A little off topic -- tipping 2

[dgillz]

A little off topic as this is not strictly an IT question. The last 2 years I have been traveling a lot on business, and more and more I ave noticed envelopes in hotel rooms to tip the housekeeping personnel.

10 years ago -- the last time I had traveled extensively -- these were NEVER around. Now they seem to be almost everywhere. The question is should I tip or what is expected or normal in this regard?

For what its worth, I do not stay at 5 star places (at least not very often) I usually stay at a Hamptons, Best Western, etc. Anywhere from $60 to $100 per night is my average hotel bill.

Any feedback on this appreciated.

Software Sales, Training, Implementation and Support for Macola, eSynergy, and Crystal Reports

http://www.gainfocus.biz

 

[dennisbbb]

People used to tip them by leaving cash on the table or bed. The evelopes are just an update to keep up with today's standards.

Don't tip if service is bad.

This goes for restaurant too. The blame for today's relatively bad waiter services is partly due to everyone tipping regardless of the quality of service. Worst are places where "15% gratuity" is automatically added in the bill. And I thought the "service" is part of the job.

 

[dgillz]

What is considered an appropriate tip for a maid? Historically I have tipped waiters/waitresses, bartenders, taxi and limo drivers, and thats about it.

I never even considered tipping a housekeeper in a hotel until I started traveling again. I'm still a little shocked at the whole idea. Am I the only one that feels this way?

Software Sales, Training, Implementation and Support for Macola, eSynergy, and Crystal Reports

http://www.gainfocus.biz

 

[rasETL]

I had a consulting assignment that had me staying at the same Hotel 3-4 days a week for 18 months. It was a Baymont Inn. I usually left $5.00, figuring since I was going to be back there every week, I wanted them to "remember" it was me who stayed in the room.

Leaving a couple of bucks for each night is probably not necessary, but if you keep in mind the hourly salaries these people make, I'm sure they are grateful.

 

[lgarner]

$3/day/person seems to be standard for a cabin attendant on a ship. That could be a starting point.

 

[Stella740pl]

Take a look at thread1229-976998

 

[gurner]

you're all in the US right?

you'll find not a lot of voluntary tipping goes on in the UK, very paranoid, sceptical, sarcastic and frugal place (tight ar*e's)

an i'm a brit, ha

most places force the 15% on the bill

Gurner

http://www.divineparadox.co.uk

 

[dgillz]

Gurner,

I have never seen a hotel force a tip. In fact the entire tought of tipping a housekeeper in a hotel never occurred to me at all until suddenly these envelopes are laying around specifically for that purpose.

Doesn't anyone agree with me that this is over the top? Or do you all leave the hotel maid tips?

Software Sales, Training, Implementation and Support for Macola, eSynergy, and Crystal Reports

http://www.gainfocus.biz

 

[njwcad]

Being British / tight arse I am always struck at the US attitude over tipping. In the UK you NEVER tip for poor service and only taxi's and restaurants

What really gets me is the attitude when for whatever reason you do not tip. I was one in a hotel (not cheap) across the pond and had just arrived with only high domination notes and requested the help of the hotel concierge, I did not feel the need to hand over $50 for the guy to do his job. The next day I needed a taxi and was told tat he was unable to help me and that I could get the number out the information pack in my room. I was happy to pay tip that day but soon changed my mind as I spent the money on the hotel phone bill!

While I am at it do not need someone extorting cash from me for handing out a paper towel in the toilets. What do these people actually do? I don't think that they are responsible for the cleaning, or else they don’t do a very good job.
I stopped needing help at the loo many years ago.

Pete.

 

[SteveGlo]

The staff who clean hotel rooms, etc are often on minimum wage or very close to it, they work anti-social hours and they often see the more nauseating aspects of the human conndition from the guests.

If they have provided me with a decent service after all that I always leave a tip and I have done so for years - what is more I try to make sure the money goes to the individual who has looked after my room and not into some general pot.

 

[njwcad]

Some how the situation in the states seems to have reached a tipping point (pardon the pun) . Because people tip, organisations can getaway with paying people very badly with out leading to any better service.

I for one would rather pay more upfront and guarantee a proper wage for employees. I tend to think that service charge added to the bill is a good half way house but I do not pay twice.


Pete.

 

[smah]

http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php

 

[skiflyer]

The envelopes just make it easier... people used to leave it on the pillow, or on the desk in the room or whatnot, but the problem is, you'll get a different maid every day often, so the solution to that is tip everyday, but then if you have a multi-day stay the maid won't always be certain it's a tip and may just leave it, or maybe it wasn't a tip and they grab it, and that's a whole confusion that no one wants to deal with.

So money in the envelope just keeps things simple.

 

[Dollie]

My friend's daughter cleans rooms at a small hotel. She makes her regular hourly wage plus $2.50 per room. If she can clean more than 2 rooms an hour, she makes a pretty decent wage for a 16 yr old kid with no other experience. Tips are few and far between for her, but she'll take anything that she can get.

Frankly, I think I pay enough for the hotel rooms in some places. If these hotels cannot find it within themselves to pay another dollar an hour, and force the guests to tip to make up for it....

Well...

Please be sure to tip your chamber maid. You never know where that toilet paper has been...

 

[jsteph]

What gets me is that now it seems *everyone* expects tips! You've all seen the tip jar at the friggin' coffee shops--they pour a cup of coffee for gosh sakes! It's their job. It's not like there's a lot of room for 'extra service' in doing that.

And the attitude seems to be: "Those people work so hard and are paid so little--help them out". Well, I work hard and I do a good job, but when I was consulting, the clients paid my bill but never handed me an extra twenty at the end of each day. Let's draw the line somewhere.

I feel if someone is doing something 'extra' or above and beyond normal service--then I tip them. Wait staff are an exception--I always tip unless service is horrible--because it's assumed in their wages that they're tipped.

I tipped the mechanic last week because they fit my fan-belt replacement in on a very busy day--I pleaded that I needed it bad. Stuff like that--but I wouldn't tip for every oil change, etc.
--Jim

 

[Dollie]

//applause// for jsteph

 

[DTSMAN]

When I was a road warrior, I only tipped the housekeeping staff if I stayed multiple nights and they did a good job and it was always the same housekeeper leaving her card in the room. On another note, I tip when I make a mess for someone else to clean up. When I would go to a restaurant and eat with my one year old and the kid trashed the area with cracker crumbs etc. I will over tip to allow for that and the same with my hotel rooms. My philosophy is that I always tip those who have to clean up after me or for that person who goes above and beyond.

Bo

Kentucky phone support-
"Mash the Kentrol key and hit scape."

 

[GlenJohnson]

Some how the situation in the states seems to have reached a tipping point (pardon the pun) . Because people tip, organisations can getaway with paying people very badly with out leading to any better service.

The reason you see this is back in the late 1970's, early 1980's, (Don't remember exact, most of that time frame is a blur), the government changed the laws so that restraunts don't have to pay minimum wage, because they can figure in the tips. Most waitress/waiters don't make minimum wage because of it. Counting on tips is how they make a living. Tip well if you can.

Glen A. Johnson
If you're from the Illinois, Wisconsin or Florida area, check out Tek-Tips in Chicago IL
To get the best answers to your questions, check out faq950-5848

 

[njwcad]

And US finds it socially acceptable to pay people below the minimum wage? Surely tipping should be a little extra over and above a liveable income!

Pete.

 

[njwcad]

Should read
And the US finds it socially acceptable to pay people below the minimum wage? Surely tipping should be a little extra over and above a liveable income!

Pete.