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November 2, 2006

The Art of Tipping

Art of Tipping

Tipping is an art form that when mastered, makes your life easier and more enjoyable. Forget your stingy tendencies, and become generous. More than half of the service industry in the United States depend on tips to supplement their paltry wages. Make them happy, and you’ll be well taken care of.

How To Tip Properly and How Much is Enough?

Remember to always fold your cash in half or thirds, and pass the tip discreetly with your palm facing down. Tipping with the cash up and your hands in the air is rude. They’re not dogs you’re waving a treat to.

Car Washer

Standard: $2 to $5 depending on how well they cleaned your wheels.
Extra: An extra $5 will make sure they only use the cleanest towels, and offer you a free hand wax the next time you come around.

Hairstylist

Standard: 15 to 20 percent of the bill minus tax
Extra: Add another 5 percent. Attention from your hairstylist can mean the difference between looking polished, or looking like Edward Scissor Hands just went ballistic on your hairdo. Next time you come around, they’ll be more likely to spend that extra time to make things just right.

Parking Attendant

Standard: $2 to $5 if you get your car back in one piece without any scratches or signs of joy riding.
Extra: If you own a nice ride, and who doesn’t on Kineda right? Tip an extra $20 when you drop the car off to the valet, and have your ride parked front and center.

Coat Checker

Standard: None. They hang your coat and sometimes they even lose it.
Extra: $1 to $2 if they offer to store multiple items on one hanger for you.

Cab Driver

Standard: 10 to 15 percent if they get you to your destination without making you puke, or taking the long route because they think you’re a dupe.
Extra: $2 to $5 extra if they help with luggage and rush you to your destination safely because you’re running late. Offering the extra tip up front might really get them to hustle.

Washroom Attendant

Standard: $1 since the guy has to smell poop all day.
Extra: $0 if the poop smell is there when you’re taking a leak. Run out as fast as you can.

Bartender

Standard: 15 to 20 percent or $1 per drink.
Extra: An extra $5 if you didn’t have to wait 20 minutes to catch her attention in a crowded bar or club. An extra $20 if you want her to be your personal bartender for the rest of the night. Girls hate waiting for their drinks you know!

Baggage Handlers

Standard: $1 to $2 a bag.
Extra: $2 to $3 extra for any special request or deliveries. Remember that tipping can mean the difference between having your luggage, or having them lost somewhere in Peruvian black market!

Food Delivery Person

Standard: 10 to 15 percent if they get their within the hour and the order is correct.
Extra: Super hungry and the food was rushed to your doorsteps? An extra 5 percent will make sure that you’re never waiting long.

Furniture Movers

Standard: $5 to $10 if they moved everything without damaging any goods.
Extra: A bottle of water and another $5 to $10 if they help you assemble that new cabinet from IKEA.

Restaurant Servers

Standard: 15 to 20 percent if service was good and your food came out hot.
Extra: Another 5 percent if they tipped you off to a great dish, and checked if things were going well throughout your meal. Was your drink ever more than half empty? If you’re trying to get a table at a busy, and well established restaurant, call ahead of time and let them know you’re coming. Offer a folded Andrew Jackson when you arrive and be on your way to the table with the best view in the house.

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  • heartofjosh

    Another awesome article! The line about the washroom attendant having to smell poop all day was hilarious!!! hahah :D

  • yume

    I love it when guys tip generously for good service, but I hate it when they overtip to show off.

  • David

    Nicely written article Terry, I think some of the more expensive restaurants try to cheat you off by adding a few extra dollars to the bill. Don’t wanna give free money away ;P e.g some Italian restaurants in the area do that, so much for the bar and grill.

  • razi

    What I hate is when people expect a tip even when their service is horrible. They act like I owe them something just for doing their job.

  • haz

    great article, thanks

  • DaoV

    ya i agree with with razi. some people just dont deserve it but i’ll glady tip the people that do.

  • baoi

    thanks! This will come in handy someday!

  • rbx6jm7man

    funny thing is that i find myself always tipping more than i should, especially when i get good service. and you’re absolutely right, terry. it makes you feel good; you’ve potentially made someone’s day.

  • http://www.kineda.com/?p=1096 5 Steps to Getting the Girl of Your Dreams » Kineda

    [...] The Art of Tipping 36 Comments [...]

