When to tip? Before, after, or both?

Question

When using a drop-off service, such as giving your car to a valet or giving your bags to a bellhop, you usually deal with two different people: The person who takes your car or bags from you, and later the person who delivers your car or bags to you.

I tend to tip fairly generously ($20+) after getting my items back, but I don't tip at all when dropping them off. Searches of both Google and Yahoo! give me such useless answers as, "Tip after you get your car back, but don't expect the valets to park your car in a decent place if you don't give a good enough tip." Excuse me? If I'm tipping AFTER the fact, how are they going to psychically know I'll tip them later?

Any valets/bellhops/managers out there care to enlighten me? Should I be tipping on drop-off instead? $10 on drop-off and $10 on pick-up? These days anything under $20 seems kind of cheap, but $40 plus the actual parking fee seems like a heck of a lot to spend on 4-6 hours' parking.

Thanks!

Joe

Answer 1

According to the Big Book of Etiquette  When arriving at your hotel you leave your car with the valet without giving a gratuity.  However, when the car is returned to you, tipping a couple of dollars is appropriate.  If a doorman transports your luggage from you car to the hotel lobby, $1 a bag is an acceptable tip.  Double the amount if the doorman carries the bags to your room.  Bellboys are accustomed to the same tipping standards.  I drive a "more" expensive car and actually do leave more than a "couple" of dollars just because I appreciate the fact that they take care of my "baby".

Peace & Love  :)

Answer 2

tipping is an outdated thing that should be banned as it helps to keep wages down in certain jobs - only tight fisted employers really benefit from it in the long run.

Answer 3

you're spending too much, unless you happen to be personally wealthy and just like to be generous

service people create ways to pool tips in situaitons like you describe

do not tip before because the tip is a gratuity for good service which means that you received good service not that you just hope to

Answer 4

Always after unless the staffer is going off duty.  Tipping reflects the service rendered.

Answer 5

I always tip after, and don't worry about how they work it out, usually there's a system. When I cocktail waitressed, if I took over a tab for someone whose shift was over, we usually split the tip when I saw her next. If he left right after, she'd get most of it.

Answer 6

VALET....You tip only when you get your car back intact.   They split up the tips at the end of the night.   Keep in mind that these guy probably park 100 cars per shift.  If each person tips them $2-3 dollars,  they make a fortune.   Do not go spoil it for the rest of us by giving them $20.   If you want to be generous,  $5 is more than enough.  

BELLMEN....you tip for each service.  When they bring your bags to the room,  when they take your bags to the car.   If you are leaving a hotel and have things that you can not take on the plane,  such as booze,  you might give that to them.  

MAIDS...it is European custom to leave a small amount each night for the maids.  In the USA,  if you follow the custom,  you leave $1 each night for them.   Most people in the USA do not tip maids unless they do something special such as bring extra towels or pillows.

WAITERS/WAITRESSES.....tip after the entire meal with the check.   Usually you tip 15% if the service was OK.   You tip more if the service was outstanding,  20% to 25%.   If the service was really c**p,  you leave two cents.   That way they know you do believe in tipping but you were letting them know they did a bad job.   If the service was worse than c**p, you ask to talk to the manager and inform the manager just what was wrong with the service,  in the presence of the waiter or waitress as they have the right to know your complaint.   If the waiter or waitress takes it badly and insults you,  the manager will fire them right then and there.   Never tip for bad service as you will just reinforce their bad service.

DOORMEN....50 cents if all they do is hold the door for you and you are a regular customer.   Give them $1-2 if they do something special for you such as get you a cab quickly during bad weather.   If they do something not customary for their job,  such as chasing down your loose dog,  you give them $5 for their help.   $10 if the dog is really valuable.  

CAB DRIVERS.   This is a hot one.  Some say to tip 15% all the time.   I tend to tip based upon how SAFE the trip was.   I  tend to tell them to go the speed limit when I get into the cab as I do not like reckless cabbies.   If they speed after that,   I reduce the tip to 10%.    Some people tip $1 per bag on top of the tip based upon the meter.    Again, never reward a cabbie if he is reckless,  has a dirty or unsafe cab or otherwise does not act like he is a lemo driver.  

DOCTORS, NURSES,  NURSES AIDS,  etc...Never tip a medical person.  They consider it unprofessional.  Send candy or flowers to their office or ward with a nice thank you note a few days after your service.  

COPS......just kidding........