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Holiday Time: Do you tip your "service" people?

I tip:
-bartenders
-waiters/waitresses
-cab drivers
-food delivery persons
-Holiday Gift Wrappers (at malls/shopping areas) for wrapping my gifts for me when my wife is with me at the mall and I need to hide it right away.
-Tow persons - people who have come to me when my car broke down, blew a tire, or the battery died and helped out.

If I had a milkman I'd tip that person. If I had a doorman or a security person at my building, I'd tip that person. No way will I ever tip the mailman or garbage/recycle person. I sort the trash, sort the recyclables, tie the bags, bind the newspapers, seperate it into containers, and put it out at the street. All they ever do is empty it and toss my containers/trash cans halfway down the road, in the middle of my yard, and even break the handles to carry them by. USPS just provides below acceptable service. They should tip me for all of the times they have lost/damaged mail/packages I sent or was supposed to receive.
 
I tip the cleaning service -- a team of 3 (sometimes 4) -- right now I'm trying to decide between $60 (which can be divided evenly by 3 and 4) or $120. I'm leaning toward $60.

I don't tip the mailman. Actually, we don't get our mail delivered--we have to drive into town to the P.O. Box, so tipping would be both awkward and ridiculous.

Garbageman comes by in a truck that automatically dumps the trash -- I have to cart the bin to the curb. No tip.

Recycling folks do a bit more, but aren't they making money off MY recyclables? Plus, I'm not exactly sure how I'd do it? Leave an envelope in with the cans?
 
We tipped our mailman $20 this year. But that was less becasue of his mail service and more becasue he helped my girlfriend dig/push her car out when it got stuck during the last snowstorm at our condo...

I've also tipped paperboys in the past, though I don't get any newspapers these days so no tip this year. When I was gettting the paper, I tipped young paperboys more than the adults that deliver in their cars. Guess I just remember when I had a paper route as a kid and really enjoyed getting a tip this time of year!

* Note - I never had a papergirl before, so that's why I didn't say that!

Also, bartenders (more for mixed drinks than beer), waiters/waitresses, food delivery people, my barber, and other random people get tips as well...
 
I tip waiters and waitresses, maybe even the bellboy. Other than that I do not get a tip for doing a dandy job and these people do get paid.

The situation with the waiters/waitresses and bellboys, they do not get paid much and the tips complete they pay for the day. :)

I do give out a verbal tip if needed for free. ;) :D
 
I'm a waiter and never expect tips unless I've absolutely served my arse off for a table. Then, you'd better tip or else you'll be called some of the most disgusting names under the sun. Sure, if I've just done my job don't tip me but if it's obvious that I've gone well out of my way than you'd better throw in a bit to say "thanks for making tonight perfect." Sure, I make good money doing my job, but when I go out of the way and exceed the required duties, just throw a little my way as a vindication - it will make me work better.

People say Australia is a "no tipping" society. That's total ********, we just don't tip unless suitably impressed with the service, or old. Old people are just stingy, I could serve a table of 40 old people, compliment their grandchildren, wipe their grubby faces and fix their colostomy bags and the cheap bastards won't even throw in an extra 50c. And the folks I'm talking about are certainly not short of a buck - just cheap war-time mentality. I understand it but it just gives me the irrits.

So if any of you are in The Gong and a chubby waiter with glasses gives you really good service, tip him, I'll love you forever.
 
Just on that thought. I tip waiters (here the tips go into jars and are evenly distributed at the end of the day) regardless of the service, normally just some of the change, not ten or fifteen percent but normally a few dollars. I do not tip bartenders though. Ever. I earn good money as a waiter, they earn better money to do their job of totally ignoring me and serving the pretty girls.

So bartenders, if you want a tip you'd better serve me before some hot chick in a low cut top and you'd better be giving me bigger shots.
 
As a paperboy now delivering in the car its very nice to get tips from people especially around this time of the year. I live in Wisconsin where it is cold and even if you don't get the best service paper people are out there in all weather no matter how bad and they stilll do their job. Most of the people on my route have already given me tips and believe me it adds up to quite a bit.
 
