To Tip or Not To Tip

[tyketime]

When we got home tonight, our air conditioning wasn't working. So we called our HVAC company that we have a service contract with. They had somebody at our house in about 45 minutes. The guy spent roughly 30 minutes total here - ultimately replacing the condensation pump. My natural instinct was to give the guy a tip, but my wife didn't think I should. "That's why we have a service contract".

What is your policy when someone makes a service call to your house? Do you tip, or not?

[DanGarion]

I don't normally tip, but if he went above and beyond what you expected I don't see the problem with tipping him.

[Vince, Pt. II]

I typically offer guys like that a drink or some food. That's about as much tip as I'll give though.

I typically leave the tipping to waiters, bartenders and movers.

[Greyroofoo]

I never understood why some profession "deserve" a tip but others don't.

[-apoc-]

I agree with Vince offer him a beer but that about it. Add whoever cuts your hair to the tip list and the mail and lawn people get xmas tips but thats about it.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Oh yeah, I tip my barber too.

[Doug5984]

When I worked for an appliance company we would get tips on a few calls a week, no one expected to get them- but they were nice when we did. That being said, if someone does an exceptional job, hooks me up on a price, anything special- i'll give them a few bucks.

[GrantDawg]

When I worked for an appliance company we would get tips on a few calls a week, no one expected to get them- but they were nice when we did. That being said, if someone does an exceptional job, hooks me up on a price, anything special- i'll give them a few bucks.


This. I haven't gotten a tip in my current job, and really wouldn't expect one. Accept one? Sure.

Let me take that back. I did sort of get tipped when we did a big brown-recluse job. The guy gave the 5 of us $100 to go to lunch. That's as close as it has come.

[TLK]

What about when you get an oil-change? I'm always torn on that one.

[Marc Vaughan]

Never even considered tipping someone for servicing the car or oil changes, you can tell I'm English can't you? ;)

[JediKooter]

I've never tipped anyone for car work because the labor charges are added to the bill anyway. If I was only paying for the parts, then I think there would be more of a legit reason to tip for car services.

[Swaggs]

I wouldn't have tipped in this case beyond offering a drink.

I would add movers to the tip list from above, though.

[chadritt]

I wouldn't have tipped in this case beyond offering a drink.

I would add movers to the tip list from above, though.

I absolutely tipped my movers recently, they completely deserved it too. $20 a person on top of the company fee wasnt bad considering how much stuff they moved and put together for me.

[Swaggs]

I absolutely tipped my movers recently, they completely deserved it too. $20 a person on top of the company fee wasnt bad considering how much stuff they moved and put together for me.

Definitely. Watching them move stuff up stairs, in the heat, made it an easy call for me. I think I gave them $40 when they packed it up and $40 when they unpacked it, but they had to drive across three states.

[Lathum]

I never understood why some profession "deserve" a tip but others don't.

Because certain professions such as servers and bartenders make about 2 dollars an hour and tips are the majority of their salary.

[panerd]

I never understood why some profession "deserve" a tip but others don't.

When I was a waiter I made $2.13 an hour + tips. Not sure if this has changed but I think it was half minimum wage at the time. Not sure if there are any other jobs like this.

EDIT: What Lathum said. A restaurant can afford to have 2-3 times as many people working as they could if they had to pay them a reasonable wage. (Not sure every restaurant employs 2-3 times but in theory they should be able to)

[Greyroofoo]

Well regardless, I always makes sure my Mohel gets a tip.

[Vince, Pt. II]

I typically offer guys like that a drink or some food. That's about as much tip as I'll give though.

I typically leave the tipping to waiters, bartenders and movers.

I tip my movers damn it, don't be slighting my list unnecessarily :)

Specifically recently, I had my piano (upright grand built in the 19th century, the thing is a tank and a huge piece of my life) moved from my parents' house to my house. I tipped the guys almost 80% of the move price. They did a great job of making sure it was secure and well taken care of the entire way, and I was very grateful for it.

[stevew]

Supercuts used to be 14.95 for a cut, I'd give the girl a 20. Now it's 15.95, although I gave the chick a few extra dollars in tips above the 5 since she did a sweet job and was pregnant(major major faceboobage). But I have to think that the hairstylists are all getting screwed by a buck in tips per cut now. Maybe anyways. I still like the top of the mountain.

Unless people don't tip the hairstylist well, which IMO is the dumbest thing you can do.

[Mac Howard]

Never even considered tipping someone for servicing the car or oil changes, you can tell I'm English can't you? ;)

I don't think Americans realise how alien to the English tipping is.

A few years ago my wife and I flew into San Francisco for a three week holiday driving around California. We intended to hire a car at the airport and stop at motels as we moved around.

But we arrived late on a Saturday and there were no cars available and we had to book a hotel from the airport board and take a taxi there. We were told by the hotel it would cost about $7.

