To Tip or Not To Tip

                              To Tip or Not To Tip

For most people, tipping can be awkward. Not wanting to make a social faux pas, people stress about whether or not to tip and how much if any. First of all, tipping is not mandatory. If it was, it would be included in the price – such as dining out with a large party. Tipping is a way to say thank you to someone for a job well done. The amount you want to thank that person is up to you, but there are some common guidelines that should be followed.

When dining out, it is common to tip the waiter between 15 to 20%. You should base your tip on the level of service you received not on the quality of the food – odds are the waiter is not doubling as the chef.

If you received excellent service, you should tip 20% or more. If the service was wanting, you can tip 15% or less. It is important to remember that the waiter does not pocket your entire tip. The tip must be shared among the busboys, the bartender, the hostess and the runners. The next time you want to punish a waiter by leaving a small tip, remember that others will suffer as well.

There is a discretionary aspect to tipping. When deciding whether or not to tip, I like to ask myself if I could have performed the service. For example, I am perplexed by the idea of tipping a hotel doorman for hailing me a taxi. Most hotels have a line of cabs waiting to pick up their guests and the doorman just waves one forward. I can do this myself, but tipping etiquette says I should tip the doorman $1 - $2 for this service. If there are no taxis available and the doorman makes one appear, I’ll tip otherwise I abstain.

Tipping etiquette also says that you should tip the valet when you drop off your car AND when you pick it up? If you are driving a Ferrari, you probably do this so the valet will be extra careful with your car, but the average person will tip upon pickup and the common guideline is $1 to $2.

Other common guidelines include:

• Bartender – 15% of bill or $1 per drink, whichever is greater
• Cocktail Waitress – 15% of bill or $1 per drink, whichever is greater
• Coat Check Attendant — $1 per coat
• Restroom Attendant — $1
• Hotel Maid — $2 to $5 per night depending on the quality of the establishment
• Hotel Bellman — $1 to $2 per bag
• Hotel Concierge — $5 to $10 for securing your reservation
• Skycap – $1 per bag

Do not let tipping stress you out. Follow the common guidelines and mix in a little common sense and you will have the recipe for success.