The Art of Tipping: How Much and When to Tip All over the World
–By Sushma Pradhan
The art of tipping began centuries ago when the medium of communication was through coachman. The coachman was given some cash as a bribe to ensure promptness of the communication. This is how the art of tipping began.
With time, the art of tipping has taken a new form in this service-oriented society. We have to pay gratuities in places that grow more in number with every passing day. In most of Europe, the service industryis seen as a noble service, however, things in the United States is quite different, this profession does get the kind of respect it should. To understand tipping it is very necessary to understand the perspective of tipping. This profession mostly involves immigrants, students, single parents looking for flexible hours and many other who are struggling in their fields.
One most important point what most people fail to understand is that the servers are not the sole owners of the tip you provide. The percentage is more of 50-60. The popular or nicer the restaurant, the more is the division of the tips and less percentage to the server.
Here the point is, what and where is tipping appropriate. To simplify the art, here are the list of service providers that we usually come across and may need tipping.
Hotel Housekeeping: If you are staying in at a cheap hotel accommodation, the tip could be $1 per day.
Message: It was a wonderful effort to make everything so smooth and comfortable.
On the wackier side, have a heart to write, “If you think you deserve more than this, this is not the place for you”.
Taxi Drivers: 15percent is nearly good but you can reduce 5percent if the drive is nearly dangerous and hand over 10percent.
Extra: Pay $3 to $5 as extra, if the cab drivers are generous enough to help with your luggage, and help you to rush to your destination safely in situations where you were getting late.
Message: It was a pleasant drive around (ignoring the times we nearly held our liver in the mouth)
On the other side, it could be “Had it not been rude, I would have deducted the extra from your pay, to clean all the puke over me”.
Shuttle Driver or the Hotel Porter: The tip may not be extended to a buck per bag.
Extra: For your special deliveries and request, $2 to $3 is ideal. Keep in mind that tipping means avoiding carrying trouble for yourself later. Gosh! Imagine you reach home and realize that your bags carrying important things are gone, instead you have carried a bag that is nothing but trouble because it was identical to yours.
Car Wash Attendant: For a regular car wash, the attendant should be getting $3, but if it is a service, where you feel privileged, your paying $5 is justifiable. Your tip will ensure you a further better service in the future. Do not worry your tipping will never go vain.
Valet Parking: The share of tip that a valet parking deserves is $3, if it is a place you visit once in a blue moon. On the other hand, if it is a place of regular visit, $5 is ideal. Most importantly, if your car is returned as good as you sent and furthermore if it was not taken for a joy ride during your momentary absence, then your tip is worth it.
Extra: You may tip an extra $15 if the car is parked right at the front and center on your way back.
Restaurant Servers: The tip of 15 to 20 percent, is good enough, if the service was wonderful and the grub was hot, while delivering at your table.
Extra: You may add 5 percent extra as bonus if the restaurant servers did a good job. Like served you the delicacy the way you had expected it to be, and checked if everything was fine throughout the meal, checked regularly with your drinks. These are the points you may ponder on while deciding the tip for the restuarant servers.
In case the Restaurant is well established and a busy one, do call ahead and let them know that you will be there. One more thing, offer some tip the moment you arrive, and rest be assured to get the table that offers the best view.
Message: There is no reason why not to come back here repeatedly, the food, the ambience, and the service is class in itself. Keep it up.
On the wackier side: God grant me mercy, the continental dish tasted 100% oriental, are you sure, your senses are right! Or perhaps my taste buds have goofed up.
Hair Stylist: The ideal tip for the hairstylist should be around 15 to 20 percent of the bill and yes excluding the taxes.
Extra: Extra attention from your hairstylist means wonders to your looks. Whether you have just gone for a regular haircut or to come out with a polished finish depends on the generosity of your hairstylist.
So next time when you walk in, they will willingly spend some extra time to set things perfect for you.
The Coat Checker: I would suggest one should not be paying anything to the coat checker. There are times when the coats are misplaced and mismatched.
Extra: If you feel that job is well done and there is other help offered $1 to $3 is perfect.
Washroom Attendant: Have some pity, that poor guy is surrounded by shit all day long, so hand over $1 to $2 to him.
Extra: None if you smell poop, when you have actually gone for a pee. The best option here, run out as quickly as you can.
Bartender: You should be tipping your bartender around 15 to 20 percent per drink.
Extra: If you have to wait a long, twenty to twenty-five minutes in a crowded bar that’s bad, so a $5 is fine. Nevertheless, if you need personal attention of the bartender for the rest of the night generously give away $20 per drink and enjoy your drink along with the service.
Food Delivery Person: Stick to the standard form of tipping. 10 to 15 percent, if the promise of delivering you on the stipulated time is maintained.
Extra: Tip an extra 5 percent if the food was delivered when you were on the verge of acting like an early man. Remember this 5 percent will take you long. You can say good-bye to waiting long hours in future.
To give a final addition, it is essential to remember that you always fold the cash in thirds or half and pass it on the person, with your palms facing downwards. It is highly rude attitude to pass the cash up in the air or with your hands in the air. Be grateful they are doing their jobs, had it not been they, who would have done that job? Why don’t you try? Self-service? Unless you feel the little tip would shake the monthly budget, then forget it , just walk away. However, the choice is yours