Yep, North America is the only place in the world that works on gratuities.

Since we're on gratuties, i'd like to advise some people about hotel-baggage tipping. It seems there's still a lot of ignorant people that don't grasp the service-gratutity concept. Although it varies considerably from staying at a dump (howard johnson) tooo let's say a Fairmont, most of the rules still apply.

Anytime a service is being provided you should tip. For example, if you check into a hotel and a bellman gives you a hand with your luggage and then parks your vechicle, $5 would be an appropriate amount for a 3.5/4 star hotel. If there is a doorman, valet and bellman (as you might find at the nicest hotels) then use your discretion to tip accordingly...like a buck for the doorman, 2 for the valet and whatever 3-5 for the bellman.

This is just a general guideline, if you want to tip more or less depending on your lifestyle, go ahead. Keep in mind tho that not-tipping at all over the duration of your stay will piss off a lot of guys...some guys i work will drive the shit out of cars because they didn't get $2.

But, being in Canada's capital we love Americans that check in, you guys tip the best
:)

There are a lot of people out there who are ignorant about baggage tipping - ignorant as in unaware. A LOT of people - particularly younger people - have never stayed in anything other than a Super 8 or other motel where you lug everything yourself. It's just something in our society that has changed over the past 50 years. At our last convention, I was double tipping the baggage guys because a lot of the collegians had no clue, nor had they been informed that they needed to bring pocket money for such things - they just didn't have the $$$ on them. But then again, when I was 19, the only time I stayed in a "nice" hotel was w/ my parents.

As a resturant manager/bartender, I thought I'd throw out my two cents here...

Lifesaver-Yes, you should tip the take-out person at least a little something, for the reason that Jadey stated (And good for you for doing so! You get a gold star :)). Servers have to pay taxes against their sales. A rule of thumb for carry-out, at least what I tell my dad, the carry-out king, is to tip AT LEAST what the sales tax is in that area (here 6%).

An additional thing about tipping, and my apologies if someone addressed this already-Servers (and bartenders) LIVE on their tips. Most servers make $2.13 or slightly more per hour. The aforementioned taxes come out of this money, often leaving a very, very small check. At my old job, my paycheck per week was often $4 or $5 after everything was taken out.

When in doubt, tip a little something :)

*Stepping off of soapbox*

Having lived and worked in a place where the service industry is king (Las Vegas) I always make sure to tip well.

My iron-clad rule: you start at 20% and it's all downhill from there. Bottom out at 15% unless the service is really sh*tty, then it can go as low as 10%. There are occasions where I've tipped 25% on outstanding service.

And if you're playing the games in Vegas, it doesn't hurt to remember:

Dealers: You can make a bet for them; on a craps game, make sure to let the stickman or the basemen 'boys play the line (or the field, etc.) (Even though there are female craps dealers, they're still the 'boys'.) Dealers only make minimum wage plus tips, and I remember when my younger brother's paychecks fluctuated based on the 24-hour tip split.

Bartenders, cocktail waitresses etc.: 15-20%

The maitre 'd at some shows and exclusive restaurants: palm him a $10 or a $20 to get a better seat.

Disclaimer:
I'm in the hospitality industry so I both hold staff to a higher standard AND give them a break...

Tipping can be such a tough thing. On one hand, if the server is outstanding, they deserve it. But if they suck, aren't they at all aware that their attitude is what determines their tip?? There seems to be a general assumption among many in the service industry lately (not all, but some) that "I'm going to get tipped anyway, why try?"

I base my tipping on just two things: if they try to rush me through my meal (I HATE THAT) when I explicitly state at the beginning of a meal to PLEASE take their time. The other thing is when a server is being scatterbrained and inattentive when taking my order/addressing the table. Other than that, 18% is my base point, and I go up.

One thing that I have to agree on is the lack of tipping etiquette knowledge among the younger generation.

Just a sidebar: I handle my own bags, because I cannot afford to tip EVERYBODY.

