Tipping?

I've never eaten at a sit-down restaurant in a park. At real restaurants though, I usually tip 20 percent, unless I get ignored. That kinda ruins the restaurant experience when you have to eat half your meal without anything to drink because you haven't seen your waiter for 15 minutes.

I always tip at a table service restraunt.

I dont want to threadjack or anything but how people tip the maid at a hotel? Usually i dont because i always thought they get paid regular salary. But i went out of town with a friend and says that he always tips the maid.

I have never tipped a maid, just the bellboy for carrying my luggage (the one or two times I have stayed in such a place that offers that service!).

Working in printing I used to get tipped quite a bit, even though it wasn't really allowed. lol.

-Tina

I think you are "supposed" to tip the maid. Some (crappy) hotels even leave envelopes for you to do so.

Of course, according to a newspaper article I read before Christmas, you're also "supposed" to tip (or buy a nice gift for) your mailman, your kids' schoolteachers, UPS delivery guys, laundro-mat people, etc., etc. I'll just stick with the waiters.

Den- I think that's only if you see them on a regular basis. I never see my mail guy. He doesn't get tipped.

I don't tip for counter service or carts. I tip for table service restaurants.

Exception: Buffets. If I have to do all the work, why exactly should I leave a tip? Because the restaurant put the drink machine in a closet just to give the server something to do? Furthermore, tip-begging is very bad form, especially in buffets.

Of course, these days I tend to avoid buffets if I can. Something about overcooked food coming from a steam table that is just not very appetizing.......

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I always tip at a sit down restaurant. Normally 20%, unless service is bad like others have said. We have a buffet place around here where they have servers that get your clean plates and your drinks and other things for you, I tip there too, but I know some people who don't tip there.

As for:

Counter Service, Venders, Maids: No

Bellboys, porters: Yes, normally $1 a bag unless a bag is really heavy or he or she goes out of his or her way to make things easier for me.

But for the mail man, no I don't, although I should, since he is my neighbor. :) *** Edited 2/2/2004 10:57:53 PM UTC by Sarah Jackson***

Everything you ever wanted to know, and more:

http://www.tipping.org/TopPage.shtml

I had been under the impression that you tip maidservice only for multiple night stays, but tipping.org suggests otherwise.

I had also been under the impression that one tips in a buffet equal to a restaurant. tipping.org suggests tipping at a lower rate. However, if the server at e.g. Midway Market chats up my kids, they're guaranteed 20%.

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coasterqueenTRN said:

I used to get tipped quite a bit, even though it wasn't really allowed. lol.

-Tina

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Huh? 8-0

well, you learn somethin new every day ;)

I honestly feel that you should tip as to how you feel over service you receive. If I get shoddy service in a restaurant why should I tip? If I get good service in a non-tip place I will tip anyhow, it's all about the individual in my eyes.

-Jim *** Edited 2/2/2004 11:11:59 PM UTC by Invy***

Hmmm tippings...so many ways...so many points...

As for amusement parks:
If I was at CP Hotel Breakers and a Bell Boy helped me out I tipped him.
If I had a server who "served me" I tipped a minimum of 18% (which is QUICKLY coming the standard now instead of 15 I hear.)
If someone at the park who is in some type of service was able to give me some type of "insider" information or something more than a smart guest would know that proved benificial to my day I would tip them.
If I was able to get my hotel room upgraded, I tip the person who worked it out.
As for Buffets (like CP's or SFWoA) I still tip the servers there. While not as much as a usual server...unless they really help me out in some strange way. I tip them. Most servers (while I don't know about theme park buffet servers) usually only get $2.15 an hour also. Most buffet places now a days have very nicely and neatly done P.C. signs saying if servers accept tips or not at their place.
At CP's Midway Buffet I talked to a girl this summer who said she made a little less than the Silver Dollar servers per hour, but she kept our table clear, drinks ALWAYS full (a BIG one on tipping for me) and just a great time talking to. So I tipped her well.

If someone provides me with a service that excells their job description I tip them without even thinking about it.

The world just becomes a happier place...which is what theme parks are about ;)

"The Future of Roller Coasters"
-RollerCoasterGod
http://OhioThemeParks.com

*** Edited 2/2/2004 11:34:44 PM UTC by RollerCoasterGod***

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spewey said:
Now, when you guys are on the road, should I assume y'all leave a few bucks behind in the room for the maid?

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I'm getting into that habit, especially at better places on multiple-night stays. I'm generally pretty neat on the road, but I know those poor housekeepers have to deal with some really nasty stuff, so I think even just a few bucks goes a long way.

Gotta agree, Mr. Leg. Tough job, and a few bucks can make it just a little easier. We (the wife and I) usually leave two or three dollars a night - regardless of where we're staying, funny enough, whether at the Plaza or a Days Inn.

'Course, we're notorious over-tippers - but then again, we almost never get poor service. See, there's something to that Karma thing. I especially make sure to take care of the tenders at open bars (i.e. weddings, parties), 'cause they rarely get anything in the way of tips ...

I think it's considered "normal" to tip maids if you're staying more than one night...

And I'd be happy to tip my mail delivery person (not sure if it's a man or woman)....IF....they'd STOP making me deliver mail to all my neighbors....it's like self-service mail around here...:(

I personally have never heard of tipping the mailman. A gift for the holidays maybe, but never a tip.

Mail delivery people make a pretty decent buck as it is. I always associated tipping with jobs that depend on them.

I start at 15%. If you treat me well and never miss anything, like an empty glass, you get more. I'm not cheap, and if I'm in a good mood to begin with, you might get 30 or even 50%.

Piss me off, be a moron, fail to multitask, you'll get nothing. I'm not that hard to please.

Of course, if you're charming, attractive or flirt with me (yeah, even gay men... unlike most I take that as flattering, not a threat), you may get bonus points. I know, that's a terrible thing to judge on, but I'm only human.

The #1 thing that'll earn you a tip from Mr. and Mrs. kpjb is this:

If a glass is empty, DON'T ASK. Just bring me another freakin' Diet Pepsi. Of course I want more! The glass is empty and my food just arrived! Bring the new glass when the old one's at 30% and extra bonus points for you.

Also, if you send me free beer, you're gonna make up the difference. Free $3 beer = extra $3 tip.

That's a good point too. I got comped at Outback once for a $45 bill, all because of the kitchen's inability to do things right (the only time I've ever had a problem in six years of going there). The waitress tried so hard to make it right that she got a $45 tip for a $0 bill.

Cool story, Jeff. Gave me the warm fuzzies.

I've just gotten into the habit of tipping hotel housekeepers too. My family never stayed in hotels much, and it's something I didn't even know was good practice until I'd read this book. Very enlightening. Even in places where tipping isn't the practice, common courtesies go a long way in making someone's day less miserable.

I usually leave double the tax for waiters/waitresses. So, 12%, and I usually round up to the next highest round amount of cash I have, depending on if I have quarters or just bills or whatever. I always thought it was 10-15%, so 12% is in the middle, but after reading this, I guess it's supposed to be higher. Well, that was my friend that told me that, that's what he uses, and it sounded good, so I started using it too.

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yeah, even gay men... unlike most I take that as flattering, not a threat

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Absolutely. If you're a good enough actor to convince me that you think I'm attractive, I don't care who you are. You're getting a healthy tip.

And, if you haven't yet read the book dawnmarie links to, do not pass go, do not collect $200, and read.