Ok, I know we've done this before, but a refresher might be ok...

For meals I'm generally in the 15%-20% range but I always try to leave the tip in cash, even if I pay for the meal by credit card. That way the server gets it immediately and doesn't get hit with the processing charge.

Restaurants are an entirely different category. Several lifetimes ago, I roomed with a guy who ran away from home at 16 and had made his living for years as a waiter. He routinely made higher tips that any other waitresses/waiters with whom he worked. Each night he had to "tip out." Tipping out was a system where wait staff combined all their tips for the day. A portion of those tips were then given to the cooks, the dishwashers, the table clearing staff, the hostesses/hosts, and all the assorted support personnel on which the wait staff had to rely. So, your tip doesn't go just to the waiter who served you, but helps to support the whole restaurant. Restaurants are able to pay a lot less than the minimum wage on the theory that the difference is made up in tips. And the tips are shared.

Plz. see comments below:

· Restaurants- I round up the nearest multiple of five and then tip twenty to twenty-five percent at a restaurant I tip 20-25%
· Lunch-type Restaurants - where the bill is never over eight or nine dollars, I have a minimum tip of $3.50 Same 20-25%
· Valet - $5.00 I never use a valet...I can do a lot myself.
· Hairdresser – I get a cut and a color (about an hour and a half) $20.00 15%
· Take Out Delivered - $5.00 or 20% whichever is larger usually in cash.20%
· Take Out Picked Up - $3.50 (My minimum tip) I never do this.
· Maid in Hotel - $10.00 per day I used to tip $2 a day until I realized housekeeping was hitting my room for the tip then moving on w/o doing my room. Now I tip nothing. I tend to stay 30-60 days at a time.
· Starbucks or Tip Jar Places – Whatever change I get back.
I can’t think of anywhere else I tip. Originally Posted by OliviaHoward

Barber--$3 on a $10 haircut (my hair is too rebellious to rate a stylist).

Skycap--$2 per bag + extra if they ignore an overweight bag. $1 per bag.

Takeout delivered--$3-$4 or 20%, whichever is greater. More if it's winter & the roads are bad. about the same.

Waitress--20-25% of the pre-tax total, including wine. about the same.

Hotel housekeeper--$5-$10/day, depending on how much I trashed the room. See above.

Bellhop--$3 per bag. $1 a bag; same as skycap. I prefer to lug my own to the room.

Valet--$5. I never use valet.

Cabbie--20-25% of the fare or $5, whichever is greater. I like to get good service from cabbies, so I double fares up to $15, while I go about 25-40% above that.

Concierge--Variable, depending on what he/she did. Scoring a reservation at a restaurant that's booked for the next 6 weeks and that the lady I'm with really wants to go to--$50. Never use.

Masseuse (therapeutic deep tissue massage, not hobby related)--$20-$40 depending on how wobbly I am afterward. I never spend this kind of money on myself. Originally Posted by Gryphon

I will almost never tip less then $5, even on a $5 cab ride, or $7 check at a cafe or $10 pizza delivery. Agreed.

I generally give 15-20%, but will tip more if they were somehow exceptional. Agreed.

I tip my shoe repair guy about $5 a pair of shoes. If I sent in multiple I tip $4 a pair. I'm not that wedded to my shoes.

I tip may hair dresser/masseuse/esthetician/maid $20, regardless of the cost. I will give more if that doesn't cover 15%. I never use this.

I worked in services oriented business and appreciate that they earn a modest living and may have a family to support - and that I earn a comfortable one. It's my little way of helping others out when I'm doing well. My father worked as a driver at nights when we first arrived as refugees, even though he was still working days in a factory - despite his advanced education. I have great empathy for immigrants in service work.

If I've had a particularly profitable date, I do tend to tip excessively for the next couple of days.

I am ashamed to say I often forget to tip a doorman for flagging down a cab for me or getting my bags... That's what the Christmas bonus is for. And it is usually quite high. Originally Posted by Lauren Summerhill

I had new tires put on my car a couple of days ago,and I noticed a man tipping one of the mechanics there.Is it normal to tip your mechanic? I never thought of it before yesterday. I also wonder about contractors. I tipped the man who put the floor in my condo, but was told by others that I shouldn't.

In general I usually tip well if I feel that they have under charged for their services.I also tip very well if my dog is involved such as a cab driver who is willing to take us, or a pet friendly hotel. I want to encourage them to allow dogs in more places.

Oh, another one of particular interest: You order take out from a nice, sit-down restaurant. What if anything is the appropriate tip? Particularly since you are giving the tip to the bartender or hostess that really provided no service other than ringing your order into the register and taking your money. Originally Posted by atlcomedy

Most of the time those orders go through the bartender. I will be the first to admit that I didn't like to go orders. It was part of the job, so I would grin and bear it. Bartenders are payed quite a bit more than a server because we deal with other things. I wouldn't tip as much as you would a server. However keep in mind that those sales are the bartender's. Also you only see us hand you the bag. Ultimately we are responsible for the contents, our bar routine is disrupted and that to go order will take time away from the bar tipping guests. So yes, a tip for us handing you that bag is appreciated.

I don’t tip masseuses though. To me it’s outside the “hairdresser / manicurist” realm. Maybe I’m wrong. Originally Posted by OliviaHoward

No Tip for the Masseuse?

You're missing out on the "Happy Ending"!