I never tip anyone that's just doing the job he's getting paid to do, unless they got out of their way for me. I just hate to feel that I'm forced to do it, or else I will get a poor service. Also, I really hate places that expect you to (or even make you) pay a tip that's a percentage of what you spent; does it mean the waiter deserves more money because they uncorked a Dom Perignon instead of an El Cheapo wine? If I'm gonna tip, I'm giving what I feel like giving, not what they feel I should give. I do tip the kids that wrap things in the supermarket, because they don't get paid; they just have the tips. It's also customary around here to give a little something to the garbage men (a nice bottle of wine, perharps), but I think it's becoming more and more an obligation, and I don't like it (at least they leave Holiday cards in everybody's house).
 
I usually give my hair guy $20.00

We don't get a paper, I never see our mail person, FedEx wakes me up at 6 a.m., my physical therapist drives a Lexus...so yeah, no.
 
my parents tip the mailman every year. Our mail people send out xmas cards, so we get their address and my parents send some moeny to them.

As for FedEx people, no, they are always in a hurry.

We do not tip the Phone, Cable, etc people. We offer them a drink and usually they decline. The pool people always like something to drink. Everyone else declines, except one time the phone guy accepted it to waste time so he would get paid more LOL.
 
iGary said:
I usually give my hair guy $20.00

We don't get a paper, I never see our mail person, FedEx wakes me up at 6 a.m., my physical therapist drives a Lexus...so yeah, no.
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Oh yes, I do tip the person who cuts my hair....as well as the person who has done my tattoos and piercings.
....and I'd probably tip UPS if they were the ones delivering my Apple products :) ......but there is no way I am tipping FedEX, terrible service.
 
I definitly agree on the whole tipping the Fedex person cause the fedex home delivery totally sucks. It took them over a week to deliver my brothers powerbook because they couldn't find our house. Keep in mind iv'e lived in the same house my whole life and my parents bought it more than 25 years ago. However the regular fedex lady that we have is awesome, always great service. I ordered some concert tickets and she stopped by once and I have to sign for delivery so she couldn't drop them off, but she came back later in the day. Im still amazed at the difference between fedex home and just regular fedex delivery.
 
Applespider said:
I will take a box of sweeties into my local Starbucks for the staff to share.
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What about the Pret, typically about 50' away? :)

As a general rule for tipping, I tip 20% on a meal, minimum. In the US, where I live (and the same applies to where I grew up), waiters/waitresses make less than minimum wage and really rely on tips to survive. Because $2.50/hour sucks. This shocked my wife, who is from the west coast and the waiters and waitresses there make minimum wage (or more) AND get tips. At least people could actually make a living there being a service person..
 
yellow said:
Well it's holiday time and we're in our first (purchased) home.

One thing I was taught (or learned) is to recognize (and reward) your service people around this time of year. By service people I mean, your mail person, your garbage-person, etc. Anyone who does a constant service for you. For me, it's going to be a small cash "tip" ($10) and some home-made cookies.

My wife has never heard of such a thing. Am I really out there with this?
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Now this reminds of an episode of 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' in Season 3 where there was some hilarious confusion about Xmas tips.

The only people I've tipped this Xmas is my beauty therapist (£10)... and a couple of waiters/waitresses here and there. Oh, and a cabbie today too...
 
let's see:
i tip as said by many others at a restaurant (waiter, waitress) but only if the service is right... less with bartenders (let me wait and you won't get a tip)
then i tip the guy/ girl who cut my hair and perhaps cab drivers a little bit

but i hardly go for some percentages or something.. cab driver/bartender for the exchange
waiter/hair person for a few bucks (with few i mean 5 bucks max)


for teachers: afaik they can't take (money) gifts ...
 
$40.00 to the lawn man...above the extra $10.00/month we pay him because we thought his rate was too low.
$20.00 postman. he's super nice and does a great job.
$100.00 housecleaner...she's great. also gave her our old imac for christmas.
$100.00 nanny...super with the kids.

now where's my holiday tip? bah!
 
Linkjeniero said:
I don't even spend $20 on my hair in the whole year :D :p
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I'm with you... I shave my head with electric clippers that I've had for probably 8-10 years now. :)
 
Tips at holiday time should not be seen as wages. Tips are like gifts. If look at tips as rewards and you hold the same standards to your family it would be like saying "my mom has been a crappy mom this year so I'm not getting her anything! That'll show her! And maybe next year she'll try harder and her momness will be better." That said you don't have to give a tip at all if you dont want to. Just dont look at it as if you are "paying" them.
 
yellow said:
What about the Pret, typically about 50' away? :)

As a general rule for tipping, I tip 20% on a meal, minimum. In the US, where I live (and the same applies to where I grew up), waiters/waitresses make less than minimum wage and really rely on tips to survive. Because $2.50/hour sucks. This shocked my wife, who is from the west coast and the waiters and waitresses there make minimum wage (or more) AND get tips. At least people could actually make a living there being a service person..
Click to expand...



finally someone that has a clue.