I must admit it seemed a long trip for $7 but was still taken aback when the driver pulled up outside the hotel and told me it was $27. I gave him $30 and he almost had an apoplectic fit when I indicated I wanted $3 change. He came out with a few expletives, refused to take our luggage out of the boot and told all the passers-by what a bunch of tight-fisted so-and-sos the British were (though in a more American vernacular) :)

[3ric]

It's certainly a big adjustment for Europeans. I'm pretty aware of most situations (as a tourist) involving tipping, but inevitably end up stiffing someone because I'm out of change.

[tyketime]

But I have to think that the hairstylists are all getting screwed by a buck in tips per cut now.

That's funny you mention that. I always tip my hairstylist very well. My cut was $23, and I would give her $40. She always spends extra time with me, rinses my hair both before and afterwards, etc. They recently raised price to $24, yet I still only give her $40. I have thought about that extra dollar, but I'm not gonna fish the extra one out of my wallet.

[tyketime]

Dola - Someone mentioned it above, I think the right answer is "above and beyond the normal expected level of service".

For me, I tip my hairstylist and my masseuse more than what would be considered normal. Take care of the ones that take care of you!

[Ksyrup]

I tip waiters, hairdressers, and movers. When we moved, I think we gave them each $20 plus all the pizza and pop they could eat/drink for lunch.

I usually go 20% on waiters, but round to the nearest dollar, so sometimes they get more or less depending on where the change ends up ($40.10 vs. $40.90, I'll just round both up to $49.00).

Hairdressers - I usually throw $5 on top. I get my hair washed since I usually go during the work day, and if they treat it like a massage, I'll sometimes throw in another $2-3 bucks on top of that. I remember one chick I went to said some guy would come in once a week and get nothing but the shampoo, and he'd pay her $25 for a 10 minute shampoo/massage.

[Marc Vaughan]

For me, I tip my hairstylist and my masseuse more than what would be considered normal. Take care of the ones that take care of you!

I don't tip either my hairstylist or my masseuse* .... it being my wife I think she might take it as an insult ;)

*Admittedly I can't remember the last time she gave me a massage but I use the redneck hair salon in our garage every few weeks without fail, too hot here to have long hair :D

[tyketime]

Admittedly I can't remember the last time she gave me a massage

I guess you should reconsider your no-tip policy... ;)

[Poli]

Do you tip the maids that clean your hotel room?

I tipped just about everyone I ran into at the Four Seasons last year. Valet, maid, bag guy (bellhop?). Of course, I had exceptional service there.

Staying at the Super 8 on company business, I haven't tipped them once. Didn't even consider it. Should I?

[Barkeep49]

I tip maids wherever I stay, and at less than high end places I tend to do it daily or in advance for multiday stays.

[Karlifornia]

Here's a list of who I tip:

Waiters
Movers
Dry Cleaners
Hairsylists
Airport luggage handlers
maids
sommeliers
taxidermists
Wal-Mart greeters
411 operators
Meter maids
Optometrists
Stand-up comedians
Stablehands
Candy stripers
Mistresses
Sherpas
Guidance Counselors
Jennifer in apartment 4A
Amusement Park Ride Operators (except Merry-Go-Round jerks. I have my reasons)
panhandlers
Suicide hotline volunteers
Congressmen (not women..they should just be happy to be there)
Wake-up caller at the hotel
Tarot Card reader
Guy who shuffles Tarot Card deck
Bathroom attendant (If bathroom is unattended, leave $10 on sink. He's probably on break)

[Poli]

You don't tip sailors?

[frnk55]

I didn't know that people tip movers. Boy do I feel like a cheap bastard for not tipping them.:D

[BYU 14]

Do you tip the maids that clean your hotel room?

I tipped just about everyone I ran into at the Four Seasons last year. Valet, maid, bag guy (bellhop?). Of course, I had exceptional service there.

Staying at the Super 8 on company business, I haven't tipped them once. Didn't even consider it. Should I?

I think there is a line here, though sometimes it's hard to define. As a rule I tip at resorts, top line Hotels where you get more personalized service, though I have also tipped at your Super 8 type places if I have had special requests or somebody has gone above and beyond. I do know my list is a lot longer than my wifes and we have an agreement that I just take care of that part of it since we never agree. :)

[Grover]

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[molson]

Always tip the maid service if you puke on the bed or on the floor.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Here's a list of who I tip:

Waiters
Movers
Dry Cleaners
Hairsylists
Airport luggage handlers
maids
sommeliers
taxidermists
Wal-Mart greeters
411 operators
Meter maids
Optometrists
Stand-up comedians
Stablehands
Candy stripers
Mistresses
Sherpas
Guidance Counselors
Jennifer in apartment 4A
Amusement Park Ride Operators (except Merry-Go-Round jerks. I have my reasons)
panhandlers
Suicide hotline volunteers
Congressmen (not women..they should just be happy to be there)
Wake-up caller at the hotel
Tarot Card reader
Guy who shuffles Tarot Card deck
Bathroom attendant (If bathroom is unattended, leave $10 on sink. He's probably on break)

I usually promise her just the tip, but that never happens