Frequently Asked Questions
Codes + Conduct: Tipping
Q My gentleman friend has been relying on me to check our dinner tab and add the tip. I have always taken the tax and doubled it (which comes to 16.50%). However, since he has been adding the bar tab to our bill it just dawned on me that my method is probably wrong since the tax is already on drinks and bottle of wine. I enjoy all the places he takes me and I'm sure we will encounter the same servers. If I am in error, does one tip on the amount of the entire bill or figure one tip for the meal and add a cetain amount to it for the bar tab?? Please advise.
Thank you.
A In a good restaurant, the waitstaff is usually very careful to distribute all tips fairly, as they work as a team. I take the subtotal before the tax is added, move the decimal point over one place to the left and double that number to get the twenty percent tip. So, if the bill is one hundred dollars before tax, then you would leave a twenty dollar tip. The twenty dollars would be divied up between the bartender, the waiter and the bus boy. The bar tab would be identified without the tax and included into the subtotal. In a not so good restaurant, you might want to leave the bartender a couple of dollars tip before moving to your table for dinner, and perhaps even pay your bar tab at the bar. You do not need to pay tip on the tax.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping for a Facial
Q How much should you tip for a facial?
A Twenty percent of the actual service or services before the cost of products and tax are included.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping for a Massage
Q What is the etiquette in tipping for a massage? The massage is not in a spa atmosphere. Do you still tip?
A It depends, if the masseuse owns the business and they are a one man band, you would not tip because you never tip the owner. However, if you are in a spa or the masseuse is through a service, you would want to tip a masseuse for their efforts.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping for Spa Services
Q What is the customary gratuity to leave for spa services?
A You might tip each person who worked on you fifteen to twenty percent of the cost of that particular treatment before tax. For instance, if the massage cost one hundred dollars before tax, and it was an amazing massage, you might tip the masseuse twenty dollars. However, if he was good but not great, you might tip only fifteen dollars. Just like at the hairdressers, each person receives a tip for the treatments they provided. If the beautician gave you a facial, an eyebrow arch, and an eyelash tint, then you would tip her for the combined amount of the three treatments before tax.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping for Take-Out
Q When you are picking up a to-go order, do you tip the person who's at the register?
A It depends. If you know the person at the register is the owner, you don't tip the owner. If there is a "Tips for College" jar, it is nice to put some of the change from your purchase into the jar. Even pennies are appreciated. If there isn't a tip jar, you don't have to tip. On the other hand, if you are a frequent customer with fussy demands, like dressing on the side, no such-and-such, more of this or that, you would want to tip for the extra service.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping Hotel Maid Service
Q What is the appropriate tip for maid service when staying at a hotel one to two weeks or more?
A It would depend upon the quality of the hotel and how long your stay. Over a period of one to two weeks, several different maids might service your room. If you are always asking a particular maid for more towels or shampoo, you might tip five to ten dollars per night depending on the hotel and quality of the service. For instance if you have children she has to clean up after, you would pay at least ten a day.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping in a Spa
Q How much should I tip for spa services?
A You would tip the different people who worked on you separately. At the checkout desk, ask to see your itemized bill and tip envelopes, which they will have on hand for tips, and write the various names on the envelopes. To determine how much you would put in each envelope you would take the cost of the service, before tax, move the decimal point to the left one place and double it: that is the tip. So: if the facial costs $100, you would tip the beautician who worked on you $20. However, if you were disappointed by the service, you might pay only fifteen percent and only tip her $15 for the facial. There should be a container at the desk where you would put the envelopes. If you plan to return, you might write your name on the envelope so they will recognize it next time.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping in Self-Service Restaurants
Q When at a self-service restaurant, do you tip the people who clean up your table and refill you glass?
A In a self-service restaurant, you do not have to tip because you are serving yourself; however, if you have received special service, you might put money in the "Tip Jar."
Codes + Conduct: Tipping Owners
Q What is the answer to tipping owners?
A You never have to tip the owner because it is her/his business and he/she is not paid by the boss; he/she is the boss.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping Rules
Q What are the tipping rules?
A If the service was adequate, tip fifteen percent of the subtotal before taxes. If the service was good, you might want to tip twenty percent, before taxes. You would not tip the owner of the establishment.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping Take-Out Staff
Q Is tipping required when placing a "To Go" food order at a restaurant?
