and how much:
The removal men
The person that fills up my car at the garage
The barperson
The driver, when I have paid the company in advance and it included tip
The person that packs my grocery bags
And any others that I can't think of right now!!
Thank you in advance
So, these are the ones I have thought about so far. Do I tip and how much:
The removal men
The person that fills up my car at the garage
The barperson
The driver, when I have paid the company in advance and it included tip
The person that packs my grocery bags
And any others that I can't think of right now!!
Thank you in advance
- The removal men - Nothing
- The person that fills up my car at the garage - $1-$2 (if you like him)
- The barperson - $3 - $4 for every $20 you spend (15 - 20%) - same goes for waiters and waitresses.
- The driver, when I have paid the company in advance and it included tip - Nothing
- The person that packs my grocery bags - Nothing
If you are not treated with respect and given decent service the answer is a big ZERO for any of these people.
These are optional but I tip the following:
Movers and installers .... when they've gone out of their way to give me good service ..... anywhere from $10 - $20 each regardless of the cost of the item.
Hairdressers - 10%
Pizza or Chinese Delivery - $2-$3
Jul 3rd 2007, 1:13 pm
#67
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,449
Re: New to the US and I'm rubbish at tipping!
Jul 4th 2007, 3:16 am
#69
I'm back!
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Richmond, VA, USA
Posts: 4,316
Re: New to the US and I'm rubbish at tipping!
You know, it's never occurred to me to not include tax when tipping. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard of ANYONE who doesn't include the tax when tipping. Maybe we'll have to give that one a try...
~ Jenney
Jul 4th 2007, 8:06 am
#70
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,449
Re: New to the US and I'm rubbish at tipping!
No they don't make as much as Bill Gates, ffs. But they make a lot more than waiters and waitresses and quite likely have some benefits and paid vacation time. If you want to give them a $50 tip - more power to you. Are you wealthy enough to tip everybody you encounter who makes less than $50,000 a year?
Do you tip the teller at the bank or the cashier at the department store? I can guaran-fucking-tee you that they make less than your cable guy.
Do you tip the teller at the bank or the cashier at the department store? I can guaran-fucking-tee you that they make less than your cable guy.
Jul 4th 2007, 8:11 am
#71
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,449
Re: New to the US and I'm rubbish at tipping!
You know, I never would have done it before, but now that my husband's in the business, I WILL tip movers. They have to handle far higher weights than are legally allowed in the EU, with little in the way of equipment to help out. They are typically paid on commission, which means that if you have circumstances that delay them (eg things that go upstairs, or require complicated reassembly etc) then they will either have to hurry (in which case they may make mistakes) or get less per hour. If you and your spouse can lend a hand, I would.... this is effectively a tip if it makes things go more quickly.
Jul 5th 2007, 3:12 am
#73
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,176
Re: New to the US and I'm rubbish at tipping!
I know bank tellers at the mall here are on around $8 hr, up to $10hr if they speak english and aren't hispanic...but they don't know that.
