Jerseygirl

I usually give servers 15 to 20% rounded up to the nearest $. I try to leave the tip in cash...rather than put it on my credit card. Remember in most restaurants the server does not receive the whole 15%...they usually have to 'tip out' to various other employees.

When my daughter was in the last year of high school...she worked as a server during the holidays. A customer left without paying...she had to pay his bill out of her own pocket.

I leave my hairdresser 20%+...that way I know she will always fit me in at short notice.

JSL8610

True, but if for some reason their tips don't add up to the federal minimum wage then the employer is required by law to make up the difference. Which is not to say you shouldn't tip your server. Unless they're truly abysmal you absolutely should.

Englishmum

I currently reside in Switzerland and in New Jersey. There is no tipping in Switzerland, as employees are paid well in all occupations and the standard of living is extremely high.

However.....it's very expensive to dine out and most people tend to eat at home and cook from scratch.

Even a Big Mac (without fries and a drink) costs almost US$12 I don't eat at MacDonalds but my son wanted to go in there when we were in Zurich.

OTOH the food there doesn't have high fructose corn syrup and isn't pumped full of antibiotics, hormones and dozens of preservatives unlike in the US.

We've also lived in Singapore. The govt. there actually bans tipping, although there is GST (Goods and Services Tax) included on dining bills. I have even been given change by taxi drivers there! I did give my hairdresser a small tip each time though as I didn't want to end up with a bad haircut next time. However, some of the locals do try it on if they think you are a tourist....especially an American tourist.

I have noticed though in the UK recently, that even if a menu in a restaurant states that service is included, if you pay by credit card there is always a line to add a tip on the receipt which you have to sign

Uncle Ebenezer

... and you know you won't come out looking like this ...

Anian

I hate tips, especially for things that are pretty much just part of the job. Even worse is that the amount of tips depends on the cost of the food/drink. Decent beer isn't any harder to pour than the cheap stuff, yet I'm supposed to give the waitstaff extra for it? Those working in a cheap restaurant receive much less in tips for the same level of service just because the food is so cheap.

I wouldn't be surprised if we were expected to tip someone in a clothes shop in the future.

Noticed a local restaurant will add a 23% tip to the bill for large parties. Why they chose to go so far over the normal 18% is a mystery, it's not a special place. I expect they also add the charge on and then leave the tip space on the credit card receipt anyway so you end up double-tipping by mistake.

Since I became more financially secure I have upped my tips I give. It used to be rounding up the bill plus 10%, now I add 15% and a bit more for good service.

SultanOfSwing

I never drink in bars out here and I cut my own hair as previously mentioned so those never become an issue for me, but I haven't really got a problem leaving a tip for waiters/waitresses; especially in smaller restaurants that we eat in regularly, as it usually means you get a few perks, like being able to sit wherever you want without waiting, or free refills of your Coke where they are not usually offered.

My ma would be ****ed though, she always used to leave a pound coin (sometimes two) on the table when we went out to eat back home

kimilseung

Does anyone tip for take-out? I do not, but feel a bit pressured to do it when the payment slip has a line for it just above where they want me to sign.

SultanOfSwing

No. One does not tip the cooks at a restaurant and I'm certainly not going to tip them for me driving out to pick it up . One presumes that those lines are there for take-outs that also feature an eat-in section perhaps? Or maybe they're just there because some people just tip anyway?

I do bung delivery drivers a few extra bucks but I usually just go pick take out up myself as I like the drive to get my head showered for a few minutes when the children are 'on form' ...

toopie28

I used to be a waitress and a bartender. Horrible waitress- hated it - but still tried my best and was always polite to the customers. I was a great bartender - cuz I poured free-hand. Not proud to say I may have created some long lasting alcoholics.

Anyhoo - in those days I made a ton of money. Yes, worked 12-14 hrs a day but had the best life. I was always so chuffed when I got a tip - all the rest of them expected it and I almost framed it!

So I tip well IF the service is good. Don't know why but I still tip about 15% if the service sucks (maybe cuz I lived it - dunno).

Will NOT tip the coffee folks. Hate valet so will drive around for ages for a parking spot. Won't tip cashiers (oh by the by, my friend was a cashier at a coffee shop and one day she put out a tip jar just to see if anyone would tip - she made 40 bucks!!!). Always carry my own bags at the airport - no way am I tipping those guys.

SultanOfSwing

Always tip your musicians.

Seriously - I made $100.00 one night off a drunk lawyer who just asked if I knew anything by The Band. Had his wife not dragged him away who knows how many more twenties he'd have thrown at me

Lola-Monmouth

I tip my hairdresser and wait staff the odd time I eat out and have no problem giving the mail delivery lady a christmas tip. This ensures she comes up to the house to deliver a parcel which won't fit in the mail box, providing the gate is left open. But slightly off topic I am increasingly getting annoyed generally, and more specifically, by being asked to make a donation to various charities when shopping. 3 weeks ago while browsing in the local Ross store customers were asked if they wished to make a donation to a children's diabetic charity. If a customer made a donation the cashier would make an announcement to the entire store stating that another dollar had been donated and customers were encouraged to clap and cheer after which the cashier whooped with glee. I got my miserable old trout hat on and when it was my turn to pay responded with a firm, "No". it took a bit of nerve I tell you but I really took exception to being almost browbeaten to donate to a charity I know nothing about. If I make a donation to a charity I want to know that the CEO of said charity isn't on $800K a year and that more than 75% of money collected actually goes to the people the charity is meant to help. Sorry for floating off topic.

Leslie

I hate that too. I always say, "No thank you." or, "Thank you, but no." As if they've offered to do something nice for me and I couldn't possibly impose. It's easy.

Lola-Monmouth

Oh that's a good way of putting it. I shall try it next time and hope I feel less like a cheapskate.

Leslie

It takes the tension out of it.

tonrob

I'd have told them both to sod off. Far too much tip whoring going on.