A No, it is not required, but remember that the people who are giving you your food are being paid minimum wage.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Broker + Mortgagor
Q I'm closing on my first house today. Our buyer's broker has been very patient, recognizing that we had limited resources yet still very serious about buying. I know the broker usually gives a closing gift to the buyer, but should I give a gift to her? If so, what would be appropriate? Or should a thank-you note be enough? Also, the mortgagor is a friend who worked hard to get us financing (we've had debt issues in the past). Do I gift him as well? Again, what would be appropriate? Thanks for your help.
A Buying a house is business. You do not need to give your broker, or their broker, or the mortgagor a gift because they are receiving a lot of money for their service. You might tell each individually that you greatly appreciate their help and patience and that you will be sure to recommend them to your friends. Recommending people who have done a good job for you is payment enough. Also, if you are struggling financially, it would seem pretentious if you spent money buying presents for people who were making money off of you.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Car-Side Restaurant Server
Q How much to tip people who bring out your food at a car-side pick-up space at a restaurant?
A Tip twenty percent of the cost of the food and beverage before tax. So: if your meal is ten dollars before tax, you would give the server a two dollar tip.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Caterer
Q Do you tip a cater that owns his own business? He owns his own restaurant and he has a catering business also. We tipped the servers and he pays them which is built into the bill.
A Traditionally one does not tip someone who owns their own business. If the catering was done through your business, you would send a thank-you note praising his service on your business stationery. If he catered a social event, you might write him a handwritten note of gratitude saying that you will pass the word about the excellent quality of his service. Assuring him that you will recommend his catering firm to others is a hugely generous tip.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Clerk When Winning the Lottery
Q If I were to win 15 million dollars in the lottery, what is proper ettiquette concerning how much I should tip the clerk who sold me the ticket? The ticket was generated by a computer.
A Tipping is all about what you might feel good about giving. Since the number was generated by a computer, you might feel more generous if you actually won. Giving is always a good thing. Best of luck in making the right decision when you win.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Clown
Q Do you tip clowns at children's parties?
A If the clown does not own the business, then you would tip him twenty percent of the cost of his service before the tax.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Florist
Q Is it okay to tip a florist if you feel they have done an excellant job? She made an arrangement for the casket at a relative's funeral with limited time. She went an extra mile to make sure everything arrived on time. She even closed her store an hour or two early to start working on the arrangement.
A If the florist owns her own business, then you would not tip her. The reason she worked so hard to please you is because she wants your return business; she wants you to recommend her to your friends. With so many FTD florists advertising on the Internet, smaller florists have a hard time competing and this is how they compete. They know if they please you, you will order from them again. The nicest thing you can do for your florist is to call her and tell her how much you appreciated all that she did, then tell her that you will use her again and that you will recommend her to all of your friends.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Furniture Delivery Man
Q What is (or is it) proper to tip a person delivering a piece of furniture to your home (store delivery)?
A It would depend upon how heavy the piece of furniture, how many flights of stairs, and whether or not the person helped you to move other pieces of furniture in order to situate the piece. Estimate how much time the person spent accommodating you and your piece of furniture and add that into the equation. Five, ten, twenty dollars depending on the above, I am sure, would be greatly appreciated by the delivery person.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Hair Stylist
Q What is the proper amount or percentage to tip your hair stylist?
A If you are happy with the job the stylist did on your hair, you might tip twenty percent of the cost of the service before tax. So: if the haircut and blow-dry cost twenty dollars, move the decimal over one space to the left, which is ten percent and double it; that's your twenty percent tip.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Hairdresser
Q How much should one tip their hairdresser?
A It might depend upon how much time the hairdresser spent on your hair and how much you liked the final result. If you are pleased with the job, then you might tip twenty percent before tax. If not, fifteen percent before tax would be fine.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Hairdresser
Q What is an acceptable tip to a hairdresser these days, or are tips outmoded?
A You would tip the hairdresser 15% to 20% of the cost of the service before tax. For instance, if she did a really good job and the haircut cost $20 before tax, you would give her a $4 tip.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Hairdresser Owner
Q is it proper etiquette to tip the owner of a hair salon if they do your hair?
A You wouldn't tip the owner because all the money goes to the owner. You would tip salaried employees.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Hairstylist
Q What is the proper amount to tip a hairdresser/stylist? Is there an accepted range of percentage of the total service amount?