I'm not sure what the percentage is that my guy tips when we go out, but I know he has a base rate, and it can go up or down based on service. We had a waitress once that I'm pretty sure was drunk. I think she got $3 on a $30+ bill. And a note on the back of the reciept that the busboy deserved to get it. The service was *that bad*

What is the protocol for tipping a server at a buffet? There's this Chinese place we like to go to and we never know what to tip since its serve yoursef for the food, and the staff just brings drinks and clears tables.

Yeah, i don't know...to me if i plan on spending xxx amount of dollars at a hotel, you should factor in valet-service as a precost before staying there. The worse are the people that demand a lot of service and don't tip at all. Their car might sound a little differently on the drive home....

It would probably be a better system if there was an accrued cost for parking as it is with tour bus handling.

I really do find it unfair that waitresses and such only get 2.13 plus tips. I was a hostess at a restaurant so I really got to see what happened. People are cheap assholes. That's it. I hate to be so cynical, but it's true. They run their server all over, run up a $100 tab for 3 people (much of which is bar stuff) and then have the audacity to leave 2 bucks. 2 bucks, for a reference, would be ok if you were dining by yourself at somewhere like applebees, no liquor, no special requests. I say that when in doubt double the tax (if your area charges tax) as a base for the tip. One time, though, a waitress was a total bitch to me and I left her a nickel. That might have been wrong, but so was her attitude. I tip valets, baggage guys, hairdressers, to-go people at decent restaurants (not fast food, although I did once), and restroom attendants, but you don't see those very often. I figure it sucks being in there all day.

Oh, restroom attendants! Am I the only one who finds the concept annoying? I was just at a bar on Saturday night, and there was a bathroom attendant. It makes me horribly uncomfortable to have someone turning on the faucet for me and handing me soap and paper towels. Each time I left a tip in basket, and each time I swear she didn't see me, so I kept thinking when I went back that she was irritated with the dumb woman who didn't tip! I would so much rather just attend to myself in the bathroom.

Oh, I agree about the restroom attendents! I really can't stand them b/c I have been able to turn on the water and wash my hands for 20+ years ...ALL BY MYSELF!! Honestly, what is the point of them anyway? Millions of restrooms don't have them and function just fine! Of course I really prefer to do things for myself (carry my bags, park my car, etc.).

Yeah...when you're paying $15 bucks a day to park at some hotels and valet is the only option available...how are you supposed to tip then? Same as when it's "complementary" valet service?

At a hotel where valet parking is mandatory (most city hotels) with in/out privileges (no charge for every time you take your car out of the garage, it's one flat fee per night), tip about $2.00 when they retrieve your car and $1 when they take it and park it.

Thank you.
It's good to hear that you're on the trolly, whatever that means, heard it via the simpsons. This is also better than tipping a large amount once when you leave, one person may end up with all of that, instead of the guys who may have been parking your car all week.

ladybug1116
Whatever the hotel charges is a standard cost to park in the city. If you chose to park elsewhere, look to pay at least that amount without the security of underground parking. So, everytime you want something in or out of your vechicle, or looking to cruise the city, the valet provides all of that for you (for free if you don't feel like tipping).

Thanks for your responses...I did tip the valet whever they would go park/retrieve my car...I just wanted to make sure that was the right thing to do. I feel like such a cheapo only giving a couple of bucks but I noticed that others (professional people older than me) weren't tipping at all so I wanted to ask. I always tip 15-20% minimum for all other services. I tip my hairdresser 25% minimum...I figure my hair is in his hands and when I return I don't want to get my hair butchered b/c I was a cheap tipper :)

I really find it appalling that waitstaff get paid less than minimum wage because "they'll make it up in their tips". Tips are supposed to be rewards for good service, not the determining factor in whether you can pay your rent.

So what is an appropriate tip for carry-out? The tax here is 6%, is that appropriate? It is less work to handle a carry-out order than to wait on someone who's dining in.

And how do fast-food restaurants work? Do those folks still get less than $3/hour even though they hardly ever get any tips?