Did you hear about the time when Johnny Depp left a very generous tip for that Chicago restaurant waiter? It was reportedly $4,000 to be exact! Ahhhh...to be rich and famous. How nice would it be to have that kind of money at your disposal. Well, obviously most of us can't go around town dropping that kind of cash, but when you do receive good service, what kind of a tipper do you consider yourself to be?
Actually, it was just a couple of weeks ago when I got into this discussion with my brother-in-law after having my hair done. I'm a little embarrassed to admit, that I under-tipped the gal who did my hair at the salon. I paid a total of $65 for the services I received, but only tip her $5, figuring that it seemed reasonable at the time. Then I got into a discussion about it with my brother-in-law, who teased me relentlessly (what's new?) and jokingly called me a miser! My first reaction: Me, a miser? I always thought I was generous, but when I did a quick calculation in my head, I realized that I hadn't even give her 10%! OOPS! Perhaps it was the fumes from the hair coloring solution that affected my brain and its ability to do math. Who knows? The good news is that I have a chance to redeem myself in December when I see her for my next appointment. But, since I do not want to make the same monetary mistake again, I decided to do some research so that I can be better prepared when it comes time to leave a tip in the future.
It's important to understand when it is necessary to tip and how much we should tip in certain situations. So, I went to my good ol' etiquette standby, Emily Post, for some guidance on the topic. Below is a list of services and tip amounts that Emily Post suggests. Some tips for tipping, so to speak.
| RESTAURANTS: | |
| Wait service (sit down) | 15-20% pre-tax |
| Wait service (buffet) | 10% |
| Host | No obligation $10-$20 on occasion, if you are a regular patron |
| Take Out | No obligation 0-10% if the person went above normal service |
| Bartender | $1 per drink or 15-20% of tab |
| Tipping jars | No obligation tip occasionally if you are a regular or if the person went above normal service |
| Restroom Attendant | $0.50-$3, depending on service |
| Valet | $2-$5 |
| TRAVEL: | |
| Skycap | $2 first bag, $1 per additional bag |
| Doorman | $1-$2 for carrying luggage $1-$2 for hailing cab $1-$4 beyond the call of duty |
| Bellhop | $2 first bag, $1 per additional bag |
| Housekeeper | $2-$5 per day, left daily |
| Concierge | $5 for tickets or reservations, $10 if hard to get; no need to tip for answering questions |
| Taxi driver | 15% plus an extra $1-$2 if helped with bags |
| SALON/SPA: | |
| Hair Dresser | 15-20%, ask to be split among those who served you |
| Manicurist | 15-20% |
| Facial, waxing, massage | 15-20% |
Now of course, in my opinion, there are a few instances where tipping is not necessary and many experts would agree. Some of these instances include tip jars at the coffee house, donut house, sandwich shop, etc...
Aside from taking your order, these type of places do not normally seat and wait on you, so tipping is really not necessary. That being said, if you are feeling rich, generous or just high on life, then by all means, go ahead, there's nothing stopping you from leaving a tip at such an establishment, so long as it is allowed. Tipping in such instances, while not required, is fine, especially if it is someone that provides you with exceptional service or who waits on you on a regular basis (as mentioned in the above tip chart). If that's the case, then leaving a little something extra once in a while would be considered a nice gesture.
The other instance where no tip is necessary, is when you receive bad service. I don't think I need to go into a thorough explanation of this one. If someone is in the service industry and tips are customary, then they should strive to provide satisfactory service. Enough said.
Other than the above mentioned instances, it is always good to tip those who work in industries where tipping is the norm. Remember: people in the service industry, especially waiters & waitresses, usually make only minimum wage and are working for the tips and not so much the take home pay check. So, if you receive good service, show your appreciation and leave a good tip.
THIS WEEK'S THOUGHTFUL MISSION
If you receive good service somewhere, give the service person a little something extra than you normally would. Make up for a time, when you may have under-tipped in the past.
You'll Be a Better Person For It!
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