A If you are pleased with the service, then you would tip twenty percent of the cost of the stylist before the tax is added. If she or he just did an OK job, then you would tip fifteen percent before the tax is added. So: you would take just the cost of the stylist's service and move the decimal point to the left one place and double it. Therefore, if you are happy with the work, and the charge for the stylist alone is twenty dollars, then you would tip him or her four dollars. If the cost of the styling was forty-five dollars, then you would tip him or her nine dollars. Remember, if another staff member washes your hair, you will need to tip between one and two dollars for that service separately.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Massage Therapist
Q Are you suppose to tip your message therapist? My brother says yes. I feel I don't tip my Dr. for care. Why should I tip for tension treatment?
A It would depend. If the massage therapist owns her/his own business, then you would not. However, if the massage therapist worked for a company and was paid as an employee, she/he would be tipped. Your doctor makes more money because he owns all or part of his practice.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Masseuse
Q There was a debate at a gathering I attending yesterday. I feel I am a decent tipper when it comes to restaurants. I usually tip between 10 and 15%. We were discussing massages and the cost. If a massage was $50, is a $5 tip unheard of? Please let me know asap; I was made to feel like I was a terrible person.
A Customarily, you would tip twenty percent of the cost of the massage before the tax is added. So: if the massage was $50, then you would give a $10.00 tip. However, if you were unhappy with the massage, then you would only give fifteen percent. The only time you would not tip the masseuse would be if the masseuse owned the business.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Minister
Q Do you tip a Presbyterian minister at a baptism?
A You would send a small check to the minister with a note of appreciation.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Mobile Dog Groomer
Q Should I tip my mobile dog groomer? If so, how much?
A The rule about tipping is that it is not necessary to tip the owner of the business. So: if the mobile dog groomer owns his business, you do no tip him. If the groomer is an employee of the company, you might tip him fifteen percent for an okay job or twenty percent for a great job. Remember, the tip would be based on the cost of the service before tax.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Painter
Q Do you tip a painter of your home?
A If the painter owns the company, you would not tip him. If you feel the painter has done an extraordinary job, do reward him for going beyond the call of duty.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Pizza Delivery Driver
Q What is the proper way to tip a pizza delivery driver?
A Take the cost of the pizza before the tip is added on and move the decimal point to the left one place and double that amount. You can round it off.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Server
Q What is the proper way to tip a server? I thought that you should tip about 17% of the total bill, but someone said that you use the subtotal and should not include taxes.
A The standard code for tipping is as follows: Before the tax, you estimate 20% of the subtotal and add that figure to the total. It makes it easy because all you do is move the decimal point to the left one place and double it, and that's the tip.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Tattoo Artist
Q Is it proper and expected to tip a tattoo artist?
A Tipping the tattoo artist is optional. Customarily, you would not tip a tattoo artist, especially if he owns his own business. However, if the tattoo artist custom designs a tattoo just for you or used one that you designed yourself, then you would want to tip him for his extra service. The best tip you can give a tattoo artist is to tell him that you will recommend him to your friends.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Truck Driver
Q I just had my truck shipped from New Jersey to Montana, and the driver of the truck is taking it to get it washed before delivering; do I tip this man, and if yes, how much?
A What is such a service worth to you? I am sure whatever you can afford to tip will be greatly appreciated. One hundred dollars would seem fair to me.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Valet
Q How much should you tip a valet?
A It would depend upon the quality of the hotel, the distance he carts your belongings, the amount of bags he has to cart, and whether he brings you special things you might need for special needs. For two people spending the weekend in a New York City hotel, you might tip at least ten dollars.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping the Valet Parker
Q Upon arriving at a hotel, the valet attendant takes your car, do you tip the person that takes your car and also tip the attendant that returns your car? If so, how much each?
A It is customary to tip the valet when he brings your car back to you. I am a big fan of tipping so if you think the valet will take better care of your car if you tip when he takes it away, too, why not tip him.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping UPS
Q Do you need to tip your UPS delivery person and if so how much?
A No, you do not need to tip an UPS delivery person because he is not only on salary but he is employed by the federal government and will receive benefits that you as a taxpayer are paying. If there is a history of many, many deliveries, you might want to give a holiday gift.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping: Cake Baker
Q Do I tip a person who is making a cake for me, like a birthday cake? If so, how much?