The one tip I won't make is at a Starbucks. I don't drink their coffee but am forced to buy the stuff for family members. What would have been a jar for charities at the cash register or drive through has been replaced by a tip jar.

I had new tires put on my car a couple of days ago,and I noticed a man tipping one of the mechanics there.Is it normal to tip your mechanic? Originally Posted by Becky

I surely hope not. Being a female I feel vulnerable taking my car in to be serviced. I'm not about to tip for that yucky feeling.

I surely hope not. Being a female I feel vulnerable taking my car in to be serviced. I'm not about to tip for that yucky feeling. Originally Posted by Ansley

Common technique: have a man take your car in. Even if he knows nothing, he's way ahead than a female. If he knows basics, then you're that much better.

There's more than one way to skin a cat. [or a dog, but I know neither of you want to think about that...]

Common technique: have a man take your car in. Even if he knows nothing, he's way ahead than a female. If he knows basics, then you're that much better.

There's more than one way to skin a cat. [or a dog, but I know neither of you want to think about that...] Originally Posted by charlestudor2005

In the past I haven't always had a man to go with me. Cars tend to break down at the most inconvenient times. And you can't exactly ask somebody to leave work to come help. Over the years I have learned to figure things out on my own. I remember I had a flat tire and didn't know how to change a tire. My girlfriend suggested to get a guy to help me. All they would do is pay for somebody to do it for me. I can do that on my own. Since then I have always had AAA. What a great service!

In restaurants, I normally tip 15-20% of the bill. If the service is exceptional and/or the server is very engaging, I will tip more. I've heard that you shouldn't tip the owner of a business but that feels awkward if it's say, your hair stylist who's the owner. In that case I still tip and include the assistants.

I firmly believe in tipping service that involves hard work like valet parking guys/girls, cleaning service and hired help. Those people are so under appreciated and often neglected or disrespected and that makes me feel just terrible. I tip quite a bit in that case because I feel that often they have families and a little goes a long way: $5 for me might be $500 for them. I remember when I waited tables in a previous life and every penny counted.

I do however, think that Americans are 'tip happy'. That's not such a bad thing.

Living in Vegas changes all of the tipping rules! Take valet parking, for instance. In most cities, hotel valet parking is $20+dollars/night. In Vegas, it is "complimentary." But that also means you could be left waiting for 30 minutes in 112 degree heat waiting for your vehicle if you don't hand your valet person at least 10$ ahead of time.

For the hotel maid, I make note of his/her name ahead of time by paying attention to the card left on the nightstand or calling the front desk and inquiring. I had one maid comment on the delicious candle I had burning and left her the the extra one in my suitcase (never used of course!) along with a few more dollars with a note saying, "Thanks for cleaning up after me!" I keep things pretty lighthearted with my thank you notes.

I tip everybody as long as I feel I received good service--which is, thankfully, always!--including my wonderful massage therapists, aestheticians, dog sitters, pool cleaners and photographers!
AND I want to add that I have become friends with most of these people who "take care" of me. However, I've never tipped a doctor, nor have become friends with one (technically unethical anyhow.)

Living in Vegas changes all of the tipping rules! Take valet parking, for instance. In most cities, hotel valet parking is $20+dollars/night. In Vegas, it is "complimentary." But that also means you could be left waiting for 30 minutes in 112 degree heat waiting for your vehicle if you don't hand your valet person at least 10$ ahead of time.

For the hotel maid, I make note of his/her name ahead of time by paying attention to the card left on the nightstand or calling the front desk and inquiring. I had one maid comment on the delicious candle I had burning and left her the the extra one in my suitcase (never used of course!) along with a few more dollars with a note saying, "Thanks for cleaning up after me!" I keep things pretty lighthearted with my thank you notes.

I tip everybody as long as I feel I received good service--which is, thankfully, always!--including my wonderful massage therapists, aestheticians, dog sitters, pool cleaners and photographers!
AND I want to add that I have become friends with most of these people who "take care" of me. However, I've never tipped a doctor, nor have become friends with one (technically unethical anyhow.) Originally Posted by LynetteMarie

There are some people out there who drive big, shiny cars, could afford to tip small salaries but instead hand over $1 or $2 to the valet parking guy who just jogged 2 miles in freezing weather to deliver his/her car. How tacky and humiliating is that? I've been in situations before where the same character type left a similarly skinny tip to the server. I reached into my pocket book for extra cash to supplement the embarrassing tip.

I do believe in the notion of paying it forward - tipping and/or complimenting where it isn't expected. It can make a person's day to know that they are appreciated. That makes me happy and in turn invites good karma.

As a photographer, I don't expect to be tipped. And in the cases where I have been tipped I was so flattered. In fact, some of my clients have shown extreme generosity which to me shows a sign of good character and that I have succeeded with my job.

It's funny as Lynette said that sometimes tipping can get tricky as in the parking politics of Vegas. I've experienced that first hand. lol. But I think this is an issue of 'what money can buy' rather than tipping.

All in all, this is a good thread and one that has left me more conscious and generous in my tipping habits!

I had gone out to dinner many time having to tip for the man also because he got up and left the table with little or nothing left. I think it tells a lot about the man....I always remember them.

I had new tires put on my car a couple of days ago,and I noticed a man tipping one of the mechanics there.Is it normal to tip your mechanic? Originally Posted by Becky

they work using the chilton book....so they are getting theirs

Some of the tire places (e.g., Tire Kingdom) will check/adjust the pressure in your tires at no charge. I usually tip the guy that actually does it.