Things You'll Need:
- Cash
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Step 1
Factor in your own financial circumstances. There are high ends and low ends to the range of acceptable tips. But you can't go breaking the bank just to pay for good service, so knowing your capability is primary.
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Step 2
Figure out what kind of service it is you're receiving. Some services should receive percentage-based tips, while others are more of a flat cost (most of the time). A car washer, coat checker or furniture movers should require a flat rate. From $2-$5 for a car washer to $10-$50 per mover. Other people like hairstylists and waiters should receive 15 percent to 20 percent, sometimes more. Pizza delivery service is usually about 10 percent, but no less than $2.
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Step 3
Use your best judgment. What's the real different between, say, 15 percent and 20 percent, when it means a matter of a dollar? Well, it says a lot to the person who you're tipping. The additional dollar (or one fewer) tells them how they're doing. You're essentially helping others' future experiences with that person. For things like babysitters, nannies or house cleaners, tip them at the end of each month at an amount you see fit. No more than one week's pay for a month of work, but the work they do is constant and not easy, so they do deserve a heftier tip. So, keep things like that in mind.
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Step 4
Be discreet. Don't flaunt how much you're tipping someone at a restaurant by living the bill in plain view. If you're paying for a household service, placing the tip in an envelope is a good idea. Basically, you want to keep the tip transaction -- good or bad -- between you and the person receiving the tip.
Comments
eds13 said
on 11/19/2009 wow! This artical is really low balling it aye? It is funny i happened to read this. I am a manager of an upper-tier restaurant and i just asked the owners if we could give our servers a raise. WHY you may ask, because they make $3 an hour, and people are not tipping like they use to. Keep in mind that tip is not just for your server, they have to tip out a mandtory percent of their sales (NOT TIPS) to the bartender, host, busser, food runner. If you leave 20% tip that server only gets 13% if you leave less they get less, if you stiff them that server has to take money out of their own pocket to tip the noted above. I am sick of reading articals saying 15% my 90 year old grandfather doesn't even leave a meer 15%. Come on folks, this is AMERICA. I guess with more articals such as this i will have to give our servers a raise, i mean they have to pay thier bills too.
txconfused said
on 5/7/2009 when figuring out how much to tip, should the amount used be subtotal before taxes or total including taxes?
greatime said
on 4/23/2008 I wonder how much to tip at a restaurant when you go there just to order and take out food. I never used to tip but now a lot of restaurants send you to the bar to place your order and I know that is telling you to tip them since a bartenders means tipping. I never go back to those places. I don't mind a small tip to an employee for takeout service.
dchegland said
on 11/26/2007 I work as a server and happen to be very good. I am highly offended when someone gives me 15%. However, like many I too may have bad days and may no deserve it. In today's society with everyone thinking they are entitled and all the bad service I would like to think that you could recognize a good server and tip accordingly, 20% and up depending on how much you have me running. Also, a good attitude in the service world is hard to come by. So seeing that many say 15% is what you should tip is offending and I hope that everyone would recoginize a good attitude and hard working server!
Jillski said
on 11/14/2007 I manage a pizza restaurant. We just had a focus group dealing with delivery drivers, and I take issue with a few comments made above:
" but no less than $6 to $7 less the delivery charge if one is charged (providing the employer pays the full amount of such charge to the driver - many don't)."
We charge a $2.00 delivery charge. The driver receives $1.00. The business itself has expenses to pay to employ a driver. Number one is insurance. Our business charges a portion of what it costs to deliver food to the customers who use the service. Others build it into their menu prices, so in-house and to go customers pay for it too.
"Most drivers are not paid an hourly rate nor reimbursed for fuel and maintenance costs." No- most drivers do make an hourly rate. It may be only minimum wage, but they are paid.
Also, most places send their drivers out with multiple orders on one run.