Many situations exist in which proper tipping etiquette is uncertain. While tipping 15-20% is an accepted standard at restaurants, tipping in other circumstances is the subject of much debate. A few such situations include tipping bathroom attendants, bartenders, doormen, bellhops, complimentary shuttle bus drivers, delivery drivers (working for restaurants with large delivery fees), and the list goes on. I'm curious to hear if and how much others tip in these situations. From my eexperience, there is not much agreement.
To get the discussion started, here's what I believe is fair...
Bathroom attendants- I hate paying them cause I can dry my own f'ing hands and they only crowd the bathroom, but I'll usually give $1 at some point in the night out of guilt. If I take gum, mints, or anything else, I always tip $1-$2. Vending machines could replace them.
Bartenders- Regardless of drink price, I tip the following and if it is a complicated order with complicated drinks, I'll tip more but I'm usually ordering beer or alcohol +1 mixer. 1 drink=$1. 2-4 drinks=$2. 5-8=$3. If drinks are free, $5+ per order.
Doormen- I include taxi guys at hotels in this category. Usually nothing, they provide little service. They're one step up from bathroom attendants. If they get a cab for me, when cabs are scarce, when it is raining/snowing, $1-2. If they unload my bags, sometimes I'm guilted into tipping a few bucks, but I hate doing it. They should ask if I'd like help with my bags.
Bellhops- I avoid them at all costs. Not only can I roll my own bag, but I can almost always do it faster. I hate waiting for a bellhop to get to my room so I can change and head to the pool. They provide little benefit, unless you have trouble carrying your own luggage or need help finding your room. Make them available upon request.
Shuttle bus drivers- When they load/unload my bags I feel obligated to tip them and do...$2 a bag. But again, I can handle my own luggage. If I have no bags, sometimes I still tip a dollar or two because it's understood they work off tips.
Delivery drivers who work for restaurants with large delivery fees($4+)- I'll add $2 and the change on top of the fee. That adds up to ~$7 to deliver a $20 pizza, which I feel is fair. I know some people tip nothing, figuring the large delivery fee is a mandatory tip, while others say the fee shouldn't even be taken into account.
In many situations, I'm torn between guilt and the desire not to tip in situations where I'd rather not have the service forced upon me. By tipping, I'm perpetuating the problem. By not tipping, I feel selfish. What are your thoughts?
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This article was in last week's WSJ. It fits well into this tread.
Here's an excerpt- Mark Twain's complaint about tipping: "We pay that tax knowing it to be unjust and an extortion; yet we go away with a pain at the heart if we think we have been stingy with the poor fellows."
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