Comments on: What’s your tipping philosophy?

By: Jill

Jill — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:23:11 +0000

I always, always tip my waitress/server at a restaurant and my hairstylist, and if I get my eyebrows waxed or a pedicure now and then, I tip them too. I really hate the presumptuous person, though. This was probably a year ago, but I got a massage at a place recommended by a friend. They were running a special, $40 for an hour. I paid in cash, but I had three 20-dollar bills. When I paid, the guy asked, "Would you like 10 back?" I was floored. Of course I would have tipped, but for him to assume kind of irritated me. Jill’s last blog post..things I suck at

By: Bobbi

Bobbi — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:07:13 +0000

I usually tip 20%. That said, what about the people that stand at a counter. How do you, or do you tip them?? I am not talking about McDonalds, more like the coffee houses or sandwich shops, etc. Some of them in my town have a tip jar on it for them. I leave a tip for the waitress that cleans the table, but a counter person?

By: Jennybeen

Jennybeen — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 04:58:13 +0000

I generally tip at restaurants only, and it’s usually grudgingly unless the service is really good. I live in Canada though, and everyone makes at least min wage (8.50$ or so per hr) and usually more due a labor shortage in my city.

I would tip in situations like your movers, where someone worked extra hard (becuase of the heat) and I was very grateful for it, but I wouldn’t for a regular haircut (not that I’ve had a professional one since I was a kid, my mom does a fine job) because it is just their job and they are already paid for it, only if they did an exceptional job or did something extra. I don’t know if it is expected in Canada though, not having had one in ages.

I work front desk in a motel with an attached restaurant. The waitresses and I make approximately the same wage (depending on time worked, shifts, etc) and I think we work similarly hard and we deal with the same customers. This is a small motel with only one person working after the housekeeping has left, so I am often fetching towels, pillows, etc, helping with luggage, looking up directions, information, doing small maintenence jobs, showing guests to rooms, not just sitting behind the desk like in larger motels.

I have worked there 3 years and have recieved (I’m thinking) 10-15$ in tips the whole time I have been there (Except for a drunken hooker with about 1000$ in her hand who gave me 40$ because I seemed underappreciated, but that’s another story).

The waitresses in the restaurant almost always get tips, and it is just expected that it is part of their wage. In fact we have a certain cultural group that gets rooms and meals paid for by the government in certain situations, and the waitresses always complain that these people never tip (I think it is just part of their culture), and really dislike and resent them for it. You are seen as the worst kind of cheapskate if you don’t tip a waitress.

I don’t expect tips for what I do, its just part of the job (but it is appreciated when I do get one), and it bothers me that it is just expected for waitresses to get them. We work simlarly hard and get the same wages, so what is the difference? I understand that it is different in the US where everyone doesn’t get min wage.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:07:22 +0000

We try to leave 20% also. However, there have been a few times that it didn't work out that way. Once, I brough cash only to the hairstylists. I had just enough for a cut and tip. However, she had raised her prices so I could only give her the amount of tip I had left. She understood. I think there will always be times that it just doesn't work out. Cathy’s last blog post..A Good Night's Sleep and A New Attitude

By: mrsdirtyboots

mrsdirtyboots — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:57:38 +0000

It’s terrible that you should end up feeling guilty for not paying someone to do something you never asked or expected them to do in the first place.

I think you should never tip out of guilt or expectation. It should always come from the payment to someone for their service which you’re grateful for.

It is awful that people don’t make minimum wage but this obligation to tip only perpetuates this cycle surely?