A If the baker owns his or her own business, then you just pay for the cost of the cake, whether he delivers it or not. If the person who makes the cake and delivers it to you is an employee of the bakery, then you would tip that person. The amount would depend upon how much the cake costs, plus how much time the person had to spend to deliver the cake. Then you would tip anywhere between ten and twenty percent to the employee.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping: Gift Deliveries
Q I saw a lot of questions in reference to tipping but none regarding flower/gift basket delivery. I had a gift basket delivered to my young son at my house. I paid for the basket and paid a delivery fee on top of that which was equivalent to 20%. Should I have tipped the delivery driver? What about when you receive flowers?
A The delivery of flowers and gift baskets is a gift that includes service because you, the recipient, haven't asked for the gift. Not in your situation obviously, because you ordered the gift, but in general a delivery of flowers or a gift basket is part of the prize and the recipient is not expected to tip the delivery person, or the driver. Often this depends upon the situation. For instance, if the gift basket to your young son included a song and dance from a clown in costume. The next time that you order such a gift, ask if the gratuity is included. There is a difference between ordering pizza or Chinese food delivered, because it is all about the convenience and it is not about sending someone special a gift. In the future, you can assume that with such a delivery as to your son, a gratuity is not expected, but nonetheless always appreciated.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping: Hotel Bellboy
Q My business sends me to big cities where I stay at posh hotels one or two nights carrying only a small bag and my briefcase. My question is this: Because I don't know how much to tip, I tell the bellboy that my bag is very light. I need your advice as to how to tip the bellboy?
A You play the game when you opt to stay at an expensive hotel. Let the bellboy carry you bag. He'll also turn on the lights, adjust the temperature of your room, and get you whatever you need for a comfortable stay. Depending upon the weight of your bags, you would tip the bellboy between ten to twenty dollars. On your expense account, you simply have to specify the reason for your.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping: Hunting Trip
Q I am going on a guided hunting trip to Mexico; I will have a cook and of course the guide as well as the man who arranged the trip. Can you tell me what is expected in the way of tipping? The guided hunt's cost was $6000 not including my airfare.
Thank You,
Dallas
A Look at your contract to see if gratuities have been included in the fine print. If they have not, then you will have to ask your travel agent or trip representative the policy on tipping. During your trip you will encounter many people you might have to tip, so it would be best to be prepared by having blank envelopes that you can put the person's name on and fill according to how much they do or don't do for you. You would tip the baggage handler $1 to $2 per bag depending upon the weight of the bag. You would pay 10% of the cost of the food and having the food prepared by a chef as a tip to the cook the final night. How you would determine the 10% might or might not be in your contract. The hunting guide would receive between 10% to 20% depending upon the service; once again you need to know his fee in the all inclusive package. The man who arranged the trip might receive a one-time tip at the end of the trip predicated on the success of your guided hunting trip. He is the person who should know the answers as to whom to tip what. Often they include a tip sheet printed out; if not, ask for one so that you have the breakdown and know what you're paying for, including the fact that Mexicans like to be paid in U.S. dollars, which means you can have the cash in envelopes ahead of time and add or deduct as you see fit. If he doesn't have this information, then tip the server $2 a day, the chef $5 a day and the guide $20 per day per person. Tip 10% in bars and restaurants and $1 for drivers.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping: Massage
Q Is there a tactful/creative way to state gratuity is not included in the price at a spa and salon for massage therapy?
A If the therapist performing the massage owns his/her own business, then the client would not tip the owner. If the therapist is on salary, the client tips according to the quality of the massage. To remind clients of this distinction, the receipt for the massage would include words such as these: Gratuity not included. If a client asks how much gratuity, then you would say ten to twenty percent depending upon how appreciative you are of the service you received. In the massage room, place a small card within view that says: The cost of the massage does not include gratuity; if you are pleased with the service provided, show your appreciation by tipping.
Codes + Conduct: Tipping: Minister for a Baccalaureate Service
Q What is the proper etiquette for tipping a minister for a baccalaureate service? (High School)
A Assuming that you are tipping on behalf of the high school, you would telephone the minister's office and ask his secretary, assistant, or office manager. It would be the person who keeps his schedule. That person would know what he customarily receives. How much he receives depends upon how much time he has had to spend preparing for the service, as well as preforming the service. Expect to tip between two hundred to five hundred dollars depending upon the makeup of the community. It goes without saying that the check would be sent to his office and not handed to him in public.
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