  • madray

    Great guide. Tipping the bartender big really does work. I ‘ve done it a few times while partying out with friends and it’s great not to have to wait for service! :)

  • http://www.gamedudex.com GameDudeX

    I too agree with Razi.

  • jan

    I love to tip for good service. The washroom attendants bug me though. I can get my own towels!

    Great guide! :)

  • http://duller.kukuchew.com/archives/1130 无聊小站 » Blog Archive » 赏小费的艺术

    [...] 给小费也许在东方人文化里是很稀有的事，可是出国难免要给小费，不然就被人看不起。不过小费要给多少呢？在Kineda’s Blog看到Terry写的这篇《The Art of Tipping》，觉得值得一读，所以翻译出来给各位看看。 [...]

  • http://www.kineda.com Terry Ng

    Wong Teck Jung decided to translate the article for Chinese readers: http://duller.kukuchew.com/archives/1130

    I can speak Chinese, but I can’t read it. For those that can, have at it. :)

  • http://www.trizle.com/how-to-rock-your-business-for-ages/ How to Rock Your Business for Ages

    [...] p.s. If you’re going to go out this weekend, fabulous reader Terry Ng shared us his great article on The Art of Tipping — from his ridiculously good-looking blog. [...]

  • kevinkim

    YUME: tipping generously, and over-tipping to show off are very faded, and there is a VERY thin line between them. uner what circumstance would you concider it generous, and would you concider showing off?

    what you said surprised me, becuase, although i like to tip generously, i never thought of it as looking like showing off, especially to my date.

  • yume

    It’s the manner in which the guys I’ve been with tip excessively and they don’t do it descreetly. If we’re out and have a dinner with a total bill of $50 and he drops a $20 to the waitress, and leaves it on the table and not in the holder it came in, I find that a huge turnoff when the service isn’t even exceptional.

    This to me is showing off since it’s an unreasonable amount for a tip and it’s pretty obvious the guy is trying to say he’s rich. bleck!

  • kevinkim

    lol. yea, that’s pretty obvious. ok. haha.

    if it’s a $50 bill, i usually tip about $6 as base, and if the service was exceptional, then i’ll raise it to 7 , or 9. i think 10$ tip is too much to be concidered a tip.

  • vm3z9

    Right, I always leave tip based on service. If it was bad then I just leave minimum of what I feel is right. Usually the standard amount as this guide says.

  • David

    I request for another Lego story Terry :P keep those articles coming! – only when you got the time =]

  • JwKuo87

    You know, it’s funny. You always hear about the tipping behavior of the States. Those guidelines hardly ever apply to the The Netherlands. In restaurants, with a bill of $100, it goes like this:

    $0 : %#$*#@
    $2 : too little
    $5 : ok
    $10: generous
    $20: we’re gonne have a party tonight!!

  • glimmerish

    Really nice guide! :)

  • paddyspoint

    if there is service charge, you do not need to tip.

  • Inigo Montoya

    Good info! Thanks!

  • beni

    i only tip ppl who are sexy and have style.

  • baller4lyfe

    Coming from someone who has worked in the restaurant business for 6 years too long, a $20 tip on a $50 check is my way of making up for all the people that tip like sh!t. If you frequent the place, a good tip in the right hands will guarantee stellar service every time you come back. Keep going back to the same place and wonder why you can’t get a refill? Its because people know you don’t tip and you’re not worth their time. You’re better off going to McDonald’s. Unless I get horrible service, I always tip 20% of the bill including alcohol and tax. If I get bad service, I let the server know why they’re getting 10%. Otherwise, they just think I’m being stingy and don’t see it as their fault. Sorry for the novel, but since I actually have experience with this firsthand, I think I’m justified.

  • CsQuared2

    It all depends on the service, you leave with a smile, tip them.
    You got treated like shit, screw ‘em

  • Dexter Kanuto

    Honesty in tipping is essential…you know if you are not generous enough, your conscience or the Man Up High might think you have a very stingy personality. Be true to what you give out, but not overdoing it for you might accidentally give out a $1000 on just a $5 worth of carwash!

  • djss

    i would never tip that much.

  • kameron_en

    In Australia it’s considered very odd to tip. Although I would probably tip when in a foreign country.

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