$2.50/hr is a good wage for waitstaff in the US. the majority of waiters/waitresses, as you said, survive off tips. it's amazing how tight people are. a lot of people still think less than 10% is acceptable. it should be at least 15%, preferably 20 (the "standard"). personally, i tip 20-35% (and i'm not exactly made of money, far from it in fact), depending on the service/knowledge of waitstaff etc. of course i'll tip less if the service was crap, but, you have to determine whether it was the waitstaff's fault, or the kitchen's etc. it's not fair to stiff the person serving you when they've done a great job but maybe the kitchen/barstaff/other customers are ruining the meal for you.

ok, rant over.

NYC is nuts with tipping service people. porters, doormen, maintenance guys, dog walkers etc must make a fortune, but then i have no idea what they make the rest of the year....
 
Well, life is a bit different in Denver. We don't have a whole lot of service type jobs (compared to larger cities). So, I don't give the guy at a retail store a 5 dollar tip when I buy something.

However, going out to eat or ordering food, I always tip well, if the service is good. Service not so good? Eh, you'll get 10%. Service is awesome, you'll get between 20-30%

I'm not a cheap little bitch like some people I know. Whoever doesn't tip at least 5 bucks when they order a pizza should get their teeth knocked out with a golf club. I worked with a girl that said "While you're downstairs, can you pick up my pizza. There's a dollar there for tip." I ended up making her cry and leave for the rest of the day because I yelled at her in front of everyone else on the floor for being a worthless, dispicable human being. I love being in management. :D

Anyway, tipping service people ALL around the year is how it should be, not just during the "holidays."
 
yellow said:
One thing I was taught (or learned) is to recognize (and reward) your service people around this time of year. By service people I mean, your mail person, your garbage-person, etc. Anyone who does a constant service for you. ... My wife has never heard of such a thing. Am I really out there with this?
Click to expand...

You should do whatever you are most comfortable with. I think the whole tipping issue has gone over the top with respect to a number of occupations. I must agree with your wife insofar as the mailman and sanitation worker are concerned.
 
I would say in the US 15% is "the standard' rather than 20%. of course, I have noticed that many chain restaurants 'suggest' a 20% tip already computed for ya.

As for tipping, I do tip wait staff, as their wages are based on tips. If the service is bad, i TELL them and give a poor tip. Just leaving a poor tip is unlikely to correct their problem. As for others, a holiday card or cookies. I do a technical service oriented job and have to be 1005 right all the time, and I expect no tips. I do not feel that a mailman, garbage man, etc. should either. Another thing, where I live, a 'trash engineer' can easily make 100k per year, and I know many hardworking folks who barely make 1/4 that much and they get no tips.
evoluzione said:
finally someone that has a clue.


$2.50/hr is a good wage for waitstaff in the US. the majority of waiters/waitresses, as you said, survive off tips. it's amazing how tight people are. a lot of people still think less than 10% is acceptable. it should be at least 15%, preferably 20 (the "standard"). personally, i tip 20-35% (and i'm not exactly made of money, far from it in fact), depending on the service/knowledge of waitstaff etc. of course i'll tip less if the service was crap, but, you have to determine whether it was the waitstaff's fault, or the kitchen's etc. it's not fair to stiff the person serving you when they've done a great job but maybe the kitchen/barstaff/other customers are ruining the meal for you.

ok, rant over.

NYC is nuts with tipping service people. porters, doormen, maintenance guys, dog walkers etc must make a fortune, but then i have no idea what they make the rest of the year....
Click to expand...
 
Blue Velvet said:
Now this reminds of an episode of 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' in Season 3 where there was some hilarious confusion about Xmas tips.

The only people I've tipped this Xmas is my beauty therapist (£10)... and a couple of waiters/waitresses here and there. Oh, and a cabbie today too...
Click to expand...

I was thinking about the last one or two episodes season four of curb your enthusiam where Larry doesn't tip new york city service people and ends up regretting it.

In the US I think tipping is very different on the east coast than out here in Colorado. While I agree with posters that a 15-20% gratuity for restaurant servers is important. Not many people tip for other services here (except people who provide beauty services).

Deryk
 
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